While the exact cause of the inferno is still unclear, footage of the fire offers some clues to how it became so deadly. Experts point to the lethal mix of combustible materials, like substandard scaffolding netting and polystyrene foam boards installed on windows.The fire tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate with astonishing speed, leaping from building to building, each of which was 32 stories high. Flames not only raced up the sides of the high-rises but sped through the interiors, consuming multiple floors. That was particularly deadly because it trapped residents inside and made it harder for firefighters…
Author: Team_Benjamin Franklin Institute
Laura CressTechnology reporterBBCThe popular Twitch streamer QTCinderella says she would be a “happier person” if she could go back and tell her younger self to choose a different career.The 31-year-old, real name Blaire (she does not make her second name public), became famous for playing video games and cooking meals in live videos for her 1.2 million followers online.In 2021 she created the annual Streamer Awards, which will be streamed online on Saturday.But she told the BBC while she felt “incredibly lucky” to be in her position, the negatives of the role – ranging from being under constant scrutiny to…
Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldThe Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to give US buyers preferential treatment for minerals sold by its state-owned mining companies, just one day after Washington brokered a fragile peace treaty between the country and neighbouring Rwanda.The US government and Swiss trader Mercuria on Friday each announced up to $1bn in fresh funding for minerals ventures in the DR Congo, the world’s biggest producer of cobalt and second-biggest producer of copper.Washington and Kinshasa signed an extensive critical minerals, economic and…
Things appear to be getting a bit ominous between Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and his longtime adversary, 50 Cent. Since Diddy’s legal woes began in 2023, 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, has seemingly reveled in the disgraced rapper’s downfall. Most recently, the “In da Club” rapper executive produced an explosive docuseries about Diddy, featuring exclusive, never-before-seen footage from his federal investigation in September 2024. Days after the four-part series became available for streaming, 50 Cent claimed to have received a menacing gift from the father of seven at a club appearance, striking fear and concern among users online.Article continues below…
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s administration said in a long-awaited new strategy document on Friday (Dec 5) that the United States will shift from its historic global role toward increasing dominance in Latin America and vigorously fighting migration.The national security paper, meant to flesh out Trump’s norms-shattering “America First” worldview, signals a sharp reorientation from longstanding US calls to refocus on Asia, although it still identifies China as a top competitor.The strategy also brutally criticised allies in Europe and said that the US will champion opponents to European Union-led values, including on immigration.Breaking with decades of attempts to be the sole…
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the southern state of Texas may proceed with using a controversial map of congressional districts designed to favour Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.Thursday’s decision was split along ideological lines, with the court’s six conservative justices giving the new map the go-ahead and the three liberal ones joining together in dissent.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe ruling lifts a lower court’s order from November that had blocked Texas from using the new congressional map. The lower court had found that Texas had “racially gerrymandered” the districts, in violation of the…
The Los Angeles Clippers abruptly ended Chris Paul’s farewell tour.One of the greatest point guards of all time won’t get to ride into the sunset on his own terms, and while he hasn’t technically been waived or released yet, the team has made it loud and clear that it won’t have him around anymore.Paul’s age and dip in production might make it tough for him to find another team at this point in the season. Nevertheless, the Los Angeles Lakers could still be a lifeline for him. However, they will have to wait a little longer.Lakers need to wait to…
I will say, just for myself, and I am very hesitant to announce things as transphobic without having an opportunity to try to have conversations. And that’s where I am right now. That’s why you’re here right now. I’m here with you. I want to understand where people’s anxieties are. I want to find places where we might agree. What actually defines transgender identity? Our transgender rights still the next frontier of civil rights? “Effective immediately, transgender Americans may serve openly.” “The New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is set to become the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics.”…
The Trump administration is planning to buy a direct stake in yet another chip technology company. The U.S. Commerce Department announced on December 1 that it had signed a letter of intent to buy up to $150 million of xLight, a startup that focuses on lithography, a critical part of the semiconductor manufacturing process. The move shows that the government’s nearly $9 billion investment in Intel—for a 10% stake in the company structured as a silent partnership—wasn’t a one-off, and that officials are moving forward with plans to buy equity in technology companies the administration deems critical. As part of…
Fetch! Dogs may make us happy in more ways than oneMonica Click/Shutterstock Dogs may be man’s best friend, but what if they boost our well-being not just by being our furry companions, but by altering our microbiome? A series of experiments in mice suggests that dog owners have a unique makeup of bacterial species that encourage empathetic and social behaviours. We know that pets improve our life satisfaction and play a role in shaping our gut microbiome. Research also increasingly suggests that this microbiome influences our mental health and even helps mould our personalities. With dogs typically topping popular pet lists,…