Ensuring the day gets off to an upbeat start with a collection of positive news stories.
Recruitment Award
Tom Cruise has been presented with the US navy's highest civilian award, for "boosting the force's recruitment of pilots" thanks to his performance in Top Gun. The Hollywood star, who played Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in the hit film, was presented with the Distinguished Public Service Award - given for acts of heroism or support - at a ceremony held at the Longcross Film Studios in Surrey, England. US navy secretary Carlos Del Toro said the original action film, about a young naval aviator who trains at the force's fighter weapons school, had "significantly increased" recruitment numbers since its release in 1986.
Capital of Culture
Each year for decades, the European Union has picked two to three cities to carry the prestigious title of “Capital of Culture.” The distinction celebrates the rich diversity of Europe while also “breathing new life into a city’s culture.” European authorities typically reveal the highlighted locales a few years in advance - and one of the newly announced choices for 2029 is Kiruna, an Arctic city in the Swedish Lapland known for its majestic mountains, views of the northern lights, and pristine forests. Sitting in the shadow of Sweden’s highest peak, it’s also home to the world famous Ice Hotel.
Non-Intoxicating
A record 140 million pints of no or low-alcohol beer are expected to be sold in Britain this year, up 12 percent on 2023, with almost 9 out of 10 hostelries now selling the non-intoxicating brews. It reflects a steady rise in the popularity of non-alcoholic drinks and the increasing range of options for drinkers means the pub is "even more inclusive and welcoming than ever before this festive season", the British Beer and Pub Association said. It follows a survey at the start of the year which found almost half of Britain's youngest drinkers were turning down booze for low or no-alcohol alternatives. The study by YouGov, found 44 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds considered themselves to be either occasional or regular drinkers of alcohol alternatives, up from 31 percent in 2022.
The Jackal's Lair
Fans of the Day of the Jackal starring Eddie Redmayne isn’t actually in Cadiz, Andalucia, as the series would have you believe. It is actually located near Rabac on the southeastern tip of Croatia's Istrian peninsula. The owners of the property, which is available as a holiday rental, say they have experienced a “significant increase in interest” after it was used as a filming location in the wildly popular Sky Atlantic series. The imposing, hillside property of Villas Rosa dei Venti, surrounded by olive trees and overlooking a Mediterranean bay, stars as the family home of Charles Calthrop (played by Eddie Redmayne) in the new series.
Googly Eyes
In Bend, Oregon, an unexpected art trend is catching eyes - and sparking debate. An unknown prankster (or group of pranksters) has been adding oversized googly eyes to various statues around town, turning serious sculptures into comical creations. While many in the community are getting a good laugh, the city has stepped in to ask for the antics to stop. "While the googly eyes placed on the various art pieces around town might give you a chuckle, it costs money to remove them with care to not damage the art," the city explained in a statement on social media.
Sony Honda EV
Two of Japan’s biggest companies came together some two and a half years back to develop an electric vehicle. Sony Honda Mobility has now unveiled its first model, a four-door fastback saloon that's packed with AI. This is much more than a Honda vehicle development project with minor input from Sony. In fact, it's a 50/50 collaboration that's covered in both of the company's fingerprints. So, it goes without saying that the car will be loaded with tech.There's no word yet on price or name, but purportedly it has a 275 mile range and will go on sale at the end of 2025 after going up for pre-order in the first half of the year. In North America, deliveries are planned for the spring of 2026.
“A bare tree stands with roots on both ends in December days.” Kiran Bantawa
On This Day
19 December 1843: English author Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, which became one of the outstanding Christmas stories of modern literature.
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