NoneNEW YORK — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its all-time high set Friday to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that's been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor, the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company's board. It also said it doesn't expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger's replacement, and its chair said it's "committed to restoring investor confidence." Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street's frenzy around AI. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what's expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday. Target fell 1.2%. Walmart rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took Donald Trump's latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won't create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar's value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government's budget. The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury ended the day at 4.19%. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Michelle Keegan & Mark Wright took secret pregnancy picture WEEKS ago & hid her baby bump before big reveal
Over their past two offseasons, the Philadelphia Flyers have pursued semi-expensive depth options for their roster. It’s hard to blame them. For a while , a lot of their depth consisted of sub-replacement-level forwards and defensemen who actively cost the team games. An easy way to solve this problem was by opening up their wallets. In the 2023 free agency period, the Flyers targeted forwards Garnet Hathaway and Ryan Poehling, with the two combining for a $3.775 million cap hit. This was on top of Scott Laughton, Noah Cates, and Nicolas Deslauriers, who were making $7.4 million together. This, as opposed to the several league-minimum-salaried depth in years past, was a noticeable improvement. Philadelphia nearly made the playoffs in 2023-24 partially because of their approach. The Flyers doubled down by extending Hathaway and Poehling to two-year contracts apiece worth slightly more than they originally signed for. They also gave third-pairing defenseman Nick Seeler a four-year deal worth $2.7 million annually, which came with a no-trade clause. Now, we look ahead to the 2025 offseason festivities. As the Orange and Black prepare for them, one thing should be established: they have the talent to save some money on their depth this time. It may be somewhat of a necessity, too, considering their salary cap situation . Let’s discuss some possible in-house depth options who could be deserving of an NHL roster spot. This can make the team’s more expensive depth players expendable, potentially helping the Flyers accumulate assets and cap space through trades. Players in the System Who Could Make Good Depth Pieces The Flyers will likely have some roster openings in 2025-26 regardless since it’s unlikely for every player on this season’s team to return. Here are three players, all from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL), who could be good depth players in Philadelphia if given the chance. Olle Lycksell, Winger Olle Lycksell , a 25-year-old left-handed winger, isn’t a stranger to the Flyers. The 2017 sixth-round pick has had a few contests of NHL hockey under his belt with the Orange and Black over the past few seasons, debuting in 2022-23. Since the start of that campaign, he has 108 AHL points in 116 games. Being a valuable piece for the Phantoms scoring-wise hasn’t exactly translated to the NHL level. His six points in 27 games aren’t all that impressive, but his on-ice numbers are. Among Flyer forwards with 100 minutes of 5-on-5 usage over the past two seasons, he is first in shot attempt share (56.14%), first in shot share (61.81%), third in goal share (50.00%), first in expected goal share (63.47%), and first in high-danger chance share (60.81%). Perhaps it’s due to the limited sample size he’s working with (180:21 of ice time), but Lycksell has been great in Philadelphia. Usually, players with his $787,500 salary have metrics 10% or more below those—cheap depth guys are supposed to be outplayed and outscored. Especially considering his AHL production, Lycksell could be more than just that. There could be some upside with Lycksell. With the way Stefan Noesen has broken out for the New Jersey Devils this season by being put in an opportunity to succeed, every team should be trying to recreate this. Sometimes, the next top-six player is someone in their mid-to-late 20s sitting in the AHL. This is admittedly the best possible outcome, but you never know if you don’t try. Samu Tuomaala, Winger Samu Tuomaala, a 21-year-old winger, has also been productive with the Phantoms this season. His 23 points in 29 AHL games are good for his age, showing he may have what it takes to be a full-time NHLer. He could add a spark to the Flyers’ offense. Tuomaala has yet to make his debut for the Flyers. Drafted in the second round in 2021, his development was worryingly slow to start but he has picked it up immensely in recent seasons. He’s tied for 30th in AHL scoring in 