UK’s biggest drug company AstraZeneca stands by full-year forecasts
Full-year forecasts and an ambitious target to almost double group revenues by 2030 remain intact at AstraZeneca despite “mixed” first-quarter results and the prospect of import tariffs in the United States, its largest market. Total revenue rose 10 per cent to $13.6 billion in the first three months of the year, propelled by double-digit growth in cancer medicines and biopharmaceuticals and growth across all its major geographic regions. However, it was behind the consensus forecast of analysts for $13.8 billion and weighed on AstraZeneca’s share price, which traded down more than 5 per cent before recovering to close up 92p, or 0.9 per cent, on the day at £106.18 on the London Stock Exchange. Sir Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca’s long-serving chief executive, said the record revenues
Source:The Times
April 29, 2025 09:01 UTC
UK takeover panel gives Qualcomm more time to make bid for Alphawave
British semiconductor company Alphawave IP Group on Tuesday said the UK takeover panel has extended the deadline for a takeover offer by US chipmaker Qualcomm to May 12.Alphawave said it is in discussions with Qualcomm and, accordingly, agreed to extend the previous deadline of April 29 for the U.S. chipmaker to make a formal bid, as required by UK regulations.The British company has been garnering takeover interest from the likes of Qualcomm and Arm for a crucial technology, known as "serdes", used for building AI processors Earlier this month, Alphawave had abstained from providing a financial forecast due to uncertainty stemming from the "rapidly developing nature" of US tariffs.
Source:The Times
April 29, 2025 07:04 UTC
Can Reform U.K. Be More Than a Vessel for Rage? - The New York Times
Last year the Labour Party won the general election in a landslide that was a mile wide but only an inch deep. That vote, which gave Labour a commanding majority on a vote share of 34 percent, reduced the Conservative Party to a rump of just 121 seats and, for the first time ever, elected five lawmakers from the far-right anti-immigration Reform U.K. party. Local elections on Thursday are an opportunity for voters to register their discontent, and Reform U.K., which is standing candidates in almost every contest, is polling ahead of both Labour and the Conservatives. A few weeks ago I took a train from Cornwall, where I live, to the Midlands, to attend the launch of the Reform U.K. local election campaign in Birmingham, Britain’s second-largest city. “Rats ‘bigger than cats’ are roaming Britain’s second-biggest city,” CNN reported.
Source:The Times
April 29, 2025 05:02 UTC
Leominster man, 23, arrested for Powys shed break ins
Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that a 23-year-old man was arrested after a number of sheds were broken into over the Easter weekend. Dyfed-Powys Police said the man was apprehended after quick work by their Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team and Response Team. RECOMMENDED READING:The man, who is from the Leominster area, was arrested for burglary and has since been released on bail. “Officers from our Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Team and Response Team acted quickly and were able to identify a suspect. “One man, aged 23, from the Leominster, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage.
Source:The Times
April 29, 2025 04:52 UTC
Powys woman to represent UK at Europe's largest skills competition
Gabrielle Wilson, from Rhayader, will compete in the cooking category at EuroSkills Herning 2025 in Denmark, taking place from September 9 to 13. The team has been selected and trained in skills excellence by WorldSkills UK, in partnership with Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company. WorldSkills UK uses its participation in the EuroSkills competition to promote skills excellence across the UK and embed world-class training standards. "I wish Team UK the best of luck as they prepare to compete in Denmark in September." The experience will also serve as a stepping stone for the WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in 2026.
