Euro News

Bordeaux, France just surpassed Paris in a new ranking of the world's most beautiful cities, with Europe dominating nine out of the top 10 spots. The rankings are based on buildings that adhere to the 'golden ratio' for balanced and harmonious structures. Venice takes the lead as the most beautiful city, followed by Rome and Barcelona in second and third place respectively. Despite iconic landmarks, Paris lands at 12th place. In fifth place is the only non-European city to make the top 10: New York City.

9 Out of 10 of the World’s Most Beautiful Cities Are in Europe, Says New Ranking

People

This holiday season, more and more people are ditching the gift wrap and turning to something a little more memorable — experiences.

A growing trend on TikTok has users sharing their favorite non-materialistic gift ideas, and it’s gaining traction for good reason. Instead of giving more stuff, people are opting to give their loved ones moments, skills, and memories.

TikTokers like Pauline are championing the idea of “experiential-based” gifts — everything from sewing lessons to concert tickets. In one of her videos, she suggests gifting cleaning services to new parents or overwhelmed friends. “That is such a beautiful gift you can give somebody,” she said, noting that it’s both thoughtful and useful.

Memberships are another favorite. Whether it’s to a museum, a gym, or even a local club, they offer flexibility and long-term enjoyment. “They can go whenever,” Pauline pointed out, “and they can also bring people in with their membership, so you might even get to go along.”

Lessons are also a top pick. Pauline is asking for sewing classes herself this year, but says there are endless possibilities — golf, dancing, cake decorating, pottery, even leather-working. “Anything that you think they could be interested in,” she said.

Fellow TikToker Jamie took it a step further, suggesting gifts that double as activities for two — like a cooking class where you both get dinner and a new skill. She also mentioned paint-and-sip nights and pottery workshops, calling them “something creative and something fun.”

Camila Sinclair shared a similar sentiment, recommending gifts that people might not splurge on for themselves, like a spa day or a restaurant gift card. “It’s so relaxing,” she said about the spa idea, “and something that you don’t do for yourself.”

She also suggested travel-related gifts, like an Airbnb gift card, as a way to contribute toward a future getaway — even if you don’t know exactly where or when the trip will happen. “They know they’re going to go out that night,” she said of the restaurant option, “they’re going to dress up, and they don’t have to worry about the bill.”

For some, even simpler gifts are more meaningful. One TikToker, Melanie, posted a wishlist with just two things: “a dance party with all of my favorite people” and “sweet & restful time with my family.”

The message behind the trend is clear: it’s not about how much you spend or what you wrap in a bow. It’s about connection, time, and experiences that last longer than any product on a shelf.

And who knows — your most memorable gift this year might not fit under a tree at all.

TikTok Users are Embracing Experiential Gifts Over Physical Presents

In a quiet park in Northampton, Massachusetts, a group of people gathers once a week for a walk. There are no race bibs or stopwatches. No one is trying to break a sweat. Instead, they walk slowly — sometimes with a cane, sometimes with a dog, and often with heavy hearts.

This is a bereavement walking group, created for people navigating life after loss. Most have lost a spouse, but some are mourning a sibling, a parent, or a child. The only requirement is grief — and a willingness to share it.

Maureen Cahillane, 91, joined the group after losing her husband James more than two years ago. She shuffled along with about two dozen others, her cane tapping softly against the path.

“There are times when I feel alone and empty,” she said, turning to a fellow walker. “This group is quite a bit of help. Just to know that other people are dealing with the same sadness.”

The strolls are not meant to be exercise, though they do get people moving. “It’s not an exercise group,” bereavement counselor Shelly Bathe Lenn reminds everyone before they set off. “Slow down for the people behind.”

Lenn, who works with Cooley Dickinson Hospital, also runs book clubs and art groups for those dealing with grief. But she says the walking group is different.

“They’re talking, talking, talking,” she said. “That’s when the magic happens.”

