Jones scores 22 and Fairleigh Dickinson downs Lehman 98-541. A Baccarat Rouge 540-inspired moisturizing body wash infused with white jasmine, red currant, and sweet amber that reviewers swear by for a cheap alternative to keep that delectably luxe scent on them all day long. Nothing wrong with smelling a lil' ~~expensive~~! Promising review: "Cremo's body wash is nothing short of exceptional. If you’re a fan of luxurious fragrances, this product will quickly become your new favorite. It boasts an incredible scent that perfectly mimics Baccarat Rouge 540 — a fragrance renowned for its sophisticated and captivating aroma. What sets this body wash apart is not just its stunning scent but also its longevity. The fragrance lingers beautifully throughout the day , ensuring you stay enveloped in that luxurious aroma long after your shower." — Ralph D. Thompson II "TikTok item, lol. This did not disappoint! It’s so hard to find so when I saw Amazon had it back in stock, I purchased it! It smells so good." — Contessa Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 2. Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener , which became the internet's holy grail for concealing and brightening dark circles under your eyes so fast that everyone's old concealers are doing double takes. This lightweight color-adapting formula is designed for truly ~invisible~ coverage that makes a drastic difference. The color-adaptive formula is designed so one of two shades will work on any skin tone. Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." — Monica T. Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in two shades). 3. A container of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cinnadust so absurdly delicious that all food will just become a mere canvas for putting Cinnadust on. Reviewers use this on everything from coffee to toast to yogurt to fries to popcorn to sweet potatoes to ice cream to — you know what, I'll let you decide on your cinnajourney for yourself. Check out a TikTok of the Cinnadust in action. Promising review: "I would order again, 10 out of 10. Try it on yogurt, ice cream, toast, carrots, and amazingly I saw a TikTok challenge with it on hard boiled eggs. It is stupendous!!!" — ThatGuy Get it from Amazon for $3.49 . 4. A set of "spiky" sensory rings perfect for the back-to-school crowd — you can (silently!) roll these up and down your fingers when you need to focus. Promising review : "I saw these in a TikTok and am so glad I bought them! My anxiety is greatly alleviated by rubbing textures so I thought this would be perfect to try. My fingertips instantly fell in love with squeezing and rubbing the ring. It also feels really good to roll up and down the finger. I like that there’s so many of them as well because I’ve put some in my most commonly used purses, one in my desk, and one beside my bed. I also had to give one to my roommate and her grandkid because they loved them ." — Olivia Dee Get a set of ten from Amazon for $5.85+ (available in eight different color combos). 5. Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm in Black Honey that you're definitely going to want to stock up on *now* before TikTokers go feral again (guilty as charged). This cult-classic, lightweight, slightly glossy shade is beyond "holy grail" status — it matches skin tones so beautifully that I'm personally starting to suspect witchcraft, after seeing so many TikToks of it subtly transforming entire beauty looks with just a few swipes. I was very adamant about not buying this for the longest time because I am stubborn about "expensive" beauty products, but this is worth every penny and then some . It's so lightweight and layerable, it's foolproof to apply, and I have yet to wear a single outfit it doesn't complement??? I love watching it instantly elevate a casual look or add simple elegance to dressy ones. I wear it every day now, and after weeks of use, I've barely made a dent . Also, and maybe this is just me, but I tend to get pigment on my teeth with a lot of lip products, and I've simply never had an issue with this magic stick. Anyway, watch this TikTok of someone using it on their lips AND cheeks , because I did and oops, this lipstick FELL into my cart. Get it from Amazon for $25. 6. A "flossing toothbrush" with two layers of bristles — regular firm bristles and longer ones that are ten times thinner to clean deep in between your teeth and gums to mimic flossing. Reviewers love how deep the clean feels, and also how soft it is on sensitive teeth! Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with "great" dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines. I've had one of these for awhile, and I love it! I usually use an electric toothbrush, but I feel like I'm getting a much more satisfying clean from these?? Especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively. I've switched to using this in the morning and the electric one at night and definitely see a difference in that area in particular. Promising review: "This was another one of my TikTok purchases! I was skeptical, but my kids hate flossing their teeth, so thought this might help in between making them floss. They work amazing! My kids said they could see and feel a difference on the first use, and I agree! They are definitely worth a try! I would suggest not pushing too hard. Those tiny bristles really get in there, and if you push too hard, you might be sore like I was. It felt like after going to a dental cleaning." — Amy N. Get a two-pack from Amazon for $9.90 . 7. E.l.f's brand new Lash XTNDR Tubing Mascara , a GODSEND for anyone with thin or fragile lashes. This uses lightweight ~tubing~ technology to wrap around lashes and give them a natural-looking, smudge-proof extension so good it almost looks fake. The real boon, though, is how easily the "tubes" slide off in clean, easy swipes at the end of the day when you're washing your face — absolutely no smudging, over-scrubbing, or special eye makeup removal products required. Check out a TikTok of the E.l.f. tubing mascara in action. I am not a new human to the tubing mascara game, and in fact readily spent $26 on the famous OG blend from Blinc every time it needed replacing . I didn't even love it for the length half as much as the fact that tubing mascara like this genuinely never smudges, but can I just say — regardless of price, the E.l.f. tubing mascara formula blows all the others I've tried out of the water. It gives me way more length and volume than other brands, slides on so much more easily, stays put ALL day, and never, ever smudges. My favorite part, though, is how gently and easily it comes off with soap and water. In the past, other mascara removals have felt rough on my lashes, but this comes off so fast that I'm like ??? was I even wearing mascara a minute ago?? Anyway, I hesitate even writing this review because I want to gatekeep the hell out of this before it sells out, but the world needed to know. I'm a big fan of the brown shade (which is what I'm wearing above!), but it also comes in black and soft black. Get it from Amazon for $7 (available in three shades). 8. A set of delightfully ~~tingly~~ self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint perfect for anyone whose recent step count is "too many." Nothing like a lil' self-care on those aching feet to lift your spirits! Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. I'm a long-ish distance runner, and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and, after a few minutes, feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that, my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days! Promising review: "Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation, and they definitely felt good on our feet!" — KS2018 Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $11.97 . 9. Lumify Eye Drops , a product so beloved by TikTok that despite being more $$ than other brands, it's the number one selling brand on Amazon right now. Reviewers swear by this for instant reduction in redness in their eyes and dry eye relief, with visible differences within a minute of use. Check out a TikTok of the eye drops in action. Promising review: "I have a big spot of blood vessels in the inner corner of my left eye. I use the expensive lubricant eye drops for moisture — I've used Visine, Clear Eyes, you name it . No eye drop has made my eyes look this great. Only Lumify! I was soo happy when I looked in the mirror and saw some beauty in my eyes instead of darkness and redness." — Angela Leonard Get it from Amazon for $11.97. 