AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:49 p.m. ESTNoneYOU might think buying beauty products second-hand is icky. But on many websites this means grabbing brand new, unopened items for a fraction of their original price. 8 Find out which websites are best for different types of products Cosmetics are one of the fastest growing areas for pre-owned buys, according to online marketplace Mercari. Lina Cameron, a make-up artist and natural beauty coach, regularly searches sites such as eBay and Vinted for discounted products to use on herself and her clients. On average, she reckons she saves about 50 per cent on the usual price. For example, she tries to buy her favourite cleanser by Eve Lom unopened on eBay. READ MORE MONEY SAVING IDEAS QUIDS IN 50 ways to boost your income as wages fall and cost of living hell hits SUPER SAVE I've saved £1k with savings challenges - I didn't notice it leaving my account She has also bagged Dior eyeshadow pallets and Charlotte Tilbury setting powder for almost half the usual cost. “I have to have products in lots of shades for clients so this saves me a lot of money,” she says. Currently, there are 100ml Eve Lom cleansers in their original, unopened packaging on eBay for £25. They usually retail for £65. Here, Lina reveals the risks and rewards of buying second-hand — and highlights the best sites to use and some of the current bargains. Most read in Money LEAVING TOWN High street giant to shut branch as mystery surrounds shopping centre future CHOC FULL Shoppers rush to buy Cadbury selection boxes at major supermarket for just £1 CASH FLOODS Hardy shoppers defy Storm Darragh to queue for a new Poundland ANN-OTHER ONE Major high street retailer to close store for good and 'all stock must go' VINTED 8 Fenty Beauty skin tint, 32ml, save £17.80 Credit: Fenty SELLERS can post pictures of their beauty products and say how much they want. Buyers can haggle but pay shipping and a buyer’s fee. Vinted rules state sellers can only list items that are unopened, unused and are in original packaging, including new cosmetics, devices and gadgets. First look inside new MAC store opening in Scotland this week - plus all the freebies on offer Fenty Beauty skin tint, 32ml New: £29 Pre-owned: £11.20 eBay 8 Self-tan savings of over £17 here Credit: SPACEUK INDIVIDUALS may advertise beauty items they no longer want, but eBay does not allow cosmetics that have been opened or used. There are also businesses selling “imperfect beauty” items, factory seconds or products that are as new but come in damaged packaging. Tan Luxe The Face self-tan drops, 30ml New: £36 Pre-owned: £18.98 Reliked 8 Milk Makeup Tint spritz, 5g delivers a saving of £8 at Reliked Credit: SPACKENK A SITE that sells pre-loved items, including beauty products, from influencers and celebrities. Discounts can be up to 70 per cent off retail price. The site guarantees every item is genuine and has come from “trusted personalities”. Cosmetics tend to be from online influencers. Milk Makeup Tint spritz, 5g New: £22 Pre-owned: £14 Depop 8 Save over £15 with on this Glossier soft touch lip creme, 6ml with Depop Credit: Glossier ANYONE can list beauty products for sale on Depop and set their own price. But rules say cosmetics and perfumes must be genuine and unused. Buyers now have to pay a marketplace fee on top of the cost of the item, which is up to five per cent of the cost plus a fixed amount up to £1. Glossier soft touch lip creme, 6ml New: £24 Pre-owned: £8.99 This Is Beauty 8 Big savings on Jimmy Choo eau de toilette spray Credit: Jimmy Choo ALL products come directly from UK shops, including online and high street retailers, who cannot sell them due to the packaging being damaged or opened. Items are up to 70 per cent less than normal price. The site does a quality control check before listing an item for sale, stating what the issue is. Jimmy Choo eau de toilette spray New: £79 ???? Pre-owned: £40.95 Bop 8 Philip Kingsley body building shampoo, 75ml with a saving of almost £11 Credit: BOOP OPERATES in a similar way to This Is Beauty, sourcing products directly from brands. Each product is inspected and it only sells those that are new, unopened and safe for use. Packaging may be damaged or items were returned, excess or out-of-season stock, old formulations or had quality control issues. Philip Kingsley body building shampoo, 75ml New: £12 Pre-owned: £1.49 Dangers to be aware of SHOPPING second-hand means a risk of buying fakes. Have a good look at the packaging and only buy items with lots of photographs, rather than just one. Check expiry dates, too. Organic products with few preservatives go out of date quickly. You may want to use a sanitising spray on products. Lina says: “You can spray powders, bronzers and powder product and kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria. Lipstick you can also spray or shave, but I would never buy lip gloss or mascara on a resale site.” When buying on Vinted, eBay or Depop, it is at your own risk, whereas some sites sanitise or do the checking for you. Other sites sell products direct from brands and shops that are guaranteed to have never been touched, but they may be missing packaging or have a dented box. GIFT CARDS BEING WASTED 8 An estimated £300million in vouchers and cards expires unspent every year, according to a finance expert Credit: Getty ARE you expecting to