Author: damazah@gmail.com

Wildfires burning near Bordeaux have put some of France’s most famous winemakers on edge, as shifting winds threaten to push flames or smoke towards vineyards just weeks before harvest.At Château Malartic-Lagravière, which has been producing grand cru reds for more than two centuries, growers are scrutinising the winds and climbing temperatures. The domaine, just south of Bordeaux, is only 10km from areas evacuated because of fire risk.“There is talk of zombie fires that keep coming back to life,” said Séverine Bonnie, who works at the château that produces reds and whites with the Pessac-Léognan appellation. “The situation remains fragile so…

The compact Fan 2 Pro is designed to be carried anywhere and move air around medium-sized rooms, a balcony, or family tent. It features a big 3,600mAh battery for up to 70 hours of very quiet (21dB), cordless operation at low speed, or four hours on max. It can operate even longer when connected to a USB-C power bank or large power station. The blades, filter, and front & rear housing are fully detachable for easy cleaning, and there’s even an integrated nightlight.The Fan 2 Pro can move air up and around thanks to its ability to continuously oscillate 90-degrees…

Saunas and cold plunge pools are popping up everywhere in the UK, bringing fiery heat and icy cold to a beach, city farm or park near you. Their users will be ready with all the reasons why it’s good for both the mind and the body. But what’s the evidence for the benefits of sauna and cold plunge? In this episode from April, Madeleine Finlay hears from Ian Sample and Dr Heather Massey, associate professor at the University of Portsmouth’s extreme environments laboratory

The Aug. 3 trade deadline is only five days away. The Connelly-Early-for-Curtis-Mead swap is the summer’s most significant trade so far, though give it a few days and the action will pick up. The biggest blockbusters figure to happen close to the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Monday. Until then, here are Wednesday’s deadline rumors. Playing MLB trade deadline matchmaker: 10 players and teams that just make sense together Mike Axisa Teams blame Mets for Peralta’s poor yearDespite his down season, several teams have interest in Mets rental righty Freddy Peralta, and, according to the New York Post, some of…

Nigerian singer Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, has apologised for his controversial comments about Nigerian languages, saying his remarks were misunderstood and were never intended to disparage the country’s languages or culture. The former P-Square star came under criticism after responding to a social media user who asked whether his children, who speak French fluently, could also speak Igbo. In his response, Mr P questioned, “Who Naija language help?”, a remark that sparked widespread backlash online. Addressing the controversy in a statement shared on X on Wednesday, Mr P admitted that his words offended many people and said…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The first day of school for the 2026-27 school year for many Kentuckiana students is right around the corner, and WDRB is your guide for all things back to school, from school calendars to supply giveaways and drives.If you have a back-to-school event to share, email webteam@wdrb.com, and we’ll add it.2026-2027 school calendarsKentuckyJefferson County Public SchoolsCalendar:Start date: Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026Fall Break: Monday, Sept. 28, to Friday, Oct. 2Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, Nov. 25, to Friday, Nov. 27Winter Break: Monday, Dec. 21, to Jan. 1, 2027Spring Break: Monday, Mar. 29, to Friday, Apr. 2Last day for students:…

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is set to leave the club with immediate effect, according to reports from BBC Sport on Thursday. The decision follows discussions between Howe and the club’s hierarchy, with sources indicating that the 48-year-old had been considering his future at St James’ Park in recent weeks. Howe came under pressure last season after Newcastle endured a difficult Premier League campaign, finishing 12th after losing 17 of their 38 league matches. His final game in charge was a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday. Sources close to the situation have suggested…

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has lost 250 million rand ($15.2m) in donor funding after adopting two resolutions on Israel’s war on Gaza. Vice-Chancellor Mosa Moshabela disclosed the losses to Parliament in June, explaining that the Donald Gordon Foundation had withdrawn the remaining funding under a 200 million rand ($12.1m), 10-year commitment to a neuroscience institute. Other benefactors withheld another 50 million rand ($3m), including 15 million rand ($910,000) annually for bursaries.This blow lands in a country ranked by the World Bank as the world’s most unequal. UCT’s student debt exceeded one billion rand ($60.7m) by December 2025, while…

Liu Sheng, Chairman and CEO of Zhongji Innolight (centre right) bangs the gong at the start of trading during the launch of the company’s initial public offering at the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) in Hong Kong on July 30, 2026.Peter PARKS / AFP via Getty ImagesZhongji Innolight, the Chinese AI component maker founded by billionaire Wang Weixiu, fell as much as 9.8% during its Hong Kong market debut on Thursday as global investors unwound their AI bets amid rising concerns that the market is getting overheated.The company later pared some of the losses to end the day…

Choosing a cordless vacuum isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. You’re likely to keep a vacuum cleaner for years, relying heavily on its ability to suck up dust, crumbs, mud, pet hair and any other dry spillages or sheddings that end up on your floor. Choosing the right model can be the difference between an effective cleaner that’s a delight to pull out of the cupboard and a dud that you dread having to unblock, detangle and clean after every use.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn…