Collection of good news snippets from around the globe.
A new population of blue whales - the world's largest creature - has been discovered in the Indian Ocean. The group has its own signature anthem: a slow, bellowing ballad that’s distinct from any other whale song ever described. It joins only a dozen or so other blue whale songs that have been documented, each the calling card of a unique population. The find is “a great reminder that our oceans are still this very unexplored place,” said Asha de Vos, a marine biologist who has studied blue whales in the Indian Ocean.
Some 700 foreigners in France who were exposed to the coronavirus through their work will be put on a fast track for naturalization as a reward for their commitment during the pandemic, the junior minister for citizenship has said. The beneficiaries, whom the ministry called 'frontline foreign workers in the face of the health crisis,' include health care workers, child care professionals, housekeepers and cashiers. 'They have proved their commitment to the nation,' a statement from the office of the minister, Marlene Schiappa, said. 'It is now up to the Republic to take a step toward them.'
93-year-old retired Air Force colonel John Hobson whittles walking sticks and helps those in need. He sells his sticks for $3 each from the end of his driveway in Xenia, Ohio, where he lives with his family. So far he's raised over $10,000 for worthy causes.
New Zealand government has announced it will be supporting its Pacific island neighbours by ensuring they have access to safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines through the coming months. NZ has put aside $75m to buy vaccines for its neighbours.
2020: Good News for the Planet. A summary of the most important and positive news about combating climate change this year.
Near the wreckage of Beirut's port, a charity is bringing Christmas cheer to a city hammered by a devastating explosion, rising coronavirus infections, and the worst economic crisis since Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. The Solidarity Christmas Village, decked out with flashing fairy lights and glittering trees, has been offering visitors free entry to watch concerts and pick up drinks and snacks, lifting the mood of families who can't afford seasonal luxuries.
Money really does grow on trees: Well, house plants actually. A green-fingered Brit has grown an extraordinary collection of house plants, including a species worth £12,000 ($15,500) per leaf.
Vaccines have been a hot topic in the news lately, but looking beyond Covid-19, innovations in vaccine science are boosting health outcomes for other diseases as well. Most recently, a phase 1 clinical trial of a universal flu vaccine has shown promising results for producing immune response for multi-year protection against an array of influenza viruses.
Christmas kindness: Carly Fox, 18, from London, Canada, has an autoimmune disorder that causes pain throughout her body. Her doctor advised her to consider taking advantage of the Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario - an organization that makes dreams and wishes come true for critically ill children. Carly and some of her family members got tickets for a cruise in the Mediterranean, but the cruise was cancelled because of the pandemic. Instead of postponing the trip, Carly asked the foundation to donate the money meant for her cruise to a local anti-poverty agency called LifeSpin. “We were blown away that this young woman’s wish was to help children whose families are struggling in poverty,” LifeSpin’s executive director Jacquie Thompson commented. That money will help at least 120 children to receive Christmas presents this year.
Brilliant video showing the evolution of dance from 1950 to today. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face!