Good News Headlines 8/14/2023
Photo©AliceCastrol/Pexels
Petting Other People’s Dogs, Even Briefly, Can Boost Your Health
by Maria Godoy, NPR
What’s four-legged, furry, and often serves up a quick little mood boost? That’s right, a dog. It turns out even short, friendly interactions with canines can be good for our health. I started pondering the power of dogs during one of my daily strolls around my neighborhood. Almost invariably, I’ll run into at least one person walking their dog. If I get the OK to pet the pooch, it’s a joyous moment of cooing and sloppy kisses. I always walk away from these canine exchanges feeling just a bit more relaxed, and happy. And that got me wondering, could these short interactions with other people’s dogs actually be good for me?
Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints Of The Grand Canyon National Monument Protects Tribal Lands And Waters
by Kate Mackay, The Wilderness Society
President Biden honors the longstanding efforts of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition (Tribal Coalition) and officially designated Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon as a National Monument. Baaj Nwaavjo translates to “where tribes roam” in Havasupai and I’tah Kukveni translates to “our ancestral footprints” in Hopi – thus “where tribes roam; our ancestral footprints.” The new monument encompasses just over 917,000 acres of federal public lands adjacent to the Grand Canyon and protects cultural heritage, incredible biodiversity, precious waters, and the vital economic engine of the Grand Canyon region.
Wed As Teens, They Renew Vows 71 Years Later — And Share Secrets To Everlasting Love
by Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR
Our family’s ancestral home is brimming over with guests. Every inch of its wide, open courtyards, flanked by massive pillars, is filled with the smiling faces of friends and relatives. The sounds of laughter and chatter are drowned out by the overpowering melody of the nadaswaram — a kind of classical flute music that is traditional to Southern India and played during marriages. But while we are here to celebrate a wedding, it is one that happened 71 years ago. “We met in 1952,” my grandfather, PR Meiyappan, tells me. “The first time I set eyes on your grandmother was when we were at the altar.”
Fitness: Fewer Than 5,000 Steps A Day Enough To Boost Health – Study
by Annabel Rackham, BBC News
It has long been touted that 10,000 steps a day is the magic number you need to stay fit and healthy – but a new study shows fewer than 5,000 may be enough to see a benefit. The analysis of more than 226,000 people around the world showed 4,000 was enough to start reducing the risk of dying prematurely of any cause. Just over 2,300 is enough to benefit the heart and blood vessels. The more you do, the more health benefits are seen, researchers said. The team from the Medical University of Lodz in Poland and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US found the walking benefits applied to all genders and ages.
Ukraine Announces ‘Humanitarian Corridor’ For Ships Stuck In Black Sea Ports
by Olena Harmash, Reuters
Ukraine announced a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea on Thursday to release cargo ships trapped in its ports since the outbreak of war, a new test of Russia’s de facto blockade since Moscow abandoned a deal last month to let Kyiv export grain. At least initially, the corridor would apply to vessels such as container ships that have been stuck in Ukrainian ports since the February 2022 invasion, and were not covered by the deal that opened the ports for grain shipments last year. But it could be a major test of Ukraine’s ability to reopen sea lanes at a time when Russia is trying to reimpose its de-facto blockade.