2024-25, and tied for sixth among players 21 or younger. It might not be the case yet, but the Finn is reaching “too good for the minors” territory. The Flyers should probably make an opening for Tuomaala in 2025-26. He shouldn’t be handed a spot by any means, but he may add something to their team. He’s an option for their woeful power play , too, so that’s a bonus. Ethan Samson, Defenseman Ethan Samson has been terrific for the Phantoms this season, all things considered. The 21-year-old right-shot defenseman has 11 points in 28 games, even though he’s not a top-pairing player for Lehigh Valley. Those 11 points are the same as or more than the following players around his age who have already made their NHL debuts: Kevin Korchinski, Lian Bichsel, and Ethan Del Mastro. He’s joined by good company. Samson could bring a level of confidence to the Flyers that their defense could use. He’s comfortable with the puck on his stick and isn’t afraid to shoot. He may have a minus-14 rating, which is one of the worst on the Phantoms, but there’s a lot to like about his game. Similar to teammate Emil Andrae , who is 22, it’s possible for Samson to see immediate NHL success despite his youth. Defensemen may take longer to develop, but Flyers associate coach Brad Shaw has done wonders for the back end. If Samson continues to impress and has a good training camp next season, he could be the next to flourish under Shaw. Flyers Can Save Cap Space with Depth Departures Combined, the three players above have a cap hit of $2.465 million (Lycksell will be a free agent in 2025, however). Alone, Hathaway is making just $90,000 less than that this season—that’s three players for the price of one. This isn’t to suggest the Flyers should throw today’s depth overboard, but they should consider cheaper options. This will save them money if they want to improve the top half of their roster. A potential long-term extension to defenseman Cam York could be expensive, too, so having a bit of leniency cap-wise could go a long way. The three players above could use some NHL time for their development, anyway, so it’s kind of killing two birds with one stone here. If the Flyers plan to trade some of their current depth for draft capital or prospects, it’d be three birds. In previous seasons, the Flyers didn’t have the pieces to trot their AHL pieces in the NHL. Now, they do. It may be beneficial to give those guys playing time in 2025-26 for the reasons outlined above: player development, more money, and more assets like draft picks if the Flyers are willing to sell off their current depth. This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.
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Exploring the Star-Studded Trade History Between the Kings and FlyersTORONTO (AP) — The Utah Hockey Club said players were forced to walk to their game against the Maple Leafs after their bus got stuck in Toronto traffic Sunday night. The team posted a video on social media of team members walking to Scotiabank Arena, with player Maveric Lamoureux saying the bus was “not moving at all.” Several city streets had been closed during the day for the annual Santa Claus parade. The Maple Leafs earned their fourth consecutive win by defeating Utah 3-2. The viral incident prompted Ontario Premier Doug Ford to call the congestion “embarrassing” and “unacceptable,” highlighting his government’s plan to address the city’s gridlock through bike lane legislation. It wasn’t the first time a Toronto visitor had to ditch their vehicle to make it to an event on time. In June, former One Direction band member Niall Horan had to walk through traffic to get to his concert at Scotiabank Arena. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against a doctor in the state of New York alleging the doctor prescribed abortion medication to a woman in Texas therefore violating the state’s strict anti-abortion law. In the first-of-its-kind lawsuit, Paxton is testing the bounds of conflicting state abortion laws by pursuing litigation against a doctor in New York – where shield laws protect providers from out-of-state investigations and prosecutions. The 11-page lawsuit, filed in Collin County, Texas , alleges Dr. Margaret Carpenter illegally prescribed the abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol via telehealth to a 20-year-old woman in Collins County. The lawsuit claims the 20-year-old woman sought and took the medications without informing the father of the fetus when she was nine weeks pregnant. But he later found out about the medication abortion after the woman had to be taken to the hospital for severe bleeding. Paxton alleges Carpenter was not permitted to prescribe the medication via telehealth because she is not a licensed physician in Texas and state law only allows for abortion when the patient’s life is at risk or there is a “serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.” The Texas AG claims Carpenter has seen multiple patients in Texas and has done this. Carpenter is the co-founder and co-medical director of Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine , a clinic that