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Melbourne, Dec 30 (IANS): Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant batted 27.5 overs together to stitch a defiant, unbroken stand of 79 runs to keep India afloat in the chase of 340 against Australia on last day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. At tea, India have reached 112/3 in 54 overs, with Jaiswal batting on 63 off 159 balls, his second fifty of this game coming with a mix of attacking shots and solid defence. Pant, meanwhile, is 28 not out off 93 balls and has shown unbelievable restraint. The duo’s efforts have meant India are in a serious chance of ending the Melbourne Test with a drawn result, especially with the second new ball 26 overs away. The post-lunch session began with Jaiswal playing back-to-back controlled cut shots to take boundaries off Scott Boland, followed by hitting the same shot for a similar result in the pacer’s next over. Pant also had a go at Boland by swiping across the line for four, before Jaiswal slashed Mitchell Starc for another boundary. A ball later, Starc’s nip-backer hit Jaiswal on the back pad and Australia went in for a review, only for the umpire’s call to save the batter, as replays showed the ball clipping just top of leg-stump. With the old ball softening and Australia’s bowlers tiring, Jaiswal and Pant were diligent in seeking runs while trying to be patient at the crease. Jaiswal got his second half-century of the match with a delightful flick off Nathan Lyon, also his seventh four of the innings. Pant, who was content in defending and leaving deliveries after copping criticism for his first-innings dismissal, flicked Starc through fine leg for four before the duo walked off for tea break after a brilliant session of playing rearguard cricket for India. Brief Scores: Australia 474 and 234 in 83.4 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 70, Nathan Lyon 41; Jasprit Bumrah 5-57, Mohammed Siraj 3-70) lead India 369 and 112/3 in 54 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 63 not out, Rishabh Pant 28 not out; Pat Cummins 2-19, Mitchell Starc 1-24) by 228 runs

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, is getting a brand new subway system that will showcase archaeological discoveries made during construction that held up the project for decades. The 9.6-kilometer inaugural line will officially open on Nov. 30, using driverless trains and platform screen doors. Construction began in earnest in 2003 and unearthed a treasure trove of antiquities in a vast excavation beneath the densely populated city of a million residents. “This project offers a remarkable blend of the ancient and modern, integrating archaeological heritage with metro infrastructure,” Christos Staikouras, the transport and infrastructure minister, told reporters Friday on a media tour of the subway. Tunneling followed ancient commercial routes through the center of the port city that has been continuously inhabited since ancient times. It exposed a Roman-era thoroughfare, ancient Greek burial sites, water and drainage systems, mosaics and inscriptions and tens of thousands of artifacts spanning centuries, also through Byzantine and Ottoman rule. The tunnels had to be bored at a greater depth than originally planned, adding cost and delays, to preserve the ancient discoveries. Key pieces of what was found have been put on display along the underground network of 13 stations including a section of the marble-paved Roman thoroughfare at the central Venizelou Station. “The project faced substantial delays and many challenges, including over 300,000 archaeological finds, many of which are now showcased at various stations along the main line,” Staikouras said. The Thessaloniki metro was first conceived more than a century ago and its completion has been greeted with quiet amazement by residents who for years used the metro project as a punchline for bureaucratic delays and undelivered promises. Government officials said the cost of the metro so far has reached 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) for the completed first line of the subway system and most of a second line which is currently under construction and due to be delivered in a year. The construction consortium was made up by Greece’s Aktor, Italy’s Webuild and Japan’s Hitachi Rail.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday to begin a special session to protect the state's progressive policies ahead of another Trump presidency. The Democratic governor, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is positioning California to once again be the center of a resistance effort against the conservative agenda. He is asking his Democratic allies in the Legislature, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, to approve additional funding to the attorney general's office to prepare for a robust legal fight against anticipated federal challenges. Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel on Monday introduced legislation to set aside $25 million for legal fees to respond to potential attacks by the Trump administration on state policies regarding civil rights, climate change, immigration and abortion access. “While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming Trump Administration,” Gabriel said in a statement. California sued the first Trump administration more than 120 times to various levels of success. “We’re not going to be caught flat-footed,” Newsom said at a recent news conference. Trump often depicts California as representing all he sees wrong in America. Democrats, which hold every statewide office in California and have commanding margins in the Legislature and congressional delegation, outnumber registered Republicans by nearly 2-to-1 statewide. Trump called the Democratic governor “Newscum” during a campaign stop in Southern California and has relentlessly lambasted the Democratic stronghold over its large number of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, homeless population and thicket of regulations. Trump also waded into a water rights battle over the endangered delta smelt , a tiny fish that has pitted environmentalists against farmers and threatened to withhold federal aid to a state increasingly under threat from