White House details plan to safeguard US auto sector, avoid second 'China shock'

David Shepardson and Ben Klayman
Updated Mon, September 23, 2024 

National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard speaks at a press briefing

WASHINGTON/DETROIT (Reuters) -Top White House economic adviser Lael Brainard laid out on Monday the Biden administration's broad approach to safeguarding the U.S. auto sector from what it considers China's unfair trade actions.

"China is flooding global markets with a wave of auto exports on the back of their own overcapacity. We saw a similar playbook in the China shock of the early 2000s that harmed our manufacturing communities, and this administration is determined we will not see a second China shock," Brainard said to the Detroit Economic Club.


"That means putting safeguards in place now before a flood of unfairly, underpriced autos undercuts the ability of the U.S. auto sector to compete fairly on a global stage," she added at the Detroit event.

Relatively few Chinese-made cars and trucks are imported into the United States.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday proposed prohibiting key Chinese software and hardware in connected vehicles on American roads due to national security concerns, a move that would effectively bar nearly all Chinese cars from entering the U.S. market.

"Americans should drive whatever car they choose – whether gas powered, hybrid, or electric," Brainard said. "But, if they choose to drive an EV, we want to make sure it was made in America, and not in China."

Brainard's appearance comes as the fate of the auto industry and pressure from China has become a major theme in the 2024 presidential election with the Republican nominee Donald Trump suggesting China could dominate future auto production.

Earlier this month, the Biden administration locked in steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports, including a 100% duty on electric vehicles, to boost protections for strategic industries from China's state-driven industrial practices.

The White House aims to ensure that Chinese automakers cannot set up factories in Mexico to get around high tariffs.

"We're going to need to work our partners Canada and Mexico, to address China's overcapacity in the EVs as we look to the mid-term review of the USMCA in 2026," Brainard said of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

She said U.S. officials are already in talks with Mexico officials and they share U.S. concerns about China using Mexico as a platform to ship into the U.S. at artificially low prices, she said.

Asked about the possibility of a Chinese automaker building plants in the U.S., Brainard said it would happen "with a set of safeguards that we are putting in place now before we confront these problems."

In response to a question referring to comments about Trump saying he was against the administration's "EV mandate," Brainard called that idea "complete nonsense." She said the U.S. needs to invest in EVs or Americans will have less choice.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Marguerita Choy)

2 men plead guilty to providing fentanyl-laced heroin that killed prominent NYC transgender activist

Associated Press
Mon, September 23, 2024 

FILE - Transgender activist Cecilia Gentili poses for a photo at the offices of the Oxford University Press in New York on April 24, 2014.(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)


NEW YORK (AP) — Two men have pleaded guilty to providing the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed prominent New York City transgender activist Cecilia Gentili earlier this year, federal prosecutors said Monday.

Michael Kuilan, 44, pleaded guilty to a charge that he distributed and possessed with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Brooklyn federal court on Monday, according to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace's office. Antonio Venti, 52, entered a guilty plea to the same charge in July.

As part of their plea deals, prosecutors said the men admitted they caused Gentili's death. They said text messages, cell site data, and other evidence showed that Kuilan, a Brooklyn resident, had supplied Venti, a Long Island resident, with drugs that he then sold to Gentili.

Law enforcement officials searching Kuilan’s home also found hundreds of small bags of fentanyl, a handgun and ammunition.

“While these guilty pleas can’t undo the tragic loss of transgender rights activist Cecelia Gentili, it sends a message that we will do everything we can to make sure those responsible for drug related deaths face the consequences for their actions, and the families of those who lost their lives receive justice,” Frank Tarentino, special agent in charge of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration's New York office.

Gentili was a former sex worker who became a leading advocate for other transgender people, as well as sex workers and people with HIV. She also acted in the FX television series “Pose,” about the underground ballroom dance scene in the 1980s and 1990s.

Her well-attended funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan drew outrage from some in the Catholic community, including from the venerable church’s own pastor.

Gentili was found dead in her bedroom on Feb. 6, the day after purchasing drugs from Venti. Prosecutors say the 52-year-old Brooklyn resident’s death was due to the combined effect of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine and cocaine.

