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This Happened

This Happened - April 26: The Worst Nuclear Disaster In History

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on this day in 1986, on Ukrainian territory of the Soviet Union. It was the worst nuclear disaster in history, both in terms of the human and environmental impact.

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How did the Chernobyl nuclear disaster happen?

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster happened due to a combination of factors, including a flawed reactor design, human error, and a lack of safety measures. The reactor's operators conducted a safety test in an unsafe manner, causing the reactor to overheat and leading to a series of explosions that released radioactive material into the environment.

What was the immediate impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster?

The immediate impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster was devastating. The explosions and fire released massive amounts of radioactive material into the environment, causing the deaths of two plant workers and 28 firefighters in the following weeks. The immediate area surrounding the plant was contaminated with high levels of radiation, leading to the evacuation of more than 100,000 people.

What was the long-term impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster?

The long-term impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster was significant and far-reaching. The health effects of the radiation exposure caused by the disaster continue to be studied and debated, with estimates of the number of deaths and illnesses ranging widely. The disaster also had a significant impact on the environment, with many areas still contaminated with radiation and wildlife populations affected.

What was done to contain the Chernobyl nuclear disaster?

After the disaster, a massive containment effort was undertaken to limit the spread of radiation. The Soviet government deployed emergency crews to the site, including soldiers and firefighters, who worked to extinguish the fires and contain the radioactive material. A concrete and steel sarcophagus was built around the damaged reactor to contain the remaining radioactive material.

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Society

Italy's Right-Wing Government Turns Up The Heat On 'Gastronationalism'

Rome has been strongly opposed to synthetic foods, insect-based flours and health warnings on alcohol, and aggressive lobbying by Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government against nutritional labeling has prompted accusations in Brussels of "gastronationalism."

Dough is run through a press to make pasta

Creation of home made pasta

Karl De Meyer et Olivier Tosseri

ROME — On March 23, the Italian Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Francesco Lollobrigida, announced that Rome would ask UNESCO to recognize Italian cuisine as a piece of intangible cultural heritage.

On March 28, Lollobrigida, who is also Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's brother-in-law, promised that Italy would ban the production, import and marketing of food made in labs, especially artificial meat — despite the fact that there is still no official request to market it in Europe.

Days later, Italian Eurodeputy Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of fascist leader Benito Mussolini and member of the Forza Italia party, which is part of the governing coalition in Rome, caused a sensation in the European Parliament. On the sidelines of the plenary session, Sophia Loren's niece organized a wine tasting, under the slogan "In Vino Veritas," to show her strong opposition (and that of her government) to an Irish proposal to put health warnings on alcohol bottles. At the end of the press conference, around 11am, she showed her determination by drinking from the neck of a bottle of wine, to great applause.

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