Source:The Times
April 29, 2025 04:23 UTC
UK ‘strikingly’ well placed to survive tariff chaos, says investor
One of the City’s top investors in UK stocks has bought shares in kitchen, sofa and bicycle retailers, defying the conventional wisdom that British households are too stretched to splash out on bigger-ticket items. Alex Wright, who manages £4.3 billion of UK-focused funds for Fidelity International in London, said the “unloved” UK was one of the most insulated economies from the tariffs chaos and was therefore “strikingly” well placed. Many economists say the barrage of tax increases and higher bills imposed this month by councils, energy suppliers, water companies, broadband suppliers and mobile phone networks will crimp spending on higher-value non-essential items, but Wright is more optimistic. “We recently increased exposure to retailers specialising in big-ticket items such as kitchens and sofas, where sales are
Source:The Times
April 29, 2025 03:17 UTC
India men’s Under-19 team to tour England
Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav SuryavanshiMumbai:Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. Poll Which team are you more excited to watch this summer in England? Indian Women's Team India Under-19 Men's TeamEverything is special about Vaibhav Suryavanshi: Vikram RathourNot just the India men’s senior team, the India Under-19 men’s team too will be in England this summer, for a full-fledged tour which will include five One-dayers and two 'Tests' against the hosts, TOI has learnt.The tour may offer the likes of 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre (Mumbai & Chennai Super Kings ) and 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Bihar & Rajasthan Royals ), currently playing in the IPL, and several other youngsters, an opportunity to showcase their talent.Confirming the development, a source in the BCCI told TOI, “The India Under-19 boys will tour England this summer. The team will reach the UK on June 21.” Incidentally, the Indian women’s team (three WODIs and five WT20Is) and the Indian mixed disability teams will be touring England (for a seven-match T20I series) this summer.The tour will help India’s U-19 team prepare for the U-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe & Namibia in Jan next year. The India U-19 team was last in action in Dec last year in the Asia Cup in UAE, when it lost in the final to Bangladesh.The schedule:1st ODI: June 27, Hove; 2nd ODI: June 30, Northampton; 3rd ODI: July 2, Northampton; 4th ODI: July 5, Worcester; 5th ODI: July 7, Worcester Tests: 1st Test: 12-15 July; 2nd Test: July 20-23, Chelmsford.
Source:The Times
April 29, 2025 03:14 UTC
Why are Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez all fighting in Times Square on the same night?
Read our Privacy noticeTeofimo Lopez will join fellow American stars Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney in boxing at a unique event in Times Square on Friday. Alongside that title fight between Lopez and his unbeaten compatriot, Garcia and Haney’s bouts will set up a rematch between the pair – if they both win. Last April, Garcia dropped Haney three times en route to a surprising decision win, but the result was later overturned upon the revelation that “King Ryan” had failed a drug test. Garcia, who was also ineligible to take Haney’s WBC super-lightweight belt after missing weight, has been serving a one-year ban since. open image in gallery Ryan Garcia dropped Devin Haney three times en route to victory – only for that win to be overturned ( Getty Images )open image in gallery Teofimo Lopez celebrates dethroning Josh Taylor in 2023 ( AP )With Garcia’s win overturned, Haney remained unbeaten.
Source:The Times
April 29, 2025 01:27 UTC
Vast crowds for funeral of Pope Francis, described as a ‘shining witness’
“Pope Francis was a shining witness of a Church that bends with tenderness towards those who are wounded and heals with the balm of mercy. The Vatican said that a further 250,000 had earlier waited up to four hours to file past the open coffin in St Peter’s Basilica from 23 to 25 April. “He was a Pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone — a Pope attentive to the signs of the times and what the Holy Spirit was awakening in the Church,” Cardinal Re said. “Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today’s challenges, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings, and hopes of this time of globalisation. Asked about fears that the Church risked “going backwards” under a more conservative Pope, Cardinal Nichols said that the conclave would be choosing “the successor to St Peter, not solely to Pope Francis”.
Source:The Times
April 28, 2025 23:34 UTC
Rumoured 3% pay rise proposed for nurses for 2025-26
The NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) has recommended a pay rise of around 3% for nurses and other Agenda for Change staff for this year, according to reports. It follows an announcement earlier this month that the NHS PRB had sent its report to governments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ms Galbraith-Marten also called for any 2025-26 NHS pay award to be “fully funded”, warning that taking away resources from frontline services was “unfair on staff and bad for patients”. “That means a decent pay rise that will encourage experienced staff to stay and persuade new recruits to join. A government spokesperson said: “The department has received the NHS Pay Review Body recommendations for 2025-26 – regarding pay for Agenda for Change staff like nurses, paramedics and healthcare support workers.
