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Wolgamott’s 14B win confirmed in Sherburne recountTV icon Oprah Winfrey left her longtime best friend Gayle King flabbergasted after surprising her with a huge 70th birthday bash. The big reveal was captured on camera and posted to Winfrey’s Instagram. King, her mouth agape, clutches her chest and freezes—completely astonished. The camera pans to show a room filled to the brim with King’s loved ones. “My bestie of 50 years is turning 70 so we gathered everyone that loved her to celebrate,” Winfrey captioned the post . “Hard thing to surprise her, O the stories we have made up, the lies we have told to keep this a secret. Happy birthday @gayleking, sorry we almost gave you a heart attack.” Winfrey and King, both successful media personalities, have been dear friends since they met as young journalists at Baltimore’s WJZ television station. When Winfrey celebrated her own 70th birthday a year earlier, she said , “No day is promised to any of us. So to reach this major milestone feels like grace in action.” A post shared by Oprah (@oprah) Paula Abdul has reached a settlement with American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe following a year-long sexual assault legal battle. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. “I am grateful that this chapter has successfully come to a close and is now something I can now put behind me...,” Abdul said in a statement. “I hope my experience can serve to inspire other women, facing similar struggles, to overcome their own challenges with dignity and respect, so that they too can turn the page and begin a new chapter of their lives.” Lythgoe continued to dispute Abdul’s accusations, claiming, “We live in a troubling time where a person is now automatically assumed to be guilty until proven innocent, a process that can take years,” in a statement. Abdul accused Lythgoe of groping her in an elevator nearly 20 years ago when she was a judge on American Idol. A decade later, when she was a judge on So You Think You Can Dance , she alleged Lythgoe invited her to his home and then attempted to forced himself on her. Lythgoe stepped down as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance in January after a second suit was filed accusing him of sexually assaulting two contestants on a different show. A third lawsuit was filed in March, accusing Lythgoe of sexually assaulting a woman at his home in 2018. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Consuming cannabis as an adult feels very different than doing so as a fresh-faced 21-year-old—so why should your smoking habits make your space feel like a disheveled college dorm room? NWTN Home’s collection of chic smoking essentials offers a more elevated way to enjoy cannabis in the comfort of your home. NWTN Home is a smokeware brand bringing craftsmanship to the cannabis industry by designing what they call “homeware for the high-minded.” Its weed-associated products are built to double as elegant and functional houseware items , helping you upgrade your home into a full smoking sanctuary. Plus, they make the perfect holiday gifts for your favorite creative cannabis connoisseur! This hand-poured, marbled ashtray rests atop a sleek melamine rolling tray and includes a helpful brass tool that can assist in your rolling process, making it the perfect blend of form and function. This standout stackable flower pot ashtray set is a surefire solution to keep your space clean—and your houseguests impressed. No cannabis collection is complete without something to smoke out of! These avant-garde gravity bongs are inspired by vintage housewares and designed to seamlessly blend into your barware and greenware set-ups. Sarah Michelle Gellar cleared the air after she seemed to snub a reporter who asked about her former co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt . While at the premiere of her new series Dexter: Original Sin on Dec. 11, Gellar was asked if she knew whether Hewitt would be returning for the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot movie. “I have nothing to do with that,” the actress said quickly before stepping away . The moment went viral online and resurfaced old rumors of an on-set feud between the two women as stars of the original 1997 slasher movie. On Friday, however, Gellar explained why she seemed so cagey in her Instagram stories, chalking up her behavior to not wanting to violate non-disclosure agreements after she accidentally posted photos from the project’s set several weeks prior. “Aspiring actors please note: this deer in the headlights reaction is perfect for when you are excited to see so many old friends in one project but have already stupidly forgotten what NDA means once this month,” she wrote. Ultimately, Hewitt also confirmed her return to the reboot on Friday captioning a photo on Instagram. “It’s never too late to go back. Julie James is returning. I know what you will be doing next summer!” A post shared by Jennifer Love Hewitt (@jenniferlovehewitt) It’s been some 26 years since Jennifer Love Hewitt’s ‘final girl’ faced off with a vengeful killer fisherman in the I Know What You Did Last Summe r series. (That was in the film’s sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer ; a third film is not considered canon by horror fans, while a related TV series aired in 2021.) But with filming on an official threequel—set for release, wait for it, next summer—currently underway, Hewitt confirmed Friday that she’ll be reprising her original role. “It’s never too late to go back,” Hewitt wrote in an Instagram caption confirming the casting news. Hewitt joins her former co-star Freddie Prinze Jr. in the forthcoming film, alongside a lineup of young Hollywood talent who will near inevitably end up as roadkill . Perhaps unsurprisingly, Prinze Jr.‘s wife Sarah Michelle Gellar —who also starred in the first IKWYDLS movie—had previously confirmed she won’t be returning, because her character died . Fair enough! That hasn’t stopped the Internet from wondering if she didn’t really want to see Love Hewitt back either, with commenters reading deeply into an apparently shady red carpet moment . A post shared by Jennifer Love Hewitt (@jenniferlovehewitt) Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. 