Jul 26

Friday's Positive News

What better way to end the week than with a global round up of positive news stories?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Veep, the HBO show — Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Veep | Lacey Terrell/HBO

Picture The Scene

Fictional vice-president Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the title character of HBO’s spleen-filled political comedy Veep, enters a room of her closest advisers/lackeys and announces, with bated breath and to an outburst of applause: “I’m not leaving. Potus is leaving. He’s not going to run for a second term. I’m gonna run. I’m gonna run for president!” It’s a pivotal scene from the finale of the second season and one that has obvious parallels to the real-life news of the day – even if, in the show, the never-seen Potus decides to step down due to health concerns involving the first lady – so as soon as Biden dropped out and Kamala Harris stepped in, it is hardly surprising that the scene has gone viral. And, on a similar theme...

Star-Spangled Foresight

Joe Biden's sudden announcement that he was withdrawing from the 2024 US presidential race took many by surprise, but those who "looked to the stars" had a feeling that big election news was coming last weekend, said The Cut. On Saturday, astrologer Chani Nicholas posted a video on social media saying the weekend was - astrologically speaking - all about "endings" and "periods of transition", and that her celestial interpretations had "everything to do with what happens in November". And some astrologers were calling it as early as 2020, when Biden was first elected: Lisa Stardust tweeted then that she believed Kamala Harris would run for the presidency in 2024, "since this coincides with her Saturn return".

Simone Biles in training in Paris — Simone Biles

Head Down

US gymnast Simone Biles trains in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games, which - as you already undoubtedly know - has its opening ceremony today, with the sports kicking off tomorrow (though some events have already started). The world's most decorated gymnast made a return to the sport last year following a hiatus after the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. If you're interested in information about when your favourite sport or preferred event is scheduled at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, it's all available at olympics.com

Sort of Good News

Virgin Atlantic is to charge passengers a green levy on every flight as it seeks to cover the costs of using sustainable aviation fuel (Saf). It comes as airlines gear up for the mandated use of Saf, which costs three times as much as kerosene. Saf, which is made from used cooking oil, is viewed as the most practical immediate solution to reducing the aviation sector’s emissions. British Airways has also warned that prices will increase owing to the costs of Saf, though it hasn’t yet decided whether to introduce a specific levy. Lufthansa, the German airline, has so far been the only major operator to go public with its plans for Saf-related fees. The surcharge will be between €31 ($33) and €72 ($78) per ticket starting next year to help cover the costs of the European Union’s Saf mandates.

USPS

Founded on 26 July 1776, technically the U.S. Postal Service predates the U.S. itself. One year before the Declaration of Independence was signed, and three months after the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin the country’s first postmaster general. “The conveyance of letters and intelligence was essential to the cause of liberty,” per the USPS, and in its early days, the system mainly conveyed letters between Congress and the armies. Things have changed a lot since then, of course.

Global Progress

In a landmark year for renewable energy, 85 percent of new electricity generation capacity added globally in 2023 came from clean energy sources, reports the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Security system at Tesco supermarket on drinks cabinet — Credit: X/lorrainemking

Freedom Cases?

Tesco, Britain's largest supermarket chain, now puts booze in high-tech cabinets dubbed ‘Freedom Cases’ with 4-step access process in an effort to deter shoplifters. It can also reportedly send alerts if "suspicious behaviour" is detected. The machine first asks drinkers to tap an arrow on the screen to access the goods. Second, it says it is processing the request. Third, shoppers have to wait for the machine to 'process' before having access. Finally, the cabinet opens for shoppers to take what they'd like. The British Retail Consortium said thefts have cost retailers around £1.8billion in 2022-23, up from £953million the previous year.

“Even if you can’t just snap your fingers and make a dream come true, you can travel in the direction of your dream, every single day, and you can shorten the distance between the two of you.” Douglas Pagels