receive a gift card this Christmas? If so, check the terms and make sure you use it before it expires. An estimated £300million in vouchers and cards go unspent every year, according to Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. After 18 months, top-selling gift card One4all loses 90p a month until the balance reaches zero. Others may end up being useless within months if a retailer goes bust. Sarah said: “The last few years have taught us that even big household names aren’t immune to this. "If they do go out of business it will be up to administrators whether they continue to accept vouchers, so they could be worth nothing.” Over the past few years, big-name retailers including Wilko, Paper-chase and M&Co have collapsed into admin-istration. While retailers such as Wilko continue to accept gift card payments until they close, this is not always the case when a retailer collapses. Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert, said: “You can try to make a claim in writing to the administrators with proof of your vouchers. “But before you do this, it is worth calling or visiting the store to check the voucher can be used.” Read more on the Scottish Sun FERRY WINDY Ferry stranded amid Storm Darragh as passengers stuck on ship for 12 hours HORROR BLAZE Huge fire erupts at Scots industrial estate as emergency crews race to scene Shoppers should also take care with vouchers for experience days as they have two deadlines – one for when the experience must be claimed and another for when the activity must take place. Olivia Marshall BANK ON A FESTIVE BONUS LLOYDS is giving customers who switch to one of its accounts £200 just in time for Christmas – but you need to be quick. The high street giant is offering the cash to new and existing customers who move to its Club Lloyds account. But there are just days left to get the deal as it will be pulled on Tuesday. To be eligible, you must use the Current Account Switch Service to change from your bank to Lloyds. This service moves your direct debits, payments and balance to your new bank. To get the bonus, you need at least three direct debits set up. You cannot have received a switching bonus from Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland since April 2020. Existing Lloyds customers can also get the deal if they swap to Club Lloyds and meet the criteria. The account comes with a range of benefits, including 12 months of Disney+, six cinema tickets or a magazine subscription. But it has a £3 monthly fee unless you pay in £2,000 or more a month. The offer is also available when you switch to the Club Lloyds Platinum Account or Club Lloyds Silver Account, but these have much higher fees. To switch, open the Lloyds account online, in branch, by phone or through its app. When you apply, you will be asked if you want to swap from another bank. The money should be paid into your account within three working days of the switch being complete. Amelia Stout— BIRTH NAME: James Earl Carter, Jr. — BORN: Oct. 1, 1924, at the Wise Clinic in Plains, Georgia, the first U.S. president born in a hospital. He would become the first president to live for an entire century . — EDUCATION: Plains High School, Plains, Georgia, 1939-1941; Georgia Southwestern College, Americus, Georgia, 1941-1942; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 1942-1943; U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, 1943-1946 (class of 1947); Union College, Schenectady, New York, 1952-1953. — PRESIDENCY: Sworn-in as 39th president of the United States at the age of 52 years, 3 months and 20 days on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. — POST-PRESIDENCY: Launched The Carter Center in 1982. Began volunteering at Habitat for Humanity in 1984. Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Taught for 37 years at Emory University, where he was granted tenure in 2019, at age 94. — OTHER ELECTED OFFICES: Georgia state senator, 1963-1967; Georgia governor, 1971-1975. — OTHER OCCUPATIONS: Served in U.S. Navy, achieved rank of lieutenant, 1946-53; Farmer, warehouseman, Plains, Georgia, 1953-77. — FAMILY: Wife, Rosalynn Smith Carter , married July 7, 1946 until her death Nov. 19, 2023. They had three sons, John William (Jack), James Earl III (Chip), Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff); a daughter, Amy Lynn; and 11 living grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Source: Jimmy Carter Library & Museum
UK leader Starmer heads to Gulf to talk trade, MideastTony DeAngelo looks through his window in St. Petersburg, Russia, and sees snow. Also his fate. At age 29, this American Hockey Player in Exile has accepted the fact his NHL career is likely over. “I’m not very optimistic,” DeAngelo told me on Tuesday following a text exchange in which the one-time No. 77 inquired about the state of the Rangers. “Would I love to come back? I would absolutely love to come back and that’s my goal, but I’m not optimistic and I’m not going to let it affect my daily life. “I’m here, these guys have taken care of me, they wanted me, so I’m playing hard, hopefully this team can win. They put a lot of stock in that, I want to focus on that.” Again, “here” is Russia’s second largest city and the team DeAngelo is talking about is St. Petersburg SKA, which he is 23 games into the KHL season with following parts of eight seasons and 371 games in the NHL.