The group walks through open parkland and past garden paths, breaking off into small clusters of twos and threes. Some conversations are lighthearted — Red Sox scores, family recipes, fond memories of simpler times. Others cut deeper.

“They’re sharing experiences that most of them feel like they couldn’t share with anybody else,” Lenn said.

Cahillane walked beside Jill Mendez, whose partner Patrick died nearly four years ago. For her, grief has softened into something more familiar.

“The grief is now more of a yearning,” Mendez said.

“It never goes away,” Cahillane added.

“It’s always with you,” Mendez agreed. “It becomes part of your anatomy, almost.”

For Helena Donovan, who also lost her husband, the group offered something simple but important: motivation to get out of the house.

“I was doing way too much sitting around,” she said. “This gets me up and gets me moving. And I always feel better when I move.”

Elaine Beaudoin, walking with a few others and a dog, noted that the side-by-side nature of walking makes it easier to talk. “It’s less intense than sitting across from someone,” she said. “You can talk, or you can not talk.”

She’s in the second year of grief, and for many in the group, that’s when the hard questions begin to surface. “The first year you’re in the throes of it all,” she said. “But the second year is, ‘Well, this is my life now. What am I going to do with it?’ The quietness is getting pretty loud in the house.”

Sometimes it’s the little moments that hurt the most.

“I wake up in the morning and, you know, I reach over and she’s not there,” said Roger Brown, remembering his wife, Jeanne.

The group meets year-round, regardless of weather. For some, watching the seasons shift is part of the healing.

Diana, who asked to go by only her middle name, said the outdoors offers relief from the weight of grief.

“Being outside distracts your mind. Sometimes we are so focused on our pain, but when you are outside, you're walking. It kind of helps,” she said.

Her husband Philip used to be the one she walked with. He died nearly a year ago.

“It’s therapy,” she said. “But it’s also hard because I can no longer walk with him.”

So now, she walks with others who understand. With each step and every conversation, they help one another carry the silence, the sadness, and — slowly — the hope that life can still move forward.

How This Bereavement Group is Finding Healing Through Walking and Talking

BBC News

A centuries-old royal hunting ground in Essex is getting a wild new makeover — thanks in part to three pigs.

Harold's Park Wildland, a 509-acre nature reserve in Waltham Abbey, is being reimagined as a thriving ecosystem after years of failed commercial farming and Christmas tree planting. The land, once the hunting territory of King Harold Godwinson in 1066, is now the focus of a bold rewilding project led by the conservation company Nattergal.

At the heart of this effort are three Iron Age pigs — a cross between wild boar and Tamworth — that have been released to turn over the soil and mimic the natural disturbances that once shaped the British landscape. In time, they'll be joined by grazing ponies and cattle, whose movements will further help restore ecological balance and manage the area's overabundant deer population.

“Nothing is working as it should,” said site manager Tom Moat. “We’ve lost beavers, bison, herds of wild boar and big herbivores. Deer aren’t behaving naturally as a result.”

The goal, Moat explained, is to use “soft engineering” — natural processes instead of machines or chemicals — to bring the land back to life. That includes removing conifer plantations to make space for native saplings, digging ponds to restore wetlands, and carving a broad muddy trail through the woods that Moat calls an “artery of wildlife.”

“This won’t be mud for long,” he said. “The grass will come and then the flowers behind it.”

The changes are expected to benefit a wide range of species, including rare birds like nightingales and turtle doves. As the land transitions from manicured fields into scrubland and wood pasture, Moat said it’ll be exciting to see how nature takes over.

Dr Simon Lyster, chair of the Essex Local Nature Partnership, said the rewilding strategy will also help relieve pressure on other nearby parks that are struggling with too many visitors.

“Hatfield Forest used to get 100,000 visitors a year. Now it’s 600,000,” Lyster said. “Harold’s Park will help alleviate pressure from the places that are getting too much.”

He called the approach “very important” and said it has worked well elsewhere. “It creates space for wild plants, protects scrub areas — which is very good for nightingales — and you start seeing results much faster than people expect. It’s quite extraordinary how quickly nature recovers.”

