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Volunteers Made a Poppy Mural Out of Sand to Honor Veterans
A group of 30 dedicated volunteers created a beautiful 90-foot poppy on Beadnell Bay in Northumberland as a touching tribute to the fallen in the lead-up to Remembrance Day. Led by retired doctor and beach artist Claire Eason, the team used garden rakes to painstakingly sketch the giant poppy onto the sand, and the mural was illuminated by a stunning sunset. The awe-inspiring mural, beautifully illuminated by a sunset, stood as a temporary but powerful symbol of remembrance and community unity.
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This Couple Celebrated Their Engagement One Year After a Fateful Train Encounter
Steve Higgs and Payal Pandya’s love story began with a small act of kindness on a late-night London train — and came full circle exactly one year later in the most unexpected, joyful way. In November 2024, Higgs was on his way home from a night out with friends when he boarded the 23:09 London Northwestern Railway (LNR) service from Euston to Milton Keynes. Standing nearby was Pandya, who’d just come from a first date that hadn’t gone well. Higgs, 56, offered her his seat. The two struck up a conversation. "I remember she mentioned she’d just been on a first date where – luckily for me – sparks had failed to fly," Higgs said, according to a statement released by LNR. “Although we were only speaking for twenty minutes or so, I knew I wanted to see her again.” Pandya, 49, recalled that she had told Higgs she met her date on a dating app. When she got off the train at her local station in Harrow, she thought that would be the end of it. But Higgs had already found her dating profile and reached out. “We set up our first date not too long after and the rest is history,” Pandya said. Over the next year, the couple marked that chance encounter every November on the 23:09 train, calling it their “encounter-versary.” What Pandya didn’t know was that Higgs was secretly working to turn the anniversary into a proposal. He reached out to LNR ahead of time to ask for their help. When the train operator made a special announcement during the ride, that was Higgs’ cue. He got down on one knee and proposed on the exact train where they first met. “I can't believe Steve asked me to marry him on that same service and managed to get the conductor involved without me knowing!” Pandya said, after saying yes. The couple now plans to move in together next year and is aiming for a summer wedding. LNR staff were happy to play a role. “Their story is a brilliant example of the way the railway can connect people, not just to where they need to go, but to the people they’re travelling with too,” said Jonny Wiseman, the company’s customer experience director. It started with a seat. It led to a conversation. And now, it’s heading toward a wedding.
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MacKenzie Scott Donates Record $7.1 Billion to Nonprofits in 2025
MacKenzie Scott is giving more than ever — and still refusing to play by philanthropy’s old rules. In a personal essay posted Tuesday, the billionaire author and philanthropist revealed she donated $7.1 billion to nonprofits in 2025, her largest single year of giving since she began publicizing her philanthropy in 2019. That brings her total giving to $26.3 billion in just six years. “This dollar total will likely be reported in the news,” she wrote, “but any dollar amount is a vanishingly tiny fraction of the personal expressions of care being shared into communities this year.” The new total marks a major jump from the $2.6 billion she gave in 2024 and the $2.1 billion in 2023. But true to form, Scott's announcement came without much fanfare. She listed no grantee names and made no mention of application criteria — because there is none. Scott doesn’t run a public-facing foundation. There’s no way to ask her for money. And when she donates, recipients are usually informed only after the decision has already been made, often by an intermediary like Fidelity Charitable. The gifts come with no strings attached — no reporting requirements, no directives, no programs earmarked for funding. Despite the quiet process, the scale and style of her giving continue to reshape conversations around wealth, equity, and what philanthropy should look like. Scott’s fortune, currently estimated by Forbes at $33 billion, comes largely from Amazon stock she received in her 2019 divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Since then, her giving has stood out not just for its size, but for its trust-based approach. “She is like an equity machine,” said Marybeth Gasman, a Rutgers University professor and expert on historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Gasman’s research found that HBCUs received $783 million from Scott so far in 2025 alone — more than in her initial round of donations to HBCUs back in 2020. Some schools received funding for the first time this year, while others did not get a second round. In total, Scott has given $1.35 billion to HBCUs since 