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One year after Ethiopia signed a peace deal with the Tigray People's Liberation Front, ending a brutal conflict that killed hundreds of thousands by some estimates, life in the northern...

Miki Sudo ate 39.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win her ninth title in the women's side of the annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest on Tuesday, and men's reigning champion Joey Chestnut is looking to defend his dominant run.

iRobot is following up its Roomba Combo j7+ 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop with an

TL;DR: Use your voice to search and launch programmes from across different apps with a

The Big Issue has teamed up with leading fashion designers to launch a range of sustainable T-shirts to help fund its work and campaigns to help stop homelessness. Julien Macdonald, Pearl Lowe, Sadie Williams and Preen by Thornton Bregazzi have contributed to the campaign. Macdonald, whose clothes have been worn by celebrities including Kylie Minogue, Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez, said: “I wanted to support the Big Issue Group with an exclusive range of products inspired by my love for community and the meaningful connections we all seek to form. “Everyone deserves the same opportunities and this bespoke design represents bringing communities together in order to dismantle poverty by creating opportunities and supporting each other.” Thornton Bregazzi said: “Inspired by the strength and vulnerability of youth growing up in the city, this design draws on the connection between childhood, your favourite toy and the meaning of comfort.” Celebrities including singer Tom Odell, actor Jorgie Porter, artists Hugo Hamlet and Lily Ashley, and Big Issue Group ambassadors Christopher Eccleston, Sherrie Silver, Dane Baptiste and Jack Parsons will be donning a selection of the designs and showcasing them on social media on Friday. I am proud to be wearing my Julien MacDonald design and to be supporting the Wear It For Big Issue campaign Christopher Eccleston, actor Christopher Eccleston said: “I am proud to be wearing my Julien Macdonald design and to be supporting the Wear It For Big Issue campaign. The Big Issue helps to lift thousands of people out of poverty by offering entrepreneurial opportunities.” Russell Blackman, managing director of commercial, at Big Issue Group, said: “We are really excited by this brilliant campaign, which not only highlights the importance of sustainable fashion but that also supports the Big Issue Group’s work supporting people out of poverty.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Maybe you're annoyed with relentless spam calls, or there's someone in your life you never

A TikTok creator’s video sparked debate over whether or not chicken should be washed before it’s cooked. Zoe Barrie (@zoebarrie) posted a video, which has now reached over 3.4m views, on 17 July to reveal her step-by-step process for cooking “spatchcocked roast chicken.” Though the footage was one minute and 23 seconds long, skeptical followers were only concerned with the first 30 seconds: the prep work. Barrie was seen unpackaging a full raw chicken, taking out the guts, and cutting it open. She moved the meat to a wired tray and sprinkled it with salt crystals. Barrie proceeded to place the bird in her fridge before blotting it with a paper towel and searing it in a pan. Immediately, critics flooded the woman’s comment section to question her methods. “Wait, no wash?” one TikTok user asked, while another added: “Um, did you wash it first, though?” “Don’t you rinse before cooking?” one person questioned. Among the suspicious users, kind followers came to Barrie’s defense when they didn’t believe that washing chicken wasn’t necessary. “Washing chicken is as stupid as washing your bread,” one individual wrote. “These washing meat comments are sending me. Y’all are so silly,” another woman remarked. Despite the overwhelming number of individuals who argued raw poultry needs to be rinsed, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) advises against it. The FSIS warned that washing chicken leads to the spread and cross-contamination of bacteria and “poultry juices” onto other food and surfaces. Water also won’t “destroy” bacteria like Salmonella or Campylobacter, and “only cooking will destroy any bacteria that might be present on fresh chicken.” @zoebarrie spatchcocked roast chicken ftw 😤 (crispy chicken ib cooking school and samin nosrat & lemon chimichurri ib me) #roastchicken #salt ♬ Wes Anderson-esque Cute Acoustic - Kenji Ueda Cross-contamination increases the risk of food poisoning, according to the FSIS. “This can occur if raw poultry or its juices come in contact with cooked food or foods that will be eaten raw, such as salad,” the report read. Per the 2019 Food Safety Consumer Research Project analysis, individuals who washed their chicken in the sink were more likely to contaminate their produce due to the bacteria left on the surface. The Minnesota Department of Health noted that, even if you wash chicken in a “slow stream of water,” risky germs are still able to splash on to fresh food or other dishes. Although most reports advise against soaking or rinsing poultry, some people still prefer to do so. In this case, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put together a list of recommendations for how to safely clean the raw food. First, chefs shoud “run the water gently over the chicken to reduce splashing”. Then, immediately clean the sink and area around the sink with hot soapy water and sanitise it thoroughly. After handling raw poultry, people should also wash their hands for 20 seconds. Barrie went on to let the chicken brown in a pan and bake in the oven. Finally, she garnished the meat with a chimichurri-like spread. The Independent has reached out to Barrie for a comment. Read More Child wiping their hands on wedding dress sparks debate in viral TikTok People are surprisingly divided over burrata as debate oozes online Woman claims restaurant ‘hack’ for toddlers solves family dinners out

