Dubai has introduced monetary incentives in an effort to revive its tourism sector, which has seen a significant decline following missile attacks by Iran in March. Hotels in the city have experienced a drop in occupancy from 80% to a projected 10%. The new program offers incentive packages valued up to approximately $816 to individuals who nominate friends and family to visit Dubai. The city welcomed 19.59 million international visitors last year.
In Spain, plans to establish the world's first octopus farm have been abandoned after a five-year legal dispute concerning potential environmental damage. The proposed $74.5 million project was slated for construction in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
Australian farmers are experimenting with spreading pulverized glass on their crops as a method to enhance growth. This glass powder is produced in a $4 million facility in Brisbane, Queensland, utilizing recycled glass bottles collected through the "Containers for Change" program, which offers a 10-cent refund for returned bottles.
The Pokémon Company is implementing facial recognition technology in five pop-up shops across Japan for customers of school age and older. This initiative aims to prevent customers from making multiple purchases at the same store. The rollout coincides with the release of the Rayquaza-themed "Storm Emeralda" set in Japan.
Mexico City hosted its annual Torta Fair on July 29, where a 328-foot torta, a traditional Mexican sandwich weighing 3,460 pounds, set a new Guinness World Record. The creation earned the title for "the largest serving of sandwiches arranged in a continuous line."