Droupadi Murmu becomes India’s first tribal president
Murmu is also the country’s second female president after Pratibha Patil, who held the position for five years from 2007.
Nations
This archive collects stories from Good News for Humankind involving nations — countries and their governments — as key actors in progress. Across 1,807 articles, you’ll find reporting on policy wins, international cooperation, and measurable improvements in health, climate, rights, and more.
Rwanda’s mountain gorillas make strong comeback in conservation win
When American naturalist Dian Fossey moved to Rwanda half a century ago to study mountain gorillas, their numbers were dwindling, down to just 254 individuals, but today they’re up to over 600.
Botswana reduces mother-baby HIV transmission rates from 40% to below 1% since 1999
Botswana has became the first high-burden country to receive the WHO’s silver tier award for its efforts to cut child transmission rates.
Colombia launches $245-million initiative to create and maintain protected areas
Heritage Colombia is a $245-million initiative to support the creation, expansion and improvement of 32 million hectares (nearly 80 million acres) of protected land and marine areas in the country over the next decade.
The Netherlands bans exotic mammalian pets
The government will present a list of mammals allowed as pets and hobby animals. All other mammals are banned.
China installs massive 17 GB of offshore wind power in 2021
China now has 26 GW of offshore wind power installed, the most of any nation and nearly half of the world’s cumulative capacity.
Switzerland builds the world’s largest water battery to store surplus renewable energy
Large energy storage projects like water batteries are particularly useful for storing surplus energy from intermittent energy sources like solar and wind.
Rhino population gets a new sanctuary in Mozambique
This project, which was started by the Peace Parks Foundation more than six years ago, aims to create a sanctuary in the Zinave National Park of Mozambique, which experienced a drop in wildlife in part due to the 1977 civil war which lasted 15 years.
Slovenia set to be the first former communist country with marriage equality
Slovenia’s Constitutional Court ruled that the Balkan nation’s ban on LGBTQ marriage equality and adoption is “inadmissible discrimination against same-sex couples.”
E.U. to end undercounting of plug-in hybrid emissions
Currently, regulators assume PHEVs are driven far more in electric mode than is actually the case, leading to unrealistically low emissions ratings.