2020, according to Gasman. Scott’s latest round of donations also included $70 million to the UNCF, the country’s largest provider of scholarships to minority students. The organization said it plans to use the funds to support a shared endowment for participating HBCUs. Another $50 million went to the Native Forward Scholars Fund, which supports college and graduate scholarships for Native American students. Unlike most large funders, Scott doesn’t require grantees to submit reports or metrics. A 2023 study by the Center for Effective Philanthropy found that recipients have largely used the funds effectively, and there’s no evidence that other funders pulled back after Scott’s gifts were announced. Kim Mazzuca, CEO of California nonprofit 10,000 Degrees, said her team was stunned when they got a call about their $42 million donation earlier this year — nearly twice their annual budget. “I was just filled with such joy,” she said. “I was speechless and I kind of stumbled around with my words.” The money will allow the organization, which supports low-income students through college, to grow faster than they ever thought possible. They plan to expand student outreach, test new tech tools, and launch an endowment. “She comes from a very deep, reflective space, very heartfelt,” Mazzuca said. “And she’s only providing these financial means as a tool for people to recognize they are who they’ve been waiting for.” That last line — “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for” — comes from a Hopi prophecy that Scott herself quoted in an essay earlier this year. In that October post, titled with the same phrase, Scott reflected on how generosity can ripple across generations. She wrote about the people who helped her while she was in college — a dentist who fixed her tooth for free, and a roommate who loaned her $1,000. She later invested in that roommate’s company, which now helps students secure loans when banks won’t. That’s part of a broader shift Scott is making: moving more of her fortune into mission-aligned investments rather than traditional vehicles that focus on maximizing financial returns. In her latest essay, posted Tuesday, she suggested that everyone has a role to play in shaping a better future — not just those with billions to give. “There are many ways to influence how we move through the world,” she wrote, “and where we land.”
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Bride Honors Late Father by Incorporating His Memory in Emotional Wedding Ceremony
Lizzie Dean always knew her father would be part of her wedding day — even if he couldn’t be there in person. Three years after Ron Dean’s unexpected passing, Lizzie found subtle and emotional ways to include him in nearly every part of her ceremony. A TikTok she posted about it has resonated widely, showing moments from a bittersweet day filled with joy, grief, and love. “I knew it would make it more difficult emotionally, but I couldn't imagine not incorporating him as much as I could,” she told Newsweek. She meant it. As guests rose and music from Interstellar played, Lizzie walked herself down the aisle — but not alone. She wore wedding shoes covered with fabric from one of her father’s old pink dress shirts. It was her way of having him walk her down the aisle. “I knew I wanted him to be a big part of the day, and that I didn't want to shy away from his presence,” she said. That presence was felt in other ways too. A special seat at the ceremony was reserved for Ron, adorned with a printed poem: “You may not see me, but I will be there.” Later, during the ceremony, a voicemail he had recorded for Lizzie and her husband, Matthew Valvardi, played over the speakers. “Hi, Lizzie, Dad here. I love and miss you, darling,” he said in the recording. “I hope you and Matt have a fantastic day, and I love you very much! That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. I am so blessed. I love you so much.” Friends and family watching the ceremony were visibly emotional, as was Lizzie herself. She wrote on TikTok that the ceremony was a tribute to “the infinite love and the bond between a father and daughter.” Ron Dean had been in relatively good health despite some heart issues, Lizzie said. He regularly went on long walks around Washington, D.C., which he jokingly called his “hot girl walks.” Just when it seemed like things were improving, he suffered an unexpected heart attack. Ron wasn’t just a devoted dad — he was “a girl dad through and through,” she said, and had even become something of an honorary sorority member alongside his daughters. The couple made sure his memory showed up throughout the event. He was mentioned in Valvardi’s wedding speech. The cocktail menu gave a nod to him. Even the motif on the invitations carried his influence. And the day after the wedding, the newlyweds held a celebration that coincided with what would have been Lizzie’s parents’ 29th anniversary. “While we may not have seen him, we knew he was there,” Lizzie wrote at the end of her TikTok video. She closed the caption with three simple words: “Love you Dad.”
