One of the best action movies of all time is leaving Netflix very soon

It was 36 years in the making, but the follow-up to Top Gun finally hit the big screen in 2022.Legacy sequels can be a huge risk decades later, but Tom Cruise’s Top Gun Maverick turned out to be a monumental hit with both the critics and the box office.The Oscar-winning blockbuster features scenes shot inside actual fighter jets flown by the star, has 96 per cent positive on Rotten Tomatoes and made $1.496 billion globally.The 62-year-old reprises his role as US Navy Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, training a group of younger Top Gun graduates for a dangerous mission.Among them is Miles Teller as Rooster, the son of Maverick’s best friend Goose, who died in the first movie.Top Gun Maverick also co-stars Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell and Ed Harris. Meanwhile, Val Kilmer returned as Maverick’s old rival Iceman, who is now an Admiral. Top Gun 3 is also currently in the works.Top Gun Maverick is streaming on Netflix UK and the last day to watch is on December 21.

The country five times smaller than Greece but just as pretty with hardly any tourists

North Macedonia is slowly emerging as a favoured choice for travellers seeking a less crowded getaway without compromising on the beauty of the destination.Nestled in Europe, this landlocked nation is bordered by Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Albania. Its relative obscurity on the European tourist trail, particularly when compared to its Greek neighbour, makes it an ideal destination for those yearning for tranquillity.The country’s rich tapestry of history, influenced by Mediterranean, Balkan, Greek, Italian, and Ottoman cultures, offers a unique cultural experience to its visitors.Despite its size – with North Macedonia being five times smaller than Greece – the country is also a treasure trove of natural beauty, making it one of the continent’s most distinctive hidden gems.A staggering 80 percent of the country is adorned with mountains and lakes, providing ample opportunities for adventure enthusiasts to indulge in hiking, cycling, and kayaking.For those who prefer a more relaxed approach to nature, North Macedonia is home to a wide range of wildlife, including bears, wild boars, wolves, foxes, deer, and over 200 species of butterfly.History buffs can immerse themselves in the country’s rich past, exploring amphitheatres, statues, monasteries, and relics from the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods.North Macedonia’s culinary scene is as diverse as its history, offering a mouth-watering fusion of flavours. The national dish, tavce gravce – a hearty baked bean dish – is a must-try for food lovers. Lake Ohrid and the surrounding areas can become crowded during the height of summer, but the rest of the country still feels almost untouched.However, tourists are realising just how beautiful and worth visiting the whole of the country is, with more than 1.6 million people being registered as holidaymakers in the country last year – a 20.6 percent growth when compared to 2022, according to data from the State Statistical Office.Still, these numbers mark a stark contrast to neighbouring Greece, which attracts tens of millions annually.North Macedonia shares many striking resemblances with both Greece and Turkey. Yet, this emerging destination is a fantastic choice for those yearning for an adventure away from the usual tourist trails and less frequented by travellers.

Panic in Majorca as travel agencies threaten to stop bringing tourists after new ‘ban’

A travel agency has vented its outrage at a planned new rule in Majorca. A new regulation plans to limit the maximum number of people in guided walking tour groups to 20.The Business Association of Travel Agencies of the Balearic Islands (Aviba) has said that it believes that this restriction would be ‘disproportionate’ and ‘nonsensical’.Aviba’s president, Pedro Fiol, told Ultima Hora: “If this is implemented, you can be sure that we will stop bringing tourists to the city of Palma. Operationally, it would be unfeasible and very costly.”He then claimed that the agency was ‘not consulted’ on the proposal. In addition, Mr Fiol stated that it is the only measure not included in the draft that was made public.This reportedly ensured that it was a ‘complete surprise’ during a presentation on Wednesday (November 27).Aviba also claims that, although they are currently authorised to have up to 70 people in groups, they ‘obviously never’ do. Instead, the company claims that they work with groups of around 50.According to Mr Fiol, limiting excursions to 20 people will ‘force them to increase prices to pass on the cost to the final customer.’This, the president added would mean tourists would have ‘less budget for spending at the destination’.It is reported that he thinks the proposal shows a ‘lack of understanding’ of how the visits work, which can cover more than one municipality. Therefore, he believes that the firm would have to hire more guides upon arriving in Palma for a group coming from, for example, another visit in Part Forana.This would have to be split, it is thought.Mr Foil added: “Currently, we have many problems conducting excursions because we don’t have guides; we don’t understand how they will now demand we double the number.”Moreover, Aviba said that there have been no official guide positions announced for 16 years, although Mallorca’s Council has reportedly hinted that this may occur next year.It comes after a campaign promoting tourism in Majorca was launched in a blow to protesters warning tourists to stay away from the holiday hotspot.This year has seen a wave of protests against overtourism on the Mediterranean island as locals demand visitor numbers are managed more effectively.