We may have been enjoying an unseasonably warm spell recently, but with sweater season coming into swing – and a nip in the air when the glorious sunshine starts to fade, chances are you’re ready to cuddle up on the sofa. Especially with autumn leaves bursting into colour and fiery hues making us want to bring the outside in – and imbibe a homely cottagecore aesthetic. Here’s how to style the season with welcoming tactile elements and much more… 1. M&S Collection Cast Aluminium Casserole Dishes in Ivory and Charcoal, from £39.50 (3L), to £59.50 (7L), rest of items from a selection, Marks & Spencer. You can never have too many casserole dishes, especially with pumpkin soup, sausage and tomato casserole, and all that warming comfort food on the go. 2. Sophie Allport Hedgehogs Stoneware Small Side Plates, £12.50, Sophie Allport. A charming collection you can build on, these sweet side plates speak of woodland walks – and are perfect for farmhouse cheeses. 3. Recycled Faux Leather Set of 2 Baskets, £30, Habitat. Faux leather offers the illusion of warmth – and this smart pair look expensive without being spendy. Better still, you can fill them with woollens, as well as fireside logs for a cosy atmosphere. 4. Tortoise Shell Glass Table Lamp, £30, Habitat. The right lighting can be a game changer when the clocks go back. Time to switch out harsh bulbs and introduce some ambient low lighting… cue this trendy table lamp, which loves the spotlight. 5. Oyster Sheepskin – Super Soft Wool, from £60 (Regular), Jord Home. A Scandi-style sheepskin rug always promises a soft landing and will switch up the feel of a farmhouse kitchen or cosy corner, with its warmth and deep pile. It can be draped across a spindle chair, as well as placed underfoot. 6. Daughters of Gaea Osha 45cm Floral Silk Reversible Cushion, £135 (centre front), Arya Floral Silk Reversible Quilt, £335, rest of items from a selection, House of Woost. With winter florals and blooms in vogue, we’re loving this floral-print quilt and cushion made from ethically sourced heavyweight taffeta silk – a great styling trick for a tired sofa. One-of-a-kind pieces with slight variations in colour and finish, each item is block printed by hand and makes a delightful statement. 7. WoodWick Pomegranate Candle, £32.99 (609g), WoodWick. Think the sweet-tart scent of pomegranate with top notes of cassis and soft florals underlined by hints of rum and musk… with a gentle crackling sound from the wick when it’s lit. We’re in. 8. Yeti Faux Fur Cocoon Bean Bag, £119.99, Beanbagbazaar. Move over snug accent chairs… this season it’s all about cocooning yourself in a faux fur bean bag. With a portable faux leather handle, this stylish sphere is right on point with its soft, cosy shape ready for you to sink into. 9. National Trust Wool Throw, Vintage Fishbone Stripe, £45 (top), Chunky Knit Recycled Rust Throw, £50 (draped on chair), rest of items from a selection, National Trust. For some granny décor, you can’t beat a chunky knitted throw in autumnal berry shades and snug wools to layer up on chairs, benches and your bed. And when it comes to mixing textures and patterns, more is more. 10. APOTHECARY Meditate 100ml Diffuser, £17, rest of items from a selection, Marks & Spencer. Who can resist the calming scent of a reed diffuser? This one offers soothing aromas of cypress and cedarwood, lifted by warming tonka bean and amber. Definitely one to relax and unwind to. Read More 5 must-have bag trends for autumn Dawn O’Porter: ‘I fantasise about the other side of menopause’ Everything you need to know about bedbugs as increase in numbers is predicted PE ‘enjoyment gap’ widens for girls: Why it matters and how we can help The psychology of Big Brother: How to survive in the house How to support someone coming out in their 30s and beyond

Companies across the UK have been trialling a four-day work week over the past six months, with employees enjoying longer weekends for the same pay. The idea’s gaining traction around the world, with union workers in America recently demanding it from automobile manufacturers. But not everyone likes the idea. Local government minister Lee Rowley has demanded South Cambridgeshire District council put an end to their scheme and others think it will dent productivity and give workers minimal gain in their work life balance. India Burgess from the think tank Autonomy answers your questions on the four-day week.

Did you hear? A Hailey Bieber-owned lip treatment, Dyson vacuum-adjacent sex toy, and emotional support pickle walked into a bar last month and declared, "Hello, we're Refinery29 readers' top three bestselling products from the month of September." We didn't believe the news either — until we glanced our anonymous shopping data from the last 30 days, that is. Refinery29 readers' carts had quite the unique fall cravings.

There will be lessons on health and wellbeing, relationships and sexuality and "into adulthood".