What better way to start the weekend than with some uplifting news stories?
'Wormhole'
This dynamic image of a woman swimming toward a large school of fish has won the 5th annual ColorPro Awards. Themed around “momentum,” the contest was organized by ViewSonic, and Benjamin Yavar's winning photo, 'Wormhole', won the photography category for the way it powerfully captures the scene's movement and energy.
Billboard Hot 100
When Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You topped the Billboard Hot 100 again this year, it became her 19th Hot 100 No. 1. That's the most ever among soloists and just one away from The Beatles’ overall record of 20. It also made Carey the first artist to have ranked at No. 1 on the chart in four distinct decades (1990s, 2000s, ‘10s and ‘20s).
Feeding School Kids
Around 480 million students are now getting fed at school, up from 319 million before the pandemic, and 104 countries have joined a global coalition to promote school meals. School feeding policies are now in place in 48 countries in Africa, and this year Nigeria announced plans to expand school meals to 20 million children by 2025, and Kenya committed to expanding its program from two million to ten million children by the end of the decade. Indonesia has pledged to provide lunches to all 78 million of its students, in what will be the world's largest free school meals program.
Wave Power
Eco Wave Power has officially been given the green light to launch its onshore wave technology in the United States, marking a milestone in clean energy development for both the company and the country. Eco Wave Power recently obtained the last permit necessary to install its wave energy system from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The trial wave energy project is unprecedented in the U.S. and will be located in the Port of Los Angeles. The purpose of Eco Wave's floaters is to transform the natural motion of waves into electricity. According to the company, the wave energy system is controlled and supervised by automated technology and is able to generate electricity from wave heights of about 1.6 feet. During intense storms, the floaters automatically rise above the waves until the water subsides to a safe operating level.
40th Birthday Gift
A couple's love for animals and each other inspired a heartwarming 40th birthday gesture, as a husband covered adoption fees for 40 shelter pets to honor his wife's compassion and dedication to helping animals. Andrew and Jennifer Duhe have been volunteering at Chesapeake Animal Services for over a year. Their commitment to the adoption center has provided not only care for animals in need but also a unique bond for the couple. “We have fun, and it doesn’t just help the animals. I think it really helps us. It’s like a cheap, cost-effective alternative to marriage therapy,” Jennifer shared with a laugh.
Amtrak's New Trains
In the U.S., Amtrak is practically synonymous with long-distance trains, and it’s about to upgrade and expand its services - and enhancing rider experience, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and generating jobs in the process. The company is debuting NextGen Acela in the spring of 2025: a fleet of 28 high-speed electric trains coming to the Northeast Corridor tracks, the busiest in the nation. The $2.45 billion project is finally coming to fruition after being derailed (figuratively) multiple times.
"November, I’ll give thanks that you belong to me. December, you’re the present beneath my Christmas tree." Neil Sedaka
On This Day
21 December 2012: The music video for South Korean singer PSY's humorous pop song Gangnam Style became the first video on YouTube to garner one billion views.
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