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The weird wind that can supercharge heatwaves and wildfire
Hot “hairdryer” winds that whip down mountainsides may have played a role in some of this year’s devastating heatwaves and wildfires – and they may become more of a problem with climate change. It’s a word that, in German, also means “hairdryer”. And that’s just what it’s like. A hot, dry wind that sweeps down…
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Maiden Pharmaceuticals: Fury in The Gambia a year after cough syrup deaths
By Vineet Khare BBC Hindi, Banjul, The Gambia In September last year, Ebrima Sajnia watched helplessly as his young son slowly died in front of his eyes. Mr Sajnia, who works as a taxi driver in The Gambia, says three-year-old Lamin was set to start attending nursery school in a few weeks when he got…
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Zimbabwe election: Chicken and chips put a taste for democracy to the test
Getty Images By Shingai Nyoka BBC News, Harare Free fried chicken and an endorsement from an unbeaten former world boxing champion have formed part of the intriguing choreography of election campaigning in Zimbabwe. Nonetheless, finger-licking crowds and cheers for US boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr have not distracted from fundamental concerns about the polls themselves…
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Chandrayaan-3: The race to unravel the mysteries of Moon’s south pole
Getty Images By Soutik Biswas India correspondent The sun lingers slightly above or just below the horizon, while towering mountains project dark shadows. Deep craters provide a haven for unending darkness. Some of these areas have been shielded from sunlight for billions of years. In these regions, temperatures plummet to astonishing lows of -414F (-248C)…
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Ecuador chooses president amid spike in violence
EPA People in Ecuador have been voting in presidential and congressional elections overshadowed by violence. Some 100,000 police and soldiers have been deployed to protect the polls. Earlier this month, a presidential candidate was assassinated. Others have said their campaigns have been marred by shootings. The snap election was called after President Guillermo Lasso –…
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Why are TikTok creators so good at making people buy things?
TikTok has major power to move consumers to spend on the products creators feature. Why is the pull so strong? TikTok may not be the first place that comes to mind to find the best cleaning supplies. Yet #cleantok is alive and well – as is #dogtok, #beautytok and others. Increasingly, consumers are turning to…
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British Museum: How easy is it to steal from a museum?
AFP By Malu Cursino & Jemma Crew BBC News News that artefacts were stolen from the British Museum has led to interest in what barriers exist to stop people from taking some of the world’s greatest treasures. Earlier this week, the museum sacked a member of staff after treasures were reported missing, and the Metropolitan…
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Baghdad advertising boards turned off over porn screening
AFP via Getty Images By George Wright BBC News Iraqi officials have ordered all electronic advertising screens to be shut down in Baghdad after a hacker used one to show a pornographic film. It happened at a major road junction in the Iraqi capital. Videos have been shared widely on social media. A man has…
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Women’s World Cup: Fans prod of England’s Lionesses after defeat to Spain
PA Media By Sean Seddon Reporting from Croydon Boxpark In the end, it came down to that word that has haunted England fans for decades: hurt. But after the Lionesses’ heartbreaking defeat to Spain in Sunday’s final, it was impossible to find a single person gathered in the fan zone to watch the match who…
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Women’s World Cup: Fans rejoice in Madrid as Spain makes football history
Reuters By Jenny Hill BBC News, Madrid “Girl power!” exclaimed one woman as the final whistle blew and the fan zone erupted into screams and tears of joy. There were so many children and young people in the crowd, their faces painted in the red and yellow of the Spanish flag. This, presumably, was a…