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jili super ace demo Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The jungle drama is heating up on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! with ten celebs facing the challenges of the Australian wilderness. ITV's hit show has had viewers hooked from the get-go, flaunting a star-studded cast including the fabulous WAG Coleen Rooney, N-Dubz's Tulisa, and TikTok's very own GK Barry. But as two new contestants enter the fray, their welcoming party to the jungle was far less than they bargained for. In a twist in tonight's episode, Love Island star Maura Higgins and the charming Reverend Richard Coles found themselves in the dilapidated Jungle Junkyard. However, a delightful secret lurked amidst the supposed despair. Greeted by complaints about their grim new home, hosts Ant and Dec couldn't help but chirp in through the intercom with an intriguing: "All is not what it seems." The pair examined their new home to discover a hidden haven complete with a plush double bed, a concealed comfy sofa, a bubble-filled bathtub replete with bath salts and piping hot water, a fully functional gas cooker, and a fridge door that revealed an array of fruit smoothies and a luscious fruit platter. Ant and Dec then set the stage for their covert challenge: Maura and Richard have to convincingly play paupers to their campmates while enjoying their secret luxuries. If they succeeded, they would feast like kings at the Jungle Junkyard buffet. With the gauntlet thrown down, Maura boasted: "I'm a great liar", and reverend Richard quipped: "I'm gonna learn fast." Kicking off in classic I'm A Celeb style, the newcomers were thrown into the deep end with an immediate challenge. They had to hoodwink the original campmates into giving up one of their comfy beds in return for three food portions. GK and Coleen became the first to fall for the ruse as they were sent off to deliver grimy dishes to the junkyard, where Maura and Richard awaited to play the part of cleaners. The late entrants put on a dramatic show and convinced GK and Coleen that their stay in the junkyard was nothing short of miserable. Their convincingly pitiful act was a success; the main camp felt for their plight, with the celebs describing the yard as "like a jail", prompting Dean to gallantly offer his bed to the newbies. This scheming pair have certainly made an impactful entrance, but can they snag the coveted title? Maura's chances look promising, despite her being one of the later ones to parachute in. Grosvenor Sport has given her odds of 7/4, suggesting she's already a frontrunner for the win. Grosvenor's spokesperson Simon Kew said: "In 2019, Higgins made a splashy late entry on Love Island and looks to shake things up again as a last-minute bombshell addition to the jungle!" I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! returns tomorrow night at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Trump names David Sacks as White House AI and crypto czarLebanon is closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for a main one that links Beirut with the Syrian capital Damascus, the General Security Directorate said Friday. The decision came hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged a border crossing in northern Lebanon just days after it was reopened. Separately, Jordan’s interior minister said the Naseeb border crossing with Syria had been closed because of the security situation on the Syrian side. He spoke after Syrian opposition activists said insurgents had captured the main border crossing with Jordan, forcing the Syrian authorities to leave. Separately, Israel’s military said it planned to reinforce its positions in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and near the border with Syria. Israel said it was “monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, offensive and defensive alike.” Meanwhile, Syrian insurgents entered the central towns of Rastan and Talbiseh early Friday just north of the central city of Homs, bringing them closer Syria’s third largest city, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media both reported. The breakthrough came a day after jihiadi-led opposition fighters captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest. In other developments, a Hamas official said international mediators have resumed negotiations with the Palestinian militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war is within reach. Israel's war against Hamas has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced 90% of the population of 2.3 million, often multiple times. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in October 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage . Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at least 44,500 Palestinians , more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were combatants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. Here's the Latest: CAIRO — Israel said Friday that “thousands of food packages and sacks of flour” were delivered to the isolated northernmost reaches of Gaza, where hunger experts warn famine could be underway. The delivery would mark one of the first successful convoys to the area, which is besieged by Israeli troops that have mounted a fierce offensive in Gaza’s north since early October. COGAT, the Israeli military agency that controls the border crossings into Gaza, said the aid was delivered to the town of Beit Hanoun. Israeli authorities did not publicly say who delivered the aid, and did not provide details on the exact amount of aid involved. COGAT released photos of flatbed trucks driving past rubble, some carrying what appeared to be 25-kilogram (55 pound) sacks of aid and others with cargo covered under tarps. The U.N. has struggled to deliver aid to the area in recent weeks. Alia Zaki, a spokesperson for the World Food Program, told The Associated Press that nearly no food has entered the area for two months, and that the agency’s daily requests to enter the area have been denied by Israel. Of two missions that have been approved since Oct. 6, Zaki said, only two trucks of aid were delivered to a shelter