Hunt for underground nest after ‘murder hornets’ seen in Europe for first time

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5 months ago

December 6, 2024

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Scientists in Spain are trying to find an underground nest belonging to the first southern giant hornets to be spotted in Europe.

The invasive insects, sometimes referred to as “murder hornets” because they are known to kill off beehives, can grow up to around 1.3 inches in length.

They are not to be confused with Asian hornets (Vespa velutina) which were confirmed to have survived a UK winter for the first time this year.

Both species are native to Asia and known to eat honeybees, but southern giant hornets (Vespa soror) are different because they build their nests underground.

They are also slightly larger than Asian hornets, which tend to be around an inch long.

There is no suggestion that southern giant hornets have been sighted in the UK.

However, scientist Omar Sanchez, lead author of a study into the sightings in Spain, said it was likely the species would be “detected again in other localities of Spain and probably Europe“.

So far there have been two separate sightings of the insects in the northern city of Siero, in Spain’s Asturias province, according to the study published in the Ecology and Evolution journal last month.

A pair of the hornets were spotted in March 2022 before another two were seen in October 2023.

‘Bad effects’

Researchers believe they have a nest that dates back at least a year.

Mr Sanchez, a zoology professor at the University of Oviedo, and his study’s co-authors found and captured the four hornets.

They then extracted DNA samples and conducted genetic testing and analysis to confirm the species.

The scientists believe the southern giant hornets likely first arrived in Spain on a cargo ship.

Mr Sanchez said he expects the insects to impact the balance of the local ecosystem because they aggressively hunt native hornets, bees, butterflies, moths and flies.

He added: “A long-term decline in the bee population can affect the availability of honey and disrupt pollination processes on which many plants and crops rely.”

Mr Sanchez also said that Asian hornets in Spain are already “causing serious damage to the beekeeping sector” and so the presence of southern giant hornets will “magnify the bad effects”.

The scientist said researchers are therefore trying to find the nest so they can destroy it.

‘Slaughter phase’

“It’s a little bit tricky because this species makes their nest under the ground – more than 30 meters – so it is not easy to find. We are trying,” Mr Sanchez said.

The insects are known to send out scouting teams to find beehives to prey on, according to research published in 2021.

The scouts then rub their bodies against the hive or nearby vegetation to signal others to join them, the study adds.

The southern giant hornets then enter a “slaughter phase” in which they can take out entire beehives in a matter of hours.

Mr Sanchez also said the insect’s sting can be “very painful and long-lasting” for humans.

World

Ten explosions near international airport in India-administered part of Kashmir, officials say

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5 hours ago

May 9, 2025

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Ten explosions have been heard near Srinagar International Airport in India-administered parts of Kashmir, officials have told Reuters news agency.

The blasts followed blackouts caused by multiple projectiles, which were seen in the sky above the city of Jammu earlier on Friday.

Explosions were also heard in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, in the neighbouring Punjab state, according to Reuters.

An Indian military official told the agency that “drones have been sighted” and “they are being engaged”.

It comes as tensions between India and Pakistan across the line of control around the region of Kashmir have boiled over this week, leading to fears of a wider conflict.

On Wednesday morning, India carried out missile strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered parts of the disputed region.

The retaliation came weeks after 26 people, mainly Indian tourists, were shot dead by gunmen in an India-administered part of Kashmir last month.

The government in India said it hit nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites, while Pakistan said it was not involved in the April attack and the sites were not militant bases.

Around 48 people have been killed since Wednesday, according to casualty estimates on both sides – which have not been independently verified.

India also suspended its top cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League, as a result of rising tensions, while the Pakistan Super League moved the remainder of its season to the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a conference on Friday that the US is in constant contact with both India and Pakistan.

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Pope Leo: How voting for new pontiff unfolded behind closed doors of the conclave

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5 hours ago

May 9, 2025

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Pope Leo: How voting for new pontiff unfolded behind closed doors of the conclave

Conclaves are famously unpredictable affairs – and once again the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new pope caught many by surprise.

