ESPN Host Elle Duncan Responds To Fans Calling For Her JobTV and Movie Merchandise Market to Grow by USD 103.5 Billion (2024-2028), Driven by E-Commerce Platform Growth, AI Redefining Market Landscape - TechnavioKendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.”
It started as an evening of celebration for Manchester City. It ended with the four-time defending Premier League champion conceding four goals and falling to a fifth-straight loss in all competitions as it faces a deepening crisis in a season that is threatening to unravel. A 4-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday left City five points behind league leader Liverpool, having played a game more, and with manager Pep Guardiola questioning whether he could get its title challenge back on track.Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban
Luke Humphries bid for back-to-back World Championship titles on track after winEvery Black Friday, there’s a number of viral products that everyone has on their Christmas wish list, and we don’t expect this year to be any different. However, not all of these popular items are going to stay in stock, and we have some insight on the ones that won’t. Black Friday is big business, and last year shoppers spent $222.1 billion during the entire holiday shopping season, according to Queue-it. Sales on Black Friday reached $16.4 billion (online and in stores), and this was a 9% increase from the year before. While it comes as no surprise that electronics are the most sought-after products of the holiday season, Queue-it said this accounts for the majority of holiday sales, jumping to $50.8 billion in 2023. Apparel, furniture, groceries and toys are the other hot sellers of Black Friday. Together, these five categories accounted for 65% of sales during the holidays last year and is only expected to grow in 2024. While many items that sell out over Black Friday are driven by a good deal, we also know that a hot product is just that — a gift that most people want to open on Christmas Day. So, here are our picks for the top 10 hot-ticket items that could sell out over Black Friday. The holidays are ripe for TV deals, and we expect shoppers to buy a ton of them in 2024, especially at Walmart. Consumers are trending toward bigger TVs and the super low-price deals over Black Friday force many models to sell out. This is especially true of popular models from Samsung, Hisense, LG and more favorites. Apple's smartwatches are a top pick among Apple fans. We’ve seen prices on the Apple Watch continue to trend downward, which was only spurred by the release of the new Apple Watch 10 in September. This pushed down prices on earlier models, with the best deals coming on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 9. For Black Friday, we think the prices will drop even lower and sell out due to high demand. Wireless headphones are one of the most popular products of 2024, and Beats are one of the top brands. We’re already seeing big markdowns on Beats Wireless Headphones, and we expect these price drops to continue into Black Friday. The Beats Solo3 is likely to be on sale for even cheaper than we’ve already seen, and we think they will sell out for Black Friday, with the possibility of other popular Beats headphones joining them. If you haven’t picked up a pair of Apple AirPods yet, this could be your year to do it. With Apple launching a fourth generation of AirPods earlier this year, the price on prevvious models are creeping lower. We think over Black Friday they’ll be at their cheapest price ever, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) likely to sell out. Bluetooth speakers are a must-have for many this year, and with the big sound that comes from JBL’s speakers, it’s easy to see why they might sell out for Black Friday. These popular speakers come in a variety of portable sizes and waterproof designs. We expect big deals on JBL’s top-rated Clip 5 and Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker models. One of Apple’s most sought-after products of the year was the iPad, and we saw the 9th Gen and 10th Gen models drop to their lowest prices ever. We think this year will bring some iPad bliss with even better discounts, but these deals will disappear just as fast as they arrive. We think that mega discounts on the iPad (9th Gen) and iPad (10th Gen) could cause sell outs, especially on Amazon. The Dyson Airwrap just might be the top product of Black Friday, as this is one of the rare times there’s a discount on the beloved hair styling tool. At $600, the Airwrap carries a hefty price tag, so any discount presented is a welcome surprise. But as we’ve seen in the past, any Black Friday deal on the Dyson Airwrap causes a crush of interest that’s followed by a sell out. If you’ve tried to scoop up the UGG Tasman Slippers in previous years, you already know they never stay in stock for long. As the “it” slipper of the holiday season, UGG’s Tasman sells out multiple times over the holidays, even without a discount offered. We think that this year will be similar, with popular sizes and colors of the Tasman Slipper snatched up fast over Black Friday. The Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner is a popular home product that just can’t seem to stay in stock. With prices falling under $90, this mighty machine can be a blessing for pet owners and parents, as its compact size makes it easy to store and use when needed. We’ve seen the Little Green Machine sell out before, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t do it again over Black Friday. We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a top toy that we think will be hard to find and gift this year. Our pick is the Furby Galaxy Edition. This glow-in-the-dark Furby is based on the original Furby from the late ’90s with even more features, interactive modes and more fun. Making a comeback in 2023, we saw the revival of this popular toy sell out last year, and we expect the new Furby Galaxy Edition to do the same. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
