Due to the bad news that usually dominates the front page of NU.nl, the good news sometimes gets snowed under. That is why we regularly make an overview of the positive and cheerful news.
SpaceX launches its first own ‘operational’ astronaut flight
Space company SpaceX launched the first successful ‘operational’ flight of the manned Crew Dragon capsule on Monday morning around 1.30 a.m. (Dutch time).
The previous flight in July was seen as a demonstration and only had two astronauts on board. This flight, with four astronauts, is the first real SpaceX-launched ‘expedition’ to the International Space Station (ISS).
Crew-1 took off at 1.28 a.m. from the launch site at Cape Canaveral, Florida. On board are the three American astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover and Mike Hopkins and the Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi. They have to dock at the ISS on Tuesday around 5:00.
Almost 50 percent fewer positive corona tests in Belgium
The Belgian authorities report on Monday that an average of 5,750 new positive corona tests were reported per day in the past week. That is a decrease of 47 percent from a week earlier.
Virologist Steven Van Gucht of Sciensano, the Belgian equivalent of the RIVM, says Monday that the number of new positive tests is halving every eight days. The number of new hospital admissions halves every twenty days.
Kakapo wins New Zealand bird election
The kakapo has been named Bird of the Year in New Zealand for the second time. The endangered parrot species delivered this unparalleled feat after a fraud-ridden poll.
Kakapos also took the honor in 2008. New Zealand’s annual bird contest, first held in 2005, is immensely popular and, according to organizers, has led to more attention for the country’s unique natural areas and animal species.
Most expensive pigeon ever yields 1.6 million euros for Belgium
The Belgian pigeon New Kim was sold on Sunday for 1.6 million euros to an anonymous buyer from China. This makes her the most expensive pigeon ever. The previous record was held by the West Flemish top pigeon Armando, for which 1.2 million euros had been paid.
New Kim comes from breeders from Berlaar in the province of Antwerp. “The buyer of New Kim is the same as that of Armando”, Nikolaas Gyselbrecht of auction site Pigeon Paradise (PIPA) told the Belgian channel VRT. “He might pair the two.”
Moderna vaccine also appears to be successful
According to the first research results, the corona vaccine that Moderna is developing is 94.5 percent effective, the American pharmaceutical company reports Monday. According to Moderna, no major problems came to light during the testing of the vaccine.
It is the second time this month that there has been promising news about a potential corona vaccine. Last week it was announced that Pfizer’s vaccine is 90 percent effective.
Samantha ‘Barbie’ de Jong gave birth to a son by Caesarean section
Samantha de Jong, better known as Barbie, gave birth to son Djemino on Monday. The reality star announced this Monday via Instagram, after she announced the day before that she would undergo a caesarean section.
“Proud parents of Djemino”, says De Jong in a caption next to the photo.
In June it was announced that De Jong was expecting her third child from a relationship with her boyfriend Gerrit Meerts. The 31-year-old reality star had daughter Angelina (2012) and son Milano (2015) from a previous marriage with Michael van der Plas.
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