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV won the consensus of the 133 cardinal electors after only four ballots – a fast process for a diverse college of cardinals.

Though his name had circulated among some Vatican watchers, other cardinals had emerged as clear front-runners, including Pietro Parolin – the Vatican’s number two who would have been the first Italian in almost 50 years to become pontiff – or Luis Tagle, a Filipino cardinal looking to become the first Asian pope.

Instead, it was the first North American to win the highly secretive process.

So, what went on behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel?

Until Thursday lunchtime, Cardinal Parolin was ahead, gathering between 45 and 55 votes, sources say.

A substantial number, but well short of the 89 votes he needed for a two-thirds majority.

At this point, Cardinal Prevost had between 34 and 44 votes.

But as the Italian struggled to grow his support during the first three rounds of voting, he stepped down from the race, endorsing Prevost instead, Sky News understands.

An internal battle between Luis Tagle and Pablo Virgilio David – both cardinals hailing from Asia – cancelled out both of their chances.

And a contender from Africa – the most conservative sector of the church – was never likely for a conclave where the overwhelming majority of cardinals had been appointed by Francis, a progressive pontiff, sources say.

An American pope has long been seen as highly improbable, given the geopolitical power of the US.

But Cardinal Prevost was able to draw from across the groups making up the electors: moderate US cardinals, South American cardinals and many European cardinals all coalesced around him.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica said Prevost “certainly attracted cross-party preferences, both ideologically and geographically”.

“In the conclave he was the least American of Americans: Born in Chicago, he lived 20 years in Peru,” the newspaper said.

It added: “As a man used to teamwork, Prevost appeared to many as the right man to make the papacy evolve into a more collegial form.”

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Russia’s Victory Day parade felt more like a celebration of war than peace

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5 hours ago

May 9, 2025

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Russia's Victory Day parade felt more like a celebration of war than peace

Standing on Red Square, this was an intimidating sight, which felt much more like a celebration of war rather than peace.

I could feel the ground shake as the tanks rolled past, their caterpillar tracks on the ancient cobbles providing a deafening clatter.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up in fear as the phalanxes of troops roared “Hurrah” in response to their commander in chief.

And the sight of combat drones being paraded on their launchers was actually quite sickening. Weapons that have been at the forefront of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were paraded in a show of pomp and patriotism.

Ukraine war latest: Putin welcomes Xi at Victory Day parade

For the rest of Europe, the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War has been a celebration of peace, but this felt much more like a celebration of war.

And it wasn’t just military hardware on display here, but the very identity of modern Russia.

For this is a country that is now defined by its military and its memory. The glory and sacrifice of 1945 have been weaponised to give credence to Russia’s current course and to make people believe that victory is their right.

For Russians, it served as a rallying cry and there was applause when the troops who have fought against Ukraine marched past.

But for those watching in Kyiv and other European capitals, it was an overt warning that Moscow has no intention of backing down.

The parade was considerably larger in scale than in recent years, when units and hardware have been needed on the battlefield. I think it was a deliberate attempt to project an image of confidence, and so was Vladimir Putin‘s positioning of his guests.

China’s Xi Jinping was given a prime position on the Kremlin leader’s right-hand side. It was no surprise given the economic lifeline Beijing has provided, but it felt like a particularly pointed gesture to the West – that they were looking at a new world order.

Despite that appearance of confidence, there were signs of Moscow’s unease that the parade could be disrupted.

There were snipers on every rooftop. Security was extremely tight. And the mobile internet signal across the city centre was completely shut down for fear of Ukrainian drone attacks, meaning none of the international media that had gathered could broadcast any live transmissions.

After the parade finished, Putin saluted the crowds as they spontaneously erupted into rhythmic shouts of “Rus-si-ya” at the sight of him.

Another PR coup complete without interruption, he will have departed as a very happy man.