New Zealand to ban single-use plastic bags by next year
Single-use plastic bags are among the most common items found in coastal litter in New Zealand.
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France just banned smartphone use in schools
The new legislation means that students between the age of 3 and 15 will either have to leave their phones at home or keep them turned off during the school day.
New York just became the first city to give Uber drivers a minimum wage
New York City’s new regulations could set a precedent for other cities across the country that face increasingly congested roads and drivers frustrated with the depreciating value of their services.
Missouri voters just blocked the right-to-work law Republicans passed to weaken labor unions
It’s the first time voters have overturned right-to-work laws through a ballot referendum in recent years.
Record numbers of women nominated for governor, U.S. Congress
A record number of women have won major party nominations for governor and Congressional representatives this year — a full month before primary season is officially over.
France approves bids for solar power projects of 720MW capacity
The ground solar projects, which could provide power for around 100,000 homes annually, are part of the government’s plan announced in 2016 to add 3,000 MW of solar capacity to France’s energy mix by 2020.
Research successfully transplant lab-grown lungs in pigs
Eventually, bioengineered lungs could replace donor ones altogether. And that could make the transplant waiting list a thing of the past.
2018 U.S. elections include record number of LGBT candidates
More than 400 gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender candidates running for office in the United States this year.
World now has 1 TW of wind and solar capacity, 2 TW expected in 2023
The capital expenditure for constructing these plants totalled USD 2.3 trillion (EUR 1.99tr), while the next 1 TW of capacity will cost 46% less.
5,500 U.K. churches are now using renewable energy
Churches are also shunning the most polluting fossil fuels in their investment portfolios, which are typically used to fund the retirement of clergy and upkeep of church buildings.