Wednesday's positive news nuggets from around the globe.
Dame Jacinda
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been made a dame for her service to the country during the Covid-19 pandemic and Christchurch terror attacks. Ms Ardern was awarded the title Dame Grand Companion, the second-highest honour in New Zealand, as part of King Charles III’s Birthday Honours. The current Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, said she was being recognised for her service during “some of the greatest challenges our country has faced in modern times”.
What's Jacinda Up To Now? She disappeared from the limelight after her surprise resignation in January, but now appears to be getting her mojo back. She's taking on two new roles...
Strange But True
Production of the forthcoming Barbie movie required so much pink paint that it wiped out an entire company’s global supply. Speaking about the construction of Barbieland, which is almost entirely fluorescent pink, Greta Gerwig said the film had caused an international shortage of pink paint. “The world ran out of pink,” she told Architectural Digest. See Barbie's Official Trailer to see how much pink paint (well, pink everything) was involved.
Aussie Logging
The Australian state of Victoria has announced that the logging of native forests will stop at the end of this year, reports ABC. Even the most optimistic activists weren't expecting this victory. The announcement includes significant funding for a just transition for forestry workers.
Good Boy
For four years, Justin went to every class Grace Mariani attended at Seton Hall University in New Jersey - and when she received her diploma in May, he got one as well. Justin is a 6-year-old service dog, and as soon as Seton Hall President Joseph Nyre handed him his rolled-up diploma during the graduation ceremony, Justin put it in his mouth, to the delight of the crowd. Seton Hall said Mariani graduated magna cum laude with her bachelor's degree in education, and hopes to become an elementary school teacher.
Breastfeeding
Breastfed children are almost twice as likely to go on to achieve top GCSE results, which children in the UK take at the age of 12 or 13, according to a new study. After examining data from 4,940 pupils in England born between 2000 and 2002, researchers found that performance in GCSE exams increased incrementally the longer children’s mothers had breastfed them. After taking everything into account, “children breastfed for at least 12 months were 39% more likely to achieve a high pass for GCSE maths and English, and were 25% less likely to fail the English exam”, said The Telegraph.
Ducking Hell
In amongst all the fuss around Apple's new VR headset, you may have missed the company's announcement that it will upgrade its autocorrect feature that “annoyingly corrects one of the most common expletives to ‘ducking’”. The “ducking” substitution is a “longstanding source of mirth or frustration”. Announcing the tweak, Apple’s software chief said that “in those moments where you just want to type a ducking word, well, the keyboard will learn it, too”.
Circular Solar
While they are being promoted around the world as a crucial weapon in reducing carbon emissions, solar panels only have a lifespan of up to 25 years. Experts say billions of panels will eventually all need to be disposed of and replaced. It is hoped a major step will be taken at the end of June, when the world's first factory dedicated to fully recycling solar panels officially opens in France. It expects to be able to extract and re-use 99 percent of a unit's components, including nearly all of the precious materials contained within the panels, such as silver and copper, which are typically some of the hardest materials to extract. These rare materials can subsequently be recycled and reused to make new, more powerful, solar units.
“The business of progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected.” G.K. Chesterton
On this Day
7 June 1929: Through the Lateran Treaty - signed February 11, 1929, by Benito Mussolini for Italy and by Pietro Gasparri, cardinal secretary of state, for the papacy and ratified this day in 1929 - Vatican City became a sovereign state.
Sir David Attenborough now has almost double the number of letters after his name than in it. Gongs...
Ship propellers that mimic whale tails may hold the secret to reducing emissions by one of the most polluting industries. Propulsion...
The northern hemisphere is now getting into the swing of summer, so here's a dozen inspiring quotes about summertime. Quotes...
Mood Booster
A flying visit to northern India.