that Israeli soldiers ordered to evacuate soon after and then burned. The situation in northern Gaza has prompted hunger experts to warn that famine is either near or may already be underway. BEIRUT — A Kurdish-led force in Syria that's backed by the United States says it has taken positions along the border with Iraq, replacing Syrian government forces. The move by the Syrian Democratic Forces to capture areas on the west bank of the Euphrates River is likely to cut the land line that links Iran with the Mediterranean coast. The SDF said in a statement that its fighters were deployed in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour and west of the Euphrates for the safety of civilians. “Our primary objective is to protect our security and the security of our people,” it said about the deployment. SDF spokesman Farhad Shami told The Associated Press that their fighters are not in control of the Boukamal border crossing with Iraq. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said Iran-backed fighters have evacuated the border crossing point of Boukamal and the SDF is expected to control it later. The Boukamal border crossing has been a main supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, who had opened the corridor that links Iran with the Mediterranean in 2017. The developments come as jihadi-led insurgents in northwestern Syria have made stunning advances over the past week that have so far met little resistance from government troops. KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Crowds of displaced Palestinians, some carrying cooking pots and crying children, gathered at an aid kitchen in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Friday, but many left with nothing. “The food ran out,” said Adel Mohammad, who was hoping to get a meal of rice – the only food being served — for his children. “At night they wake up hungry.” After the kitchen shut down, children used their hands to scoop bits of rice left in large empty cooking pots. The World Food Program has warned that the humanitarian response in Gaza is “nearing collapse as famine looms.” The U.N. agency says Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries, along with the breakdown of law and order in Gaza, has made it difficult for aid convoys to reach displaced Palestinians. Concerns are growing with the onset of another winter of war. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, many displaced repeatedly by Israeli attacks, are living in tent camps, reliant on international aid. Experts have already warned of famine in northern Gaza, which Israeli forces have almost completely isolated since early October. BEIRUT -- Lebanon’s General Security Directorate said Friday the country is closing all land border crossing with Syria except for a main one that links Beirut with the Syrian capital Damascus. The decision by the security agency in charge of border crossings came hours after an Israeli airstrike damaged the Arida border crossing with Syria in north Lebanon, days after it was reopened. “Border crossings will be closed until further notice for the safety of travelers,” the agency said in a statement posted on X. It said that the only border crossing that will be kept open is Masnaa in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley. Lebanon’s state news agency said Friday the airstrike on the Arida crossing caused heavy material damage and cut the road. The Israeli military said fighter jets attacked the border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, adding that they were used to transfer munitions for Lebanon’s Hezbollah group. BEIRUT - Syrian opposition activists say insurgents have captured a main border crossing with Jordan forcing Syrian authorities to leave it. Shortly afterward, Jordan’s Interior Minister al-Frayeh said the Naseeb border crossing with Syria had been closed because of the security situation on the Syrian side. Opposition activists posted videos online showing people storming the border crossing with Jordan, which was in rebel hands until government forces regained control of it in 2018. Ahmad al-Masalmeh, an opposition activist based in France who covers events in southern Syria, told The Associated Press that local gunmen have captured the Naseeb crossing as well as several other areas in the southern province of Daraa where the uprising against President Bashar Assad began in March 2011. Syrian troops have evacuated checkpoints in several areas including the villages of Inkhil, Nawa and Jassem, he added. JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said on Friday that it planned to reinforce its forces stationed in the Golan Heights and near the border with Syria, where civil war has reignited between the government and rebel groups. The Israeli military said in a statement that it was “monitoring developments and is prepared for all scenarios, offensive and defensive alike.” After 13 years of civil war, Syrian insurgents are gaining ground, first taking cities in the country’s north and on Friday entering cities in central Syria. It comes as rebel groups mount new challenges to Russia- and Iran-backed Syrian forces, including in Aleppo, the country’s largest city. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has intermittently struck areas in Syria seen as strongholds of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group it is at war with in Lebanon. The advances of the Syrian insurgents adds new instability on Israel’s northern border, two months after it invaded neighboring Lebanon. Israel’s defense minister and military chief of staff met to discuss the situation Thursday. Israeli media reported there is concern in the country’s security establishment that the rebels would advance until they reached the Golan Heights, territory occupied by Israel, gaining control of Syrian weapons stockpiles along the way. Writing in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahoronoth Friday, veteran military correspondent Ron Ben-Yishai wrote that Israel may “prefer” to destroy the weapons storehouses so they won’t fall into the hands of the rebels. Israel seized control of the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. Syria