wildfires. He also vowed to follow through with his campaign promise of carrying out the mass deportation of immigrants without legal status and prosecuting his political enemies. Before the special session began, state lawmakers swore in more than two dozen new members and elect leaders for the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers voted to convene the special session largely along party lines. “This special session is about sticking up for Californians and for California values,” said state Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat representing San Francisco. “It is about ensuring that the president of the United States and his administration actually follow the law.” Hundreds of people also demonstrated around the Capitol on Monday to urge the Legislature to try to stop Trump's mass deportation plans . They carried banners that said “Not one cent for mass deportation” and “MAGA out of California.” “With the results of the presidential election, we need our state elected officials to use every tool and every resource they have available to them to protect our immigrant Californians,” protester Deborah Lee said. State Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office will protect the state’s immigration population, while Newsom last week unveiled a proposal to revive a rebate program for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates a federal tax credit for people who buy electric cars. Newsom is also considering creating a backup disaster relief fund for the wildfire-prone state after Trump’s threats. Bonta announced legislation Monday aimed at bolstering reproductive rights in the state, including by allowing the attorney general to seek monetary penalties against local governments that infringe on those rights. The proposals are part of the state's efforts to safeguard against threats to abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . Republican lawmakers blasted Newsom and his Democratic allies over the special session. State Sen. Kelly Seyarto, a Republican representing Murrieta in Southern California, said the special session proposal would make California have a more adversarial relationship with the federal government. “What we’re doing today is sending that exact message — that we are going to fight tooth and nail for everything. And you know what? That means they’re going to fight us tooth and nail for everything,” Seyarto said of the incoming Trump administration if the legislation gets approved. Legislators also are expected to spend the year discussing ways to protect dozens of laws expected to be targeted by the Trump administration, including one that has made the state a sanctuary for people seeking abortions who live in states where such practices have been severely limited. California, the nation’s most populous state, was the first to mandate that by 2035 all new cars , pickup trucks and SUVs sold in California be electric, hydrogen-powered or plug-in hybrids. The state also extends state-funded health care to all low-income residents regardless of their immigration status. Newsom hasn't provided details about what actions the lawmakers will consider but said he wanted funding in place before Trump's inauguration day, Jan. 20. The state spent roughly $42 million in litigation costs during the first Trump administration, officials said. California is projected to face a $2 billion budget deficit next year, with bigger shortfalls ahead. Gabriel, who sued the first Trump administration in 2017 when it tried to end a program to shield young immigrants from being deported, said lining up the funding now is “a wise investment." California successfully clawed back $57 million between 2017 and 2018 after prevailing in a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from putting immigration enforcement conditions on certain federal law enforcement grants. Another legal victory over the citizenship question in the 2020 census forced the federal government to return $850,000 to the state, according to the attorney general's office. During Trump’s first presidency, Democratic attorneys general banded together to file lawsuits over immigration, Trump’s travel ban for residents of Muslim countries, the environment, immigration and other topics. But Trump has one possible advantage this time around: He was aggressive in nominating conservative jurists to federal courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court. ___ Associated Press journalists Haven Daley and Sophie Austin contributed to this report. Trân Nguyễn, The Associated Press

We’re taking a look back at some of our favourite and most popular Entertainment stories of 2024 , giving you a chance to catch up on some of the great reading you might have missed this year. In this story from October, we count down the 25 best animated films, ideal for inspiration if the kids are already bored with their Christmas presents. For years it was the superheroes who were saving Hollywood. From Spider-Man to Batman to, belatedly, a few women — the comic-book movie became a multibillion-dollar ballast for a business struggling to make money in a world of streaming and smartphones. But then, like Superman faced with kryptonite, said superheroes started to weaken and their fickle audiences moved on as studio execs started to panic. Who, they gasped, would save Hollywood now? Well, step forward ... cartoons. Lots of them. In a previous life the top of the box-office charts would be full of Oscar-worthy adult movies — but the days of cinema being dominated by serious dramatic fare are long gone. Five of the top 20 highest-grossing films worldwide this year were animated — and three of those five were among the top six money-makers. Such is the domination that the biggest film this year is Inside Out 2 , the sequel starring new emotions in the teenager Riley’s brain. It was the fastest film to date to reach US$1 billion (from box offices around the world) and that’s with half the publicity of a film like, say, Barbie , which made far less money. Meanwhile, Despicable Me 4 was the third-highest earner of the year and Kung Fu Panda 4 landed at No 6. “Entering the summer, the marketplace was suffering a malaise — a year-to-date downturn with films not living up to