Rare black panther spotted in Kenya
Panthera pardus, or the black panther, was spotted in Kenya. This was the first verified sighting of the black panther in close to a century. The black panther is commonly found in Southeast Asia, but it is rarely found in Africa. According to the New York Times, “A team from the Institute for Conservation Research of the San Diego Zoo Global and the Loisaba Conservancy in Kenya confirmed the existence of black leopards— as the animals are also known— in Laikipia County, an area north of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.”
Largest species of bee not extinct
Wallace’s Giant Bee, a rare species of bee only found in the North Moluccas islands in Indonesia, has been found after previously being thought to be extinct. According to the New York Times, “In January, an international team of conservationists found a Megachile pluto, as the species is called, in the wild. The team captured the first-ever photos and videos of a live specimen, renewing hope for [the] survival of the species, which is threatened by deforestation.”
Putin threatens missile use against the US in state of the nation speech
Recently, the Russian government has began to use it gold reserves to fund infrastructure projects while simultaneously raising taxes and retirement ages. According to the New York Times, “President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia— facing an economically beleaguered, less-supportive public— used his annual state-of-the-nation speech on Wednesday to promise a raft of social spending, while also doubling down on threats against the United States.” Over the last year, Putin’s approval rating has dropped drastically.
