Conservation International

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Alimov says Russia has withdrawn from the Ramsar Convention, the international treaty on the protection of wetlands, blaming the decision on Western countries. The Ramsar Convention, signed in 1971 in Iran, commits member states to conserving ecologically significant wetland areas. The announcement is being discussed in Russian media and is drawing attention to what further international environmental agreements Russia may leave.

Newsround, the BBC's long-running children's news programme, is drawing attention in the UK, with related coverage including NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 docking at the International Space Station, a look inside Scotland's wildcat conservation headquarters described as 'Big Brother for cats', and a question about whether viewers will celebrate Harvest Festival 2026. The programme continues to explain current affairs to young audiences.

Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, is among the most searched names in multiple countries, including France and Singapore. The conservative leader took office after winning the Liberal Democratic Party leadership, and observers are watching her early policy moves on the economy, immigration and foreign policy. Search interest suggests broad international curiosity about her leadership.

BBC political editor Chris Mason reports that the Conservative Party is united behind leader Kemi Badenoch, but warns the party still has to persuade voters to return to it. The item highlights the gap between internal party unity under Badenoch and the Conservatives' need to rebuild public support after recent setbacks.

Conservation news outlet Mongabay reports that more wildlife species originating from Latin America are appearing at a market in Bangkok, suggesting ongoing international trafficking of exotic animals into Thailand's wildlife trade. The findings point to expanding routes that move species across continents, raising concerns among conservationists about enforcement gaps and the impact on source populations in Latin America.

Jeffrey Archer, the British novelist and former Conservative politician, has died at the age of 86, the Guardian reports. Archer, whose thrillers sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, served as a Conservative MP and deputy chairman of the party before his political career ended in scandal and a prison sentence for perjury. Tributes and reaction are spreading internationally.

Iran has imprisoned a hard-line member of parliament, according to a New York Times report, a move seen as exposing deep divisions within the country's leadership. The jailing of a sitting lawmaker from the conservative ranks is being read as a sign of intensifying infighting among Iran's political factions.

Kemi Badenoch has denied that the Conservatives are proposing a 'British Iron Dome' missile defence system, despite the party's own press release using the phrase. The discrepancy between the Tory communication and the leader's denial has drawn attention in UK political coverage, raising questions about the party's defence messaging and internal coordination.

Conservative MPs are reportedly united behind leader Kemi Badenoch but want the party to focus on the economy rather than culture wars as it seeks to win back voters. According to the Guardian, backbenchers believe economic credibility is the key to recovery, reflecting internal pressure on the party's political strategy as it works to rebuild support after recent electoral setbacks.

The Safari Club International and the Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation have filed a lawsuit against the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, alleging the agency engaged in unlawful rulemaking. The groups challenge recent regulatory actions by the commission, arguing they overstepped legal authority. The case adds to ongoing legal disputes over wildlife management policy in Colorado.

The Sportsmen's Alliance, joined by Safari Club International, has filed a challenge against Colorado's rule limiting hunters and trappers to two furbearer animals per day. The groups argue the restriction is excessive and unsupported by wildlife management data. The move is drawing attention among hunting, trapping and conservation communities watching how Colorado regulators respond to the legal pushback.

A former Arkansas minister has been elected as a bishop during the Global Methodist Church's meeting in South Africa. The church, formed after conservative United Methodists broke away in 2022, has been expanding internationally, and this election adds to its growing episcopal leadership. Arkansas outlets are covering the story because of the minister's local ties.

A Paraguayan enterprise is experimenting with new financing models to make conservation in the Atlantic Forest pay for itself. The initiative, highlighted by BirdLife International, explores ways to generate revenue that sustains protection of one of South America's most threatened forest ecosystems, reducing reliance on donations and grants.

Brazilian researchers are uncovering previously hidden dangers facing shark populations, according to reporting by Forbes. The work highlights threats to shark species in Brazilian waters and the broader challenges facing ocean predators, adding to international scientific efforts to understand and protect declining shark numbers.

Conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against an office within the Trump administration over its handling of deep-sea mining. The legal challenge targets the government's stance on extracting minerals from the ocean floor, an issue that has drawn growing opposition from environmental organisations concerned about damage to little-explored marine ecosystems. Details of the specific claims and which agency is named have not yet been widely reported.