Mid-week round up of positive news stories from around the globe.
Presidential Artifacts
The timing couldn’t be more perfect for an upcoming auction filled with intriguing presidential keepsakes and artifacts. “We’re conducting an auction of a number of the most historic objects relating to American history that [have] ever come up for sale,” Arlan Ettinger, president of Guernsey’s auction house, told Reuters. One of the items creating a buzz is a lock of George Washington’s hair, which has been kept in a locket and passed down through generations. Another noteworthy piece is the U.S. flag that was draped on Abraham Lincoln’s coffin during its trip from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois. Ettinger estimates that the flag will fetch between $800,000 and $1.2 million, but time will tell when the auction begins on 22 November, both online and live at the Arader Galleries in New York City. Take a look at what's up for grabs.
Automatic Refunds
New U.S. rules now require airlines to automatically refund passengers when their flights are canceled. The DOT requires refunds, not vouchers when a passenger’s flight is canceled or “significantly delayed” - even if it’s not explicitly requested.
Multi-Purpose
Traversing the width of Scotland in a canoe would be a challenge in and of itself, as would traversing it on a recumbent tricycle. Well, British adventurer Ben Kilner recently canoed the trip in one direction then triked it in the other, using the same amphibious vehicle for both legs of the journey. He followed the Great Glen Canoe Trail, which consists of about 60 miles (97 km) of linked canals and lochs. Upon reaching Inverness, he turned around and land-pedaled back to Fort William along the 78-mile (126-km) Great Glen Way trail. Along with simply being a great adventure, Kilner's cross-Scotland trip was also a fundraising effort for A Leg to Stand On, which is a non-profit group that provides prosthetic limbs and other mobility aids to children in developing countries.
20
The battery capacity, in gigawatts, installed to the US electric grid in four years, equivalent to the output of 20 nuclear reactors. These huge batteries prevent power blackouts.
Indigenous Authority
Indigenous peoples in Colombia have been granted the authority to protect, manage, and conserve biodiversity within their territories according to their knowledge. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a decree that lays out the standards required for Indigenous authorities to issue regulations regarding the protection, preservation, use, and management of natural resources in their territories and effective coordination with state authorities. These powers will be exercised according to their self-government structures.
German Coal Use
In the first nine months of 2024, the consumption of coal in Germany's power plants to generate electricity fell by a whopping 39 percent compared to the same period the previous year. This was a result of an overall decrease in electricity generation, an increase in electricity production from renewables, and increased electricity purchasing from neighbouring countries.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." George Bernard Shaw
On This Day
6 November 1991: 1991 Russian President Boris Yeltsin outlaws the Communist Party.
Today's Articles
Ecoacoustics: Scientists are turning to the sounds of nature to gain insights into the health of ecosystems.
Space Perspective: Sir Richard Branson to float above the Earth’s atmosphere in the world’s first commercial stratospheric balloon flight.
Tegelwippen: The new Dutch national sport seeks to restore greenery and help the Netherlands meet its climate targets.
Mood Boosting Video
Having Fun: This dog just loves jumping into huge piles of leaves.