Black Friday may be over, but the deals certainly aren't. Retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Target and Costco are still offering discounts across product categories, but they won't last long, and there's no guarantee they'll carry over into Cyber Monday on Dec. 2. As a reporter who’s covered this sale for five years, my number one tip is to act fast: When you see something that catches your eye, add it to your cart and checkout. To help you find the best Black Friday deals still live, I combed through thousands of discounts and picked ones I think are actually worth shopping . Each one I recommend below is highly rated and at least 20% off. When possible, I ran deals through price trackers to make sure they’re at their lowest price in at least three months. I’m updating this list live with new discounts, price drops and additional promos. SKIP AHEAD Best Black Friday deals still live | More Black Friday sales | How I picked the best Black Friday deals | Why trust NBC Select? I found, vetted and wrote about every deal I recommend below. I worked with NBC Select editors to finalize the list, which I’m frequently updating to reflect the most up-to-date prices. For more information on our editorial team and how we choose products, check out this page . Amazon Smart Plug 4.7-star average rating from 565,475 reviews on Amazon Once you connect devices like lamps and fans to this smart plug , you can control them via a companion app and Amazon Alexa voice commands. The app also lets you set on/off schedules — I connect my Christmas lights to the smart plug so they turn on at sunrise and off at sunset. It’s compact too, so you can keep your second outlet free or stack two on top of each other. Lifestraw Personal Water Filter 4.8-star average rating from 117,760 reviews on Amazon Take this personal water filter with you while hiking and camping, or pack it in your emergency kit . It removes bacteria, parasites, microplastics and other impurities like dirt from water when you drink through it, according to the brand. You can use it to filter up to 1,000 gallons of water before needing a replacement. Apple AirPods Pro 2 4.6-star average rating from 10,937 reviews on Amazon Lowest price ever I use these wireless earbuds every day while running, commuting and taking calls. They offer three listening modes, including active noise cancellation, and up to six hours of battery life on a single charge, according to the brand. The water-resistant headphones come with a MagSafe USB-C charging case and four pairs of silicone tips so you can customize their size. Anker Zolo Portable Charger 4.5-star average rating from 2,366 reviews on Amazon Lowest price ever Anker’s portable charger has a built-in USB-C cable and two USB-C ports, so you can repower three devices at once. It has a digital display on the front, which shows you how much battery it has left. The charger is about the size of a credit card, making it easy to carry in your pocket. Tile Mate 4.2-star average rating from 23,500 reviews on Amazon Lowest price ever Attach the Tile Mate to your keys or put it inside bags to keep track of where they are. The device pairs with the brand’s app, which shows you its location on a map and lets you ring it so you can follow the sound. The water-resistant tracker can also help you find your phone — just press its center to make it ring, even when it’s on silent mode. Cosrx Snail Mucin 96% Power Face Serum 4.6-star average rating from 74,459 reviews on Amazon Cosrx’s face serum is made with snail mucin , a hydrating ingredient that can boost the skin’s moisture levels and address fine lines, according to dermatologists we spoke to. It helps soothe dryness, reduce dullness and repair dark spots, according to the brand. The serum has a lightweight feel and gives you a dewy glow, plus it absorbs quickly so you can layer other products over it. Mynt3D Super 3D Pen 4.3-star average rating from 19,012 reviews on Amazon This rechargeable, refillable 3D printing pen helps you or your favorite crafter bring drawings to life. It comes with plastic filament in three colors and has a clog-resistant nozzle. There’s also a speed slider on the pen, which you can move into different positions to control how much material you dispense at a time. Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner 4.5-star average rating from 90,594 reviews on Amazon The Bissell Little Green Machine is one of our favorite carpet cleaners , but you can also use it to get rid of grime and stains on furniture, auto interiors, kids car seats and pet supplies. “It’s so satisfying yet appalling to see how much dirt it pulls out of my rugs and the fabric on my couch,” says NBC Select editorial operations manager Rebecca Rodriguez . The lightweight machine, which comes with two nozzle attachments, has a built-in handle so you can tote it around your home and a long hose to reach areas like stairs. Lego Classic Creative Fun Building Bricks Set 4.8-star average rating from 419 reviews on Amazon Lowest price ever There are 333 Lego pieces in this set, allowing you or a loved one to create different characters, structures and shapes. The blocks come in black, orange, pink, yellow, blue and green colors, and some have eyes or mouths on them to give figures facial expressions. To get you started, the set (which makes a great stocking stuffer , secret Santa or white elephant gift ) includes directions for a few simple builds. Amazon Kindle 4.4-star average rating from 352 reviews on Amazon Lowest price ever “Getting a Kindle was the best decision I ever made, and that’s coming from a book lover,” says NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider . “It has a glare-free display, so I can use it no matter the lighting conditions, which is amazing. I also appreciate that the bottom corner gives you the percentage of how far you’ve read.” Amazon’s newest Kindle e-reader is the most lightweight and compact model yet, and you get up to six weeks of battery life on a single charge, according to the brand. Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K 4.7-star average rating from 43,404 reviews on Amazon Lowest price ever Instead of buying a brand new TV, you can upgrade your current model by plugging Amazon’s Fire Stick into its HDMI port. Then, you’ll be able to watch shows and movies across streaming services, as well as download music apps and play Xbox games via cloud gaming. The TV stick, which you can also bring with you while traveling, comes with an Alexa Voice Remote. Energizer AA Batteries 4.8-star average rating from 49,278 reviews on Amazon It never hurts to have extra batteries at home, especially during the holiday season when you may be using them to power string lights, remotes, kids’ toys and kitchen gadgets. This pack comes with 32 AA alkaline batteries, which last up to 10 years in storage, according to the brand. Apple Watch SE (2nd. Gen) 4.4-star average rating from 954 reviews on Amazon Lowest price ever Track your daily activity, workouts, sleep and other health metrics, like heart rate, with this GPS-connected smartwatch . It also lets you send and receive calls and texts, stream music and pay via Apple Pay. Siri voice assistant is built into the watch, which is water-resistant up to about 164 feet, according to the brand. It has up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge and comes with a charging cable, too. Hicober 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station 4.3-star average rating from 1,937 reviews on Amazon Lowest price ever Unfold Hicober’s magnetic charging station when you want to use it, or fold it into a compact disc to throw in your travel bag. When you lay it flat, you can repower up to three devices at once, eliminating the need for multiple cords and organizing your space, says Harry Rabinowitz , NBC Select reporter. The charger also folds into a stand to prop up your phone. PlayStation 5 Console 4.9-star average rating from 3,805 reviews at Best Buy Lowest price ever “The PlayStation 5 is a core part of my home entertainment set up, letting me play video games and watch my 4K Ultra Blu-rays in one simple package,” says Josh Rios, NBC commerce video producer. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.” This bundle comes with a pre-installed Astro’s Playroom game, a DualSense wireless controller, a disc drive and cables you can use to connect it to your desktop or a TV. The console supports haptic feedback, adaptive triggers and 3D audio technology. Blink Mini 2 4.4-star average rating from 3.713 reviews on Amazon This little camera connects to a companion app, which lets you keep an eye on your home via livestream video and receive real-time motion detection alerts. It also has two-way audio, so you can hear activity and speak to people or pets as needed. The camera also comes with a built-in spotlight and colorful night view. Plus, if you add a weather-resistant power adapter , you can install this camera outside. Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional Effects 4.6-star average rating from 3,592 reviews on Amazon Crest’s whitening strips are coated with hydrogen peroxide, an ingredient that helps remove tooth stains and brighten your smile, according to dentists I spoke to. They also have a non-slip grip so they stay on during treatments. This kit comes with enough strips for 22 45-minute treatments and two 1-hour express treatments. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask 4.6-star average rating from 47,463 reviews on Amazon I keep Lanegie’s berry lip mask on my nightstand and apply it before bed with the included applicator. While I’m sleeping, the coconut oil, shea butter and murumuru seed butter in its formula moisturize my lips so they’re soft and flake-free by the morning. You can wipe off any remaining product when you wake up, but I usually keep it on and use it as a lip balm . Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream 4.6-star average rating from 3,769 reviews on Amazon Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is one of my go-to moisturizers year round. It’s made with squalane to hydrate and soften skin, as well as strengthen the skin barrier, according to the brand. I only need to use a little bit of cream to cover my face, and it absorbs quickly, leaving behind a lightweight, non-greasy feel. The moisturizer is suitable for all skin types — I have sensitive, combination, acne-prone skin, and this cream never causes irritation. Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray 4.3-star average rating from 90,836 reviews on Amazon “This is my go-to product when I style my hair,” says NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio . “I apply it before using a flat iron or blow dryer brush, and it leaves my hair looking smooth, shiny and frizz-free. It also doesn’t weigh down my fine hair like so many other heat protectants do.” The anti-frizz treatment also comes in a curly hair version that I use daily. Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser 4.6-star average rating from 142,752 reviews on Amazon This water flosser cleans gums and removes plaque from teeth, similar to standard floss . It comes with seven tips that rotate 360 degrees to reach all areas of your mouth, and has a 22-ounce, dishwasher-safe water reservoir. You can choose from 10 pressure settings, and the built-in timer keeps track of how long you’ve flossed for. CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream 4.4-star average rating from 6,499 reviews on Amazon Dermatologists we spoke to recommend this eye cream , which is made with ceramides , caffeine , peptides and niacinamide . Applying it daily helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, hydrate skin and brighten dark circles, according to the brand. Blissy Silk Pillowcase 4.4-star average rating from 4,015 reviews on Amazon “ Blissy’s silk pillowcase is cooling, which is great since I’m a hot sleeper, and the soft fabric never irritates or tugs at my sensitive, rosacea-prone skin,” says Godio. “Compared to when I use a regular cotton pillowcase, my hair is also less frizzy when I wake up.” The silk pillowcase , which has a hidden zipper closure, comes in a variety of colors so you can choose one that matches your bedding. Kitchen Mama Auto Electric Can Opener 4.2-star average rating from 106,499 reviews on Amazon This battery-operated kitchen gadget automatically opens cans for you with the press of a button. Its sharp blades cut through the sides of cans to fully remove their lids, leaving behind smooth edges. Keurig K-Elite Single-Serve Coffee Maker 4.7-star average rating from 62,017 reviews on Amazon You can make between 4 and 12 ounces of coffee in less than a minute with Keurig’s single-serve machine, which has a 75-ounce removable water reservoir. It comes with iced coffee and strong brew settings, plus you can use it to dispense hot water. The coffee maker also lets you control its temperature and program it to brew at a specific time each day. Its drip tray is removable to fit taller travel mugs. Our Place Always Pan 2.0 4.6-star average rating from 37,638 reviews at Our Place Lowest price ever Our Place’s Always Pan is one one my most-used pieces of cookware . The 10.5-inch pan is covered in a nonstick ceramic coating, which is oven-safe up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The pan comes with a steamer basket that doubles as a colander, a beechwood spatula that nests on the handle and a lid with a cool-touch knob. Chamberlain Smart Garage Control 4.3-star average rating from 99,356 reviews on Amazon After installing this controller, you can open and close your garage door from your phone, regardless of where you are. It pairs with the brand’s companion app, which also lets you set schedules, get real-time notifications and give loved ones control access. Chamberlain’s controller is compatible with most garage door openers made after 1993. Bissell CleanView XR Cordless Vacuum 4.3-star average rating from 104,026 reviews on Amazon This cordless stick vacuum has a removable, rechargeable battery that gives you up to 35 minutes of run time, according to the brand. It converts into a handheld vacuum to clean small messes, stairs or the inside of a car, and comes with a long nozzle so you can reach high spaces like above door frames. The vacuum has a tangle-free brushroll, making it ideal for homes with pets, and its filtration system traps dirt, dust and other allergens inside. You get bristle brush and crevice tool attachments with your purchase. iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ 4.0-star average rating from 19,297 reviews on Amazon This robot vacuum can also mop your floors and empty itself in the included charging dock as needed. The machine connects to a companion app, which lets you set cleaning schedules, get real-time updates or start cleaning remotely. It’s also compatible with Amazon Alexa voice commands. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Advanced 4.5-star average rating from 203,951 reviews on Amazon There’s 20 grams of collagen in one serving of this powder, which you can mix into hot or cold beverages like water, coffee or smoothies to support hair, nail and joint health, according to the brand. It also has vitamin C and hyaluronic acid in it, which help with skin hydration and immune health, according to Vital Proteins. The powder is made without sugars, sweeteners, gluten or dairy. (Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.) AncestryDNA + Traits Genetic Test Kit 4.6-star average rating from 27,638 reviews on Amazon This kit comes with everything you need to take a saliva sample and send it to AncestryDNA’s lab. In six to eight weeks, you’ll get your results online. They include information about your genetic origins and ethnicity, as well as your propensity for traits like cilantro aversion, hair strand thickness and the ability to remember dreams. Theragun Mini Massage Gun 4.7-star average rating from 6,609 reviews on Amazon Anyone who has sore, tight, tense muscles needs this massage gun — I use it daily on my legs after running or on my back after hunching over my computer all day. It comes with three foam attachments, has three massage speeds and is compact enough to throw in your gym bag or suitcase. You can also connect the massage gun to Therabody’s app via Bluetooth, which walks you through guided treatments. TheraIce Migraine Relief Cap 4.6-star average rating from 38,873 reviews on Amazon Let this migraine relief cap get cold in the freezer for about two hours and then put it over your head and eyes, positioning it like a sleep mask. The cap’s cool, compressive feel helps soothe pain, promote relaxation, reduce puffy skin and alleviate sinus pressure, according to the brand. It’s flexible and somewhat stretchy, so it fits most people. Here are the best Black Friday sales to know about. Keep in mind, not every item from a brand or retailer is discounted as described below. All of my recommendations above are based on NBC Select’s previous coverage and reporting. I also included products the NBC Select staff tested, including Wellness Award , Travel Award , Pet Award , Bed & Bath Award and Giftable Tech Award winners. All the deals I recommend are at least 20% off and highly rated with at least a 4.0-star average rating from hundreds of reviews. When possible, I ran deals through price trackers like CamelCamelCamel to ensure products are at their lowest price in at least three months. I’m a reporter at NBC Select who’s covered Black Friday and Cyber Monday since 2020. I’ve reported on the history of these holidays and spoken to experts about what you should buy and skip during major shopping events, like today’s. For this story, since not all Black Friday deals are worth it, I sifted through hundreds of on-sale products to find the best ones actually worth buying across key categories, like tech, travel, home, and kitchen. Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.A woman who spent her wedding night secretly losing half of the money she and her wife had been gifted has accused betting companies of "predatory" behaviour. Elissa Hubbard, 38, spent what was meant to be the happiest day of her life in 2021 hidden away gambling as part of an addiction that - at its peak- cost her £40,000 a year. It comes as BBC analysis suggests about one in five gambling premises are in Wales’ poorest areas. An expert in the psychology of gambling called clusters of betting shops in deprived areas "a huge problem". The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) said all its members operated "robust self-exclusion schemes". Elissa first went on slot machines in a pub when she was nine but when she discovered online gambling, her addiction escalated. She said, during the height of her addiction, the thought of getting free spins in a promotion may have been enough to see her bet her entire monthly wage. "All my self-worth had gone," she said. "It had just stripped me of a personality. I just felt like such a failure." As she began to recover she started to "feel hatred" the way companies promote bets. Elissa, who lives in Rhyl, Denbighshire, said gambling adverts were inescapable. "If you want a bet you’re going to go and have a bet... You don’t need your dealer stood there handing you a promotion." After moving from her hometown of Manchester to the north Wales coast, Elissa said her flat was surrounded by betting shops, casinos and arcades – and worries how many appear in poorer areas. BBC Wales' analysis found there were 71 premises in the 10% most deprived areas compared to eight in the 10% least deprived. "It’s people that are on a lower income that will try to gamble to make more money for themselves," said Elissa. "There’s just no need for how many there are in one area, because you could do a self-exclusion, but that won’t cover you for arcades or adult gaming centres.” Elissa said she could not stop walking past bookmakers entirely but was careful to avoid even looking at fruit machines if she was out for lunch in a pub. Dr Jamie Torrance, a researcher in the psychology of gambling at Swansea University, said clusters of betting shops in deprived areas were "a huge problem". "Both financial hardship and being unemployed are significant risk factors for the development of disordered gambling," he said. He added that marketing strategies and adverts from gambling companies were "particularly enticing" for people suffering financial hardship. "You never see people lose money in those adverts. You’ll never see people experiencing harm. All you’ll ever see is people winning, people being excited and happy." Dr Torrance said Wales "desperately" needed NHS clinics dedicated to treating disordered gambling , which already exist in England. "There's no real difference between a disordered gambler in Wales and England other than the fact that they don't have access to these clinics," he said. Conservative Member of the Senedd Darren Millar, who sits on the Senedd’s gambling related harm group, accused bookmakers of "driving and fuelling" addiction. "It’s a well-known fact that, unfortunately, poorer communities tend to have a bigger problem with gambling," he said. "Regrettably many people in the bookmaking industry take advantage of that by placing their bookmakers in community centres in deprived areas. "That of course is completely unacceptable." The BGC said its members had donated "£122.5m over four years" to tackle gambling-related harms. A spokesman said about 22.5 million people a month gambled in Britain and "the overwhelming majority do so safely and responsibly". "Betting and gaming operators, like any other retailer, locate in areas of high footfall such as high streets, and play an important role in the local economy," the BGC added. The Welsh government said it was committed to "strengthening support for people affected by gambling addiction" and was working with the NHS to develop treatment services. It also said it fully supported "comprehensive reform of the industry to increase regulation, and strengthen protection from harm". You can watch Elissa's story on Wales Live on BBC iPlayer
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting has defended the Government's proposal to create a "smoke-free generation" by incrementally increasing the minimum age for purchasing tobacco, stating that there is "no freedom in addiction". If the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is passed into law, individuals born after January 1, 2009, will be prohibited from legally smoking. The Bill encountered criticism during its second reading, with Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell arguing in favour of individual choice, while the Liberal Democrats expressed concerns regarding civil liberties. On Tuesday, the Bill successfully cleared its initial hurdle in the House of Commons, with a majority of 368 votes (415 to 47) in favour of its approval. The voting records revealed that Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch was among those who voted against the Bill during its second reading. Conservative MPs were granted a free vote, with 23 Tories, including former health secretary Victoria Atkins, voting in support of the Bill, while 35 voted against it. Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter The proposed legislation includes a comprehensive ban on vape advertising and sponsorship, aligning with existing tobacco restrictions, to prevent displays visible to children and young people, such as those on buses, in cinemas, and shop windows. In his opening statement for the second reading debate, Mr Streeting declared: "This Bill will come down on the vaping industry like a ton of bricks to prevent a new generation of children and young people from getting hooked on nicotine." Conservative MP Bob Blackman has urged for tougher measures on tobacco companies, including a levy on their profits to make them accountable "for the blight on our population's health". "Both of my parents died from smoking-related cancer. My late mother was only 47, and she was a very heavy smoker all her life. I was then left as a 23-year-old with three younger sisters to bring up as a family," he recounted. "I don't want any families in this country to have to go through what our family went through then. So this for me is personal, as well as political." The Harrow East MP, who also chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for smoking and health, advocated for the "implementation of a polluter pays tobacco levy on the profits of big tobacco, addressing issues of both market prices and limiting the profitability of the industry". Romford MP Mr Rosindell countered by saying "banning things very rarely works", and argued: "Surely we should be promoting the concept of freedom with responsibility and allowing people to make choices about their own lives?" In response, Mr Streeting highlighted the unique dangers of tobacco, stating: "There is no liberty in addiction. There is no freedom in addiction, and the logical extension of the libertarian argument he puts forward would be the end of the ban on indoor smoking." Liberal Democrats' health spokesperson Helen Morgan expressed concerns regarding the gradated smoking ban, highlighting: "The introduction of a phased smoking ban is problematic and not because Liberal Democrats want to see people smoke themselves into an early grave far from it but because it raises issues of practicality and raises issues of civil liberties." She cautioned against potential implications of the Bill for personal freedoms, elaborating that it "raises the prospect of an ID card, because those people who do choose to start smoking will potentially be forced to carry an ID card or some other form of ID with them for the rest of their lives, and that is a concern for a Liberal Democrat who is strongly opposed to requiring people to carry their ID around with them for various issues of privacy and personal liberty". Health minister Andrew Gwynne reassured: "Most retailers already follow recommended practice and regularly ask customers for ID." Explaining the government's approach, he stated, "We are stopping people from ever starting smoking and 83% of smokers start before the age of 20, this means that someone who has never previously smoked is highly unlikely to want to take up smoking later in life." Gwynne further shared positive projections, noting, "And our published modelling shows that smoking rates in England for 14 to 30-year-olds could be close to 0% as early as 2050, with the measures in this Bill." Reflecting on the Government's approach, Reform UK MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock James McMurdock urged Ministers to "think very carefully" about their "remit". He said: "I would just ask everyone in the room to consider what kind of world and country we actually want to live in, one where we could send one of the kids down to the shop, pick something up for us, or one where we literally are forced to police people's behaviour in parks? And I think we should think very carefully about what our remit is as a Government." The Bill aims to curb smoking in areas popular with children. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Streeting explained plans to consult on a smoking ban outside schools, hospitals, and playgrounds. He clarified that pubs and other hospitality spaces would be exempt from the consultation. The legislation will also grant powers for authorities to licence retailers selling tobacco and vaping products across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Fines of £200 will be handed out to retailers who fail to verify the age of customers. ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. 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The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN) has revealed that prosecution of cases is the most critical in the fight against corruption. Director, Public Enlightenment and Education. Spokesperson for the Commission, Demola Bakare, in a press statement, Wednesday in Abuja, said Dr. Aliyu stated this on while delivering a welcome address at a Capacity Building Workshop for Judges on the Promotion of Public Policy and Interest of Justice in the Prosecution of Corruption Cases and Other Related Offences, organised by the ICPC in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Wednesday in Abuja. According to the ICPC Boss, investigation and prosecution of cases are pivotal to achieving success in anti-corruption efforts, adding that the perception of the ordinary man on the street is tied to trial of cases in courts and