Harold’s Park has been named a high-priority site in Essex’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy. The reserve will also be used as an educational space, with plans to host children from urban areas to explore the natural environment.

Peter Schwier, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for the environment, visited the site last year and said it offered something completely different.

“It will be an opportunity for anyone interested in nature and rewilding to benefit from learning a lot about it,” he said. “It’s going to be a great day out, completely different to the average of what goes on at the moment.”

If all goes to plan, the pigs will be just the beginning of Harold’s Park’s return to wild.

Three Pigs are Revitalizing a Historic Royal Hunting Ground — Here's How

Lars the reindeer might live in a field now, but he still thinks he’s part dog — and occasionally, part houseguest.

The six-month-old reindeer, raised by hand after being rejected by his mother, was brought up alongside spaniels at Angie Nelson’s farm on the border of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. These days, he’s back living with his herd, but he still pops in to visit the dogs and drink from their water bowl like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

“He drinks from the dog’s water bowl. That’s normal for him,” said Angie. “Being in the house is normal with him.”

Lars was born on 17 May to a first-time mother named Lumi, but Angie quickly noticed something wasn’t right.

“He came to me a lot on the first day because his mum wasn’t producing enough milk,” she said. “I had to make a massive decision — either hand-rear him or let nature take its course.”

She chose the former. For two weeks, she slept beside Lars, feeding him every two hours. “My life just became him,” she said. “Knowing that he wouldn’t be alive if we hadn’t done something is quite rewarding.”

But Angie didn’t do it alone. Her spaniels played a crucial role in raising the orphaned reindeer, especially Molly — a motherly dog who had previously had puppies of her own.

“She immediately snuggled down with him,” Angie said. “So then he became part of the dog family, really.”

That bond stuck. Even now, with Lars integrated back into his reindeer herd, he still returns to the house to see his canine companions. “He’s just at home with them,” Angie said. “And he’s at home in the house.”

The decision to reintroduce him to the herd wasn’t easy. “It was like sending your child off to university,” she said. “You can’t protect them and look after them — they have to live their life.”

Lars’s return to reindeer life coincided with Angie’s wedding to her now husband, Justin Mumford, and Lars even made a special appearance in some of the wedding photos. Angie, who has owned reindeer for 18 years and hires them out for events, described Lars as “unique,” born into a “very unique set of circumstances.”

Owning reindeer, she added, is “really specialised.” But the experience with Lars has drawn national and even international attention — including a request from a German television crew to feature his story.

For now, Lars is adjusting to life as a proper reindeer. But he still comes back to visit, tail-wagging dogs and all.

“It’s nice to have him back for visits,” Angie said. “And he sees the dogs.”

Hand-Reared Reindeer Lars Finds Joy In Visits With His Canine Friends

Goodable

In a split-second decision that likely saved lives, a 43-year-old fruit seller named Ahmed al Ahmed has been hailed as a hero after tackling a gunman during a deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

The attack, which took place during a Hanukkah celebration, killed at least 11 people and left dozens injured. Video footage from the scene shows al Ahmed sprinting toward the shooter, disarming him with his bare hands, and holding him at gunpoint until police arrived.

The dramatic clip, just 15 seconds long, quickly spread across social media. It shows al Ahmed using parked cars for cover before rushing the attacker from behind, grabbing the rifle, and taking the shooter to the ground.

Local broadcaster 7News identified al Ahmed as a bystander who happened to be in the area and had no prior experience with weapons. He was shot twice in the process and was hospitalized, with surgery scheduled for later that night. A man identifying himself as Ahmed’s cousin, Mustapha, told 7News, “He's in hospital and we don't know exactly what's going on inside… He's a hero 100 percent.”

The shooting unfolded Saturday night at Bondi Beach, during a gathering for the first night of Hanukkah. According to police, the attack was carried out by two suspects. One is dead; the other is in critical condition. Authorities also found and defused explosive devices in a nearby vehicle.

