Today's News

[Daisy]

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced that leaded petrol, which is highly polluting, was eradicated from Algeria - the last country to be still using it.

Even though concerns about adding lead to petrol were raised nearly a hundred years ago, the oil industry continued to add lead routinely until the 1970s. By 2016 only a few countries were continuing to add lead to their petrol.

The executive director of the UNEP said "Leaded fuel illustrates in a nutshell the kind of mistakes humanity has been making at every level of our societies."

[Gemini]

About time then!

[Oma]

I was genuinely surprised to learn some countries still used it ,
I honestly thought it was banned everywhere .
You learn something new every day

[Nanto2girls]

Well we live and learn.

[Daisy]

A little riddle for today's news.

What has an iridescent shimmer, fabulous furry legs, is extremely skittish, and 'posed' for a photo which has been highly commended in this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year?

Scroll down for the answer ...





keep scrolling ...















A Sabethes mosquito

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58398905

[Gemini]

Oh LOL, I wouldn't have guessed that one!

It is quite pretty but I am not a fan as they like to eat me alive!!

[Oma]

Pretty but nasty

[Grauntie Mag]

Glad they are not local! Just beautiful though. I was fascinated by the zombie fungus. Nature is incredible!
Thanks Daisy.

[Daisy]

Grauntie - who would have imagined such a thing as zombie fungus!

Gem - you're ok this particularly glamorous mozzie only sucks blood when she's breeding.

[Daisy]

Tropical Storm Ida is still making herself felt in America. New York is in a state of emergency with record rainfall and flash flooding resulting in dangerous conditions on the road. Central Park was hit with over 3 inches of rain in one hour; the subways are closed and other transport is severely affected.

Ida hit in the south east as a Hurricane and is now classed as a Tropical Storm, but it's still causing a great deal of damage.

[Gemini]

Oh dear I must contact my my NY friend.

[Daisy]

How much loose change have you got in your purse, or lying around at home?

It's estimated there is £50m of coins being hoarded in the UK. Since the last lockdown ended it's estimated that more cash is being used, mainly by 35-54 year olds, and most people, when they get high-value coins - £1 or £2 - they tend to carry it with them and spend it. But what about all the 1 and 2 pennies, and those pesky little silver 5ps? It seems 7 in 10 of us put them in a pot or something and hoard them. This means the Mint has to manufacture more to put small change back into circulation. This cost about £50m last year.

UK Finance says industry and policymakers need to encourage the recycling of hoarded coins to reduce the 'cost of cash'.

One solution being put forward is that we donate our hoarded coins to charities, many of whom are struggling in the wake of the pandemic and lack of fundraising opportunities over the last 18 months.

Time to rattle our pots and empty them into a charity box.

[Oma]

Mine in my Jar gets recycled to my GC once cashed in

[Nanto2girls]

Thats what we do Oma, but sometimes DS2 partner will ask for some.
When she needs change at work, she has to order it at the bank, especially 5p pieces.

[Daisy]

Nanto - change (ie low value coins) can be a real problem for shops. My DS2's shop never pays coin in to the bank because it's just not worth it. They use it as a float in the till. Five pound notes are even worse though -rarer than the proverbial hen's teeth, it seems.