10. A "Spooky Cutie" adult coloring book for anyone who likes their rest and relaxation with a healthy dose of 👻👻👻. Psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $8.99! Promising review : "I LOOOOOVE this coloring book! So many cute pages and perfect for spooky season. If you love Halloween and coloring cute images, then this is the book for you. Has a variety of pages and all have the perfect thick lines we all love in coloring books! Add to your cart now!" — Sagrario "I love it. The images are so cute, and now I see this one on TikTok every day. It’s a great purchase." — Rebeca Parker Get it from Amazon for $7.99 . 11. Kahi Wrinkle Bounce Hydrating Multi-Balm , a Korean beauty product you may have already seen taking TikTok by storm — this easy peasy all-in-one moisturizer for your face, lips, eyes, *and* neck is formulated with salmon complex and collagen to help reduce fine lines and boost radiance. Reviewers especially love how instant the hydration feels, and swear by it for that ~glass skin~, "just out of the shower" effect. Check out a TikTok of the wrinkle balm in action. Promising review: "Okay! So I was skeptical at first, but honestly this stick is life changing!! ! In a matter of minutes my skin felt hydrated and plumped. After an hour, still hydrated. No greasy after feeling, very light, and you can feel your skin hydrated and absorbing. I love the fact that you can use it on your eyes, lips and wrinkles!! Game changer for me, will def try the others!" — Kristy Get it from Amazon for $21.90+ (available in seven styles). 12. Essence's "What the Fake!" Plumping Lip Filler to give your lips a lil' extra ~vavoom~ — this tingly formula not only volumizes your lips, but it's made with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to leave them extra moisturized and hydrated. Check out a TikTok of the plumping lip filler in action. Promising review : "I got this as an add-on last minute because of the price. It's small, but wow, it's impactful. A little goes a long way, and you can feel it working instantly. There is a tingle, not quite a burn. I'd def use a bit at a time when starting, but it works great right away." — Bt2turntup Get it from Amazon for $4.99 . 13. MagicMinerals AirBrush Foundation , which lives up to its name and THEN some — one quick spray of the foundation on the included brush, and it glides so smoothly and subtly over your skin texture that you'll feel like a makeup artist did it for you. Reviewers in their thirties, forties, and up especially swear by this lightweight but effective formula, and love that it's ridiculously easy to use. Jerome Alexander is a small business that specializes in airbrush cosmetic products. HELLO — I found this through a recommendation on a Reddit beauty forum for people in their thirties, and I am OBSESSED. I am not very skilled with makeup and was intimidated by the brush factor, but it's nearly foolproof . This foundation straight-up glosses over my pores and redness and makes my skin look so even-toned and natural that it doesn't look like I used much foundation at all. It's a bit price-y compared to brands I used in the past, but I'm still on my first bottle of it, and it's been three full months. I hope this never stops getting made. It is so lightweight and lovely and has made my makeup routine feel like a TREAT. Promising review : "Bought this because I saw it on TikTok, and it did not disappoint. I love the lightweight feel of it and how easy it is to build." — Smickens Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 12 shades). 14. A PopLite personal popcorn maker with a built-in serving bowl that will give you eight cups of movie theater-quality popcorn in two mere mortal minutes. Reviewers especially love that the popcorn doesn't burn, and the machine doesn't leave unpopped kernels like the usual microwave brands. Check out a TikTok of the popcorn maker in action. Promising review: " This little popcorn popper is perfect ! No fuss, no mess, no chasing popcorn kernels!! Fabulous! Easy to use — the popcorn maker part fits into the bowl part for easy storage. This is one perfect unit!" — Chrystal Get it from Amazon for $34.99 . 15. And a cult-favorite ~secret~ popcorn salt anyone in the movie theater industry will tell you is a perfect copycat for that oh-so-savory buttery goodness you love to inhale before the previews begin. Not to be dramatic about popcorn on main, but this stuff is game changing. Our family unearthed this because beloved To All The Boys I've Loved Before author Jenny Han mentioned that it was her secret to delicious popcorn, and it may have just wrecked me for other at-home popcorn for the rest of my life . It genuinely tastes just as salty and buttery and savory as fresh movie theater popcorn. I inhaled it so fast that every single one of my organs lit up in mild alarm. Promising review: "I am a person who will make myself sick eating buckets of popcorn (I have no self control). This has by far been my favorite 'TikTok made me buy' item. My at-home popcorn is now my favorite thing to make and I don't need to go the theater for popcorn. Very much worth the purchase and this will last me such a long time." — S Martinez Get it from Amazon for $9.50 (available in three sizes). 16. A pomade hair wax stick designed to work for all hair types for some residue-free *instant* hold for slick-back ponytails or setting flyaways, cowlicks, and baby hairs into place, if that's the ~look~ you're going for that day. Reviewers note how easy it is to glide over hair and brush back without leaving hair looking greasy or shiny. Promising reviews: "TikTok convinced me to purchase this. I think that it does a really good job of holding my hair back without looking greasy and without being hard to the touch." — Philip Rodriguez "I use this product each time I pull my hair back or up. I will buy it again when the wax runs out. No smell." — aleshia t. Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in multipacks). 17. A set of espresso martini mix packets that will make this fall cocktail staple a little TOO easy to recreate at home — all you need to do is add vodka and water, and BOOM. That's that you espresso. Craftmix is a small business that specializes in instant drink mixers. Check out a TikTok of the espresso martini mix in action. Promising review: "The closest thing to creating a drink from scratch as you can get! Tried the variety pack and the espresso martini mix, and it was a hit with folks, and most couldn't believe it when I told them it came from a packet . Especially if you're thinking of hosting or making drinks in batches, Craftmix is a real timesaver. Would definitely recommend and plan on repurchasing for future get-togethers!" — Kenneth Walfred Fojas Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $16.99 (available in 11 other flavors and a variety pack). 18. A pair of "floating" air conduction headphones that settle just over your ear instead of inside it — basically all the convenience and privacy of earbuds, without the discomfort of physically putting them in your ears. It picks up calls just as well as any other pair, and is designed so the sound isn't audible to anyone else! Purity is a small business that specializes in tech products and accessories. Check out a TikTok of the open-air headphones in action. Promising review: "I've tried soooo many different types of earbuds over the years with no success. But these Purity open-air headphones are the first pair I've ever tried that actually fit well, don't hurt, and sound great! So, after many years of trying, I've FINALLY found the right ones for my ears!! Woohoo! They are comfortable, lightweight, have great sound clarity, are easy to operate, and have great battery life. People can hear me clearly when I talk on the phone with them. I definitely recommend these, especially if regular in-ear buds don't work for you either." — CPic Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in 16 styles). 19. Plus a pair of wireless over-the-ear headphones crafted to look like AirPods Max, so you can still enjoy the comfort and chic style of their iconic headphones without shelling out hundreds of dollars. These feature premium cushion padding, a built-in mic with the ability to take calls, 10 hours of playtime per charge, and surprisingly decent noise blocking for the price. iJoy is a small business that specializes in headphones and tech accessories. Promising review : "These headphones surprised me. I thought they were not going to be as great because of how cheap they are, but the bass is amazing! The noise cancellation is so good that I can’t hear anything. The volume is loud and sound quality is a win , and just how I like it. Very snug and comfy, recommend! Thanks TikTok, lol :)." — Chevelle Revero Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in five colors). 