Monday's round-up of global good news nuggets.
Facebook is suspending Donald Trump’s account for two years, the company has announced in a highly anticipated decision that follows months of debate over the former president’s future on social media. “Given the gravity of the circumstances that led to Mr Trump’s suspension, we believe his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols,” Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice-president of global affairs, said. That's great news for everyone who enjoys a little peace and quiet; rather than Trump's megaphone (magaphone?).
The venture capitalist behind Britain’s vaccines success is to be rewarded with a damehood. Kate Bingham, 55, is to be given the honour for her unpaid work leading the UK Vaccines Taskforce and obtaining access to millions of doses of six different coronavirus jabs. Her damehood is expected to be among a host of honours for “heroes” of the pandemic response, to be unveiled in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list next weekend.
Following successful cases in Germany and France, environment campaigners in Italy are suing the government for failing to sufficiently tackle the climate crisis in what is the first legal action of its kind in the country. They want the court to order the government, led by the prime minister Mario Draghi, to adopt more ambitious climate change policies as well as significantly increase its carbon emissions reduction target.
Roughly 10 months after fire burned 97 percent of Big Basin state park (California’s oldest), it's showing positive signs of rebirth in its majestic redwood trees. Wildflowers are growing over charred debris. Blackened trees have sprung vibrant green sprouts. Birdsongs and hammering woodpeckers fill the air. There's no doubt it will recover and one day be beautiful again.
The Swedish-Swiss power and automation technology group ABB has announced that it will completely electrify its fleet of more than 10,000 vehicles by 2030.
Raise a glass to Chase Poust, a 7-year-old who’s being hailed a hero after he swam ashore to get help when his sister and dad got swept away by a strong current. Chase and his 4-year-old sister Abigail ended up a rapid rush of river water while swimming in Florida. Their father jumped in to try and help them, but it became clear he couldn’t reach them both. As he swam for Abigail, he told Chase to swim to shore and find help. It took Chase an hour to battle the rough water, and then he ran to the nearest house for help. By the time rescue crews reached his sister and father, they had drifted two miles away. But they were safe, thanks to Chase’s valiant efforts.
NASA has laid out plans to use improved satellite technology to better monitor climate change impacts around the world. The information gathered will be freely and easily available to the public with the agency seeking to partner with private companies, scientists and foreign governments - with the idea of getting more scientific eyes on the data and accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and press that into use. The new satellite images will offer higher resolution images than current ones and is expected to begin in 2027.
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Satchmo
Times may be less than perfect, but let's celebrate the glory of the planet we call home by enjoying What A Wonderful World, performed by Louis Armstrong in 1967. Monday's mood-booster!