2025 is quickly approaching, and there’s no better way to celebrate the new year than with 2024’s cocktail du jour—the espresso martini. It’s the perfect way to toast 2025 with sophistication, flavor, and an energy boost. Think you can’t make the buzzy beverage at home because you’re not a bartender? Think again. You can create this beloved cocktail effortlessly with just a cocktail shaker, fresh espresso, vodka, coffee beans, and Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur . It all starts in the land Down Under—Australia. Mr Black sources its ingredients, including 100 percent specialty-grade Arabica coffee, from local farmers and cooperatives. The liqueur is then slowly brewed with purified cold water to preserve its delicate, complex flavors. The result? A bittersweet masterpiece with bold flavor, balanced sweetness, and a lasting coffee kick. Its rich, coffee-forward taste is a crowd-pleaser, and the sleek bottle design adds a touch of elegance to any bar cart. Making an espresso martini is simple. Combine Mr Black , vodka, and freshly brewed espresso in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until cold. Then, strain the mixture into a martini glass and finish with three coffee beans as a garnish. Skip the champagne toast this year and ensure you stay awake for the countdown to 2025 with a Mr Black espresso martini. BBC reported that Apple’s new AI notification system sent a message from the outlet that falsely claimed Luigi Mangione shot himself. The new technology aims to group together notifications; however, it falsely wrote that the suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s Manhattan slaying had shot himself. The BBC sent a message to Apple in regards to the notification, but the company declined to comment. A BBC spokesperson said, “It is essential to us that our audiences can trust any information or journalism published in our name and that includes notifications.” The notification included other news stories, which were described correctly. The message read: “Luigi Mangione shoots himself; Syrian mother hopes Assad pays the price; South Korea police raid Yoon Suk Yeol’s office.” The BBC also reported that it’s seemingly not the only news organization dealing with the misleading summarizations. A screenshot allegedly showed that a New York Times grouped notification read that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was arrested. The screenshot could not be independently verified by the BBC, and the New York Times declined to comment. The NFL wished Taylor Swift a Happy Birthday with a TikTok of her and Travis Kelce’s most memorable moments—on and off the field. Kelce’s employer posted the video of the singer and his relationship, which already has racked up over 1 million views. The caption read, “Karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me.” The clips showed Kelce and Swift celebrating his wins at games, the pair at her concerts, and her glitzed out in Chiefs gear. “If you told me 2 years ago I would be following the NFL on tiktok and not falling asleep everytime a game is on TV... never would’ve believed it,” wrote one commenter. “Happy birthday Taylor. Thank you for uniting the Swifties and the Football Fans together in the name of art and sport,” another wrote. Swift has been seen at many Chiefs games since the beginning of her relationship with the tight end, with him visiting her at some of her tour dates. karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me 🎶 #taylorswift #traviskelce #nfl #kansascitychiefs Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson , known best to some for his past relationships with Kim Kardashian , Ariana Grande , Kate Beckinsale , and more famous women, now says he doesn’t want to be known as “this f---ing loser who just dates people,” in a new interview for W Magazine . to promote his new role as creative director for colorful sock brand Doublesoul, Davidson told the outlet his feeling that he was one of “a handful of celebs every couple of years” that the media “destroys,” after multiple run-ins with tabloids over his famous exes. “For some reason, I’m one of the people they chose to go after,” he said. But, he added, “It’s actually, in a way, a blessing, because it allowed me to take a step back and evaluate things. What do you want to be? Who are you?” Davidson said he only wants to be seen publicly “when it’s movie, stand-up, charity, or business ventures” and to focus on his stand-up career. “I’m someone who is from Staten Island, wanted to do stand-up, and if I got to do anything else because of stand-up, it was a miracle.” The iconic sitcom Malcolm in the Middle will hit screens for the first time in 18 years, with a limited run of four episodes set to premiere on Disney+ . Frankie Muniz, who will reprise his role as Malcolm, announced the reboot Friday, along with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, who play his parents. The original creator of the show will also return as a writer. The new series follows Malcolm returning home with his daughter for his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, according to Deadline . Christopher Kennedy Masterson, who played the eldest brother Francis, and Justin Berfield, who played the middle child Reese, are likely to be asked to reprise their roles. Though it’s unlikely that Erik Per Sullivan, who plays the youngest brother Dewey, will make an appearance. He quit acting in 2010 and has not appeared at any reunions. Malcolm in the Middle first premiered on Fox in 2000 and ran for seven seasons. Its success as a family comedy is credited with paving the way for other single-camera sitcoms. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Apparently, boosting prostate health can actually be pleasurable—at least, that’s what premium sexual wellness brand MysteryVibe says. The Molto, an ultra-slim and bendable prostate vibrator designed by a doctor, is engineered to be the same size and width as a doctor’s finger and to mimic similar motions to that performed during an exam, allowing for not only intense prostate (the prostate is often hailed as the male ‘G-spot’) and anal stimulation but also a release of prostatic fluids. According to the brand, some studies have found that excess prostatic fluid can lead to inflammation and pressure, so not only is this a sex toy , but it’s also possibly an investment in your prostate health. Think of it almost like a lymphatic massage for your prostate—except one that can give you intense orgasms, too. Made with body-safe silicone, the multifunctional and gender-fluid vibrator is powered by one “anatomically-placed” motor that delivers potent yet precise vibration to the anus and prostate without feeling bulky or inflexible. It’s a great sex toy for those new to anal play or who are looking for an ultra-sleek vibrator with possible health-boosting benefits. The prostate vibrator is equipped with 16 vibration settings and eight pre-set vibration patterns, allowing for superior control and customization. Plus, the device comes with access to a catalog of vibration patterns with the free MysteryVibe smartphone app. Best of all? Because the Molto vibrator is an FDA-registered class II medical device, it’s also FSA/HSA eligible. Legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers is finally opening up about his strained relationship with his family. In his new documentary, Aaron Rodgers: Enigma , Rodgers explained that he has “stunted emotional intelligence” because of the lack of open emotion in his home growing up. “I think I saw my dad cry when my grandfather passed. And that might have been it,” Rodgers shared. “There wasn’t space for emotion.” Rodgers’ brother, Jordan, first opened up about the family’s rift during his time on The Bachelorette in 2016. During a hometown date with his now-wife JoJo Fletcher, the family explained that while they “miss” Rodgers, they no longer have a relationship with him. In a 2017 profile with The New York Times , Rodgers’ father, Ed, confirmed that he hadn’t spoken to his son in three years. “Fame can change things,” he said. At the time, Rodgers said he didn’t want to talk about his family publicly. In the doc, Rodgers spoke about his family while participating in an ayahuasca ceremony. The quarterback said the psychedelic drug allows users to “model a new way of thinking about masculinity, or what it means to be a man.” Released bodycam footage shows Paris Hilton’s ex-fiancé, Chris Zylka, in a chaotic brawl with police after a failed carjacking. Police in a Cleveland suburb first responded to reports of a shirtless, barefoot man walking in traffic in freezing temperatures on Dec. 4, local outlet WKBN first reported. Zylka was found in the middle of an intersection, where he allegedly tried to break into a woman’s car. He pointed a cell phone at the cops and began foaming at the mouth, leading officers to believe he was under the influence of drugs, according to the police report. Footage shows Zylka struggling with police officers and resisting arrest even after being tasered in the leg twice. He was then put in an ambulance by paramedics. The actor is now facing felony charges of assault and attempt to commit an offense, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and aggravated menacing. Hilton and Zylka started dating in 2017 after being friends for years. He proposed in early 2018 during a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado, but they called off their engagement in November that same year.DePaul rolls in second half, defeats Wichita State 91-72
In a 7th-grade speech class, Cyril Gorlla was one of many students to speak about something he was passionate about. His classmates shared their favorite sports teams, movies and food. Young Gorlla gave a breakdown of Google’s developer conference that year, describing the operating system architecture of the Android smart phone. Today, Gorlla, 23, is the co-founder and CEO of CTGT, a startup company that utilizes a technology to eliminate artificial intelligence hallucinations (incorrect or misleading AI results). The work Gorlla and his partner, co-founder and CTO Trevor Tuttle, were doing attracted partnerships with the likes of businessman and television personality Mark Cuban and Zapier co-founder Mike Knoop. “I was doing undergrad and grad programs at UCSD (University of California San Diego),” Gorlla said during a recent telephone interview from his office in San Francisco. “I finished my undergrad but dropped out this year in April to pursue the company.” Gorlla was born in India and came to Newhall with his family when he was 2 years old. His mother, Suhasini Gorlla, said her son developed an interest in computers early on. He’d take apart computers and then reassemble them. Then there was the time Gorlla’s mother went back to school — to College of the Canyons. Gorlla was only 11 years old. He would help his mom with her assignments. “I actually did that class with her,” he said. “I aced it. That was the moment when I really fell in love with computing and with coding.” Upon his high-school graduation from Santa Clarita Christian School in Canyon Country, Gorlla decided to go to UCSD for the university’s computer science department and the specific AI work they were doing. According to publicity materials from Gorlla’s company, Gorlla was awarded UCSD’s Endowed Chairs Fellowship, where he studied under deep-learning pioneer and ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) fellow Mikhail Belkin. Gorlla has gone on to give invited talks at major industry conferences, and he’s even discussed responsible AI with prominent figures like former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. It was during his first year of grad school — when he was giving a presentation at the International Conference on Learning Representations — that he found himself faced with a tough decision. He was