In a week marking the best performance for US Crude oil in over four months, consumers brace for potential impacts on their wallets as positive economic news reverberates across the globe.

Oil prices settle at their highest in nearly two months

The future of millions of children is at risk as growing numbers are pulled out of school and into work, the head of the United Nations' labour body told a news agency.

Child labour at 'critical moment' as more pushed into work: ILO

To highlight the impact of plastic pollution on our planet an artist has put up a special installation made entirely from plastic waste collected in the word over. Take a look at this aquarium masterpiece in Jerusalem.

Giant globe made with plastic waste in Jerusalem

<p>The seller, who paid £150 to buy an ancient globe at a Welsh antique fair, was left stunned and dumbstruck when it was sold for a whopping price, fetching six figures at an auction on Thursday (December 16).&nbsp;</p>

<p>A 16th-century old globe created a buzz as it sparked an intense bidding war during the auction by UK-based Hansons Auctioneers, who stated that the item is believed to be the oldest example of its kind offered at auction.</p>

<p>The globe is a carved wood and paper sphere and it is It is believed that it dates back to the 1550s or 1560s.&nbsp;The auctioneers mentioned that several museums could not help in figuring out the 16th-century terrestrial globe because they had nothing like it in their collections, which makes the item rare.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To grab one of the "rarest objects" ever uncovered by Hansons Auctioneers, five phone bidders battled with the internet to buy the 470-year-old globe.&nbsp;The item was eventually sold at £116,000 to a private buyer in New York, America, who was bidding online.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/wikipedia-co-founder-sells-nft-of-first-ever-edit-made-on-its-site-for-750000-437399">Wikipedia co-founder sells NFT of first ever edit made on its site for $750,000</a></strong></p>

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<p>The seller, who was watching the auction online said, "I thought I was pushing the boat at £150 when I bought it during the pandemic. I had no idea it was so important and valuable."</p>

<p>She added, "I watched the auction with my friend, my husband and a glass of wine. My friend was crying, I was in shock and my husband was totally and utterly dumbstruck. It goes without saying that I'm delighted."</p>

<p><strong>History and significance of the globe</strong></p>

<p>Jim Spencer, who is the head of Hansons' Library Auction, came across the antique item when the seller took the object along for free valuation at Hansons’ Staffordshire saleroom, Bishton Hall.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After intense research, it was revealed that the globe was an incredibly rare circa 1550/60 globe. It was either made by Francois Demongenet, a French geographer known for globe gores which became a model for other makers. Or, it was a derivative of his design.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The globe shows a world before the country Australia had been discovered. The country, which by Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon in 1606, appears as part of a southern landmass called Terra Incognita.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/nft-of-side-eyeing-chloe-memes-original-image-sells-for-a-whopping-amount-416001">NFT of ‘side-eyeing Chloe’ meme’s original image sells for a whopping amount</a></strong></p>

<p>In the same globe, Japan is called 'Sipannge' and the islands near Java are termed 'Gryforum Insule'. North America has been marked 'Devicta ann 1530' and South America is marked 'Nova Terra Inventa anno 1492' and 'Canibales Tropophagi'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A 16th century globe. One of the earliest in existence. It doesn't even show Australia. Europeans hadn't set foot on it when it was made circa 1560," Hansons Auctioneers noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Spencer said, "I'm delighted for all concerned. This is an exceptional result. This object truly deserved to excel. To me, the globe feels priceless. It’s just so early and fragile to have survived the centuries."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"One specialist told me 16th-century globes are nigh on impossible to come across. In terms of value, the general consensus was that it was a 'complete unknown'. We think our globe could be the earliest ever offered at auction," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is important to note that the oldest terrestrial globe in the world is the Erdapfel from 1492. The second oldest, the Ostrich Egg Globe from 1504, which was sold at the London Map Fair in 2012. Third is the Hunt-Lenox Globe, circa 1510.</p>


The seller, who paid £150 to buy an ancient globe at a Welsh antique fair, was left stunned and dumbstruck when it was sold for a whopping price, fetching six figures at an auction on Thursday (December 16).

