🌞 Some much-needed good news

It’s been a really, really difficult news cycle recently.

During weeks like this, I feel like we could all use good news stories — not as a way to escape from the word, but to be reminded that there is good out there, even and especially on the toughest of weeks.

I hope you enjoy this edition, and remember to take care of yourself.

The great outdoors just got a little more accessible.

Zion National Park, in the U.S. state of Utah, has launched a free all-terrain wheelchair lending program.

The program is designed to make the trail more accessible for people with disabilities, injuries or limited mobility. With the wheelchair, users can now access around 15 trails.

It was supported by donations from visitors to the Zion Forever Project, the park’s not-for-profit partner.

This story is more of a silver lining story than purely good news, but I’ve included it because it’s important to acknowledge that good news can come out of difficult stories — and this one is pretty special.

Forget-Me-Knot FC is a football club that supports dads who are grieving children who have died. The club says it offers “a unique mix of changing room chat and on-pitch run-around [bringing] together men who have lost a child to share their stories, swap advice and find comfort in the company of men who truly understand.”

The UK-based club meets every fortnight to play football in a relaxed environment. The group begins with an open discussion where the men can talk about anything — their week, their grief and experiences.

It’s not the only club of its kind either. There are other football clubs for grieving dads based in Liverpool, Manchester and across the UK.

Three baby Red Panda cubs were born earlier this year at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute. In this photo, keepers hold the twin cubs, which were born on May 29 to parents Sequoia and Mow Mow. According to the Smithsonian, “their births represent a conservation milestone for the endangered species.” Credit: Roshan Patel / Smithsonian

A crossover so unexpected you’d think it’s AI-generated, but it’s real.

Harrison Ford enjoyed a cookie with Cookie Monster, of Sesame Street fame. While Cookie Monster ate his cookie, he started humming the Indiana Jones theme tune.

83-year-old Ford, who is notoriously grumpy and aloof during press/interviews, sang along with surprising passion.

It’s probably only the second interview I’ve seen where Harrison Ford looks actually happy to be there.

The first, of course, is this one.

Glass skin is having a moment – and No7's new Good Intent range makes it actually achievable

The UK's #1 skincare brand just launched exclusively at Priceline, with 12 mix-and-match products all under $30. We're talking the Glow Grind Cleansing Balm, Skin Sip Moisture Milk, and a HydroGel Mask for $9.99 – innovative textures designed to deliver real radiance without the luxury price tag.

Great skin doesn't have to be complicated (or expensive).

Victorians, it’s time to do your civic duty and vote on the new design for the Youth myki card.

The Victorian Government issued a callout for young artists to submit designs. Thousands of creative entries later, only three remain.

The stakes are high: the winning artwork will be featured on the official myki card, used by thousands of kids across Victoria, and the winning artist will get $1,000.

You can take a look at them here:

DESIGN 1

Name: Manahil

Age: 13

Description: My design represents how Victoria's transport connects us all together. I wanted to show the places our transport can take us, from regional nature, like the Great Ocean Road to deep inside the heart of Melbourne. I blended vibrant colours with variety of state transport and our famous landmarks, like the Melbourne Star. My artwork displays how public transport brings Victoria together. Overall, I want this design to bring a burst of colour and a smile to a person's daily life.

DESIGN 2

Name: Ryan

Age: 13

Description: When drawing this piece, I thought about transport connecting Victorian areas together. I thought that if I started doodling, the characters would represent children. (That sounds weird now that I said it again) living in Victoria, all combined and jumbled into one artwork.

DESIGN 3

Name: Ned

Age: 8

Description: I like looking in the windows of trains and seeing all the different people inside. I always wonder where everyone is going.

London kids’ lungs are getting healthier, according to a new study of emissions-reductions efforts in the city.

London has an Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ), where drivers of high-polluting cars must pay £12.50 ($AU25) each day that they drive in the area. It’s intended to deter people from buying and driving these cars in the city to improve air quality.

A global team of researchers looked at over 3,400 children aged 6-9 from around 80 primary schools in London and Luton over five years. (Luton was the control site.)

The team found improvements in air quality helped restore lung growth in children, which had previously been stunted by air pollution.

Initial measurements taken before ULEZ was introduced showed young Londoners had significantly smaller lungs than their counterparts in Luton.

However, after ULEZ was implemented, researchers found the London children’s lung size and health “accelerated and improved to be comparable with that of children in Luton.”

Study author Professor Chris Griffiths told the BBC he was “absolutely stunned” when he saw the results, adding that this “shows an ambitious clean air zone can drive pollution levels down, rapidly restoring children’s stunted lung growth.”

A few weeks ago, I shared one of my favourite internet stories with you. Isaac, a young Liverpool superfan, was surprised by players Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk at his school.

I wouldn’t be a good journalist if I didn’t update you on this story, and it gives me such joy to do so.

Earlier this year, Mo Salah joined Turkish football club Trabzonspor, who decided to keep the tradition running with a bit of a twist.

They flew out Isaac and his family to surprise Mo at his new club, and it was adorable. Isaac looked absolutely thrilled, Salah looked delighted and Anju was once again… smiling at a screen.