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Just Good News Monday

Kick-starting the week with an eclectic global bundle of concise upbeat news stories.


Brad Pitt
Pitt Stop

Brad Pitt was spotted at the British Grand Prix at the weekend, where he's continuing to film his Formula 1 movie. The film, co-produced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, is expected to be released in June 2025. Extensive shooting has already taken place at the Silverstone Circuit, including at last year's British Grand Prix. And Pitt, 60, was spotted again at the Northamptonshire track, wearing the racing suit of the fictional APX GP team. Pitt will play the role of a veteran driver, Sonny Hayes, who is returning to the F1 grid after a long absence. Apple has bought the rights to the movie, which has a budget said to be in the region of $140m.


Olympic Nursury

For the first time in history, the Olympic Village will feature a nursery for athletes and their families, complete with diapers, play spaces, and a private breastfeeding area.


3 wheeler electric suitcase
Strange But True

A woman in Japan has become the first person in the country to be charged by police for taking an electric suitcase "out for a spin on a public pavement without having a licence to do so", said The Strait Times. The unnamed woman, reported to be a student in her 30s, was pulled over after being spotted riding a three-wheeled suitcase with an in-built electric motor on a pavement in Osaka City. According to police, her suitcase could reach a speed of up to 13kmh (8mph), so is classified in the same category as a moped and requires an appropriate driving licence. The woman has denied charges of violating Japan's Road Traffic Act.


Atlantic sturgeon
Ecological Ambassador

The Atlantic sturgeon - a keystone species once declared functionally extinct in Europe - has been reintroduced to the Göta, Sweden’s largest river. The rewilding project saw 100 juvenile sturgeon translocated from a breeding facility on Germany’s Baltic Sea coast. Sturgeon were pushed to the brink in Europe due to overfishing and poor water quality, which has improved markedly in the Göta. “The sturgeon can become a symbol for the overall health of the Göta River,” added Jägrud. “It will be an ecological ambassador for the river.”


Electric Europe

Europe’s electricity grid is decarbonising at record pace. That’s according to new data from Eurelectric, which show that 74 percent of electricity produced in the EU in the first half of 2024 came from renewable and low-carbon energy sources – a significant increase on the 68 percent share in 2023.


Boston train with googly eyes painted on the front
Boston Trains

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has adorned five of its trains with giant googly eyes, thanks to a successful community petition. The idea originated back in April when a small group of local residents held a rally and march on Boston Common. Despite the modest turnout, the group had a singular, joyful mission: to convince the MBTA to add googly eyes to its trains. Their wish has now been granted. "The goal was always to brighten people's day and bring some joy to commuters," said one of the campaigners.


Global Emotions

This will come as a surprise to anyone with a regular news habit but Gallup's annual global survey of 146,000 people across 142 countries reports that in 2023 positive emotions reached their highest since the beginning of the pandemic, and negative emotions declined for the first time in a decade, with an uptick in people feeling more well-rested, experiencing more enjoyment, and smiling or laughing more. Among all age groups, young people were by far the best off, and Latin American and Southeast Asian countries topped the list of places where people report more daily positive emotions.

 

“Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” Mary Lou Retton

 
On This Day

Journalist Charles Henry Dow

8 July 1889: Journalist Charles Henry Dow published the first issue of The Wall Street Journal.

 
Today's Articles




 
Mood Boosting Video

Kalahari Desert: Cute little ostrich chicks get their first ever drink of water.



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