The seller, who paid £150 to buy an ancient globe at a Welsh antique fair, was left stunned and dumbstruck when it was sold for a whopping price, fetching six figures at an auction on Thursday (December 16). A 16th-century old globe created a buzz as it sparked an intense bidding war during the auction by UK-based Hansons Auctioneers, who stated that the item is believed to be the oldest example of its kind offered at auction. The globe is a carved wood and paper sphere and it is It is believed that it dates back to the 1550s or 1560s. The auctioneers mentioned that several museums could not help in figuring out the 16th-century terrestrial globe because they had nothing like it in their collections, which makes the item rare. To grab one of the "rarest objects" ever uncovered by Hansons Auctioneers, five phone bidders battled with the internet to buy the 470-year-old globe. The item was eventually sold at £116,000 to a private buyer in New York, America, who was bidding online. ALSO READ | Wikipedia co-founder sells NFT of first ever edit made on its site for $750,000 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hansons Auctioneers (@hansons_auctioneers) × The seller, who was watching the auction online said, "I thought I was pushing the boat at £150 when I bought it during the pandemic. I had no idea it was so important and valuable." She added, "I watched the auction with my friend, my husband and a glass of wine. My friend was crying, I was in shock and my husband was totally and utterly dumbstruck. It goes without saying that I'm delighted." History and significance of the globe Jim Spencer, who is the head of Hansons' Library Auction, came across the antique item when the seller took the object along for free valuation at Hansons’ Staffordshire saleroom, Bishton Hall. After intense research, it was revealed that the globe was an incredibly rare circa 1550/60 globe. It was either made by Francois Demongenet, a French geographer known for globe gores which became a model for other makers. Or, it was a derivative of his design. The globe shows a world before the country Australia had been discovered. The country, which by Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon in 1606, appears as part of a southern landmass called Terra Incognita. ALSO READ | NFT of ‘side-eyeing Chloe’ meme’s original image sells for a whopping amount In the same globe, Japan is called 'Sipannge' and the islands near Java are termed 'Gryforum Insule'. North America has been marked 'Devicta ann 1530' and South America is marked 'Nova Terra Inventa anno 1492' and 'Canibales Tropophagi'. "A 16th century globe. One of the earliest in existence. It doesn't even show Australia. Europeans hadn't set foot on it when it was made circa 1560," Hansons Auctioneers noted. Spencer said, "I'm delighted for all concerned. This is an exceptional result. This object truly deserved to excel. To me, the globe feels priceless. It’s just so early and fragile to have survived the centuries." "One specialist told me 16th-century globes are nigh on impossible to come across. In terms of value, the general consensus was that it was a 'complete unknown'. We think our globe could be the earliest ever offered at auction," he added. It is important to note that the oldest terrestrial globe in the world is the Erdapfel from 1492. The second oldest, the Ostrich Egg Globe from 1504, which was sold at the London Map Fair in 2012. Third is the Hunt-Lenox Globe, circa 1510.

Ancient globe, bought for £150 at Welsh antique fair, fetches £116,000 at auction. Know what makes it valuable

<p>Earth is 71% water, and those who are informed about world geography are aware that the mainland is surrounded by four oceans.</p>

<p><strong>Four? There are now five oceans, not four.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>National Geographic, one of the world's most prestigious and well-known mapmakers, has declared the presence of a fifth ocean.</p>

<p>This is the body of water that surrounds Antarctica, and is known as the <strong>Southern Ocean.</strong></p>

<p>The Southern Ocean will now have the same status as the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, as well as the same typeface.</p>

<p>The Southern Ocean, however, isn't quite new. Since Antarctica and South America split 30 million years ago, this body of water has existed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Southern Ocean, according to the National Geographic magazine, is the only ocean that "touches three other oceans and entirely embraces a continent rather than being enveloped by them."</p>

<p>Its northernmost point is 60 degrees south latitude.<br />
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which formed 34 million years ago, also defines it.</p>

<p>Around Antarctica, the current travels from west to east.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whales, penguins, and seals all have substantial populations in the Southern Ocean.</p>

<p>However, commercial fishing on krill and Patagonian toothfish has been a source of concern for decades, according to National Geographic.</p>

<p>By legally altering the name of the water body, it wanted to raise attention to these challenges, as well as the fast warming of the Southern Ocean as a result of global warming.&nbsp;</p>


Earth is 71% water, and those who are informed about world geography are aware that the mainland is surrounded by four oceans. Four? There are now five oceans, not four.

