30 million words

Soaring temperatures and a conspicuous lack of rainfall have left many European countries grappling with historic droughts this summer. This is having wide-reaching effects across the region, significantly impacting agriculture, energy production and water supplies. But how is each European country being affected and what are local authorities doing to combat the problems caused by these extreme temperatures? France The French government has set up a crisis team to tackle a historic drought that has left more than 100 municipalities short of drinking water . Trucks are taking water to those areas as "there is nothing left in the pipes", said Christophe Béchu, the country's minister for ecological transition. "This is a situation like nothing we've ever seen... And the bad news is that, as far as we can see, there's no reason to think that it will stop." Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has warned that France is facing the "most severe drought" ever recorded … [Read more...] about ‘Nothing left in the pipes’: How is Europe tackling unprecedented water shortages?

The Russian journalist who famously protested against the invasion of Ukraine live on television has been handed another fine. Marina Ovsyannikova said on Facebook that she had been convicted by a Moscow court of "discrediting" the Russian military. The 44-year-old was ordered to pay a fine of 40,000 rubles (€650), according to her lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov. Ovsyannikova generated headlines by bursting onto Russia's Channel One in March with an anti-war poster. She was later charged with organising an "unauthorised public event" and fined 30,000 roubles (€256). Last month, the former state TV journalist was also fined 50,000 rubles (€800) for comments in support of jailed Russian opposition figure Ilya Yashin. The latest fine is allegedly related to a recent post on her Facebook page, Zakhvatov said. "I go to the courts like I go to work," Ovsyannikova wrote on Monday , adding that the judge did not appreciate her "irony". "I deeply regret that I never got … [Read more...] about Russian journalist who held TV protest over Ukraine war given new fine

Surveillance footage captured the shocking moment four masked thieves made off with more than $2 million worth of jewelry from an NYC store before fleeing in broad daylight. It shows a man in a white t-shirt, sunglasses, dark jeans and a baseball cap standing outside the entrance of Rocco's Jewelry in the Bronx just after 2.30pm on Friday before the door opens. Rather than step inside, however, the man holds the door open as two other men in masks run inside. Once they are safely inside the store, one of the men could be seen pulling out a blacksmith hammer he uses to start breaking open glass display cases, as the other man wearing dark clothing, a green baseball cap and white sneakers takes out a full tray of jewelry. At that point, a third accomplice runs into the store and opens up a red reusable shopping bag that the man in the green cap dumps the contents of the tray into. Together, they proceed to grab what appears to be for more trays of jewelry as the first man … [Read more...] about Moment NYC gang robs TWO MILLION dollars worth of jewelry from Bronx store on weekday afternoon as city’s crime spiral continues

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- First ladies, past and present, and others who called the White House home remembered Betty Ford on Tuesday, not just for her decades-long work against substance abuse but for her contributions to a political era when friendship among lawmakers helped them govern. Speakers, including former first lady Roslynn Carter and journalist Cokie Roberts, also hailed her as a force of nature whose boundless energy and enthusiasm, coupled with a steadfast determination to do what was right, pushed the country toward a commitment to equal rights for women and other causes. Ford, who died at the age of 93 on Friday, reshaped the role of first lady with her plain-spoken candidness. In doing so, she helped bring such previously taboo subjects as breast cancer into the public discussion as she openly discussed her own battle with the disease. She was equally candid about her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, and her spearheading of the creation of the Betty Ford … [Read more...] about Millions owe debt to Betty Ford, mourners say

Deborah James: Footage shows star's final days SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Campaigner Deborah died in June at the age of 40 after suffering from bowel cancer. The letter was written to her husband Sebastien and children Hugo, 14, and Eloise, 12. The upcoming book reveals the late Dame Deborah's inspiring advice for her family (Image: Getty) She wrote: "You can make plans, and you can have goals, but you have to be prepared for the fact that sometimes life is more interesting when you go off-piste, so be brave. Take a chance and back yourself. Remember to be your number one cheerleader." She added: "Learn to balance living in the now and being present in the moment with your plans for the future … [Read more...] about Upcoming Dame Deborah James book will detail her words of advice for her family