20. A set of PaintLab press-on nails to save you SOOO much money getting them done at a salon — especially since you can ~trending~ prints for this fall, including cheetah print, which is having a big moment right meow. 🐾. PaintLab is a small business that specializes in unique press-on nails and nail and beauty accessories. Check out a TikTok of the PaintLab press-on nails in action. Promising review : "I was initially concerned that these nails might be cheap due to the price, but they exceeded my expectations. They are sturdy and don’t bend like other brands I've tried. Plus, the designs are incredibly fun and eye-catching." — Emma Wood Get it from Amazon for $12.99 . 21. A bottle of sulfate-free biotin shampoo that thousands of reviewers swear by for helping restore their hair and promote healthy hair growth over time. It also includes nourishing ingredients like rosemary oil, zinc, and coconut oil to help moisturize locks and give them a fuller, more volumized look. Read more about how biotin shampoo could help with the fullness of hair at Cleveland Clinic . Maple Holistics is a small business that specializes in beauty products with all-natural ingredients. Check out a TikTok of the biotin shampoo in action. Promising review: "I love this shampoo! I had gastric sleeve surgery, and my hair was very, very thin. I started taking biotin and switched to biotin shampoo, as recommended by my doctor. It doesn’t make your hair grow by washing it, but it makes your hair and roots stronger. And it worked. After using the whole bottle, my hair was stronger. I had a lot of new growth that was sticking around (the previous new growth fell out early on), and my hair was getting thicker. Eight months later, my hair is back to normal. It's longer and thicker than ever." — Diane J. Huff Get it from Amazon for $12.95 . 22. Eos' Shea Butter Vanilla Cashmere body lotion , which TikTok is going *feral* over both because of the lightweight, long-lasting moisture, and the soothing, delicious smell that reviewers compare to more expensive brands like Philosophy and Bath & Body Works. Promising review: "Heaven sent for your skin; heavenly scent to enjoy. This feels absolutely amazing going on. Gets absorbed quickly, for a lotion rich with oil. Doesn't leave a greasy feeling, as long as you give it a minute or two to fully absorb. The scent is, for me anyway, like aromatherapy. It smells like an iced sugar cookie, and is a great base layer for fragrance. Very relaxing. " — Dragonheart Jo "Better than TikTok said! OMRyan Gosling, this is an amazing lotion!!! Run, don’t walk, and buy this lotion! The name is vanilla cashmere and that is exactly what this is! Love love love!" — DeeDra Billings Get it from Amazon for $8.98 . 23. A copy of Burn After Writing , a guided journal that tens of thousands of reviewers swear by — through a series of questions and thought experiments, it encourages people to take time away from their screens to explore their feelings, both new and old, so they can embrace meaningful ones and try to let others go. Promising review: "I first saw this book on TikTok and decided to look more into it. I purchased four total because I know some people holding onto things that are difficult to let go of. It’s a great way to look at things from a different perspective and truly hold yourself accountable to different things in your life. I love what it stands for, and I look forward to when I burn mine after I’m done. Self-love, self-care, and meditation for a better state of mind tomorrow are always the goal. I definitely recommend it to those susceptible to change and the willingness to try things differently ." — Brent Helm Get it from Amazon for $7.32 . 24. A phone umbrella you can suction to the back for *instant* shade when you're trying to reduce sun glare (or text in the rain 🫠). Reviewers especially love this for their Kindles when they're trying to read at the beach or the pool! Check out a TikTok of the phone umbrella in action. Promising review: "I got this little umbrella because I'm always outside for work and the sun shines bright. I always have to put information in my phone for work and sometimes I can’t step to the shade to do so. The sun protection is good, and the performance and size is perfect for my phone. I’ve had people ask where I got it because they also need one." — Garza Jboss Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 16 styles). 25. Death Wish Instant Coffee Packets so downright (dare I say, DANGEROUSLY) delicious that even the biggest coffee snobs you know might trade in their precious pour-overs. That is, if they can handle the 300mg of caffeine per cup 👀. Note: According to the Mayo Clinic , up to 400mg of caffeine is safe for most healthy adults. Check out a TikTok of the Deathwish Instant Coffee in action. (Also I read at least one review of someone PUTTING THIS IN THEIR MORNING SMOOTHIE , some of you are WILD.) Death Wish Coffee is a small business that specializes in coffee pods, grounds, whole beans, and more. Promising review : "So let me start by saying that this coffee is delicious and works if you’re someone like me who wants to stay awake. I work night shifts at a hospital, and in the mornings, when I get home, I’m quite tired and sleepy. I made myself a cup of coffee and waited for it to work. Now let me tell y’all!!! This coffee kept me awake for hours!! BOY, WAS I WOWED INDEED ... best believe I went ahead and ordered three more boxes. This is now my to-go coffee if I need a BOOST!!!!!! If you like coffee and want to stay awake, then BUY THIS COFFEE!!! I’m happy I no longer have to take naps to get re-energized." — nancy Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $10.99 . 26. Medicube's "Zero Pore" Pads , which are dual-textured toner pads made with lactic and salicylic acid to exfoliate and refine your pores. The excess sebum oil in your face just met its worst enemy in this cult-fave Korean skincare product. 😈 Promising review: "I kept seeing this product on social media and finally decided to give it a try. I use this twice daily, and it’s been a couple of weeks, and I definitely noticed my pores have shrunk . I even apply it to my neck and chest area. Product is soothing, gentle on my skin (have extremely sensitive skin), no strong smell, cottons are soft, and did not cause any breakouts! It’s great for the value, and I’ll definitely be repurchasing these." — Ee El "I got these because of a TikTok video, and let me tell you, I didn’t make a mistake in buying them. I 100 percent recommend these pads. I saw a difference within a week. My skin looked so much better — less texture, pores have shrunk a lot more, skin ALWAYS GLOWING!!😽 " — 1000% recommend Get a pack of 70 from Amazon for $17.90 (available in four other styles). 27. A painless, mint-flavored teeth-whitening pen reviewers swear by as an alternative to pricey professional treatments and strips. This gets results from the very first use, lightening up years' worth of stains from coffee, tea, wine, or just, you know, existing as a human with teeth. Promising review: "I have to say, I was skeptical about this product from all the TikTok hype about it but after trying it out, it really does work. I’ve used whitening strips before, but those usually hurt my sensitive teeth, and I hate the taste of some of the other gels on the market, but this one was super easy and didn’t hurt my teeth at all and didn’t taste much different than my regular toothpaste, since I got the mint-flavored one. I used it for a few weeks before my brother’s wedding, and it worked like a charm. I noticed visible results in only a couple of days and was able to keep using it until I reached my desired shade of white. 10/10 would recommend for anyone with sensitive teeth and taste s!" — Victoria Bravo Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.96 . 