In this week’s list of top news brand content, there are protests in Penzance, clothes recycling in Mali and two heavyweight films hitting cinemas around the world…
1. Penzance protest
As part of a planned protest by Plastic Free Penzance and Surfers Against Sewage, the UK’s largest seawater lido in Cornwall was filled with plastic bottles last week, the Daily Mirror reported on Twitter. Swimming group ‘Out of Sink’ swam with an estimated 75,000 single-use plastic bottles in an aim to expose the companies responsible for 70% of packaging pollution in the UK.
2. Music recommendations
In need of a playlist refresher? The Evening Standard suggested music that readers could listen to for the summer. Recommendations range from Stormzy’s new R&B-infused collaboration with musician Raye to American folk-pop singer Noah Kahan’s surprising partnership with Post Malone.
3. Truth behind recycled garments revealed
The Times’ journalist Oliver Marsden used TikTok to report from the markets in the centre of Bamako, Mail. He explained the growing trend of second-hand clothes from Europe entering the country that at risk of being burnt and sent to open dumps if not sold. Clothes from brands such as H&M and Topshop are brought to Mali to be mended and sold in an attempt to recycle and resell.
4. Photography awards
The Guardian shared the winners of the Environmental Photography awards on Instagram this week. This annual award was created to celebrate the incredible beauty of our planet and highlight the environmental challenges we face. Images of nature captured include those tackling the climate crisis and threats to animal populations.
5. Barbenheimer
Two of the biggest films this year have been released this month, with Barbie and Oppenheimer already smashing revenue records on their opening weekend. Many audiences are seeing both films, either as a double-header or separately across the weekend. The two films have already scored impressive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, with 90% and 93% approval ratings respectively.
As the Daily Express shared on YouTube, Oppenheimer exceeded expectations, taking in 62.6 million in the US and Canada and giving director Christopher Nolan his biggest-ever opening weekend for a non-Batman film. Meanwhile, director Greta Gerwig has made history as Barbie made $276 million in the opening weekend around the world, making it the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman. Which film will you be seeing first?
