Yesterday, Margaret Keenan became the first person to get the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine. It was the first step in a massive project to vaccinate tens of millions of people in the United Kingdom in just a few months.
Published in December 2020
Last Thursday, Time magazine announced that 15-year-old scientist Gitanjali Rao was its Kid of the Year for 2020. Gitanjali was chosen from over 5,000 young leaders for her scientific work and for inspiring others to also create change.
Last Friday, the government of Bangladesh began moving Rohingya refugees to a remote island that is known for flooding. Many people are concerned for the safety of the refugees, some of whom did not want to go to the island.
In today's news roundup, Japan's Hayabusa2 space probe returns asteroid samples to Earth, China's Chang'e-5 moon mission is on its way back with lunar samples, and a series of metal monoliths have appeared and disappeared around the world.
Among the more unusual news stories recently…the father of Japan's Princess Mako approves her wedding, but problems remain, South Korea passes a "BTS Law" just in time, and US President-elect Biden breaks his foot while playing with his dog.
Kaavan the elephant has been described as "the world's loneliest elephant". After spending years alone in a zoo in Pakistan, on Tuesday, Kaavan arrived in Cambodia, where he will have plenty of elephants for company.
A research lab called DeepMind has created an artificial intelligence program which has largely solved a complicated puzzle that has challenged scientists for 50 years. The success could lead to huge advances in health care.
Under Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, more of the country's Amazon rainforest has been lost in the last year than in any of the last 12 years. The loss carries serious climate effects for the rest of the world.
On Saturday, Vanderbilt University senior Sarah Fuller made history by becoming the first female to play in a Power 5 college football game. The special event was celebrated widely - even by supporters of the opposing team.