Bees face new threats from wars, street lights and microplastics, scientists warn

University of Reading report says conflicts including war in Ukraine among 12 most pressing threats to pollinator

War zones, microplastics and street lights are among the emerging threats to the bee population, according to scientists.

Bee experts have drawn up a list of the 12 most pressing threats to the pollinator over the next decade, published in a report, Emerging Threats and Opportunities for Conservation of Global Pollinators, by the University of Reading.

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Dogs are being trained to weed out eggs of invasive spotted lanternflies in US

Researchers are deploying sniffing dogs to combat spread of leaf-hopping pests that can damage trees and fruit crops

The spotted lanternfly, a leaf-hopping invasive pest first detected in the US a decade ago, has steadily spread across the East coast and into the midwest with little getting in its way.

But now researchers are deploying a new weapon to slow its advance: specially trained dogs with the ability to sniff out the winged insect’s eggs before they hatch.

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Trump and Putin hold phone call but Kremlin refuses Ukraine ceasefire

Trump describes call as ‘excellent,’ despite Putin’s lack of support for ceasefire that US said was primary objective

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have held a rare phone call, which the US leader described as “excellent”, but the Kremlin refused to agree to a ceasefire in the war with Ukraine, despite pressure from Washington and European allies.

Speaking to reporters in Sochi after the two-hour conversation on Monday, Putin described the call as “very meaningful and frank” and said he was prepared to work with Ukraine on drafting a memorandum for future peace talks.

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Netanyahu Says Israel Will Take Over Gaza as It Allows Food Into Enclave – WSJ

  1. Netanyahu Says Israel Will Take Over Gaza as It Allows Food Into Enclave  WSJ
  2. European allies pile pressure on Israel to increase aid to Gaza  The Washington Post
  3. Intel's new CEO says the company has 55% of the data centre market  Reuters
  4. First few aid trucks enter Gaza but allies threaten Israel with sanctions and urge more  AP News
  5. Israel Wavers as Far Right and Military Disagree on Gaza Strategy  The New York Times
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El Salvador arrests prominent human rights lawyer who defends deportees – Al Jazeera

  1. El Salvador arrests prominent human rights lawyer who defends deportees  Al Jazeera
  2. El Salvador arrests prominent human rights lawyer  NPR
  3. Lawyer for Venezuelans deported to El Salvador prison arrested  The Guardian
  4. El Salvador arrests human rights lawyer critical of President Bukele  CNN
  5. Prominent Anti-Corruption Lawyer Is Arrested in El Salvador  The New York Times
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Israel says it is unleashing an “unprecedented attack” – The Economist

  1. Israel says it is unleashing an “unprecedented attack”  The Economist
  2. As key Israel allies threaten action over Gaza catastrophe, Washington is largely unmoved  The Guardian
  3. Israel orders Khan Younis evacuation ahead of 'unprecedented attack'  BBC
  4. Eyewitness video shows Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis  Al Jazeera
  5. IDF calls to evacuate Khan Yunis as Israel intensifies Gaza operation  The Jerusalem Post
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France sparks outcry with plan for prison wing near former penal colony

Site in French Guiana once received prisoners who were sent to notorious Devil’s Island off the coast

French plans to build a maximum-security prison wing for drug traffickers and Islamic militants near a former penal colony in French Guiana have sparked an outcry among local people and officials.

The wing would form part of a $450m (£337m) prison announced in 2017 that is expected to be completed by 2028 and hold 500 inmates. The prison would be built in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, a town bordering Suriname that once received prisoners shipped by Napoleon III in the 1800s, some of whom were sent to the notorious Devil’s Island off the coast of French Guiana.

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Nicușor Dan, the maths prodigy who beat an ultranationalist for Romanian presidency – The Guardian

  1. Nicușor Dan, the maths prodigy who beat an ultranationalist for Romanian presidency  The Guardian
  2. Romania’s pro-EU candidate unexpectedly beats hard-right rival to win presidential election  CNN
  3. How Romania Defused Far-Right Threat in Presidential Election  Bloomberg
  4. In Eastern Europe, Centrists Hold Off 2 Nationalist Challenges  The New York Times
  5. Romania: Historic victory for pro-European candidate  DW
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Tributes paid as boy, 17, charged over death of teenager on Scottish beach

Family of Kayden Moy, 16, say he will be ‘sorely missed’, while police continue investigation and call for information

A 17-year-old boy has been charged in connection with the death of Kayden Moy, 16, who died after a “targeted” attack on a Scottish beach.

Police were called to reports of a teenager being seriously injured at Irvine beach in North Ayrshire on Saturday at about 6.45pm.

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