Oklahoma Sooners assistant football coach Cale Gundy said on Sunday that he's resigning after saying a "shameful and hurtful" word during a team meeting last week. In a statement posted to his Twitter account, Gundy, who was the wide receivers coach at the University of Oklahoma, explained he read a message on his player's iPad after he noticed the player was distracted at a film session. "The words displayed has nothing to do with football," Gundy wrote. "One particular word that I should never – under any circumstance – have uttered was displayed on that screen. In the moment, I did not even realize what I was reading and, as soon as I did, I was horrified." He said the words "were not malicious" and not intentional, but recognized what he said was "shameful and hurtful, no matter my intentions." "The unfortunate reality is that someone in my position can cause harm without ever meaning to do so...I take responsibility for my mistake. I apologize," he wrote. Gundy, who has … [Read more...] about Oklahoma Sooners assistant football coach Cale Gundy resigns after saying “shameful and hurtful” word during team meeting

Last month, controversy erupted online amid reports that Amazon would be spending upwards of $465 million on just one season of its much-anticipated “Lord of the Rings” series, putting it well on track to become the most expensive television show ever produced. Speaking during an executive roundtable for The Hollywood Reporter this week, Amazon Studios Chief Jennifer Salke defended the obscene dollar amount by noting that other streaming giants are spending just as much on titles with an even smaller name recognition than Tolkien’s beloved fantasy epic, such as Netflix recently spending $469 million on two sequels for “Knives Out.” “The market is crazy, as you saw with the Knives Out deal.” Salke said. “This is a full season of a huge world-building show. The number is a sexy headline or a crazy headline that’s fun to click on, but [the budget] is really building the infrastructure of what will sustain the whole series.” Salke noted that numbers can instantly go sky-high when a … [Read more...] about Amazon Justifies Spending $465 Million On One Season Of ‘Lord Of The Rings’ Series | The Daily Wire

Amazon Studios plans to make its “Lord of the Rings” television series one of the most expensive ever-produced, costing a grand total of $465 million … and that’s just for the first season alone. According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), the show will cost more than the entirety of the original trilogy, far above initial estimates. To illustrate just how gargantuan of a number that is, one season of “Game of Thrones” cost $100 million to produce. “Amazon will spend roughly NZ$650 million — $465 million in U.S. dollars — for just the first season of the show,” reported THR. “That’s far above previous reported estimates that pegged the fantasy drama as costing an already record-breaking $500 million for multiple seasons of the show.” “The figures were released as part of the New Zealand government’s Official Information Act and initially reported by the New Zealand outlet Stuff ,” continued THR. “The documents also confirmed the studio’s plan to film potentially five seasons … [Read more...] about ‘The Largest Television Series Ever Made’: Amazon’s ‘Lord Of The Rings’ Season One To Cost $465 Million | The Daily Wire

Another hosepipe ban is set to hit the south of England, meaning around two million more people will be affected. With most of England experiencing drought conditions, following the driest July since records began in 1836, South East Water will join Southern Water in carrying out plans for a ‘temporary usage ban’, according to details of a briefing leaked to the Daily Mail. Southern Water’s ban, in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, will come into force on Friday 5 August, while South East Water (Kent and Sussex) are expected to start their block at midnight on Friday 12 August. That will mean around three million customers will be troubled, with hosepipes not allowed to be used to clean cars, water gardens or fill up ornamental ponds and swimming pools. The lawns in Dartford's Central Park have been brown for a while due to the lack of rainfall ( Image: Fraser Gray/REX/Shutterstock) Anyone found to be in breach of the restrictions could be prosecuted and fined up … [Read more...] about Two million more households to be hit by hosepipe ban today as dry spell goes on

“I may be a golden girl, but I’m working full-time despite my longevity on Papatūānuku,” says Pōwhiri Wharemārama Rika-Heke (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Te Aupōuri). “Ainī pea he kōhine kōura au, heoti ko te whakapau kaha au ahakoa te roanga o tāku noho ki Papatūānuku,” tā Pōwhiri Wharemārama Rika-Heke (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Te Aupōuri). Having previously been a social worker and a public servant, Rika-Heke is a now a social science teacher and volunteers her time at a funeral home. I mahia ia hei tauwhiro, hei kaimahi ā-marea hoki, engari he pouako tikanga ā-iwi a Rika-Heke ināianei, ka mutu e tūao ana ki tētahi whare tangihanga. READ MORE: Our Truth, Tā Mātou Pono: Our reporting undermined Māori land rights Wise Words: From a war zone to the garden for the Yee brothers Wise Words: Annette Perjanik girlbossing before it was cool Wise Words: Lynette Saldanha has learnt to slow down after dominating life “I don’t feel 67 … [Read more...] about Wise Words: Pōwhiri Rika-Heke’s hīkoi from carpenter’s chippy to post-doc