Earth is 71% water, and those who are informed about world geography are aware that the mainland is surrounded by four oceans. Four? There are now five oceans, not four. National Geographic, one of the world's most prestigious and well-known mapmakers, has declared the presence of a fifth ocean. This is the body of water that surrounds Antarctica, and is known as the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean will now have the same status as the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, as well as the same typeface. The Southern Ocean, however, isn't quite new. Since Antarctica and South America split 30 million years ago, this body of water has existed. The Southern Ocean, according to the National Geographic magazine, is the only ocean that "touches three other oceans and entirely embraces a continent rather than being enveloped by them." Its northernmost point is 60 degrees south latitude. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which formed 34 million years ago, also defines it. Around Antarctica, the current travels from west to east. Whales, penguins, and seals all have substantial populations in the Southern Ocean. However, commercial fishing on krill and Patagonian toothfish has been a source of concern for decades, according to National Geographic. By legally altering the name of the water body, it wanted to raise attention to these challenges, as well as the fast warming of the Southern Ocean as a result of global warming.

Southern Ocean officially declared as fifth in the world: National Geographic

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuide2TE7xcZiAuP" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>The coronavirus has brought a lot of firsts&nbsp;but none as stark and shocking as oil trading in the negative zone.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/we-will-never-let-the-great-us-oil-gas-industry-down-says-trump-after-prices-crash-293854" hreflang="en">We will never let the great US oil &amp; gas industry down, says Trump after prices crash</a></p>

<p><strong>What does that even mean?</strong></p>

<p>Traders paying buyers to take the oil off their hands. So the consumers get both the oil and the cash.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-eases-entry-sets-up-fast-track-channels-for-business-personnel-to-visit-293819">China eases entry, sets up 'fast-track channels' for business personnel to visit</a></p>

<p>This should sound good but it isn't. This has happened for the first time in history. This story is about the US oil benchmark.</p>

<p>This is a bit technical but let's simplify it and break it down to four questions and answers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Why did the oil prices crash?</strong></p>

<p>Monday, was a really bad day for the oil markets. The price of one barrel of oil hit about 20 dollars. That's about 1,600 rupees. One barrel has 159 litres.</p>

<p>So it can be said oil prices fell to 10 rupees a litre. But, the benchmark for US oil witnessed something unheard of. The benchmark is called West Texas intermediate.</p>

<p>Here the oil prices fell into the negative and that's where it stayed. Oil ended the day around $30 below zero. Now, this benchmark-- is a point of reference for American traders. An indicator for oil prices in America.</p>

<p>On Monday, traders looked at it with horror. The graph fell below zero. Traders were stuck with barrels of oil. And nobody to buy it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Oil used to be considered gold right now it is worthless.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Why is this happening? Why are global oil prices falling?</strong></p>

<p>There are a couple of reasons.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>One:</strong>&nbsp;The demand has dropped. The world is in lockdown mode. People are at home. Not driving, not flying. Factories are shut. So there's no demand.</p>

<p><strong>Two</strong>: The battle between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil prices. They reached a truce. But it came too late. They agreed to cut production a few days back.</p>

<p>But before their agreement, companies kept pumping the market with oil.</p>

<p>Now, there is a demand-supply mismatch. Oil kept coming, but it wasn't being used.</p>

<p>The result is this-- the world has more oil than it needs.&nbsp;So, the prices have collapsed.&nbsp;So the oil prices are falling.</p>

<p>US Traders are paying people to buy oil.</p>

<p><strong>Does this mean you get paid to fill up your tank?</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>The answer is no. That's not how it works. The price of crude oil has dropped. That does not mean a fall in retail prices.</p>

<p><strong>The crude fall</strong></p>

<p>The fall was in something called the futures contract. It is an agreement to buy or sell something at a future date. And, the drop in America does not affect prices in India.</p>

<p>India imports the Brent crude. Its price is low but stable. But, that does not mean the prices in India can't drop.</p>

<p><strong>What does the price drop mean for India?</strong></p>

<p>Its good news. But not necessarily for you and me. India can import oil for cheap. The government can consider stocking up the reserves. But, the retail prices may not see a major drop.</p>

