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The first malaria vaccine was approved by the WHO -

The World Health Organization (WHO) approved the use of a malaria vaccine for children in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease kills more than 260,000 children under the age of five each year.

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The UK banned the shark fin trade -

The British government announced that the UK will become the first country to ban all import and export of shark fins and related products. “Our action will not only help boost shark numbers, it will send a clear message that we do not support an industry that is forcing many species to the brink of extinction,” said animal welfare minister Lord Goldsmith.

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Ireland pilots a basic income scheme for artists -

The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, announced that a basic income guarantee scheme for artists and arts workers will be piloted next year. The initial budget is €25 million (about US$28 million).

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France opened Europe's first retirement home for elephants -

Gandhi (pictured), a 52-year-old female Asian elephant, is the first resident of the French  sanctuary for circus and zoo elephants.

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Mexico banned animal testing for cosmetics -

Mexico became the first country in North America to outlaw the practice. Animal testing for cosmetics is already banned in 41 countries and a few states in the US and Brazil.

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Portugal became coal-free -

The country shut down its last remaining coal plant in November 2021, becoming coal-free ahead of the 2030 deadline. Portugal is the fourth nation in the European Union to achieve this.

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Kamala Harris made history -

This last year saw Kamala Harris become the first female, first Black, and first Asian-American Vice-President in US history.

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Los Angeles achieved a pet rescue rate of more than 90% -

Los Angeles has officially become a 'no-kill' shelter city—the largest one in the country.

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A 116-year-old French nun became the oldest person to recover from COVID-19 -

The French nun went on to celebrate her 117th birthday!

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Canada uses drones to replant forests -

Canadian startup Flash Forest is using drones to bombard forests with tree seedpods in an effort to boost reforestation.

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Japan appointed a Minister of Loneliness -

Increasing isolation of the population led the country to appoint a Minister of Loneliness. For eight months, Tetsushi Sakamoto tried to tackle Japan's mental health crisis and reintegrate citizens.

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Argentina banned open-net salmon farming -

Argentina became the first country in the world to ban the fishing technique due to its impact on the environment.

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Basel passed a law on green roofs -

The city of Basel in Switzerland has passed a law that requires all new buildings with flat roofs to be green. The city currently has the largest area of green roofs per capita in the world.

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Forest Green Rovers are dubbed "the greenest football club in the world" -

The English soccer club is "the first and only vegan football club and the first to be certified as carbon neutral by the United Nations."

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At least 186 LGBTQ+ athletes participated in the Tokyo Olympics -

There were more out LGBTQ+ athletes in Tokyo 2021 than in all the previous editions of the Olympics combined!

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A Scottish nightclub used dancers' energy to power the venue -

Glasgow club SWG3 trialed a system called BODYHEAT to harnesses the energy created by people to power the venue. “BODYHEAT uses heat pumps and fluids to capture the incredible amounts of body heat generated by SWG3’s crowds, channeling their combined energy into twelve 150m-deep boreholes drilled beneath the venue,” they explain.

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There are more Indian rhinos today than 100 years ago -

According to the International Rhino Foundation, there now are 3,700 Indian rhinos, considerably more than a hundred years ago, when the number of Indian rhinos was only around 100.

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Chloé Zhao made history -

The 'Nomadland' director not only became the first Asian woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Director, but she also became the first woman of color to ever win an Oscar in the same category.

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EV sales in Norway surpassed those of petrol and diesel cars -

The country plans to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2025.

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A walk in nature proved (yet again) to help mental health -

According to the UK's Mental Health Foundation, over 60% of Brits found relief from the stresses caused by the pandemic by taking a walk in nature.

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Banksy raised over £16 million for a NHS charity -

A Banksy painting of a young boy playing with a superhero nurse doll raised over £16 million (about US$21 million) for an NHS charity after being sold at auction. The painting, called 'Game Changer,' appeared at Southampton General Hospital.

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France voted to ban short-haul domestic flights that can be done by train in less than 2.5 hours -

The country is doing so in an effort to reduce carbon emissions caused by short-haul domestic flights.

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Dolphins were spotted swimming in Venice’s Grand Canal -

Unlike previous hoaxes, two dolphins were actually sighted swimming in the Italian city's famous canal.

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No rhinos were killed by poachers in Kenya -

So far, the African country maintains a zero rhino poaching record since 2020.

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Michael Jordan opened health clinics in his hometown -

The NBA legend donated US$10 million to open health clinics in Wilmington, North Carolina. Jordan's goal is to make affordable essential medical care accessible to uninsured or underinsured citizens.

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Riz Ahmed and Steve Yeun made history -

Riz Ahmed was the first Muslim actor to be nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars, while Steve Yeun was the first Asian-American actor to be nominated in the same category.

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IKEA bought 11,000 acres of woodland in Georgia to preserve the forest -

The Swedish furniture giant did so to preserve the forest, as the land would be used for development in the American state.

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The 'tampon tax' was scrapped in the UK -

The tampon tax was officially abolished in the country on January 1, 2021.

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A new HIV vaccine showed very promising results -

A new HIV vaccine based on mRNA (the same type of vaccine used for COVID-19) shows promising results.

Sources: (Happiful Magazine) (The Happy Broadcast)

See also: Celebrities who are HIV positive

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