28. A decorative rainbow window film that says, "Yes, I want my privacy, but I also want to be extremely glamorous about it." Not only does this refract beautiful rainbows to turn your space into a calm, colorful oasis, but reviewers mention that it's handy for pet owners whose dogs love to bark at things outside. Promising review: "I actually did not know anything like this existed. I was watching TikTok and saw someone use it to allow the light to shine in without people being able to stare into their home . So I decided to give it a try, and am so glad I did. It is beautiful . I currently have it on a small window, and the difference it makes as opposed to aluminum foil is amazing. Plus, if you like a little light but not an over-abundant amount, this is the stuff to use. Very easy to put up, very happy with my purchase." — Eva Thomas Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 11 sizes) 29. A cult-favorite luxury-scented candle with a throw so satisfying and scent profile so ~mesmerizing~ that reviewers can't stop gushing about it. If you're in the market for a signature scent for your space, look no further than this jasmine, oud, and sandalwood blend. Lulu Candles is a US-based small business that specializes in scented candles and perfumes. Check out a TikTok of the candle in action. Promising review : "I was staying over at a friend's house and sitting next to her coffee table. She had this candle on the table and even though it wasn't lit I could smell it, and it was so delicious that I instantly went online to find it and bought it for myself! If this came in a perfume, I would buy enough to last the rest of my life. I don't know how to explain the scent, but if you are an amber/patchouli/vanilla fan, this is absolutely for you. The jasmine adds an unbelievable freshness without a flowery scent . I even bought the shampoo and conditioner, which I will probably use as more of a body wash and shaving cream, but that is how desperate I am to get this scent on me! " — Melissa I. Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in eight sizes, in gift box options, in packs of two, and in a variety of scents). 30. A cleverly designed rechargeable electric candle lighter so you can light all your coziest, deepest candles without worrying about the "YIKES" of being near an open flame. This is also windproof and super portable for anyone looking for options to light candles or fires outside, too! Promising review : "I absolutely love this product. Now I’m able to light candles where the candle wax has melted down, and it’s hard to reach inside the jar. I also love the fact that you charge this with a USB cable and the charge lasts for a long time. It has indicator lights to let you know how much of a charge is remaining. I’ve only had to charge it once since I purchased it. I Very durable and a great value for the price. I definitely recommend this. " — Cassandra S. "Another product I got from TikTok. It’s a necessity. No more struggling and almost burning yourself. Stays charged for days. A week at most if you use it frequently." — Nijada Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in nine colors and in two packs). 31. Mighty Patch Micropoint Patches designed specifically for *early* stage zits, infused with salicylic acid and niacinamide to help reduce redness and irritation in six to eight hours. Reviewers with cystic acne love these because with typical patches you have to wait until they become whiteheads to pull the gunk loose from them, but these start helping the instant you feel the acne starting to form. Check out a TikTok of the Mighty Patch Micropoint Patches in action. Promising review : "I’ve been buying these for several years now and recommend them! When I feel a deeper blemish starting (my deep ones are large, painful, and then nothing happens besides showing itself for a week), I put one of these boys on it at night, and it is typically smaller by the morning. I do it again the next night and it normally is gone after day two." — Adam Z. Get a pack of eight on Amazon for $11.86 (available in two sizes). 32. A deep exfoliating shower back scrubber so soothing and effective that it won't be long before all your friends are like, "Wow, remember when they talked about something other than how squeaky clean their back feels?" A lot of reviewers with dry skin and keratosis pilaris swear by this for relief! Dermasuri is a small business that specializes in skincare and personal care products. Check out a TikTok of the back scrubber in action. Promising review: "I used this back scrubber the day after it arrived, and I love it. Finally, I have an easy-to-use and more effective way to scrub my back. I saw the dead skin fall to the shower floor. Wow! And it easily rinsed cleaned, too." — Naomi M. Get it from Amazon for $18.79 . 33. A mushroom growing kit that grows right there in the packaging, so you can add some sweet, sweet umami flavors to all your favorite fall dishes by sautéing, roasting, or air frying them up. Back To The Roots is a California-based small business founded by two college friends that specializes in indoor gardening kits with a mission to reconnect families to food. Check out a TikTok of the mushroom kit in action. Promising review: "This product has been so much fun to watch! I followed the directions, exactly as written, and the mushrooms began growing within 3–4 days. I will say that I did soak them for close to 10 hours before putting them back in the box to grow and I believe this helped a ton. I also kept the box inside by a window with the blinds closed in order for them to get indirect sunlight . The mushrooms grew tremendously for almost a week before they started to shrink so I clipped them to cook with and they were DELICIOUS! This was such a fun product and process to watch." — Steph A Get it from Amazon for $19.99 . 34. A set of wildly popular moisture-wicking double-brushed microfiber sheets with a softness so luxurious that you'll be like, "Cotton whomst?? " Reviewers especially love that the "cooling" effect of these is no joke, particularly for people in hot climates or people experiencing night sweats and hot flashes. LuxClub is a small business that specializes in soft, durable, luxury-style sheets. P romising review : “LOVE THESE!! I was searching for a sheet set that would help me sleep more comfortably at night and found these. I have terrible hot flashes with night sweats and get up in the morning just miserable. Of course, these do not eliminate my hot flashes as no sheets will, but they definitely make my nights much more comfortable by eliminating wet bedding and I definitely appreciate that! Aside from their moisture wicking abilities, they are very soft, easy to look at and launder extremely well. I would highly recommend these for anyone shopping for sheet sets and especially for anyone experiencing night sweats!! ” — Shannon Warfel "Super soft, great quality, good price. Saw these advertised on TikTok and had them sitting in my cart for months . My sister bought a set and when I felt how soft, I immediately bought them." — Donna Baker Get it from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in sizes Twin—California King, with deep pockets, and in 37 styles). 35. Nuts ‘N More's Chocolate Maple Pretzel Peanut Butter Spread , which just put so many beautiful words in such a small space that I am salivating just TYPING them. Whomstsoever thought up a flavor so perfectly sweet, salty, crunchy, and smooth at the same time deserves to only ever get green lights and always have their pillowcase cool. Nuts 'N More is a small business that specializes in unique peanut and almond spreads. Check out a TikTok of the spread in action. Promising review: "Amazing flavor, one of the best flavored peanut butters I have tried. I eat it by the spoonful without bread because it is that good, and I love that it has little topping pieces as well." — Tina Ray Get it from Amazon for $14.38 (available in nine other flavors). 36. A "Cup Cozy Pillow" to up your movie snack game to its highest potential — this has expandable cup holes to fit mugs, water bottles, and snacks, with an insulating foam that keeps drinks hot or cold for longer periods. It even comes with four snack holes so you can share with the person next to you (or just make yourself a glorious TV charcuterie pillow). Cup Cozy Pillow is a small business that specializes in family-friendly snack and drink organizers. Check out a TikTok of the Cup Cozy Deluxe Pillow in action. Promising review: "This thing is great! I’m home on maternity leave with my new baby and spend most of my time on the couch under a sleeping baby. This product makes it easy for me to keep my drinks, remote, etc close by even with dogs running around . It’s a little more expensive than I would have liked but it works and I love it so money well spent!" — Amber Get it from Amazon for $34.99 . 