<p>Two factors decide the prices of oil in India.</p>

<p>The price of the rupee against the dollar and the 15-day average prices. The rupee has fallen to record lows against the dollar. One dollar costs around 77 rupees.</p>

<p>So, importing the oil will cost more.&nbsp;Here is how the world should look at the situation for oil.</p>

<p>For importers, more oil is available for cheap. They can buy more at throwaway prices.&nbsp;But this price fall is bad for business. Exporters will struggle.</p>

<p>In America, if the prices fall more --- businesses could shut, people could lose jobs.</p>

<p>Major exporters like Saudi Arabia might be able to manage the shock. Russia is feeling the pinch of this drop already. The rubble is losing its value and the situation might not improve anytime soon.</p>


The coronavirus has brought a lot of firsts but none as stark and shocking as oil trading in the negative zone. Also read: We will never let the great US oil & gas industry down, says Trump after prices crash What does that even mean?

The coronavirus has brought a lot of firsts but none as stark and shocking as oil trading in the negative zone. Also read: We will never let the great US oil & gas industry down, says Trump after prices crash What does that even mean? Traders paying buyers to take the oil off their hands. So the consumers get both the oil and the cash. Also read: China eases entry, sets up 'fast-track channels' for business personnel to visit This should sound good but it isn't. This has happened for the first time in history. This story is about the US oil benchmark. This is a bit technical but let's simplify it and break it down to four questions and answers. Why did the oil prices crash? Monday, was a really bad day for the oil markets. The price of one barrel of oil hit about 20 dollars. That's about 1,600 rupees. One barrel has 159 litres. So it can be said oil prices fell to 10 rupees a litre. But, the benchmark for US oil witnessed something unheard of. The benchmark is called West Texas intermediate. Here the oil prices fell into the negative and that's where it stayed. Oil ended the day around $30 below zero. Now, this benchmark-- is a point of reference for American traders. An indicator for oil prices in America. On Monday, traders looked at it with horror. The graph fell below zero. Traders were stuck with barrels of oil. And nobody to buy it. Oil used to be considered gold right now it is worthless. Why is this happening? Why are global oil prices falling? There are a couple of reasons. One: The demand has dropped. The world is in lockdown mode. People are at home. Not driving, not flying. Factories are shut. So there's no demand. Two: The battle between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil prices. They reached a truce. But it came too late. They agreed to cut production a few days back. But before their agreement, companies kept pumping the market with oil. Now, there is a demand-supply mismatch. Oil kept coming, but it wasn't being used. The result is this-- the world has more oil than it needs. So, the prices have collapsed. So the oil prices are falling. US Traders are paying people to buy oil. Does this mean you get paid to fill up your tank? The answer is no. That's not how it works. The price of crude oil has dropped. That does not mean a fall in retail prices. The crude fall The fall was in something called the futures contract. It is an agreement to buy or sell something at a future date. And, the drop in America does not affect prices in India. India imports the Brent crude. Its price is low but stable. But, that does not mean the prices in India can't drop. What does the price drop mean for India? Its good news. But not necessarily for you and me. India can import oil for cheap. The government can consider stocking up the reserves. But, the retail prices may not see a major drop. Two factors decide the prices of oil in India. The price of the rupee against the dollar and the 15-day average prices. The rupee has fallen to record lows against the dollar. One dollar costs around 77 rupees. So, importing the oil will cost more. Here is how the world should look at the situation for oil. For importers, more oil is available for cheap. They can buy more at throwaway prices. But this price fall is bad for business. Exporters will struggle. In America, if the prices fall more --- businesses could shut, people could lose jobs. Major exporters like Saudi Arabia might be able to manage the shock. Russia is feeling the pinch of this drop already. The rubble is losing its value and the situation might not improve anytime soon.

Oil trades in negative zone, how does it impact prices across the globe?