'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Big Lots reaches deal to keep hundreds of US stores open The discount chain Big Lots has reached a deal that will keep hundreds of its stores open. Big Lots said it will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, which specializes in distressed companies. Gordon Brothers will then transfer Big Lots’ stores to other retailers. Variety Wholesalers, which owns more than 400 U.S. discount stores, plans to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots stores and operate them under the Big Lots brand. Big Lots filed for bankruptcy protection in September, saying inflation and high interest rates had cut back on consumer demand for its furniture and other products. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. Trump's request Friday came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The brief said Trump opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower as Wall Street ends a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62%. 10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025 NEW YORK (AP) — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling, as early as January 14th, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. The department has taken such action in the past. But once those measures run out the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Canadian Cabinet ministers meet with Trump's nominee for commerce secretary in bid to avoid tariffs TORONTO (AP) — Two top Canadian Cabinet ministers have met with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary at Mar-a-Lago as Canada tries to avoid sweeping tariffs when Trump takes office. New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department. The meeting was a follow up to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States.DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — A collision between a high-speed passenger train and a fire truck on Saturday morning in Florida left three firefighters and multiple train passengers injured, authorities said. Related video above: Derailment happened as Mass. train traveled over speed limit, report says The crash happened at 10:45 a.m. in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed about a block away from the Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel reported. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a local hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue transported 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Brightline officials didn’t immediately respond to an email inquiry Saturday afternoon. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said that agency is still gathering information about Saturday’s Brightline crash and hasn’t decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline’s high speed trains that killed three people at the same crossing early this year along the railroad’s route between Miami and Orlando. More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 — giving the railroad the worst death rate in the nation. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of the train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline hasn’t been found to be at fault in those previous deaths. Railroad safety has been a concern since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, spilling toxic chemicals that caught fire. Regulators urged the industry to improve safety and members of Congress proposed a package of reforms, but railroads haven’t made many major changes to their operations and the bill has stalled. ___ Associated Press writers Josh Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska, and Chevel Johnson contributed from New Orleans.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII's (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division was recently recognized with the 2024 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Award by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. HII is the largest industrial employer in the commonwealth. NNS received the corporation award in the annual program coordinated by Serve Virginia and the Virginia Service Foundation, acknowledging Virginians who volunteer to make a difference in their communities. "We are honored to be recognized by Governor Youngkin for the work our shipbuilders do to make our community stronger,” said Xavier Beale, NNS vice president of human resources and trades administration. "Shipbuilding is a noble calling, and we're proud that their commitment to building the world's best ships carries over into their efforts to give selflessly of their time and talents.” Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hiis-newport-news-shipbuilding-division-recognized-with-2024-virginia-governors-volunteerism-and-community-service-award/ . NNS shipbuilders contribute thousands of hours of service annually to their local communities through volunteer activities, both those coordinated by the shipyard and independently. Examples of such efforts include hosting American Red Cross blood drives, collecting food and volunteering at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, and supporting Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg. Since 2002, NNS volunteers have helped build 21 homes for Habitat for Humanity, with work on a 22 nd well underway . NNS also plays a vital role in preparing underserved students for college and the workforce by offering a range of programs designed to enhance academic and career readiness. Through STEM mentoring programs like Girls with Engineering Minds in Shipbuilding (GEMS) and Young Men Engineers (YEM), NNS shipbuilders volunteer to engage with students, providing guidance and inspiration in science, technology, engineering and math fields at the middle school level. On-site job experiences and career awareness programs further expose students, especially high school students, to real-world maritime careers, offering invaluable insights into roles in ship design, engineering, and manufacturing. Programs such as Scouts, which embed NNS employees in local career and technical education (CTE) programs throughout the school year, help connect what students are learning in the classroom to industry. About HII HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII's mission is to deliver the world's most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. As the nation's largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit: Todd Corillo [email protected] (757) 688-3220 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/232896ec-4f21-41da-8538-d8d74babd37d36 Fun Things To Buy Because Practicality Is For Squares
