Only Good News Saturday

Sep 2, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Sep 12, 2023

Ensuring the weekend gets off to an upbeat start with a collection of positive news nuggets.

Australia Referendum

Australia has set the date for its first referendum in 24 years. On 14 October, more than 17m registered voters will vote on whether to change the constitution to recognise formally the land’s original inhabitants. “On that day, every Australian will have a once in a generation chance to bring our country together and to change it for the better,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The date has been “widely anticipated for months”, said the Sydney Morning Herald, and supporters hope the announcement will “focus the minds of undecided Australians on the question being asked”.

Barbie Leapfrogs Potter

Barbie has become Warner Bros’ highest-grossing film, earning more than $1.34bn at the global box office. The “critically acclaimed movie” reached “cultural phenomenon status” even before its debut last month, said The Times. Its box office performance has surpassed that of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. However, Barbie is “not done yet”, said MovieWeb, as it is “still playing in cinemas, and has its on-demand, MAX, and physical home video releases to come”, which “will no doubt see more records falling”.

It's Been a Crazy Time For Woman Called Barb Heimer

Miyawaki Forests

Tiny forests are popping up across the US, with sites in Washington, LA, and Cambridge, says the New York Times. Based on the Miyawaki method, these densely planted native forests grow up to 10 times the speed of conventional planting, with these postage-stamp-sized plots delivering big environmental benefits in cities around the world.

Miyawaki Method Makes Forests Grow Ten Times Faster

Crater made by Russia's Lunar 25 on the moon — Animation showing the lunar surface before and after the Luna 25 impact | NASA

Schadenfreude

The fate of Russia's failed Luna 25 Moon landing mission has been confirmed after NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter found a new impact crater at the estimated position of the lander's crash shortly before its attempted landing. On 19 August, Russia's hopes of success in beating India to the Moon's never previously explored south pole (and Russia's first Moon mission in 47 years) were humiliatingly dashed when a manoeuver to place the lander into a pre-landing orbit went disastrously wrong. It blew up and crashed on to the lunar surface. That's only good news because it's so deliciously and deeply embarrassing for ghastly Putin.

Liquid Brunch

A frozen waffle brand and a moonshine maker have teamed up to make a boozy breakfast-inspired drink called Brunch in a Jar. Developed by Eggo and Sugarlands Distilling Company, the “adults-only” cream liqueur “combines the flavours of buttered and toasted Eggo waffles, savoury bacon slices, and a drizzle of maple syrup”, said Food & Wine. Eggo’s marketing director, Joe Beauprez, said the 20% ABV “sippin’ cream” was perfect for anyone who wants to “punch up a weekend brunch or savour some of those classic brunch flavours”. And unlike its “seasonal sibling Eggo Nog”, the new drink will be available in the US year round.

Texas Parks

In Texas, the legislature has voted to invest $1 billion towards new state parks after decades of environmentalist activism, reports EnvironmentAmerica.org. This is a big deal as only 2.4 percent of land in Texas is currently protected.

"To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there." Kofi Annan

On this Day

2 September 1945: World War II came to an end as Japanese Foreign Minister Shigemitsu Mamoru and General Umezu Yoshijiro signed Japan's formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri.