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Water firms illegally spilled sewage on dry days
By Esme Stallard, Becky Dale, Jonah Fisher and Sophie Woodcock BBC Climate and BBC Verify Three major water companies illegally discharged sewage hundreds of times last year on days when it was not raining, a BBC investigation suggests. The practice, known as “dry spilling”, is banned because it can lead to higher concentrations of sewage…
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Peregrine Falcon image wins bird photo award
Photographer Jack Zhi’s dramatic picture of a female peregrine falcon protecting her young has won this year’s Bird Photographer of the Year award. The picture was taken in California and beat more than 20,000 entries to claim the prize. “For four years, I attempted to capture the rare sight of the female falcon attacking large…
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Alan Joyce: Qantas boss exits early amid mounting scandals
By Tiffanie Turnbull BBC News, Sydney Qantas boss Alan Joyce will depart the airline two months earlier than scheduled amid mounting controversies. Mr Joyce was set to leave in November, after 15 years as chief executive, but will now exit the role immediately. He said recent attention on “events of the past” made it clear…
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Babcock Ranch: Florida’s first hurricane-proof town
Florida’s Babcock Ranch was built to survive a storm. Hurricane Ian was the town’s first test. Incredibly, the community weathered the storm – emerging almost unscathed. When Hurricane Ian made landfall on the southwest Florida coast, it brought 150mph (241km/h) winds, 17 inches (43cm) of rain within 24 hours, and storm surges of up to…
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Spicy curried mung bean sprouts
In her new cookbook, Ruta Kahate says that with just six spices anyone can master Indian recipes, including a spicy curry with sprouted mung beans and crunchy potato crisps. Ruta Kahate is a woman on a mission to demystify Indian cooking – particularly Indian spices – for an American audience. This cookbook author, chef and…
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Sebastian Kneipp: The wellness guru that few know
Most people outside of Germany will not have heard of Sebastian Kneipp. But this 19th-Century priest-turned-wellness-guru is the godfather of some of today’s hottest wellness trends. Knee-deep in a freezing-cold stream in alpine Slovenia, I was wobbling on one leg attempting to practise “stork walking”. Crystal-clear mountain water swirled around me making it hard to…
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Are employers hiring or firing this autumn?
September is typically a big month for new jobs. This year may be different, but there’s still good news. September is traditionally the time when the leaves turn brown, workers return refreshed from summer vacations and firms ramp up their hiring. The job market is generally slow during summer, and active in the autumn: as…
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Venice: Scuffles occur outside Woody Allen film premiere
Scuffles broke out at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Woody Allen’s film Coup De Chance. The protesters chanted “no rape culture” as they attempted to get on to the red carpet, before being led away from the event. The Venice Film Festival has given spots to new films by Woody Allen, Luc Besson and…
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Somalis with albinism: Pelted with stones and raw eggs
By Naciima Saed Salah Mogadishu Referring to the stigma he faces in Somalia because he has albinism, 25 year-old Elmi Bile Mohamed says: “People tell me I am a cannibal and that I will eat their children. They are terrified of me.” Mr Mohamed has struggled to find a place to live in the capital,…
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‘Wrong number’ couple fight India deportation
By Neyaz Farooquee BBC World Service, Delhi In 2011, Gulzar Khan from Pakistan entered India illegally, married his lover and hid his real identity from her for the next eight years, until he was arrested. Now he is waiting to hear if he will be deported back to Pakistan. Successful cross-border love stories between Indians…