Ethiopia’s First Female President

GOOD NEWS

Ethiopia’s First Female President, EU Approves Single-Use Plastic Ban, Social Media App Saves Lives

Members of parliament elected Sahle-Work Zewde to become Ethiopia’s first female head of state; the European Parliament overwhelmingly voted to ban common single-use plastics; and researchers found a social media app that connects neighbors in disaster-prone communities across Indonesia, thus saving lives and reducing financial losses.

Ending Domestic Violence in Tajikistan

GOOD NEWS

Ending Domestic Violence in Tajikistan, Jamaica Bans Single-Use Plastics, Reforesting the Amazon

A new scheme has resulted in a 50% drop in violence against women in Tajikistan; Jamaica will introduce a ban on single-use plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam starting next year; and Peruvian scientists found several tree species that can survive adverse conditions and fill in the gap caused by mining and other methods of deforestation.