sharing details about the work he was doing with AI models that were giving wrong information. “I didn’t really want to see just this research like languish in that conference where just a couple people see it or a couple hundred people see it,” he said. “I actually wanted to see it affect the world and the industry.” And so, Gorlla left school and started CTGT. The name is a rearrangement of Gorlla’s initials and the initials of his business partner, Tuttle. In April, Gorlla moved to San Francisco, and the company that he and Tuttle founded has since been working with nine enterprises and showing promise to continue its growth. According to Gorlla, CTGT’s technology can reduce hallucinations by about 85% and make state-of-the-art machine learning nearly 10 times more efficient, enabling deployment in critical sectors like health care and finance. This is important, he said, as AI is getting closer and closer to making more crucial decisions in the world. “This is very much almost like a Manhattan-Project moment in that there’s so much going on right now, and we have the capacity to really affect how the world will look,” Gorlla said. “So, it’s really important in this current moment to prioritize and basically follow a perspective of AI that really focuses on understanding what these models do.” Gorlla explained what he called the “black box” — you put something into the black box, and then something comes out. “We don’t know what happens inside,” he said. “And so, in trying to understand that black box, what we’re doing is especially important, because right now, you ask ChatGPT to give you a recipe, and it tells you to mix bread and glue together.” That’s something that he suggested has happened before. “But say AI is getting more integrated in our society,” Gorlla continued, “and now it’s making credit decisions, and now you’re denied a home loan because the AI has hallucinated. The extreme scenario is that we plug AI into our governments. Like, it makes immigration decisions, defense decisions — autonomous everything. Because technology progress is inevitable, we need to be sure that we’re pursuing it in the right direction.” That’s Gorlla’s goal with CTGT — to make sure that AI is trustworthy. Of course, Gorlla’s parents are proud. His mother said her son’s ability to adapt at such a young age is truly inspiring. His choice to pursue a future in AI, she said, reflects his passion, his skills and his work ethic, which he’s cultivated over the years. “When he was 8 years old,” she wrote in a message, “I got hit with major health issues. He showed a lot of empathy during my sickness. He used to do homework by sitting by the side of my bed in the hospital, since no one was there to take care of him at home while his dad was at work.” Gorlla continues to work hard, always looking to make a difference. He feels he can do just that through what he’s doing now. “Computing to me — the real power of it — was the fact that I could build something that could affect people all over the world, regardless of my immediate circumstances, whatever those were,” he said. “As I went to high school, I started really experimenting with AI. I used to take apart my laptops to get a bit more performance (out of them) to train AI models. And this is when I really noticed that the amount of resources that people had could really affect their ability to train and use AI. And so, that’s what really led to what my research focused on at UCSD and eventually at the company.”A new Holly Jolly bar is ringing in the holidays in West Hollywood
Abdelgowad scores 26 in UMass' 86-52 victory over UMass-Boston
Vincent Trocheck and the Rangers have been in dreadful form as of late, and now the veteran has called out his team after their latest loss in embarrassing fashion against the New Jersey Devils. The New York Rangers have been falling drastically as of late, and on Monday ahead of the holiday break, they seemingly hit rock bottom against a Metropolitan Division rival. In that game, the Rangers were decimated by the New Jersey Devils, who came away winners 5-0 in a blowout, while also embarrassing the Rangers after they traded Kaapo Kakko away. Now, veteran leader Vincent Trocheck has given his honest opinion of how the Rangers play has been as of late, and he was blunt, honest, and to the point in his scathing assessment of their play. In the game, New York was outshot 29-12, and with Chris Kreider benched for the game, the warning signs for this team are there unless something changes very soon. Trocheck himself has quietly had a solid year, posting 9 goals and 20 points through 34 games, but with the team as a whole not putting in the effort needed to be a Stanley Cup contender, they've been thoroughly embarrassed as of late. There's still plenty of time for New York to turn things around, but given that they've not played well in any phase of the game and have consistently been out-hustled, the warning signs are there for the team to fall apart completely unless something changes from the top of the organization down. The rumors have persisted around the likes of Chris Kreider and Ryan Lindgren, but simply put the effort of the whole team hasn't been good enough, and if Trocheck calling them out ahead of a few days away from the spotlight doesn't help, it may be time for them to make a huge change. This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.I have worked as a professor for almost 30 years at two Ivy League institutions -- the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. Ivy League institutions epitomize the Ivory Tower. We imagine that professors and students discuss rarefied subjects while being disconnected to the reality on the ground. However, I wholeheartedly reject this version of academia. Two weeks ago, I had the immense pleasure of organizing a K-pop conference at Yale University titled "K-pop Production and Consumption: Conversations among Industry Professionals, Social Scientists, and Humanists." My co-organizer was Yale postdoctoral fellow Dr. Lee Won-seok, who happens to be a former drummer