expectations,” says Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for the global media company Comscore. “Then family movies became the saviour of box office.” This is glorious for Hollywood. In 2020, when Trolls World Tour became the first film of the pandemic to be released at home at the same time as in cinemas, entire pricing structures fell into jeopardy. A family of four in the UK gathered around a TV would pay £20 to stream Trolls World Tour instead of north of £50 for four multiplex tickets and some overpriced popcorn and drinks. Losing that income for ever would have been fatal for the industry, but the success of Inside Out 2 and its ilk has brought back multigenerational family entertainment — something Marvel and DC superhero franchises never pulled off — when studios needed it most. Dave Holstein, a writer on Inside Out 2 , describes the film as “many movies in one. My six-year-old thinks it’s the funniest he’s seen. My mum thinks it’s the saddest. And when my son sees it again in 10 years he’ll have a whole different movie to watch.” By the end of this year the blockbusters with actual actors in them — The Fall Guy , Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune: Part Two — will be further sidelined by the arrival of Moana 2 (the first Moana earned US$600 million) and Mufasa: The Lion King (the 2019 Lion King reboot took US$1.6 billion). Even the king of rom-coms Richard Curtis is getting in on the act with a cartoon, That Christmas. And The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has no A-listers in sight. Yet this year’s animation boom was not nearly as bright, gaudy and empty as the film posters tended to suggest. Yes, there was dross ( The Garfield Movie ) but more interestingly, more excitingly, it has brought a sense of creative expression and exuberance, as if animation is entering its baroque phase. Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is delivered in beautifully rendered anime, making the screen look like the best room in an art gallery; while the masterly and meaningful The Wild Robot , out this weekend, is like watching ET , Finding Nemo and Bambi as drawn by Claude Monet. Inside Out 2 had equal quality, following the rich Pixar tradition of Up, Wall-E and Soul by tackling the biggest topics — such as loneliness and death — in a way that never felt patronising. “One of my favourite films of the past 20 years is Toy Story 3 ,” Miguel Gomes, the Portuguese arthouse film-maker who won best director at the Cannes Film Festival this year, told The Film Stage. “Pixar is closer to the idea of mainstream classical cinema than most of what is made today.” And Gomes’s enthusiasm is the crux of the animation boom, explaining why the backbone of Hollywood profit shifting from superhero to cartoon will become less of a trend and more of an era. Comic-book films lost their audience in the 2020s due to creative stagnation and a dwindling interest in periphery characters ( The Flash? Ant-Man ?), yet animation is a sandbox where artists can draw what they want. Such endless ideas will always have a chance of welcoming new fans, especially those who grew up with gaming culture. This is a key factor in why animation is having a moment — because the future of cinema depends on convincing Gen Z and Gen Alpha that a multiplex remains as appealing as it did before various devices littered the home. The signs are encouraging: 37 per cent of the audience at Inside Out 2 ′s opening weekend was made up of 18 to 34-year-olds, an age group who go to the cinema without parents but, crucially, without kids. Why are they watching a cartoon? Because for younger fans animation is serious storytelling, with their most beloved yarns in gaming on Xbox and PlayStation spun via that medium. Studios know this. They have been trying and failing to bring video games to the big screen for at least 20 years, since before Angelina Jolie played Lara Croft in 2001. But rather than mimic stories, what if they tried for the essence of a video game instead? The feel and the look — the myriad possibilities? That is what we have seen in animation this year, because if studios were able to transpose what people enjoy about consoles on to the big screen, then Hollywood will own the next generation. It will save itself. The 25 best animated films ranked - from Snow White to Up The Times critics pick their favourite cartoons that you can watch now. We’re living in an animation boom. Family-friendly cartoons are taking over the box office, with two of the biggest movies of 2024 so far being Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4 . The Pixar film, about the emotions inside a teenager’s brain, became the highest-grossing animated film ever, raking in over US$1.6 billion since its release. And now The Wild Robot hits cinemas, a new animated film from DreamWorks about a robot named Roz. It has already been praised by critics as a masterpiece. But what’s the best animated film? Here our critics rank the top 25 of all time — from Up to Waltz with Bashir . Did they get it right? 25. Frozen (2013, Disney+) Disney spent ten years trying to adapt Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale The Snow Queen and the result was this shimmering, frosted fantasy. It tells a simple yet compelling tale of two sisters, one with icy powers, and a snowman named Olaf who likes summer days. It has become a cultural touchstone that has spread its icy tips across the globe with merchandise, stage shows and ice shows — until Frozen 2 in 2019 it was the highest grossing animated film. Crammed with earworms, this is the movie your children won’t let you forget, no matter how hard you try to, err, let it go. 24. Inside Out (2015, Disney+) It’s a perennial question: what actually goes on inside our heads? Pixar’s imaginative film follows Riley, an ice-hockey obsessed 11-year-old, as she moves to San Francisco. But she isn’t the star of the show. Instead, viewers get a peek inside her mind where anthropomorphised versions of emotions — Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, Anger — struggle to keep control. It’s an abstract premise delivered with giddy, colourful characters. The film is at once a tearjerker and pure joy. Its sequel became the highest-grossing animated film ever. 