The world's most powerful magnetic field and other news

A recent survey on behalf of the American Psychological Association found that 49% of adults reported feeling uncomfortable about returning to in-person interactions when the pandemic ends. The poll of 3,013 adults who reside in the US found that adults who had received a Covid-19 vaccine were almost as likely to feel the same way…

We need to look at the complex set of issues that are pushing people out of Central American countries as well as the pull factors attracting people towards the United States, the former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, Elizabeth Neumann, has said. Every administration dating back to George W Bush has looked…

It is unfair to say Afghans need to fight against Taliban militants by themselves, the former US national security adviser Gen HR McMaster has said. The militants are “the enemies of all civilisation, of all humanity,” he told BBC World News. The Taliban have taken 10 provincial capitals in less than a week. Almost a…

Australia’s state of New South Wales has passed its 70% vaccination target, resulting in Sydney easing its 107-day lockdown. Non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, hair and beauty salons have reopened after being forced shut for almost four months. Patrons lined up across the city for the midnight reopening, excited to enjoy their new freedoms. Video by…

Gunfire rang out at Kabul as the Taliban celebrated the last US troops leaving Afghanistan. BBC News chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet says the skies were full of red tracer and machine gun fire as the Taliban hailed the US departure, nearly 20 years since the US-led invasion forced them from power.

Countries in West Africa are said to be drowning under the weight of waste shipped to their shores.