in the K-pop industry who worked with acts like Shinhwa and Lee Hyo-ri. The conference was sponsored by multiple units at Yale -- the Council on East Asian Studies to the Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Kempf Fund at the MacMillan Center, and the Yale’s Center for the Study of Race, Indigeneity, and Transnational Migration. This is a sign of the relevance of K-pop to numerous academic centers at Yale. My vision was to introduce academics who study K-pop to people that actually work in the industry. For the panelists, we welcomed RBW’s Kim Hyung-kyu, who helped to produce Beast, Mamamoo, Pentagon, G(I)-dle, Oneus, Onewe, Young Posse, and so forth. Next, we had Kim Su-bin, a former idol of the group Say Yes and current songwriter, producer, topliner and CEO of Aiming Music. He has produced almost 400 songs for groups such as Twice, EXO, Super Junior, SF9 and Astro. We also welcomed Dahae Choi, creative director at Hitfire Productions AB in Sweden, and who has an extensive career in music publishing and forming some of the first song camps. Finally, we welcomed Jay Kim, a former employee in PR at a major K-pop entertainment company and currently a K-pop journalist. We invited them to participate along with academics in Sociology, Ethnomusicology, East Asian Studies, Korean Studies, Theatre Arts, English and Classics. We gathered at Yale University for two wonderful days, and everyone had a great time. What was so special was that everyone there was serious about K-pop -- we are all fans, producers and/or consumers of it. Also, we didn’t have to defend its importance to anyone at the conference. We all felt pure joy and happiness throughout the conference -- I don’t know if it was because we all loved music or if we just liked each other. There were so many unique moments. First, we enjoyed welcome messages from five idols/groups including Say My Name, Purple Kiss, Young Posse, Jae-Joong of JYJ and Yonghoon of Onewe. These have been posted on YouTube if you’re interested. Faculty and students learned what it was like to be an idol and the rigorous testing and training that trainees endure. Who knew that trainees at one company had to write monthly book reports? We also learned about various methods for computing the allocation of song royalties. Industry professionals seemed fascinated that professors and Ph.D. students were spending time studying K-pop. In the session, “Fandoms,” we heard about Korean versus international fandoms from professor Mathieu Berbiguier of Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Stephanie Choi of Suny Buffalo talked about how the activities of female fans are a direct response to gender inequities in Korea. We learned about performing materialization and affective labor from Professor Areum Jeong of Arizona State University. She also talked about fan meetings with Taeyong of NCT Dream. In the session titled, “Sounds,” I talked about the link between K-pop and 1980s New Wave Music. Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Michigan Sunhong Kim, previously a professional "gugak" (traditional Korean music) musician, presented her paper on how Suga of BTS uses traditional Korean instrumentation and imagery in "Daechwita" as a commentary on military history during Park Chung-hee’s regime and beyond. We heard about the use of autotune and vocoders in Ateez songs from Professor Donna Kwon, an Ethnomusicology professor at the University of Kentucky. The panel on “Past and Future” featured Dr. Yanxiao He of Tsinghua University whose work ties Classics to K-pop more broadly, and specifically to BTS’s “Dionysus.” We learned about how computational social scientists analyze data on social media platform X to examine the sway BTS carries in shaping the online conversation about discrimination against Asian Americans from Dr. AJ Alvero of Cornell University. Next, we heard fascinating papers by professor Hye Won Kim of Kennesaw State University about the production of K-pop. She is unique in that she was a pop singer and now a professor. Ph.D. candidate Lee So-yoon from The University of Chicago talked about the proliferation of hagwons that offer credentialing to adults who want to work in the K-pop industry -- not as idols, but in production and support roles. Finally, we learned about K-pop markets. Professor Kim Sung-min of Hokkaido University described the reception of K-pop in Japan and how it reflects Japan-Korea relations. Professor Youjeong Oh of the University of Texas, Austin, described how tourism based on BTS has brought fans to Korea. One of the most memorable highlights was during our last reception, where we all participated in a sing-a-long. Hye Won Kim (professionally known as Hey) performed her hit song, “Je T’aime” with Kim Hyung-kyu; Kim Su-bin and Kim Hyung-kyu performed a “freestyle” song -- meaning that they made it up on the spot. Finally, the Korean participants sang “Forever with You” by Lee Moon-sae. Hye Won Kim recorded it and sent it to Lee (apparently they are friends!) on the spot. Shockingly, he responded to her and expressed his happiness at seeing it. I tried to explain to my American friends this was as if we sang “Candle in the Wind” at a party and then someone at the party who is a friend of Elton John’s texts the video to him, and then he immediately responds. This was truly surreal and magical. If we think of all the groups who were mentioned during the conference or played during our lunch breaks, I think we covered all the generations from Seo Taiji, H.O.T., S.E.S., 2NE1, Girls Generation, Beast, TVXQ, Super Junior, Big Bang, EXO, BTS, GOT7, Twice, iKON, Seventeen, Pentagon, Brave Girls, NCT 127, Ateez, Stray Kids, G(I)-dle, TXT, Enhyphen, NewJeans, Zerobaseone, and Young Posse. Still, how memorable is it that we ended with a song by Lee Moon-sae, who debuted in 1978. Not bad for a two-day conference in Connecticut, right? Grace Kao Grace Kao is an IBM professor of sociology and professor of ethnicity, race and migration at Yale University. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. -- Ed.
