DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Britain’s Prince William attends a United for Wildlife screening of documentary Rhino Man, at The Cinema in Battersea Power Station in London, Britain, on 13th June, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Susannah Ireland/Pool/File photo
• Britain’s Prince William served up a surprise to hungry members of the public when he dished out environmentally friendly burgers from a food truck in south London. In a video released on Sunday, the heir to the throne handed out “Earthshot Burgers” to highlight the work of last year’s winners of his annual Earthshot Prize, which he set up to help develop solutions to major environmental problems. “Coming right up,” the prince said as he served up the burgers to the stunned customers. “Morning everyone, nicely cooked, ready to go.” The object for William, who had teamed up with the founders of YouTube channel Sorted Food which reviews kitchen gadgets and shares recipes, was to raise the profile and work of three previous Earthshot prize winners. “So the box you’re about to eat in is built by a company called Notpla and there’s no plastic involved, they’ve come up with a seaweed coating,” the prince told the customers at the burger van. “The ingredients inside the burger are grown from a greenhouse in India from a company called Kheyti, and last but not least, the way we cook them has been on a thing called Mukuru Clean Stoves, and that is designed by a lady in Kenya who came up with the concept to reduce air pollution.” He added: “Can’t vouch for the taste, the quality but…I’m rolling with it.” – MICHEAL HOLDEN, London, UK/Reuters
People and their dogs attend a race to support Venezuelan shelters for animals, in Caracas, Venezuela. on 30th July, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Efrain Otero
• More than 150 dogs wearing colourful scarves on their necks participated alongside their owners in a race through Venezuela’s capital Caracas on Sunday morning, which was organised to seek support for animal shelters in the country. Runners and their pets ran for four kilometres across eastern Caracas in the second edition of the ‘Dog Running’ race. Under Venezuela’s prolonged economic collapse, many have left pets in shelters or abandoned them on the streets. Household incomes have been hit by an annual inflation of about 400 per cent, making it hard for pet owners to pay for the basic needs of their animals. “In each edition [of the race] we support shelters that have taken in animals from the streets in precarious situations,” said Andreina Nedjme, organiser of the event. All participants of the race paid $US30 to run with their pets, aiming to give animals a good quality of life while they wait for a family, Nedjme added. Runners interviewed on the sidelines of the race said they were happy to compete with their pets, noting such activities should be more encouraged in the city. – EFRAIN OTERO and JOHNNY CARVAJAL, Caracas, Venzuela/Reuters
• Toy company Mattel is looking for a “Chief UNO Player” who it will pay $US4,4444 a week for four weeks to play it’s latest variation, UNO Quatro. The winning candidate will have to dedicate four hours a day for four days a week to play the game, which combines the traditional Uno game with a four-in-a-row challenge. “We’re looking for someone who’s just as passionate about throwing down a Draw 4 as they are engaging strangers in a game,” the company says on its website. “Someone who knows how to play a reverse and likes to get WILD (in a nice-ish way). Is that you?” The candidate must be able to work in NYC over a series of dates in September and October, be over 18 and be US-based. For more, see https://shop.mattel.com/pages/chief-uno-player. – DAVID ADAMS
