The air guitar world champion, stargazing in the Himalayas and more uplifting stories

Good morning.

At one time or another, we’ve all dreamed of music stardom – only for the reality of our complete lack of talent to bring us crashing back down to earth.

Aapo Rautio wasn’t going to let anything hold him back from rock’n’roll fame, however – and while he might not have a No 1 record to his name, he can boast another, equally impressive title: that of air guitar world champion.

For Rautio, the annual competition in his home town of Oulu, Finland, means more than victory, though. “The air guitar community is like a family,” he says in this week’s Experience piece. “Our motto is ‘Make air, not war’. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy. People come from all over the world, and everyone is supportive and encouraging. Before you go on stage, every competitor comes and hugs you. Then for 60 seconds you’re allowed to be free, silly, the biggest rock star in the world.”

Read on for more uplifting stories from the week – and enjoy your Sunday.

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The news of Diane Keaton’s death was anything but good – but reading the Guardian’s beautiful obituary, the outpouring of appreciation, and flicking through the many, many stunning looks she sported during her life and career offered a moment to appreciate a truly once in a generation talent. That she only won one Oscar in a career spanning six decades is testament only to how often the Academy misses the mark. If you need proof the world’s not all bad, simply turn on Annie Hall, Father of the Bride or Reds and revel in a true master at work.

At 4,500 metres above sea level, Hanle in Ladakh has some of the clearest night skies on Earth. It became India’s first dark sky reserve in 2022. Twenty-five villagers, mostly women, trained as astronomy guides to boost tourism and protect the nearby observatory from light pollution.

Visitors pay about £1.70 to stargaze and often stay in the guides’ homes. Since the first telescope was installed in 2000, Hanle has become a world-class astronomy hub.

The project now draws thousands of tourists, and homestays have grown from a few to 70, reviving the local economy.

Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, is normally a laid-back sort of place. But on Monday night, crowds flooded to the Estádio da Várzea stadium to celebrate a moment that was swiftly compared to the most significant in the country’s footballing history: a 3-0 win over Eswatini. With that result, the island nation of less than 600,000 people became the second-smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup.

The side’s success, which comes 50 years after independence, owes a great deal to members of the large Cape Verdean diaspora, often referred to as the 11th island of the archipelago: 14 of the 25 players called up for the last two qualifying matches are dual nationals. Dailon Rocha Livramento, who was born in the Netherlands, was the team’s top scorer. “Being able to repay the efforts of our grandparents and parents, who emigrated to give us a better future, sometimes even working two jobs at the same time, is the least we can do,” he said.

Pleas for a national holiday were denied – but the $10.5m the Cape Verdean football federation stands to earn from reaching the World Cup group stage will make a huge difference to its finances. Perhaps more important is the sense of national pride. “Independence Day and 13 January 1991 – when the first multiparty elections were held – are the two symbolic dates that have united our people,” said José Maria Silva, the national director of state protocol. “This World Cup qualification can already be considered the third defining moment of our nation.”

The darkness of Cornwall’s disused copper and tin mines provides an unusual setting for a group of men to open up. What began as a shared hobby has quietly turned into a space for openness, camaraderie and connection.

Known as the Carbis Bay Crew, the group has more than 50 members, aged from 16 to over 80. Some are drawn to the adventure of exploring Cornish history, while others appreciate the chance to escape from everyday life. Their story is told in the forthcoming documentary The Lost Boys of Carbis Bay, which paints a tender portrait of the support network they have built.

“It’s about finding community in the most unexpected of places,” said the director, Dan Simpkins.

It’s rare to hear someone talk about England’s railways with pride, so it’s heartening to hear Adrian Chiles wax lyrical about his love of the shortest railway line in Britain (maybe Europe, if you let Chiles be the boss).

“I took a train from one end of the line to the other, and it only cost me £1.60. And even though it took just three minutes to cover less than a mile, that still felt like a bargain. Because, although I’ve been riding the shuttle train between Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town all my life, only now have I realised how special it is.”