Some bite-sized chunks of upbeat news to get the day off to a bright start.
Surprise Passenger
Antônio Luiz Laghi of Manaus, Brazil, got more than he bargained for when he left his car windows open overnight. Instead of just letting in fresh air, he inadvertently invited in an adorable wild sloth. Early in the morning, as the 73-year-old prepared for a routine doctor’s appointment, he walked to his car and found the unexpected visitor casually hanging from his steering wheel. After ensuring the sloth was unharmed, Laghi gently returned the laid-back creature to its natural habitat in the forest.
Passport Power
Consulting firm Henley & Partners has released its annual passport index, compiling the strongest passports in the world. Using data from the International Air Transport Authority, the list ranks 199 different passports based on the number of destinations that holders can access without a visa. The No. 1 spot went to Singapore. The city-state tied for first place with five other countries in 2024, but separated itself from the pack this year, with citizens getting visa-free access to 195 out of 227 global destinations. Japan came in second, with an “open door” to 193 destinations, and third place was tied by six countries: Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain.
Morning Coffee
If you can’t function without your morning caffeine hit, there's good news from new research that links coffee consumption with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The 20-year study of 40,000 adults found that coffee drinkers were 16 percent less likely to die of any cause and 31 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than non-drinkers. But, take note, the health benefits appeared to vanish among those who drank coffee all day, possibly as a result of afternoon caffeine consumption disrupting sleep patterns. “This is the first study testing coffee drinking timing patterns and health outcomes,” said study lead Dr Lu Qi of Tulane University in New Orleans. “Our findings indicate it’s not just whether you drink coffee or how much you drink, but the time of day when you drink coffee that’s important.”
Scholarship Stradivari
A violin made by renowned Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari is headed for auction next month, where it is expected to fetch a record $18 million. The New England Conservatory (NEC) in Boston, Massachusetts, is offering the Joachim-Ma Stradivarius violin for sale, with proceeds going towards student scholarships in fulfilment of the wishes of musician and NEC graduate Si-Hon Ma, who donated the instrument to the school. “This extraordinary instrument was given to the NEC with the provision that it could be sold to support student scholarships,” said Andrea Kalyn, president of the NEC. "After years of individual use by our students, now, we can establish the largest named student scholarship program in the history of NEC, honouring our mission to educate and train the next generation of musicians." The Sotheby’s auction will take place on Feb 7 in New York as part of its Masters Week.
UK EV Sales
A motoring revolution is gathering pace in the UK. New data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows that 19.6 percent of cars sold last year were electric - up from 16.5 percent in 2023. “These record EV sales are an encouraging indication that we’re heading in the right direction,” said Greenpeace UK’s senior transport campaigner, Paul Morozzo.
Global EV Sales
Despite concerns about a slowdown in the electric vehicle (EV) market, global electric vehicle sales are on track to reach a record 16.7 million units in 2024, according to BloombergNEF. This marks a substantial increase from 13.9 million units sold in 2023 and aligns with forecasts set at the beginning of the year.
“I have learned that our greatest blessings come when we are able to improve the lives of others.” Jimmy Carter
On This Day
14 January 1784: The Continental Congress ratified the Peace of Paris (1783) with Great Britain, which recognized the independence of the United States.
Today's Articles
We Want One of These: New solar beach umbrella is one of those handy gizmos you didn't know you needed - until now.
Mood Boosting Video
The Sheer Joy of It: Fun loving dolphins surfing the waves in South Africa.