These new drugs are cheap, dangerous, and just a click away

Imagine a world where you can buy recreational drugs online and receive them in the post. Well, this world already exists, and not just with one or two substances, but hundreds. These drugs are known as new psychoactive substances (NPS), and their popularity shows no signs of slowing down. They are created with one very […]

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UN chief condemns Gaza killings, urges full respect for ceasefire

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the killings due to Israeli airstrikes of civilians in Gaza yesterday, including many children,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told correspondents in New York. “He condemns all actions that undermine the ceasefire and endanger civilian lives.” Reassurances given Mr. Dujarric said António Guterres noted “the importance of the parties’ renewed assurances to […]

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What have we learned, and how can we prevent similar tragedies in the future?

On October 29 2024, destructive storms hit several areas of the Iberian peninsula, causing the most extreme rainfall recorded in Spain during the 21st century. According to the Spanish State Meteorology Agency (AEMET), they were caused by a mass of cold air at high altitude between the Gulf of Cádiz and the Gibraltar Strait, which […]

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Reported massacre at hospital in Sudan’s El Fasher leaves 460 dead

The World Health Organization says it’s appalled and deeply shocked by reports that 460 patients and their companions have been killed at Saudi Maternity Hospital in the city. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that prior to this latest attack, WHO has verified 285 attacks on healthcare in Sudan with at least 1,204 deaths and over […]

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Africa Continental Brief: Business, Climate, Geopolitics, Human Rights & Tech – October 29, 2025

Business & Macro📈 Airtel Africa reported a near five-fold increase in profit after tax, reaching $376 million for the six months ending September 2025. The telecoms firm attributed a $90 million gain to the appreciation of the Nigerian naira, highlighting the currency’s impact on regional performance. Climate & Energy🌬️ Infinity Power completed a $153 million […]

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US Government Shutdown Enters Day 29 with $5.6 Billion in Losses After Senate Gridlock

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday failed for the 13th time to advance a government funding bill aimed at reopening federal agencies, prolonging a shutdown that has now entered its 29th day. The vote, which ended 54–45, fell short of the 60-vote threshold required to move the legislation forward, leaving critical services stalled and millions of […]

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UN Demands Immediate Ceasefire as El Fasher Falls to RSF Amid Rising Civilian Toll

The United Nations has issued an urgent call for a ceasefire in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, following reports that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized control of the city, triggering a surge in civilian casualties and displacement. In a statement released on Sunday, October 27, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher […]

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Is it dangerous to catch a cold… or was Jane Austen just being dramatic?

I have always been fascinated by how Jane Austen depicts the physicality and health of her characters. All of her novels contain references to physical condition, ailments, or advice on wellbeing – indeed, the word “health” appears more than a hundred times throughout her six best-known works. These are not conventional medical descriptions, but they […]

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Statistics at FCDO – Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Official statistics Statistics on International Development (SID) Statistics on International Development (SID) are accredited official statistics. This means they are official statistics that have been independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) and comply with the standards in the Code of Practice for Statistics. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics […]

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Father and Son Arrested for Attempting to Smuggle Hundreds of Firearms to Mexico | Office of Public Affairs

Two men from Alabama have been charged with trafficking more than 300 weapons along with ammunition and magazines, announced Attorney General Pamela Bondi and U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Emilio Ramirez Cortes, 48, a Mexican citizen who legally resides in the United States, and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, have made their initial appearances […]

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