Kuilan is expected to be sentenced in January, and Venti will be sentenced next month. Lawyers for the two men didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment Monday.

___

This story has been corrected to show Kuilan will be sentenced in January, not next month.

 Researchers develop robot dog to combat highly invasive species wreaking havoc across the globe: 'A serious threat'

Tina Deines
Mon, September 23, 2024



A new robot dog developed by scientists is sniffing out invasive fire ants using artificial intelligence, according to a writeup by the Society of Chemical Industry in TechXplore.

The research team, spread across Brazil and China, trained the cyberpup to identify red imported fire ants, which are wreaking havoc in environments across the globe. The robot dogs are pretty good at their job, too. According to researchers, they identify three times more nests with greater precision compared to human inspectors.

The red imported fire ant is native to central South America, but it has established itself in the United States and Australia, and it has been reported in other parts of the world, like Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Trinidad and Tobago, per the University of Florida.

As invasive organisms, they have caused extensive environmental and economic damage, according to the Tech Xplore post. In the U.S. alone, the species is responsible for an estimated $6 billion in economic losses annually through impacts like reduced crop yields and damage to farm equipment, as reported in an article in the journal Ecosphere.

Red imported fire ants also expand their range rapidly, displacing local flora and fauna, as Eduardo Fox — one of the robot dog scientists — explained in TechXplore. For instance, in China, they have been a problem since at least 2003, decreasing the abundance of native ant species.

However, the new ant-identifying robots can help to more effectively scout for nests so that the trouble-making ants can be eradicated, thereby reducing their impacts on people and the environment.
Watch now: Alex Honnold shares clever productivity hack to maximize productivity, contentment

This is one of many attempts by scientists to control troublesome invasive species. For instance, an aggressive "stomp them" stance by state governments regarding spotted lanternflies seems to be yielding successful results in eradicating the pests, according to one study.

Animals and bugs aren't the only type of invasives, though. Plants can also outcompete native greenery for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Park officials and volunteers in California are fighting back against an invasive succulent known as the ice plant by scouring the coast and picking it on sight.

You, too, can make a difference when it comes to invasive plants by rewilding your yard with native species. This is not just better for the environment, but it can also help save you money and time on maintenance, lowering your monthly water bills, all while creating a healthier ecosystem for pollinators, which support our food supply.

As for the robo-dogs, corresponding author Zheng Yan said in TechXplore that the new technology also has potential to help support education surrounding the issue.

"Fire ants pose a serious threat in China, yet most people remain unaware of the dangers of invasive fire ant nests in public areas," he said. "Therefore, sightings of robots tracking fire ant nests are likely to captivate the public and raise awareness about the presence of fire ants."

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

History of K9 - History of Doctor Who

A new study unpacks the last 485 million years of Earth's temperature history

Matthew Rozsa

SALON
Tue, September 24, 2024 

Earth from Space Getty Images/fotograzia


Climate change deniers inaccurately claim that Earth's rapidly rising temperatures are the mere product of natural cycles. Scientific experts have long explained that, although Earth does experience natural cycles, they do not explain how the average carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere is 419 parts per million, as opposed to the preindustrial level of 280 parts per million.

Now a study in the journal “Science” provides illuminating new context about the history of Earth's temperatures — and illustrates precisely how the current spike is the result of humanity's overuse of fossil fuels.

"As a scientist, I’m always cautious of the word 'prove,' but our work demonstrates the important role that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations play in controlling Earth’s temperature," Emily Joan Judd, the lead study author and paleontologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, said to Salon.


"We know that today – and in the recent past – CO2 and temperature are directly linked; however, over really long-time scales – like hundreds of millions of years – other influences, such as the fact that the sun is getting progressively brighter, also play a role in modulating climate,” Judd continued.

While climate change deniers seize on external variables like these to cast doubt on humanity’s culpability in the current crisis, they ignore the broader context about our planet’s history.”

"We find a strong relationship between CO2 concentrations and average global temperatures across nearly the whole 485-million-year long record," Judd said. "This was surprising because it suggests that other factors, such as changes in Earth’s albedo (i.e., how reflective it is) or other greenhouse gas (e.g., methane) may have helped balance the impact of the increasing brightness of the sun and implies that atmospheric CO2 concentrations play an even bigger role in regulating Earth’s climate than previously thought."

