Researchers in India have for the first time documented how Asian elephants bury dead calves. Five calves were found buried on their backs in drainage ditches in tea gardens in northern Bengal, according to a new study. The burials were documented in areas home to fragmented forests and agricultural lands such as tea gardens, said Roy. Herds of elephants use ...

Sam George, the driving force behind Ghana’s harsh anti-LGBTQ legislation, portrays himself as a guardian of gay Ghanaians. But despite his claims, the bill, signed into law late last month by Ghana’s parliament, imposes severe penalties merely for identifying as LGBTQ, with fines or up to three years in prison. Someone convicted of “promoting” gay rights can get up to ...

Russia is holding a presidential election that is all but certain to extend Vladimir Putin’s rule throughout this decade and into the 2030s. The vast majority of votes will be cast over three days from 15 March, though early and postal voting has already begun, including in occupied parts of Ukraine where Russian forces are attempting to exert authority. But this is not a ...

Russians are heading to the polls over the next three days for a presidential election that is set to hand Vladimir Putin a fifth term in power as he faces opponents carefully curated by the Kremlin and who pose no real threat to his legitimacy. Russians will vote from Friday until Sunday across the country’s 11 time zones – from the far eastern ...

The menopause could be the reason some female whales live around 40 years longer than others, scientists have said. Five species of whales go through menopause, the only other mammals to do so aside from humans. Short-finned pilot whales, false killer whales, orcas, narwhals and beluga whales all stop releasing eggs. Researchers say the menopause could have evolved to allow ...

Spending quality time with dogs can reduce a person’s stress and anxiety levels, a small study has found. Scientists scanned the brains of 30 people as they groomed, fed and played with a four-year-old poodle – and found they “reported feeling significantly less fatigued, depressed and stressed after all dog-related activities”. The brain activity of 15 men and 15 women ...

The CEO of TikTok has said that a US ban on the platform “would take billions of dollars out of the pockets of creators and small businesses”. Shou Zi Chew, who a source said is visiting Washington DC this week, added the company will exercise its legal rights to prevent a ban after a bill passed in the House. Representatives ...

If you’re into skincare, you will have heard of squalene (or squalane). It’s in moisturisers, make-up and cleansers but is also used in vaccines and medicines. Now, scientists have linked squalene to around 390 species of sharks and rays being threatened with extinction, according to new research. The authors are calling for better regulation of the industry. “It’s very easy ...

Members of the European Parliament have voted overwhelmingly to approve a new world-leading set of rules on artificial intelligence. They are designed to make sure humans stay in control of the technology – and that it benefits the human race. So what’s changing? The rules are risk-based. The riskier the effects of an artificial intelligence (AI) system, the more scrutiny ...

The US has moved a step closer to banning TikTok with a vote in the House of Representatives.  The House has passed a bill that would lead to the app being banned in the US if its Chinese owner does not sell. The legislation will now go to the Senate. But how would a ban work, what would it mean ...