the recoveries of proceeds of corruption. “The investigation and prosecution mandate of the Commission is very critical in the fight against corruption, especially the prosecution of cases in court, which is part of the enforcement process. This prosecution of cases is the most critical in the fight against corruption as the perception of the ordinary man in the street is tied to the trial of cases in court and recoveries of looted funds,” he emphasised. He said Dr. Aliyu seized opportunity to draw the attention of the Judges on the need to integrate technology into trial of cases, revealing that “in the fight against corruption globally and in the trial of cases, new case management systems are being innovated for an effective and efficient justice delivery system”. According to the anti-graft agency boss, “the new norm now is the admissibility of electronically generated evidence and the introduction of technology in the administration of justice in our judicial system”. The xhairman also told the judges that the workshop was necessary, as the justice sector remained the fulcrum of concern in the fight against corruption. “The justice sector remains a focal point of concern, particularly regarding bribery involving stakeholders in the justice sector,” he further stated. He revealed that “despite limited public contact, judicial officials exhibit relatively high bribery prevalence, emphasizing the need for targeted anti-corruption measures in this sector.” In a keynote address, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat M.O. Kekere-Ekun, reminded the participants that the role of judicial officers in ensuring effective prosecution of corruption cases could not be dispensed, adding that the Judiciary remains the cornerstone of the criminal justice system in Nigeria. Represented by Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, the Administrator of NJI, the CJN pointed out that the workshop, which was a platform for capacity building, had underscored the judges’ collective commitment to advancing the administration of justice and combating corruption in the society. Blueprint reports that the workshop brought together, judges across Nigeria with the focus on building the capacity of the senior judicial officers in areas of justice system, forfeiture laws, money laundering, and the integration of technology into cases of trial.
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Since new social media laws passed the Australia parliament, my colleagues at Relationships Australia NSW and I have been inundated with questions from parents. The new legislation, which won’t take effect until the end of next year, bans teens aged under 16 from most social media platforms. As we wait to hear more specifics (like what platforms might be allowed), families are navigating new terrain and working out what to do next. I’ve heard mixed responses from parents – some are wholeheartedly embracing the restrictions, while others aren’t convinced and are dealing with children who feel outraged and upset. Regardless of your position on the issue, change is coming, and families must work together to find a path forward. How to talk with your children about the changes Rather than waiting for the ban to start, I encourage you to have open conversations with your children now while the issue is already under social discussion. Putting off discussions or only partially engaging can actually fuel conflict, breed resentment and create further resistance against these rules. When you chat with your kids, you could hold a ‘family meeting’ or bring it up over dinner. Lead with curiosity and ask them open-ended questions that seek their thoughts. If you have already been quite vocal about your position on the ban, then it’s a good idea to acknowledge this in your conversation – “I know I have said this... but now the legislation has passed, I really want to talk with you about how it might affect you”. My child hasn’t reacted well to the news – what do I do? While the ban aims to protect children’s mental and social wellbeing, many kids and have highlighted the role social media plays in finding connection and community online. If your child is upset and struggling, keep a close eye on this and keep the conversations flowing. They might be struggling with a key social pathway being taken away and are floundering about how to replace it. They might also be grappling with friends’ parents who are planning to ignore the ban and feeling resentful of being left out. Rather than minimising their feelings, openly talk about it – “What are you finding tough? What’s the worst thing about this for you?” If your young person depends on social media as a resource to manage a social or mental health problem, finding some realistic and meaningful alternatives is going to be critical. Starting the transition now rather than waiting for the deadline is in everyone’s best interests. For instance, if they use social media to share stories with friends or family members, could you find safe, supervised alternatives for this such as Signal? Is online contact already second best to more direct contact with cousins or friends, for example? If so, can they more directly catch up? Are there in-person resources available through your local or clubs that could be of use? Embracing the changes as a family The legislation might call out under 16-year-olds, but you can approach this as a team effort. Instead of only focusing on getting your kids off devices, start thinking about your family culture and what role technology plays at home. Are devices always in use by everyone? Do you or other family members find themselves distracted by their phones? Rather than simply restricting kids and teens, consider