A study found that flushing toilets releases tiny particles called aerosols into the air, which can carry germs harmful to people. Closing the toilet lid helps reduce but does not fully stop these particles from escaping into the air.
Key Facts
Toilet flushing creates turbulence that sends tiny water droplets containing microbes into the air.
These particles can stay in the air for at least 20 seconds near adult breathing height.
The study reviewed 22 previous studies on toilet aerosols and was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
Closing the toilet lid reduces aerosol spread but does not completely stop it.
Larger flush volumes and more turbulent water cause more aerosol particles to be released.
Aerosols may carry harmful pathogens like legionella, influenza, and norovirus.
The effects of ventilation and lid position on aerosol levels are still unclear.
People with weak immune systems are at higher risk from these pathogens, especially in settings like hospitals.
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A report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) shows that illegal cigarette production is growing across the European Union, with nearly 9% of cigarettes being made or smuggled illegally. This illicit trade causes big tax losses, supports criminal gangs, and makes cheap tobacco more available, especially for young people.
Key Facts
About 8.8% of cigarettes consumed in the EU in 2023 were illicitly produced or smuggled.
Illegal cigarette factories operate in almost every EU country, often run by organized crime groups.
These factories use advanced equipment and work for a few months before shutting down or moving.
A factory in Belgium had 50 workers producing 1 million cigarettes per hour on four production lines.
Police raids in Spain seized 3 million packs of illegal cigarettes and arrested 20 people.
Cross-border criminal operations supply cigarettes to multiple countries, including a recent case in France.
The illegal trade causes an estimated €13 billion loss in tax revenue yearly in the EU.
EU laws are not fully aligned, and enforcement varies by country, helping criminals exploit weaker areas.
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A video circulated online shows President Donald Trump hitting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney with a hockey stick. This happened during a tense trade dispute between the United States and Canada, and the video has attracted many views and shares.
Key Facts
The video was shared by an account that supports President Trump.
It shows President Trump hitting Mark Carney with a hockey stick repeatedly.
Mark Carney is the Canadian Prime Minister.
The video appears during a growing trade conflict between the U.S. and Canada.
The clip has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times due to retweets.
The video has caused anger while gaining attention online.
The hockey stick symbolizes Canada’s popular sport, ice hockey.
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A British man, Rami Naimi, has been detained multiple times by Saudi authorities since 2017, facing alleged abduction, torture, and secret trials. His family has publicly spoken out after nine years of quiet diplomatic efforts to secure his release, calling for international help.
Key Facts
Rami Naimi was first abducted in Dubai in 2017 and taken forcibly to Saudi Arabia.
He was held, tortured, and released in 2018 after signing a settlement agreement.
Naimi was detained again in 2022 and sentenced to six years in prison following a secret trial.
He was part of a large purge targeting Saudi elites in Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton hotel in 2017.
His family says he was tortured with methods including electrocution, waterboarding, and psychological abuse.
Naimi faces a second trial for allegedly following critical social media accounts and trying to leave Saudi Arabia without permission.
His family has called attention to his case after nearly a decade of silence encouraged by authorities.
Naimi’s wife, Mira Lozi, is currently fighting cancer and has spoken publicly alongside their son in London to raise awareness.
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Oil prices are rising and getting close to $100 per barrel. This increase is due to new attacks by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia's energy facilities, raising tensions in the Middle East amid ongoing conflicts involving Iran.
Key Facts
Oil prices are approaching $100 per barrel.
The price increase follows new attacks by the Houthis group.
The Houthis targeted energy points in Saudi Arabia.
These attacks add to tensions in the Middle East.
The conflict involves Iran's ongoing war influence in the region.
The situation affects global oil supply and market stability.
Saudi Arabia is a major oil producer affected by these attacks.
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Hungary has asked 10 Russian diplomats to leave the country because they were involved in activities considered unacceptable by Hungarian authorities. This decision shows a change in Hungary’s relationship with Russia since the new government took office in April and is part of growing tensions due to the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
Hungary expelled 10 Russian diplomats for "unacceptable" activities.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said this protects Hungary’s security and independence.
Hungary’s new government, elected in April, is shifting away from the former pro-Russian stance.
The expulsion does not end diplomatic relations between Hungary and Russia.
Russia’s foreign ministry in Moscow said it will respond harshly to the expulsions.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has called for pragmatic relations with Moscow and urged an end to the war in Ukraine.
The Hungarian government has expressed concern over the safety of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region.
Earlier reports indicated many Russian diplomats in Hungary were linked to Russian intelligence, but the previous government limited action against them.
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Russia started bombing Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine again after stopping attacks briefly. This pause allowed President Trump’s special peace team to visit Kyiv and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Key Facts
Russia paused attacks on Kyiv to allow US peace envoys to visit.