<p>Mentioning that India has a population of almost 2,970 at present, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the country would take a leading role in promoting green economy including conservation of mountain ecology with people`s participation.</p>

<p>"India has the distinction of having a population of almost 2,970 tigers. India has achieved its target of doubling the number of targets two years before the committed date of 2022. India would be taking a leading role in promoting green economy including conservation of mountain ecology with people`s participation," Modi said while addressing a convention on `Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals` at Gandhinagar via video conference.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-never-lacked-resources-skills-needs-to-work-with-comprehensive-mindset-pm-modi-280983">India never lacked resources, skills; needs to work with comprehensive mindset, says PM Modi</a></p>

<p>Highlighting that India`s forest cover has increased significantly, the Prime Minister said, "The present assessment also indicates that the total forest cover is 21.67 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.</p>

<p>The number of protected areas has increased from 745 in 2014 to 870 in 2019 with an area coverage of nearly 1.7 lakh square km.""The range of our initiatives includes an ambitious target of 450 megawatts in renewable energy, a push towards electric vehicles, smart cities, conservation of water and more," he said.</p>

<p>The Prime Minister continued that the international solar alliance, the coalition for disaster-resilient infrastructure and industries transition leadership have seen encouraging participation from countries worldwide.</p>

<p>Stressing on initiatives taken by India to set standards for the conservation of Asian elephants leopards and Asiatic lions, he said, "India is supporting more than 60 per cent of the global Asian elephant population.</p>

<p>30 elephant reserves have been identified by our states.""We have launched Project Snow Leopard, to protect the animal and its habitat in the Upper Himalayas.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-unveils-tallest-deendayal-upadhyaya-statue-in-varanasi-280918">PM Modi unveils tallest Deendayal Upadhyaya statue in Varanasi</a></p>

<p>The Gir landscape in Gujarat is the only home for the Asiatic lion and the pride of the country. We have initiated an Asiatic Lion conservation project since Jan 2019 to protect them.</p>

<p>Today, the population of Asiatic Lions stands at 523," he said.</p>

<p>The Prime Minister added that the Government of India has launched the National Conservation Strategy for the Indian one-horned rhinos, which are found in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, in 2019.</p>

<p>The UN conference, which started today in Gandhinagar, will conclude on February 22.</p>

<p>The summit is said to bring together 1200 delegates from over 110 countries to deliberate on the alarming decline of migratory species.</p>

<p>Topics such as the impact of infrastructure development on the migratory patterns of animals will be discussed in the conference.</p>


Mentioning that India has a population of almost 2,970 at present, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the country would take a leading role in promoting green economy including conservation of mountain ecology with people`s participation.

Mentioning that India has a population of almost 2,970 at present, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the country would take a leading role in promoting green economy including conservation of mountain ecology with people`s participation. "India has the distinction of having a population of almost 2,970 tigers. India has achieved its target of doubling the number of targets two years before the committed date of 2022. India would be taking a leading role in promoting green economy including conservation of mountain ecology with people`s participation," Modi said while addressing a convention on `Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals` at Gandhinagar via video conference. Also read: India never lacked resources, skills; needs to work with comprehensive mindset, says PM Modi Highlighting that India`s forest cover has increased significantly, the Prime Minister said, "The present assessment also indicates that the total forest cover is 21.67 per cent of the total geographical area of the country. The number of protected areas has increased from 745 in 2014 to 870 in 2019 with an area coverage of nearly 1.7 lakh square km.""The range of our initiatives includes an ambitious target of 450 megawatts in renewable energy, a push towards electric vehicles, smart cities, conservation of water and more," he said. The Prime Minister continued that the international solar alliance, the coalition for disaster-resilient infrastructure and industries transition leadership have seen encouraging participation from countries worldwide. Stressing on initiatives taken by India to set standards for the conservation of Asian elephants leopards and Asiatic lions, he said, "India is supporting more than 60 per cent of the global Asian elephant population. 30 elephant reserves have been identified by our states.""We have launched Project Snow Leopard, to protect the animal and its habitat in the Upper Himalayas. Also read: PM Modi unveils tallest Deendayal Upadhyaya statue in Varanasi The Gir landscape in Gujarat is the only home for the Asiatic lion and the pride of the country. We have initiated an Asiatic Lion conservation project since Jan 2019 to protect them. Today, the population of Asiatic Lions stands at 523," he said. The Prime Minister added that the Government of India has launched the National Conservation Strategy for the Indian one-horned rhinos, which are found in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, in 2019. The UN conference, which started today in Gandhinagar, will conclude on February 22. The summit is said to bring together 1200 delegates from over 110 countries to deliberate on the alarming decline of migratory species. Topics such as the impact of infrastructure development on the migratory patterns of animals will be discussed in the conference.

