OGN Wednesday
- Editor OGN Daily
- Nov 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Mid-week selection of concise good news stories from around the world.
Philanthropy Star
MacKenzie Scott, the billionaire philanthropist, has been making several multimillion-dollar donations to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and disaster relief causes in recent weeks. One of her latest gifts is an $80 million donation to Howard University, a historically Black school, which is one of the largest single donations in the university’s 158-year history. The gift is unrestricted, allowing the university to use the resources as it chooses. This follows her $50 million gift last month to a nonprofit that offers scholarships to Native students. Thus far, the former wife of Jeff Bezos, has given away at least $19 billion to more than 2,000 nonprofits.
Water Purification
A UK student has won the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Stockholm Junior Water Prize for creating a solar powered water purification system that works even on cloudy days. Divyasri Kothapalli’s innovation uses concentrated sunlight to purify contaminated water without electricity, making it ideal for communities without reliable power access. Kothapalli’s system addresses a critical global need. Nearly 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed drinking water at home, according to the World Health Organization. The Stockholm Junior Water Prize has recognized outstanding young water innovators since 1997. The Stockholm International Water Institute founded the competition to encourage youth participation in solving global water challenges.
LA Olympics
Interested in volunteering for the 2028 LA Olympics and Paralympics? Here’s how to sign up.
Gaelic Revival?
The Irish language may have scored a cultural breakthrough thanks to a new talisman: Catherine Connolly. The politician has just been inaugurated as Ireland’s president and carries hopes of a transformational Gaelic revival. The former barrister from Galway made Gaelic a central part of her election campaign and has indicated she wishes to make it the working language of the presidency. “I will do my best to bring Irish in from the margins and use it,” Connolly told the Irish language station Raidió na Gaeltachta. The 68-year-old shocked the centre-right political establishment last month when she won a landslide in the election to succeed Michael D Higgins as Ireland’s 10th president.
Art & Renewables
A record-setting solar panel mural has transformed a high-rise façade into an energy generator and public artwork, reducing 150 tons of carbon annually while demonstrating that building-integrated photovoltaics can be both beautiful and cost-effective. In Edmonton, Canada, a 12-story apartment building has transformed its exterior into a dazzling symbol of sustainability. The SunRise Building now holds the Guinness World Record for the largest solar panel mural, covering 34,500 square feet with a blend of art and renewable energy.
Type 00 For 2026
Jaguar’s highly anticipated all-electric grand tourer, known internally as the Type 00, has been confirmed for launch in 2026, with prices starting at $130,000, says Autoblog. The Type 00 is the brand’s statement car for its next era and the all-electric GT will ride on an entirely new architecture, delivering up to 430 miles of range and ultra-fast charging said to replenish 200 miles in just 15 minutes. It’s also expected to be Jaguar’s most powerful production model ever, outpacing even the legendary F-Type R in performance. The company acknowledges that the new design language will likely divide opinion, saying it’s “OK to be polarizing” and that Jaguar “needed to stop blending in.”
Crucial Threshold
According to government and industry reports, India has reached a significant milestone in its energy transition journey. Just over half of the country’s total installed electricity capacity comes from non-fossil sources. This includes solar, wind, hydroelectric, nuclear, and biomass energy. By comparison, India's achievement is roughly equivalent to that of the UK, whilst the USA gets about 45 percent of its energy from non-fossil sources. Meanwhile, 35 percent of Australia's electricity was generated from low-carbon sources in 2024, below the global average of 41 percent.
“As you get older, three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two.” Norman Wisdom
On This Day
12 November 1859: The first flying trapeze act was performed, by Jules Léotard, without a net, in Paris; a one-piece garment that he popularized was named after him.
Today's Articles
Extraordinarily Lucky: Something remarkable has been happening to Anguilla’s economy - and it’s nothing to do with tourism.
Messages in a Bottle: Two Australian soldiers slipped the letters into a bottle and dropped it overboard from a ship in the Pacific Ocean during World War I. Now, finally delivered!
Mood Boosting Video
Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age - Season 3 Official Trailer.