Source:The Times
April 28, 2025 22:39 UTC
UK risks Trump’s ire with EU partnership agreement
Britain will risk angering President Trump next month by signing up to a statement of shared “geopolitical values” with the European Union that cuts across many of the US leader’s key international policies. In a draft preamble to a new strategic partnership between the UK and EU, due to be unveiled at a summit on May 19, the two sides emphasise support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the Paris climate agreement and open and free trade. The statement could be seen in Washington as an overt signal that Sir Keir Starmer’s government is aligning itself with Brussels, with nervousness in Whitehall about how the reset will be viewed by Trump and his key officials. Ministers are hoping to seal a trade deal with the United States,
Source:The Times
April 28, 2025 22:16 UTC
India 5th largest military spender; expenditure 9 times more than Pakistan
File photoTaliban Wants To Help India Fight Pakistan? Stunning Move After Islamabad 'Runs To' China | PahalgamNEW DELHI: India is the fifth-largest military spender globally, spending almost nine times more than Pakistan. We must cater for both," a senior Indian military officer told TOI.SIPRI said the 10 largest military spenders are US ($997 billion), China ($314 billion), Russia ($149 billion), Germany ($88 billion), India ($86 billion), UK ($82 billion), Saudi Arabia ($80 billion), Ukraine ($65 billion), France ($65 billion) and Japan ($55 billion). "China, the world's second-largest military spender, allocated an estimated $314 billion to its military in 2024, up by 7% from 2023. This was the largest year-on-year percentage increase in China's military spending since 2015," SIPRI said.China "unveiled" several improved military capabilities in 2024, including new stealth combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and uncrewed underwater vehicles.
Source:The Times
April 28, 2025 22:01 UTC
Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero: Start time, undercard and how to watch fight
Read our Privacy noticeThis Friday, Ryan Garcia returns from his drug-related ban to box Rolly Romero in New York City – in Times Square, no less, as part of a stacked card and unique event. Garcia was hit with a one-year ban, but that suspension is now up, and he returns to action this week. Garcia vs Romero will take place on Friday 2 May in Times Square, New York City. In any case, Garcia vs Romero is expected to headline the card. Full fight cardClockwise from left: Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney ( Getty Images )Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero (welterweight)Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez (welterweight)Teofimo Lopez (champion) vs Arnold Barboza Jr (WBO super-lightweight title)OddsGarcia – 1/9; Romero – 11/2; draw – 20/1Haney – 1/12; Ramirez – 13/1; draw – 18/1Lopez – 4/9; Barboza Jr –15/8 ; draw – 16/1Via Betway.
Source:The Times
April 28, 2025 21:57 UTC
Lidl plans new stores in Powys towns in £500m investment
The budget-friendly chain has listed Welshpool and Builth Wells/Llandrindod Wells as sites in Mid Wales where it feels new stores are required. Brecon and Ystradgynlais also make the list of 48 sites across Mid and South Wales which form the company's 2025 site requirements brochure. It is part of a fuller strategy for new stores and replacement stores across the UK. Mr Taylor added: “Our latest site requirements brochure reinforces the scale of our ambition for the future. “New Lidl stores mean new jobs, new opportunities for British suppliers, and continued investment into local economies.
Source:The Times
April 28, 2025 21:40 UTC
Licence extension granted for distillery's 'premium' whisky tasting sessions - The Shetland Times
Lerwick Distillery has been granted a licence extension to host whisky tasting sessions. Depute convener Bryan Peterson proposed the application be granted, saying it seemed to be the “sensible thing to do”. Mr Peterson suggested the proposed extension, which will grant alcohol to be served until 9pm, rather 7pm as the current licence permits. The application said the extension would enable the distillery to offer “closed door, personal, premium sessions”. Shetland Central member Catherine Hughson seconded the motion, saying it was good to see the business “begin to thrive”.
Source:The Times
April 28, 2025 21:11 UTC