An eclectic collection of concise, upbeat news stories to brighten the day.
Perfect Timing
This stunning image won the Outdoor Adventure category in this year's Nature’s Best Photography Awards. "The moon passing directly between Earth and Sun during an annular eclipse, made this highliner’s experience even more extreme.” OGN will be featuring a full collection of the 2024 winners in this weekend's Sunday Magazine.
Happy Employees
In late October, word broke that the owner of the NHL team Tampa Bay was selling up. Millions were coming his way via a pair of money managers from New York set to take over during the next 3 years, and the affair seemed like business as usual. But owner Jeff Vinik is anything but usual, reports the Tampa Bay Times, and news is spreading that he has informed the 300 full-time employees of the Jeff Vinik Sports Group that they will be sharing in his profits. $20 million in farewell bonuses will be split between them, depending on conditions currently unreported, but the email stipulated that the minimum amount would be $50,000.
Welcome to The Wild!
This southern white rhino is among a group that has been rescued from captivity and brought to the Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa by the conservation organization African Parks. It’s the nonprofit’s third rhino translocation this year, and it’s all part of a 10-year plan to rewild 2,000 southern white rhinos into protected areas across the continent.
Aussie Student Debt
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that his government plans to cut student loans for around three million Australians by 20 percent, wiping off around US$10 billion in debts. The changes would mean the average graduate with a loan of A$27,600 would have A$5,520 wiped, the government said.
"At least I won't have that idiot organising my funeral now."
Queen Elizabeth II's joke to her family and aides after accepting Boris Johnson’s resignation as PM two days before her death in September 2022, according to a new book by political commentator Tim Shipman.
Deaf Captions Glasses
Looking much like a set of traditional thick-framed eyeglasses, these innovative new glasses are linked via Bluetooth to an app on the user's smartphone. As the phone's mic picks up the voice of a chosen person located close to the user, an AI-based speech-to-text algorithm converts their spoken words to text which is relayed back to the glasses. That text is projected onto the inside the lenses, where the wearer can read it. The text is also displayed on the phone's screen, as a backup. According to the company, the app currently recognizes languages such as English, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, German and Portuguese. The AirCaps glasses are currently only available to US buyers for US$699.
Nolan's Next Movie
Anne Hathaway and Zendaya are set to star in Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated next movie. According to Deadline, the two actors will join the previously announced cast of Matt Damon and Tom Holland. Details of the project have been kept under wraps but sources tell the Hollywood Reporter that it will not be set in the present day. Nolan’s follow-up to Oppenheimer has been dated for 17 July 2026 with an Imax release. The movie is expected to start shooting in 2025. It will mark an on-screen reunion for off-screen partners Zendaya and Holland. The pair are also expected to return to their roles in the fourth Spider-Man movie, which is currently dated for a week after Nolan’s film.
“Everyone needs things to look forward to - big things and small things, on good days and on bad days; things that will buoy our spirits and make us laugh and help us feel alive.” Sophie Blackall
On This Day
12 November 1931: Abbey Road Studios opened in London and was later made famous by the Beatles, who recorded most of their albums there.
Today's Articles
Mood Boosting Video
Perfect Timing: Precision drone flying around an erupting volcano.