Spain’s government has introduced a basic monthly income for struggling families amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure will affect about 2.3 million people in need and guarantees income of maximum $1,100 per family.
The Text For Humanity switchboard was originally launched in January to combat online negativity and promote the sharing of positive messages between strangers. To date, more than 83,000 messages of positivity have been exchanged across 85 countries.
Despite the announcement, many measures implemented to slow the virus from spreading will remain. Some of those restrictions will continue through the end of the month.
The plans, devised by renewable chemicals company Avantium, have already won the support of beer-maker Carlsberg, which hopes to sell its pilsner in a cardboard bottle lined with an inner layer of plant plastic.
The world’s biggest wealth fund was built on Norway’s oil and gas production revenue. Now, the fund is taking a stand against global warming by excluding some of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies from its portfolio.
The government will bring forward a “national cycling plan” to try and double cycling (and increase walking) by 2025. It will trial the use of e-scooters and publish statutory advice for councils to accommodate cyclists and walkers.
The world’s most robust study of universal basic income has concluded that it boosts recipients’ mental and financial well-being, as well as modestly improving employment.
Germany’s legislature has passed a ban on the advertising and practice of so-called gay conversion therapy for people under age 18, joining Malta, Ecuador, Brazil and Taiwan.
The plant could start producing “green” hydrogen, a cleaner energy source than fossil fuels, by 2023 via electrolysis – a process using electricity to split water – and the aim is for one gigawatt by 2030.
In 2019, IKEA invested $2.8 billion in renewable energy infrastructure. IKEA put 1 million solar panels on 370 0f its stores and warehouses, and also built 535 wind turbines and 2 solar parks.