Dr. Michael E. Mann — a climatologist at the University of Pennsylvania who was not involved in the study but discussed these topics in depth in his 2023 book "Our Fragile Moment” — described the new paper as "a solid study" that “makes a compelling case” for something he’s been saying for some time, “namely that we shouldn’t rule out possible ‘hothouse feedbacks’ that might lead to greater warming that many climate models predict under a scenario of climate policy inaction.”

He continued: “That having been said, I’ve also warned that the paleoclimate record also suggests that climate models might not be capturing very well certain feedbacks [e.g. related to the 'El Nino' phenomenon] that could actually lessen the warming somewhat."

For example, in Mann's 2021 article for the journal PNAS, he showed evidence that anthropogenic warming may cause a La Niña-like response.

“Given that, the model assimilation approach used by the authors could bias their results toward overly warm responses to past increases in greenhouse gas concentrations,” Mann said, adding he discussed such potential data assimilation approaches in this 2021 Science article.

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While Mann remains a bit skeptical about the numbers, he said that it is certainly true that higher earth system sensitivity (ESS) is relevant to the current climate policy debate “because continued fossil fuel building will elevate global temperatures for many centuries or even millennia, wherein the slower feedbacks that contribute to ESS become more important."

Perhaps more importantly, the study demonstrates that the world has consistently been hotter when carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have been higher. As such, it further confirms the peril facing humanity as fossil fuel emissions continue to raise carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

"These glimpses into ancient warmer worlds provide clues about what may be to come as anthropogenic emissions actively warm our planet today and into the future," Judd said. "Our work also demonstrates a strong correlation between global temperature at CO2 concentrations across the Phanerozoic, highlighting the important role of this greenhouse gas in controlling Earth’s temperature."

The Earth today is like an icehouse, with ice sheets at both poles and comparatively lower carbon dioxide concentrations, but this has been rare rather than commonplace through the planet's history.

"This finding, in and of itself, isn’t really new — I suspect any Earth scientist who has ever taught an introductory Earth History class could tell you this — we’re just one of the first to quantify, or put numbers to it," Judd said. "It is concerning knowing that climate deniers and climate skeptics and climate delayers will inevitably point to this and say, 'See! We have nothing to worry about.' I want to stress that line of thinking is reductive, misinformed and neglects the most important aspect of the current climate crisis, which is rate: How fast CO2 and temperature change."

However, because humans are pumping greenhouse gasses into the air at such a rapid rate, it is unlikely that most species will have enough time to adapt to the warmer temperatures.

"What is happening today is particularly problematic because, just like humans, the organisms that we share our planet with are adapted [to] the cold," Judd said. "They are not equipped to handle warmer conditions and the rate of change is too fast for evolution to keep pace."

Similarly, humans evolved to thrive in colder societies, which is why they often establish their populations close to water sources and near sea level.

"As we observe the Earth warming at a rapid pace within human time scales, we are faced with challenges such as more frequent and intense storms, more frequent and intense droughts and floods, rising sea levels, and, ultimately, a reduction in habitable and arable land," Judd said. "Earth's resilience does not directly translate to our own ability to adapt and thrive in the face of human-caused climate change."

JOHN BIRCH REDUX

Argentina's Milei criticizes 'Leviathan' UN, pledges 'agenda of freedom'

Nicolás Misculin
Tue, September 24, 2024 

World leaders take part in the 79th annual U.N. General Assembly high-level debate


By Nicolás Misculin

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Argentina's brash libertarian President Javier Milei, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, criticized the organization as a "Leviathan" monster, rejected its 'Pact for the Future' and pledged instead an "agenda of freedom."

In a fiery speech where he also said the UN had become "powerless" in its key role to help prevent conflicts, Milei attacked the body's future pact adopted on Sunday calling it "socialist" and said the UN's remit had become "distorted".


"It has become a multi-tentacled Leviathan that seeks to decide what each nation state should do and how the citizens of the world should live," the right-wing economist and former pundit said, a reference to the giant mythological sea serpent.

"The same always happens with the ideas of the left. They design a model according to what human beings should do, and when things turn out differently, they repress, restrict and curtail their freedom."