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Surprise Winner: Buffalo Named the Most Christmasy City in America
When you think of classic Christmas destinations in the U.S., Buffalo, New York probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. But this year, it’s topping the charts. According to a new study by the online crypto casino JB, Buffalo has been named the most Christmasy city in the United States, beating out seasonal heavyweights like Aspen, Colorado; Park City, Utah; and even New York City. The findings were shared by Travel + Leisure. What gives Buffalo the edge? For starters, snow. A lot of it. The study found that Buffalo receives more than 25 inches of snowfall in December alone and has a 53 percent chance of snow on Christmas Day. That kind of guaranteed white Christmas is tough to beat — even for ski towns in the Rockies. But it’s not just about weather. JB’s research also looked at holiday events, affordability, and overall festive vibes. Buffalo hosts hundreds of Christmas-themed activities throughout the season, from historic tours and holiday markets to ice skating and winter cocktails. In a statement to Travel + Leisure, the company explained the goal behind the ranking. “About half of American families will travel to another city this Christmas, and many are still deciding where to go,” JB said. “What our study showed is that some unexpected places can really give you a great snowy Christmas experience, and could be well worth a visit. At the same time, the rankings show that popular destinations like New York are crowded for a reason too, and they truly feel cool during holidays." Affordability likely helped Buffalo clinch the top spot. Hotel rates in the city typically fall below $170 a night over the holidays, making it cheaper than many other winter destinations. While Buffalo took the crown, other cities still made strong showings. Following Buffalo on JB’s list were Aspen, Park City, New York City, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Buffalo’s holiday lineup includes the European-style Buffalo Holiday Market, which runs for four weeks and features local artisan makers, vintage goods, and festive food. There's also the "Tom and Jerry’s Trail," an 18-stop route dedicated to the creamy, spiced cocktail that has roots in Buffalo dating back to the 1940s. For winter sports lovers, the city offers multiple skating options. The Ice at Canalside is a 33,000-square-foot rink set along the waterfront, while the Rotary Rink downtown adds even more holiday atmosphere. With a population of over 270,000, Buffalo isn’t a small town. But during the holidays, it transforms into something that feels a little closer to the North Pole than many might expect. Last year, BetMGM Casino published a similar list — but with a different focus. Their study named North Pole, Alaska; Park City; Denver; Kennebunkport, Maine; and Asheville, North Carolina as the top five “coziest” holiday destinations. This time, it seems snow, charm, and cost gave Buffalo the win.
