At least 20 people died in Madagascar after Tropical Cyclone Gezani made landfall, causing widespread destruction and prompting warnings of further flooding and landslides, according to authorities. The powerful storm, with wind speeds exceeding 195 kph (121 mph), struck the Indian Ocean island, collapsing houses and displacing residents, as reported by ABC News.
The cyclone hit Madagascar's main port city, impacting a population of 31 million, many of whom live in poverty and lack adequate shelter from such storms, ABC News noted. The island's weather service issued red alerts for several regions, anticipating potential floods and landslides as Gezani moved across the island.
In other news, a report by the children's commissioner for England revealed that children are being "bombarded" with advertisements for weight loss products online, BBC Technology reported. The report highlighted that young people are routinely exposed to ads for injections and pills that claim to alter their bodies, despite such advertising being banned. Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner, stated these posts were "immensely damaging" to young people's self-esteem and called for a ban on social media advertising to children.
Meanwhile, senior staff at the Co-op have voiced concerns about a "toxic culture" at the executive level of the 180-year-old member-owned food and services group, BBC Business reported. A letter to Co-op board members, seen by the BBC, complained of "fear and alienation" among senior staff, who felt scared to raise concerns about the business's direction. Several sources also indicated that a culture discouraging challenge had led to poor decisions, resulting in declining morale and a drop in profits.
Harrods announced that more than 180 survivors of abuse by the former owner Mohammed Al Fayed are currently "engaged" in its compensation scheme, BBC Business reported. The luxury retailer has already paid out compensation to over 50 women. The scheme, which opened last March, will close to new submissions on March 31st. Eligible claimants can receive damages of £200,000, with potential compensation of up to £385,000 plus treatment costs for those assessed by a consultant psychiatrist.
Finally, climate-fueled wildfires in Patagonia have devastated forests, including some that are home to the world's oldest trees, The Guardian reported. Researchers found that global heating made the wildfires, which left 23 people dead in Chile, about three times more likely. The hot, dry, and windy conditions enabled the fires to spread across vast areas of Argentina and Chile.
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