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Kazakhs approve plan for first nuclear power plant
Kazakhs approve plan for first nuclear power plant
Economy
by  AFP

Kazakhstan has approved a plan to build its first nuclear power station in a referendum, overcoming lingering resentment over massive radiation exposure from Soviet-era nuclear tests. The issue of nuclear power is sensitive given that between 1949 and 1989, the Soviet Union carried out around 450 nuclear tests there, exposing 1.5 million people to radiation.

Sardinia's sheep farmers battle bluetongue as climate warms
Sardinia's sheep farmers battle bluetongue as climate warms
Economy
by  AFP

The sheep huddle together, bleeding from the nose, aborting lambs or suffocating on saliva as they succumb to bluetongue, a virus sweeping through flocks on the Italian island of Sardinia. Some 20,000 sheep have died so far this year on the island, which is home to nearly half Italy's flock and plays an important role in the production of famed Italian cheeses such as Pecorino.