AstraZeneca shares rose after a positive trial of a drug for a common type of breast cancer.

The study found datopotamab deruxtecan showed a ‘statistically significant and clinically meaningful’ improvement in slowing the progression of the cancer when compared with other treatments.

The study will continue to see if the drug – known as Dato-DXd – can help patients live longer than those who get chemotherapy.

It is hoped the drug, which AstraZeneca is developing alongside Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo, will become a best-seller for the British pharmaceutical giant.

AstraZeneca shares rose 1.5 per cent, or 160p, to 11046p.

Boost: AstraZeneca shares rose 1.5 per cent, or 160p, to 11046p after the positive drug trial

The results of the trial will be particularly welcome to the company and its long-serving boss Sir Pascal Soriot as the same drug is also being tested for lung cancer.

However, disappointing results from a separate trial of the drug for lung cancer sent the shares tumbling in July.

AstraZeneca shares also took a knock earlier this month when the Mail on Sunday revealed Soriot has told friends he is considering leaving the company as soon as next year.

With investors still digesting the Bank of England’s decision to freeze interest rates at 5.25 per cent on Thursday, the FTSE 100 index rose 0.07 per cent, or 5.29 points, to 7683.9 while the FTSE 250 fell 0.2 per cent, or 31.7 points, to 18606.8.

While many analysts believe interest rates have now peaked following 14 rises since December 2021, the first cut is not expected until well into next year, with the profile more resembling Table Mountain than Mount Everest.

That means rates will remain at the peak for some time rather than falling quickly following the string of hikes.

Ocado continued its rollercoaster ride with gains of 6.7 per cent, or 43.4p, to 691.2p just a day after it plunged 20 per cent – in what was its worst day on the stock market for 11 years.

The sell-off on Thursday was triggered by a brutal downgrade by analysts at BNP Paribas Exane who said the recent share price rally meant the stock ‘seems now to be out of kilter again’.

UK-based investment firm Zegona Communications is in talks with Vodafone regarding the potential acquisition of the telecom giant’s Spanish business.

According to reports in Madrid, the bid could value the unit at more than £4billion. Vodafone shares fell 0.04 per cent, or 0.03p, to 81p.

Next was given the seal of approval by observers in the City following upbeat results this week. Analysts at JP Morgan raised the target price on Next shares to 7500p from 7300p while UBS increased its target to 7250p from 6850p. But Next shares dipped, dropping 0.7 per cent, or 52p, to 7298p. Hargreaves Lansdown was also in favour among analysts with RBC raising its target price to 900p from 875p. The stock rose 1.7 per cent, or 13.4p, to 825p.

Chemicals group Croda International has hired a new chairman to replace Anita Frew, who has held the position since 2014.

Danuta Gray, who is chairman of Direct Line and a non-executive at Burberry, will join Croda in February and officially take over at the AGM in April. Croda shares rose 1.1 per cent, or 54p, to 4935p.

There was also a shake-up at catering giant Compass, with Gary Green stepping down as chief operating officer for North America after 40 years with the company. Chief financial officer Palmer Brown will take over, with Petros Parras, the finance director for Europe and the Middle East, succeeding him.

Green said he was ‘honoured’ to have led the business in North America. He will step down at the end of November.

Compass shares fell 1.4 per cent, or 29p, to 2017p.

Under fire water company Thames Water has partnered with a home tech insurance claims prevention specialist to cut down on leakages with use of a new tool.

Southern Water, which provide water to over 2.5million homes in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent, will introduce Ondo InsurTech’s ‘LeakBot’ in a trial to over 1,000 customers.

LeakBot is a self-install solution that connects to the home wireless network and, if it detects a leak, notifies the customer via the LeakBot mobile app and provides access to a team of expert LeakBot engineers to ‘find and fix’ the problem.

Southern Water, which currently sits on a £5.2billion debt pilew,  has ranked among the poorest performers in the struggling UK water industry, having faced criticism for its record on pollution in particular. 

LeakBot is a self-install solution that connects to the home wireless network and, if it detects a leak, notifies the customer via the LeakBot mobile app

The group hopes to achieving similar water reduction results via the LeakBot trial as that seen during a test in Portsmouth earlier this year. 

The Portsmouth results showed LeakBot was able to prevent water leaks within the Portsmouth Water area by 60 per cent, which is estimated to be around 24 litres per day and is 67 per cent of the 36 litres a day Ofwat target.

Based on the findings, if LeakBot were rolled out to Southern Water customers, 83 megalitres of water a day could be saved – the equivalent of 32 Olympic swimming pools, according to the firm.

Tim McMahon, managing director of water at Southern Water, said: ‘There has never been a more pressing time to save every drop of water. The South East is officially water stressed. 

‘Climate change, causing hotter summers and less rainfall, and population growth means we have more people and less water to go around. So, we must act to reduce water wastage.

Based on the findings, if LeakBot were rolled out to Southern Water customers, 83 megalitres of water a day could be saved which is the equivalent of 32 Olympic swimming pools

‘We’re working with our customers reduce water use and are exploring new technology to help us find and fix more leaks quickly in our network. 

‘We’ve been impressed by the results of the activity we’ve seen so far from LeakBot and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact this technology could have on reducing leaks and improving engagement in the Southern Water area.’

Earlier this year, Ofwat claimed that around 20 per cent of water running through pipes in England and Wales is currently being lost to leakage and has identified this an issue of growing importance amid population growth and climate change. 

In June, the water industry watchdog gave the green light to the acceleration of around £2.2billion worth of investments to reduce leaks and river pollution.

Ofwat approved 33 investment schemes put forward by water companies, which include measures to improve water quality and install smart meters.

The first tranche of investments is set to begin in the next two financial years, from 2023 to 2025, with projects to be completed by 2030.

Craig Foster, Ondo CEO, said: ‘We’re increasingly excited about the opportunity to work with water companies to reduce water wasted through leaks.

‘When combining the business cases for both water companies and insurers, we have a proposition which could scale quickly and really add benefit to both industries and their customers. 

‘To get us closer to this large-scale opportunity, we’re looking forward to working with Southern Water on our second pilot within the water industry.’

Water damage is the single biggest cause of home insurance claims, accounting for $17bn of claims every year in the USA and UK combined. 

Dance professional Wade Robson, who has accused the late Michael Jackson of molesting him when he was a child, is set to head to trial with the late singer’s corporation MJJ Productions, Inc..

TMZ reported Monday that the California Court of Appeal approved a suit Robson has brought against the late singer’s corporation over the allegations of molestation – which Robson said occurred from when he was seven to 14 at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch.

The legal team for MJJ Productions, Inc. said in previous proceedings that the corporation had no liability in the situation, as it was not able to control the late pop star.

The Court of Appeal overturned a trial court’s April 2021 dismissal of the case, and issued a tentative ruling that the case will be redirected to trial.

In court documents, Robson said that he moved from Australia to the U.S. as a child, atn which time he crossed paths with Jackson, who he made friends with, but eventually sexually abused him. 

The latest: Dance professional Wade Robson, who has accused the late Michael Jackson of molesting him when he was a child, is set to head to trial with the late singer’s corporation MJJ Productions, Inc.. Jackson was pictured in March of 2009, months before his death at 50

TMZ reported Monday that the California Court of Appeal approved a suit Robson has brought against the late singer’s corporation over the allegations of molestation – which Robson said occurred from when he was seven to 14

Jackson in November of 2003 was arrested in Santa Barbara, California – two days after Neverland was raided – and indicted on 10 counts including lewd conduct with a minor, conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment, and extortion.

The criminal case went to trial in February of 2005, attracting ample media attention with more than 130 witnesses taking the stand, including Robson, who said that he had slept in the bed alongside Jackson but that the singer had not tried to molest him.

Jackson was ultimately found not guilty of all of the charges June 14, 2005. 

Robson altered his account of the events eight years later, when in 2013, he sued the company representing Jackson’s estate, saying that his previous testimony in support of the musical artist was the result of ‘complete manipulation and brainwashing,’ the outlet reported. 

Robson’s name was in the headlines four years ago with his participation in Leaving Neverland, an HBO documentary released in 2019 in which he said that Jackson initially sexually abused him in 1990 (when he was seven-years-old) and that the singer continued the behavior for seven more years. 

Sunday marked the 14th anniversary of Jackson’s 2009 death at the age of 50 as result of a cardiac arrest following an overdose of the surgical anesthetic drug Propofol.

In the years since his death, Jackson has remained a relevant pop culture figure – celebrated for the body of work he left behind, amid a legacy complicated by controversies.  

Justin Theroux was spotted in London wearing a white T-shirt with a picture of Kate Moss testifying at the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial. 

The actor, 51, paired the shirt – which showed off his toned arms – with white Nike sweatpants and black high-tops. 

Jennifer Aniston’s ex-husband was hiding his face from the sun with a black baseball cap, as he also had on a gold watch and matching black sunglasses. 

Justin’s choice of outfit comes just days after the actor and director was rumored to have joined the cast of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2.

The Leftovers star was reportedly seen filming scenes with Wednesday star Jenna Ortega in Shoreditch for the upcoming film. 

