Synopsis of today's uplifting, positive news stories from around the globe.
Downton Abbey 3
Is that a butler bell we hear? Downton Abbey fans rejoice - a third film is in the works. Following the success of the first movie and its sequel, Downton Abbey: A New Era, the Crawley family will be back on our big screens. The team are staying tight lipped about what we can expect from the world’s favourite aristocrats, but we know that Julian Fellowes - who penned the record-breaking TV show - is set to write the screenplay. Stars Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, and Michelle Dockery will all be returning, alongside Dominic West and Paul Giamatti, who is riding high following his Oscar nomination this year.
Drive Like a Woman
The slogan "Conduisez comme une femme" (which means "drive like a woman") is being used in a new French campaign aimed at reducing traffic accidents caused by reckless male motorists.
Title Reclaimed
A Texas man has reclaimed the title of the world's oldest skydiver, by completing a tandem jump at the age of 106. Guinness World Records has confirmed that the title once again belongs to Alfred Blaschke, who first broke the record in 2020, before a 103-year-old Swedish woman set a new first in 2022.
Desert Roots
Farah Salem, an immigrant artist from the Arabian Peninsula, explores the concept of home in the USA. She draws on the evolving healing traditions of her homeland, which have adapted over time to meet the needs of migrating individuals and communities. In her work, she seeks connections between the deserts of her origin and the southwestern deserts of the USA. In this image, she shows herself wandering through protected wilderness areas, engaging in private, reimagined ritual practices that resonate with her desert roots. She's one of the photographers shortlisted for Earth Photo 2024 - a competition that showcases images which highlight the beauty and fragility of our planet.
Family Workstation
Libraries across U.S. are installing “cubicles” for parents who need to study but can't find childcare. Public libraries are introducing desks with built-in play areas for young children, aiming to provide a supportive environment for parents who need to study.
Drought-Free
For the first time in 11 years, all of Queensland, Australia has officially been declared drought-free. Recent increases in rainfall and flooding have filled the region’s waterways with more water than usual, and while farmers are apprehensive about a looming dry season - they’re celebrating the (literal) change of scenery. The land has truly transformed from dry and desolate to bright green grass peppered with wildflowers, shrubs, and weeds next to waterways, creeks, and rivers filled to the brim.
Sign of The Times
A local council in northern England has faced a backlash from residents after announcing that it will phase out apostrophes on street signs. It said that the punctuation mark would be dropped, "where possible", because they cause problems with its computer system. "It riles my blood to see inappropriate grammar or punctuation," commented a postwoman of the new apostrophe-free sign for St Mary's Walk in Harrogate, Yorkshire. A local resident agreed: "I think we should be using apostrophes," she said. "If you start losing things like that then everything goes downhill, doesn't it?"
"No matter what happens, if I get pushed down, I’m going to come right back up." Doris Day
On This Day
16 May 1975: Tabei Junko of Japan, accompanied by Ang Tsering of Nepal, became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Today's Articles
Anarchic Solution: A Californian who was ordered to keep his boat out of sight has had the last laugh. Fence mural...
Nanoscale Resolution: This is what a tiny fragment of your brain looks like. It's a world of wonder and is the most detailed image ever. 3D map...
Mood Boosting Video
Pronunciation Mistakes: Hilarious 'Peter Sellers' bingo game for French job applicant.