🌞 The lucky dog rescue

I thought I’d start your morning by sharing some very important good news from this week.

A new study has found that chimpanzees and bonobos have human-like friendship circles.

Yep, researchers have tracked how each animal distributed its social time and effort, finding that chimps and bonobos kept a tight inner circle of close companions and a wider network of looser connections, much like most humans.

We’re all just the same at the end of the day 🥹

Everyone’s favourite hit hockey show (no, not that one!) is making headlines again for its record-breaking Canadian Screen Awards run.

According to industry outlet, Deadline, Heated Rivalry swept up 16 awards from 18 nominations, including winning Best Drama Series, Best Directing & Best Writing in a Drama Series and Best Lead Performer. 

After Hudson Williams won the award for Best Lead Performer, he offered it to his co-star and “honorary Canadian” Connor Storrie, saying: “If I could cut this award down the middle, I would.” Storrie is ineligible to receive the award because he is not Canadian. 

From a TV-show-enthusiast perspective, this show is so incredibly deserving. 

It’s taken a queer love story to new heights, catapulted two previously unknown, fresh actors to fame and reminded us that original stories are important (and maybe we should stop producing sequels that no one asked for.)

Flamingos are seen at sunset at Sel Kapani Dam Lake in Golbasi district of Ankara, Turkiye on May 30. The reservoir and surrounding wetlands host various bird species, including flamingos, during seasonal migration periods.

Volunteers from Marine Rescue Batemans Bay successfully rescued a dog after it was swept out to water earlier this week.

Following calls from the public, a volunteer crew was assembled to rescue the dog. 

They found the dog on Snapper Island, safely retrieved him and transported him back to the marine base, where rangers made sure he received appropriate care.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Glenn Sullivan said they are “hopeful the rangers will be able to reunite the dog with its owner”.

A new study from Tulane University shows that mangroves are expanding in many parts of the world (including Australia!) after decades of deforestation and coastal development.

Mangrove forests are incredibly important for our ecosystem. According to the UN Environment Programme, they improve water quality, support over 1,500 plant and animal species, and help combat climate change, as they’re among the most carbon-rich ecosystems in the world. 

The study, which is based on 40 years of satellite data, found that globally, mangrove forests are “no longer in net decline and are now growing overall.” Mangroves are expanding, mainly through natural regeneration and expanding into newly formed coastal areas

The university said the findings suggest a “more hopeful trajectory”  

During the past 16 years, mangrove gains have outpaced losses. Tulane environmental professor Daniel Friess said that we’re “seeing a real shift… this could make [mangroves] a rare conservation success story and an important source of optimism for climate action.” 

However, the study reiterated that recovery is not complete and that continued protection is vital to sustain their growth. 

No HBDs. No ugly photos. No regifted candles.

Moonpig surveyed Aussies on their biggest birthday icks – and turns out, we've all been victims (and probably offenders). Over 1 in 3 of us have copped last-minute cancellations, unapproved Instagram posts, and obviously regifted presents. Even the lazy "HBD" text made the list.

This year, don't be that person. Moonpig's personalised cards and gifts make it genuinely easy to show up for the people you love — no excuses, no cringe, no AI-generated messages left unedited.

FIFA fanatics, we have a good news story for you.

The Aussie Socceroos squad for the FIFA World Cup has been named, with Aussie player Nishan Velupillay making history as the first Tamil player to compete at the tournament.

The Tamil people are an ethnic community from India and Sri Lanka, with significant populations in Singapore and Malaysia. The Tamil Guardian said that Velupillay’s appointment “represents a significant moment for Tamils in the diaspora.”

The FIFA World Cup kicks off next week. If your football knowledge is anything like mine (non-existent), feel free to subscribe to TDA’s sport newsletter for your FIFA breakdown.

For longtime readers, you’ll know that TDA journalist Elliot often makes an appearance in this newsletter. Now, it’s his aunty Rita’s turn. 

She messaged him about a “great story that needs to be told.” At TDA, we hold great respect for aunties, so we immediately got to work.

She shared that last month, the Attorney-General announced the appointment of Her Honor Judge Rose Falla in Victoria’s County Court. 

The appointment is significant: Judge Falla was the first Aboriginal person appointed as a magistrate in Victoria, and now she’s the first Aboriginal person to be appointed a Judge of the County Court of Victoria. 

She is a proud Wotjobaluk/Wemba Wemba/Mutti Mutti woman and has over 13 years worth of legal experience, including her appointment as the inaugural Supervising Magistrate for Koori Justice. 

Her welcome ceremony occurred earlier this week. 

After taking an affirmation of office, Judge Falla reflected on the significance of her appointment in front of her colleagues, friends, family, and community leaders. “It is critical that doors are opened, opportunities created and seized, examples set, and that we actively pay things forward. I'm sitting here today because of the generosity of so many." 

The Judicial College of Victoria said: “The welcome carried particular resonance as the Court marked Judge Falla’s historic appointment on Mabo Day, the last day of National Reconciliation Week.”

This story is courtesy of TDA reader Paul, who captured our attention with a very good headline: “My brother just walked across Australia, solo, self-supported.”

Paul’s brother Mark just completed a solo, self-supported walk across Australia to raise money for youth mental health.

He started his walk on the 5th July 2025 from Steep Point, WA (the most western point on the mainland) and started walking across Australia. Earlier this week, nearly a YEAR and more than 6000 kilometres later, he finished walking at Byron Bay (the most eastern point on the mainland.

As his brother writes: “He’s faced storms, floods, 45+ degree days among other challenges… he’s focused on raising attention for youth mental health and has raised $120k for a youth mental health organisation, Batyr.”

You can check out his journey on Instagram at @trek4youthmentalhealth. Fair warning: it’s pretty incredible.

Mark, congratulations for completing your walk, and for winning the brother lottery.

Now, this might be shocking, but good news stories are a little difficult to find, y’know, because there’s so much doom and gloom in the news cycle.

We are always on the hunt for good news stories! Be like Paul. If you’re involved in or see some good news, reply to this newsletter/email me ([email protected]) so we can include it in our next edition.