how you can support this change and have the whole family try new things. Managing children with varying rules If you have kids of different ages, there’s a good chance they might have also have new rules applying to them. Let’s say you have a 17- and 14-year-old, and both of them have been on social media for a couple of years. If you support the ban, the 17-year-old could continue on, having had access to social media unencumbered throughout their teens. On the other hand, your 14-year-old will be taken off and might be a bit ticked that their sibling managed to dodge the ban by a couple of years! For a lot of siblings, there is already a competitive dynamic between them and these changes might enflame it. Have a chat with your older children about how you’d appreciate them handling it – not being deliberately provocative, not lording it over the younger ones, or not undermining rules you have set. I know a lot of parents – and children – are feeling daunted by the changes and feel uncertain about how it will actually play out. If it’s any consolation, everyone in this situation is new to this. What I can confidently say is that having open and curious conversations with your children will deepen your relationship, help you understand what they’re scared or nervous for, and form the foundations for these transparent and thoughtful discussions into the future.
Intercontinental Exchange Chair & CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher to Present at the Goldman Sachs Financial Services Conference on December 10AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:25 p.m. EST
It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not."
Miguel Tomley scores 28 to lead Weber State over Pepperdine 68-53 at Arizona Tip-Off(CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump’s team has signed an agreement with the White House unlocking key transition briefings and activities after a lengthy delay amid concerns, in part, over a mandatory ethics agreement. “President-elect Trump is entering the next phase of his administration’s transition by executing a Memorandum of Understanding with President Joe Biden’s White House,” incoming White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in a statement. “This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” Wiles continued. The White House agreement, which was due October 1, serves as the gatekeeper for access to agencies and information and could lay the groundwork for Trump’s team to receive security clearances necessary to begin receiving classified information, although it was not immediately clear how that information sharing with the Biden administration would proceed. “The Transition already has existing security and information protections built in, which means we will not require additional government and bureaucratic oversight,” the Trump transition said in a statement. Trump’s team also said it “will not utilize taxpayer funding for costs related to the transition.” It added that it “will not use government buildings or technology provided by GSA (the General Services Administration) and will operate as a self-sufficient organization.” Its existing ethics plan “will meet the requirements for personnel to seamlessly move into the Trump Administration,” it said, noting that that agreement will be posted to the GSA’s website. With the agreement in place, members of the Biden administration can now begin to prepare their incoming counterparts for a handoff on January 20. CNN has reached out to the White House, the Office of Management and Budget and the GSA for comment. The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.It was a little hard to hear him over the sound of “In the Mood,” but Mark Nelson had an explanation of why a big crowd is drawn to Concord every two months to dance to music that’s nearly a century old. “I think people are looking for a low-pressure way to meet people,” said Nelson, a student at NHTI, during a Swing Dance Night show by the New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra at the BNH Stage on Nov. 16. Nelson became a fan of the music by accident – “I just happened to go to a swing dance in Boston and liked it” – and was drawn to the energy and openness of the community, where anybody can ask anybody else to dance with no judgment. “I don’t drink so I don’t go to bars much. This is a way to get out and interact with people.” There was certainly a lot of interaction on the BNH Stage dance floor that night. There was swing dancing, both East Coast and West Coast, and foxtrot and Charleston and Lindy hop and the occasional waltz, plus simple steps from many folks who received their first dance lesson right before the band started playing. The floor was never empty and often packed. “We get at least 100 people for every show, sometimes 150 people,” said Salvatore Prizio, executive director of the Capitol Center for the Arts, which owns BNH Stage. BNH Stage is the little sibling of the nearby Capitol Center. It opened in 2019 in the former Concord Theater movie house and has made good use of the ability to easily switch from theater-style seating to a wide-open floor watched over by a seated balcony, which lets it hold events from silent discos to Taylor Swift dance nights. “The open floor is a net benefit – it was always part of the plan,” said Prizio. “At the CCA, it’s about trying to engage as many different communities as we can possibly serve. We’re always open to ideas.” Swing is the general term for dancing styles that became popular during the Big Band era from the late 1920s through World War II. They were a creation of the African-American community in big cities before being adopted by the nation at large. Taking advantage of music from full bands featuring up to two dozen players, swing involves dances for couples that emphasize rhythmic athleticism in a spontaneous but not free-form style that uses a number of set moves as the urge arises. