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
(Opens in a new window)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 (Opens in a new window)
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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
Date
December 12, 2025