India to take lead role in promoting 'green economy': PM Modi

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/cyclist-launches-bid-to-complete-world-tour-in-80-days-4045">&nbsp;A&nbsp;British&nbsp;endurance&nbsp;cyclist&nbsp;</a>has smashed the Guinness&nbsp;World&nbsp;Record&nbsp;for the fastest circumnavigation of the planet on a bicycle, riding 18,000 miles (29,000km) in under 80days.</p>

<p>Mark Beaumont cycled for 18 hours a day and burned more than 9,000 calories every 24 hours as he crossed Poland, Russia, Mongolia, China, Australia and the United States.</p>

<p>&quot;It&rsquo;s literally about riding to the next horizon,&quot; the Scotsman said on Monday after completing his marathon ride under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. &quot;I&#39;ve barely walked for two-and-a-half months.&quot;</p>

<p>A crash in Russia on the ninth day in which he broke a tooth and injured his elbow nearly ended a ride that he said had taken him to a &quot;mental depth&quot; he had never before experienced.</p>

<p>&quot;It&rsquo;s just the sleep deprivation. It&rsquo;s after weeks and weeks and weeks, it&rsquo;s just the long, long hours you spend in your head, you know, really battling. And you just need to decide you&rsquo;re never going to stop,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>He completed the ride in&nbsp;78&nbsp;days, 14 hours and 40 minutes. The&nbsp;record&nbsp;was previously held by New Zealander Andrew Nicholson, who in 2015 managed the feat in 123&nbsp;days.</p>

<p>A Guinness&nbsp;World&nbsp;Record&nbsp;adjudicator handed the&nbsp;cyclist&nbsp;two&nbsp;world&nbsp;record&nbsp;certificates - one for the round-the-world&nbsp;record, the other for the furthest distance cycled in a single month.</p>


Mark Beaumont cycled for 18 hours a day and burned more than 9,000 calories every 24 hours as he crossed Poland, Russia, Mongolia, China, Australia and the United States.

A British endurance cyclist has smashed the Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the planet on a bicycle, riding 18,000 miles (29,000km) in under 80days. Mark Beaumont cycled for 18 hours a day and burned more than 9,000 calories every 24 hours as he crossed Poland, Russia, Mongolia, China, Australia and the United States. "It’s literally about riding to the next horizon," the Scotsman said on Monday after completing his marathon ride under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. "I've barely walked for two-and-a-half months." A crash in Russia on the ninth day in which he broke a tooth and injured his elbow nearly ended a ride that he said had taken him to a "mental depth" he had never before experienced. "It’s just the sleep deprivation. It’s after weeks and weeks and weeks, it’s just the long, long hours you spend in your head, you know, really battling. And you just need to decide you’re never going to stop," he said. He completed the ride in 78 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes. The record was previously held by New Zealander Andrew Nicholson, who in 2015 managed the feat in 123 days. A Guinness World Record adjudicator handed the cyclist two world record certificates - one for the round-the-world record, the other for the furthest distance cycled in a single month.

British cyclist pedals around the world in 78 days, smashes record

An airplane powered solely by the sun landed safely in Seville in Spain early today after an almost three-day flight across the Atlantic from New York in one of the longest legs of the first ever fuel-less flight around the world.<br />
<br />
The single-seat Solar Impulse 2 touched down shortly after 7.30 a.m. local time in Seville after leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 2.30 a.m. EDT on June 20.<br />
<br />
The flight of just over 71 hours was the 15th leg of the round-the-world journey by the plane piloted in turns by Swiss aviators Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg.<br />
<br />
&quot;Oh-la-la, absolutely perfect,&quot; Piccard said after landing, thanking his engineering crew for their efforts.<br />
<br />
With a cruising speed of around 70 kilometres an hour (43 miles per hour), similar to an average car, the plane has more than 17,0000 solar cells built in to wings with a span bigger than that of a Boeing 747.<br />
<br />
(Reuters)

The flight of just over 71 hours was the 15th leg of the round-the-world journey piloted by Bertrand Piiccard and Andre Borschbe