provides “telemedicine abortion care to patients in all 50 states.” Her biography says she has worked in reproductive health for years, volunteering with Planned Parenthood and providing medical and surgical abortions since 1999. The Independent has asked Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine for comment. “Carpenter’s knowing and continuing violations of Texas law places women and unborn children in Texas at risk,” Paxton argued. Paxton is asking the Texas court to prevent Carpenter from practicing telehealth in the state and impose a $100,000 fine for each violation. But it’s unclear how far the lawsuit can go given New York’s law protects providers from out-of-state lawsuits like this by refusing to order a defendant, like Carpenter, to comply with extradition, arrest and legal proceedings in other states The state’s shield law also gives prescribers who are sued the ability to countersue to recover damages. Paxton has relentlessly pursued litigation against those who provide or seek abortion in the state. He sent threatening letters to medical providers in 2023 after a woman named Kate Cox got explicit permission to obtain a medically necessary abortion. His lawsuit, of course, has only arisen because the Supreme Court overturned the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade in 2022. Roe made abortion a federal right – preventing each state from outright banning it. But now, with each state responsible for creating its own law, immense legal and social conflict has arisen. One way those living in states with strict abortion bans, like Texas, have skirted around rules is by using telehealth to obtain abortion medication. But lawsuits like this and others risk the availability of it.Gophers coach P.J. Fleck explains trick play call on game-defining drive in Penn State loss
Jimmy Carter, nation's 39th president who became influential human rights advocate, dies
The Commercial Bank of Ceylon won the Gold as Sri Lanka’s ‘Green Brand of the Year’ at the 2024 Brand Excellence Awards of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) in a fitting recognition of the bank’s uncompromising commitment to sustainability. The award recognises the substantial investments and noteworthy progress the bank has made in advancing the cause of sustainability beyond its own operations to encompass nationally-significant initiatives that engage with communities across the country. Prominent among these initiatives was the launch in 2023, and the completion in just 12 months, of the planting of 100,000 trees in ecologically important locations under the bank’s ‘Trees for Tomorrow’ program, and the bank’s commitment to plant another 100,000. Sri Lanka’s first carbon neutral bank – an achievement of 2021 – Commercial Bank’s sustainability journey began 25 years ago and has steadily gained momentum over the last four years. It has generated several sustainability-linked firsts for the bank as well as the country. In the year assessed for the SLIM Green Brand of the Year award, Commercial Bank reduced its CO2 emissions by a further 233,918 tonnes, reduced paper usage by 47.57%, recycled 286,240 kgs of paper, and increased the number of branches powered by solar energy to 82. Among other significant achievements of the year was the launch of Sri Lanka’s first Green Home Loans scheme and surpassing 1 million customers for its flagship ComBank Digital app, promoting sustainable banking practices. Notably, Commercial Bank commenced 2024 with the launch of its evolved logo featuring a green element to represent the bank’s multifaceted commitment to sustainability, encompassing diversity, inclusivity, good governance, transparency, social equity, accountability and eco-friendly banking solutions. The bank is currently collaborating with several organisations including the University of Jaffna, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Preserving Land and Nature Ltd., or PLANT, an initiative of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) for tree planting and reforestation projects in areas as diverse as Jaffna and Kilinochchi, Kalutara and Maskeliya. Commercial Bank also joined the ‘Life to Our Coral Reefs’ initiative of Biodiversity Sri Lanka (BSL), in 2023 to support to an effort to conserve the Kayankerni marine sanctuary located between Panichankerni and Kalkuda in the Batticaloa district. Other noteworthy environment-related projects supported by the Commercial Bank are the reforestation of a 100-hectare swath of degraded habitat belonging to the Kandegama forest in the Dimbulagala range of the Polonnaruwa District, a mangrove restoration project in Koggala, a marine turtle conservation initiative in Panama, a partnership with BSL to maintain a stretch of beach in Kalutara and numerous beach clean-up projects conducted by large numbers of the bank’s staff across Sri Lanka. These initiatives of the bank have paved the way to build a green brand in terms of targeted above-the-line and below-the-line communications to its stakeholders, inspiring them to also be part of the bank’s journey and the building of a strong green brand.
Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors have returned to the Hawaii military base for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.Former President Jimmy Carter dies at age 100
Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag’s assistant in the summer and had a four-game interim spell in charge following his compatriot’s sacking in October. He left the club in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s appointment but was only out of work for two weeks after being appointed Leicester’s new manager on a deal until 2027. The 48-year-old had a glittering playing career with United and was disappointed his return had to end so soon. “The moment I took over the interim job what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it,” he said. “So I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave. “The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans. “But in the end I got my head around it because I also understand the new manager. I’m in football long enough, and I’ve managed myself, that you can think of a situation, me being there, I understand. “I spoke to Ruben about it, fair enough to him, the conversation was grateful, man to man, person to person, manager to manager, and that helped a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which of course lifted my spirits.” The Dutchman takes on a difficult job at the King Power Stadium as he is tasked with keeping Leicester in the Premier League. He inherits an influential dressing room, which has seen a number of managers come and go over the last few years. Ruud's here for his first press conference as our Manager 😃 pic.twitter.com/A4Juixvorb — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 2, 2024 Van Nistelrooy revealed he has done his due diligence and also let the players know as well. “It’s the only way you can work. It’s mutual respect. I also mentioned to the players yesterday that I looked at the squad and started to make phone calls about players, because in football everyone knows everyone,” he said. “With two or three phone calls you hear stories about 20 players and for me it was important that you hear there are good characters there. That’s important, that there are good people there. “I look at the players how they play. I obviously don’t know them but I got general information and the individuals that they are a good bunch of people. That was important for me to get in.”Devan Kaney chosen as Eagles sideline reporter for SportsRadio 94WIP following Howard Eskin's departure
The Blue Jays agreed to a minor league deal with left-hander Eric Lauer , reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The CAA client will be in major league camp as a non-roster invitee this spring. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet adds that if Lauer makes the big league roster, he would earn a $2.2MM base salary with additional incentives based on innings pitched and games started. Lauer, 29, was a first-round pick by the Padres in 2016 and has had solid seasons both in San Diego and particularly in Milwaukee. The Brewers acquired Lauer and Luis Urias in the 2019 trade sending Trent Grisham and Zach Davies to the Padres. In the first two seasons of his career, Lauer logged a 4.40 ERA in 261 2/3 innings with the Padres. He was hit hard in his 2020 debut for Milwaukee but looked to be on the cusp of a full-fledged breakout with the Brewers in 2021-22. In 2021, Lauer added a slider to his repertoire midway through the season and went on an absolute tear to close out the year. Over his final 80 2/3 frames, he pitched to a sparkling 2.23 ERA with a 23.6% strikeout rate and 8.4% walk rate. He came roaring out of the gates with a 2.38 ERA, 27.7% strikeout rate and 7.2% walk rate in his first 10 starts of the 2022 campaign as well. Lauer hit a rough patch early in the summer and had some uneven results leading up to a season-ending placement on the injured list due to elbow inflammation in September but still ended the year with a solid 3.69 ERA in 158 2/3 innings. Injury problems persisted for Lauer in 2023. He lost more than two miles per hour off his fastball early in the season, posted a 5.48 ERA through late May and wound up on the injured list for the bulk of the season due to a shoulder impingement. Lauer split the 2024 season between the Triple-A affiliates for the Pirates and Astros before heading overseas to pitch for the Korea Baseball Organization’s Kia Tigers down the stretch. He was hit hard at all three stops, with an ERA approaching or in excess of 5.00 as a member of each team. It’s been a few years since Lauer looked to be solidifying himself as a high-quality big league starter. He’s dealt with elbow and shoulder injuries along the way and has yet to regain his form. However, on a no-risk non-roster deal, there’s little harm in taking a look at a former first-rounder who had some legitimate big league success prior to a run of poor health. If the Jays can get him back on track, Lauer has 4.111 years of big league service, meaning he’d be controllable for multiple seasons. This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission.Confident Bucs gear up for stretch run against lighter season-ending schedule