Shopping for sisters, nieces, girlfriends, wives, besties, and daughters this season? There are, quite literally, millions of options when it comes to gift-giving, and it can feel pretty overwhelming (especially if you’re not exactly sure what she’s into these days. Skincare? TikTok trends?). Because the holidays are all about rest, relaxation, and spending quality time with loved ones, we thought we’d make the whole process easier by sharing our top gift ideas for women. Now, you’ll get to spend less time wandering aimlessly through stores or scrolling through websites and more time doing the things that matter — like eating your weight in holiday cookies. We all need a little pick-me-up sometimes, but when you’re not around to give her the boost she needs, this handy little deck will be just the ticket. Each card features an illustration by a Canadian artist paired with a cheeky affirmation that never feels hokey or patronizing. Elevate her handbag game by gifting her this crescent number that’s perfectly sized for every occasion. Call it the Goldilocks of purses: small enough not to weigh her down but big enough to fit essentials when she’s out on the town. Loaded with cool features (like a special spout she can swing or sip from), this TikTok-fave bottle will keep her drinks icy-cold for up to 24 hours while being leakproof to boot. The cap even has a built-in straw, a locking mechanism, and a carrying loop. The Tasman slippers have been all the rage for the last few years, but these will get her ahead of the trend curve. They have a platform sole with a cute ‘n’ curly upper she’ll love when the temperatures drop. And though they’re great for wearing around the house, there are no rules that say she can’t style them with her favourite off-duty looks, too. She may not be much of a baker, but lighting one of these candles will fill her space with the smell of oven-baked treats (think Pistachio Croissants, Café, and Apricot Jam). Each one is limited-edition and comes packaged in a pretty box, so you won’t even have to wrap it — though you’ll score extra points if you do. Once she’s burned them all down, the fluted glass jars can be repurposed as storage or decoration. She may already have a pile of beloved lippies, but she’ll love adding these to her collection. The formula is specially designed to add volume while delivering serious gloss with stickiness, too, saving her from having to dislodge her hair the second she steps outdoors. In addition to the classic untinted option, she’ll get a pair of universally flattering shades. Zero-proof cocktails have been her new obsession this year, and these non-alcoholic spirits are just the ticket for cranking them up a notch. Seriously — each one is award-winning and can be mixed into all her favourite recipes, like espresso martinis, margaritas, and anything else she’s got a taste for. Give her a place to stash her most precious bling! It can hold up to eight rings (more or less, depending on their size) and features a weighted base to keep things upright. Real flowers will wither and fade, but these never will. say the process of putting it together is easier and more enjoyable than they thought (and it’s a great activity to help her disconnect during her time off). Each stem is assembled individually, so she can arrange and rearrange them whenever she wants. Personalized gifts just got an upgrade, thanks to this iced-out charm. She can slip it over her favourite chain, onto a charm bracelet, or even hook it onto hoop earrings if she’s feeling adventurous. Her dry and chapped lips won’t know what hit ’em when she slicks on one of these cushiony balms. Since she’ll get a trio, she’ll be able to choose between the classic untinted option or add a subtle wash of colour when she feels like getting fancy — all while taking advantage of their seriously hydrating and conditioning powers. It doesn’t get more iconic than this chunky cable knit sweater jacket. The textural knit, paired with the brand’s classic stripe detailing, makes this a piece she’ll treasure forever (and wear all year long). She’s always snapping pics, and now she’ll get to print hard copies of all her favourite memories. It’ll pair directly with her phone (easy breezy!) and print crystal-clear images with sticky backings so she can pop it onto her laptop, phone, or other accessories. Thankfully, there’s no ink to refill, either — just make sure she’s stocked up on photo paper! Plus, it’s small enough to bring along on trips and nights out. This bergamot and black tea-scented candle will only deepen the obsession of any gal who can’t get enough of Montreal-based Mandy’s iconic salads. The fragrance is meant to evoke deep feelings of relaxation (which we’re pretty sure she could use right about now) and promises to fill her space with spa-like vibes in the process. There’s a reason all the it girls on their social media feeds are wearing these frames. love that they don’t need to fork over designer dollars to get the designer look (translation: no need to blow your gift budget to treat your pal to stylish eyewear). They’re sturdy and solid, so your jet-setting pal will be able to safely bring them along on all their travels. Give her an excuse for self-care, starting with this set. It comes with a decadent hand wash, body cleanser, and a tube of aromatic hand balm that’ll treat her to aromatherapy (and protect her hands during harsh weather). Unless she’s been offline for the last year, she’s probably seen this funny-looking phone mount all over social media. For good reason, too: it’s not just adorable but also fantastically practical. say it sticks to mirrors, tables, and other smooth surfaces, which translates to hands-free filming and video-watching. The bottle may be eye-catching, but it’s what’s inside that’s causing major commotion. It’s the brand’s first fragrance, with notes of bergamot, jasmine, and musk that reviewers call the perfect blend of light, fresh, and cozy. Obviously, every scent dries down differently on different people (thank you, body chemistry), but if you’re looking for a sophisticated fragrance gift, this is a great one to start with. Stars like Jessica Alba (not to mention tons of #beautytok influencers) are obsessed with these hydrogel masks that promise to tackle things like puffiness, dark circles, fine lines, and dryness — and tackle them they do. Unlike other brands’ eye masks, these are extra juicy, delivering of hydration in just a few minutes. find them soothing and say they make their peepers look more awake in a flash. Sure, they’re softer than a cloud and will keep her hands warm this winter — but what makes these a standout is their texting-friendly tips that’ll save her from exposing her digits when she wants to respond to a message, answer a phone call, or call an Uber. It doesn’t hurt that they come in mocha mousse, Pantone’s colour of the year😎. Aromatherapy is nice and all, but when she needs a hard-hitting hydration hero, this is the formula to try. This rich cream is full of conditioning ingredients, like shea butter, glycerin, and squalane that are clinically proven to moisturize, protect, and even