7 h. ago Lithuanian hunters refuse to kill bear that ambled around capital for two days

Government issued permit to shoot young female who entered Vilnius, despite only small number left in Baltic countryEurope live – latest updatesA young female bear caused a stir after wandering out of the forest and into the leafy suburbs of the Lithuanian capital.For two days, the brown bear ambled through the neighbourhoods of Vilnius, trotted across highways and explored backyards – all while being chased by onlookers with smartphones and, eventually, drones. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Lithuanian hunters refuse a government request to shoot a wild bear in the capital

Lithuanian hunters have refused to shoot a wild bear that was spotted roaming around the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius and criticized the government for issuing a permit to kill a member of the protected species

Politics

8 h. ago Wild bear finally has plastic lid removed from neck after two years

A Michigan bear is feeling much, much better

Politics

9 d. ago Scottish Government refuses to rule out changes to pensioners’ winter payment

A spokesperson for John Swinney refused to rule out making changes in the wake of the UK Government’s U-turn on winter heating payments.

Politics

9 d. ago SNP Government refuses to rule out making changes to winter fuel payment scheme

A spokesman for First Minister John Swinney said the implications of Labour’s winter fuel U-turn are as ‘clear as mud’.

Politics

2 w. ago A moment that changed me: I saw my first wild water bear – and snapped out of my despair at the world

I was in anguish over the climate crisis, ecological devastation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But this almost indestructible little creature gave me a lesson in resilienceLess than a millimetre in length, the squishy, transparent animal was completely unaware of my presence, my entire existence, while I watched it in awe. On my computer screen, where I gazed at the image generated by a cheap USB microscope, the water bear stumbled over grains of eroded rock and plant matter, an assemblage of soil, and I felt amused by its bumbling nature. Like someone trying to move through a field of beach balls, I thought.I had found this water bear, or tardigrade, in a clump of moss I collected during a wet and windy walk with our dog, Bernie, in late 2021. After changing into dry clothes, I rinsed the moss with water and removed the excess using coffee filter paper. Transferring the residue soil and stray moss leaves – known as phyllids – to a small glass bowl, I found the water bear within...

Politics

2 w. ago Omagh bomb inquiry chair refuses Government’s bid to redact civil servant names

The decision relates to the dissemination of the names to other core participants to the inquiry, not their publication in the media.

Politics

2 w. ago Defence review plans will make army ‘10 times more lethal’, says John Healey – politics live

Defence secretary says ‘the world is more dangerous’ as he addresses MPs about strategic defence reviewHere is the clip of Keir Starmer in his Today programme interview refusing to say when the government will raise defence spending to 3% of GDP.In an interview with the Times published on Saturday John Healey, the defence secretary, said that he had “no doubt” that Britain would reach the 3% target by 2034 – ie, before the end of the next parliament. Yesterday he described this as an “ambition”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer defends not putting date on 3% defence spending target as UK to announce plans to build new submarines – politics live

Prime minister to launch strategic defence review in Glasgow this morningHere is the clip of Keir Starmer in his Today programme interview refusing to say when the government will raise defence spending to 3% of GDP.In an interview with the Times published on Saturday John Healey, the defence secretary, said that he had “no doubt” that Britain would reach the 3% target by 2034 – ie, before the end of the next parliament. Yesterday he described this as an “ambition”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Angela Rayner refuses to confirm if UK Government will scrap two

The Deputy Prime Minister said "I'm not going to speculate on what our government is going to do."

Politics

3 w. ago Kemi Badenoch denies ignoring security advice over taxpayer funded private driver

Tory leader's comments follows reports she refused a vehicle from the official government car service (GCS) and instead given access to a private driver

Economics

last month SNP ministers refuse plea to block controversial Flamingo Land application for Loch Lomond

A Scottish Government minister has refused to intervene and refuse permission for the controversial development.

Politics

last month Flamingo Land 'mega resort' at Loch Lomond compared to Donald Trump golf course

Green MSP Ross Greer hit out after the SNP Government refused to overturn a decision by its officials to allow the building of the Lomond Banks resort.

Politics