Fabulous Friday News
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Wrapping up the week with an eclectic global collection of positive news nuggets.
Royal G.I. Jane
Princess Leonor - the future queen of Spain - has added another remarkable achievement to her growing military record after successfully completing parachute training and becoming the first member of the Spanish Royal Family to qualify as a paratrooper. The Princess of Asturias completed the same training undertaken by members of Spain’s armed forces, earning both a diploma and the coveted paratrooper badge upon completion. The achievement marks another milestone in Leonor’s extensive military education programme, which began in 2023. The three-year training scheme has seen her serve with the army, navy and air force as she prepares for her future role as Spain’s monarch. Under Spain’s constitution, the sovereign serves as commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces, making military training an important part of preparations for the throne.
Child-Friendly MRI
If anyone can make MRIs less scary for kids, it’s Mickey Mouse. While the tech is considered one of the safest ways to get a look inside the body, that doesn’t mean sitting still in a strange, loud, and cramped space isn’t overwhelming, especially for children. That’s where Mickey and some of his friends come in. The Walt Disney Company teamed up with Royal Philips on a new initiative to bring beloved animated characters and stories right into pediatric MRI machines. The state-of-the-art scanners use lighting, imagery, and sounds to make the medical procedures feel more like “soothing adventures” tailored to patients’ preferences - they can pick their favorite princesses, Marvel superheroes, or Star Wars characters, as well as colours and themes.
Some Good Numbers
90: The percentage share of Gambians with access to electricity, up from 60 percent in 2018, according to the World Bank.
5: Brazilians might soon enjoy a two-day weekend as lawmakers move to shorten the workweek to 5 days and 40 hours, with no change in pay. Brazilians currently work 44 hours across 6 days, reports the Associated Press.
1,450: Count of loggerhead sea turtle nests as Florida’s nesting season heads into a record-breaking year, says the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
1,248: The number of players competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
7 August: The world's largest arts and performance festival - the Edinburgh Fringe - starts, and runs until 31 August. (Check out the best joke from each year between 2011 and 2023.)
World No. 114: Maja Chwalińska becomes the lowest-ranked French Open finalist in history after defeating Diana Shnaider in the semifinals, and will face Mirra Andreeva tomorrow.
Universal UK Resort
Hollywood studio Universal has committed to spending £6bn ($8bn) in the UK to build and run its first theme park in Europe. US media giant Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, said on Wednesday it would spend more than £5bn on the construction of the Bedford theme park and a further £1bn during its first decade of operation. The park, Universal United Kingdom Resort, is expected to feature rides and experiences based on some of Universal’s biggest film franchises.
Best Family EV
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 pretty much offers it all with up to 318 miles of driving range, fast charging, a surprisingly spacious interior, and an affordable starting price of just $35,000. It’s also a perfect fit for families looking to go electric. The IONIQ 5 was the only EV to make Kelley Blue Book’s 12 Best Family Cars of 2026, placing alongside the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 as the best 2-Row SUVs for families. The list consists of vehicles that are thoroughly tested and evaluated for real-world family needs, taking into account factors including safety, efficiency, and value.
"Never doubt the courage of the French. They were the ones who discovered that snails are edible." Doug Larson
On This Day
5 June 1833: English mathematician and future first computer programmer Ada Lovelace meets fellow mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage. Introduced by their mutual friend and Lovelace's tutor, Mary Somerville, the 17-year-old Ada was captivated by a demonstration of Babbage's prototype Difference Engine. This serendipitous meeting sparked a lifelong intellectual partnership and friendship.
Today's Articles
Launch Preparations: NASA’s next flagship observatory - the $4bn Roman Space Telescope - is readying for launch.
“Science at its Best”: Emerging CAR T-cell cancer therapy trialed on Sam Neill is exciting scientists.
Mood Boosting Video
Christina O: Famous yacht that was once home to Jacqueline Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis is for sale.