COLU @ CONCEPTS

Image copyright NWS Image caption Birds (left) leave a different radar signature to butterflies A colourful, shimmering spectacle detected by weather radar over the US state of Colorado has been identified as swarms of migrating butterflies. Scientists at the National Weather Service (NWS) first mistook the orange radar blob for birds and had asked the public to help identifying the species. They later established that the 70-mile wide (110km) mass was a kaleidoscope of Painted Lady butterflies. Forecasters say it is uncommon for flying insects to be detected by radar. "We hadn't seen a signature like that in a while," said NWS meteorologist Paul Schlatter, who first spotted the radar blip. Image copyright USFWS Image caption The Painted Lady is often mistaken for the monarch butterfly "We detect migrating birds all the time, but they were flying north to south,"  he told CBS News , explaining that this direction of travel would be unusual for migrat...

Image copyright REUTERS Image caption The system can destroy incoming missiles at altitudes beyond the Earth's atmosphere The US government has approved the sale to Saudi Arabia of its advanced Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) missile defence system. The State Department said the $15bn (£11.5bn) deal furthered US national security and foreign policy interests. It would boost Saudi and Gulf security against Iranian and other regional threats, the state department added. The announcement comes a day after Saudi Arabia agreed to buy air defence systems from Russia. The deal would not alter the military balance in the region, the Pentagon's Defense Security Co-operation Agency said. Thaad systems are being deployed in South Korea to protect against a possible missile attack from North Korea. But many South Koreans have objected, fearing it would become a target and endanger the lives of those who live near its launch sites. China also voiced opposition ...

Image copyright GETTY IMAGES Image caption Police moved in to prevent people voting in Sunday's disputed election The Spanish government's representative in Catalonia has apologised to those injured during police efforts to stop Sunday's independence referendum. But Enric Millo blamed the Catalan government for holding an illegal vote. Meanwhile the government in Madrid has issued a decree making it easier for companies to move their headquarters away from Catalonia. A Catalan minister told the BBC his government would go ahead with an independence debate in parliament. "Parliament will discuss, parliament will meet," said Catalan foreign affairs chief Raül Romeva. "Every attempt the Spanish government has used to impede things to happen, they have been demonstrated completely not only useless but counter-productive," he told the BBC in English. Spain eases firms' exit from Catalonia Distressed police officer photo goes viral Does Cat...