San Marino votes overwhelmingly to legalize abortion
Around 77.30% of voters in the tiny European nation approved the measure which would make abortion legal in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Europe
Michelin’s airless passenger car tires get their first public outing
Michelin says “tweels” will last three times longer than normal tires, even when nothing goes wrong for the life of the tire, leading to a major reduction in waste.
England will be first country to require new homes to include EV chargers
All new homes and offices will have to feature “smart” charging devices that automatically charge vehicles during off-peak periods. New office blocks will need to install a charge point for every five parking spaces.
Spain to ban sale of fruit and vegetables in plastic wrapping from 2023
The ban on fruit and vegetable packaging will apply to produce weighing under 1.5 kilograms, following similar legislation in France, where it will go into effect next year.
European Parliament passes historic resolution to end all animal experiments
The vote was nearly unanimous – 667 to 4. The motion aims to prioritize the shift towards scientific methods that do not involve animals, including for research, regulatory testing, and education.
ArcelorMittal plans $9 billion renewable energy investment in India
One of the world’s largest mining and steel manufacturing companies has announced grand plans to develop renewable energy assets in India, possibly including a 4.5 GW, $2.6 billion solar park in Rajasthan.
France makes birth control free for everyone under 25
The free contraceptives offered include the pill, IUDs, contraceptive patches, and other methods composed of steroid hormones. Doctor’s visits for birth control prescriptions will also be free.
The Netherlands says “no” to fossil fuel greenwashing ad campaign
The Dutch Advertising Code Committee is ordering multinational oil and gas company, Shell, to stop ads that dubiously claim customers can make their fuel purchases “carbon neutral” by paying for carbon offsets.
mRNA cancer therapy now in human trials after shrinking mouse tumors
BioNTech, the German company that developed Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine, is now testing whether mRNAs can treat cancer in humans. The treatment has already completely shrunk tumors in mice.
Christian leaders call for climate action, issue unprecedented joint statement
In a statement, the heads of the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion appealed to COP26 delegates to take action “for the sake of the earth which God has given us.”