An airplane powered solely by the sun landed safely in Seville in Spain early today after an almost three-day flight across the Atlantic from New York in one of the longest legs of the first ever fuel-less flight around the world. The single-seat Solar Impulse 2 touched down shortly after 7.30 a.m. local time in Seville after leaving John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 2.30 a.m. EDT on June 20. The flight of just over 71 hours was the 15th leg of the round-the-world journey by the plane piloted in turns by Swiss aviators Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg. "Oh-la-la, absolutely perfect," Piccard said after landing, thanking his engineering crew for their efforts. With a cruising speed of around 70 kilometres an hour (43 miles per hour), similar to an average car, the plane has more than 17,0000 solar cells built in to wings with a span bigger than that of a Boeing 747. (Reuters)

Solar plane lands in Spain after three-day Atlantic crossing

A solar-powered airplane left the United States today, taking off from New York City to fly across Atlantic for its historic bid to circle the globe.<br />
<br />
The spindly, single-seat experimental aircraft, dubbed as Solar Impulse 2, left New York&#39;s John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 2:30 am local time (0630 GMT) &nbsp;today.<br />
<br />
The flight is expected to take approximately 90 to 110 hours before landing in Seville Airport, Spain, said&nbsp;the project team.<br />
<br />
The Swiss team flying the aircraft in a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies hopes eventually to complete its circumnavigation in Abu Dhabi, where the journey began in March 2015.<br />
<br />
The solar craft&#39;s cruising speed, akin to that of a car, required pilots to take up meditation and hypnosis in training to stay alert for long periods.<br />
<br />
Andre Borschberg alternates with fellow pilot Bertrand Piccard at the controls for each segment of what they hope will be the first round-the-world solar-powered flight.<br />
<br />
On April 24, Piccard landed in San Francisco, completing a trans-Pacific crossing after a nearly three-day trip that began in Hawaii. The flight took more than three times the 18 hours for Amelia Earhart to fly solo from Hawaii to California in the 1930s.<br />
<br />
The propeller-driven Solar Impulse flies without a drop of fuel and its four engines are powered solely by energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings.<br />
<br />
Surplus power is stored in four batteries during the day, to keep the plane aloft on extreme long-distance flights.<br />
<br />
The carbon-fiber plane, with a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a family car, is unlikely to set speed or altitude records. It can climb to 28,000 feet (8,500 m), and cruise at 34 to 62 mph (55 to 100 kph).<br />
<br />
In a precursor of their globe-circling quest, the two men completed a multi-flight crossing of the United States with an earlier version of the solar plane in 2013.<br />
(Reuters)

The solar craft's cruising speed, akin to that of a car, required pilots to take up meditation and hypnosis in training to stay alert

A solar-powered airplane left the United States today, taking off from New York City to fly across Atlantic for its historic bid to circle the globe. The spindly, single-seat experimental aircraft, dubbed as Solar Impulse 2, left New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 2:30 am local time (0630 GMT) today. The flight is expected to take approximately 90 to 110 hours before landing in Seville Airport, Spain, said the project team. The Swiss team flying the aircraft in a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies hopes eventually to complete its circumnavigation in Abu Dhabi, where the journey began in March 2015. The solar craft's cruising speed, akin to that of a car, required pilots to take up meditation and hypnosis in training to stay alert for long periods. Andre Borschberg alternates with fellow pilot Bertrand Piccard at the controls for each segment of what they hope will be the first round-the-world solar-powered flight. On April 24, Piccard landed in San Francisco, completing a trans-Pacific crossing after a nearly three-day trip that began in Hawaii. The flight took more than three times the 18 hours for Amelia Earhart to fly solo from Hawaii to California in the 1930s. The propeller-driven Solar Impulse flies without a drop of fuel and its four engines are powered solely by energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings. Surplus power is stored in four batteries during the day, to keep the plane aloft on extreme long-distance flights. The carbon-fiber plane, with a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a family car, is unlikely to set speed or altitude records. It can climb to 28,000 feet (8,500 m), and cruise at 34 to 62 mph (55 to 100 kph). In a precursor of their globe-circling quest, the two men completed a multi-flight crossing of the United States with an earlier version of the solar plane in 2013. (Reuters)

Solar-powered plane takes on Atlantic as part of round-the-world bid

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