Must Reads

• Before U.S. marathoners can race in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, they’ll have to compete in this Midwest locale​
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• Marjane Satrapi, the French-Iranian author of the acclaimed graphic memoir Persepolis, died last week at age 56 — read her 2009 reflection on why Iran will always be home

Humanity

Dutch Kids Rank No. 1 in the World for Mental Health — What Makes Them So Happy?

Unicef recently released its latest report on child well-being, and the Netherlands (which routinely ranks among the happiest countries in the world) took the No. 1 spot for mental health. The results spurred a crop of articles discussing why that may be — is it the autonomy Dutch kids have? The ban on phones in schools? The bikes?
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Likely, it’s all these factors and more, the gestalt of growing up there. But that doesn’t mean the individual elements can’t be evaluated for their impact on happiness. Positive.News recently dug into the findings with Margreet de Looze, assistant professor of interdisciplinary social science at Utrecht University, who has been studying global child well-being for years.
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“Where Dutch children really stand out is that they have very good social relations,” de Looze told the outlet. “The amount of support they receive from family and friends, from teachers and classmates — in all of these areas, Dutch children score high.”
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​Read our full article to learn more about what may make the Netherlands so adept at raising happy kids.

Together With FinanceBuzz

25 Things to Cut When Money Gets Tight

Prices are going up. Your money is getting tight. And figuring out what to cut back on can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, there are resources out there that can help.
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The experts over at FinanceBuzz compiled a list of 25 money-saving strategies, from making sure you’re not overpaying for car and home insurance to losing those mindless recurring expenses for services you may not actually need (No. 11 on the list often gets overlooked). You don’t have to change everything overnight — even doing just one can help you breathe a little easier.

Tech

Want to Crash a Wedding on Your Next Date Night? There’s an App for That

Your wedding is a chance to celebrate your love with close family members, far-flung friends, and … total strangers? That’s the idea behind Not a Wedding Crasher, an online platform created by husband-and-wife duo Jeff and Karina Besen.
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When venues have minimums or guests cancel last minute, brides and grooms are often left paying for empty seats. “There’s this opportunity there where the couple can actually fill these seats with verified guests that are on our platform, people that are willing to pay a monetary contribution to the couple, and they love celebrating and having an experience just like this,” Jeff explained to ABC News.
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​The pair conceived of the concept after running out of ideas for date night. “Jeff came up to me and said, ‘Hey wouldn’t it be fun if we could go to a wedding?’ and I replied, ‘Well we don’t know anyone getting married,’” Karina explained. “And through that discussion, Not a Wedding Crasher was born.”
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Potential guests must submit their ID and social media profiles and undergo a biometric scan of their face to confirm identity. Couples can then choose who they’d like to fill their open seats. “People go in being a stranger and they come out being friends,” said Jeff. “We’ve received a ton of pictures from both couples and guests that have had really great experiences.”

Sports

Arsenal Donates Players’ Old Soccer Socks to Rescued Horses and Donkeys

It’s been a banner year for Arsenal, the soccer club based in North London: The men’s team was crowned England’s champion last month, their first Premier League title since 2004, and the women’s team won the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup in February. But today we’re cheering for a different type of goal from the athletes.
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The club donated footless socks from the players’ old kits to the charity Redwings Horse Sanctuary, where they’re now being worn by horses and donkeys at the org’s Horse Hospital in Norfolk, England.
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Aside from giving the equines a fresh look, the socks help protect the animals from bothersome insects, keep their bandages in place, and hold back the hair on their legs when their hooves are being trimmed.
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“This was one of the more unusual donations we’ve been offered here at Redwings, but professional football socks, which these days are often footless by design, can be invaluable,” Nicola Knight, Redwings’ head of communications and campaigns, said in a news release. “They’re a game changer you might say!” See more pics.​

In Other News

1. In a U.S. first, Monterey Park, California, residents voted to ban data centers due to environmental concerns (read more)
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2. “Whirlwind of amazing events”: A breakthrough cancer therapy may also benefit patients with kidney failure (read more)
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3. Serena Williams is making her comeback to tennis after four years — here’s how to watch (read more)
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4. The restored “Alice Mural” is bringing whimsy and wonder to the walls of a children’s hospital in New York (read more)
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5. Lauryn Hill will receive the inaugural Living Legend Icon Award at the BET Awards later this month (read more)

Inspiring Story

Chords of kindness

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In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Nicholas Williams launched ReString Appalachia: a nonprofit dedicated to replacing instruments lost in natural disasters. In just two years, the org has donated more than 900 instruments to artists around the world — including musicians in Jamaica recovering from Hurricane Melissa. Hear Williams talk about the impact.​

Photo of the Day

It’s no exaggeration to say the baby bison pictured here is one in a million. While the vast majority of bison are chocolate brown, a white calf was recently born for the first time at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City, Iowa. “It’s an extraordinary moment for us to share the story of bison conservation, while highlighting the vital grassland stewardship we pursue at the refuge,” said refuge manager Scott Gilje.

1440: Your News Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming

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Odds & Ends

🧿 A big fat Greek gig for cat lovers
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🕍 The largest Lego set ever has 12,060 pieces
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💪 If you’re over 45, you may want to rethink this exercise routine*
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🎢 A Universal Studios theme park is opening across the pond ​

*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate

Quote of the Day

“You don’t need to be fully ready to take on something big. You need to be willing.”

– ESSYA HANACHI