WINNIPEG — Mike O’Shea stood in front of reporters Friday and kept his cool while answering questions about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 41-24 Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts last weekend. The head coach was asked if he made a mistake keeping injured quarterback Zach Collaros in the game, why star running back Brady Oliveira didn’t get the ball more and whether a flawed game plan led to Winnipeg’s third consecutive championship loss. “As an entire team, we didn’t have our best game,” O’Shea said in his end-of-the-season press conference. “We didn’t lack effort. We didn’t lack desire. “We didn’t have our best game as an entire team. Three phases. Coaches — everybody. Me especially.” O’Shea admitted he missed calling a timeout in the fourth quarter when there were only 11 Blue Bombers on the field instead of 12. “I don’t get the count over the headset as quickly as I probably need to, we can’t count. As I’m seeing a guy come off, that’s the right time for that timeout that I should have used,” O’Shea said. He also said he should have used a challenge flag earlier on a play he didn’t identify, and checked on his players more during the game. But hindsight wouldn’t change his decision to put Collaros back in the game after the index finger on his throwing hand was cut deep when it hit a defender’s helmet. “He absolutely deserves every opportunity to lead this team,” O’Shea said. “From what I saw and from chatting with him very briefly, I felt really comfortable with that. I didn’t think it was going to be easy, but I thought it’s Zach, so...” The injury to Collaros’s finger happened late in the third quarter when the Blue Bombers were trailing the Argonauts 17-10. The veteran left the game and returned with a bandaged finger that needed five stitches and a numbing agent. He wore a glove on the hand and told reporters earlier this week it was difficult to grip the ball. Collaros said he warned receivers in the huddle his throws might not have the usual zip and they should be prepared to come back for the ball. “(I) saw him delivering the ball on the sidelines. Then you see him deliver a couple balls out there and some of them are pretty damn good, right?” O’Shea said. “The awareness of Zach to say to the receivers, ‘hey, work a little harder for me,’ I think it’s natural and what should be said. I think they already know that.” When Collaros re-entered the game, he threw interceptions in back-to-back series. “On one of them he got rid of the ball and I thought it was a good ball and the defensive player made a good play,” O’Shea said of the picks. “One slipped right out of his hand or I don’t know if it got tipped or not. You’ve got to give him that opportunity.” Oliveira was questioning his lack of opportunities in the game when he spoke to reporters earlier in the week. The CFL’s newly minted most outstanding player and top Canadian only had 11 carries for 84 yards and one late touchdown. About 17 or 18 run plays were called, O’Shea said. “One starts off with a procedure penalty in the first and then six of those get pulled because there’s X number of guys in the box or the read says this is not a run play anymore, this is now a pass play,” he said. “You call that many runs and then a pile of them get pulled because of the structure of the defence. That’s OK with me at that point.” O’Shea said Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce has been granted permission to talk to CFL teams with head-coaching job openings. The B.C. Lions are reportedly interested in Pierce. The Edmonton Elks also have a vacant head coach spot. If Pierce doesn’t become a head coach, O’Shea said he wants him to stay in Winnipeg. He believes Pierce had the offence “extremely well-prepared” for the Grey Cup. “I’m never going to question the play-calling, and I think what’s going on here is we’re questioning,” O’Shea said. “We’re trying to find blame and fault when that’s nowhere in our DNA of how we built this eight, nine, 10 years ago. We’re starting to try and find all these answers and question all these people that were 0-4 and 2-6 and then 10-1, and we just didn’t play our best game.” The Bombers finished 11-7 and claimed the West Division title that earned them a fifth consecutive trip to the Grey Cup. They won the championship in 2019 and ’21, but lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes last year and 24-23 to Toronto in 2023. “We’re the same group that got there, that went on a phenomenal run after a bad start, and a bad start for a lot of reasons that we overcame,” O’Shea said. “I just, I don’t question any of it. I look for answers, too. I watch the film over and over and over again. And look to already make notes on how we’re going to be better, how we’re going to get back there again.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024. Judy Owen, The Canadian PressIowa turns to former walk-on QB to start against MarylandWike Fires Back At Odili, Says Elder Statesman Shouldn’t Be Trader, Sycophant All The Time
Croatia’s incumbent president wins most votes at polls but still faces runoff
Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Foundation Hosts 5th Annual ‘Winter Wonderland’ Theme Park And Holiday DriveMARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — The Marrakech International Film Festival bestowed its top prize Friday on “Happy Holidays,” a Palestinian drama set in Israel whose screenplay won an award at the Venice Film Festival in September. The film, directed by Scandar Copti, follows Israeli and Palestinian characters facing familial and societal pressures in present-day Haifa and stars both professional and non-professional actors. It is the first Palestinian film to win Marrakech’s Etoile D’Or award. Screenwriter Mona Copti in an acceptance speech said the film team’s joy at winning was tempered by war in the Middle East and she denounced what she called the dehumanization of Palestinians Eight features, each a director’s first or second film, competed in the festival. The winning films tackled social issues through the lens of family, a theme that the festival’s artistic director Remi Bonhomme underlined at its opening. The festival awarded its jury prize to two additional films from Somalia and Argentina. The nine-member jury awarded Mo Harawe’s “The Village Next to Paradise” — a story about a family living under the threat of drone strikes dreaming of a better life — and Silvina Schnicer’s “The Cottage” about children who commit an unspeakable act at a rich family’s summer vacation home. “The Village Next to Paradise” participated last year in the Marrakech festival’s Atlas Workshops, an initiative to develop filmmakers from Morocco, the Middle East and Africa and promote their work. In his acceptance speech, Harawe lauded the film’s Somali cast and crew and highlighted the significance of the award for Somalia. Cecilia Rainero, the lead actor of “The Cottage,” thanked the jury and said it was meaningful amid Argentinian President Javier Milei’s moves to defund the country’s film industry.
