Good Morning! 🌞 

I think we can all agree that the ‘90s gave us some of the most iconic TV shows ever—sitcoms that made us laugh, dramas that kept us hooked, and cartoons we still quote today. But which one truly stands the test of time? 🤔

At the end of today’s newsletter, we’re putting six legendary ‘90s shows head-to-head in a vote-to-eliminate showdown. Cast your vote and help decide the ultimate winner! 📺️ 

World News

Mysterious Artifacts Found!

A remarkable Iron Age discovery in North Yorkshire, known as the Melsonby Hoard, has been cleaned, studied, and unveiled to the public, offering new insights into ancient wealth and trade in northern Britain. Unearthed by metal detectorist Peter Heads, who had permission to survey the field, the hoard was reported in accordance with England’s Treasure Act. Archaeologists, led by Tom Moore of Durham University, later excavated the site and analyzed the artifacts. Moore called the find “exceptional for Britain and probably even Europe,” due to its scale and unique composition.

The hoard includes an extraordinary array of items: two iron cauldrons, over 20 chariot wheel components, horse bridles, ceremonial spearheads, and a large iron mirror. Some objects resemble those found in Leicestershire and Wiltshire, but the Melsonby cauldron stands out for its size and rare fish motifs. Notably, a wine-mixing bowl with Etruscan influences—decorated with coral beads and copper alloy masks—hints at far-reaching trade or cultural exchange during the Iron Age.

Excavation revealed that many of the items had been deliberately destroyed before burial, a ritual practice believed to signify displays of wealth or offerings to the gods. While such practices are documented in Europe, the scale of destruction in this hoard is unusual in Britain. According to Moore, this provides compelling evidence that Iron Age elites in northern Britain were just as influential and affluent as their southern counterparts, challenging longstanding assumptions about regional power dynamics during the period.

Culture

Living Room’s Lost Delacroix

A long-lost painting by renowned French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix, Study of Reclining Lions, is set to be auctioned in Paris today, reigniting interest in his animal studies. The sketch, which features seven lions resting in rich shades of brown and ochre, vanished from public records after it was sold in 1830 following Delacroix’s death. It recently resurfaced during an art appraisal in France’s Touraine region, conducted by expert Malo de Lussac.

“The owners were unsure if it was a Delacroix,” de Lussac told Agence France-Presse. “Seeing it in person was striking—Delacroix’s works are common in museums but rarely found in private collections.” The rediscovery is especially significant given the rarity of privately held pieces by the artist, whose works are more typically associated with major institutions and galleries.

Delacroix often drew inspiration from big cats he observed at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, producing numerous studies that captured their anatomy and movement. Art historian Lee Johnson noted that in 1829, Delacroix contemplated painting a tranquil scene of lions or tigers at rest, though he ultimately opted for a more dramatic hunting composition for exhibition. Now, nearly two centuries later, Study of Reclining Lions is expected to fetch between €200,000 and €300,000 at the Hôtel Drouot auction house.

Environment

Court Halts Rainforest Drilling

In a historic ruling, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has affirmed that Indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation have a legal right to remain uncontacted—a first in international law. The decision compels governments to protect these communities from external interference, recognizing their autonomy and way of life as a fundamental human right.

The case emerged from over two decades of activism opposing oil drilling and logging operations in Ecuador’s Amazon, which have threatened the Tagaeri, Taromenane, and Dugakaeri peoples. Although international agreements have acknowledged Indigenous rights broadly, no court had explicitly addressed protections for those choosing isolation—until now. The court ruled that Ecuador must apply a “precautionary principle,” halting any oil projects that risk forcing contact with these groups. It also ordered the government to comply with a 2023 national referendum in which voters rejected expanded oil exploration in the protected region.

Testimonies during the case detailed harrowing accounts of violence and forced assimilation by oil workers. Despite the designation of an “Intangible Zone” in the early 2000s meant to safeguard these territories, extractive industries have continued to encroach. The court’s decision not only reinforces the legal right of these communities to live undisturbed but also places a binding obligation on Ecuador to prevent further encroachment and uphold the integrity of their lands.

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Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

I show you worlds both far and near,
In colors bright, or sometimes unclear.
You watch me for stories, laughs, and news,
But I don't move — I just give you views.

What am I?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers

Every night I’m told what to do, and each morning I do what i’m told. But I still don’t escape your scold. What am I? — an alarm clock! ⏰ James Godfrey got this correct first!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to the email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.