37. Hot N Saucy's Collards N Ghost Hot Sauce , a ~~spookily~~ spicy sauce that packs the heat from one of the world's hottest peppers along with the nostalgic, brothy, slightly sweet flavor of collards to soften it. Hot N Saucy is a small, black woman-owned business that specializes in unique, chef-inspired hot sauces. Check out a TikTok of the hot sauce in action. Promising review: "This is such a versatile sauce and has some great heat. A few dashes stirred into whatever you're eating will pack a nice background heat. It doesn't hit you upfront, but gradually grows. And the greens create a nice overall flavor profile." — Jonathon Get it from Amazon for $12 (and head to their Amazon storefront for a ton of other unique, cult-fave options!). 38. A projection alarm clock so you don't even have to turn your head or lift yourself to see the time — you can just glimpse at the wall and be like, "Ah, yes. That strange dream about turning into a pool noodle happened at exactly 3 o'clock again" before falling back asleep. It also functions as a USB port to charge devices! Check out a TikTok of the projection alarm clock in action. Promising review: "The projection on this clock is sublime. If I am sleeping on my side and turned away from the clock, I merely have to cock my head to see what time it is rather than waking up to turn over and look at the clock. I am buying a second clock for my second bedroom. The design is nonintrusive and takes up very little space on my nightstand." — Sheryl S. Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (clip the $20% off coupon on the product page for this price; available in five styles). 39. A delightfully efficient wooden bread bow knife to get you easy, perfectly sliced cuts of thick breads like sourdough loaves and baguettes every time. Your fancy sandwich game is about to get out of control. Check out a TikTok of the bread bow knife in action. Promising review: "I recently purchased a bread knife, and it has become an essential tool in my kitchen. The serrated blade effortlessly slices through various types of bread, providing clean and even cuts. The ergonomic handle ensures a comfortable grip, making it easy to maneuver. It’s a reliable and efficient addition to my kitchen arsenal , highly recommended for anyone who loves fresh, perfectly sliced bread ." — Mykayla Stump Get it from Amazon for $19.99 . 40. A pair of horizontal glasses , because not being able to watch Netflix and starfish on your bed simultaneously feels like a scam. Now you can out-scam it. Promising review: "I saw these on a couple of TikTok videos and immediately bought them. They are literally the best thing I’ve ever bought. I was scared they wouldn't fit over my glasses but they do just fine. I use them to read, watch TV, and scroll through my social media all while lying down. Such a great buy!" — Kivy Get them from Amazon for $12.98 . 41. A set of collagen-infused forehead patches to deeply hydrate your skin and improve its elasticity to minimize fine lines and give you a ~refreshed~ vibe when you wake up in the morning. Promising review: "The patches work great, I could see difference just after few uses. They stick really good and stay on all night. They feel cool and soothing and I love how easy they are to use. Highly recommend!" — M. Brinson Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $14.39 . 42. A set of toss-and-chop salad tongs , or "salad scissors," for anyone who loves their salad ingredients chopped into delightfully itty bitty bits — necessary for maximizing your flavor ratios and making sure you get a taste of every flavor in the salad in every single bite!! These work on everything from lettuce to veggies to meats. Check out a TikTok of the salad scissors in action. Promising review : "Love these! I hate big leafy salads so I bought these and they're perfect for chopping greens into bites. I also use them to quickly chop cherry tomatoes, onions, and other veggies. VERY nice quality." — asoon Get it from Amazon for $26.99 . 43. Thank Me Later Eyeshadow Base to make anyone with oily skin REJOICE!! This formula locks eyeshadow in place to prevent the pigments from creasing or smudging, which is a very rude thing for your eyeshadow to do after you've worked so darn hard on it. Promising review: "Saw this used by a makeup artist on TikTok giving a tutorial for women over 40. Totally changed how my eyeshadow works. No clumping or crease lines!" — wo1995 "Love this primer! I will buy it again and again! Just a tiny bit, and my eyeshadow stays all day long and maintains a vibrant color." — Nicola Nella Get it from Amazon for $13.99 . 44. A splurge-worthy Ninja Creami that lives up to all the hype and THEN some — this has seven presets so you can indulge in the creamiest gelato, most refreshing smoothies, and most decadent ice creams you've ever had, right from the comfort of your own home. It even comes with compatible storage pints and lids, in case you don't finish it all on the spot! Check out a TikTok of the Ninja Creami in action. Reviewers with dietary restrictions and preferences love being able to customize their own treats, and many point out that this will likely *save* you money, with the cost of specialty ice creams these days! Promising review : "This is my favorite gift. I use it at least five times a week. The size of the containers is perfect for when you want a sweet treat, and I love that you can control the consistency and softness of the way they come out . Fairly easy to clean as well." — Luke Johnson Get it from Amazon for $197.95 . Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.Ohio State, Michigan players involved in postgame scuffle
The most memorable visual image of Sri Lanka’s new Parliamentary session, the first to be opened by newly-elected leftwing President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, was also the moment that best symbolized the primarily progressive character or aspect of his presidency and the JVP-NPP victory. It is when he opened his car door unaided, stepped out of it in the same outfit he wore as an MP, and beamed. That, and dispensing with religio-cultural rituals that always precede or accompany such occasions here, though not in any legislature of a Republic anywhere else, extended the promise of the first fully modern Sri Lanka presidency and administration. The Political Establishment is gone, the Economic Establishment remains. The political elite is peacefully overthrown, the economic elite is more entrenched and expansive than before. A ‘bourgeois-democratic’ political revolution sweeping away an ancien regime, a decrepit political overhang, is necessary for the economic establishment to unleash growth which can take us out of the debt crisis. There is a problem, though. It is not that AKD isn’t “exiting the IMF deal” as his FSP/PSA critics demand, but that he is supinely compliant, sticking to its letter rather than striving for wiggle-room. Worse, he has chosen Citibank as intermediary with the private international creditors –that’s an almost incestuous relationship-- without tapping as negotiators, experts known to be sympathetic to Sri Lanka’s predicament such as Nobel Prize winner Joe Stiglitz or Argentina’s former Finance Minister Prof Martin Guzman. The JVP-NPP ‘revolution’ is primarily a generational revolution, which has become a political revolution and (hopefully) a cultural revolution. The average age of the NPP Ministers, Deputy Ministers and parliamentary group—as indeed that of the whole parliament—seems to represent a demographic displacement of the old political elite. With some exceptions, this is a postwar generation led by those transitional to that generation. They can look at the nation’s problems with fresh eyes. A revolution of rationality and modernity is long overdue. When Prof Howard Wriggins reviewed Prof Marshall Singer’s book on Ceylon’s ‘Emerging Elite’ of 1956 in the Journal of Asian Studies (1965) he identified the main contradiction haunting that new elite leading the nation. Closer to the cities than their voters, but closer to the villages than Colombo, they wanted a modern, industrialized nation but felt compelled to invoke the traditionalism of the social milieu from which they had come and been voted-in. The “Children of ‘56” (Mervyn de Silva, 1972) the JVP-NPP, have at long last resolved that contradiction. They were able to because of the matrix from which generations of them had emerged: the vast system of Sri Lanka’s state universities. That gives them a mindset, manner and motivation very different from, on the one hand, the SJB’s drunken dancers (with ambassadors, even) of the Royal-Thomian Mustangs tent, educated in the West even at undergraduate level, and on the other hand, the Sinhala traditionalist (‘Jathika Chinthanaya’) cultural ultranationalists. Graduation from a Sri Lankan state university is a virtue which our finest, most sophisticated foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar celebrated with his famously