Oct 24

Just Good News Thursday

An upbeat global collection of positive news stories to brighten the day.

Four Sumatran tigers born at Wrocław Zoo

Breeding Success

A Polish zoo is celebrating the arrival of four Sumatran tiger cubs, only now announcing their birth after keeping it a closely-guarded secret for weeks due to fears they may not survive. Officials at the Wrocław Zoo said the tigers - a critically endangered species whose numbers have dwindled to around 400 in the wild - were born on 22 July. The zoo chose not to go public with the news until they could grow a bit, gain some strength and be vaccinated. Each cub is now about double the size of a domestic cat. The zoo proudly hailed the births as “a breeding success on a global scale.”

Ghost Story

A new ghost story from a legendary author is coming to light from beyond the grave (well, sort of). The previously unknown tale is by Bram Stoker, the writer of Dracula, who died in 1912. The lost short story from the Irish author was discovered by a Stoker fan named Brian Cleary while he was researching archives at the National Library of Ireland. “I sat in the library flabbergasted," says Cleary. Titled Gibbet Hill, it’s “a classic Stoker story, the struggle between good and evil,” explained Paul Murray, a Stoker expert and biographer. It was first published in a Dublin newspaper supplement in 1890, seven years before Dracula.

French Teachers

A program that has seen French language teachers working in American immersion schools in the state of Louisiana has been extended another 4 years. Organized by the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL), the southern city has enjoyed the fruits of the partnership for nearly 60 years and every scholastic year invites teachers from French-speaking countries around the world to teach in Louisiana to preserve the city’s unique heritage. Peggy Feehan, executive director of CODOFIL says: “It means the world to us to have a longstanding relationship with Franc... Without that cooperation, that’s a lot of kids that wouldn’t have a French teacher.”

Malaria Free

In an achievement hailed as “truly historic” by the WHO, Egypt has joined 44 countries and one territory to officially be declared malaria-free. Authorities in Egypt launched their first efforts to eradicate malaria around 100 years ago. And while this certification is an incredible achievement, the country will continue its work to maintain that status. Thanks to global progress in treating and preventing the deadly disease, more and more countries are achieving malaria-free status - equating to thousands of lives saved every year.

Trashie Take Back Bag

If you’ve had a pile of clothes to donate sitting in the back of your car or closet for months (no judgment here), then the Trashie Take Back Bag is for you. You simply buy a bag for $20, fill it up with 15 pounds of clothes, shoes, accessories, swimwear, underwear, sheets, or towels (from any brand, in any condition), then download the free shipping label and mail it back via the U.S. Postal Service. In return, you’ll earn $30 in TrashieCash to spend on clothes, dining, entertainment, sporting goods, wellness, and more on Trashie.io

Arkansas Discovery

Researchers have discovered a collection of lithium - a primary component in lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries - in Arkansas that, if recovered, could far exceed the projected world demand for lithium in car batteries, reports Forbes. There might be 5.1 million to 19 million tons of lithium in the Smackover Formation brines in southern Arkansas, researchers at the US Geological Survey and the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment found. “We estimate there is enough dissolved lithium present in that region to replace U.S. imports of lithium and more,” says Katherine Knierim, a hydrologist and the study’s principal researcher.

“Caring for yourself sends a signal to your brain that you matter.” Allison Raskin

On This Day

24 October 1945: The charter for the United Nations - the world's premier international organization, established at the end of World War II to maintain world peace and friendly relations among nations - entered into force.