Gayathri Kallukaran is a Junior Journalist with Eastern Eye. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from St. Paul’s College, Bengaluru, and brings over five years of experience in content creation, including two years in digital journalism. She covers stories across culture, lifestyle, travel, health, and technology, with a creative yet fact-driven approach to reporting. Known for her sensitivity towards human interest narratives, Gayathri’s storytelling often aims to inform, inspire, and empower. Her journey began as a layout designer and reporter for her college’s daily newsletter, where she also contributed short films and editorial features. Since then, she has worked with platforms like FWD Media, Pepper Content, and Petrons.com, where several of her interviews and features have gained spotlight recognition. Fluent in English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi, she writes in English and Malayalam, continuing to explore inclusive, people-focused storytelling in the digital space.
Sony has confirmed the PlayStation Plus Essential games for June 2025, with subscribers able to download three new titles from 3 June. The line-up features NBA 2K25, Alone in the Dark, and Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. In addition, Destiny 2: The Final Shape expansion will be made available to Essential tier subscribers from 28 May.
NBA 2K25, the latest entry in 2K Sports’ basketball simulation series, was released in September 2024. It incorporates 2K’s ProPlay technology, which translates real NBA footage into gameplay mechanics. The title includes a variety of game modes, such as MyCareer, MyTeam, MyNBA, and The W, and features WNBA players from different eras. NBA 2K25 will be available to download on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Alone in the Dark is a modern reimagining of the classic survival horror game, originally released in 1992. This 2024 version stars David Harbour and Jodie Comer in leading roles, offering players two perspectives to explore the eerie setting of Derceto Manor. The game will be available for PlayStation 5.
Also part of June’s line-up is Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, a graffiti-themed action platformer inspired by Jet Set Radio. Developed by Team Reptile, the game features players moving around on inline skates, skateboards, and BMX bikes while tagging graffiti and battling for turf against rival street crews. The game is available on both PS4 and PS5.
In addition to the three main titles, PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers will receive Destiny 2: The Final Shape as part of the monthly offerings. The expansion, available from 28 May, concludes the long-running Light and Darkness saga in Bungie’s shared-world sci-fi shooter. It will be playable on both PS4 and PS5.
The new titles will be available for download until 30 June. Meanwhile, subscribers can still claim May’s Essential games - Ark: Survival Ascended, Balatro, and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun — until 2 June.
PlayStation Plus Essential is Sony’s entry-level subscription tier, offering access to online multiplayer, monthly free games, cloud storage, and PlayStation Store discounts. The service is priced at £59.99 per year, £19.99 for three months, or £6.99 per month in the UK.
UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.
Investment gap
Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.
Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.
Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, noted “The UK can lead globally in medicines and vaccines, unlocking billions in R&D investment and improving patient access but only if barriers are removed and innovation rewarded.”
The UK invests just 9% of healthcare spending in medicines, compared with 17% in Spain, and only 37% of new medicines are made fully available for their licensed indications, compared to 90% in Germany.
Expert reviews
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, pointed that “The government’s own review shows the sector is underfunded by about £2 billion per year. To make transformation a reality, this gap must be closed with clear plans for investment in people, premises and technology.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold £20,000 to £30,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) — has remained unchanged for over two decades, delaying or deterring new medicine launches. Raising it is viewed as vital to attracting foreign investment, expanding patient access, and maintaining the UK’s global standing in life sciences.
Guy Oliver, General Manager for Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, noted that " the current VPAG rate is leaving UK patients behind other countries, forcing cuts to NHS partnerships, clinical trials, and workforce despite government growth ambitions".
Reeves’ push for reform, supported by the ABPI’s Competitiveness Framework, underlines Britain’s intent to stay a leading hub for pharmaceutical innovation while ensuring NHS patients will gain faster access to new treatments.
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