TORONTO - Losses in the tech sector led Canada’s main stock index lower in late-morning trading on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also fell. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 93.03 points at 24,753.79. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 437.35 points at 42,888.45. The S&P 500 index was down 86.37 points at 5,951.22, while the Nasdaq composite was down 402.43 points at 19,617.93. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.39 cents US compared with 69.51 cents US on Tuesday. The February crude oil contract was up 66 cents at US$70.28 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was up five cents at US$3.37 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$19.70 at US$2.634.20 an ounce and the March copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.12 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)Saskatchewan premier says he won't allow Speaker intimidation as legislature resumes
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If the refresh the Cullinan received earlier in 2024 didn't give things away, Rolls-Royce is in the process of updating its lineup. Next on the list is the Ghost Series II, though the new mark from the British marque may not be the kind of overhaul you were expecting. Given this is the biggest update Ghost has received since it dumped its original 7-Series underpinnings and went its own way a few years back, it comes as little surprise that Rolls-Royce has approached the process very carefully. Some of the original Ghost's few shortcomings are dealt with, the excessively customizable brand has somehow added more options, and a vehicle that already will open and close its own doors for you has found a few more quality of life features to add. Meanwhile, everything that made the Ghost a favorite of many Rolls-Royce aficionados seems to have been left well enough alone. Clearly confident of its handiwork, Rolls-Royce invited SlashGear out to France to get behind the wheel of the new Ghost, and put it through its paces on cruelly narrow village roads, winding country lanes, and the odd breathtakingly pretty coastal road. Because if the car itself stands out against a backdrop like that, the manufacturer must be doing something right. If you're a fan of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, the words " 6.7-liter, twin-turbo V12 capable of pumping out 563 horsepower" should be pretty familiar to you. Well, nothing has changed with the Series II. It's the same engine, same turbos, same eight-speed automatic transmission managing it all. The feeling when you're driving it is the same too. The 0-60 time is still a pacy 4.6 seconds, though the exact time depends on various circumstances and other outlets have reported times closer to 4.1 or 4.2 seconds on the original Ghost. If you just ignore the stopwatch, it feels quick, especially for something of this size. It's also shockingly well balanced, agile, and grippy for what could still be described as a stately home on four wheels. So if you've driven a Ghost, you'll know exactly what to expect. If you, admittedly ill-advisedly, blindfolded someone and stuck them behind the wheel of a Ghost and Ghost Series II back to back, I wager they would not be able to tell the difference between the pair. And that's not a bad thing, nor is this a criticism. The Ghost drives very well, and the new edition is exactly the same. As in other examples of the luxury automaker's fleet, one of the most important controls is also one of the most subtle: the "low" button perched on the transmission stalk. It tinkers with the throttle response and affects how the Rolls shifts gear. So, instead of that hefty V-12 sounding near-silent, you'll get a very distinct roar from under the hood whenever you get your foot down. Acceleration is notably sharper, and you'll find yourself driving the heavy sedan a lot harder than you may have originally intended. On the "silence" front, the frankly massive — one of the largest displacement engines still in use , in fact — V12 sitting under the hood is likely loud no matter what you do. Rolls-Royce opted to clad the engine bay and other areas of the Ghost II in an almost silly amount of sound-dampening material. It's carefully tuned so you hear just enough of the engine to know it's still there, and running, without it really disturbing you at all. Provided you drive smoothly, in normal mode. If you want a quieter drivetrain, you'll need an all-electric Spectre . The Ghost II is also good at eliminating outside noises, so you won't hear birds chirping, or other vehicles, or anything short of a siren with the windows rolled up. The door seals and pollen filter are also of high-quality, as you may expect. To put things into context, a Peugeot blew a head gasket right in front of us on the test drive, and despite the plume of burning engine oil affecting our vision somewhat we couldn't smell a thing inside the vehicle. As with the pre-refresh "Black Badge" Ghost , there's more here than just an aesthetic package. You also get a little extra out of the engine when you opt for this top-level trim: an added 29 horsepower and 37 lb-ft of torque. True, you'd have to concentrate to actually notice a difference though, if you get the lab coats out it's probably there, but the "silver badge" has the same surprising burst of speed when needed, and handles