How Cornea Transplants Work & Why Some Clothes Are Easier to Recycle | WEF | Top Stories of the Week

This week's top stories of the week include:

0:15 How cornea transplants work – Corneal problems are the second-biggest cause of blindness worldwide. But there’s a shortage of replacement corneas, with only one for every 70 needed. In 2024, 10 million people are waiting for a transplant. This method uses the patient’s own cells to create a unique ink. This is layered to form a new cornea, which perfectly matches the patient’s body and reduces the risk of rejection.

2:14 These countries could join the OECD – Accession talks are now underway with Indonesia and Thailand. If successful, they will become the OECD’s first members from Southeast Asia. Entry to this club would be good news for all concerned, says the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Membership could deliver a healthy economic boost to both countries. Their accession would be a big win for the OECD in what it describes as the ‘world’s most dynamic economic region’.

5:29 Energy transition will boost African jobs – Africa is rich in sources of renewable energy such as solar and hydropower. The continent also boasts the world’s youngest and fastest-growing workforce. These resources can help Africa bypass fossil fuel-powered development, the report says and instead leap directly into a sustainably-powered future.

9:07 Why some clothes are easier to recycle – Clothing made from a mix of fibres, such as cotton and polyester, can be very, very difficult to recycle. Globally, around 87% of discarded textiles end up in landfill, while up to one-third of ocean microplastics come from synthetic fibres. Recycling clothing could be part of the solution to these problems but just 1% of textiles are recycled. And mixed-fibre clothing is one of the reasons why.

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