As we make our way toward the end of the week, what better way to prepare ourselves than to get caught up on the news of the world? Here, then, are a few items to help you start.

AstraZeneca has hired a new cfo from outside pharma as it looks to bring in experience from other sectors to deal with the new challenges facing the industry. The appointment of Simon Lowth – who joins from energy firm Scottish Power - follows the sudden departure in July of former cfo Jon Symonds, who joined Goldman Sachs. Previously, Lowth was with the McKinsey consulting firm. He starts Nov 5. Here’s the statement.

Glaxo’s Avandia and Takeda’s Actos increase chances of heart failure, confirming earlier findings about the medicines. Patients taking either pill had a 72 percent greater risk, according to a study in The Lancet that analyzed data from seven previous trials that investigated heart failure. Neither medicine increased cardiovascular death risks, the doctors said, in contrast to a May report that said Avandia raised the risk. Here’s more.