Hug & Bean

A shorter episode, that is still jam-packed with this week's happy headlines including progress on the vaccine to fight COVID 19, meditation is beneficial for physical health and Portugal are fulfilling their part to tackle climate change.  Plus the low down on the new Taylor Swift album, folklore and a selected new song from the album with an additional heart-warming, positive story!

To celebrate world emoji day this week a London cosmetic helped beam some joy around London. There was good news for the grizzly bear at the Yellowstone national park as they are now protected from trophy hunters and four teenagers/entrepreneurs from California have come up with an ingenious business called the Be The Change Coloring Co. to help educate children on the current pandemic through the art of colouring. Finally, the Magic Gang from Brighton have released a new song with an important message, it's a must-listen!

Strides to improve the globes environmental state continues as Germany becomes one of the first nations to ban the use of single-use plastic. Meanwhile, battle against COVID 19 continues and two tech giants, Google and Shutterfly, are doing their part to aid the fight in two very unique and different ways. They are once again demonstrating the positive power technology has in today's modern world.

Covering just a few of the amazing happy headlines from this week including the discovery of a life-saving treatment for COVID 19 infected patients with respiratory illnesses, a gang of dads with a mission to break racial stereotypes in the USA and the prestigious John Hopkins university releasing a unique course on 'psychological first aid'. The episode also finishes off with a new song of the week by the incredible One Voice Children's Choir. 

This week New Zealand became the first nation to completely eradicated COVID 19 and their streets were buzzing as everyone celebrated. Meanwhile, the first U.S. woman to walk in space has again broken the limits in the limiting factor and PayPal are trying to break social barriers as they released a new announcement this week. 

This week devastating scenes in the US have hit the headlines, whilst the unity shown at protests is being hidden and shadowed. The UK is on the path to becoming a cycling nation and Sesame Street is hitting the TV screens again for an important reunion. It's a short episode but I will always try my best to make sure even a small dose of positive news is delivered every Sunday morning! 

As we marvelled at Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket launch that eventually happened, this week there was plenty more to celebrate. From a young graduate on a mission to help the heroes on the frontline to Crayola's newest box of crayons being released under the name 'Colours of the World' to a newly published church "jam" from Oklahoma, this definitely isn't an episode you want to miss!

As the world was buzzing to celebrate bee day, India marvelled at their newfound or reemerged view of the vast Himalayas and IKEA released some impressive (almost simplistic) new instructions to build some quarantine furniture for those rainy days you're stuck indoors. And finally, an incredible new switchboard made in partnership with Mental Health America is aiding to keep spreading positivity and kindness to those who need it most #TextForHumanity

In the week that countries across the world celebrated zero new COVID 19 cases, what other positive news has also been overshadowed by such a large milestone for the global community? This week I'll be reading some headlines of phenomenal acts of kindness amidst this pandemic, the kindness of humankind shining through a world typically full of haste and phone notifications. 

As the UK celebrated Victory in Europe day with grace and 'We Will Meet Again' rang out through the country, Nike donated thousands of shoes to help the everyday hero and South Africa streets are beginning to see some life again that isn't the monkeys. This week we get Ashley Ridgway on from Durban, South Africa for a unique insight into how her life has changed due to the pandemic. 

Your weekly insight into this weeks happy headlines as Tom Moore celebrated his 100th birthday and the UK is believed to have passed the peak of the coronavirus outbreak.