Author: Grace Johnson

US President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to leave dozens of international organisations. Many of these groups focus on climate change and environmental protection. Nearly half of the 66 affected organisations are linked to the United Nations. The list includes the Framework Convention on Climate Change, which serves as the foundation of global climate cooperation. The decision also targets organisations working on development, gender equality, and conflict prevention. The administration has repeatedly criticised these areas as ideological or globalist. The White House said these organisations no longer serve American interests and promote hostile or ineffective agendas. White House…

Conservationists have confirmed the birth of rare mountain gorilla twins in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The birth occurred inside Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest protected area. Experts describe the event as exceptional for this endangered species. Community trackers discovered the 22-year-old mother, Mafuko, on Saturday. She cradled her newborn twins closely. Observers reported that the mother and her two baby sons appeared healthy. Twin births represent about one percent of all mountain gorilla births. Precise figures remain limited. Specialists therefore consider each case extremely significant. Life in a Conflict-Affected Region Virunga National Park lies in a region affected by…

Until recently, the butterfly pea flower ranked as just another climbing plant in rural Assam. Nilam Brahma, who lives in Anthaigwlao village, watched it grow unnoticed for years. Locals treated the vine as ornamental, not commercial. The plant carries a vivid blue flower and grows easily across fences and fields. In India, people also call it aparajita. About two years ago, Brahma noticed women earning money by selling the flowers. They sold them dried, brewed them into tea, or used them as natural dye. Brahma decided to join them and test the market herself. The results changed her expectations and…

The U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey team is gearing up for the 2026 Winter Olympics with a goal to reclaim gold. The squad combines experienced players with rising stars, creating a balanced and competitive lineup. Coaches have emphasized building momentum through intensive training, exhibition games, and team-building activities. Their strategy focuses on both offense and defense, ensuring the team can handle any opponent at the Olympics. Veteran players provide leadership on and off the ice. Their experience in past international competitions helps guide younger teammates and strengthens team chemistry. This mix of talent aims to maintain high energy and focus throughout…

Wildlife experts report progress in a project to bring elk back to wetlands in Nottinghamshire. The animals once thrived in the UK but became extinct around 3,000 years ago, largely due to hunting. Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire wildlife trusts secured £15,000 in funding from Rewilding Britain earlier this year to explore the feasibility of the elk’s return. Assessing the Risks Janice Bradley, from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said a disease risk assessment, expected by early next year, marks a major milestone. As head of nature recovery, she described elk as a “very important megaherbivore.” “They act as keystone species and shape entire…

Despite being no larger than a Post-It note, tiny fiddler crabs can ingest and break down microplastic particles, researchers report. Scientists reveal these small crabs play an unexpected role in reducing plastic pollution in coastal ecosystems. Crabs thrive amid plastic pollution A new study in Global Change Biology monitored fiddler crabs in a highly polluted mangrove forest on Colombia’s northern coast. Years of urban and agricultural expansion have damaged the mangroves, producing some of the world’s highest plastic concentrations. Researchers discovered that the crabs are thriving despite these harsh conditions. The animals ingest and break down significant amounts of microplastics…

Wind power has surged across Europe, raising concerns about billions wasted through weak grid investment. Many countries now produce more clean electricity than their systems can handle. Last year marked a major win for the UK renewable sector. Project approvals reached record levels. Offshore wind farms delivered almost 17 per cent of national electricity output. On 5 December 2025, wind generation hit a historic peak. Turbines produced 23,825 megawatts of electricity. That output could power more than 23 million homes. Yet Octopus Energy, one of Britain’s largest suppliers, says much of this power never reached consumers. The company created the…

Tracking seabirds off Cape Point On a small boat in the Atlantic, about 50 kilometers from South Africa’s Cape Point, bird watchers scan the horizon. They call out names of seabirds: “Atlantic yellow-nosed! Black-browed albatross!” The tour boat takes visitors from Cape Town to see endangered seabirds, including albatrosses, which rarely appear on land. It’s a warm summer day with clear blue skies, perfect for spotting birds. The skipper speaks on the radio, searching for fishing trawlers. Soon he spots one and steers directly toward it. As the boat—run by Cape Town Pelagics, a non-profit—approaches, more seabirds emerge. Hundreds trail…

Beaked whales remain among the least understood mammals on Earth. Scientists now use underwater sound to identify these secretive deep divers. The approach opens a rare window into lives hidden far below the surface. On a bright, calm day in early June 2024, Elizabeth Henderson stood aboard a boat off Baja California. She scanned the glassy sea with powerful binoculars. Her team balanced halfway up the mast and searched patiently. They hunted for beaked whales, animals famous for extreme diving. Some dive nearly three kilometres below the surface. They stay underwater longer than any other mammal. When they surface, their…

Great white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea face a growing threat of extinction, researchers warn. Illegal fishing contributes heavily to their decline, putting one of the ocean’s top predators at risk. US scientists, collaborating with the UK-based Blue Marine Foundation, conducted research revealing that some of the most threatened shark species are being sold openly in North African fish markets. Great whites belong to more than 20 Mediterranean shark species protected under international law, making it illegal to fish or trade them. Despite these protections, researchers monitoring ports along the North African Mediterranean coast documented at least 40 great white…