December 12, 2025
Hello dear Good News community,
Nearly 13 years ago, I worked as an au pair in New York City. One moment that always sticks in my memory is the deafening traffic: buses, cars, sirens from police and ambulances — and thousands of people in the middle of it all. The city’s streets are intense. Since early 2025, a congestion charge has been in place, and early evaluations show it’s working: less traffic, fewer accidents, and cleaner air.
Enjoy reading, Selina
NEWS OF THE DAY
(Öffnet in neuem Fenster)New York’s congestion charge shows results
Since January 2025, entering Manhattan costs nine dollars. The result: less congestion, fewer accidents, and air that is 22 percent cleaner. Air quality is also improving outside the toll zone. By the end of the year, the city expects $500 million in revenue to expand the subway system. Source: WEB PRO NEWS
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India provides subsidy for care work
India is experimenting on a large scale with a universal basic income for domestic work: around 120 million women receive monthly subsidies of up to 30 euros — roughly 12 percent of a household’s budget on average. Source: BBC
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Successful protest against zwarte Piet tradition
Fifteen years of protest have led to a historic victory: the activists of Kick Out Zwarte Piet have achieved what once seemed impossible. The racist blackface figure has been removed from Dutch Sinterklaas celebrations, and the movement is now disbanding. A powerful example of how activism can change an entire country. Source: FRANCE24
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New building material captures CO₂
A research team in the U.S. has developed a building material that doesn’t emit CO₂ — it stores it. Thanks to an enzyme, the material converts carbon dioxide into solid minerals and hardens within a few hours. Source: PHYS.ORG (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
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Cocoa compound could slow aging process
A study from King’s College London shows that people with high levels of theobromine — a plant compound found in cocoa — in their blood appear biologically younger than their actual age. Theobromine seems to influence the epigenetic mechanisms that drive cellular aging. Source: TIMES OF INDIA
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Centuries-Long return: wild beaver spotted in England
In Norfolk, a wild beaver has been spotted for the first time in centuries. For researchers, the sighting is a strong sign that England’s rewilding projects are working — and that a once-extinct species is slowly making a comeback. Source: THE GUARDIAN
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Best regards,
Bianca Kriel & Selina Mahoche
Datum
12.12.2025