The US Department of Energy (DoE) has awarded $500m to seven companies developing domestic critical minerals processing, battery recycling and advanced battery-material projects, according to a DoE press release and reporting by Reuters.
The announcement comes as the US administration seeks to expand domestic supply chains for materials used across energy, industrial and defence applications.
The funding, announced on 20 August, is the third round of grants under the DoE's Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing and Recycling programmes. The department said the selected projects would expand US processing and recycling capacity while reducing reliance on foreign sources.
The awards come as President Donald Trump has called for the US to become the world's "minerals superpower" and reduce its dependence on China for critical materials. Reuters reported that the administration has been using loans, grants and government investments to encourage domestic mining and processing projects.
Audrey Robertson, ****** istant Secretary at the DOE, told Reuters that hundreds of applications had been received for the latest funding round. The selected projects, she said, were those considered "most promising" and offering the highest potential return in areas of the battery supply chain identified as priorities.

#battery #recycling #materials #domestic

UBS projects hyperscalers will spend $4.1 trillion on AI infrastructure from 2026 to 2028, tripling the $1.3 trillion deployed over the previous six years.
Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft will collectively spend 102% of their cloud revenue on capex in 2026, recycling nearly all cloud income back into AI infrastructure.
The investment winners won't be the biggest spenders but companies converting that unprecedented infrastructure buildout into recurring revenue and strong returns on capital.
Act now: the ******* yst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Microsoft didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
The artificial intelligence boom is turning corporate capital spending into a different kind of arms race. The biggest cloud companies aren't merely adding data centers as demand grows; they're building infrastructure years ahead of expected usage.

#capital

Fort Wayne, Indiana-based Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) operates as a steel producer and metal recycler in the United States. The company has a market cap of $35.8 billion and operates through Steel Operations, Metals Recycling Operations, Steel Fabrication Operations, and Aluminum Operations segments.
STLD stock has lagged behind the broader market over the past year, growing 16.2% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 19.3% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has risen by nearly 5.9%, underperforming the SPX's 12.4% rise.
Barron Trump, 20, Now Worth $150 Million — More Than Mom, Melania — From Crypto And $39 Energy Drink
Billionaire Michael Saylor Warns Against Buying a House Because 'Every 36 Years You Actually Pay the Cost of the House in Tax to the Government'
QQQ Just 'Gamma Flipped' as Market Makers Were Forced to Sell. Here's What Our Top Chart Expert is Tracking Next.

#steel

Fort Wayne, Indiana-based Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) operates as a steel producer and metal recycler in the United States. The company has a market cap of $35.8 billion and operates through Steel Operations, Metals Recycling Operations, Steel Fabrication Operations, and Aluminum Operations segments.
STLD stock has lagged behind the broader market over the past year, growing 16.2% compared to the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 19.3% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has risen by nearly 5.9%, underperforming the SPX's 12.4% rise.
Barron Trump, 20, Now Worth $150 Million — More Than Mom, Melania — From Crypto And $39 Energy Drink
Billionaire Michael Saylor Warns Against Buying a House Because 'Every 36 Years You Actually Pay the Cost of the House in Tax to the Government'
QQQ Just 'Gamma Flipped' as Market Makers Were Forced to Sell. Here's What Our Top Chart Expert is Tracking Next.

#operations #steel #indiana

The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is creating a more consistent framework, but small businesses selling across borders still face national EPR systems, registration and reporting requirements.
The EU's new packaging regime is intended to make rules more consistent across the single market. For small businesses selling products across borders, however, a common regulatory framework does not necessarily mean a common compliance process.
Regulation (EU) 2025/40, known as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), entered into force on 11 February 2025 and generally applies from 12 August 2026. It covers packaging and packaging waste regardless of material or origin, with requirements covering packaging design, composition, reuse, recycling and waste management.
The regulation aims to reduce packaging waste and its environmental and health impacts while improving the functioning of the EU internal market.
Yet one important part of the system – extended producer responsibility (EPR) – continues to rely on national registers and arrangements.