has constantly accused Israel of launching attacks against it from territory it occupies in the Golan Heights. Israel has frequently struck Syria over the years. BEIRUT — Syrian insurgents entered two central towns early Friday just north of the central city of Homs, bringing them closer Syria’s third largest city, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media both reported. The break into Rastan and Talbiseh came a day after opposition gunmen captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest, after the Syrian army said it withdrew to avoid fighting inside the city and spare the lives of civilians. The insurgents, led by the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have said that they will march to Homs and Damascus, President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. The city of Homs, parts of which were controlled by insurgents until 2014, is a major intersection point between the capital, Damascus, and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus where Assad enjoys wide support. Homs province is Syria’s largest in size and borders Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. Insurgents are now 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from Homs, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor. “The battle of Homs is the mother of all battles and will decide who will rule Syria,” said Rami Abdurrahman, the Observatory’s chief. MANAMA, Bahrain — Iran said Friday it conducted a successful space launch, the latest for its program the West alleges improves Tehran’s ballistic missile technology. Iran conducted the launch using its Simorgh program , a satellite-carrying rocket that had had a series of failed launches, at Iran’s Imam Khomeini Spaceport in rural Semnan province. That’s the site of Iran’s civilian space program. The Simorgh carried what Iran described as an “orbital propulsion system,” as well as two research systems to a 400-kilometer (250-mile) orbit above the Earth. A system that could change the orbit of a spacecraft would allow Iran to geo-synchronize the orbits of its satellites. Tehran has long sought that ability. Iran also put the payload of the Simorgh at 300 kilograms (660 pounds), heavier than its previous successful launches. There was no immediate independent confirmation the launch was successful. The U.S. military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The announcement comes as heightened tensions grip the wider Middle East over Israel’s continued war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and as an uneasy ceasefire holds in Lebanon. MELBOURNE, Australia — Arsonists extensively damaged a Melbourne synagogue on Friday in what Australia’s prime minister condemned as an antisemitic attack on Australian values. The blaze in the Adass Israel Synagogue is an escalation in targeted attacks in Australia since the war began between Israel and Hamas last year. Cars and buildings have been vandalized and torched around Australia in protests inspired by the war. A witness who had come to the synagogue to pray saw two masked men spreading a liquid accelerant with brooms inside the building at 4:10 a.m., officials said. About 60 firefighters with 17 fire trucks responded to the blaze, which police said caused extensive damage. Investigators have yet to identify a motive, but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blamed antisemitism. “This was a shocking incident to be unequivocally condemned. There is no place in Australia for an outrage such as this,” Albanese told reporters. “To attack a place of worship is an attack on Australian values. To attack a synagogue is an act of antisemitism, is attacking the right that all Australians should have to practice their faith in peace and security,” he added. ISTANBUL — A Hamas official says international mediators have resumed negotiating with the militant group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to end the 14-month war was within reach. Ceasefire negotiations were halted last month when Qatar suspended talks with mediators from Egypt and the United States because of frustration over a lack of progress between Israel and Hamas. But there has been a “reactivation” of efforts in recent days to end the fighting, release hostages from Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in Israel, according to Bassem Naim, an official in Hamas’ political bureau who spoke with The Associated Press in Turkey on Thursday. Another official familiar with the talks confirmed the return of Qatari mediators. The official spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations with the media. Since the talks broke down, there have been significant shifts in the global and regional landscape. Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, and a ceasefire was declared last week between Israel and Hamas ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump is a staunch supporter of Israel, but Naim said he believes the incoming administration could “affect the situation positively” given that Trump had made halting wars in the region part of his campaign platform. Trump this week called for the release of all hostages held in Gaza by the time he takes office on Jan. 20, saying there would be “hell to pay” if that doesn’t happen. WASHINGTON -- Three U.S. service members were being evaluated for potential traumatic brain injuries following an attack near a base in eastern Syria this week, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday. Ryder said U.S. Central Command is still evaluating who was behind the attack near Mission Support Site Euphrates, which prompted the U.S. to conduct counter strikes on Tuesday. At the time, the Pentagon said rockets and mortars had landed in the vicinity of the base. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria to conduct missions to counter the Islamic Stage group. By Lolita BaldorArticle content The Raptors got taught a tough lesson by the title-contending Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday: They aren’t in OKC’s class, not even close, and even if Jakob Poeltl had been able to play, that still would be the case (keep in mind the Thunder was also missing star big man Chet Holmgren). Recommended Videos While no team can enjoy losing by 37 points, it will benefit the players in the long run. As rookie Jonathan Mogbo said post-game, “That was a great team ... We have to learn when we’re ready to catch and shoot, got to shoot it. Teams like that are going to try to force us to shoot, so got to take our time live with the shot, even if it doesn’t go down. Stay consistent and confident.” As head coach Darko Rajakovic put it: “They’re a team that’s built for now. I think there’s a lot from us to look at that team and learn about physicality they play with, how they’re aggressive,” Rajakovic said. “They’re number one in the league in creating turnovers. And that’s very interesting for us, sometimes we turn it over recklessly, and sometimes it’s because of the other defence. I felt tonight it was the other defence that made us turn the ball over. So there’s going to be a lot of good for us to go through this.” Toronto was coming off some nice performances, but a reality check like that will beneficial in helping the team recognize how to improve and that they are a long way from actually competing with good NBA teams. Toronto is just 3-11against teams .500 or better, vs. 4-5 against weaker opponents. It hasn’t helped that Toronto has yet to field its full starting lineup this season and has only had four of the starters (Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Poeltl, RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick) available on the same night in six of 23 games (with key veteran backups Kelly Olynyk and Bruce Brown yet to play at all). More takeaways and a look ahead to a second straight Toronto visit by an NBA MVP candidate, this time Dallas star Luka Doncic: ONE OF A KIND It says something about how brilliant Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is that he can shoot 1-for-10 on three-point attempts and still look dominant. The Raptors tried a number of ways to slow him, but only Ochai Agbaji had much success. Davion Mitchell had bothered star point guards like De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, LaMelo Ball and Darius Garland quite a bit this season, but Gilgeous-Alexander shrugged him off. It was a hope he misses long shots kind of night, but even that wasn’t enough. I talked to Kelly Olynyk pre-game about his Canadian national team pal Gilgeous-Alexander and how he’s added increased outside shooting to the arsenal (he’s taking over six a game now vs. 2.5 and 3.1 the previous two seasons). Olynyk saw it as a way for Gilgeous-Alexander to make himself less predictable and even harder to stop. “You have to guard him for that now, as he continues to develop that makes that a shot that he’s comfortable with, and going to you’re gonna have to press up and make sure to take some of that stuff away,” Olynyk said. “Or is that something you’re living with? Because he does everything else at a such an elite level ... He’s going to look at how people are guarding him and doing stuff, and he’s going to figure out how he can counter that. And I think shooting that the threes and the pound dribble, step-back and walk up threes, because guys are maybe, they’re scared. They’re scared of what he can do with the ball. So yeah, he’s gonna keep adding stuff to his game and keep making sure he’s as dynamic as he can be.” MOGBO IN THE MIDDLE Without Poeltl and Olynyk (who were both upgraded to questionable for Saturday against Dallas) Rajakovic decided to start Bruno Fernando. Things went downhill after Fernando won the opening tip, with the reserve big man picking up turnovers and fouls before being subbed out (he fared better in a couple of stints later in the game). Rajakovic opted to start Jonathan Mogbo in the third quarter and the rookie again showed flashes, despite being a team-worst -28 against the loaded Thunder. Mogbo scored a career-high 17 points in 23 minutes, and though he didn’t rebound like he usually does (grabbing only one, along with an assist, steal and block), the 31st pick of the 2024 draft is having a nice start to his career. “It was really good for me tonight to see Jonathan Mogbo in an expanding role, against different matchups,” Rajakovic said after first noting how much the team misses Poeltl. “I thought that he had overall good game tonight.” Mogbo actually played a double-header, joining some teammates to also suit up for Raptors 905 earlier in the day before also playing with the Raptors. “Today was different, kind of felt like AAU back in the day, just go out, play hard. Kids were out there (in the crowd), had great energy this morning so that’s what Its all about,” Mogbo said. @WolstatSun

AI trained on Pokemon Go data could see military use

Pump.fun , a decentralized platform for creating Solana-based memecoins, has recently come under intense scrutiny due to the misuse of its livestream feature by some users. The platform, which has been a significant player in the cryptocurrency industry, is facing backlash as instances of explicit and harmful content broadcasted during token livestreams have surfaced. The Controversy Surrounding Livestream Misuse Reports have emerged of users engaging in dangerous content and financial scams on Pump.fun’s livestreams, sparking safety concerns and calls for moderation. The platform hit a new revenue milestone, but not without criticism over its live stream feature, which has become a hotspot for disturbing activities. From threats of self-harm to violent acts, the misuse of the livestream feature has raised alarms within the crypto community and beyond. Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 16 (Feb 10 – May 3, 2025 ) opens registrations; register today for early bird discounts. Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations here. Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and i nvest in Africa’s finest startups here . In response to these incidents, community members have called for stricter moderation or the shutdown of the livestream feature. A notable incident involved a user threatening suicide if their token did not reach a specific market capitalization, prompting urgent calls for Pump.fun to intervene and disable the livestream. Other disturbing reports include threats of violence, such as a person firing a gun each time their coin’s value increased, and a child threatening to harm family members over token price goals. Pump.fun’s Response Alon , the pseudonymous leader of Pump.fun, acknowledged the community’s concerns and defended the platform’s moderation efforts. He stated that the team moderates’ images, videos, livestreams, and comments, with a large team of moderators working around the clock alongside an internal team of engineers addressing the increased scale of coins, streams, and comments. The Future of Pump.fun While Pump.fun claims it is actively addressing illicit content, the community has called for more transparency and immediate measures to prevent harmful broadcasts. The platform has yet to announce whether additional safeguards or changes to its livestream feature will be implemented. For those looking for alternatives to Pump.fun, the market offers several options that cater to different needs and preferences. DexScreener: A real-time price chart and trading history platform that supports multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, BSC, Polygon, and more. It’s a comprehensive tool for traders who want to stay on top of market movements. Solscan.io: This user-friendly tool provides real-time updates for the Solana ecosystem. It’s ideal for tracking transactions, blocks, and token details, making it a valuable resource for Solana token holders. Jupiter (Jup.ag) : Known as one of the largest decentralized trading platforms, Jupiter boasts an active governance community and aims to be the ‘everything exchange’ for all users. Dextools.io: Serving as a gateway to DeFi, Dextools offers real-time charts and token information directly from the blockchain. It’s a favorite among traders who require in-depth analysis tools. Birdeye.so : Birdeye provides traders with crypto data tracking tools across various decentralized exchanges and automated market makers on multiple chains, aiding in the identification of trading opportunities. Moonshot: A new platform for launching and investing in meme coins on the Solana blockchain, marketed as a security-focused alternative to Pump.fun. It promises better security features to attract investors seeking safer investment avenues. Other notable mentions include Base.Fun, PinkMoon, KickPad, TrustSwap, BSCPad, Solanium, DeFiDrop, and PEAKDEFI Launchpad . These platforms offer a range of services from launchpads to trading and investment tools, each with its unique features and community. The situation at Pump.fun highlights the broader challenge of content moderation on decentralized platforms. As these platforms grow and attract more users, the need for effective moderation tools becomes increasingly critical to ensure user safety and maintain credibility. The crypto community will be watching closely to see how Pump.fun and similar platforms navigate these challenges in the pursuit of innovation while upholding community standards and safety. The world of toys is ever evolving, with trends coming and going, but some characters capture the hearts of children and adults alike, ensuring their return season after season. One such beloved series is the Pudgy Penguin toys , which have announced their much-anticipated return to Walmart for a third season in 2025. The Pudgy Penguin series, which initially captured attention through its unique blend of physical toys and digital experiences, has become a staple in the toy industry. The toys, inspired by a collection of 8,888 non-fungible tokens (NFTs) , offer children not just a toy but an entry into a digital world where their physical toy can be registered online. This innovative approach has allowed kids to enjoy their Pudgy Penguins in both the real world and a digital landscape, fostering creativity and community engagement. Walmart’s decision to bring back the Pudgy Penguin toys for a third season comes as no surprise. The retail giant has been at the forefront of embracing the intersection between traditional retail and the burgeoning digital marketplace. By offering exclusive items such as Ice Chrome and Gold Chrome collectible figures , Walmart has set itself apart, providing unique experiences for its customers. The success of the Pudgy Penguin toys can be attributed to their adaptability and the brand’s commitment to staying current with technological advancements. The toys’ integration with blockchain technology, like Ethereum and zkSync, has not only provided a secure way for kids to engage with their toys online but has also introduced them to the concept of digital ownership and collectability. As we look towards 2025, the excitement for the third season of Pudgy Penguin toys at Walmart is palpable. The brand has promised to continue its tradition of offering a diverse range of toys, including Plush Buddies, Clip-on Plushes, Igloo Collectibles, and Action Figures. With new Walmart exclusives on the horizon, the anticipation for what’s to come is building. The Pudgy Penguin toys are more than just playthings; they represent a shift in how consumers, especially younger ones, interact with brands and experience play. As we await the arrival of season 3, it’s clear that Pudgy Penguins and Walmart are not just riding the wave of digital integration into retail but are actively shaping the future of the toy industry. The Pudgy Penguins series has been a unique addition to the toy market, blending the worlds of digital and physical play. Each toy comes with a digital adoption certificate, allowing children to unlock their Forever Pudgy in the digital realm of Pudgy World. This innovative approach has not only provided a new way for kids to engage with their toys but has also introduced them to the concept of digital ownership and online communities. For those eager to add to their collection or start a new one, the countdown to 2025 begins. With Pudgy Penguins’ proven track record and Walmart’s commitment to delivering exclusive, engaging products, the third season is poised to be another hit, further cementing the Pudgy Penguin toys as a mainstay in the world of retail and digital entertainment.

