The UK has suspended imports of live cattle, sheep and goats from France following the outbreak of a disease which can be fatal to cows.
Epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) has been reported in southern France for the first time, having previously been recorded in Spain, Portugal and southern Italy.
The virus which causes the disease is usually spread to ruminants – hoofed herbivores such as cows, deer and sheep – through the bites of infected midges.
More than 250 outbreaks of the disease have been recorded in Spain, Portugal and Italy since the disease was first spotted in Europe in November last year.
Scientists in the UK say warmer summers caused by climate change may have contributed to the sharp rise in outbreaks in southern Europe this summer.
However, it says the risk of the virus reaching the UK is currently “negligible”.
What is epizootic haemorrhagic disease?
EHD was first identified in the US in the 1950s, but has since spread to parts of Africa and the Middle East.
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It was first spotted in Europe on the Italian island of Sardinia in autumn last year.
Scientists from France’s National Social Security Administration (ANSES) – who are also monitoring the spread of the disease – believe infected midges were transported to Sardinia from North Africa “across the Mediterranean by the wind”.
Though DEFRA says the disease does not affect people or food safety, it can be particularly deadly to deer, and can also kill cattle, sheep and goats.
There are currently no vaccines for the disease.
Symptoms in infected cattle include a fever, weakness, lack of appetite, difficulty swallowing and a skin rash on the udder.
Disease spreads to France
The disease was recorded for the first time in southwest France last month, with 19 outbreaks reported across two areas of the French Pyrenees region.
The cases occurred within 60km of recent outbreaks reported in Spain’s Huesca province and the Basque Country.
Image: A map showing the spread of EHD across southern Europe. Pic: DEFRA
Experts say the type of biting midges thought to carry the virus can travel up to 150km in one day in favourable wind conditions.
However, there is “no clear indication” yet as to how the virus spread across the Pyrenees mountains, according to DEFRA.
Trade of live cattle suspended
In a bid to stop the spread of the disease, French authorities have banned the export of live cattle from six regions in the southwest of France and placed restrictions on six neighbouring regions.
The UK has also postponed the trade of live cattle, sheep, goats, and deer – from France.
DEFRA says experts are carrying out back tracing to identify any shipments of live cattle from France over the past 28 days.
According to DEFRA, the biggest risk of the disease reaching the UK is through infected midges “from areas we are trading with that have undetected EHDV”, but said it considered the risk “negligible”.
A DEFRA spokesperson said: “The UK remains officially EHD free, but we are not complacent against the risk it poses to our farmers.
“That is why imports of live ruminants can no longer be imported from affected countries, while germinal products are now subject to additional testing requirements.
“The detections in Europe are an important reminder to all farmers to be vigilant in sourcing their stock and germinal products, ensuring imported animals are sourced from a disease-free country.”
According to HRMC data, the UK imported £4m worth of live cattle directly from France last year.
Four people have been arrested by police investigating cyber attacks targeting M&S, Co-op and Harrods.
A 20-year-old woman and two males, both aged 19, and a male aged 17, were detained in London and the West Midlands this morning as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) operation.
They were arrested at their homes on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences, blackmail, money laundering and participating in the activities of an organised crime group.
Electronic devices were seized from the suspects and are currently being analysed by forensic experts.
M&S halted online orders, and shelves were empty in shops after the cyber attack on the retailer earlier this year.
The initial hack into the retailer’s systems took place in April through “sophisticated impersonation” involving a third party.
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Disruption is expected to continue at the retailer until the end of this month.
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Mickey Carroll in May answered why M&S cyber attack was so bad.
The Co-op and Harrods were also subsequently targeted by hackers.
Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s National cybercrime unit described the arrests as a “significant step” in their investigation, which remains “one of the Agency’s highest priorities”.
He added: “…our work continues, alongside partners in the UK and overseas, to ensure those responsible are identified and brought to justice.”
The National Crime Agency is keen to “signal” to “future victims” the “importance of seeking support and engaging with law enforcement”, stating that “the NCA and policing are here to help”.
The NCA has also thanked M&S, Co-op and Harrods for their support in their investigations.
The arrests, which took place early on Thursday morning, were supported by officers from the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit and the East Midlands Special Operations Unit.
Earlier this week, the chairman of M&S told MPs that the hack had been “traumatic” and like an “out-of-body experience”.
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Archie Norman, however, refused to be drawn on whether the retailer had paid any ransom.
“We are not discussing any of the details of our interaction with the threat actor, including this subject, but that subject is fully shared with the NCA,” he said.
A New York-listed company with a valuation of more than $21bn is to snap up Space NK, the British high street beauty chain.
Sky News has learnt that Ulta Beauty, which operates close to 1,500 stores, is on the verge of a deal to buy Space NK from existing owner Manzanita Capital.
Ulta Beauty is understood to have registered an acquisition vehicle at Companies House in recent weeks.
Royal Mail had repeatedly failed to meet the so-called universal service obligation to deliver post within set periods of time.
Those delivery targets are now being revised downwards.
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Rather than having to have 93% of first-class mail delivered the next day, 90% will be legally allowed.
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The sale of Royal Mail was approved in December
The target for second-class mail deliveries will be lowered from 98.5% to arrive within three working days to 95%.
A review of stamp prices has also been announced by Ofcom amid concerns over affordability, with a consultation set to be launched next year.
It’s good news for Royal Mail and its new owner, the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. Ofcom estimates the changes will bring savings of between £250m and £425m.
A welcome change?
Unsurprisingly, the company welcomed the announcement.
“It is good news for customers across the UK as it supports the delivery of a reliable, efficient and financially sustainable universal service,” said Martin Seidenberg, the group chief executive of Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distribution Services.
“It follows extensive consultation with thousands of people and businesses to ensure that the postal service better reflects their needs and the realities of how customers send and receive mail today.”
Citizens Advice, however, doubted whether services would improve as a result of the changes.
“Today, Ofcom missed a major opportunity to bring about meaningful change,” said Tom MacInnes, the director of policy at Citizens Advice.
“Pushing ahead with plans to slash services and relax delivery targets in the name of savings won’t automatically make letter deliveries more reliable or improve standards.”
Acknowledging long delays “where letters have taken weeks to arrive”, Ofcom said it set Royal Mail new enforceable targets so 99% of mail has to be delivered no more than two days late.
Changing habits
Less than a third of letters are sent now than 20 years ago, and it is forecast to fall to about a fifth of the letters previously sent.
According to Ofcom research, people want reliability and affordability more than speedy delivery.
Royal Mail has been loss-making in recent years as revenues fell.
In response to Ofcom’s changes, a government spokesperson said: “The public expects a well-run postal service, with letters arriving on time across the country without it costing the earth. With the way people use postal services having changed, it’s right the regulator has looked at this.
“We now need Royal Mail to work with unions and posties to deliver a service that people expect, and this includes maintaining the principle of one price to send a letter anywhere in the UK”.
Ofcom said it has told Royal Mail to hold regular meetings with consumer bodies and industry groups to hear their experiences implementing the changes.