23. The Jungle Book (1967, Disney+) In 1967 Disney needed a hit: the response to the studio’s previous feature The Sword in the Stone (1963) had been lacklustre and Walt had died of lung cancer at 65 the year before. Luckily they had this lively animated adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling classic in the bag. Stuffed with exuberant characters and a jumpin’ score, this film is pure fun. The star is Baloo, the loveable bear, and his infectious track The Bare Necessities . It was the last film overseen by Walt Disney — a magical note to bow out on. 22. James and the Giant Peach (1996, Disney+) Henry Sellick’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic about a boy riding in a giant, runaway peach with a crew of ugly bugs matches Dahl’s mixture of spikiness and sparkiness almost exactly — the storytelling has a helium bounce thanks to inspired voice work by Simon Callow, Joanna Lumley, Richard Dreyfuss and Miriam Margolyes. The best Dahl adaptation before Wes Anderson got to work. 21. Monsters Inc (2001, Disney+) It’s not your typical plot for a children’s film: monsters elicit screams from children to power their glistening metropolis. Yet this is packed with warmth and cheerful high energy, delivered by a hairy blue-purple monster called Sulley, voiced by John Goodman, and his green pal Mike (Billy Crystal). At its heart it’s a tale of confronting one’s fears, but it never becomes bogged down. It’s full of gleeful gags and silliness (odorants called Wet Dog and Low Tide). How did it lose the Oscar to Shrek? A travesty. 20. Fantastic Mr Fox (2009, Disney+) This stop-motion animation and ingenious adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel comes from the mind of one of Hollywood’s most idiosyncratic directors: Wes Anderson. The director, a lifelong Dahl fan who read the book as a child in Texas, teams up with the co-writer Noah Baumbach to dream up a story that extends beyond the poultry-stealing fox (voiced by George Clooney) and greedy farmers. This is a world of misfits, disaffected parents and troubled teenagers. Plus, there’s a farmhand voiced by the pop singer Jarvis Cocker. 19. Alice (1988, Mubi) The Czech surrealist Jan Svankmajer’s stop-motion version of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is one to give even adults the jitters. Alice’s transformations unfold with the logic of a bad dream, in which everyday objects — playing cards, china dolls, croquet mallets — take on spooky life and significance. Sure, there is some live action there, but it’s directed in a way that never distracts from the spectacular animation. Knocks the Disney version into a mad hatter’s hat. 18. My Neighbor Totoro (1988, Netflix) Hayao Miyazaki’s magical film is about two sisters who move to a creaky house near the hospital where their mother is being treated. They explore a visually enchanting world of their invention, a fantasy realm with a big, cuddly forest spirit and a “catbus”. Its friendly characters delight children, but its themes of wonderment and the thrill of exploration are great enough to awaken anyone’s inner child. The stage adaptation became a monster hit in the West End. 17. Pinocchio (1940, Disney+) Walt Disney didn’t like the Pinocchio of Carlo Calodi’s source novel very much and invented the character of Jiminy Cricket to give him a conscience, thus bequeathing to the studio its theme song: When You Wish Upon a Star , sung heartbreakingly by the singer-comedian Cliff Edwards. But the film remains one of the darker Disneys, and is all the more memorable for it. Remember how terrifying it is when Pinocchio transforms into a donkey? 16. Waltz with Bashir (2008, buy/rent Apple TV) Think animation can’t tackle challenging subject matter? Just watch this haunting movie, which brings to life the dreams and traumatic memories of the Israeli soldiers who fought with Lebanese forces against the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Syria in the 1982 Lebanon war. The Israeli director Ari Folman uses his shattered recollections as a soldier during the conflict and interviews with others who were there to create a nightmarish vision, a vivid and brutal portrait of the horrors of war. Still as pertinent as ever, this is a stunning anti-war film. 15. The Wild Robot (2024, in cinemas now) Chris Sanders has crafted a joyous film — warm, wise and funny — about oddball parenting. It tells the story of a robot (Lupita Nyong’o) who is washed up on the shore and has to adapt to its new surroundings. The director has focused his movie on the emotions and experience of parenthood, particularly when those parents happen to be slightly different. Anybody who has found themselves thrust into parenthood without a user’s manual — which is to say, just about everybody — will feel understood. Knockouts don’t come much cleaner than this. 14. Watership Down (1978, buy/rent Apple TV) Martin Rosen’s labour-of-love adaptation of Richard Adams’s bestseller about a warren of Hampshire rabbits forced into exile, featuring the voices of John Hurt, Richard Briars and Nigel Hawthorne, is not for those craving Disney cuteness. It’s a bloody, tooth-and-claw survival epic, bristling with violent predators and lurking threats, aimed at old souls who can still hum the tune to Art Garfunkel’s melancholy theme song, Bright Eyes . 13. Up (2009, Disney+) Is there a more traumatic movie scene than the first ten minutes of this animation? It captures the life of Carl (voiced by Ed Asner), the 78-year-old widower, from first love to the death of his wife. Heartbreaking. Next up, an adventure to visit the mythical lost worlds of South America, courtesy of the thousands of balloons he ties to the roof of his house. His companion is a freckled eight-year-old named Russell (Jordan Nagai). The film, which opened at Cannes in 2009, has a simple message: you’re never too old for an adventure. Just wonderful. 12. The Incredibles (2004, Disney+) Brad Bird’s retro-futurist hymn to space-age architecture, Bond villain lairs, couturiers inspired by the costume designer Edith Head (“Dahlink!”) and jetpacks — what more could you want? The zippiest Pixar, as well as the funniest, The Incredibles is executed with more craft, invention and wit than most of the superhero movies it spoofs. 11. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, Disney+) This started life as a poem that Tim Burton wrote while working as a junior animator at Disney. It became a witty, dark, wonderfully inventive fable about a takeover of Christmas by a village of spindly Halloween ghouls. The film mixes dark barbs and twinkly charm. Burton’s Edward Gorey-style designs receive cantering accompaniment in Danny Elfman’s antic score so that the production at times seems possessed by some mischievous spirit. 10. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018, Neon) After a torrent of half-baked superhero films, this animation felt refreshing. Produced by The Lego Movie ’s Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, its innovative design, quick-witted humour and mind-bending storytelling took modern animation into a different universe. At the centre of the tale is Miles Morales, a Brooklyn schoolboy, who teams up with all sorts of spider heroes, including a jaded middle-aged Spider-Man and a radioactive pig. The Oscar winner for best animated feature is busy but never overwhelming. It’s zippy, entertaining — and proved there was life yet in caped crusaders. 9. Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (1993) Before Nick Park’s work acquired the scale and spectacle of Hollywood features, The Wrong Trousers with its techno trousers and penguin arch-villain got the balance with the more humdrum, homespun elements of the series exactly right. The film may be just 30 minutes long, but it took eight months to make. And the climax, featuring a death-defying run round a train set is an unimprovable mixture of thrills and slapstick. Buster Keaton would be proud. 8. Beauty and the Beast (1991, Disney+) Howard Ashman was dying of Aids when he wrote the lyrics for this glorious film with the composer Alan Menken. The duo had resurrected Disney’s fortunes in the 1980s with The Little Mermaid , but this was their magnum opus, a tale of a headstrong bibliophile who is held captive by a beast. Steeped in enchanting moments and bursting with colourful characters, this film looks gorgeous and combines the traditions of the past with the spectacle of a Broadway musical. It earned the first best picture Oscar nomination for an animated movie, an impressive feat for a medium so often dismissed. 7. Wall-E (2008, Disney+) One small step for a robot, one giant leap for animation. Pixar’s epic space adventure, about the last robot left on Earth, was an impressive move forward in technology, proving that animation could make you forget what you’re watching isn’t real. Andrew Stanton, who started his career as a writer on Toy Story , directs the tale of a droid clearing up the mess that mankind left behind while they’re getting fat on space cruises. Much of it unfolds like a silent movie with the whirring bot’s only accompaniment, at the start, an old Betamax tape of Hello, Dolly! . The artistic risk pays off — it’s animation’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. 6. Snow White (1937, Disney+) The Citizen Kane of animated features, the one that proved that a full-length animated feature was even possible, swept along by the obsession and storytelling verve of Walt Disney. While making it, he could practically run the entire film — every cut, fade-out, line of dialogue — in his sleep. The big gamble to make this — Walt’s “folly” — paid off and more than just a film, a new form was born. Adriana Caselotti, who was the voice of Snow White, was not credited for her role. She went on to have small parts in The Wizard of Oz and It’s a Wonderful Life (singing in Martini’s bar). 5. The Lion King (1994, Disney+) Of all the more recent Disneys The Lion King is the one with the simplicity of old — it’s basically Bambi in Africa — but the desert landscapes, soaring songs and basso profundo of James Earl Jones all give Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers’s film an epic sweep worthy of that continent. So dedicated were the animators that lions were brought into the studio to study. The voice work is among Disney’s best and Jeremy Irons’s Scar the most seductive Disney bad guy since Shere Khan. 4. Spirited Away (2001, Netflix) This film, which won the director Hayao Miyazaki his first Oscar, centres on ten-year-old Chihiro, whose family’s move to a new town takes a fantastical turn. Her parents have turned into pigs and she’s soon on a journey with supernatural beings, including a six-legged man and a grotesque sludge creature in a psychedelic bath house. It knows that it’s weird, that it’s not very Disney — but that doesn’t stop us from admiring its beauty and brashness. This is animation as art and Miyazaki’s most outlandish and ambitious Studio Ghibli picture. 3. Bambi (1942, Disney+) Completed in the aftermath of the death of Walt Disney’s mother, Bambi ’s purity of line and emotion make it the most poetic of all the Disneys. The storytelling has the economy and enchantment of fable. The first Disney feature to do without humans, except as a threat, it’s a film children can just pour themselves into. They are Bambi and Thumper. Originally there was a shot in the scene where Bambi’s mother dies, but the screenwriter Larry Morey felt that it was more powerful to have it happen off screen. 2. The Iron Giant (1999, buy/rent Apple TV) The characters of Ted Hughes’s The Iron Man are transplanted from 1950s England to rural Maine with barely a scratch, unlike the crash-landed robot. Like Steven Spielberg’s ET: the Extra-Terrestrial , the film is the simplest of love stories — boy finds robot, boy loses robot, robot slowly reassembles himself screw by screw — told with such sweetness and charm you could forget there’s a cold war going on. It began as a musical with the Who guitarist Pete Townshend involved. 1. Toy Story 3 (2010, Disney+) The first Toy Story , the first computer-generated feature film, was a mix of groundbreaking tech, narrative ingenuity and heart — the space ranger Buzz proving he’s the real deal by soaring around the bedroom, or as he calls it “falling with style” — but it was Toy Story 3 that had us reaching for the tissues. There is an escape from Colditz, a great Barbie-Ken subplot (with voice work from Michael Keaton and Jodie Benson) and a backstory for Ned Beatty’s Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear that is a small masterpiece of storytelling and heart-tugging pathos. It became the second Pixar film (after Up ) to receive an Academy award nomination for best picture. Don’t bother with the mediocre fourth film — this goodbye is the equal of the one in Brief Encounter . Pixar has taken us on a journey with these toys, and this film was a flawless conclusion. Written by: Jonathan Dean, Tom Shone and Jake Helm © The Times of London Share this article Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read. Copy Link Email Facebook Twitter/X LinkedIn RedditFalslev scores 27 as Utah State beats South Florida 88-67 for best start in school history 10-0