Trump offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee to lead the PentagonBlackRock’s Martin S. Small to Present at the 2024 Goldman Sachs US Financial Services Conference on December 10thTrump offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee to lead the Pentagon

Congress Charts 2025 Roadmap at CWC Meet

WASHINGTON – One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won't apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith's move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. Recommended Videos The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump's political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump's presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it's possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith's team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump's presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump's 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump's argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could got a chance to do so. The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July it on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith's team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump's two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump's second term, while Trump's lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. ____ Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Justice Shoats had 18 points in Siena's 66-53 victory against Canisius on Sunday. Shoats shot 6 of 15 from the field, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 6 from the free-throw line for the Saints (5-5, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Brendan Coyle scored 17 points and added nine rebounds. Major Freeman had 14 points and shot 5 for 9 (2 for 6 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line. Paul McMillan IV led the Golden Griffins (0-10, 0-2) in scoring, finishing with 22 points and four assists. Jasman Sangha added 11 points and two steals for Canisius. Tana Kopa finished with six points. The Golden Griffins have lost 11 consecutive games, dating to a 72-56 defeat at the hands of Quinnipiac in the 2024 MAAC Tournament. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday after three seasons with the Wolverines. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound junior was a third-team All-American and a second-team All-Big Ten selection this season. He had three sacks among his 32 total tackles over 12 games in 2024. As a sophomore, Grant helped the Wolverines claim the national championship with 29 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks in 15 games. "I am very appreciative to Coach (Jim) Harbaugh and coach (Sherrone) Moore and the rest of the University of Michigan staff that I have crossed paths with," Grant posted on social media. "It has been an honor to be developed into a Michigan Man." Other Michigan players who intend to leave the program for the draft include defensive lineman Mason Graham, cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland. --Field Level Media

CRKN stock touches 52-week low at $0.71 amid sharp annual declineSyrian rebels seized the capital Damascus unopposed on Sunday after a lightning advance that sent President Bashar Assad fleeing to Russia after a 13-year civil war and six decades of his family's autocratic rule. In one of the biggest turning points for the Middle East in generations, the fall of Assad's government wiped out a bastion from which Iran and Russia exercised influence across the Arab world. Moscow gave him and his family asylum, Russian state media said. His sudden overthrow, at the hands of a revolt partly backed by Turkey and with roots in jihadi Sunni Islam, limits Iran's ability to spread weapons to its allies and could cost Russia its Mediterranean naval base. It may pave the way for millions of refugees scattered for more than a decade in camps across Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan to finally return home.

