13 h. ago Saving the world’s fattest parrot: can New Zealand vaccinate its rare species before bird flu gets to them?

In the last continent to remain untouched by the virus, hopes are being pinned on immunisation as migration season approachesIt is easy to imagine how it could happen. A petrel, flying east from the Indian Ocean at the end of the Austral winter, makes landfall at New Zealand’s southern Codfish Island/Whenua Hou. Tired from its long journey, the petrel seeks refuge in the burrow of a green kākāpō: a critically endangered flightless species that is the world’s fattest parrot.If the seabird intrudes when the kākāpō is primed to breed, the male parrot may attempt to mate with the smaller petrel, accidentally smothering it in the process. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Saving the world’s fattest parrot: can we vaccinate our rarest species before bird flu gets to them?

Trial in only continent untouched by avian flu suggests jabs will be key to survival as migration season approachesIt is easy to imagine how it could happen. A petrel, flying east from the Indian Ocean at the end of the Austral winter, makes landfall at New Zealand’s southern Codfish Island/Whenua Hou. Tired from its long journey, the petrel seeks refuge in the burrow of a green kākāpō: a critically endangered flightless species that is the world’s fattest parrot.If the seabird intrudes when the kākāpō is primed to breed, the male parrot may attempt to mate with the smaller petrel, accidentally smothering it in the process. Continue reading...

Politics

25 h. ago New UK bird flu outbreak confirmed as poultry culled and surveillance launched

A 'controlled zone' has been put in place across the area and birds humanely culled after after cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu variant were confirmed in Frome, Somerset

Science

38 h. ago Fowl Play! Thousands of rare breed chickens are being slaughtered as Defra jobsworths panic irrationally over bird flu

The pictures of dead chickens began to arrive in Lee Grant's inbox two weeks ago, each of them dropping with an eerie 'ping'.

Politics

2 w. ago Microsoft launches inquiry into claims Israel used its tech for mass surveillance of Palestinians

Company says use of its cloud technology to store millions of intercepted calls would breach terms of serviceMicrosoft has launched an “urgent” external inquiry into allegations Israel’s military surveillance agency has used the company’s technology to facilitate the mass surveillance of Palestinians.The company said on Friday the formal review was in response to a Guardian investigation that revealed how the Unit 8200 spy agency has relied on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to store a vast collection of everyday Palestinian mobile phone calls. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Despite RFK’s funding block, mRNA vaccines are too impressive to ignore

Scientists fear decision may increase vaccine hesitancy, but other countries are still willing to invest in researchIt was a blow many were braced for, yet the block on US funding for mRNA vaccines by Robert F Kennedy Jr’s health department has left scientists reeling, with some stating the move could make the world less safe.On Tuesday, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would cancel $500m (£376m) in funding for mRNA vaccines, ending 22 federal contracts – including one with the pharmaceutical company Moderna for its bird flu vaccine for humans. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago What is the mRNA vaccine and why is the US withdrawing funding?

The decision will impact 22 projects speerheaded by major pharmaceutical companies for vaccines against bird flu and other viruses

Economics

4 w. ago DOGE embarrasses Trump again with accidental bird flu expert firings

ANALYSIS: The firing of bird flu experts while Trump’s team boasted about the federal response to the crisis was a misleading self-own by the White House

Politics