🌞 Tiny nation qualifies for the World Cup

I’ve been reminded this week that one of my favourite things is to listen to live music. In recent days, I’ve been to two (very different) shows with one thing in common: the performer cannot believe their own success. It’s such a joy standing with fellow fans watching talented people succeed. That’s my feel-good moment from the week!

The UK has signed a law banning the sale of plastic wet wipes.

UK data shows that for every 100 metres of beach, there are an average of 20 wet wipes littering the area (yikes!).  

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the ban “will put an end to plastic wet wipes which choke our sewers, litter our beaches and poison wildlife.” 

The wipes will still be available for medical professionals, and does not stop them being manufactured, though the Government said this could be considered in future. 

The ban is expected to come into force in early 2027.

Archaeologists have unearthed Bronze Age settlement remains in Kazakhstan, discovering a regional centre for large scale bronze production dating back more than three millennia. 

The findings come from an investigation into Semiyarka, a Bronze Age settlement in Kazakhstan, which researchers from Kazakhstan’s Toraighyrov University discovered in the early 2000s.

The research is a collaboration between University College London, Durham University, and Toraighyrov University, and received British and Kazakh funding. 

While excavating, researchers found earthen mounds that were once the foundations of multi-room homes, and a potential industrial zone. At the centre of the site, they also found a larger building which they think might “have served as a communal or ceremonial space.” 

Lead author Dr Miljana Radivojević said the discovery was “one of the most remarkable… in this region for decades.”

Caribbean island nation Curaçao has become the smallest nation ever to qualify for the men’s FIFA World Cup.

The nation has a population of fewer than 200,000 people. For context, that’s a third of the size of Tasmania.

In their qualifying campaign, they were unbeaten across ten matches, including victories over Haiti and Barbados. With a draw over Jamaica this week, they qualified for their first-ever men’s FIFA tournament. 

Best of luck to them next year!

The New York Public Library is giving away books around the city, and making dozens of ebooks available without wait times to cardholders.

It comes after the library announced its Best Books of 2025 — a list of more than 200 books recommended for adults, teenagers and kids. In a statement, it said the list reflects “not just literary excellence and originality but also the breadth of New York City readers’ interests and the diversity of our great communities.” 

The giveaway includes books from this list. 

According to The New York Times, the list was curated by more than 80 librarians, and 1,000 books will be given for readers to keep. 

As an iconic aardvark once said: Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card!

Here’s TDA journo Anju again!

“I love finding corners of the internet where humans give advice, share their life experiences and tell us about themselves. One of those corners is Dose of Society, which features interviews with people about their perspectives on life. 

While interviewees do include some famous people, the majority are conducted on the street with people across all stages of life.

However, to keep it on theme for this week, here’s the cast of Wicked giving advice for their younger selves.”