President-elect Donald Trump’s economic legacy may well depend on whether he prefers the comparative form of an adjective. Specifically, does he believe it is hard to make a living in the U.S. — or harder than it used to be? It is not an insignificant distinction. The central conceit of economic populism, dominating both the left and the right, is that things used to be better. This is a misdiagnosis. Making your way in an uncertain world and a constantly changing economy has always been hard — and always will be. But things are not harder than they used to be; in many ways, they’re getting easier. That may be a small and not especially helpful consolation to the millions of Americans struggling in today’s economy. But in terms of both political rhetoric and economic policy, the difference matters. It is true that inflation is still higher than it was before the pandemic, and this has made Americans’ lives harder and more uncertain (and is a big reason Trump won). But inflation is not driving his economic agenda, which aims to make America great again. The word again suggests there was a time, even before his first administration, when things were better. When exactly that was is unclear, but Trump has spoken about reviving manufacturing through tariffs, so let’s say it’s the postwar era of the 1960s. Which, to be fair, is not completely different from President Joe Biden’s agenda, which aimed to restore America’s greatness by empowering unions and subsidizing more manufacturing through industrial policy. But going back to America’s manufacturing economy would not actually be so great. It is tempting to romanticize the 1960s, when 30% of the labor force had manufacturing jobs that offered stable wages, long-term employment, a defined-benefit pension and enough income from a single earner to support a family. But that era was not as good as it seemed. Living standards were much lower; people lived in smaller houses and didn’t travel as much, and they were less likely to send their children to college. In 1965, 69.5% of prime working-age Americans were in the labor force. Today that figure is 83.3% — largely because so many women now work outside the home. Six decades ago, the U.S. had a much less inclusive economy, which did not offer wealth or stability for a majority of the population. This may be one reason there was so much social unrest during this supposed economic golden age. Today’s economy offers more opportunities to more people. Living standards, and life expectancy, are higher. More people go to college, own their home, have health insurance, can get credit, invest in the markets and receive retirement benefits. Wages have become more steady, and people stay in jobs longer. In short, the economy is more stable than it was 60 years ago. Any attempt to restore the economy of the past — whether by expanding tariffs, trying to revitalize unions that don’t fit the modern economy or imposing industrial policy — will not increase prosperity. It will create distortions that slow growth, increase the debt and help a few at the expense of many. What worked in Trump’s first term were practical policies that embraced the future, such as using the tax code to encourage more research and innovation and rescinding regulations that make the labor market less dynamic. Which way he’ll go in his second term remains uncertain.NDC Condemns “Militarization” of 2024 Elections, Calls for Recall of Deployed Troops

PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge has ordered an Alabama city to allow an LGBTQ+ pride group to participate in the city’s Christmas parade on Friday, after the mayor initially blocked the group from the annual event citing unspecified “safety concerns.” U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker Jr. ruled that the City of Prattville violated Prattville Pride’s First Amendment right to free speech and 14th Amendment right to equal protection under the law when it a float in the annual Christmas parade one day before the event was set to take place. “The City removed Prattville Pride from the parade based on its belief that certain members of the public who oppose Prattville Pride, and what is stands for, would react in a disruptive way. But discrimination based on a message’s content ‘cannot be tolerated under the First Amendment,’ ” Huffaker wrote in his opinion. The ruling required the city to provide at least two police officers to escort the float throughout the parade. On Thursday, Prattville Pride requested additional security measures from law enforcement. In response, Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr released a statement banning the group from the parade altogether, citing “serious safety concerns.” Huffaker’s ruling said that, leading up to the event, some community members “voiced vehement opposition” to the group’s inclusion in the parade, but that “the City has presented no evidence of legitimate, true threats of physical violence.” Gillespie’s office referred to a statement posted on the city’s social media in response to a request for comment. “The City respects the ruling of the Court and will comply with its order. The safety of everyone involved with the parade is a priority,” city officials said in a statement on social media. Prattville Pride celebrated the ruling on social media. “The Christmas parade is a cherished holiday tradition, and we are excited to celebrate alongside our neighbors and friends in the spirit of love, joy, and unity,” the group wrote. Prattville is a small city of about 40,000 people, just north of the capital of Montgomery. The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing . But it wasn't just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin , gold and other investments also drove higher. Here's a look at some of the numbers that defined the year. All are as of Dec. 20. Remember when President Bill Clinton got impeached or when baseball's Mark McGwire hit his 70th home run against the Montreal Expos? That was the last time the U.S. stock market closed out a second straight year with a leap of at least 20%, something the S&P 500 is on track to do again this year. The index has climbed 24.3% so far this year, not including dividends, following last year's spurt of 24.2%. The number of all-time highs the S&P 500 has set so far this year. The first came early, on Jan. 19, when the index capped a two-year comeback from the swoon caused by high inflation and worries that high interest rates instituted by the Federal Reserve to combat it would create a recession. But the index was methodical through the rest of the year, setting a record in every month outside of April and August, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. The latest came on Dec. 6. The number of times the Federal Reserve has cut its main interest rate this year from a two-decade high, offering some relief to the economy. Expectations for those cuts, along with hopes for more in 2025, were a big reason the U.S. stock market has been so successful this year. The 1 percentage point of cuts, though, is still short of the 1.5 percentage points that many traders were forecasting for 2024 at the start of the year. The Fed disappointed investors in December when it said it may cut rates just two more times in 2025, fewer than it had earlier expected. That’s how many points the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by the day after Election Day, as investors made bets on what Donald Trump’s return to the White House will mean for the economy and the world . The more widely followed S&P 500 soared 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. Aside from bitcoin, stocks of banks and smaller winners were also perceived to be big winners. The bump has since diminished amid worries that Trump’s policies could also send inflation higher. The level that bitcoin topped to set a record above $108,000 this past month. It's been climbing as interest rates come down, and it got a particularly big boost following Trump's election. He's turned around and become a fan of crypto, and he's named a former regulator who’s seen as friendly to digital currencies as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, replacing someone who critics said was overly aggressive in his oversight. Bitcoin was below $17,000 just two years ago following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. Gold's rise for the year, as it also hit records and had as strong a run as U.S. stocks. Wars around the world have helped drive demand for investments seen as safe, such as gold. It's also benefited from the Fed's cut to interest rates. When bonds are paying less in interest, they pull away fewer potential buyers from gold, which pays investors nothing. It's a favorite number of Elon Musk, and it's also a threshold that Tesla's stock price passed in December as it set a record. The number has a long history among marijuana devotees, and Musk famously said in 2018 that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Tesla soared this year, up from less than $250 at the start, in part because of expectations that Musk's close relationship with Trump could benefit the company. That's how much revenue Nvidia made in the nine months through Oct. 27, showing how the artificial-intelligence frenzy is creating mountains of cash. Nvidia's chips are driving much of the move into AI, and its revenue through the last nine months catapulted from less than $39 billion the year before. Such growth has boosted Nvidia's worth to more than $3 trillion in total. GameStop’s gain on May 13 after Keith Gill, better known as “Roaring Kitty,” appeared online for the first time in three years to support the video game retailer’s stock, which he helped rocket to unimaginable heights during the “ meme stock craze ” in 2021. Several other meme stocks also jumped following his post in May on the social platform X, including AMC Entertainment. Gill later disclosed a sizeable stake in the online pet products retailer Chewy, but he sold all of his holdings by late October . That's how much the U.S. economy grew, at annualized seasonally adjusted rates, in each of the three first quarters of this year. Such growth blew past what many pessimists were expecting when inflation was topping 9% in the summer of 2022. The fear was that the medicine prescribed by the Fed to beat high inflation — high interest rates — would create a recession. Households at the lower end of the income spectrum in particular are feeling pain now, as they contend with still-high prices. But the overall economy has remained remarkably resilient. This is the vacancy rate for U.S. office buildings — an all-time high — through the first three quarters of 2024, according to data from Moody's. The fact the rate held steady for most of the year was something of a win for office building owners, given that it had marched up steadily from 16.8% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Demand for office space weakened as the pandemic led to the popularization of remote work. That's the total number of previously occupied homes sold nationally through the first 11 months of 2024. Sales would have to surge 20% year-over-year in December for 2024's home sales to match the 4.09 million existing homes sold in 2023, a nearly 30-year low. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. A shortage of homes for sale and elevated mortgage rates have discouraged many would-be homebuyers.Police may pull offer for diversion for Australian diplomat’s partner on assault chargeIs indie Semiconductor’s Recent Surge Just a Mirage?

Every year as the holidays approach, our favorite TV shows take a break. That's what's happening with the CBS Thursday night lineup and fan-favorite show . So why is not new tonight, November 21? Here's what we know. With Thanksgiving on November 28, the CBS Thursday lineup is taking a break from airing new episodes. That said, there will be no new episodes of airing November 21 or 28. aired its Thanksgiving episode last week on November 14. The episode, titled "Elsbeth Flips the Bird," saw the titular investigator looking for clues when a restaurant staffer ends up dead at a popular restaurant after causing a big headache for the popular chef. Looking ahead, Elsbeth will return on December 5 with the show's Christmas episode. Here's the description of the all-new Christmas episode, "Gold, Frankincense and Murder": "Celebrity Christmas curators Dirk and DeeDee Dashers go from tinsel to tragedy after Dirk is killed in a freak accident and Elsbeth begins to suspect his wife is behind the murder; Elsbeth gets a holiday surprise courtesy of Wagner and Kaya." season 2 has been going strong since the show's debut in spring 2024. Carrie Preston is a gem as Elsbeth Tascioni, a character that she originated in . After a very strong debut in its freshman season, the second season of anchors CBS' Thursday lineup that includes , and . It's worth noting that Elsbeth and the other shows in the CBS Thursday lineup will be airing their Christmas episodes before going on hiatus for the winter and then returning with new episodes in the spring. Thankfully, there will be plenty of holiday content and sports to fill the gap while the shows are off, and before you know it they'll be back again. Get the What to Watch Newsletter The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!