proud assertion when his portrait was unveiled at Balliol College, Oxford that “the cake was baked at home”. By the Kadirgamar criterion, the SJB’s ideological/policy-making elite is ‘half-baked’. Emerging from the state university matrix with its leftist ethos also gives the JVP-NPP a mindset different from the majoritarian Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism of a minority of students who suffered culture-shock from the encounter with modernity and rationality, and sought refuge in Sinhala-Buddhist ideology as a counter to the leftism and relative modernity that preponderated on the campuses. Dilith Jayaweera with his uncultured ‘sociocultural’ critique of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya is a contemporary example, but the great 1960s novel by Siri Gunasinghe, Hevanalla (The Shadow) translated into English by his wife, sets out the modernist-progressive vs. traditionalist-obscurantist clash of civilizations--and crucially, psychologies and behaviors-- on campuses already in 1950, epitomized by two antipodal characters (Wijepala and Jinadasa) who were friends from very similar social backgrounds. ( ) Socialism, Communism, Marxism-Leninism albeit ‘with Sinhala characteristics’ or ‘Lankan exceptionalist’ deviations, with much of the animating spirit and ethics ‘lost in translation’, was the passage to international politics and history, universalist theories, rationality and modernity, for generations of students from rural/provincial backgrounds. This puts them way ahead of Sinhala ultranationalists as potential agency of long-delayed rationalization and modernization of Sri Lanka. Modernity is possible only with rationality. The pre-eminence of leftism on the campuses is entirely understandable: copious US polling data shows a clear correlation between college education and leftist orientation. Indeed, the higher the educational qualification, the greater the leftist-orientation. Patali Champika Ranawaka was in the ballpark, homing-in on the Free Education generations. But he and his ex-acolyte Dilith didn’t/don’t get that even for professionals with a hard science, medicine or management background, there is no appetite for, still less identification with, rightwing ideologies. Their education and international experience, and crucially, the need to communicate with their teenage or young adult children, make them recoil from Gunadasa Amarasekara, Nalin de Silva and now Dilith Jayaweera’s ‘Jathika Chinthanaya’. Playing Modi doesn’t work here unless disguised as Nehru. The island’s value-system and ethos tend to be skewed left. Which is why on his 91st birthday Ronnie de Mel told Sajith Premadasa and Harsha de Silva that in order to revive the Open Economy they “must infuse it with a strong dose of socialistic values”, because that “underlay the social doctrine of all four major religions on the island”. In their ineffable ignorance, the Blueprint Boys thought they knew better. With the convergence of three factors, the ‘New Class’, congealed and crystalized, was ready to assume power: a)Generations of products of Sri Lankan state universities with postgraduate degrees from overseas, returning to the national universities and entering the state sector and professions (e.g. medicine). b)A substratum with university and professional placements and achievements in the West. c)An axis between the two enabled by Anura Dissanayake’s persona, discourse and NPP makeover. Meanwhile the Political Establishment was committing social suicide. The SLPP was the strong successor of a centre-left moderate-nationalist tradition founded by SWRD Bandaranaike and DA Rajapaksa (Mahinda’s father) which was primarily based on the rural areas and the peasantry. Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s insane fertilizer policy wrecked the SLPP’s base which had been built up in the South by DM and DA Rajapaksa even before the SLFP was born. Why didn’t the peasantry, leaving the SLPP under the Gotabaya presidency, shift back to the SLFP? Because the SLFP had already lost that base, allying itself with Ranil Wickremesinghe in the Yahapalana years. Why did it not shift to the main Opposition SJB, which saw itself in 2020 as the SLFP of 1951? As the September 2024 Presidential election showed, Sajith Premadasa broke into Medawachchiya and Harispattuwa which demonstrated his potential (unlike Harsha de Silva, who preached about Walmart to peasant audiences) to win the rural vote, but it was far too little, far too late. This was the picture: The UNP, SLFP, SLPP, SJB lost their social bases by criminal policy follies. The JVP-NPP’s support among the peasantry and lower-middle classes mushroomed because of the social identification that “these young people from our universities can understand our pain because they come from among us. They are our last hope, when everyone else who was in Government have bankrupted us.” The urban upper/upper-middle classes deserted the political establishment, because it couldn’t deliver the vote of the masses and keep the socioeconomic elite safe, and because they felt safe enough to vote for the NPP as positioned by Anura. To re-state: 1.Where Anura and the JVP-NPP were coming from socially, brought in mass support at a time of acute economic crisis. Where they were at socially and ideologically, brought in the economic elite. Coming from the ‘grassroots’—AKD’s father was an agrarian worker-- they had become a ‘gentrified’ emergent elite. 2. Anura’s re-positioning of the JVP and launch of the NPP helped de-link the economic elite from the Establishment parties. 3. The UNP, SLFP, SLPP, SJB were “stranded out of the crease”, having neither the masses nor the business/managerial elites. The national university ‘old boy network’ of AKD and the JVP-NPP outweighed and outplayed the ‘old boy networks’ and ‘old school ties’ of the UNP-SJB (Royal-Thomian) and SLFP-SLPP (Anandian) elites. In the Aragalaya-austerity vortex, that social stratum with its ramified networks evolved into a social force. The generational shift proved vital. It took the ascendancy of the Anura-Bimal-Vijitha-Nalinda ‘age-cohort’ (including Harini, who didn’t study but taught at a state university) to be capable of a new discourse and ‘look’. Anura and his generation apprenticed as allies of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe, learning from the inside about the Lankan State which their ‘elder brothers’ had twice tried to overthrow from the outside with catastrophic results. Cumulatively, these factors enabled AKD and comrades to form a bloc of state university-educated civil servants, professionals, teachers, lawyers, scientists, intellectuals and artists, just as SWRD Bandaranaike assembled his ‘Pancha Maha Balavegaya’ (‘Five Great Forces’). Hartal 1953 opened the gap for SWRD/SLFP-MEP 1956. Aragalaya 2022 did so for AKD/JVP-NPP 2024. Ignoring Ronnie de Mel’s advice and Ranasinghe Premadasa’s example, flaunting a technocratic Blueprint (‘3.0’, mind) instead, the SJB failed to capture the all-important ‘Public Imagination’. ( ) I predicted the AKD-NPP win a year back, in November 2023, in this column. ( ) A decade ago, I was criticized for promoting Anura Kumara Dissanayake as Presidential candidate with potential for national leadership. The critique dated May 2014 published in the widest-known international Trotskyist website was entitled ‘Sri Lankan ex-radical calls for a JVP presidential candidate’. Extracts follow: ‘Dayan Jayatilleka, a former middle-class radical turned diplomat and political adviser to the Sri Lankan establishment, has proposed that Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the new leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), should be the main opposition candidate in the next presidential election... In an article published last month, entitled “Elections 2015: The Stakes,” Jayatilleka... examines possible opposition candidates, but his conclusion is striking. “What is needed to prevent catastrophe is a Hassan Rouhani-type candidacy: a moderate patriot/nationalist i.e. liberal or progressive Sinhala Buddhist.” ...Casting around for a Sri Lankan Rouhani to galvanise the opposition, Jayatilleka anoints the JVP leader. “The country would be better served by rallying round an out-of-the box presidential candidacy from the Left Opposition: Anura Kumara Dissanayake...” he declares. “...The resultant return of rationality and realism will resolve the crisis in Sri Lanka’s relations with its neighbours and the world.” The turn to the JVP is highly significant...Like Jayatilleka, the JVP has long since integrated itself into the political