WASHINGTON (WLS) -- Guided by a giant gold star, visitors cross the threshold of the White House and enter a literal "Season of Peace and Light." That's the theme First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose for her last holiday in office. "I thought about the values that are important to all of us, you know, family, faith, kindness, community," said Biden. "And so I thought, what would families most like? And I thought, you know, I think they would like peace and light. And I hope you see that reflected in all the decorations." In the East Wing shines this year's Gold Star Tree, honoring the nation's fallen heroes. "The families come every year, and we have the stars that have the names of their loved ones who have given the ultimate, ultimate sacrifice of their lives for our country," said Biden. "And we know what it's like to have that empty seat at the table during the holidays and how painful it is." This year, 165,000 holiday lights were strung and more than 28,000 ornaments were hung. And it was all made possible by hundreds of volunteers from across the country. "This year, 300 [ volunteers ] were chosen, they came and worked for days on end and created all this beauty that you see around you," said Biden. In the diplomatic reception room, trees are decorated with handmade paper pomegranates, pinwheels and oranges - an homage to a Biden family tradition. "My grandma grew up during the Depression, and she would always tell us that they would put an orange in the toe of the stocking, because it was so prized to have a piece of fruit. So, I kept up that tradition, and I've taught that tradition to my children and hope that they carry it forth as well," said Biden. In the China Room, a baker's bench and artisanal bread set the scene. It is a reminder to guests of the peaceful, patient and loving process of baking and breaking bread together. And Biden said she'll stick with tradition when her family breaks bread together this Christmas. "We have our dinner planned and every year we have the same thing. You know an Italian meal, because I'm Italian. And so I do the pasta in the brasciole and the meatballs and the same things that the kids love and look forward to every year," said Biden. And as Biden celebrates Christmas one last time at the White House, she will have certainly left her mark on the American people. "I think it's for others to determine my legacy, but I hope when they think about me, they think about education, which is very important to me," she said. Biden also acknowledged the many American women who work, and hopes she'll be a good role model to them, being that she was the first woman to work a job as First Lady. And as she reflects on her four years in office, she had this one last holiday message as First Lady. "I hope that all the our families in our country find peace and light and a sense of joy," said Biden. "So, thank you for coming and visiting the White House, and I hope I can see say to all of your viewers, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and may you find peace." Click here for Biden's tour of last year's decorations.
Tech to drive India's manufacturers growth: SurveyBOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Adam Jones ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Montana State ran over Montana 34-11 on Saturday to reclaim the Brawl of the Wild trophy. The Bobcats (12-0, 8-0 Big Sky Conference) wrapped up the 123rd meeting in this rivalry with 420 yards, 326 on the ground. Montana State capped its first unbeaten season and can match the school record for consecutive wins with a playoff win in two weeks. The Bobcats, ranked second in the FCS coaches poll, should be the top seed in the playoffs after top-ranked North Dakota State lost its finale to fifth-ranked South Dakota. Montana (8-4, 5-3), ranked 10th, is expected to add to its record 27 FCS playoff appearances but will not have a first-round bye in the 24-team bracket. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott was 6-of-12 passing for 94 yards with a touchdown in poor conditions and added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has helped the Bobcats score at least 30 points in every game this season Mellott had a 5-yard touchdown run on MSU's first possession and Mellott found Jones for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead. Myles Sansted had two field goals in the final two minutes, including a 49-yarder as time expired for a 20-3 halftime lead. Jones dominated the second half and scored two short touchdowns. Eli Gillman scored on a 1-yard run for Montana's touchdown between the Jones' touchdowns. The Grizzlies had just 234 yards and went 2 of 12 on third down. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25