Scientists who eavesdropped on bats in Costa Rica have found that their babies babble like humans. The bats produce rhythmic sounds and repeat key “building-block syllables,” said the lead researcher. Dr Ahana Fernandez added: “They just babble away, sunrise to sunset, practising their sounds.” He says they also listen to each other. “One starts, he babbles for 15 minutes or so, and I can clearly see the ears of the other pups moving,” he said.
‘Sorry my love’ sign appears in Leeds
A sign reading “I am sorry my lov” [sic] has been strung across a bridge in Leeds. The person behind the sign has not been revealed but locals are having fun with it on Facebook by tagging their spouses and jokingly questioning what they had done to deserve such a public apology. Another wrote “Aww this is actually cute,” but added: “On a serious note, hope whoever wrote it is ok.”
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Man, 76, plans to ride 100km in a day
A 76-year-old man plans to ride 100km in one day to raise awareness and funds for international disaster relief charity ShelterBox. Peter Tracey, from Northumberland, said: “When people, wherever they are, are devastated by a disaster through no fault of their own, they need to get back on their feet, and ShelterBox can help them get going again in the short term.” He says that rather than speeding to the finish line, he will be aiming to “finish before the sun goes down.”
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The environmental cost of GLP-1sThe explainer Producing the drugs is a dirty process
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Greenland’s capital becomes ground zero for the country’s diplomatic straitsIN THE SPOTLIGHT A flurry of new consular activity in Nuuk shows how important Greenland has become to Europeans’ anxiety about American imperialism
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‘This is something that happens all too often’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
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Epstein files topple law CEO, roil UK governmentSpeed Read Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, is caught up in the scandal
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Iran and US prepare to meet after skirmishesSpeed Read The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East
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Israel retrieves final hostage’s body from GazaSpeed Read The 24-year-old police officer was killed during the initial Hamas attack
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China’s Xi targets top general in growing purgeSpeed Read Zhang Youxia is being investigated over ‘grave violations’ of the law
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Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
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Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
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Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
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US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