We must think historically to cool down our post-election emotions. Historical perspectives clarify our recent presidential election and lower its post-election temperature. Let’s start with feudalism, of kings and lords, which we inherited from our Anglo-European past which had ruled the known world for over a millennium. Then, the American Revolution came and overthrew feudalism and ushered in a new democratic system, governed by ourselves and leaders chosen by us according to our own precepts of freedom. This post-feudal new world lasted for over two centuries — until this past Nov. 5. Contrary to its conventional images of the Dark Ages and oppression, a few scholars have considered feudalism as an ideal system of social order and as a pre-modern community of peace and harmony. As historical fact, this idyllic feudalism, where lords and peasants lived in good order and harmony, came to its end: Earth-shaking events were coming in waves, most notably in scientific discoveries, religious revolts, radical perspectives in Renaissance and Enlightenment, and the emboldening New World — which told feudal rulers that their time was up. Two types of responses, quite fateful for their historic consequences, emerged from feudal societies to face the inevitable “modern” world: One from the Old World and the other from the New World. The Old World, mostly European, decided to welcome the new developments by prudently combining their existing tradition, religion and habits with the new ways of thinking — half-feudal and half-democratic — that would accommodate the changes without destroying their old system. With this new combination, where society is modern but people think traditional, the Old World kept its community and social order in a form generally known as “social democracy” which continues today in most European nations. The New World produced a rather different response. With the backdrop of open land and physical distance from the Old World, the American colonies chose a completely radical break from feudalism. Following the Revolution, the New World realized humanity’s fondest dream of “liberal democracy” (emphasizing individual liberty, unlike Europe’s social democracy), as the new model for idealized self-governance and America’s own self-image as “the Shining City on a Hill.” Liberal democracy satisfied the restless American soul for nearly two centuries, first with wide open frontier society of freedom and equality and later with consumer capitalism to its heart’s content. No nation on Earth or in history had enjoyed the range of physical comfort and convenience like post-World War II American consumers. The age of affluence was upon America, which created an entirely new kind of human generations and personality: The typically solitary American consumer lived in a post-human society, always restless in search of something better for himself. He wanted everything he consumed to be better than before, faster and louder, more thrilling and pleasing. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Hollywood responded with the entertainment revolution, expanding three television channels to 3,000 with cable TV, then to three million with the internet to meet the new demands. America even conquered the time-and-space limitations of nature: entertainment was now always available across time and space — night or day, here or yonder, at will. Upon the consumer’s instant command, movie stars sang, danced, and told jokes and athletes ran and jumped — all to please the new lord. In this society where everything seemed possible and available, the line of sanity between reality and fantasy blurred, and the largely frivolous “choices” covered up the harsh conditions of powerlessness for the masses under the liberal-democratic version of the American Dream. Liberal democracy is both a blessing and a curse. As a blessing, it allows maximum individual indulgences. As the curse, the very nature of individual choice makes it difficult for us to control the consequences of our own choice. Such a system requires a high degree of citizen intelligence and social consciousness. It’s like giving a child a loaded gun and expecting a happy ending. With the gun, the child already possesses the power not to be responsible, like those who struggle with credit cards, even with pre-set limits. No such systems ever survived their own indulgences, and America’s libertine (woke?) anything-goes culture — expertly orchestrated by America’s best and brightest — could not moderate its own civic degeneration. These master psychologists, working for politicians and corporations, kept us deep in our own cesspool, flailing with minor daily irritations that morphed into major political wraths. Under Democrats, life was a sweet dream only in illusion or hypocrisy as our economic cruelty did not (and does not) allow such fantasies to become reality. With the world’s largest wealth-poverty gap, individual lives can improve indefinitely only in Hollywood dreams and Disney fantasies. Soon Democrats, already characterized as an “elitist” party, were seen as largely unrelated to the actual daily lives of working Americans. Still dreaming of the pre-capitalist era, liberal America had become ungovernable and its lives unlivable. The stage was now set for Donald Trump who promised to clear the liberal swamp with his imperial magic wand. Back in power, he is remaking everything in America except money and entertainment. This way, Trump is having the best of both worlds — populist and capitalist: He gets votes from dumb