Milei, who clashes regularly with political opponents, is battling to restore economic stability in Argentina after years of crises, with tough austerity measures that are helping to turn around a deep fiscal deficit, but aggravating a recession.

Before he decided to run for president, the former TV "shock jock" commentator even attacked Pope Francis, calling him a "son-of-a-bitch preaching communism". The two, however, have sought to mend ties since Milei took office in December.

(Reporting by Nicolas Misculin and Lucila Sigal in Buenos Aires; Writing by Adam Jourdan)

AMERIKA

Judge lets over 8,000 Catholic employers deny worker protections for abortion and fertility care

JACK DURA and STEVE KARNOWSKI
Tue, September 24, 2024 

FILE - The William L. Guy Federal Building is seen in Bismarck, N.D., April 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Jack Dura, File)


BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge is allowing more than 8,000 Catholic employers nationwide to reject government regulations that protect workers seeking abortions and fertility care.

In a sharply worded order, U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor, of Bismarck, North Dakota, granted a preliminary injunction Monday, ruling that the Catholic Benefits Association and the Diocese of Bismarck were likely to succeed in proving that a final rule adopted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in April violated their freedom of religion. The regulations are meant to enforce the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

The judge also barred the EEOC from forcing the diocese and association to comply with harassment regulations meant to safeguard workers, writing "in a manner that would require them to speak or communicate in favor of abortion, fertility treatments, or gender transition when such is contrary to the Catholic faith.” The ruling targeted transgender employees who would be restricted from expressing parts of their gender identities.

“It is a precarious time for people of religious faith in America. It has been described as a post-Christian age,” Traynor wrote. “One indication of this dire assessment may be the repeated illegal and unconstitutional administrative actions against one of the founding principles of our country, the free exercise of religion.”

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed with widespread bipartisan support in December 2022. It was widely considered a victory for women who are low-wage workers and have routinely been denied accommodations for everything from time off for medical appointments to the ability to sit or stand on the job. But controversy ensued when the EEOC adopted an expansive view of conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth that required accommodations, including for abortion, fertility treatment and birth control. While the rule includes an exemption for religious employers, it says determinations must be made on a case-by-case basis.

But the judge, who was appointed in 2020 by former President Donald Trump, said the rule “forces members to choose between expressing sincerely held beliefs and compliance," and would cause “irreparable” harm.

Martin Nussbaum, lead attorney for the association, on Tuesday called the judge's ruling a win that “respects the religious conscience of sincere Catholic employers.”

The Department of Justice declined to comment.

Attorneys for the federal government had argued against an injunction, saying the plaintiffs’ case was “highly speculative” because they hadn’t identified any enforcement actions or employees who had sought accommodations that were denied. They also said the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to challenge the regulations, and can't show they will likely succeed in the lawsuit. The judge rejected those arguments, saying “It should not take a legal challenge for the Agency to stop violating the Constitutional rights of Americans.”

In vitro fertilization became a major political flashpoint earlier this year, when the Alabama Supreme Court issued an opinion in a wrongful death case equating frozen embryos with children. Major IVF providers paused operations in the state until the Republican-controlled state government adopted a law offering some legal protections.

Last month, Trump said that if he wins a second term, he would make IVF treatment free, but did not detail how he would fund his plan or precisely how it would work. This month, Republicans blocked legislation to establish a nationwide right to IVF, fueling criticism from Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

“This particular case is part of this much broader attack on women’s rights and reproductive freedom,” said Inimai Chettiar, president of legal advocacy group A Better Balance, which spearheaded a decades-long campaign for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Neither the act nor the EEOC regulations require employers to pay for either abortions or IVF — just to allow workers to take time off for them, she said. “It’s not creating this onerous requirement on them.”

The Diocese of Bismarck and the Catholic Benefits Association filed the lawsuit in July. The association, which provides health and other benefits via Catholic employers, counts 85 dioceses and archdioceses among its members, which total over 1,380 employers plus 7,100 parishes nationwide, according to the complaint. Those members also include religious orders, schools, charities, colleges and hospitals, along with Catholic-owned businesses. The association says it covers 162,000 employees enrolled in member health plans.