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Swing dancing largely disappeared after rock ‘n’ roll took over but saw a resurgence in the late 1990s. The rebirth was fueled in the U.S. by a 1998 commercial for Gap clothing stores which highlighted frenetic Lindy hopping and in Europe by a youthful rediscovery of the Harlem Renaissance, which raised dance pioneers like Frankie Manning and Norma Miller from obscurity to international fame. Starting in the 2000s New Hampshire developed a small but eager swing dance community with regular dances playing to live bands, an offshoot of the bigger scene around Boston. Virtually all opened with a free group lesson to get people started, a reflection of the swing community’s tradition of openness, with newcomers and experienced dancers mingling together. Then the pandemic hit. “COVID lockdowns set everything back. At UNH, for example, their swing dance club dissolved,” said Mike Pelletier of Manchester, who runs the Facebook group Swing Dancing in Southern NH. Before that, college groups had been a major incubator of the swing revival. Like much of the arts scene, swing dancing to live music has yet to fully recover from the pandemic but big bands have begun returning to places like Rockingham Ballroom and the American Legion Sweeney Post in Manchester. The Swing Dance Nights dances at BNH Stage, scheduled eight times a year with the next one in January, are part of this. Pelletier and his wife, Joanne, got into swing dancing after he returned from his second deployment with the New Hampshire National Guard in 2011. “We said it’s time to learn how to dance; time to have some fun.” Finding dances is a bit of a hassle, though. “Over the course of years, we found that there are dance opportunities in New Hampshire but there was no real method of learning where they were or who was doing what,” he said. Hence the Facebook page. Being on Facebook isn’t the sexiest way to get the word out but it fits with New Hampshire’s aging demographic. This leads to a key point about swing: The appeal crosses generations. Dances always feature folks of retirement age, who may remember their parents playing Big Band records, but people under 30 are usually well represented and in Boston will make up the majority of the couples on the floor. “You hear people say ‘I’m a metalhead but I like this music. I was born at the wrong time!’” said Clayton “Skip” Poole, who leads the New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra. Poole, 65, of Bow, is a financial advisor who has worked with big bands for 48 years; his first gig included singer/pianist Mel Torme. He is also music director for the Capital Jazz Orchestra, a fully professional big band that plays shows all over the country and will have a Holiday Pops show on Dec. 8. The N.H. Jazz Orchestra is somewhat different. “I was asked to put together a group to feature more community players – including advanced high school students, semi-pros – to meet on a weekly basis,” he said. Poole said he was interested because it’s a “chance to perform music that isn’t heard all that often anymore on a very high level.” He uses his own collection of some 8,000 charts – music for all the instruments in the band for a set arrangement – some dating back to original arrangements from the 1920s. “We can take this music and bring it back to life.” “Most of the music we play is danceable. It’s different when you perform for dancers – Latin material, waltzes, whatever you play for dancing and not just for listening,” Poole said. “It’s much more exciting to have people there, dancing, to look out on the floor and see a sea of bobbing heads. ... Even the most professional musicians who say they play for money – no, they play for the sound of applause. “We’re fortunate to be at BNH, it’s sort of our home away from home, reaching out to swing dancers in the area.” The NH Jazz Orchestra has five reed instruments such as saxophone and clarinet, four trombones and a tuba, five trumpets and four rhythm players including keyboard and guitar, and usually includes a vocalist. Poole is adamant that it avoids the “gazebo circuit” of playing free concerts outdoors to keep up the quality. “We only play if people buy a ticket,” he said. Despite the popularity of events like Swing Dance Night, there’s a problem, Pelletier said. “We have over 1,000 members on (the Facebook) page but what we’ve noticed is that many people want to dance ... but they don’t actually go,” he said. “I think it’s because they’re intimidated. “This generation, people stopped partner dancing and they don’t know how, or they’re embarrassed to try in public. To go to a dance where people actually talk to each other, ask each other to dance, actually touch each other – that’s uncomfortable.” Blame technology, blame the pandemic, blame generational change – whatever the reason this isn’t just a swing dance problem. Digital life, exacerbated by the imposed isolation of the COVID years, seems to be cutting into people’s connection with each other, which cuts into their willingness to attend public events. All sorts of music venues have seen crowds shrink in the past two years, even when there’s no dance floor, and one reason cited by a major survey was that people didn’t have a friend to go with. Whether swing dancing’s openness and lack of judgment can overcome that reluctance is uncertain. But it will be entertaining to find out. “The music is great, isn’t it?” said Pelletier.
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