OGN Monday

Editor OGN Daily
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Ensuring February gets off to a flying start with today's eclectic global selection of upbeat news nuggets.

Snow-capped Mount Fuji seen through red Autumn leaves — Credit: Riley Shickle | Sony 2026 Youth Competition

Sony Youth Finalist

This photo of Mount Fuji framed by bright autumn leaves that surround lake Kawaguchi, with an admirer looking on, was snapped by 18-year-old Riley Shickle. It is one of the images shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards’ 2026 Youth Competition. See more of the youth finalists, ahead of the winners announcement in April. The 19th edition of the Sony World Photography Awards received more than 430,000 entries from over 200 countries and territories around the world.

Young boy on his iPhone — France to follow Australia

France Says Non

French lawmakers have voted in favour of legislation that will ban under-15s from social media amid growing concern that children’s attention is being hijacked by algorithms. The draft bill would also ban smartphones in school, however it still needs senate approval to become law. That could come as early as next month. “The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms,” said president Emmanuel Macron, championing the bill. Denmark, New Zealand and the UK are considering similar legislation after Australia became the first country to ban under-16s from social media in December.

Facade of Casa Batlló, Antoni Gaudí’s inventive art nouveau house in Barcelona — Casa Batllo, Barcelona

Modernisme

Casa Batlló, Antoni Gaudí’s inventive art nouveau house in Barcelona, has opened a new contemporary art gallery to coincide with the centenary of the Catalan architect’s death - and the UNESCO-UIA designation of Barcelona as the World Capital of Architecture 2026. Designed by Gaudí between 1904 and 1906 as a remodel of an 1877 building, Casa Batlló is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Barcelona’s biggest tourist destinations, having opened for public tours in 2002. It is remarkable for its organic, flowing, and decorative architecture, known as ‘modernisme’ - a Catalan version of art nouveau.

Paris & London

Cycling is surging in these cities. Bikes and e-bikes are reshaping urban transport faster than autonomous taxis, helped by pandemic-era habits, cheaper batteries, and separated lanes. In London cyclists now outnumber cars in the financial district by two to one. In Paris, they now outnumber motorists across the whole city.

Swift flying out of a purpose built shelter known as a 'swift brick' — Credit: Manthorpe Building Products

Swift Bricks

All new homes in Scotland must have swift bricks installed after the Scottish government approved a law aimed at helping the struggling birds. The innovation provides a hollow space for the cavity-nesting birds to breed in, while minimally impacting the aesthetics of a building. “This is a cheap, simple and common sense solution. It will make our communities into better and more welcoming places for nature by supporting these wonderful birds and helping us to reverse years of decline.”

Welcome Milestone

The world just passed eight years and four months without a nuclear explosion, the longest period since the atomic era began more than 80 years ago. The most recent test was in North Korea on September 3rd 2017. That’s a welcome milestone.

India's Route

India is going green faster than China did at the same income level. Cheap solar, wind and batteries are allowing the world’s largest country to bypass a fossil-heavy growth phase. According to Ember, a thinktank, costs have flipped so dramatically that renewables now undercut coal itself, opening a credible path for emerging economies to grow as “electrostates” that are built on clean electricity rather than fossil fuels.

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” Jawaharlal Nehru

On This Day

Poster for the first Winter Olympics in 1924 featuring a ski jumper

2 February 1924: The Winter Olympics are now a major international event, but it didn't start out this way. On this day in 1924, the French Olympic committee started an event known as 'International Winter Sports Week' in Chamonix, southern France, in the same year as the Summer Olympics in Paris. There were only a few events at this Olympics; including bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey and various versions of Nordic skiing. Despite the small nature of the event, it was considered a big success by the International Olympic Committee, who retroactively designated it the first Winter Olympics.