## ‘Miracle’ of Zealandia: chick is born to rare takahē pair thought to be infertile

Authored by theguardian.com

They are the world’s largest living rail – a family of small to medium sized ground-dwelling birds with short wings, large feet and long toes.

While they resemble Australasian swamp hens, or pūkeko in New Zealand, they are in fact their chunkier, flightless, mountain-dwelling cousin.

The birds once roamed the South Island, but were thought extinct at the turn of the 20th century, until they were rediscovered in 1948.

Since then they have been part of New Zealand’s longest running endangered species programme, which has slowly rebuilt their population to 500.

The chick’s father Bendigo and mother Waitaa arrived at the sanctuary two years ago as a non-breeding pair.

Bendigo, Waitaa and their chick are Zealandia’s only takahē residents but they are not the only takahē to surprise staff with a chick.

A former pair were thought to be past breeding age when staff discovered they too had hatched a surprise chick in 2018. »

### Charlie Kirk Fans Are Snapping Selfies in Replica Death Tent

Authored by yahoo.com

Attendees of the conference have the opportunity to take photos inside the tent, surrounded by portraits of Kirk, including one of him inside the very same tent.

“This is a recreation of the tent where Charlie Kirk lost his life at Utah Valley University in September, and people are taking selfies with it,” Zadrozny explained.

“You can see all around, people are saying like, ‘For Charlie,’ they’re wearing replicas of the shirt that Charlie Kirk was wearing when he was killed.”. »

### France to build large new nuclear aircraft carrier

Authored by ukdefencejournal.org.uk

France has formally decided to proceed with the construction of a next-generation nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

The new carrier is intended to replace the Charles de Gaulle, France’s sole aircraft carrier, which entered service in 2001 and is expected to retire in the late 2030s.

The carrier is expected to embark more than 40 aircraft, including Rafale M fighters, E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, helicopters and drones. »

### Russia’s Birth Rate Plunges to 200-Year Low—Putin Says Early Marriage Is the Answer — UNITED24 Media

Authored by united24media.com

Putin pointed to families in Russia’s North Caucasus, saying marriages there often take place at a young age and should serve as an example.

Putin says child marriage is a “very good tradition” pic.twitter.com/DMfRJcEvnx — UNITED24 Media (@United24media) December 20, 2025.

Under current national development plans, the government aims to raise the fertility rate to 1.6 by 2030 and 1.8 by 2036. »

### Officer who fatally shot Tamir Rice fired from West Virginia ranger position

Authored by theguardian.com

The former Cleveland officer who fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014 was fired from his post as a ranger at a West Virginia resort community, the fourth known time in seven years that he left a small department following public backlash.

Timothy Loehmann was fired on Friday from his position at the Snowshoe Resort Community District (SRCD).

Last year, he resigned from his position as a probationary officer in White Sulphur Springs City, West Virginia, and the police chief responsible for hiring him stepped down. »

## In pictures

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