Traynor has strong affiliations with Catholic and conservative groups. He was a board member of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops, according to a Senate Judiciary Committee judicial nominee questionnaire. He also listed his membership in two conservative law groups, the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies and the St. Thomas More Society of North Dakota. In March, he blocked the government from enforcing key federal laws and related regulations to require a Christian employers' organization to provide insurance coverage for gender-transition surgeries, counseling and other care.

Monday's decision followed a ruling in July by a federal judge in Louisiana, who granted a preliminary injunction in two similar lawsuits brought by the Louisiana and Mississippi attorneys general, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic University and two dioceses. The cases differ because the North Dakota lawsuit also explicitly challenged protections for fertility treatments, not just abortion, said Leila Abolfazli, director of national abortion strategy for the National Women’s Law Center.

In practice, Abolfazli said, if a worker is denied time off for fertility care, “that could be the difference between becoming pregnant or not.” While the ruling only applies to the Catholic groups, she explained that it’s one of several lawsuits that threaten to “bit by bit undermine the law overall.”

Sharita Gruberg, vice president for economic justice at the National Partnership for Women and Families, said she's worried about a “broader chilling effect” from this ruling and other decisions that could inhibit pregnant workers from feeling empowered to exercise their rights under the act.

“Religion is not a license to discriminate,” said Gillian Thomas, senior staff attorney for the ACLU Women’s Rights Project. She said the ruling “marks a dangerous new low in the weaponization of religion against civil rights."

___

Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski reported from Minneapolis. Also contributing to this story were AP writers Alexandra Olson in New York, Claire Savage in Chicago and Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The Associated Press’ women in the workforce and state government coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Scientists grow ‘lost tree’ mentioned in Bible using mysterious 1,000-year-old seed

Vishwam Sankaran
Tue 24 September 2024 

The resin of a tree grown from an ancient seed found in a desert cave near Jerusalem could be the source of a medicinal balm mentioned in the Bible, a new study has found.

The strange seed, about 2cm long, was discovered in a Judean Desert cave in the late 1980s, and dated to between 993AD and 1202AD. After years of attempting to grow the plant, researchers have identified the sapling nicknamed “Sheba”.

DNA analysis has revealed that the tree belongs to a unique species of the Commiphora family, which is distributed across Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula and known for its aromatic gum resins.

Researchers suspected the “Sheba” tree to be a candidate for the “Judean Balsam” or “Balm of Judea”, which was cultivated exclusively in the desert region of southern Levant during Biblical times.

The Judean Balsam has been extensively described in the literature from Hellenistic, Roman-Byzantine and Post-Classical periods between the 4th century BC and the 8th century AD.

Leaves of ‘Sheba’ tree showing fine hairs (Guy Eisner/Communications Biology)

The tree’s resin, called ”tsori” in Biblical texts, was highly prized in the ancient world and exported throughout the Roman Empire. Previous research suggested it was used as perfume, incense, medicine for cataract as well as for embalming and as an antidote to poisons.

In spite of its value, the Judean Balsam seems to have disappeared from the Levant region by the 9th century.

The new DNA study has indicated that the “Sheba” tree was likely used during Biblical times as rootstock onto which the legendary perfume tree Judean balsam was grown.

“Grafting may also explain why Commiphora seeds have not been identified from excavation sites,” researchers said.

They found that the sapling’s leaves have biologically active compounds with anti-inflammatory properties.


Mature ‘Sheba’ tree of 12 years (Guy Eisner/Communication Biology)

“’Sheba’, an unknown Commiphora species with a unique genetic fingerprint, may represent an extinct taxon once native to this region whose resin ‘tsori‘ mentioned in Biblical texts was valuable, associated with healing but not described as fragrant,” researchers said.

The sapling has not yet produced flowers and fruit, which researchers hope would help them compare the tree better with modern-day relative species.

They speculate the environment where it now grows may not be conducive to its flowering and reproduction.

“Despite these limitations, the germination of an ancient Commiphora seed from the Judean Desert shows evidence for the first time of its presence in this region about 1,000 years ago and possible identification with a native tree or shrub whose valuable resin ‘tsori‘ was associated with medicinal use in the Bible,” researchers said.

The latest research also sheds light on the importance of resurrecting species of likely significance to ancient cultures, they said.