New South Wales Police have classified the attack as a terrorist incident and say it specifically targeted Australia’s Jewish community.

Al Ahmed's actions stood out in a moment of chaos, drawing praise from political leaders, media, and the public alike. Prime Minister Albanese referred to him as a “hero.”

Ahmed al Ahmed, a man with no training and nothing to gain, chose to intervene — and may have saved countless others in doing so.

Who Is Ahmed Al Ahmed, The Heroic Bystander Who Disarmed the Sydney Shooter?

In a time when the world feels heavy and grey, a growing number of women are bringing boldness back into their homes — one neon mirror or orange sofa at a time.

The trend, known as dopamine decor, has exploded on TikTok with more than 70,000 posts showcasing bright colours, quirky patterns, and playful design ideas meant to boost happiness. The idea is simple: surround yourself with things that spark joy.

For Rachel Verney, that joy came in the form of a vivid orange couch. The Surrey-based content creator has racked up over 800,000 followers by sharing videos of her colourful, budget-friendly home renovations under the name The Shoestring Home. Millions have watched her transform spaces using bold paint and second-hand furniture finds, often wrapped in clashing prints and unconventional palettes.

“It’s my happy place when I work on a project,” Verney told the BBC. “Sometimes I feel like an imposter as I’m not qualified to do the job.”

That hasn’t stopped her from turning content creation into a full-time career. Her videos, which aim to make “aesthetic accessible,” show everything from rainbow wall art to hand-painted floors, and have resonated especially with younger viewers. Not everyone loves her approach — she said there’s been “division” on Facebook about her bold interiors — but she’s not backing down.

“Everything is so gloomy and the world is a bit of a scary place at the moment,” she said. “Houses want to be joyful.”

Psychologists say there’s science behind the feel-good effect. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation, can be triggered by vivid colours and stimulating design, said Dr Natasha Sharma, a psychologist based in Wolverhampton.

“Dopamine decor allows people to externalise their identity and boost their mood, giving a heightened sense of wellbeing,” she explained. In contrast, she said, homes dominated by grey or beige tones can lead to “feelings of emotional flatness.”

In Birmingham, artist and entrepreneur Nicola Brighton has built a business around the idea. Her company, Printed Weird, sells kitschy prints and neon-framed mirrors in unusual shapes, many of which are now stocked in stores across the UK and the US. Since 2022, her sales have jumped 62%.

“When you come home from work and you’ve had a rubbish day, you can just look at things that bring you joy and happiness,” Brighton said.

She started the business seven years ago from her mum’s spare bedroom, driven by a love of maximalist design and a desire to offer affordable pieces that spark emotion. “Through what you love, why not put that silliness on your wall? It’s an extension of your personality and will bring you joy,” she said.

But not everyone is convinced it’s a good idea — especially when it comes to selling your home. Estate agents like Paul Fox in Lincolnshire advise homeowners to stick with “timeless” neutrals, saying it helps homes sell faster. “First impressions are everything,” the agency said, “so by ensuring that the home is painted in popular colours you are likely to attract buyers.”

Still, people like Jodie Edmonds aren’t buying it.

“I’m not bothered when it comes to reselling,” she said. “People have different tastes and can change the decor.”

For her, painting the walls in joyful colours is about creating a home that feels alive. “A grey house would make me feel low,” she said. “A bright house makes me feel motivated and inspired.”

So how do you add dopamine decor without emptying your wallet?

Rachel Verney recommends starting small: cushions, rugs, and fun shower curtains are all easy entry points. She also suggests wrapping fridges in vinyl, painting radiators in rainbow shades, or upcycling charity shop finds into statement pieces. Adding plants — real or printed — can also help bring warmth to neglected corners.

“Don’t be afraid to mix colours and patterns,” Verney said. “Start with what makes you smile.”

It turns out joy might just be one bold paint choice away.

Women are Embracing 'Dopamine Decor' Trend for a Joyful Home Makeover

Good News Network

When 9-year-old Oscar Wilkins landed a role in his school’s nativity play, he was excited to tell his family he’d be playing “Elvis.” What he didn’t quite get across was that the full role was actually Elvis the Elf.