very similarly. It's like the boost to comfort and handling that the 22" wheels give you on the Black Badge. It's certainly there, the math will check out, but the standard model rides and handles so well you'll need elite level concentration to tell the two apart. Where the Black Badge does notably differ, aside from the carbon-fiber touches cladding various interior elements, is in the soundtrack. That roar you get when the "low" mode is active is far throatier and more noticeable on the top trim. If you are a more aggressive driver, or you just like driving something with a darker touch, then the step up is probably worth every penny. One of the new features on the Ghost Series II is Duality Twill, a rayon-fabric made from bamboo and available as an upholstery option. Bamboo is an extremely sustainable and versatile material, and the new cloth doesn't look out of place in the interior of the Ghost at all. At a glance, you're likely to confuse it with silk, both in terms of styling and feel. With this being Rolls-Royce, you aren't limited to the Duality Twill. You can basically ask for your interior to be clad in anything not currently on the endangered species list–though some materials come with a premium. But the new rayon-fabric does not fall short in the slightest, and the fact it's actually worth considering in a world of almost unlimited choices is testament to just how good it is. A lot of effort does go into the twill, along with 11 miles of thread. That effort takes the form of around 2.2 million stitches. A new perforation style is also available for the vehicle's seats, should that pattern appeal to you. Other little touches include a small Spirit of Ecstasy under the clock on the dash. This has slight "ornament on Grandma's mantle" vibes, but mostly plays into the overall Rolls-Royce feeling shockingly well, with an odd timeless elegance to it. Certainly, you can go in the opposite direction. You could ask for a candy-cane colored interior with a hot pink dashboard and paint the outside lime green if you really want. But there's a solid argument that, if you're doing the whole Rolls-Royce thing properly, you should really feel like you're in the lobby of an upmarket Victorian hotel. One of the standouts on the new Ghost is the improved infotainment system and digital experience. Again, it's not totally novel — all of this debuted on the Spectre. But now you have access to things like Android Auto and Apple Car Play, alongside increased integration with Rolls-Royce's owners-only Whispers app. The "Spirit" digital interface also aids navigation through the vehicle's many features. You can go beyond simply launching Spotify, and instead customize things like the color of the vehicle's dials through it. The app and vehicle work seamlessly together, allowing you to do things like book services, lock the car, or send travel destinations directly to your navigation system. Again, none of this is unique to Rolls-Royce, but it's a definite improvement for the Ghost Series II. The Series I often felt like it was lagging behind on the technological front at times, and modern app-based conveniences do make life a lot easier. Any media you play will be pumped through Rolls-Royce's proprietary 18-speaker audio system. The marque has opted to keep the audio in-house, rather than outsource to an audio company like Bowers & Wilkins as its parent company BMW does. Among the subtle changes is a re-shaped body. Which sort of turns this into the Ghost Sports Edition as much as it does the Ghost Series II. The vehicle's lines have been taken in, and look a touch more aggressive. On the whole the vehicle appears a touch smaller than its predecessor. It isn't, it's exactly the same size, but the redrawn lines leave it seeming sleeker, lower down, and more aggressive. The new tail light configuration is also a nice touch. Despite the newfound edge, there's still that overall Rolls-Royce feel to it. The front is flat and square, with things not truly beginning to sweep backwards until you pass the windscreen. It really fits the weird duality you encounter in the vehicle's performance. It's an elegant evening gown, and a designer tracksuit, all at the same time. Overall, there isn't that much of a difference between the Ghost Series II and its predecessor. There are some very nice aesthetic touches, and the "Low" button injects a bit of fun into what can be a very serious vehicle in certain circumstances. But day to day, you'll struggle to find too much distinction between the new vehicle and the Ghost that came before it. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. As with many people, the Ghost was my favorite drive in the Rolls-Royce lineup. It felt wonderfully agile for its size, surprisingly punchy when needed, and kept that classic Phantom -inspired styling while adding a sliver of modernity. If Rolls-Royce was to rip all of that up and go in a drastically different direction, that would be a tragic thing indeed. Instead, you have a focused refresh, centered around subtle improvements which add polish while keeping the core elements exactly where they need to be. It's not a reason to run to the dealer, trade in your two-year-old Ghost, and slap your name down on the pre-order list. Then again, that's not really how Rolls-Royce owners choose their cars, and if you happen to be in the market for a new Ghost anyway, the little tweaks and new options keep this appealing sedan feeling fresh. The Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II starts at $355,000, and the Ghost Black Badge Series II starts at $420,000. That said, the sky really is the limit on both options, and the subsequent bill.
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