The visit was by President Donald Trump’s top peace negotiation team.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the US envoys in Kyiv.
After the visit, Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv and other areas.
Ukraine’s military said it shot down 175 enemy flying targets during the attacks.
Despite this, Russian ballistic missiles still hit homes in Kyiv.
The strikes affected civilian areas in the capital city.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine provided information about the attacks and defense.
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A technical problem with the UK’s air traffic control system caused flight delays and cancellations at several major airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick. The issue, linked to the flight processing system, began Tuesday afternoon and is expected to take some time to fix.
Key Facts
The air traffic control service Nats reported a technical fault affecting flight departures around 1:46 pm on Tuesday.
Airports impacted include Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, London City, Manchester, Belfast City, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.
Departures from London airports were most affected, with many flights delayed or cancelled.
Planes continued to arrive at Heathrow, but some flights were held at airports abroad due to the disruption.
Nats engineers are working on site to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Airlines, including British Airways, communicated with passengers about the delays.
Airports advised travelers to check flight information and follow airline guidance.
The disruption was ongoing as of the afternoon and expected to continue into the evening.
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Thieves broke into the Renoir Museum in France early morning and stole four paintings. The thieves dropped two paintings while escaping, so only two are still missing. Police are searching for the suspects.
Key Facts
The break-in happened at 5:48 a.m. at the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France.
Four paintings, valued at around 9 million euros (about $10 million), were taken.
The thieves used tools like an electric knife or metal saw to cut the paintings from their frames.
Police arrived within five minutes but the thieves had already fled.
The suspects dropped two of the stolen paintings in the museum's garden while escaping.
The thieves entered by cutting a hole in the museum's outer fence.
A manhunt is currently underway to find the two suspects.
This incident follows another major art theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris last year.
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President Donald Trump posted a social media map showing the U.S. stretching across North America, including Greenland and Iceland. This caused concern in Denmark and Iceland, where officials criticized the idea and took diplomatic actions.
Key Facts
President Trump shared a map with U.S. colors covering all of North America, Greenland, and Iceland on Truth Social.
The post came without explanation but echoes his past ideas about adding Canada as a U.S. state and acquiring Greenland.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister called the map “inappropriate” and said it shows Trump’s broad territorial ideas.
Iceland’s Foreign and Defense Secretary summoned the U.S. Ambassador over the issue.
Trump mistakenly mentioned Iceland multiple times when talking about Greenland, causing confusion.
Iceland’s government moved up a referendum on joining the European Union partly due to these tensions.
Thousands of Icelanders petitioned against the U.S. Ambassador after his joke about Iceland becoming a U.S. state.
Trump has also talked about turning Canada into a state and renamed Lake Ontario “Lake America” online.
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Pope Leo XIV will visit France for four days starting September 25, marking the first official papal state visit in 18 years. The visit includes large public events in Paris, a stop at the important Catholic pilgrimage site Lourdes, and a trip to Metz to speak about European unity.
Key Facts
The Pope's visit is expected to attract more than 1 million people.
Events include a popemobile ride and an open-air Mass in Paris with up to 150,000 people attending the route and 500,000 expected for the Mass.
Pope Leo XIV will meet President Emmanuel Macron and deliver a speech at UNESCO headquarters.
He will meet survivors of sexual abuse in Lourdes and participate in the rosary and torchlight procession.
The visit to Metz will highlight Europe’s roots, peace, and unity with a speech at a center honoring Robert Schuman, a key figure in European integration.
The bishop's conference emphasized the Church's effort to support abuse survivors.
The visit includes prayers, youth vigils, and meetings with migrants and new Catholics.
The Pope will travel through central Paris and Metz in a popemobile, greeting crowds along the way.
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The European Union’s highest court ruled that a far-right Belgian party cannot use IKEA’s trademarks to promote an anti-immigration campaign because it could harm IKEA’s reputation. The court said freedom of expression does not protect using trademarks in this way unless it is done in good faith or for the public interest.
Key Facts
The Belgian party Vlaams Belang used IKEA-style logos and imagery in an anti-immigration campaign called the “IKEA Plan.”
IKEA filed a legal complaint, saying the party used its trademarks without permission.
The party’s supporters argued their use was protected by freedom of expression.
The Belgian court asked the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to rule on the case.
The ECJ found that using IKEA’s trademarks this way could harm the company’s reputation.
The court said freedom of expression only applies if trademarks are used in good faith or for public interest, which was not proven here.
The Belgian court will make the final decision but is expected to follow the ECJ’s guidance.
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A drug originally made to fight cancer called CADD522 helped strengthen bones and reduce body fat in older female mice that no longer produce estrogen. The study suggests this drug might help women during menopause manage weight gain and bone loss, but the drug is still being tested and has only been used in animals so far.
