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New Zealand is racing to protect its critically endangered birds, including the kākāpō, from deadly H5N1 avian influenza before migratory birds introduce the virus. With fewer than 250 kākāpō left, even a single outbreak could be catastrophic. In a world-first trial, the Department of Conservation vaccinated 10 captive birds from five species with 500 or fewer individuals, using an H5N3 poultry vaccine. After two doses, four species developed strong antibody responses lasting at least six months, offering hope for protecting breeding populations in captivity and on offshore islands. The next step is careful deployment planning before spring migration, as vaccinating…
Gold has climbed to an all-time high as global uncertainty pushes investors toward safe 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 start of the year. Trade tensions drive gold higher Gold typically gains strength 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 move into secure assets. Analysts also expect the US central bank to cut interest rates, increasing gold’s appeal. Adrian Ash, research director at BullionVault, said…
Rescue operations slowed by blocked roads and landslides A magnitude-6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan late Sunday, killing more than 800 people and injuring roughly 2,500, according to Taliban officials. Relief teams are struggling to reach remote mountain communities due to landslides and damaged roads. The quake’s epicenter was near the Pakistan border, with Kunar province suffering the worst destruction. Its shallow depth increased the severity of damage, and aftershocks continued into Monday, shaking areas as far away as Kabul, over 100 miles from the epicenter. Hospitals overwhelmed with casualties Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid warned that the death toll is likely…
Researchers confirmed Yersinia pestis, later behind the Black Death, caused the Justinian Plague 1,500 years ago. They traced the bacterium to its epicentre beneath Jerash’s ancient ruins in Jordan. The team identified Y. pestis in a mass grave, providing the first direct biological proof of the plague. Lead author Rays HY Jiang said DNA evidence fills gaps left by centuries of historical accounts. Justinian Plague Devastated Eastern Mediterranean The pandemic began in 541 CE, sweeping across the Byzantine Empire and eastern Mediterranean. Historians estimate it killed 15 to 100 million people over two centuries of recurring outbreaks. Yersinia pestis spreads…
A quick, two-minute cheek-swab test may identify children at risk of a potentially fatal heart condition up to five years before standard diagnosis, according to new research. Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), typically a genetic disorder, is responsible for over 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children. It occurs when abnormalities in the proteins connecting heart cells disrupt the heart’s structure and electrical activity, often striking without warning. Researchers from Great Ormond Street Hospital and St George’s, University of London found that these protein abnormalities are also present in the lining of the cheeks. By swabbing the inside of a child’s mouth,…
Shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD dropped by up to 8% on Monday. The decline followed weaker earnings, pressured by deep discounting in a highly competitive EV market. Earnings take a hit 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 makers had hurt results. Rivals slash prices The Shenzhen-based automaker competes with Nio, XPeng, and Tesla. All have cut prices aggressively to attract buyers. BYD shares opened lower in Hong Kong but…
Court intervenes after last-minute legal challenge A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued an emergency order on Sunday preventing the Trump administration from sending Guatemalan minors back to their home country. The ruling came after attorneys filed urgent motions claiming the planned removals were unlawful. Ten children cited, order applies to all in custody The case centers on 10 unaccompanied children, aged 10 to 17, who lawyers said were hours away from being flown to Guatemala late Saturday. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan suspended deportations for 14 days and directed that the children remain in the care of the Office of…
Russia deployed 142 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram. Explosions rocked Kherson, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro during the strikes. Ukrainian forces shot down 126 drones, but 16 drones struck 10 locations. Kherson Suffers Casualties and Damage Local media confirmed two deaths and 14 injuries in Kherson. Drones destroyed nine houses, medical and educational facilities, an administrative building, a gas station, and several cars. Odesa Faces Energy Outages Media reported one person injured in Odesa, with Chornomorsk sustaining the heaviest damage. Governor Oleg Kiper said the strikes disabled energy infrastructure, leaving 29,000 residents…
Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding pole-to-flag victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, widening his lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship, while teammate Lando Norris suffered a late retirement. From the first corner, the 24-year-old Australian led confidently, weathering light rain and three safety-car restarts to secure a flawless win. The result gives Piastri a 34-point advantage over Norris, a significant swing in the tightly contested title race with nine rounds remaining. For Norris, the day ended in disappointment. Running second, the British driver’s cockpit filled with smoke due to an oil leak with seven laps remaining, forcing him to…
Beer consumption in Germany is falling, while alcohol-free varieties are reaching record popularity. The federal statistics office reports that sales of alcohol-free beer have risen by 109 percent since 2013. Meanwhile, overall beer sales are at their lowest level in more than 30 years. For the first time, total sales dropped below four billion liters in a half-year period. Between January and June 2025, German breweries sold around 3.9 billion liters. That marks a decline of 6.3 percent, or 262 million liters, compared with the same period in 2024. breweries respond to changing trends The Erdinger brewery near Munich has…
