There’s something irresistible about a story that draws a smile.

Consider the 2018 Blobfish Basketball Classic: Republican Sen. Ted Cruz versus comedian Jimmy Kimmel. After the talk-show host insulted the Texan, the senator challenged Mr. Kimmel to a half-court duel.

Kimmel accepted with one condition: Both must wear “very short shorts.” Senator Cruz responded: “Nobody in America wants to see that.” The two men took their grievances to the hardwood Saturday. During the contest, both were mic’d and talked smack. Kimmel criticized Cruz on immigrant detention centers, health insurance, and support for President Trump. "I feel like this is the closest we're going to get to a town hall," Kimmel quipped.

Cruz won 11-9, but only after 80 gasping minutes of what The Houston Chronicle described as a “a slow-motion car-crash of half-court basketball.”

Half-court hoops may not be the best way for every uncivil political conversation to be resolved. But there’s some merit in a friendly match that raises more than $80,000 for charitable causes (even if it utterly disrespects an American pastime). “We apologize to the game of basketball,” said Kimmel later.

On Monday, Cruz, who’s running for reelection, said he’ll introduce a bill this week to keep together parents and children detained at the US border.

Hmm. Maybe basketball is a political bridge builder?

Now to our five selected stories, which illustrate paths to progress for seniors in Spain, for students in Nigeria, and for the bees in Europe.