Wednesday's Upbeat News

Editor OGN Daily
Jun 11
4 min read

An eclectic mid-week global round up of positive news stories to brighten the day.

The Folly at Sandringham | Oliver's Travels

Royal Holiday?

Vacationing like royalty just got a bit easier. You can now book a stay at a quaint property that’s part of Sandringham Estate, King Charles II and Queen Camilla’s favourite country retreat nestled in Norfolk, England. Known as the Folly at Sandringham, the house was originally used to host ladies for tea; now, of course, it can host you, thanks to an offering from the travel agency Oliver’s Travels. Inside the cottage, it has undergone a bit of a modern makeover, but still retains all the charming historical elements you’d expect from a country lodging. The cottage sleeps six, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

5 Royal Estates Where You Can Stay The Night: Whether you’re a royalist, a history buff, or just looking for a taste of aristocratic life, here’s a handful of royal residences that any commoner can stay in, even if just for a few nights.

Samoa Meets Target

The Samoan government has enacted a law establishing a plan to sustainably manage 100 percent of its ocean by 2030. The plan creates nine new marine protected areas that cover 30 percent of Samoa’s ocean, an area roughly the size of Taiwan. The MPAs mean that Samoa meets the global 2020 agreement (known as '30 x 30') for all countries to protect 30 percent of its land and ocean by 2030. They ban activities that harm marine life or habitats, including fishing, mining, and drilling.

Wimbledon Warm Up

For the first time since 1973, a women's tournament (along side the men's) is currently being held at London's iconic Queen's Club, when Olga Morozova lifted the trophy. Competing for the Soviet Union, she was then runner-up in women's singles at the 1974 French Open and 1974 Wimbledon Championships, and the first Soviet player to win a major, in women's doubles at the 1974 French Open.

world's smallest violin created by using nanotechnology — Credit: Loughborough University

Nanotech Violin

Physicists at England's Loughborough University believe they have created the world's smallest violin using nanotechnology. They say work on the tiny instrument, which is smaller than the width of a human hair, will help with research into an array of applications from improving the efficiency of computers to finding new ways of harvesting energy. Prof Kelly Morrison, head of the university's physics department, said: "A lot of what we've learned in the process has actually laid the groundwork for the research we're now undertaking." The violin is a microscopic image rather than a playable instrument and has not been officially confirmed as the world's smallest violin, the university said.

UK’s Best Restaurant

Its chandeliers, tablecloths and ballroom-esque dining room might make it feel like the set of Downton Abbey, but The Ritz is experiencing something of a renaissance. Earlier this year, the restaurant – which was in fact used as a location for the hit BBC period drama – finally won a second Michelin star, and in 2024 King Charles granted the hotel a royal warrant. Now it has been named the best restaurant in the UK. Voted for by a panel of over 200 food writers, chefs and restaurateurs convened by Restaurant magazine, The Ritz beat decidedly more modern locations to the top prize at the National Restaurant Awards 2025. Despite opening 119 years ago, the hotel is firmly in vogue. Its old-school charm, complete with duck press, beef Wellington trolley and crêpes suzette flambéed by waiters in liveries, struck a chord among the judges.

The World's Oldest Restaurant: There's a place in Spain that's been serving patrons for nearly 300 years. Sobrino de Botín, in Madrid, is considered the oldest restaurant in the world.

Rail Revolution

Indian Railways operates roughly 12,000 trains daily, carrying over one billion tons of goods and more than 8.5 billion passengers annually. Now, over 90 percent of the nationwide railways’ traction energy comes from electric rather than fossil sources, with plans to increase this to 95 percent by 2030. This shift has led to a substantial decrease in operational costs and direct greenhouse gas emissions, with a reduction of 2.2 million tons of CO2 expected by the end of 2025.

“We can all fight against loneliness by engaging in random acts of kindness.” Gail Honeyman