Author: Andrew Rogers

Volkswagen says it is close to securing a trade deal with the US after Donald Trump’s tariffs on European cars cost the group “several billions”. CEO Oliver Blume confirmed the company is in talks with Washington to cut import levies, which currently stand at 27.5% and are due to fall to 15%. Even at the reduced rate, Blume said tariffs remain “a burden” for Europe’s largest carmaker, which owns Audi, Seat and Porsche. Volkswagen is offering “massive” US investment in return for further tariff relief. Blume added that the group may localise Audi production and expand exports from America if…

This Sunday, September 7, Europe will witness a striking total lunar eclipse, known as a blood moon, lasting around 82 minutes—the longest since 2022. The phenomenon occurs when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. Only red light, refracted through Earth’s atmosphere, reaches the moon, giving it its eerie glow. For centuries, blood moons have been interpreted through vastly different lenses. In ancient Babylon, China, and Central America, they were ominous signs of death, war, or disaster. In contrast, some African traditions, such as those of the Batammaliba people in…

Max Verstappen delivered a stunning performance at Monza to take pole position for the Italian Grand Prix, edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in a fiercely contested qualifying session. The Dutchman’s final lap of 1:18.792 seconds set a new Formula 1 record for the fastest average speed, surpassing Lewis Hamilton’s 2020 benchmark. It marked a major turnaround for Red Bull, who struggled at Monza last year and have been trailing McLaren for much of the season. Ferrari also showed promise at their home race, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc securing fourth and fifth. Hamilton, making his debut…

A new ultrasound “helmet” has shown promise as a non-invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treating Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. Developed by researchers from Oxford University and University College London, the device uses 256 ultrasound sources integrated with an MRI scanner to target brain regions with unprecedented precision—down to areas the size of a grain of rice. Unlike DBS, which requires electrodes to be surgically implanted, the helmet delivers mechanical pulses through the skull without invasive procedures. In early tests on seven volunteers, the system accurately reached the lateral geniculate nucleus, a visual processing hub, and…

Labour’s pledge to halt the badger cull by 2029 is possible, but only with a major increase in testing and vaccination, a new government-commissioned report has warned. The review, led by Sir Charles Godfray, said current funding and methods give ministers only a “small chance” of eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England by the 2038 target. More than 210,000 badgers have been killed since culling began in 2013, with the disease costing taxpayers and farmers around £150m a year. Godfray confirmed that badgers do transmit bTB but stressed this did not mean culling was the only solution. Instead, he called…

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has launched a drive to reintroduce three species once common on the region’s peat bogs: the large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket and white-faced darter dragonfly. Ninety-six percent of lowland peatlands in Lancashire and Greater Manchester have been lost, but the charity has been restoring habitats by rebuilding water systems and replanting specialist vegetation. It is now appealing for £20,000 to complete the project. “These insects play vital roles in the ecosystem,” the LWT said, citing pollination, decomposition and population control. Dr Matt McMullen, senior nature recovery officer, explained that each species faces unique challenges,…

As the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza continues to devastate bird populations around the globe, New Zealand is racing to protect some of its rarest species — including the kākāpō, the world’s fattest and most endangered parrot. With fewer than 250 individuals left, the kākāpō is at extreme risk should the virus reach New Zealand. Conservationists fear that migratory seabirds, arriving with spring, could inadvertently bring the disease into fragile populations on offshore islands such as Codfish Island/Whenua Hou. To get ahead of the threat, the Department of Conservation has conducted a world-first trial, vaccinating ten captive birds…

A groundbreaking study has found that a quick and painless cheek-swab test can detect a potentially deadly heart condition in children up to five years before traditional methods. The condition, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), is genetic in many cases and accounts for more than 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children. It develops due to faulty proteins between heart cells, disrupting both structure and electrical activity. Often symptomless until it strikes, ACM can lead to fainting, palpitations, breathlessness, or sudden death. Researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital and City St George’s, University of London trialled the new test in 51 children…

Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless drive to win the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, tightening his grip on the Formula 1 title race after teammate and closest rival Lando Norris retired late on with an oil leak. Starting from pole, the 24-year-old Australian controlled the race from lights to flag, staying composed through light rain and three safety-car restarts. His victory extends his championship lead to 34 points, a decisive swing with only nine races left. Norris had been running second and keeping Piastri under pressure, but disaster struck with just seven laps to go when smoke poured from his…

A major US study has found that children as young as four and five years old are often prescribed ADHD medication immediately after diagnosis, despite medical guidelines recommending six months of behavioural therapy first. The analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, reviewed data from more than 9,700 children and revealed that 42.2% of young patients were given medication within one month of diagnosis, while only 14.1% received drugs more than six months later. Experts say this practice overlooks the proven benefits of starting with behavioural therapy, which can positively affect both children and their families. Although ADHD medication is generally…