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NASA Unveils New Technology for Safer Urban Air Travel
NASA is stepping into the future of air travel — and it’s not about rockets. It’s about how electric air taxis and delivery drones might one day zip around busy cities without crashing into each other. Earlier this year, NASA researchers ran a large-scale simulation at the Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley to explore just that. The demonstration focused on a system called the Strategic Deconfliction Simulation, designed to coordinate flight plans for urban aircraft before they ever leave the ground. Think of it as air traffic control for the skies above cities — only it’s meant for smaller, more frequent flights, like passenger drones, package deliveries, and emergency response aircraft. To help make sense of all that traffic, NASA showed off two key technologies: the Situational Viewer and the Demand-Capacity Balancing Monitor. These tools visualize live traffic and automatically adjust flight plans to avoid conflicts, like when too many drones want to fly through the same corridor at once. Using a simulated version of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the test evaluated how preplanned flight paths could keep airspace from getting too crowded. The system dynamically adjusted flight operations in response to demand, allowing aircraft to fly safely even in high-traffic zones. “Simulating these complex environments supports broader efforts to ensure safe integration of drones and other advanced vehicles into the U.S. airspace,” said Hanbong Lee, an engineer at NASA Ames. “By showcasing these capabilities, we’re delivering critical data and lessons learned to support efforts at NASA and industry.” NASA isn’t doing this alone. Private companies are also playing a role. During the demonstration, ANRA Technologies participated by testing its vertiport and fleet management systems. Their software helps manage multiple aircraft and the ground infrastructure they rely on, such as landing pads, charging stations, and coordination hubs — a key piece of the puzzle if air taxis are going to take off in real cities. The simulation is part of NASA’s Air Mobility Pathfinders project, which focuses on identifying and solving the technical hurdles that come with integrating new kinds of aircraft into the skies. These range from small delivery drones to larger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles designed to carry people across town. The goal is to make this type of transportation safe, efficient, and trusted by the public — a challenge that will take years to fully address. The agency is already looking ahead to its next major milestone: a Technical Capability Level simulation planned for 2026, which will further stress-test how urban air traffic might actually function in real life. NASA’s broader efforts in this area fall under its Airspace Operations and Safety Program, which aims to ensure future aviation systems are ready for the changes coming with new technologies. With increasing interest from companies hoping to launch flying taxis and autonomous drone services, NASA’s role is to help set the groundwork — not by building the aircraft, but by making sure the sky can safely handle them.
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Dave Grohl's Daughter, Violet, is Stepping Into the Spotlight With Her Debut Solo Music Release
Violet Grohl is stepping into the spotlight with two debut solo tracks, "THUM" and "Applefish," officially marking the start of her solo music career. Released on Friday, December 5, the songs showcase a new, independent side of the 19-year-old singer, who’s long been surrounded by music as the daughter of Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. Violet announced the tracks on Instagram, writing, "I’m beyond excited to finally share a little bit of what i’ve been working on over the last year. I made these tracks with the most badass group of musicians, so happy they’re finally yours:) link in bio 💋." While the songs are available digitally on Bandcamp, the 7-inch vinyl pressing sold out quickly. "THUM," a short and punchy track just over two minutes long, delves into the struggle of trying to kick a bad habit. The lyrics are direct: "Can't help me / Can't help myself / Buy it by the liter." "Applefish" takes a more introspective tone, stretching close to three minutes with themes of emotional limbo and self-transformation. Though this is Violet’s first time releasing original solo material, it’s far from her first time performing. She’s been singing since early childhood and has frequently joined her dad on stage. Back in 2007, Dave Grohl told PEOPLE that Violet was hooked on music from as early as one year old. "Violet loves the Amy Winehouse record," he said at the time. "'It's all about the 'Rehab' song. If she hears, 'Try to make me go to rehab,' Violet will go, 'No no no.' I know, it's a little weird, but it's really cute!" In the years since, Violet has built a growing resume of performances, both live and recorded. She sang Adele’s "When We Were Young" with her dad at age 12, recorded a cover of punk band X's "Nausea" with him, and joined him again earlier this year at the FireAid Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief, where she took the stage during a Nirvana reunion to sing "All Apologies." Most recently, she was introduced by her father as "my favorite singer in the world" before performing alongside the Foo Fighters at Glastonbury in 2023. The two new singles represent a significant turning point: not just a guest appearance or family collaboration, but Violet’s own statement as an artist. And judging by the early response—especially the vinyl selling out—she’s got a lot of ears ready to listen.
