Alexander Monir

A leatherback turtle named Bella produced 134 hatchlings from 146 eggs on Ecuador’s coast, a 91.8% success rate. Researchers are also recording record numbers of eastern Pacific leatherback nests in the country. A promising sign for a critically endangered species.

Conservationists have rescued 3,400 rare one-flowered wintergreen plants from an eroding Scottish coastline. The species has lost more than half its UK population in 50 years. A remarkable effort to protect a small but irreplaceable part of Britain’s natural heritage.

Britain’s £12bn offshore wind investment could power 3 million homes and support 2,300 jobs a year during construction. Yet approving the Jackdaw gasfield at the same time leaves the government’s energy strategy pulling in two directions.

Gaza doctor Hussam Abu Safiya has been held by Israel without charge for nearly 23 months. An independent Israeli medical expert now warns that his untreated health problems could put his life at risk. theguardian.com/world/2026/n…

In water-scarce Jordan, more than 35 mosques are reusing water from ritual washing for irrigation and cleaning. A simple idea is helping communities conserve a resource that is becoming increasingly precious. theguardian.com/global-devel…

For families displaced by war, a winter storm can destroy what little shelter they have left. In Gaza, thousands of tents have flooded, while access to proper housing and basic protection remains severely limited.

The reported relocation of US aircraft from RAF Mildenhall over an Iran-related threat shows how the conflict is reaching British territory. Hosting foreign military bases also means carrying part of their security risks.

Britain’s weak jobs market is hitting young people hardest. Employers are freezing recruitment while nearly a million remain outside work or education. A generation risks losing its first chance to get established. theguardian.com/business/202…

Science can cross borders that politics struggles to bridge. On World Science Day for Peace and Development, the message is clear: shared knowledge, scientific cooperation and open dialogue are essential to building a more peaceful world.

Five European leaders want closer energy ties with Britain. Brexit has made cooperation more complicated, but geography and shared energy interests are pushing both sides towards a practical reset. theguardian.com/world/2026/n…

Eisenkot has a chance to replace Netanyahu, but forming a government will be harder than winning endorsements. Israel’s political divide remains deep, and Arab parties may hold the balance of power.

For displaced families in Gaza, winter has brought another crisis. Thousands of damaged tents, flooded shelters and shortages of basic materials leave people exposed to rain and cold after years of war.

Around 400,000 Sudanese children have fled to Egypt. With up to 70% reportedly out of school, displacement is turning into a lost childhood for a generation already scarred by war.

Britain’s expected retreat on EV targets exposes a familiar policy problem: short-term pressure from industry is being weighed against long-term climate commitments. Investors need consistency, not another change of direction. theguardian.com/environment/…

More than 600,000 people took to the streets across France over wages, education funding and public services. The protests show how economic frustration can unite students, workers and pensioners against a government’s priorities.

Reports of at least 20 deaths in Yemen’s Taiz province demand an independent investigation. The conflicting accounts of the attack show how civilians remain trapped between armed factions and competing political narratives.

The Iran war is now feeding directly into Britain’s cost of living. The Bank of England has raised rates to 4%, warning that another increase is possible if the conflict continues. theguardian.com/business/liv…

Qatar’s mediation remains one of the few active channels between Washington and Tehran. Trump’s call with the Qatari emir suggests diplomacy is still alive, even as military escalation remains a real possibility. apnews.com/article/ab62071e0…