Author: Andrew Rogers

The European Central Bank left its key deposit rate unchanged at 2% during its latest policy meeting. The rate has remained at its lowest level in over two years since June after eight cuts from a 4% peak. Other main rates were also held steady: refinancing at 2.15% and marginal lending at 2.40%. President Christine Lagarde said inflation is stabilizing at 2% in the medium term, matching the ECB’s target. Flash data showed eurozone inflation at 2.1% in August, following 2% in June and July. The ECB decision came after the EU and US reached a trade deal, which could…

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison surpassed Elon Musk after Oracle shares surged 40% in early trading. Ellison’s 41% stake in Oracle is now worth \$393bn, just above Musk’s \$384bn, Bloomberg reports. The share jump marked Oracle’s largest single-day gain and the biggest one-day wealth increase on Bloomberg’s index. Ellison, 81, also owns Tesla shares, a sailing team, the Indian Wells Open, and a Hawaiian island. He served on Tesla’s board from 2018 to 2022 and invested \$1bn in Musk’s Twitter acquisition. Ellison is close to Musk, often described as his mentor, and Musk frequently visits his Hawaiian island. Both billionaires have…

Apple will unveil its thinnest iPhone at Tuesday’s “awe-dropping” event in Cupertino. The iPhone 17 lineup will include standard, Pro, Pro Max, and the new iPhone Air. iPhone Air may become Apple’s lightest flagship, following the slim design of MacBook laptops. Apple will also reveal Apple Watch series 11 and updated AirPods earbuds. Rumors suggest AirPods could offer live translation, matching Google Pixel Buds’ existing feature. Apple will announce release dates for iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe. Trump’s tariffs could raise iPhone prices by disrupting Apple’s global supply chain. Apple shifted production to India and shipped devices to the US…

Volkswagen is reportedly close to securing a tariff deal with the US as the company continues to navigate losses caused by Donald Trump’s trade tariffs. CEO Oliver Blume said the 27.5% tariffs on European cars and parts, announced in April, have already cost the group “several billions,” and that even a reduction to 15% would remain a burden. Volkswagen Pledges US Investments, Considers Local Production Volkswagen, which owns Audi, Seat, and Porsche, has pledged “massive” US investments as part of efforts to negotiate a lower tariff, with potential plans to localise Audi production and expand exports from American plants. Blume…

This Sunday, 7 September, Europe will witness a blood-red lunar eclipse, the longest since 2022 at around 82 minutes. The Earth will pass directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. Only refracted red light from the atmosphere will remain visible, giving the moon its ominous glow. Throughout history, such events have been loaded with meaning. From Babylon to China, blood moons were seen as harbingers of war, disaster or divine punishment. In contrast, cultures like the Batammaliba in West Africa viewed them as moments for reconciliation and renewal. Today, astronomy and astrology interpret…

Max Verstappen delivered a stunning performance to secure pole position for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, setting the fastest lap in Formula 1 history. The Red Bull driver clocked 1:18.792, averaging more than 164mph, to edge out McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The result marked a dramatic turnaround for Verstappen, who last year described his car as an “undriveable monster” at the same track. With Red Bull struggling for form in recent months, the pole brought renewed optimism as the team adjusts to new leadership under Laurent Mekies following Christian Horner’s departure. Ferrari also impressed at their…

A new ultrasound “helmet” could transform how neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease are treated, replacing invasive procedures like deep brain stimulation (DBS). Developed by teams at Oxford University and University College London, the helmet can target brain regions with unprecedented precision—up to 1,000 times smaller than standard ultrasound methods. In early trials on seven volunteers, the device directed ultrasound waves at the lateral geniculate nucleus, achieving pinpoint accuracy and producing measurable effects in connected brain regions. Unlike DBS, which requires electrodes to be implanted deep in the brain, the helmet delivers mechanical pulses non-invasively while the patient wears it…

Labour’s pledge to end badger culling by 2029 is possible but will require a Covid-style focus on testing and vaccination, according to a new government-commissioned report. The review, led by Sir Charles Godfray, warns that without significant new investment, ministers have only a “small chance” of meeting the current target of eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England by 2038. The disease costs taxpayers and farmers about £150m each year, with more than 210,000 badgers culled since 2013. Godfray said evidence confirmed that badgers can spread bTB to cattle, but stressed this does not mean culling must continue. Instead, the report…

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) has begun a project to bring back three rare species—large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket, and white-faced darter dragonfly—once common on the region’s peat bogs. These insects depend 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 appealing for £20,000 to complete the work. The insects play key roles in the ecosystem: the butterfly pollinates plants, the cricket aids decomposition and serves as food for birds, and the dragonfly controls smaller invertebrate populations. Senior nature…

New Zealand is racing to protect its critically endangered birds, including the kākāpō, from H5 avian influenza before migratory seabirds bring the virus ashore. With fewer than 250 kākāpō remaining, even a single outbreak could be catastrophic. In a world-first trial, the Department of Conservation vaccinated captive birds from five endangered species using an H5N3 poultry vaccine. After two doses a month apart, four species developed strong antibody responses lasting at least six months, offering hope for safeguarding breeding populations in captivity and on offshore islands. The challenge is timing: vaccination must occur just before migration to ensure immunity lasts…