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A Teen Rescued On Live TV Just Gave a Big 'Thank You' to the Crew that Saved Him
Six months after being swept out to a sandbar and rescued live on television, 13-year-old Kaan has returned to Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk to thank the RNLI volunteers who saved his life. Kaan had been playing with friends in the water back in June when the tide turned quickly, carrying him out toward a sandbank. He tried to stand, but couldn’t touch the bottom. He was stranded. “I can still remember how quickly the sandbank began disappearing and the relief when the RNLI lifeboat reached me,” Kaan said during his visit Tuesday to the Wells RNLI lifeboat station on Beach Road. The dramatic rescue was captured on camera by the BBC, who were filming a segment for Look East at the time. Journalist Debbie Tubby was reporting from the beach, covering an earlier incident where 40 people had been cut off by the tide the previous weekend. As the story unfolded, BBC cameras kept rolling — catching the exact moment the lifeboat launched and sped across the water to reach the boy. Kaan’s mum, Sam, said that watching the lifeboat head toward her son gave her a rare moment of calm in a terrifying situation. “I felt confident in the fact I could see them coming down the ramp, and I knew they were on their way,” she said. The mother and son returned to the station this week to say thank you in person. “As we head towards Christmas, when the volunteers could be called away from their own families, I felt it was important to say a heartfelt thank you on behalf of my own family,” Sam said. “It was so nice to see all their faces properly. Things happened so fast that day.” Kaan, now 13, said he was happy to finally meet the crew who pulled him to safety. “Something bad could have happened, but they ended up saving me and I’m just really thankful,” he said. “The stuff they do, not everyone wants to do it. It’s not something everyone is willing to do.” Mandy Humphreys, volunteer water safety adviser at Wells RNLI, said the incident was a reminder that water safety isn’t just a summer concern. “Even at this time of year, unfortunately, people can still get into trouble in the water,” she said. “To avoid being cut off by the tide in the area, please make sure that you are back to the main part of the beach — dry sand or land — at least four hours before Wells Bar high tide time.” Sam echoed the warning. “It doesn’t matter if you live in the area or not, these things can still happen,” she said. “It’s important people are aware of the sirens and tide timings.” For Kaan, the experience may have been frightening, but it left him with deep gratitude — and a healthy respect for the sea.
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This Crossing Guard Stepped Into a Legendary Role — and is Bringing Dog Biscuits
In the Lancashire town of Longridge, Harriet Shorrock has taken on one of the most cherished jobs in the community — guiding children safely across the road on their way to school. But she admits, she’s got some big boots to fill. Harriet, a former dairy farmer and baker, is the new lollipop lady at Longridge Church of England Primary School, stepping into the high-visibility jacket once worn by Irene Reid — a local legend who retired earlier this year after more than 56 years on the job. “I’ve got a lot of names to learn,” Harriet told BBC Radio Lancashire. “Irene knew everyone.” Irene, who was awarded an MBE for her long-standing dedication to road safety, was a fixture on Berry Lane for decades, becoming as familiar to local families as the school bell itself. She even handed out dog treats to passing pups — a tradition Harriet is now continuing. “On my first day, I was handed a bag of dog biscuits,” Harriet said. “You can see [the dogs] dragging their owners up Berry Lane.” Harriet’s own son is a pupil at the school, and she said her motivation for taking the job was simple: she wanted to do something that helps the community. She and Irene often joked that she’d one day take up the lollipop stick. Now, that joke has become reality — though Harriet’s not promising the same record-setting run. “Everyone keeps asking me if I’m going to do the 50+ years, and I can guarantee you that I probably won’t!” she said, laughing. As for managing a crowd of excited schoolchildren, Harriet said her farming background might help — sort of. “Shepherding cows prepared me a bit,” she joked. “But the children can be less compliant!” With a bright smile, a stash of biscuits, and the blessing of her beloved predecessor, Harriet is already winning over Longridge — one safe crossing at a time.