#regulation #small

The **** ss of Edinburgh has reigned supreme in the sustainable style stakes this week, recycling one of the hardest-working items in her royal wardrobe for a visit to Capability Scotland.
Turning to trusted brand Penelope Chilvers, Prince Edward's wife opted for the silk blue puff-sleeve blouse, which she often uses as an elevated alternative to a trusty T-shirt. She previously styled the versatile piece with pinstripe trousers at the Royal Windsor Flower Show in June and a denim skirt for The Groundswell Festival in July.
On 14 August, she paired it with a figure-skimming tan pencil skirt and espadrilles, which were also a repeat wear from Penelope Chilvers.
The **** ss of Edinburgh wore a Penelope Chilvers silk blouse during a visit to Capability Scotland in Edinburgh (@ Getty)
Stepping out just one day after her son, James, Earl of Wessex, announced his university plans, the **** ss met with volunteers and staff to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Scottish charity, which provides care, support, and education for disabled people.

#Scotland #visit #blouse

Here it is then: the curtain-opener. The start of the season proper, our bread and ******* er: league football. The excitement was in the air as the warm weather and promise of shiny new things at the SCL gave the fanbase reason to arrive in their masses to watch the spectacle of a visiting, promotion-tipped Luton Town.
There were some changes to the stadium that I could see and notice. The sound system definitely seemed louder, the pitch's advertising boards were now upgraded to the electronic screen versions and the bins inside the concourse had been replaced with newer ones, which provided options for general waste and recycling. And of course, safe-standing was present in the South Stand.
From where I was sitting, it seemed the West Stand possibly had some new seats, but I couldn't be sure. Certainly over in the East Stand, we had the same seats from last year where I was sat. However, the WiFi and phone signal were still terrible, the toilets the same (although clean) and the only difference in the food and drink selections were the slight price increases.
This effectively boils down to an appropriate metaphor for the game itself: it promised a lot of change, but ultimately, underwhelmed where it mattered.
The starting line-up was pretty much as we expected, seeing the 4-2-3-1 shape from pre-season in use. However, the only pleasant surprise was seeing Jack Marriott start. Also in the line-up were home debuts for Udoka Godwin-Malife (or 'Dokes', because I'm not writing that again), Kyreece Lisbie and Josh Stokes.

#season #seemed #seats #seeing

Infanta Sofia of Spain proved she was the queen of royal recycling this weekend as she stepped out in a stunning dress previously worn by both her mother and her older sister.
The Spanish royal, 19, was seen in a gorgeous off-the-shoulder blue and white dress for a family dinner at the Mia Restaurant in Palma on Friday evening.
The gown, a collaboration between designer Stella Jean and Desigual, looked very familiar – as in previous summers it's been worn by Queen Letizia and Princess Leonor, 20.
Letizia, 53, wore it to the 2023 Balearic Island Reception three years ago at the Marivent Palace, while Leonor wore the piece in August 2025, styling the statement item with gold earrings and navy blue sandals.
Infanta Sofia wore a very familiar dress (Getty Images)

#queen #royal

Oklo (OKLO), a clean energy technology firm headquartered in Santa Clara, California, was launched in 2013 by CEO Jacob DeWitte and co-founder Caroline Cochran. The firm designs and builds Aurora fast fission powerhouses, compact, modular nuclear reactors capable of generating 15 to 75 megawatts of electricity, while operating an integrated platform for nuclear fuel recycling and production.
Oklo's commercial model covers three main pillars: power generation, nuclear fuel services, and medical and industrial radioisotopes produced via its Groves reactor initiative. Backed by a contracted customer pipeline of over 14 GW across AI data centers, defense, industrial, and government clients, and $2.5 billion in cash secured through a successful $1.2 billion ATM offering, Oklo is positioning itself as a core advanced fission provider for the AI infrastructure market.
Costco Officially Launched Standalone Gas Stations. Don't Count on This Fueling Another Leg Higher in COST Stock.
Hot US Weather Forecasts Boost Nat-Gas Prices
Escalating Global Supply Risks Underpin Crude Oil Prices

