Sunny Saturday news to make sure the weekend gets off to a bright start.
Happiness Centre
Sir Ken Dodd's joke books, tickling sticks and other artefacts are to be preserved in a new £15m centre dedicated to the late comedy legend in his home city of Liverpool. The Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Centre will provide a permanent home for his archive, as well as hosting comedy performances and events. The four-storey centre will be attached to the city's Royal Court theatre, where Sir Ken regularly performed during his career. He died in 2018. His widow Lady Dodd said: "I am thrilled that my dream of creating a legacy to celebrate Ken’s life has reached such a landmark stage."
The Happiest Countries in The World 2024: There have been some changes in the top 10, even if the top spot hasn’t changed now in six editions.
Global Plastic Treaty
A watershed moment in the fight against plastic as the US, one of the world's biggest plastic makers, supports a major policy shift to reduce the quantity of new plastic produced each year. The move will boost the prospect of UN agreement on a manufacturing cap, with the final round of negotiations due to take place in late November, reports Reuters.
Conservation Success
New Caledonia's efforts to protect endangered flightless bird is paying off, as the population of the flamboyant Cagou has almost tripled since 2017, thanks to monitoring and threat management. Local efforts began in the 1980s, when a zoo in Noumeā started raising cagous in captivity and releasing them at the Blue River Provincial Park. Around 60 birds lived in the park in 1984; today there are over 1,000.
EV Fire Risk?
The public's general perception is that electric vehicles are somewhat prone to fire risk. Actually, according to a new report, the risk of fire in a rechargeable vehicle is 0.0012 percent, compared to 0.1 percent for combustion engine vehicles. According to this statistic, fires in gasoline or diesel-powered cars are over 80 times more common.
Vast Football Stadium
Plans to build the world’s biggest football stadium, which may host the 2030 World Cup final, have been revealed with the release of spectacular images of the proposed site in Morocco. The venue would be the jewel of the crown in the joint bid to stage the competition from Morocco, Portugal and Spain. The stadium, one of the most high spec sporting venues on the planet, would have a capacity of 115,000. Designed by Paris-based architects Oualalou + Choi and renowned stadium construction firm Populous, it is said to draw “inspiration from the traditional social gathering of Morocco known as a “moussem”, with the stadium structure set under a grand tented roof that emerges as a dramatic intervention in the forested landscape.”
You Couldn't Make It Up
The Taliban has sacked hundreds of men from Afghanistan’s security forces because they are unable to grow beards, reports The Telegraph. Mohibullah Mokhlis, the director of planning and legislation at the ministry, told a press conference in Kabul that “281 beardless officers were identified, confirmed and dismissed” from the country’s security services in the past 12 months.
“Middle age is when you’re sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn’t for you.” Ogden Nash
On This Day
24 August 1932: American aviator Amelia Earhart took off from Los Angeles, and, when she landed in Newark, New Jersey, the following day, she became the first woman to complete a solo nonstop flight across the United States.
Today's Articles
Mood Boosting Video
Symphony of The Deep: Prepare to be mesmerized by the ethereal melodies and haunting harmonies of humpback whales.