Look on the Bright Side

World news can, at times, seem rather bleak and unpleasant. Judging from the daily headlines, the world often appears to be consumed by war, riots and bloodshed. "If it bleeds, it leads" is the old media trope, and it's as true today as it has ever been. (Note: We're just as guilty.) But the world is, thankfully, a far more interesting place than that, even if not every upbeat story makes it above the proverbial fold. Just in case you were ready to give up on this tumultuous and often violent world we live in, here are five stories that might inspire some hope. BEGIN LIST