#nuclear #prices #launched #billion

Fred Alger Management, an investment management company, released its "Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. US equities strongly rebounded in the second quarter, with the S&P 500 Index returning 15.2%. A ceasefire between the United States and Iran and accelerated investment in artificial intelligence (AI) fueled market optimism in the quarter, driving the Information Technology and Industrials sectors forward, while Energy and Utilities lagged due to falling oil and gas prices. Despite discussions about AI disruption, opportunities are identified within sectors adopting the technology as it enters its agentic phase. The Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund's Class A shares outperformed the Russell Midcap Growth Index in the quarter, driven by strong performances in Information Technology and Health Care, while Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary detracted from the performance. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund highlighted GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL). GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) is a Canadian-based waste management company offering non-hazardous solid waste management services. On July 17, 2026, GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) closed at $39.56 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $14.28 billion. GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) posted a one-month return of 13.03%, while its shares lost 15.87% over the past 52 weeks.
Alger Mid Cap Focus Fund stated the following regarding GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Insmed Incorporated, GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL), and Karman Holdings Inc. were among the top detractors from performance. GFL Environmental is one of the largest diversified environmental services companies in North America, providing solid waste collection, recycling, and related services across Canada and a broad footprint of U.S. states. During the quarter, shares detracted from performance even as the company reported better-than expected first-quarter results and raised its full-year guidance. The weakness instead centered on GFL's announcement of a sizeable acquisition that expands its presence in Western Canada, which pressured the stock as investors weighed the equity component used to fund the deal and the integration involved in absorbing a large new platform."
GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) is not on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds Heading Into 2026. According to our database, 44 hedge fund portfolios held GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) at the end of the first quarter, up from 43 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE:GFL) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to ben

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Hundreds of firefighters battled wildfires in Portugal, Greece and Spain on Sunday, with Spain and Italy sending reinforcements to Portugal to help with a massive blaze burning for more than three days.
Authorities urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, to remain indoors and shut their windows and doors due to toxic smoke from a burning recycling plant that was engulfed by a wildfire.
Another major wildfire broke out Sunday afternoon west of the Greek capital, Athens. The fire department said 210 firefighters, backed up by volunteers, specialized teams and 29 aircraft, including water-dropping planes and helicopters, were deployed to battle the blaze burning through pine forest in the Mandra area. Authorities were racing to contain the blaze before nightfall, when aircraft can no longer perform firefighting operations.
In central Portugal's Vouzela area, more than 1,200 firefighters backed up by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft tried to put out a blaze that broke out Thursday, according to the Civil Protection authority. The wildfire had burned across an area of 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) by Sunday, information from the European Union's Copernicus satellite mapping agency showed.
The EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid said that Spain sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles as reinforcements to Portugal on Friday, while three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain were also dispatched to help.

Jordan Spieth was at it again on Thursday in the first round of the John Deere Classic. Spieth’s group teed off on the 10th hole at 8:35 AM and he was 1-under by the time he stepped onto the 15th tee box. That’s when he did the most Jordan Spieth thing possible and hit his tee shot so far right it ended up on the wrong side of the cart path.
When Spieth walked up to find his ball and take his second shot he found a white flag next to a garbage can and a Michelob Ultra-branded recycling bin where patrons were supposed to put their empties. The ball had somehow ended up underneath the recycling. Thus, we got the visual of Jordan Spieth dragging both receptacles to the cart path curb like it was trash day.
It’s an incredible visual. He looks like a dad realizing his kid didn’t take out the trash and can’t decide if it’s even worth his effort to move them at this point because he’s pretty sure he already heard the truck go by.
But not Jordan Spieth. He got the OK to move the bins and then he asked just exactly how much he could move his ball. And he stepped up and hit it within a few feet. And then he made the birdie putt.
How many other golfers in the world can make birdie from underneath a garbage can?

