Author: New York Mirror

Labour’s pledge to stop badger culling by 2029 could be achieved, but only with a major increase in testing and vaccination, according to a government-commissioned report. Sir Charles Godfray, who authored the review, said ministers currently have only a “small chance” of meeting the 2038 target for eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England without greater investment. More than 210,000 badgers have been culled since 2013 to reduce the spread of bTB, which costs taxpayers and the cattle industry around £150m annually. The report stresses that badgers can transmit bTB to cattle, but culling is not the only solution. Godfray recommended…

Donald Trump has turned to the US Supreme Court to protect his tariff program. He seeks to overturn a ruling that struck down his broad trade duties as illegal. Presidential power in question The administration filed its petition on Wednesday night. It urges the court to decide quickly whether a president can impose tariffs without Congress. Last week, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 7-4 against Trump. Judges said only Congress has the authority to set import duties. Billions at risk The case could disrupt Trump’s trade and foreign policy agenda. It may also force the US to return…

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has begun a drive to reintroduce three rare species—large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket, and white-faced darter dragonfly—once common across Lancashire and Greater Manchester’s peat bogs. These insects rely on lowland peatlands, 96% of which have been lost due to human activity. LWT has been restoring habitats by rebuilding water systems and replanting specialist vegetation and is now seeking £20,000 to complete the project. “These insects play vital roles in the ecosystem,” the trust said, noting their importance in pollination, decomposition, and controlling invertebrate populations. Senior nature recovery officer Dr Matt McMullen explained that the…

The US government’s antitrust case against Google has attracted global attention. Not since Microsoft faced trial in 1998 has Big Tech confronted such scrutiny. One year after Judge Amit Mehta declared Google a monopolist, he unveiled remedies that some critics call mild, while others say could still influence competition. Chrome and Android remain untouched During the remedies phase, many expected a breakup. Judge Mehta rejected calls to spin off Chrome, the world’s most popular browser. The Justice Department also sought oversight of Android to prevent Google from strengthening its control over search and advertising. Both platforms survived intact. “These products…

New Zealand is racing to protect its critically endangered birds, including the kākāpō, from H5 avian influenza before migratory birds bring the virus to its shores. With fewer than 250 kākāpō remaining, even a single outbreak could be catastrophic. A world-first trial vaccinated 10 captive birds from five endangered species, using the H5N3 poultry vaccine. After two doses, four species developed strong antibody responses lasting at least six months, offering hope for safeguarding captive breeding populations and managed wild populations. Vaccination is just one part of a broader strategy. Capturing wild birds is challenging, and boosting overall health and habitat…

Gold has surged to a historic high as global uncertainty drives demand for secure assets. On Tuesday morning, the spot price reached $3,508.50 per ounce. The rally has lifted the metal by nearly a third since the beginning of the year. Trade tensions push prices up Gold often gains value when markets face instability. Earlier this year, prices jumped after President Donald Trump introduced sweeping tariffs. The measures disrupted global trade and encouraged investors to seek safer assets. Analysts also expect the US central bank to cut interest rates, further increasing gold’s appeal. Adrian Ash, research director at BullionVault, said…

Rescuers race against blocked roads and unstable terrain to reach survivors A magnitude-6 earthquake has torn through eastern Afghanistan, leaving at least 800 people dead and around 2,500 injured, according to Taliban officials. Emergency crews are struggling to access remote mountain villages as roads have been destroyed and landslides have cut off entire communities. The quake struck shortly after midnight on Sunday near the Pakistan border, with Kunar province bearing the heaviest destruction. The shallow depth of the tremor intensified the damage, while repeated aftershocks overnight and into Monday were felt as far away as Kabul, more than 100 miles…

A simple, two-minute cheek-swab test may be able to identify children at risk of a potentially fatal heart condition up to five years before standard diagnosis, new research suggests. The condition, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), is genetic and accounts for more than 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children. ACM occurs when abnormalities in the proteins between heart cells disrupt the heart’s structure and electrical signals, often striking without warning. Researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital and St George’s, University of London found that the same protein changes can be detected in the lining of the cheek, leading to the development…

Shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD fell by as much as 8% on Monday. The decline followed weaker earnings, pressured by aggressive discounting in a highly competitive market. Quarterly profits under pressure On Friday, BYD reported net profit of 6.4bn yuan ($900m; £660m) for April to June. That marked a 30% decline compared with the same period last year. The company said intense price competition among EV brands had hurt overall results. Rivals intensify competition The Shenzhen-based automaker faces growing pressure from Nio, XPeng, and Tesla. All have cut prices sharply to attract buyers. BYD shares opened lower in…

Judge blocks immediate removals after late-night legal challenge A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued an emergency order Sunday halting the Trump administration’s attempt to deport Guatemalan minors. The ruling followed urgent filings from lawyers who said the government was preparing flights to return children unlawfully. Case involves 10 minors, ruling applies broadly The lawsuit was brought on behalf of 10 children, ages 10 to 17, who attorneys said faced removal within hours on Saturday night. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan barred deportations for two weeks and directed that the children remain in shelters overseen by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.…