The wildlife charity the RSPB says it has been “overrun” by reports of birds of prey being illegally killed since the lockdown started six weeks ago. Species of raptors (birds of prey) that had been targeted include hen harriers, peregrine falcons, red kites, goshawks, buzzards and a barn owl. The […]
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The cold-blooded murders of 24 women, children and babies at a hospital in the Afghan capital was horrific enough. But as Frederic Bonnot made his way through the bullet-riddled maternity unit, he realised something more. Warning: Readers may find details in this story upsetting The attackers had walked straight past […]
The Canadian-based space company GHGSat says it intends to set up a global centre in the UK to analyse the emissions of greenhouse gases. The firm currently flies the spacecraft making the highest resolution measurements of methane (CH4) in the atmosphere. This satellite is the first in a planned network […]
A hillfort in Aberdeenshire is one of the largest ancient settlements ever discovered in Scotland, researchers have said. University of Aberdeen archaeologists say 4,000 people may have lived in more than 800 huts perched high on the Tap O’ Noth near Rhynie. Many had thought it dated from the Bronze […]
Substances used for air conditioning in almost all new cars are building up in the environment and may pose a threat to human health, researchers say. These “ozone friendly” chemicals have been introduced to replace products that were damaging the ozone layer. Now widely used across industry, these alternatives do […]
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits jumped by almost 3 million last week as virus shutdowns continue to weigh on the US economy. The filings brought the total number of new jobless claims since the middle of March to more than 36 million. That amounts to nearly a quarter […]
When some Indian cities eased the grinding lockdown last week to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, long queues were seen outside liquor shops across the country. In cities like Mumbai, a Covid-19 hotspot, booze-loving people made a mockery of social distancing rules, prompting the government to shut the […]
A US pharmaceutical firm has signed agreements with drug makers in South Asia to expand supply of the drug remdesivir for treating Covid-19. The agreement between Gilead and five generic pharmaceutical companies in India and Pakistan will help make the medicine for 127 countries. Remdesivir cut the duration of symptoms […]
Prosecutors in Malaysia have dropped charges against Wolf of Wall Street producer Riza Aziz over the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal. Mr Riza, stepson of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, was accused of money-laundering over allegations he received $250m (£221m) from 1MDB – a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. He has agreed to […]
India will provide free food to migrants for two months as part of a $266bn (£216bn) economic plan to combat the effect of the Covid-19 lockdown. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said grain supplies worth $463m would benefit 80 million migrants. Tens of thousands of migrants have been fleeing cities on […]