soothe irritation. Since this one’s fragrance-free, she can even slather it onto irritated skin when she’s looking for extra repairing action. A touch of romance and whimsy is never out of place around the holidays, and this decorative vase delivers it in spades. She can use it for kitchen utensils, makeup brushes, flowers, or just about any other knickknacks she wants to organize. It has everything she loves about the brand’s iconic bag, now in a smaller package that’s ready to be filled with all her favourite products. Thanks to its petite size, she won’t have any trouble tucking it into her everyday dote, but it’s so darn cute (not to mention it comes in an on-trend hue) that we wouldn’t blame her for using it as a clutch, too. Popping one of these pods into the shower while she’s lathering up will fill her space with soothing scents and set the mood for the rest of the day. were surprised by their potency and added that the smell lasted for after they stepped out of the shower. Her wrists deserve to be free of clunky wearables, but if she’s reluctant to forgo the fancy (and helpful!) aspects of wearable tech and fitness trackers, she’ll probably love that this sleek ring option can actually keep tabs on all the same metrics, like stress and heart rate. One of its coolest features is its dynamic approach to activity levels. Goals are set according to her day, which means it takes into account times when she’s feeling low energy or extra stressed — and doesn’t hold it against her. The fashionista on your list wouldn’t dare be caught in a basic chapeau — and this fluffy number is anything but. The bucket style may be majorly on-trend, but it’s the faux fur she’ll be extra thankful for when temperatures hit sub-zero. In addition to an ultra-quiet diffuser, she’ll get a wild mint and eucalyptus diffuser oil to help her find peace during a chaotic holiday season (reviewers say it smells like a spa🧖♀️). The diffuser can be set to different time intervals and even has an auto shut-off function so she can set it and forget it.United Airlines travelers with lost luggage have a new tool to track their bags. If the lost bag has an Apple AirTag in it, that information can now be passed directly to United, the airline announced Thursday. The new feature, called Share Item Location, allows travelers with an AirTag or other Find My network accessory to share the location with the airline’s customer service team to help locate their luggage in the event it’s misplaced. United says more than 99% of its customers pick up their luggage without a hitch. The feature is now available with iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 or macOS 15.2. “Apple’s new Share Item Location feature will help customers travel with even more confidence, knowing they have another way to access their bag’s precise location with AirTag or their Find My accessory of choice,” said David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer. Travelers on United whose bags do not arrive at their destination can file a delayed baggage report with United and share the link to the item’s location either through the United app or via text message. After the report has been submitted, customer service agents will be able to locate the item on an interactive map alongside a timestamp of a recent update. The shared location will be disabled after a customer has the bag, and customers can also stop sharing the location of the item at any time on their own. The location link will also automatically expire after seven days. Using AirTags or other tracking devices on luggage is increasingly popular among frequent travelers, with a significant boom following the 2022 Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown , which displaced thousands of travelers over Christmas and into 2023, alongside much of their belongings. United says lost bags are rare, with more than 99% of its customers arriving with their bags. It says the new technology will help those with lost bags to recover them more quickly because the airline will have more information about them. Apple previously announced the new service will also be integrated at other air carriers, including Delta Air Lines. Others include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
By WILL WEISSERT, JUAN ZAMORANO and GARY FIELDS PANAMA CITY (AP) — Teddy Roosevelt once declared the Panama Canal “one of the feats to which the people of this republic will look back with the highest pride.” More than a century later, Donald Trump is threatening to take back the waterway for the same republic. Related Articles National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl The president-elect is decrying increased fees Panama has imposed to use the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He says if things don’t change after he takes office next month, “We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question.” Trump has long threatened allies with punitive action in hopes of winning concessions. But experts in both countries are clear: Unless he goes to war with Panama, Trump can’t reassert control over a canal the U.S. agreed to cede in the 1970s. Here’s a look at how we got here: What is the canal? It is a man-made waterway that uses a series of locks and reservoirs over 51 miles (82 kilometers) to cut through the middle of Panama and connect the Atlantic and Pacific. It spares ships having to go an additional roughly 7,000 miles (more than 11,000 kilometers) to sail around Cape Horn at South America’s southern tip. The U.S. International Trade Administration says the canal saves American business interests “considerable time and fuel costs” and enables faster delivery of goods, which is “particularly significant for time sensitive cargoes, perishable goods, and industries with just-in-time supply chains.” Who built it? An effort to establish a canal through Panama led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built Egypt’s Suez Canal, began in 1880 but progressed little over nine years before going bankrupt. Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle, eventually costing more than 20,000 lives, by some estimates. Panama was then a province of Colombia, which refused to ratify a subsequent 1901 treaty licensing U.S. interests to build the canal. Roosevelt responded by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The U.S. also prewrote a constitution that would be ready after Panamanian independence, giving American forces “the right to intervene in any part of Panama, to re-establish public peace and constitutional order.” In part because Colombian troops were unable to traverse harsh jungles, Panama declared an effectively bloodless independence within hours in November 1903. It soon signed a treaty allowing a U.S.-led team to begin construction . Some 5,600 workers died later during the U.S.