OGN Wednesday

10 minutes ago
3 min read

Mid-week collection of upbeat news nuggets from around the world.

"Historic Moment”

Lt Gen Susan Coyle, an officer of more than three decades’ standing, will become the first woman to lead the Australian army, with her term beginning in July. Coyle, who joined the army reserve in 1987, is a mother of three, whose husband also serves in the military, and holds postgraduate master’s degrees and is a distinguished graduate of the US Army War College. Announcing her appointment, the defence minister, Richard Marles, described Coyle as a “standout candidate” to lead the army. Marles also said Coyle’s elevation to lead the army was “a deeply historic moment”.

Conservation Milestone

During a recent routine monitoring flight, biologists snapped an aerial photo of a mother grizzly bear with two cubs in tow. That would be a sight to behold under any circumstances, but this encounter also marks a successful cross-state conservation milestone. Just two years ago, the now 6-year-old mother was relocated from northern Montana to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to help enhance genetic diversity between two of the largest grizzly populations in the continental U.S. - and it’s clear she’s done just that.

Answering a Call

A historically Black church in Alexandria, Virginia, donated $1 million to cover the back rent for local residents in need, preventing the evictions of 338 families from public housing. “The Lord empowers us to change the lives of others,” said the Rev. Howard-John Wesley.

Modest Man Living in Trailer: Posthumously astonished his local community in New Hampshire with a remarkable gift of millions.

'The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring (1884)' by Van Gogh — The painting after restoration | Groninger Museum

Lost & Found

When art detective Arthur Brand answered the phone, the man on the line said that he was in possession of a missing Vincent van Gogh painting. He was calling, he explained, because he wanted to return it. In exchange, he asked only to remain anonymous. In late 2023, the man dropped off a bright blue Ikea bag at Brand’s home. Inside, The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring (1884), which is worth millions, was covered in bubble wrap and tucked inside a blood-stained pillow - the result of a cut on the man’s hand. Officials at the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands, which owns the painting, were overjoyed. But they also noticed that the piece had suffered damage during its time away, and they tasked conservator Marjan de Visser with repairing it. Now, after months of careful work, the newly restored artwork is on public display.

Meteor streaking across the night sky — Look up at the night sky next Wednesday

Spring Meteor Shower

With the Earth having welcomed the month of April with a full Moon, another celestial event will follow shortly, providing a great reason to get out into the shortening Spring nights. The annual Lyrid meteor shower will be peaking on the night of 22/23 April. From a dark sky area, far from city lights, observers can spot up to 15 shooting stars per hour, which manifest to our eyes as streaking fireballs in the night sky - fragments of the comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. The Lyrids are one of the most active Spring meteor showers and, with the Moon setting before midnight, it promises to be particularly dazzling this year.

Candela P-12 electric hydrofoil rendered on Norwegian fjord for Boreal — Credit: Candela / Boreal

E-Ferries

Tourists and commuters along Norway’s stunning coastline will soon travel aboard “flying” electric ferries - quietly whizzing above the water to their destinations. A Norwegian leader in sustainable transport, Boreal has ordered 20 electric hydrofoil vessels from Swedish company Candela, with deliveries next year that will become the world’s largest electric fleet. The Candela P-12 combines a cruising speed of 25 knots with a range of around 40 nautical miles, enabling electric operation on routes previously only served with diesel fuel.

"We are all just one small adjustment away from making our lives work." Paul Rudd in How Do You Know

On This Day

15 April 1802: William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy encountered a "long belt" of wild daffodils while walking near Ullswater in England's Lake District. Dorothy’s vivid journal description of the flowers "dancing" in the wind directly inspired William to write his famous 1807 poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. The poem is considered a quintessential Romantic work, often cited as one of Britain's most popular poems.