Beautiful European city has one of the best Christmas markets but hardly any tourists

Christmas markets are an important part of seasonal travel, and often at the centre of the experience for families hoping to immerse themselves in the festive spirit.Europe boasts some of the most famous and sensational Christmas markets in the world, but their popularity tends to attract huge crowds, which can be a deterrent for many visitors.That’s why Wizz Air analysed over 35 popular European markets to find the hidden gems that are expected to receive fewer crowds than their more popular counterparts.They used a Keyword Tool to assess each destination’s popularity, focusing on searches for ‘[Destination] Christmas Market’ on Instagram, TikTok, and Google, along with Google searches for ‘flights to [Destination]’ from October to December 2023.Their report places the beautiful city of Sibiu, in Romania, in the third spot for the most underrated European Christmas markets, with only 4,620 total searches across Tiktok, Instagram and Google.Saranda, in Albania, took the crown with just 900 searches, followed by Esslingen, in Germany, which boasts 3,470 searches.Sibiu itself is a UNESCO-designated European Capital of Culture, known for its medieval architecture, cobblestone streets, and vibrant squares.The Christmas market takes place in the city’s historic Piata Mare (Great Square), surrounded by beautiful Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance buildings.Here, visitors can sample traditional Romanian food, such as mici (grilled sausages), sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls), and cozonac (a sweet, nut-filled bread).The market showcases authentic Romanian holiday traditions, offering a range of local crafts, food, and drinks that visitors might not find in larger European markets.Tripadvisor reviewers shared their glowing reviews of Sibiu market, highlighting its varied offerings, peaceful atmosphere and unique backdrop.Eugen D stated: “The most beautiful Christmas market from Transylvania, Romania. Many stands with cookies and local food, nice atmosphere and a lively place. A skate ring and mini train are also good attractions.” [sic]James W commented: “There’s something magical in the winter here.“Busy carousel where you can have mulled wine, get your own on-the-go personalised tree decorations or gorge or matured traditional meat products or candy.”Anca I echoed: “We visited in December and the Christmas Market is breathtaking. A must see if you visit Sibiu in the winter.”

Singham Again on OTT: Here’s when and where you can watch Ajay Devgn’s action-packed film by Rohit Shetty

Rohit Shetty’s multi-starrer film Singham Again was a Diwali treat to fans. Starring Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Arjun Kapoor, the movie made it to the theatres on November 1, 2024. Despite clashing with Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Singham Again managed to make a box office collection of Rs 379 crore approximately. Now fans are waiting for its release on OTT. Also Read – Ajay Devgn astrological predictions: 2025 to bring ‘favourable career development’ for Singham Again star with financial gains [EXCLUSIVE]
When and where to watch Singham Again on OTT
Generally, Bollywood movies wait for at least four weeks from its release to hit OTT platforms. There have been exceptions though. However, Singham Again is not going to follow the rule. As per reports, Singham Again will make it to the theatres only after almost two months of its release. If a report in entertainment news section of Times of India is anything to go by, Rohit Shetty’s action-packed film Singham Again will make it to OTT only on December 27. Reportedly, streaming platform Amazon Prime Video has been locked for it OTT premiere. There is no official confirmation yet on Singham Again’s OTT release whatsoever. Fans are waiting to get their hands on its OTT details but it looks like the wait for Singham Again on OTT is going to be long. Also Read – Salman Khan poses with dad Salim Khan’s first bike, fans call them ‘sher aur babbar sher’
Talking about the film, Ajay Devgn returns as cop Bajirao Singham in this one. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays the role of his wife Avni in this film. Arjun Kapoor is the dreaded villain. Avni gets kidnapped and then the film is all about saving her. Ranveer Singh enters the film as Simbba while Akshay Kumar comes in as Sooryavanshi to help Singham. Deepika Padukone is the Lady Singham. She plays the role of cop Shakti Shetty who is powerful and entertaining at the same time. Tiger Shroff is also a cop. The film draws parallels from Ramayana ad that is what fans liked the most. Also Read – Vishal Aditya Singh reacts to his ‘wedding’ pictures with Shweta Tiwari

The true story behind Joy, the Netflix IVF movie leaving viewers in tears

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreNew Netflix film Joy has been astounding viewers with the true story of the decades of research that went into the development of IVFThe film follows the the pioneering breakthrough led by scientist Robert Edwards (James Norton), surgeon Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy) and scientist Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie), who were on a mission to unlock the puzzle of infertility during the Sixties and Seventies, until the first IVF baby, Louise Joy Brown, was born at Oldham Hospital, Manchester, in 1978.It shows how Purdy, whose name is often the forgotten third party in the story, risked losing her relationship with her mother over her involvement in the scientific trials, and overcame obstacles as a woman working in a male-dominated field.In 1968, embryologist Edwards convinced gynaecologist and obstetrician Patrick Steptoe, who introduced laparoscopy (a minimally invasive surgical procedure to observe the abdomen), to collaborate with him on developing a way of fertilising an egg outside of the human body and transferred into the womb afterwards.Purdy, a qualified nurse, was hired by Edwards as a lab technician aged 23, but her role in the development of IVF went way beyond that job description.The movie shows the odds that the trio came up against over the course of a decade: facing moral outcry from science authorities, the church and the state. Religious leaders thought it could interfere with “God’s plans for creating life”, while others had fears about babies being born with abnormalities or birth defects. The three faced extreme ridicule from state authorities and the press, with Norton’s character branded a “Frankenstein doctor”.This meant they had no financial support from medical authorities, forcing them to fund the research themselves out of Kershaw’s Cottage Hospital in Oldham, where they were given permission to do their research in their spare time. The film shows how Edwards and Purdy would travel to Manchester from where they lived in Cambridge, and would rarely see their families.James Norton and Thomasin McKenzie in ‘Joy’

P.A.W.S. hosts ‘Buy a Book – Save a Stray’ book sale bazaar

P.A.W.S. (Protecting Animals Without Shelter) in cooperation with “Yfantourgeio” Book Club organises a book bazaar on Saturday and Sunday, December 14 & 15, from 11:00 until 18:00.

New and used books will be sold with prices starting from 1-5 euro and all profits will be used for the financial support of the organisation, for the medical and other expenses of the stray animals which are under the organisation’s protection.

For book donations please call or text 99769011.

P.A.W.S will be waiting for you to share the memories and knowledge that books offer along with a coffee or a cup of tea at “Yfantourgeio TheWorkplace”.

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