-led construction project, according to one study. Why doesn’t the US control the canal anymore? The waterway opened in 1914, but almost immediately some Panamanians began questioning the validity of U.S. control, leading to what became known in the country as the “generational struggle” to take it over. The U.S. abrogated its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, Washington spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway. The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos. The two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate, the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.” The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, and was terminated then. Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. The agreements held even after 1989, when President George H.W. Bush invaded Panama to remove Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. In the late 1970s, as the handover treaties were being discussed and ratified, polls found that about half of Americans opposed the decision to cede canal control to Panama. However, by the time ownership actually changed in 1999, public opinion had shifted, with about half of Americans in favor. What’s happened since then? Administration of the canal has been more efficient under Panama than during the U.S. era, with traffic increasing 17% between fiscal years 1999 and 2004 . Panama’s voters approved a 2006 referendum authorizing a major expansion of the canal to accommodate larger modern cargo ships. The expansion took until 2016 and cost more than $5.2 billion. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said in a video Sunday that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to.” He added that, while his country’s people are divided on some key issues, “when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.” Shipping prices have increased because of droughts last year affecting the canal locks, forcing Panama to drastically cut shipping traffic through the canal and raise rates to use it. Though the rains have mostly returned, Panama says future fee increases might be necessary as it undertakes improvements to accommodate modern shipping needs. Mulino said fees to use the canal are “not set on a whim.” Jorge Luis Quijano, who served as the waterway’s administrator from 2014 to 2019, said all canal users are subject to the same fees, though they vary by ship size and other factors. “I can accept that the canal’s customers may complain about any price increase,” Quijano said. “But that does not give them reason to consider taking it back.” Why has Trump raised this? The president-elect says the U.S. is getting “ripped off” and “I’m not going to stand for it.” “It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions — you’ve got to treat us fairly. And they haven’t treated us fairly,” Trump said of the 1977 treaty that he said “foolishly” gave the canal away. The neutrality treaty does give the U.S. the right to act if the canal’s operation is threatened due to military conflict — but not to reassert control. “There’s no clause of any kind in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano said. “Legally, there’s no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously.” Trump, meanwhile, hasn’t said how he might make good on his threat. “There’s very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington. Gedan said Trump’s stance is especially baffling given that Mulino is a pro-business conservative who has “made lots of other overtures to show that he would prefer a special relationship with the United States.” He also noted that Panama in recent years has moved closer to China, meaning the U.S. has strategic reasons to keep its relationship with the Central American nation friendly. Panama is also a U.S. partner on stopping illegal immigration from South America — perhaps Trump’s biggest policy priority. “If you’re going to pick a fight with Panama on an issue,” Gedan said, “you could not find a worse one than the canal.” Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida, and Fields from Washington. Amelia Thomson-Deveaux contributed to this report from Washington.
University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has announced the launch of 7 new programmes for Fall 2025, ranging from bachelor's to master's degrees, all focused on hands-on learning and practical applications. These programmes are the result of strategic partnerships with key national and international entities, including local and international organisations in the aviation industry. Admissions for these programmes will open in January 2025 for the academic year 2025-2026. At the College of Engineering and Technology, the new programmes include Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering (BSc AeroE) and Master of Science in Telecommunication and Network Engineering (MSc TNE), the university said in a press release Sunday. The College of Business, will be offering Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management (BSc AM); a programme is designed to equip students with a strong foundation in both business management and aviation-specific knowledge, preparing them for leadership roles in the dynamic aviation industry, UDST added. In the College of Computing and Information Technology, the Master of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MSc DSAI), has been introduced. At the College of General Education the new programmes include Bachelor of Science in Teaching STEM, which combines interdisciplinary teaching strategies with hands-on learning. This programme prepares graduates to create dynamic educational experiences, and the Master of Science in Teaching STEM; a bilingual (English and Arabic), two-year graduate programme combining cutting-edge research with practical teaching methodologies, empowering educators to create transformative learning experiences. Graduates will be prepared to shape the future of education, equipping students with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world. Moreover, the College of General Education will also offer Master of Science in STEM Education and TVET, a comprehensive two-year programme designed for qualified teachers who wish to advance their expertise in both STEM education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Commenting on the announcement, President of UDST Dr Salem al-Naemi said: "The University is proud to introduce these new programmes, developed after extensive consultation with industry experts, academic leaders, and our strategic partners. Our goal is to equip students with not only the skills needed for today's workforce but also the foresight to thrive in tomorrow's ever-evolving job market. "We are seeing an increasing recognition from both students and their families of the value of applied education. At UDST, our students engage in hands-on learning in real-world environments, benefiting from the vast network of professional connections that our partnerships provide. This approach ensures that our graduates are not just educated but prepared to succeed and make a meaningful impact in their chosen fields." These new programmes are aligned with UDST's mission to provide innovative and high-quality education that meets the evolving needs of Qatar's rapidly developing economy. Related Story UDST commemorates QND with festivities UDST signs pacts with UK institutions
Off the couch and into the fire