masses and dollars from smart billionaires. Democrats are just in shock and awe of his genius. As democracy replaced feudalism, Trump’s imperial democracy is replacing liberal democracy. In this new era that began on Nov. 5, we have taken our first baby steps, like Adam and Eve after the fall, toward an entirely unknown future — both foreboding and expectant. There, waiting for us is the judgment on the liberal fruit of indulgence that we had picked and consumed, a gift from the capitalist-serpent who whispered to us that we could live “as gods.” Historians would write the rest. Jon Huer, columnist for the Recorder and retired professor, lives in Greenfield and writes for posterity.Ever wondered what the secret is behind the mysterious smile of the “Mona Lisa”? Ask her yourself during a multisensory journey through Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpieces and technological inventions, available through March 2025 in Boynton Beach. “Da Vinci — An Immersive Art Experience” has transformed the South Florida PBS Studios into Renaissance Italy, featuring more than 50 of his famous works, including “Virgin of the Rocks,” “The Baptism of Christ” and the ornithopter (a flying machine). After making its debut in Berlin in 2022, the exhibit traveled to Amsterdam, where South Florida PBS staff discovered its use of digital projections, audiovisual storytelling, and 360-degree immersion and advanced AI technologies to bring da Vinci’s creations to life. South Florida PBS President and CEO Dolores Fernandez Alonso spearheaded the effort to bring over the experience, which is produced by Phoenix Immersive , designed by flora&faunavisions and features original music by UK DJ Sasha and a script by Dan Cadan. “We enhanced the exhibition by developing our own interactive post-show experience featuring hands-on activities inspired by da Vinci’s work, including geometric art design, invention sketching and musical collaboration opportunities,” said Anabel​​​​ Moncada, South Florida PBS Health Channel marketing specialist. “This combination of high-tech immersion, comprehensive content coverage and hands-on educational elements creates an experience that goes beyond traditional museum exhibitions or digital presentations.” An “extraordinary encounter” with the “Mona Lisa,” one of the most recognizable paintings in the world, is a highlight of the 45-minute experience, Moncada said. While the original painting hangs in The Louvre museum in Paris, of course, this version is a larger-than-life projection on one of the central cube’s screens. Visitors can use their smartphones to converse with her, receiving contextually relevant responses that appear directly on a screen. “She becomes more than just a static masterpiece — she transforms into an engaging, responsive presence,” Moncada said. “The attention to detail in her animation is remarkable. Her legendary eyes follow you and her enigmatic smile subtly shifts, creating an uncanny sense of life-like presence. “This interactive feature exemplifies how modern technology can create meaningful connections with historic artworks, allowing visitors to experience this iconic painting in a completely new dimension.” South Florida PBS has organized almost 70 field trips to the exhibit so far, reaching more than 3,000 students from Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties over the next two months, Moncada said. “The impact of this exhibition has been remarkable, particularly in its educational reach across South Florida,” she said. “By bringing da Vinci’s genius directly to thousands of students through interactive experiences, the exhibition is inspiring the next generation to explore the connections between art, science and innovation — just as da Vinci did centuries ago.” Da Vinci-themed lesson plans in art, language arts, math, science and social studies also are available for third- through fifth-graders as well as middle and high school students. “The strong response from schools and the number of students participating highlights both the exhibition’s success and its vital role in enriching arts and STEAM education in South Florida’s communities,” Moncada said. South Florida PBS last month premiered “Leonardo da Vinci — A film by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon,” a two-part, four-hour documentary that explores the life and work of the 15th-century polymath. The film also marks some firsts for the filmmaking team, including a non-American subject and using split-screens with images, video and sound from different periods. The documentary, set against a backdrop of Renaissance Italy, features da Vinci’s personal notebooks along with on-camera interviews with scholars, artists, engineers and inventors to reflect on his achievements. “No single person can speak to our collective effort to understand the world and ourselves,” Ken Burns said in a statement. “But Leonardo had a unique genius for inquiry, aided by his extraordinary skills as an artist and scientist, that helps us better understand the natural world that we are part of and to appreciate more fully what it means to be alive and human.” Moncada said the timing of the film’s premiere and the opening of “Da Vinci — An Immersive Art Experience” was strategically coordinated. “The documentary broadcast and the interactive exhibition were intentionally scheduled to complement each other, allowing audiences to both learn about da Vinci through Burns’ acclaimed documentary storytelling and then experience his works firsthand through the immersive exhibition,” she said. “This dual approach — combining broadcast and experiential learning — exemplifies South Florida PBS’ commitment to providing comprehensive educational opportunities around significant cultural and historical subjects.” The film is available to stream at pbs.org/kenburns/leonardo-da-vinci, or on the PBS app . WHAT: “Da Vinci — An Immersive Art Experience” WHEN: Through Sunday, March 30 WHERE: South Florida PBS Studios, 3401 S. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach COST: $38.43 for guests age 13 and older, $30.94 for students and seniors (age 55 and older), and free for children age 5 to 12 (kids younger than 5 not permitted); tickets available at feverup.com , or at the door INFORMATION: southfloridapbs.org/davinci