establishment and has cordial relations with the US embassy in Colombo. In 2004, the JVP joined the coalition government of Rajapakse’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party predecessor, Chandrika Kumaratunga, held three ministerial powers and supported pro-market restructuring. ...The JVP announced “a new policy framework” in February 2014, entitled “Our Vision.” Behind its phrase-mongering about “democracy” and “justice,” the party is promoting itself as a reliable defender of investors and the vehicle for a “modernised and industrialised economy.” It presented the document for prior approval to the representatives of big business at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce before its adoption at a party conference. Dissanayake, who is known for his connections in ruling circles, was installed as leader at the same conference. Despite this record, sections of the Sri Lankan ruling elite no doubt still consider the JVP untested to hold the reins of power. In an article in March 2014, Jayatilleka pointed to the experience of the Latin American bourgeoisie to convince doubters that his “out-of- the-box” suggestion is a viable means to defend their interests. “Renewal of the JVP through its new young leader [Dissanayake] brings to mind the electoral renaissance of ex-revolutionary groups in Latin America,” Jayatilleka wrote. “Given the urgency of the Sri Lankan crisis, I have no hesitation in saying ... society may—and should—shift a few steps leftward, to a JVP-centric broad Oppositional project at both Presidential and parliamentary elections...along the lines of the successful Latin American populist-democratic left.” ...Amid widespread alienation from the government and opposition parties like the UNP, Jayatilleka’s advice to the ruling class is to “shift a few steps leftward” and rely on the JVP...’ ( ) AKD wasn’t ‘converted’ by Ranil as (parliament-selected) President and Harsha-Eran as oppositional free-market preachers. His pivot dates back to 2014—before Yahapalanaya 2015. The same Trotskyist website critiqued Anura’s paradigm-shift in March 2014: ‘Sri Lanka: JVP Pledges to defend Big Business interests’. ( ) There is no economic space to the right of AKD’s regime. However, there is a neoliberal-rightwing coup attempt in the main Opposition party. Harsha and Eran are the names figuring in efforts to immediately position a rightwing successor --ousting centrist-populist Sajith Premadasa-- to Anura Dissanayake (2029), modelled on Argentina’s ultra-Right populist economist Javier Milei, an anti-BRICS, anti-Palestine, anti-Pope Francis, pro-Netanyahu, pro-Trump, Evangelical-Zionist. President AKD has made a blunder: There are no Northern or Eastern Tamils in the Cabinet. There are No Muslims in the Cabinet. There are no Northern or Eastern Tamils as Deputy Ministers. The Editor, Tamil Guardian, asserts that statistically, more Tamils have voted for Tamil ultranationalist/Tamil Eelamist/pro-Prabhakaran candidates represented by an array of Independent Groups. ( ) If true, the vacuum of ‘Ceylon’ Tamil representation in Cabinet and even as Deputy Ministers is strategic folly. My personal perspective on the delightedly expressive attendance of the JVP-NPP leaders including heavy-hitters Tilvin Silva and Vijitha Herath at the ABBA tribute show (i.e., impersonation) isn’t identical with the coruscating critique by Luxman Aravind, frequent contributor to the respected leftwing global South site Tricontinental. ( ) As one of the ambassadors who launched International Jazz Day at the UNESCO Paris, was mentioned in the LA Times by Herbie Hancock, has conversed with Quincy Jones, George Benson and Marcus Miller, and had my review of Leonard Cohen’s 2008 Montreux concert featured the next day on the website of his World Tour, my objection is musical: ABBA, original or impersonation, is pop kitsch. ( ). In Feb 2001 Fidel Castro attended the concert by the Welsh alternative rock group Manic Street Preachers at the Karl Marx Theatre, Havana. The concert’s DVD was titled ‘Louder Than War’. It was Fidel’s comeback in his conversation with the band. When they cautioned him the music would be very loud, he said “It can’t be louder than war, can it?” ( ) That was Fidel. JVP-NPP leaders of party and government (Gen-Secy, PM) attended the ABBA impersonation. ABBA sold 150 million records. Carlos Santana, 100 million. Jimi Hendrix, 24 million. The JVP-NPP is to the kind of left I can identify with and would join –the electorally successful, ex-revolutionary Latin American Left-- what ABBA is to Santana and Hendrix. That’s why, even when I spotted Anura’s potential a decade back, predicted their victory last year, and support and defend them selectively and critically today, I didn’t and wouldn’t join them. Can you dig it?DIRTT Welcomes Holly Hess Groos to the Board of DirectorsFire at Ctg EPZ factory under control
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who stunned the world this week by declaring martial law, has narrowly avoided being impeached, as his party's lawmakers boycotted the parliamentary vote on his ouster Saturday. The motion by opposition lawmakers accused him of insurrection, calling his decree an unconstitutional self-coup. "The president has betrayed the trust of the people and has lost the right to carry out state affairs," the impeachment motion read. Thousands of protesters had gathered outside the National Assembly to cheer on his removal. Now protests are expected to build. "We will not give up. We will prevail," liberal opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said after the motion fell through. "By Christmas, we will bring people the end-of-year gift of restoring the country to normalcy." The liberal party said it would submit the motion again at the next parliamentary session on Wednesday — and every week after that until it passes. The question is whether enough members of Yoon's conservative ruling party will vote to oust him while he still has two-and-a-half years remaining in his term, potentially ceding the presidency to the liberal opposition. Impeaching Yoon requires the support of at least two-thirds of the 300-member National Assembly — or 200 votes. Because the opposition coalition holds 192 seats, impeachment requires eight or more votes from Yoon's conservative People Power Party. In the days following the martial law declaration, a handful of ruling party legislators had indicated they would at least consider impeachment. But only three of them showed up for the vote Saturday, with the remaining 105 leaving the plenary hall in protest. Outside the National Assembly, the crowd gathered to call for Yoon's removal let out a cry of frustration. Among them were citizens who had traveled from hours away and college students studying for exams in the throng while keeping one eye on the news. "Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol!" they chanted as they marched down the promenade. In declaring martial law Tuesday, Yoon railed against the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which he accused of being a "den of criminals" and North Korea-sympathizers. Gen. Park An-su, whom Yoon designated as his martial law commander, subsequently suspended all political activity and declared the media under the military's control. For many in South Korea , the move chillingly harked to the country's past military dictatorships. But three hours after Yoon's decree, legislators — many of them scaling the gates of the locked-down National Assembly — unanimously voted to overrule Yoon, requiring him to lift the decree. On Saturday morning, in a two-minute address to the nation, Yoon apologized for inconveniencing the public and said that he had been motivated by "desperation." While Yoon reportedly told his officials and party members that his decree was meant to send a message to an adversarial legislature — which has filed numerous impeachments against his appointees and moved to investigate his wife on charges of graft and stock manipulation — many, including his own party members, say they believe he had much more sinister motives. Han Dong-hun, the leader of the People Power Party, said that there were signs that the special forces soldiers who had stormed the National Assembly were acting on orders to arrest him and other legislators. Opposition leader Lee, whom Yoon narrowly defeated in the presidential election two years ago, has said the same. "We've confirmed that President Yoon ordered the arrest of major politicians on the grounds that they were anti-state forces," Han said at a party meeting Friday. "I don't think we can pretend like