Plus, 1066 comes to life.
 

The Beacon

The Beacon

By Kate Turton

Welcome back Beacon readers!

This week I am writing about our coverage of hydrogen's big moment as new figures from the Hydrogen Council's Global Hydrogen Compass 2026 report show global investment has crossed $130 billion.

There seems to be real momentum building behind clean hydrogen as governments increasingly view the fuel as a tool for energy security and industrial growth.

Figures released this week tell the story of an industry gaining serious traction: More than 570 committed projects now support about 6.9 million metric tons per year of clean hydrogen production capacity. About 90% of the projects are either under construction or already operational.

Not everything is smooth sailing yet, as developers of green hydrogen have scaled back investments and scrapped projects globally due to elevated production costs and weak demand for the low-carbon fuel that have made many ventures unviable. Still, crossing the $130 billion mark with 90% of projects already active is a strong signal.

What local or global good news have you read this week that you would like to share? Email me at beacon@thomsonreuters.com and I might share it in a future edition.

 

A view of HIF Global's Haru Oni clean hydrogen plant in Punta Arenas, Chile, September 27, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Estay

 

Opening day: 1066 comes to life in UK's Bayeux Tapestry exhibition

Play 

Members of the public with tickets for the sell-out Bayeux Tapestry display are among the first to see the historic tapestry showing the Battle of Hastings and Norman defeat of Anglo-Saxon King Harold II,  as William I takes over England in 1066.

 

In other good news

  • Western athletes try their hand at Kyrgyzstan’s Nomad Games
  • Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler reflect on a lifetime of storytelling as they reveal new Gruffalo book
  • Panama Canal finds its water solution, but it's 5 years away
  • Players find comfort and companionship with canines on tour
  • Can sheep save the glaciers? Swiss scientists put wool to the test
  • Sian Heder makes 'invisible people visible' with film on disability rights
  • Costa Rican man, 119, seeks recognition as world's oldest person
  • Cuban orchid grower breeds beauty in time of crisis
 

Roadworks in Georgia's capital uncover a rare 10th-century pottery cache

Archaeologists work at an excavation site in central Tbilisi, Georgia. Recent city centre renovation works exposed a cache of 10th-century pottery. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze

Roadworks on Tbilisi's main thoroughfare have frustrated residents and brought traffic chaos, but a recent find may have changed the perception of them. The work on Rustaveli Avenue has revealed a cache of 10th-century pottery - among the oldest medieval works ever found in the Georgian capital.

The archaeological prize was found after workers began digging up the ‌city's stately central boulevard to add pedestrian crossings, improve signage and make other upgrades.

David ⁠Lordkipanidze, director of the National Museum, was unsurprised by the discovery of the ceramics, saying: "Tbilisi is very rich with archaeological material...so it's very logical to find workshops of different periods."

According to preliminary studies the pottery fragments likely date back to some time between the 10th and 11th centuries.

 

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