So, naturally, the Wilkins family assumed their son would be impersonating the King of Rock and Roll.

His older sister, Jade Smith, said the school’s letter simply mentioned a “sparkly Elvis costume,” and with no mention of elves, the family went straight online to find a pint-sized Graceland outfit. “We asked him if he was sure he meant Elvis and he said yes, ‘with a sparkly costume,’” Jade told Southwest News Service. “He did not mention anything about an elf.”

Oscar showed up to Penrhiwpeier Primary School in Wales in full Presley gear—complete with flared pants and rhinestones. No one corrected him. In fact, no one said anything at all.

It wasn’t until showtime, when Oscar stepped on stage for the first of two performances, that the mix-up was finally revealed. “We only found out the mistake when we were watching the show and they all walked out—out of 12 kids, they were all dressed as elves except for Oscar,” said Jade. “It was so funny.”

Rather than shy away, Oscar leaned into the role. The crowd burst out laughing, and he soaked up every second of it.

“There was no drama,” Jade said. “Oscar embraced it all and loved that people were all laughing at him. He really enjoyed all the attention.”

His parents, Stephen and Sarah Wilkins, were in the audience for both shows and found the whole thing hilarious. Even the school seemed to enjoy the surprise. “We sent him to school in the wrong costume and they all saw the funny side,” said Jade. “But did not say it was wrong.”

Despite being the odd one out, Oscar owned the stage. “You never want your child to feel awkward, but Oscar totally embraced it, and that helped us all see the funny side of it,” said Jade. “He’s still got the outfit and has now been introduced to Elvis’ music. He loves older music anyway so we can see him becoming a bit of a fan.”

Elvis the Elf may have been a misunderstanding—but for one 9-year-old, it became an unforgettable spotlight moment.

Thank you, thank you very much for reading.

Family Mix-Up Sends Boy to Christmas Nativity Show as Elvis Instead of Elf 🤣

In a small Singapore workshop, a pair of self-proclaimed tinkerers have created a global educational hit using one of Asia’s most common dining tools: the humble chopstick.

Their invention, called Stick ‘Em, is a robotics and STEAM toy set designed for children—especially those from low-income communities—to learn through play. Built around simple materials like chopsticks, geometric connectors, and basic electronics, the kits let kids build robots and other creations that can be powered using any old tablet, phone, or school computer, no matter how outdated.

The concept is simple, but the impact has been massive.

“We started Stick ‘Em because we saw that traditional STEAM education wasn’t developing true problem-solvers and was inaccessible to many students worldwide,” said founders Adam Huh Dam and Chong Ing Kai in a press release. “With backgrounds in robotics and STEAM education, we created Stick ‘Em to provide a simple, low-cost solution that empowers students to learn through play and creativity, regardless of their background.”

The project began in 2020, when Kai was trying to design a robotics kit that any family could afford. As he searched for affordable parts, he found inspiration in his own kitchen: a drawer full of unused takeaway chopsticks.

“What if we use chopsticks to build robots?” Kai told The Straits Times. “These are everywhere, and they’re strong, and easy to cut and shape.”

Photos of early prototypes—quirky little robots built out of chopsticks and colorful connectors—began circulating on social media. That’s how Adam Dam discovered the project and quickly joined forces with Kai.

Since then, Stick ‘Em has grown from a two-person side project into a 14-person team with support from Singapore’s leading institutions, including the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and the National University of Singapore.

Today, Stick ‘Em kits are used in classrooms across 90 schools in 11 countries, including underserved areas of Southeast Asia and Africa. About 12,000 children have had access to the kits so far, with some of the most inspiring stories coming from children learning in floating schools in Malaysia’s Sabah region, orphanages in Cambodia, and schools along the military-controlled Thailand-Myanmar border.

The goal isn't just to get kids interested in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. It's to build something deeper.

