Things aren't as bad as they seem.

Fairphone’s Gen 6+ is designed so owners can replace 12 parts with one included screwdriver, including the battery, screen, cameras and USB-C port. The $650 phone, now entering the US market, will receive software updates and spare parts through 2033, though its modular design is thicker and only IP55

There’s a fully self-repairable smartphone coming to the market

There’s a fully self-repairable smartphone coming to the market

09.09.2026

Heading layer

There’s a fully self-repairable smartphone coming to the market

04.08.2026

Montenegro grants paid leave for diagnosed menstrual pain

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04.08.2026

Humpback whale supergroups are returning off South Africa

Nearly 40 years after the global whaling ban, large gatherings of humpback whales are being recorded more often off South Africa. One sighting submitted to Happywhale identified 299 whales in 24 hours, reflecting a Southern Hemisphere recovery from about 10,000 to roughly 100,000 animals.

04.08.2026

Spain’s planned octopus farm is abandoned after legal victory

Nueva Pescanova has dropped plans for a €65m octopus farm in Gran Canaria after a five-year dispute over environmental regulation. Campaigners say the decision may slow the development of a new form of aquaculture, as Washington and California have already banned octopus farming and bills are moving in Spain, Mexico and Chile.

01.08.2026

Magnetic nanoparticles reduce PFAS in contaminated water

A team in Erlangen used functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles to bind a broad range of PFAS and fluorine-containing microplastics, then remove them with a magnet. In tests on river water, laundry wastewater and a contaminated drinking water source, PFAS fell by 87%, below Germany’s 100 nanograms per liter limit.

01.08.2026

Oprah Winfrey academy shifts focus to national scholarships

Oprah Winfrey will close her South African girls’ academy after 2027 and transfer the campus to local education authorities. Her foundation says it will move from running one boarding school to funding scholarships for academically talented girls from disadvantaged communities at leading schools nationwide.

01.08.2026

EU makes labels mandatory for realistic AI-generated content

From 2 August, companies offering new AI systems in the EU must label synthetic images, audio, video and some text designed to appear real, using visible notices and digital watermarks. The AI Act rules target deceptive deepfakes while exempting personal, artistic, satirical and fictional content.

01.08.2026

OpenAI limits ChatGPT prompts that mimic named authors directly

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01.08.2026

Rail beats domestic flights on cost and emissions in Britain

Independent research for the Rail Delivery Group compared seven busy long-distance routes in Great Britain and found rail passengers save an average of 71%, or £147, once airport transfers, baggage and seat fees are included. The study also found rail performs better on productivity, flexibility and environmental impact.

01.08.2026

Spain creates scientific panel to guide climate policy decisions

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29.07.2026

Murals help Zacamil reclaim public space after gang control

In Zacamil, a Salvadoran neighbourhood long marked by civil-war massacres and later gang control, artists have covered housing blocks with murals, mosaics and light works since 2024. The project is reopening public spaces and rebuilding trust, while residents stress that deeper urban renewal is still needed.

29.07.2026

Uganda declared Ebola-free after containing 20 confirmed cases

Uganda has been declared Ebola-free 42 days after its last patient was discharged, meeting the WHO benchmark. The country confirmed 20 cases linked to the outbreak in eastern DR Congo, then used event cancellations, travel suspensions, quarantine and 21-day contact follow-up to stop further transmission.

29.07.2026

Portugal’s Bussaco forest gains therapeutic certification

Mata do Bussaco, a 105-hectare national forest in Portugal, has become the first certified Therapeutic Forest on the Iberian Peninsula. Valid until 2031, the certification recognises trails and protected spaces designed for supervised forest therapy, placing it among four such sites worldwide.

29.07.2026

Rome opens cinemas and public venues as daytime heat shelters

Rome is offering free daytime access to air-conditioned cinemas, libraries, theatres and exhibition spaces as temperatures approach 40C. The measure targets residents without home cooling, combining heat relief with cultural activities and social contact during one of Italy’s hotter summers.

29.07.2026

Brazil’s forensic gold lab traces illegal Amazon mining

Brazil’s federal police are using forensic “gold fingerprinting” to compare seized gold with samples from protected areas and Indigenous lands. The method can help prove illegal origin, support prosecutions and strengthen oversight of supply chains linked to Amazon deforestation and mercury pollution.

29.07.2026

Sweden plans 2028 ban on PFAS in everyday consumer goods

Sweden plans to ban PFAS in consumer goods including clothing, cosmetics, kitchenware, waterproofing agents and ski wax from 1 January 2028. The national measure would move ahead of broader EU rules on chemicals linked to cancers, fertility problems, immune disruption and persistent pollution.

24.07.2026

Dutch students unveil solar ambulance built for remote medical care

Students from Eindhoven University of Technology have introduced Stella Juva, a solar-powered ambulance designed to bring healthcare directly to remote communities. The prototype powers both its drive system and medical equipment with rooftop solar panels and a battery, and will begin field testing in Kenya next month.

24.07.2026

Loggerhead turtle nesting surges after decades of protection efforts

A 27-year study found an 80-fold increase in loggerhead turtle nesting across three beaches on Boa Vista, Cabo Verde. Researchers link the recovery to habitat protection, anti-poaching patrols, hatcheries, long-term monitoring, and stronger community involvement, despite ongoing threats from climate change and human activity.

24.07.2026

UK legalizes plug-in solar kits for homes starting August 27

From August 27, households across the UK will be able to install approved plug-in solar kits by connecting them to a standard wall socket. The new rules set technical safety limits and fulfill the government's pledge to legalize the systems before summer ends, making small-scale solar power more accessible.