Author: News Desk

Drought risk to parts of England after dry February, scientists warn Despite this week’s wet weather, experts are warning that certain parts of England require unusual rainfall to make up for an unusually dry winter. Data from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology shows that some rivers in England and Wales ran at their lowest levels on record in February. The Met Office reported that England had its driest February in 30 years. Reservoirs and rivers that provide drinking water and nourish crops rely on winter rain to replenish before spring. The UKCEH cautions that South West England and…

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Global cocaine production levels hit record highs A new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says global cocaine production has hit a record high due to increased demand following the Covid-19 pandemic. The report found that coca cultivation had increased by 35% between 2021 and 2022, leading to record levels of production. The study further revealed that West and Central Africa have emerged as new hubs for cocaine trafficking and that international postal services are increasingly being used to transport drugs to consumers. While Europe and North America remain the largest markets for cocaine, followed by…

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Virgin Orbit to pause all operations from Thursday Virgin Orbit plans to halt operations from Thursday and reportedly furlough almost all its employees in a move believed to be aimed at boosting its finances. The company’s CEO, Dan Hart, told employees that the furlough would provide time to finalise a new investment plan. It is unclear how long the furlough will last, but Hart promised to provide more information by next week. Shares in the company fell 18.8% to 82 cents in extended trading. UK failed mission A statement from the company said: “Virgin Orbit is initiating a company-wide operational…

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Credit Suisse emergency loan sparks banking fears Credit Suisse announced that it will be borrowing up to 50 billion Swiss francs (£44.5bn) from Switzerland’s central bank to bolster its finances, in an effort to simplify and strengthen its business. The troubled bank’s shares plummeted by 24% on Wednesday after revealing weaknesses in its financial reporting, sparking concerns of a wider banking crisis and leading to steep drops in Asian shares. However, European markets are expected to open higher on Thursday. The Bank of England has reportedly been in contact with Credit Suisse and Swiss authorities to monitor the situation. The…

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‘False’ footballers evacuated with Afghan women’s team whilst real players left behind According to a BBC investigation, not all of the Afghan female footballers who were evacuated to the UK in November 2021 were top-tier players, despite claims that they were.  The evacuation was carried out due to concerns that women footballers were at risk from the Taliban, who viewed the sport as un-Islamic.  However, some former Afghan players, coaches, and officials identified 13 individuals who they believed were not members of the teams listed in the submission to the British authorities.  One former player who remains in Afghanistan expressed…

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