Jordan Spieth can get up and down from a trash can.
No, literally, he can – and make that two trash cans.
Spieth birdied the par-4 15th hole Thursday at TPC Deere Run, his sixth hole of his first round at the John Deere Classic, despite driving his ball underneath a pair of trash cans.
“Do I get to do anything about that?” Spieth asked a rules official after lifting the cardboard receptacle, which sat next to a plastic recycling bin, to reveal his ball in the rough.
“No, you have to play it,” the official responded.

Bryce Huff retired from the NFL in March at age 27, six years after entering the league as an undrafted free agent and two years after signing a three-year, $51 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. He told The Athletic's Vic Tafur the decision wasn't sudden, though, and that he and his older brother, Jordan, had been considering it for a couple of years while building a startup on the side.
That company, Naberstone, focuses on suppressing lithium-ion battery fires without releasing toxic chemicals. It's a problem Huff says is growing as batteries become more common in everything from cars to power tools.
"I feel like we're going to save a lot of lives and protect a lot of companies," Huff said of the venture.
Self-funded by Huff, Naberstone has six employees, one major customer already on board, and is in talks with the U.S. military and recycling groups across Europe and Asia, according to the report.
Huff was traded from the Eagles to the 49ers in June 2025 and, after Nick Bosa's Week 3 knee injury, finished the season tied for the team lead with four sacks and 15 quarterback hits. But he said the idea of walking away was already on his mind before he reported to Santa Clara.

Comstock Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LODE) is one of the 8 High Growth Penny Stocks to Buy.
On June 24, 2026, Comstock Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LODE) announced that Comstock Metals, its wholly owned subsidiary, selected Cambridge, Ohio, as one of the national locations for its industrial-scale solar panel recycling and production facility and logistics hub. The selection was made in collaboration with JobsOhio and OhioSE. The Ohio operation is expected to create 20 full-time positions and is supported by a newly announced $75,000 JobsOhio Grant. The Cambridge facility will expand capacity to ultimately produce aluminum, silver, and glass bead outputs for resale into Midwest industrial supply chains.
On June 22, Comstock announced that it executed a Securities Purchase Agreement to sell 100% of its mineral, mining, processing, and related mining district real estate entities to Mackay Precious Metals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mackay Gold & Silver Corp., for an aggregate transaction value of over $45M. The deal consists of over $30M in cash and stock payments, a retained 1.5% NSR royalty, ***** umption of all reclamation obligations and liabilities, and an additional contingent future payment of $10M. Upon closing, Comstock will have received $20M in cash plus 2 million Mackay Gold & Silver shares valued at over $3.5M at recent prices, with a secured second-tranche cash payment of $7M due within 18 months. Comstock expects the divestiture to reduce ongoing costs tied to maintaining the mining ***** ets, permits, environmental compliance obligations, and related activities, resulting in over $1.5M in annualized savings.
Comstock Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:LODE) commercializes technologies, systems, and supply chains that extract, process, and convert under-utilized waste and natural resources into clean energy and products supporting clean energy in the United States.
While we acknowledge the potential of LODE as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

Major sporting events are facing growing pressure to reduce packaging waste as consumers increasingly demand alternatives to single-use plastics. Stadiums, arenas and fan zones generate large volumes of food and drink packaging in a short time, making them a visible focus for environmental concerns.
Recent research highlighted in industry reporting shows that 74% of consumers want plastic-free packaging at large sporting events.
The finding reflects a wider shift in expectations, where sustainability is now seen as part of the overall quality of the event experience, not a separate issue behind the scenes.
At the same time, attention is turning to a less visible problem: many containers that appear to be paper or cardboard are actually lined with plastic. These coatings are used to prevent leaks and maintain food quality, but they can make recycling far more difficult than most consumers realise.
Sporting venues have long relied on disposable packaging to serve large crowds quickly and safely. Food service at half-time or during breaks must be fast, consistent and easy to manage. Single-use formats have traditionally been the simplest solution.