nothing happened." While stating that this was based on "credible" sources, Han did not elaborate, offering only that these plans would be made public in due time "through various channels." In a meeting with Han that same day, Yoon denied giving such an order, Han said. Hong Jang-won, a senior official at the National Intelligence Service, the country's spy agency , told lawmakers Friday that Yoon called him to order the arrest of several lawmakers, including party leaders Lee and Han. Spy chief Cho Tae-yong has disputed Hong's allegations. Yet even while condemning the martial law declaration as unconstitutional and acknowledging that Yoon must ultimately be removed from office, Han and most of his party allies balked at impeachment. For the South Korean conservatives, impeachment is their exposed nerve, and they have reason to tread lightly. The first and only South Korean president to be successfully impeached was conservative Park Geun-hye, who was later investigated and jailed on corruption charges. Her downfall splintered the conservative camp and opened a path for liberal successor Moon Jae-in, whose term conservatives refer to as "the lost five years." Crucial to the success of Park's impeachment was a bloc of conservative legislators who joined the opposition to vote in favor. It is why many party stalwarts are determined to avoid the same fate this time around. "We cannot have any more traitors surrendering to the enemy, like the time with Park Geun-hye," Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo wrote on social media Wednesday. Instead, Yoon's party members have floated more moderate solutions that would make way for Yoon's "orderly resignation," such as revising the constitution to shorten Yoon's term, transferring some of his presidential powers to the prime minister or forming a bipartisan Cabinet. In his recent public address, Yoon said he would leave his fate to the party, hinting that he may relinquish much of his authority to Han, should he avoid impeachment. The liberal opposition has rejected any alternatives to impeachment, calling Yoon a "ticking time bomb." "He is in a very troubling mental state right now. We don't have time to discuss something like 'an orderly resignation,' " liberal party spokesperson Yoon Jong-kun told reporters Saturday morning. "Only Yoon's immediate removal from official duties and impeachment can alleviate the anger of the people and South Korea' s plummeting international credit rating." The liberal party has said that it would propose the motion again Wednesday. "We are going to propose it repeatedly," Lee Jae-myung said, "until it goes through." ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Ibori’s daughter takes action as PDP declares seat in National Assembly vacant
Residential Mortgage Market Forecasted to Reach $26.5 Billion by 2031 | Roquette Freres Company, Cargill Inc., SPI Pharma, Qingdao Bright Moon Seaweed Group CoBEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and that government forces had withdrawn from the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. 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. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.Local roundup: Chelmsford’s Claire Danahy leading UMass into national semifinal game
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FILE - The Rikers Island jail complex is shown in the Bronx borough of New York, on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File) AP The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Wednesday found New York City in contempt for failing to staunch violence and brutality at its jails, a scathing ruling that puts the troubled Rikers Island jail complex on the verge of a federal takeover. In a written ruling, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan said the city had placed incarcerated people in “unconstitutional danger” by failing to comply with 18 separate provisions of court orders pertaining to security, staffing, supervision, use of force and the safety of young detainees. The long-squalid conditions have worsened significantly in the nine years since the city settled abuse and violence claims, she wrote, exacerbated by jail leadership’s “unwillingness or inability” to implement ordered reforms. As a result, Swain ordered the city and lawyers suing on behalf of detainees to confer with a court-appointed monitor on a proposed framework for a federal receivership — an extraordinary intervention that would cede city control of one of the nation’s largest, most notorious jail systems. Mayor Eric Adams, who has vehemently opposed a federal takeover, said on Wednesday that the city had made “significant progress towards addressing the decades-long neglect and issues on Rikers Island.” “We are proud of our work, but recognize there is more to be done and look forward to working with the federal monitoring team on our shared goal of continuing to improve the safety of everyone in our jails,” his statement continued. But in her ruling, Swain found the administration’s efforts were “insufficient to turn the tide within a reasonable period.” The city appears to have acted in bad faith at times in its failure to comply with court-ordered reforms, repeatedly “withholding essential information” from the monitor, she wrote. “The Court is inclined to impose a receivership: namely, a remedy that will make the management of the use of force and safety aspects of the Rikers Island jails ultimately answerable directly to the Court,” Swain wrote, ordering the sides to provide her by Jan. 14 a plan for an “efficient, effective receivership.” The 65-page ruling stemmed from litigation that started more than a decade ago with allegations by a public defender organization, the Legal Aid Society, and others that the city’s Department of Correction had engaged in a pattern of excessive and unnecessary force. The Legal Aid Society and law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP hailed the “historic decision” and said it “will finally create a pathway for reform that can protect those who have been failed” by jail leadership. “The court’s recognition that the current structure has failed, and that receivership free from political and other external influences is the path forward, can ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of incarceration status, are treated with the respect and dignity guaranteed to them under the law,” they said. In a separate statement, Benny Boscio, the president of the union representing correction officers, claimed the ruling was based on an “erroneous narrative,” adding that jail staff had been “defunded, short staffed, scapegoated and handcuffed” by city lawmakers and the federal monitor. For now, barring further action from Swain, the city remains in control of its jails. The jail complex, which is housed on a hard-to-reach island in the East River, has long suffered from rampant disorder and neglect. But rates of violence, use of force, self-harm, and deaths in custody in city jails have gotten “demonstrably worse” since the city and parties agreed in October 2015 to a settlement, consent decree and the appointment of a federal monitor, Swain said. “Worse still, the unsafe and dangerous conditions in the jails, which are characterized by unprecedented rates of use of force and violence, have become normalized despite the fact that they are clearly abnormal and unacceptable,” the judge wrote. RECOMMENDED • syracuse .com US seeks to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment Nov. 21, 2024, 11:34 a.m. Businessman behind huge Trump sign in Upstate NY running to fill Stefanik’s seat Nov. 24, 2024, 6:52 a.m. Nineteen people died in custody at Rikers Island in 2022. Nine more died in 2023, and five died in the first eight months of this year. At the same time, rates of stabbings and slashings, fights, assaults on staff “remain extraordinarily high,” Swain said. There has been “no substantial reduction in the risk of harm currently facing those who live and work in the Rikers Island jails,” the judge wrote. Under a plan approved by the city council in 2019, New York City is legally required to shutter Rikers Island and replace it with four smaller and more modern jails by 2027. But as the jail population has grown in recent years, Adams, a Democrat, has voiced resistance to the closure, urging lawmakers to come up with a “Plan B.” Earlier this year, the city’s budget director acknowledged that officials would likely not meet the mandated deadline.Who Is MK Slatt? What We Know About TikTok Comedian Amid Death Rumor
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