Just Good News Saturday
- Editor OGN Daily
- Aug 31, 2024
- 3 min read
Some sunny Saturday news to perk up the day.
New British Coin
The Gruffalo's Child will appear on a new commemorative 50p coin to mark 20 years since the story was first published. The character will follow in the footsteps of her father, the Gruffalo, who appeared on 50p coins in 2019. The new coins will not enter general circulation but will be available to buy from The Royal Mint in precious metal finishes, starting at £12. The book's illustrator Axel Scheffler said he was "honoured" that the Gruffalo's offspring was being celebrated, while author Julia Donaldson said it was "wonderful".
By The Numbers
11 percent: The share of US adults who say they have smoked cigarettes in the past week, a historic low. In the 1980s, it was still more than a third. The trend is being driven by adults under 30, reports Gallup.
1.6 million: The number of lives saved in Europe by Covid-19 vaccinations, according to new estimates. Most of them were people aged 60 and older.
1.1 million: The number of lives saved in the US over the past three decades because of routine immunizations, reports the New York Times. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimates that they have saved the US $540 billion in health care costs.
End of Massive TV's?
If you love movies but don't want a massive TV dominating your living space, an ultra-short-throw projector could be a good option. Samsung has added two models to its Premiere line of premium screen fillers, offering 4K visuals and immersive sound. Both models benefit from AI picture enhancement technologies such as an upscaling tool that brings lower-resolution content up to glorious 4K and a booster function for automatically adjusting onscreen brightness and contrast to deal with various ambient lighting conditions. The Premiere 9 model is a very pricey proposition at US$6,000 while the Premier 7 comes in at half that price. The good news is that, given enough time and competition, the prices should become rather better in the coming years.
Trillion Dollar Club
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate reached $1 trillion in market capitalization this week. The firm joins just six other US companies currently valued at 13 figures: Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon. The conglomerate and its longtime CEO - known among investors as the "Oracle of Omaha" - have averaged 20 percent annual returns since the native Nebraskan bought Berkshire Hathaway, then a struggling textile manufacturer, in 1965.
Could It Happen?
Mongolian officials "have the obligation" to arrest Vladimir Putin if he visits the country next week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has said. The trip, expected to happen on Tuesday, will be the first time the Russian leader has visited an ICC member nation since the court ordered his arrest in March 2023.
Largest Battery Storage
World’s biggest battery storage project gets underway in Chile. Financial close has been reached for the first two phases of the world’s largest battery storage project, the Oasis de Atacama in Chile. Once all five phases are completed (expected by 2026), Grenergy expects the facility will generate electricity equivalent for the needs of 145,000 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by over 146,000 tons.
“I really need a day between Saturday and Sunday.” Anna Scott
On This Day
31 August 1966: The Harrier “jump-jet” with vertical take off and landing made its first flight.
Today's Articles
Mood Boosting Video
Cooling Off in Summer: Baby penguins take a refreshing mud bath.