By Jonathan Stempel
June 23 (Reuters) - California has been sued by 17 U.S. states, which are seeking to undo a new state law ‌designed to limit the use of single-use plastic and promote recycling.
In ‌a complaint filed on Monday in the Sacramento, California federal court, the states, each with a Republican attorney general, accused California of trying to "impose its own policy preferences on the entire nation" with its Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act.
• The law was signed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022, and took effect ‌on May 1. It requires ⁠producers to reduce single-use plastic for packaging and food service items by 25%, and ensure that all such items are ⁠recyclable or compostable by 2032.
• States led by Nebraska said the law violates the U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause by substantially burdening interstate commerce.

Girona FC and PUMA officially present the first kit for the 2026/27 season. A design that combines tradition and identity to create a jersey that looks to the future without losing sight of its history. The new kit brings back the traditional red and white vertical stripes, one of the most representative features of Girona FC, and incorporates blue details on the collar and sleeve edges.
The main novelty, however, is the return of the blue shorts, a piece closely linked to the Club's history and part of its usual image for more than six decades, from 1949 to 2010. The set is completed with the return of white socks, reinforcing a classic aesthetic that is fully identifiable with the red-and-white tradition.
The jersey is part of the global campaign for the 2026/27 season, under the slogan "Everything starts with believing", a narrative that highlights the emotions accompanying any sporting challenge: the excitement to begin, the determination to continue, and the hope to keep moving forward.
Sustainable material
PUMA uses RE:FIBRE technology in the jersey, which involves manufacturing the garments with 95% recycled polyester from textile waste and other polyester waste materials. At the same time, it allows the material to be recycled multiple times without losing quality. This waste material is transformed into new textiles through innovative processes such as chemical or thermomechanical recycling.

Hard as it is to believe, it has been almost a year since the tragic crash that took the lives of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. The season has been marred with the grief of it, and the ripple effect stretched not just to Liverpool but to the wider sports world.
Last month the club released the plans to install a permanent memorial to Jota and Silva at Anfield, placing the statue on 97 Avenue outside the stadium, where fans had taken to leaving tokens of remembrance in the aftermath. The statue will commemorate both players, standing on a rock-faced stone plinth that included many of the flowers, scarves, kits, and other tokens left behind. This is in addition to recycling many of the flowers towards the end of July last year to be composted for the pitches at Anfield and the AXA training grounds.
Local journalist GreyBeard Media posted a video earlier this week showing that preparations for the installation have begun at Anfield in anticipation of the one year anniversary of their deaths.
The first support slabs have gone down on the ground for the piece, and the grass surrounding the area has been replaced in preparation for a potential Tuesday, June 23rd installation.
That statue will also include lyrics from the fan song for Diogo etched into the metal, and a game controller detail on the plinth.

New study measures ******* anium in Apollo rock to uncover Moon’s early chemistry

The Earth and the Moon may look very different today, but they formed under similar conditions in ******* e. In fact, a dominant hypothesis says that the early Earth was hit by a Mars-sized object, and it was this giant impact that spun off material to form the Moon. But unlike Earth, the Moon lacks plate tectonics and an atmosphere capable of reshaping its surface and recycling elements such as oxygen over billions of years.
As a result, the Moon preserves a record of the geological conditions that helped sh

Deep within your bone marrow, a specialized set of stem cells is busy pumping out new blood cells to sustain your body. As we age, these hematopoietic stem cells (or HSCs) become less productive, affecting our immune system and increasing our risk of conditions like anemia and cancer.
Now, scientists have found a way to rewind the clock in aging HSCs, which could potentially help to treat age-related blood and immune deficiencies.
Like most of our cells, HSCs contain tiny compartments known as lysosomes. These are the cells' recycling centers, where complex molecules like proteins and lipids

Chanel Launches Recycling Business and France Targets Fast Fashion in This Week's Top Fashion News

Westlake Epoxy Announces Strategic Collaboration With Alpha Recyclage Composites to Advance Composites Recycling http://dlvr.it/TLJZ7p

http://dlvr.it/TLJZ7p

#OnAirNow on
NewstalkFM

ShaneBeattyNews
takes the nation's first look at the papers
RepakRecycling
on garden recycling

&
JoeBLynam
will have all Business news from 6.30am including the Government setting up a new Small Business Unit
peterburkefg

#NTBK