UK

LABOUR IS NOT A GREEN PARTY

Tanya Plibersek approves three coalmine expansions in move criticised as ‘the opposite of climate action’

Graham Readfearn
Tue 24 September 2024 

Environment minister Tanya Plibersek says the coalmine approvals are ‘not new projects’ and the emissions from them would be considered under the safeguard mechanism.Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian


The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, approved three coalmine expansions on Tuesday in a step described by conservationists as reckless and “the opposite of climate action”.

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said the three projects, all in New South Wales, would generate more than 1.3bn tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in their lifetime.

The approvals come after conservationists, independent MPs and senators have been negotiating with the government over its delayed reforms to environment laws, including calls for the climate impacts of projects to be considered as part of federal assessments.


Plibersek approved Whitehaven Coal’s plan to extend underground mining for 13 more years until 2044 at its Narrabri mine; Mach Energy’s mine at Mount Pleasant was extended until 2048; and Yancoal’s Ravensworth mine was extended to 2032.

At least two of the mines, Narrabri and Mount Pleasant, will target thermal coal for export and burning in power stations.

Related: Is the environment still top priority for the Albanese government? - podcast

Defending the approvals, Plibersek said the government had to make decisions “in accordance with the facts and the national environment law”.

“That’s what happens on every project, and that’s what’s happened here.”

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She said the mines were “not new projects” and the emissions from them would be considered under the government’s safeguard mechanism designed to cap and reduce emissions from major polluting sites.

The decision to approve the projects angered climate and environment groups.

“This decision is the opposite of climate action,” Gavan McFadzean, the climate program manager at ACF, said.

“It is grossly irresponsible to be approving coalmines when global scientists and the International Energy Agency have repeated calls for no new coal and gas projects if we have any chance of having a safe climate,” he said.

“The Albanese government came to office promising to be champions for climate action and it continues to disappoint.”

He said the approvals were “not a good look” for the government that was due to host a global “nature positive summit” next month.

Related: UN chief urges wealthy countries to beat fossil fuel ‘addiction’ amid expansions

Rod Campbell, the research director at the progressive Australia Institute, said the “approvals are inconsistent with Australia’s climate goals and reinforces our country’s reputation as one of the world’s major fossil fuel exporters”.

Carmel Flint, of the Lock the Gate Alliance, said the government “has revealed its reckless disregard for the extinction of Australian wildlife and the effects of catastrophic climate change on all Australians”.

“We are shocked that a government that came to power promising to halt extinction and act on climate change has sunk so low,” she said.

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said the decision to approve the projects was “a betrayal of everyone who voted for climate action” and said Labor had now approved 26 new coal and gas projects since being elected.

The Greens environment spokesperson, Sarah Hanson-Young, claimed the government was “deliberately and proactively approving climate wrecking coal mines” under national environment laws “they know are broken”.

“It’s wrong and irresponsible,” she said.

ENGLAND

Junk food ads to be banned on buses and Metro as mayors back Jamie Oliver campaign

Daniel Holland
Tue 24 September 2024 

Junk food ads to be banned on buses and Metro as mayors back Jamie Oliver campaign (Image: Newsquest)

Junk food adverts will be banned on bus and Metro services in the North East, in an effort to help youngsters who are “bombarded” by unhealthy products driving childhood obesity.

Kim McGuinness is among nine UK mayors to have today committed to backing Jamie Oliver’s ‘AdEnough’ campaign to crack down on outdoor junk food advertising, having previously pledged to so when challenged by the TV chef during the North East mayoral election campaign earlier this year.

The move will mean that unhealthy food promotions will be banned on the Tyne and Wear Metro and on local bus services, once the mayor’s plans to take control of buses away from private operators are finalised.

Such a ban is already in force on tubes and buses in London and will now be replicated by mayors in eight other areas – also including Greater Manchester, Liverpool, and North Yorkshire.

Mr Oliver called the public health initiative a “much-needed and vital step towards creating healthier, happier communities”.

According to a recent Newcastle City Council report, 11% of reception-age children and 26% of those in year six in the North East are classed as obese.

Ms McGuinness said: “By working together, we send a clear message to junk food companies – and align with broader national efforts to restrict junk food advertising – that the days of targeting children and young people with predatory advertising for products that harm their health are over. Enough is enough.”

