Author: Andrew Rogers

A spider species believed extinct in the UK has been rediscovered on the Isle of Wight, thrilling conservationists. The Aulonia albimana, now dubbed the white-knuckled wolf spider for the pale joints on its palps, was found at the National Trust’s Newtown National Nature Reserve, a site reachable only by boat. Entomologists Mark Telfer and Graeme Lyons made the discovery just minutes before their departure, with Lyons calling it his most exciting find among the 559 British spider species he’s seen. Last recorded in 1985, the tiny spider — only about 4mm long — lives in short, sunlit grasslands. Its habitat…

Los Angeles FC star Son Heung-min now ranks second only to Lionel Messi among Major League Soccer’s top earners, with an annual salary of $10.4 million and total compensation of $11.2 million. Son joined LAFC in August after leaving Tottenham, scoring nine goals in 10 league matches. Messi remains the league’s highest-paid player, earning $12 million in salary and $20.4 million total compensation with Inter Miami — not including additional deals or bonuses. Miami recently extended Messi’s contract through 2028, and the team also added Rodrigo De Paul, who earns $1.5 million in salary. Other big summer earners include Hirving…

New national climate plans from over 60 countries would cut global carbon emissions by only 10% by 2035, about one-sixth of what’s needed to limit warming to 1.5C, according to a UN report. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said countries must “move faster” to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Major emitters such as China and the EU have yet to submit updated targets, while the US pledge made under Joe Biden is uncertain after Donald Trump’s return to office. The findings come ahead of Cop30 in Brazil next month, where leaders will discuss how to close the gap…

Juventus have dismissed head coach Igor Tudor following a dismal run of eight games without a win across all competitions, the club announced on Monday. “Juventus FC announces that it has today relieved Igor Tudor of his duties as coach of the men’s first team, along with his staff,” the Serie A side said in a statement, a day after their 1-0 loss to Lazio. Reserve team boss Massimo Brambilla will take temporary charge. Tudor, who succeeded Thiago Motta in March, was Juventus’s first foreign manager since Didier Deschamps in 2006–07. A former Juve defender himself, he made over 150…

The US and China have reached a final agreement on the sale of TikTok’s US operations, treasury secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Sunday. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Bessent said the deal was completed in Madrid and will be formally approved when Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet later this week in South Korea. The $14 billion agreement gives US and international investors about 65% ownership, with ByteDance and Chinese investors keeping less than 20%. Oversight of TikTok’s algorithm will pass to the new owners. Bessent described the deal as part of a broader US–China trade framework to be…

The Co-op has instructed staff to increase the visibility and promotion of vape products in its stores as part of a recovery plan following a major cyber-attack that severely affected sales earlier this year. An internal document titled “Powering Up: Focus Sprint: Cigs, Tobacco and Vape”, seen by The Guardian, reveals that the retailer is rolling out new vape displays, additional advertising, and expanding its range of vape and nicotine pouch products across its more than 2,000 UK grocery stores. According to the report, the Co-op estimates it is losing around £1m in weekly sales and has seen 100,000 fewer…

Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping the U.S. economy, driving growth and innovation across multiple sectors. Companies like Walmart are partnering with AI leaders to integrate advanced technologies into daily operations and consumer services. Walmart’s collaboration with OpenAI allows customers to make AI-driven purchases, streamlining the shopping experience and boosting efficiency. Analysts say such AI adoption is a key factor behind the current economic expansion in the country. Beyond retail, AI is transforming industries including finance, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing. Businesses are using AI tools to optimize processes, reduce costs, and enhance decision-making. This technology is also helping companies respond faster…

Experts have called for cigarette-style cancer warnings on bacon and ham sold in the UK, warning that chemicals used in processed meats pose a proven risk of bowel cancer. The demand comes a decade after the World Health Organization (WHO) classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans, placing it in the same risk category as tobacco and asbestos. Scientists say that since then, British governments have done “virtually nothing” to curb the use of nitrites, preservatives that give cured meats their pink colour and longer shelf life. Researchers estimate that 54,000 Britons have developed bowel cancer in the past decade…

The weight-loss drug semaglutide—best known as the active ingredient in Wegovy—reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death, even when patients lose little or no weight, according to the largest study of its kind published in The Lancet. The international SELECT trial, led by researchers at University College London, followed 17,604 adults aged 45 and over who were overweight or obese across 41 countries. Participants received either weekly semaglutide injections or a placebo. The drug was found to lower the risk of major heart events by 20%, regardless of the amount of weight lost. However, reductions in waist…

A large study led by researchers at King’s College London and the University of Oxford has found that different antidepressants can cause significantly different physical side-effects, including variations in weight gain, heart rate, and blood pressure. The review analysed data from 151 clinical trials involving more than 58,000 people, comparing 30 antidepressants over an average of eight weeks. The results showed that some drugs could cause as much as 2kg (4.5lbs) of weight gain, while others were linked to equivalent weight loss. For example, patients on maprotiline gained around 2kg on average, while those taking agomelatine lost up to 2.5kg.…