German farmer Michael Stucke's "Rainbow Wool" project rescues gay rams from slaughter, using their wool for fashion. Profits support the LSVD+ foundation, aiding LGBTQ+ refugees in Europe, and challenges the notion of sexual orientation as a choice.
Solar Impulse 2 completed the first fuel-free round-the-world flight in July 2016, demonstrating that advanced engineering and solar energy could power an aircraft across continents. The 40,000 km journey, lasting 16 months with 16 stopovers, showcased clean-energy technology in aviation.
German farmer Michael Stucke, with Nadia Leytes and late Johan, founded "Rainbow Wool" to save "unprofitable" gay rams from slaughter, using their wool for fashion. Profits support the LSVD+ foundation, aiding nearly 2000 LGBTQ+ refugees in Europe, advocating for animal and human rights.
Bangladesh is launching an ambitious five-year plan to plant 250 million trees nationwide, aiming to boost green cover, meet climate goals, and fulfill an election promise. The initiative, involving multiple government bodies and NGOs, prioritizes native species and real-time tracking, but faces challenges in species selection, sapling quality, and post-plantation care.
Aamir Khan has exited an upcoming biopic on entrepreneur Ashneer Grover due to creative differences with director Rahul Mody. Shraddha Kapoor remains attached as lead actress and producer, with the team now seeking a younger actor for Grover's role, with the cast expected to be locked soon.
Five years after its Saudi-led takeover, Newcastle United navigates a changed financial landscape with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Squad-Cost Ratio (SCR), unlike Manchester City's swift post-takeover success. Despite revenue growth and some on-field achievements, the club faces challenges in boosting income, managing player sales, and developing infrastructure to meet its ambitious goals.
Movement Labs, developer of the Movement Ethereum layer-2 blockchain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 15 in Delaware. This follows a market-making scandal involving co-founder Rushi Manche and Web3Port, which led to a 94% decline in the MOVE token and Coinbase suspending trading.
Indonesia has again reduced the budget for President Prabowo Subianto's signature free school meals program to 229 trillion rupiah, with further cuts possible. The program, a key election pledge, faces efficiency drives, logistical issues, food poisoning incidents, and corruption allegations, prompting a review to improve quality over beneficiary numbers.
British flying taxi startup Vertical Aerospace announced the UK government's interest in a military version of its eVTOL aircraft, following a £10m grant. The company demonstrated its prototype at Farnborough Airshow, showcasing its transition from conventional to vertical flight, as it pursues certification for passenger flights by 2029.
Allison Brown and her husband saved over $200,000 by living in a 1,500-square-foot trailer for six years and then self-managing the construction of their 3,600-square-foot home in South Dakota, which cost $410,000. They also converted the trailer into an Airbnb for additional income.
A city in eastern China's Jiangsu province has signed an agreement with Alibaba Cloud and Wangsu Science and Technology to build a data center that will directly connect to renewable energy plants, aiming to boost token output efficiency by 62.5%.
Florida officials, in collaboration with scientists, have planted 15,000 milkweed plants along northern Florida roadsides as part of a conservation effort to create feeding and breeding areas for declining monarch butterfly populations and other pollinators.
The UK's National Audit Office (NAO) will investigate the controversial Lower Thames Crossing project amid concerns over rising costs and public funds being used for a privately run asset. Campaigners are urging for the investigation to be fast-tracked before more money is wasted.
Chinese geologists warn that the Yarlung Tsangpo mega dam project in Tibet is built above an active fault line, raising concerns about landslides, earthquakes, and structural instability, with potential implications for India and Bangladesh.
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev stated that Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) will be commissioned before the end of 2026. He described the project as a key task for Russia's state atomic energy corporation.
Residents near New Zealand's first AI datacenter in Makarewa are demanding transparency regarding its significant electricity and water usage, potential noise pollution, and long-term economic benefits, citing concerns about environmental impact and lack of community consultation.
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev stated that the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt is an absolute priority. The installation of the reactor pressure vessel for the second power unit marks a significant step in Egypt's nuclear industry development and highlights the strategic partnership between Egypt and Russia.
A developing Super El Niño may disrupt the Polar Vortex, potentially causing colder temperatures and more snow in the US, Canada, and Europe during the winter of 2026-27. Meteorologists are monitoring these long-range climate signals.
Hong Kong authorities plan to have the delayed Pak Shek Kok station on the East Rail line open by 2033. The MTR Corporation will build the station, financed by developing private housing nearby. The station's location has been confirmed between Tai Po Market and University stations.
Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan stated that the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project will significantly expand trade opportunities for Armenia and Iran, opening railways from the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea. He addressed Iran's concerns about US presence, assuring no conspiracy and readiness to unblock regional transport links.
The Trump administration's renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is mired in controversy, with the final cost exceeding estimates and the work itself facing legal challenges. Algae blooms, peeling paint, and dead ducks have raised questions, while the White House blames vandalism. Critics point to rushed work and no-bid contracts.
The Trump administration's renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is embroiled in legal battles. Despite initial estimates under $2 million, the final cost exceeded seven times that amount. Problems like algae and peeling paint emerged quickly, leading to accusations of vandalism by the White House, while critics point to a rushed renovation and questionable contracts.
The UK's Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) program, projected to cost £264bn by 2050, is criticized as a 'white elephant' that will increase emissions and costs. Experts argue it's driven by fossil fuel industry lobbying, not climate necessity, with alternatives like renewables and battery storage being more viable and cost-effective.
Middle Eastern oil production decreased by 8.3 million barrels per day in June. Global oil markets are anticipated to return to pre-conflict levels by year-end, with production resuming in Q1 2027, according to the US EIA.