Actions speak louder than words: Justin Theroux was spotted in London wearing a white t-shirt with a picture of Kate Moss testifying at the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial

Loyal wingman: Justin let his t-shirt do the talking during a London stroll 

The moment pictured on Justin’s shirt refers to the point in the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial when Johnny’s supermodel ex denied that the Pirates of the Caribbean star ever pushed her down the stairs. 

Ultimately, the court ruled in Johnny’s favor at the end of the defamation trial, awarding him $15 million in damages. 

Justin is rumored to be taking the role in Beetlejuice 2 that Johnny was initially in talks to play. 

However, actual casting details regarding the undisclosed role have yet to be confirmed. 

The Beetlejuice 2 role that Justin is reportedly filming scenes for would be opposite Michael Keaton reprising his 1988 role as the film’s titular character. 

Justin’s last major film role was the 2021 horror movie False Positive, opposite Ilana Glazer and Pierce Brosnan. 

The Washington DC-born actor has also appeared in a slew of TV roles, the most recent being White House Plumbers on HBO Max. 

The multi-hyphenate man also garnered critical acclaim for his starring role in the Apple TV Plus limited series The Mosquito Coast. 

Gym guy: The 51-year-old star showed off his fit physique heading to a gym in London 

The good ole days: Amber Heard (L) and Johnny Depp attend The Art of Elysium 2016 HEAVEN in Culver City, California

Offscreen, the buff film and TV star has been best known for his marriage to Jennifer Aniston. 

However, the A-list star hasn’t been linked to any new starlet recently. 

Justin was spotted back in April reuniting with the Friends star over dinner in New York City. 

The former spouses shared a warm embrace during the reunion. 

Although the two appear to be on good terms, Justin continues to stay focused on his career, staying single when it comes to his dating life.  

The first human trial of a pill to reverse nuclear radiation poisoning has been launched in the United States.

It was revealed barely two days before an ex-US army chief warned Russia could soon use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, after six of its ‘unstoppable’ conventional ‘Kinzhal’ missiles were shot down.

In the trial, 42 participants will receive the drug — named HOPO 14-1 — as an oral pill in Plymouth, Michigan, and then be monitored to see how well it is absorbed and removed from the body.

If the trial is successful, the treatment could become available by 2024, according to the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is funding the research. They said it was the first-ever nuclear trial to be carried out in humans.

The trial is set to take place in Plymouth, Michigan, and involves 42 participants aged 18 to 65 years old (stock picture)

Air defence missiles are seen impacting targets over Kyiv on Monday night. It was unclear whether these were the hypersonic ‘Kinzhal’ missiles, although Ukraine said it had downed six over the capital

There is growing concern that Russia may soon turn to its nuclear arsenal, the largest stockpile in the world, in the war in Ukraine amid faltering results on the battlefield.

President Putin repeatedly threatened to deploy the weapons in the early days of the war, while his supporters have called for nukes to be used to obliterate US allies such as the United Kingdom.

Kevin Ryan, the former chief of staff for the US Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, warned today that bringing down Putin’s ‘unstoppable’ missiles made him more likely to turn to the nuclear option.

‘If he cannot force a victory with conventional weapons, he will probably turn to nuclear weapons,’ he told DailyMail.com’s sister publication in the UK.

Nuclear bombs or leaks from accidents at nuclear power plants can lead to dangerous heavy metals leaching into the atmosphere.

These can then be absorbed by humans via broken skin, breathing and eating contaminated food and cause damage to DNA, tissues and organs in the body, raising the risk of diseases including cancer.

One of the ways to reduce this damage is to use a drug that binds to heavy metals to remove them from the body as quickly as possible.

Two treatments of this type — which use the drug DPTA — are already available in the US, but they must be administered intravenously and target only three heavy metals — which are plutonium, americium and curium.

They can also bind to and remove essential ions from the body such as magnesium, which is used to help muscles move.

But scientists say the new treatment — which has been in development since 2006 — is up to 100 times more effective at binding to and removing heavy metals from the body.

It also binds to many more than the standard three and is administered via an oral tablet, making it much easier to deploy during an emergency.

In the phase one clinical trials, which are carried out to test the safety of a drug, participants will be split into seven groups each containing six participants.

The first group will receive a 100-milligram (mg) dose of HOPO 14-1, with doses then  being raised up to 7,500mg in the final group.

If a lower dose is deemed safe, then a group will also receive doses below 100mg.

After receiving the drug, participants will be monitored for up to 14 days to measure how well it is absorbed, distributed and removed from the body.

If successful, the drug will progress into stage two and three clinical trials — which will test whether the treatment is effective and better than other currently available medications.

It could be available for the public by 2024, says NIAID.