Mr Oliver added: “It’s so brilliant to see the mayors stepping up, committing to this bold initiative and banning junk-food ads in their public spaces. It’s a much-needed and vital step towards creating healthier, happier communities across the UK, where our kids aren’t constantly bombarded with unhealthy messaging around food.

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"Of course, there’s still a long way to go, but this is a great start.” Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said the number of junk food ads seen on billboards and bus stops was “not fair, and it’s affecting our health”.

She added: “Children exposed to junk food adverts are more likely to choose unhealthy foods. This evidence-based policy is an important move to reduce the risk of diet-related diseases like obesity and Type 2 diabetes in young people.”

Minke whale sightings hit record highs amid calls for research into 'mystery'

Mark McDougall
Tue 24 September 2024 

A minke whale (Image: Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust)

A new report has revealed 2023 had the highest sighting rates and numbers of minke whales ever recorded in the Hebrides - but it also saw the lowest known numbers for basking sharks.

The report by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust was published by NatureScot and presents findings collected during the Trust’s marine research expeditions onboard its research vessel Silurian over the past three years, together with sighting rates and numbers for minke whales and basking sharks from the 20 years the programme has been running.

The latest findings suggest changes in sighting rates, as well as a possible association between the two highly-mobile and long-lived species. When sighting rates for basking sharks are high, they are low for minke whales and vice versa.


It remains unknown why this happens and the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is calling for more work to analyse the trends as well as investigation into potential causes such as climate change.

Dr Lauren Harny-Mills, the science and conservation manager for the trust, believes it highlights the importance of monitoring the species – particularly in the face of climate emergencies.

Sightings of Basking Sharks have been much lower (Image: Rob Pickering)

She said: “Scotland’s west coast seas are a global hotspot for cetaceans and basking sharks. Our findings highlight the importance of long-term monitoring of these species and the threats facing them.

“In the face of the nature and climate emergencies, gaining new insights and understanding into what is happening in Scotland’s seas is vital, so we can better protect these remarkable animals and this world-class region of marine biodiversity.”

Scotland’s west coast seas are internationally important for whales, dolphins and harbour porpoise – collectively known as cetaceans – and the globally endangered basking shark.

Since 2002, the Isle of Mull-based trust has been monitoring marine life by running expeditions, with members of the public joining its research vessel to survey Hebridean seas.

Sighting rates of minke whale rose to 1.57 per 100 kilometres last year, with numbers reaching a record 167.

In contrast, rates of basking shark fell to 0.07 sightings per 100 kilometres in 2022 and 2023. That is the lowest ever recorded by the trust since monitoring began with just seven basking sharks recorded in each summer.

Scotland’s seas become home to minke whales when they migrates to the west of the country each summer to feed in the rich waters. Despite the encouraging increase in sightings, rates fluctuate over time and there are serious issues affecting the vulnerable species.

Human activities, climate change, entanglement, pollution, underwater noise and habitat degradation are all putting marine life at risk, according to the Trust who say ongoing, long-term research is crucial to understanding the impacts and how best to protect and restore biodiversity.

Rona Sinclair, Marine Mobile Species Monitoring Advisor at NatureScot, said: “This valuable research is allowing us to track how whales and basking sharks are faring over the long-term in the Hebrides. Without collaboration with organisations like the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, it would be much more difficult to assess the health of these species, why changes are happening, and what’s necessary for future research and conservation, including within Marine Protected Areas.

“The decrease in basking shark sightings is worrying, and there could be many reasons for this, likely linked to availability of their food, zooplankton. However, they may also still be there at depth and just not visible. Continued collaboration with researchers is vital, helping us to know how these giant beasts – the world’s second largest fish – are faring, so we can respond appropriately.”

The new report, ‘Hebridean Cetacean Research Programme 2021-24’, documents data gathered during the Trust’s research expeditions carried out from April 2021-March 2024 on Silurian.

During this time, 49 surveys covered a total of 22,645 km, with 10 species of mammal recorded in more than 3,000 sightings. Almost 300 volunteers conducted visual surveys and monitoring with underwater microphones, and identified individual animals through photography.