With top toy lists and TV segments showcasing this year’s trendiest playthings already in rotation, the pressure is on. If you don’t scoop up the items your little ones have been bugging you about (and shouting “I need it!” when they see it in a commercial on the TV screen) fast, you’ll be out of luck. This year’s hottest toys include everything from Jellycat plushies and interactive, AI story-spinning teddy bears to glow-in-the-dark lasso toys, make-your-own pinball machines, fortune-telling magic mirrors, and LEGO building sets inspired by “Wicked,” the movie. Here are 10 top toy picks for the 2024 holiday season: Fisher-Price Link Squad Bop & Groove Tiger Baby Learning Toy With more than 50 songs, sounds and phrases, this music-savvy tiger introduces essential concepts like body parts, the alphabet and colors, while stimulating sensory development and fine motor skills. Plus, what parent wouldn’t love the record and playback function that adds a personal touch to playtime? Compatibility with other Link Squad toys means that you can grow your child’s collection and boost all their interactive play and social connections. $35 Bitzee, Disney Interactive Toy Talk about a magical, screen-free gift for any Disney-loving kiddo. This innovative toy responds to swipes, tilts and taps, and brings up to 30 iconic Disney and Pixar characters to life as your child plays. They can fill the Star Meter to earn Wishing Stars, which attract more characters. The Wish Book feature lets kids choose a star and then wave the pod to reveal a new character — complete with a pixie dust-inspired twinkling sound. $35 Jellycat Amusables Storm Cloud Plush Toy If your toddler can sing “Rain, rain, go away” on demand, then they’ll absolutely love giving this pouty storm cloud plush some extra love on rainy days. $29 Thames & Kosmos Pinball Machine Maker — Gumball Rally Winter break brain-break unlocked. This cool STEM toy lets kids build and customize their own pinball machine, complete with gumballs, bumpers and ramps. It’s perfect for young engineers and arcade enthusiasts and it springboards fun into early physics and mechanics conversations. $40 National Geographic Marble Run With 150 pieces, including 30 marbles and a 14-piece spiral lift, kids can use this marble run to build massive, intricate mazes. Since it’s compatible with other National Geographic marble configurations, like the Glow-in-the-Dark Marble Run, the toy can headline hours of fun and learning — especially when the kids are out of school for the holidays. $45 Furby Galaxy Edition With big ears, blinking eyes, glowing features, plus a dance style and language that’s all its own, the new Furby Galaxy Edition is an out-of-this-world gift idea for Christmas 2024. Perfect for kids ages 6 and up, it offers endless bonding time through petting, brushing and feeding, while also bringing a nostalgic blast from the past for millennial parents who remember the original Furby craze. $60 Loop Lasso Nano — The Original Glow-in-The-Dark String Shooter Toy Perfect for all ages, this interactive light toy will be the HIT of your holiday gatherings, New Year’s Eve, etc. After all, it’s constantly hyped among social media influencers as the “coolest toy ever.” It shoots a glowing string out at 40 mph, and then it follows your every motion, creating colorful, illuminated shapes that shine at concerts, holiday light shows, firework displays, etc., but also turn the vibe up on quiet nights at home. $40 Poe the AI Story Bear Teddy Ruxpin, but make it fit for 2024 preschoolers. This super unique storytelling teddy connects to an app on your phone or tablet, and leverages safe and secure AI cloud platforms to help your little ones create unique stories sprung from their own ideas. By selecting different characters, settings and elements, children can craft one-of-a-kind tales that their cuddle buddy then narrates back to them. $50 Magic Mixies Pixie Supremes Magic Mirror If your child loves the thrill of the reveal-toy trend, then this Pixie Supreme doll with multiple surprise-and-delight touch points is a great choice. After mixing up a special potion and adding the charmed moonstone to the top of the magic mirror, your little enchantress can summon their Pixie Supreme and have the fashion doll appear in the flesh. $50 LEGO Wicked Welcome to Emerald City Building Kit Whenever your mini Wicked fan stops “dancing through life,” they can take a break to put this 945-piece LEGO Emerald City scape together. The 3-story tower toy and collectible includes recognizable Elphaba, Glinda, The Wizard, Madame Morrible and Fiyero mini-figures, along with iconic vignettes and scene stealers from the movie. $100TORONTO >> Ottawa and the provinces will respond robustly if the incoming U.S. administration goes ahead with a promise to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said today. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Freeland and the 10 provincial premiers have held two phone calls recently to discuss how best to react if President-elect Donald Trump slaps a 25% tariff on U.S. imports from Canada. “In the event that the United States were to impose unjustified tariffs on Canada, of course we would respond, and the Canadian response would necessarily be robust. I am confident that it would be effective,” Freeland told reporters. Trump has said he will keep the tariffs in place until Canada clamps down on drugs and migrants crossing the border. Bloomberg reported on Thursday that Canada was examining the possible use of export taxes on commodities including uranium, oil and potash. A Canadian government source said while all options for retaliation were on the table, ministers and officials were nowhere near taking any kind of decision. Although Freeland said Ottawa and the provinces would need to present a united front, some provincial premiers are unhappy about the proposed response. Scott Moe, premier of the western province of Saskatchewan, said export taxes “would be a complete betrayal” by the Trudeau government. Saskatchewan produces oil, uranium and potash, he noted. “Export taxes on these commodities would be a self-destructive response to U.S. tariffs as they would only increase the harm to our economy and jobs,” he said in a post on the X social media network. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her oil-producing province would “not support cutting off our Alberta energy exports to the U.S., nor will we support a tariff war with our largest trading partner and closest ally”.
The words that make the news – Idiocy, incompetence, stupidity, fraud, crime, and other fun things
Boys cross country: North Jersey Interscholastic Conference all-stars, 2024