Good news from countries around the globe

June 23, 2025

Hello dear Good News community,

Australia plans to open blood donation to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. In Austria, sending unsolicited genital images—via email or social media—will become a punishable offense starting this September. Uzbekistan aims to revive the dried-up Aral Sea. And in the U.S., lab-grown salmon has been approved for sale for the first time. Enjoy the read!

Enjoy reading, Bianca

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Australia opens up blood donation to everyone

Australia has lifted a long-criticized ban: From now on, people can donate blood regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. What matters is their individual risk behavior—broad exclusions, such as those previously applied to gay or bisexual men, no longer apply. Source: THE GUARDIAN

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Austria criminalizes the sending of genital images without consent

Starting in September 2025, sending unsolicited genital images—via email or social media—will become a criminal offense in Austria. The federal government has approved the ban in the Council of Ministers. The parliamentary process is now underway before the law can officially take effect. Source: THE INTERNATIONAL

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Uzbekistan plans to invest in nature conservation and the green economy

Uzbekistan is launching large-scale tree-planting projects to revitalize the dried-up Aral Sea basin and combat desertification. At the same time, the government is supporting green businesses to build a sustainable economy. The announcements were made on the sidelines of Eco Expo Central Asia 2025. Source: EURONEWS

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Lab-grown salmon to combat overfishing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a lab-grown salmon for sale for the first time. In the future, this cultured salmon could help reduce overfishing and make food production more sustainable. Source: REASON

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New method enables robots to autonomously inspect tunnels and dams

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a computation method based on inspection plans, enabling robots to carry out inspections autonomously. In the future, these robots could help examine environments that are difficult for humans to access—such as tunnels and dams. Source: TECH XPLORE

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Can AI serve the common good?

Governments are allocating billions, and companies are racing not to fall behind: the hype around artificial intelligence is in full swing. But can AI also serve the public good? At the Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society in Berlin, researchers are exploring exactly that—under initiatives like “AI for Good” and “AI for the Public Interest. Source: RESET

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Bianca Kriel & Selina Mahoche