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MEPs back plans to slash use of plastic shopping bags
The European Parliament on Wednesday backed plans to slash the use of plastic shopping bags which, carelessly thrown away, end up as unsightly litter and pollute the environment. ... more
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Evolution explains facial hair trends
Beards may have once served an evolutionary purpose, providing men warmth and protection against the elements, but today they're mostly a fashion choice. Right now, they're a pretty popular fashion choice. And evolutionary biologists at the University of New South Wales think they know why. ... more
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China is advancing Hu Yaobang reforms: state media
Modern China is advancing reforms supported by Hu Yaobang, state media said Wednesday, a day after the 25th anniversary of the death of the reformer whose passing helped ignite the Tiananmen Square protests. ... more
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US housing effort in Haiti falls short: official
A US project to provide badly-needed housing for hundreds of thousands of Haitians left homeless by a 2010 earthquake has failed to live up to its promise and went over budget, a government audit said Tuesday. ... more
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