“Whatever jobs exist in 20 years, the ability to think creatively, to problem-solve, and to adapt will always matter,” said the founders. And it’s those skills—resilience, creativity, and curiosity—that Stick ‘Em aims to build.

That mission earned global attention this year when Stick ‘Em won the prestigious Hult Prize for educational innovation, beating out more than 15,000 applicants.

“When our name was announced, we were in shock,” Kai and Dam said in their statement. “But we immediately thought about how this prize could help us reach more schools, empower more teachers, and provide STEAM education to more children worldwide.”

The $1 million prize is already being used to scale their reach, improve awareness, and support teachers with training and community-building resources.

“We’re excited to scale our impact,” the founders said. “This win is just the beginning.”

Stick ‘Em isn’t just a toy set—it’s a movement. One that’s putting hands-on creativity back in classrooms, one chopstick robot at a time.

Chopstick Robot Kit Brings Joy To Underfunded STEM Classes Worldwide

When firefighters in Fort Dodge, Iowa, raced to put out a structure fire earlier this month, their job was made easier thanks to a 9-year-old boy with a snow shovel and a big heart.

Colton Holmes had recently taken part in a community challenge posted by the Fort Dodge Fire Department after heavy snow blanketed the area. The department asked residents to help clear snow from around fire hydrants — three feet on each side — so crews could access them quickly in an emergency. As an incentive, families who shared photos of themselves doing the work were entered into a draw for a fire truck ride to school.

Colton didn’t need the prize to get involved. He just wanted to help.

"I wanted to help people out and be a hero," he told local news outlet KCCI.

The very next day, the hydrant Colton cleared was the one firefighters used to battle a structure fire.

“Given the situation, the heavy snowfall recently, time was of the essence,” Lt. Devon Schuster of the Fort Dodge Fire Department told KCCI. “Fire actually doubles in size every minute, so the fact that we didn’t have to dig out a fire hydrant saved us an immense amount of time.”

Nobody was injured in the fire, but several people and pets were displaced, according to Fox 10.

As a thank-you, the department gave Colton a challenge coin and a special patch to recognize his efforts — as well as that promised ride to school in a fire truck.

While it may have started as a community contest, Colton’s decision to pitch in ended up having a real impact. And for the firefighters of Fort Dodge, it was a reminder of how something as simple as shoveling snow can help save lives.

A 9-Year-Old Boy Helped Firefighters Save Lives by Clearing Snow from a Hydrant

Desa Kaiser, an 11-year-old from Pennsylvania, is back to doing what she loves best: dancing. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down following a car accident, Desa has found her rhythm again with the help of a specially modified wheelchair.

Last Thanksgiving was spent in a hospital for Desa after the crash left her with life-altering injuries. But now, thanks to some ingenuity and modifications to an older piece of technology, she's spinning around on the dance floor once more. Her new "dancing wheelchair" lets her move freely just like she did in ballet, jazz, and funk classes before her injury.

"It's cool to be different from other people and more unique in different ways," Desa said in an interview with CBS News 3 Philadelphia. "It’s an amazing chair that’s different from others because you can be more free in it and you can express a lot more in it."

After the accident, Desa received treatment at Shriners Children’s Hospital. She continues physical therapy there to strengthen her trunk and arms—essential for maneuvering the chair to music's beat. Maggie Reilly, a physical therapist at Shriners, expressed their goal clearly: "We wanted to bring her a chair that would allow her to dance and do what she loves." Reilly emphasized that helping children achieve their goals is a priority at Shriners.

Desa's parents are feeling grateful this year compared to last Thanksgiving. They see their daughter thriving and embracing her individuality through dance once again.

The resilient young dancer’s story illustrates how determination and creativity can overcome challenges. Her journey back to movement highlights not only personal strength but also the support systems that help individuals reach their aspirations.

Desa's story aired on CBS News, capturing how adversity has transformed into opportunity for expression and joy through dance.

Download the world's only news app designed to spread joy and happiness.

What's Good Now!