Nick Miles

Catherine Ellis. Now, scientists have been poring over hundreds of studies about the impact of pesticides and they found to what extent they're having a serious impact on biodiversity around the world and on all sorts of species.

James Menendez heard more from Dr Ben Woodcock of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and co-author of the new research published in the journal Nature Communications.

James Menendez heard more from Dr Ben Woodcock of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and co-author of the new research published in the journal Nature Communications.

Ben Woodcock of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. In case you've forgotten, February the 14th is Valentine's Day. But if you're not in the mood for love, some animal sanctuaries are offering the perfect antidote. One venue is giving people the chance to name a rat after their ex and feed it to a bird of prey.

Ben Woodcock of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. In case you've forgotten, February the 14th is Valentine's Day. But if you're not in the mood for love, some animal sanctuaries are offering the perfect antidote. One venue is giving people the chance to name a rat after their ex and feed it to a bird of prey.

Thank you.

Thank you.

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles and in the early hours of Thursday the 13th of February, these are our main stories. There's been a flurry of initiatives from the United States on the war in Ukraine, with Donald Trump holding separate phone calls with Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky.

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles and in the early hours of Thursday the 13th of February, these are our main stories. There's been a flurry of initiatives from the United States on the war in Ukraine, with Donald Trump holding separate phone calls with Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky.

The new US Defence Secretary has ruled out Ukrainian membership of NATO. Egypt and Qatar say they're stepping up diplomatic efforts to save the ceasefire deal in Gaza. Hundreds of people who'd been working in scam centres in Myanmar have crossed into Thailand after attempts to shut down the operations.

The new US Defence Secretary has ruled out Ukrainian membership of NATO. Egypt and Qatar say they're stepping up diplomatic efforts to save the ceasefire deal in Gaza. Hundreds of people who'd been working in scam centres in Myanmar have crossed into Thailand after attempts to shut down the operations.

So why did a group of Russians floating on a shrinking block of ice not want to be rescued? Find out later. Before returning to the White House, Donald Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in just one day. Now there seems to be the first concrete action towards achieving that, albeit belated, goal.

So why did a group of Russians floating on a shrinking block of ice not want to be rescued? Find out later. Before returning to the White House, Donald Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in just one day. Now there seems to be the first concrete action towards achieving that, albeit belated, goal.

He's spoken to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and a short time later to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky. In his nightly address, President Zelensky said the talks had been positive.

He's spoken to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and a short time later to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky. In his nightly address, President Zelensky said the talks had been positive.

President Trump said he'd had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with the Russian president during which they'd agreed to work closely to end the conflict. He said both of them believed strongly that the killing must stop. A short time later in the Oval Office of the White House, President Trump had this to say.

President Trump said he'd had a lengthy and highly productive phone call with the Russian president during which they'd agreed to work closely to end the conflict. He said both of them believed strongly that the killing must stop. A short time later in the Oval Office of the White House, President Trump had this to say.

Our North America editor, Sarah Smith, has this assessment of President Trump's telephone conversation with President Putin.

Our North America editor, Sarah Smith, has this assessment of President Trump's telephone conversation with President Putin.

So what's been the reaction in Moscow? Steve Rosenberg is the BBC's Russia editor.