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These UK Schools Are Locking Up Students’ Phones — and Say Learning Has Improved
At six secondary schools across England’s Heartwood Learning Trust, mornings start with an unusual ritual: students hand over their phones and lock them away for the day. The policy, rolled out for 5,000 students aged 11 to 16, uses Yondr pouches — fabric sleeves that magnetically seal and can’t be opened without a special unlocking base. The goal is simple: get smartphones out of the classroom. Since introducing the pouches, teachers say they’ve seen fewer disruptions, sharper focus, and even happier students. “It’s given us an extra level of confidence that students aren't having their learning interrupted,” said Gillian Mills, headteacher at Vale of York Academy, one of the schools using the pouches. “We're not seeing phone confiscations now, which took up time, or the arguments about handing phones over — but also teachers are saying that they are able to teach.” Students are scanned with metal detectors in the morning to ensure phones aren’t being smuggled in. Once cleared, their devices are placed in the pouches and kept in bags or lockers until the end of the day. Despite the long queues this creates, some students say the difference is noticeable. Charlie, a Year 10 student, said he’s now more “engaged” in lessons and answering more questions, instead of zoning out. His classmate Daniel admitted he used to check his phone throughout the day, even though it was meant to stay in his bag. That distraction is now gone. Rosie, a first-year student, said teachers no longer have to “shout” at kids using their phones — a change that’s made classrooms feel less stressful. The initiative has cost the trust £75,000 so far, with each Yondr pouch priced at £15. That price point puts them out of reach for many schools. At Kettlethorpe High School in Wakefield, staff stick with a more traditional approach — phones must stay in bags, and if students break the rule, the devices are confiscated. Vice-principal Christian Bruce-Halliwell says it works well enough. “Phone pouches are extremely costly. It's not as simple as saying we'll introduce this to solve this problem,” he said. “Schools will have to make some difficult financial trade-offs to purchase these phone pouches.” Despite the cost, momentum for stronger smartphone policies in schools is growing. In February 2024, the Department for Education issued guidance allowing schools to prohibit phones during lesson time to improve behaviour. And a letter signed by 250 school leaders — organized by the group Generation Focus — has urged the government to go even further and implement a nationwide ban. Clare Fernyhough, the group’s co-founder, sees the current situation as unsustainable. “They [pouches] may be a useful interim measure for getting phones out of schools and protecting the school day. But they do very little to preserve childhood beyond the school gate,” she said. “It shouldn't be up to teachers to change this societal norm.” The statistics show just how embedded smartphones are in teenagers’ lives. According to Ofcom, 97% of 12-year-olds in the UK now own a smartphone. A recent BBC survey found that half of teens aged 13 to 18 feel anxious without their phones, and 74% say they wouldn’t trade them for a basic device. But for now, at least in some schools, students are learning what it’s like to get through the day without their screens — and many are finding they don’t miss them as much as they thought.
Score (94)
At 66, She Just Won Her First World Darts Championship
Deta Hedman finally got her fairytale ending. After five decades of near misses, heartbreaks, and unmatched consistency in darts, the 66-year-old from Witham, Essex, was crowned world champion on Sunday at the 2025 WDF Women’s World Championship. She defeated top seed Lerena Rietbergen 4-1 in a comeback win that left her in tears. “When [the dart] went in I just thought, ‘Thank God, finally I’ve done it,’” Hedman told BBC Essex. “Most people saw I started blubbering like a child. It was just the relief. I didn’t think it was ever going to come.” Nicknamed the “Caribbean Queen,” Hedman was born in Jamaica and moved to England at the age of 13. Her career has spanned more than 50 years, and Sunday marked her 15th time playing at the Lakeside venue — the home of countless darts memories and, for Hedman, three painful final losses. Until now. Rietbergen took the opening set and looked poised to spoil Hedman’s long-awaited breakthrough, but the veteran held her nerve and stormed back to take the next four sets, sealing victory with a shot that brought the crowd to its feet and Hedman to tears. “To have won it, I can’t really describe it,” she said. “I think everyone just saw how [emotional] I looked. It will sink in in a few days’ time. I will let all the excitement settle down first.” It’s been a standout year for Hedman, who also learned in June she would be appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contributions to darts and charity. “I can’t put into words right now how I feel,” she said after the final. “I’m grateful and privileged to still be at the oche doing what I love. Things are written, and if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. It’s funny how everything has just fallen into place.” After a lifetime in the game, Hedman now has the one title that had always eluded her — and a place in darts history as a world champion at last.