Key Facts
CADD522 was created to block a protein that helps cancer tumors grow.
In mice without estrogen (similar to postmenopausal women), CADD522 made bones stronger and improved bone structure.
Mice given CADD522 weighed less and had less body fat despite eating the same amount as untreated mice.
The drug also reduced fat buildup inside bone marrow, which often happens after menopause and harms bones.
Researchers saw healthier fat metabolism in the brain of treated mice, which might relate to better brain health.
CADD522 was safe in tests on mice, rats, and dogs and can be taken by mouth.
The drug breaks down slower in human tissue, which could make it more effective in people.
More studies are needed to test if CADD522 works and is safe for women, especially those with bone loss or near menopause.
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Police were warned a day before that far-right activists gathered in a small village near Dover and planned to use it as a base to block roads in Dover. Hundreds of these activists arrived in the village, but police treated the protest as spontaneous and made no arrests during the roadblocks.
Key Facts
Far-right groups gathered in Preston-next-Wingham, a village with about 920 people, before blocking roads in Dover.
Locals reported hundreds of activists taking over the village and parking in many places, including a school and recreation ground.
Some people overheard the activists planning to “attack Muslims” and passed information to counter-terrorism police.
Police did not act on this tip-off or reports of illegal parking.
Dover unrest involved about 200 people blocking roads for several hours early Saturday morning.
The protest was described by police as “spontaneous” despite evidence of planning.
Roger Gale, local Member of Parliament, stated the protest was coordinated and vehicles likely transported activists from the village to Dover.
The event was linked to Daniel Thomas, connected to far-right figure Tommy Robinson, who also organized a similar protest in Portsmouth the next day.
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Recent reports say that the United States is sending many weapons to conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. These reports claim that sending weapons to other countries could reduce America’s ability to defend itself.
Key Facts
The U.S. has been involved in conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.
Many U.S. weapons have been sent to these conflict areas.
Some reports say this sending of weapons is causing U.S. weapons stockpiles to run low.
Critics worry that the U.S. might have fewer weapons available for its own defense.
The discussions link U.S. involvement abroad to problems at home with military supplies.
The article implies concerns about the effects of these military actions on U.S. security.
No specific solutions or changes in policy are detailed in the article.
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Yemen's Houthi fighters launched drone and missile attacks on cities and energy sites in Saudi Arabia, injuring 73 people and causing fires that temporarily stopped some oil operations. Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners have promised to respond to these attacks, which the Houthis said were in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on areas they control in Yemen.
Key Facts
The Houthis attacked four Saudi cities: Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran.
73 people were injured, including women and children.
The attacks caused fires and temporarily halted some oil facility operations.
The Saudi-led coalition called the attacks a serious escalation and vowed to respond.
The Houthis said their attacks were retaliation for over 120 Saudi airstrikes in northern Yemen provinces.
The Houthis have imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and increased missile attacks since July.
Heavy fighting is ongoing near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key oil shipping route.
The conflict is linked to the broader regional tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, and their allies.
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Nathan Fielder, a comedian known for satire, is creating a documentary about Elizabeth Holmes. Holmes is a former business leader who was found guilty of cheating investors through her health technology company, Theranos.
Key Facts
Nathan Fielder is making a documentary called "You Can See Everything."
The documentary focuses on Elizabeth Holmes.
Holmes was a business executive linked to the company Theranos.
Theranos claimed to have revolutionary health technology.
Holmes was convicted of defrauding investors.
The film includes scenes with Holmes and Fielder interacting closely.
The documentary is being promoted with a trailer.
The project aims to explore Holmes’s story and actions.
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The Taliban are still using military gear that the U.S. left behind when its forces withdrew from Afghanistan five years ago. This equipment includes weapons and vehicles that originally belonged to the U.S. military.
Key Facts
The U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan five years ago.
The Taliban took control of many military items left behind by the U.S.
The leftover equipment includes weapons and vehicles.
The Taliban continues to use this U.S. equipment today.
The situation shows the long-term impact of the U.S. military withdrawal.
The equipment helps the Taliban maintain their military strength.
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Hurricane Lowell is close to Hawaii, causing residents to prepare for strong winds and heavy rain. People in Hawaii are staying safe as the storm moves nearby.
Key Facts
Hurricane Lowell is near Hawaii and bringing bad weather.
The storm is expected to cause many hours of wind and rain.
Residents in Hawaii are taking shelter to stay safe.
Local news outlets are reporting on the storm’s progress.
Authorities are likely monitoring the situation closely.
The impact includes possible disruptions due to the weather.
People are advised to follow safety instructions during the hurricane.
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