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ISRO SpaDEx PSLV-C60 Launch: Two small spacecraft will be launched together aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota today as ISRO completes preparations to launch India's SpaDeX mission. If this becomes successful, India will become the fourth country in the world, after the USA, Russia and China, to complete the space docking experiment. If successful, this mission will pave the way for India's future missions, including Chandrayaan-4, its own space station and the dream of sending people to the Moon. "This mission will place India among the nations that have mastered space docking technology. This technology is crucial for India's ambitious missions, such as bringing samples from the Moon and building the Indian Space Station (BAS)," Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, stated, as per Jagran.com. ALSO READ: Former US President Jimmy Carter Passes Away At 100 In Georgia; Joe Biden Pays Tribute The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has stated that the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will deploy two small spacecraft, 'Chaser' and 'Target,' into a circular orbit at 476 km. The space docking experiment (SPADEx) will be conducted in the first week of January. The primary goal of the mission is to demonstrate the technology required for docking and undocking between the two spacecraft. The spacecraft's control and payload operation will also be showcased. Docking refers to the joining of two spacecraft in space while undocking refers to their separation. After demonstrating docking and undocking experiments, the two spacecraft will continue orbiting Earth for two years. The SDX 01 or Chaser is equipped with a high-resolution camera, while the SDX 02 or Target carries two payloads. These payloads will help capture high-resolution images and assist in monitoring natural resources. ALSO READ: Punjab Bandh Today: Farmers Launch Statewide Bandh In Support Of Dallewal; 108 Trains Cancelled, Essential Services Hit Under the PSLV-C60 mission, India will also conduct the POEM-4 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4) experiment. PSLV will carry 24 payloads as part of this mission. POEM is ISRO's experimental mission, using the PS4 stage as a platform for experiments.

Shettima commissions Nigeria’s Oriental Energy’s $315m oil facility in DubaiThe cryptocurrency market continues evolving, offering investors innovation, growth potential, and transformative technologies. As the blockchain ecosystem expands into new realms like privacy-focused applications, interoperability, and artificial intelligence, certain projects are paving the way for the future of decentralised systems. Among the best cryptos to invest in now , Qubetics, Cosmos, and Bittensor TAO stand out for their groundbreaking advancements and unique contributions to the industry. These projects represent distinct facets of the blockchain revolution. Qubetics is redefining privacy and utility within the Web3 space, Cosmos is bridging the gap between blockchains with seamless interoperability, and Bittensor TAO is pushing the boundaries by merging artificial intelligence with blockchain. Together, they highlight the opportunities for forward-thinking investors seeking innovation and substantial returns. Let’s dive into what makes these cryptocurrencies must-watch contenders. Qubetics: Privacy-Driven Innovation and Decentralized Utility Qubetics spearheads privacy-focused innovation within the blockchain ecosystem by integrating a decentralised VPN (dVPN) into its platform. This key feature bolsters user privacy while enabling secure and private connections across the ecosystem. It is essential for applications such as decentralised finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralised storage. By promoting autonomy and decentralisation, Qubetics aligns closely with the principles of Web3. The numbers behind Qubetics highlight its immense growth potential: Presale Phase 12 : $TICS tokens are currently priced at $0.031 , with a 10% price hike every week and a 20% increase at the final stage. 324M Tokens Sold : Reflecting strong investor confidence. $6M Raised : Indicating robust support for the project. 9,400+ Holders : A rapidly growing community. Analysts see a significant upside in Qubetics, driven by its innovative dVPN and strong presale momentum. Investors looking for high ROI opportunities should closely consider Qubetics, especially as its presale concludes and its mainnet launch approaches. Cosmos (ATOM): Driving Blockchain Interoperability Cosmos is often called the “Internet of Blockchains” , thanks to its groundbreaking Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol. This technology addresses one of the most pressing challenges in the blockchain industry—interoperability. By enabling seamless communication between blockchains, Cosmos facilitates the exchange of assets and data, unlocking a new era of collaboration in decentralised ecosystems. Cosmos empowers developers to create custom, interconnected blockchains tailored to specific use cases while benefiting from shared security and scalability. With the rise of DeFi, NFTs, and blockchain-based enterprises, Cosmos is becoming a cornerstone of the decentralised economy. Its critical role in ensuring blockchain interoperability makes it a top choice for investors seeking sustainable growth. Bittensor (TAO): Revolutionizing AI with Blockchain Technology Bittensor merges the worlds of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, addressing the growing demand for decentralised AI solutions. The project’s unique approach incentivises users to contribute computational resources and data to train AI models, creating a decentralised infrastructure for AI development. This innovative use of blockchain technology positions Bittensor at the forefront of the AI revolution. As industries increasingly adopt AI-driven solutions, Bittensor’s decentralised network offers scalability and efficiency while rewarding participants with TAO tokens. With a robust foundation and a focus on the future of AI, Bittensor is a promising investment for those interested in the intersection of AI and blockchain. Conclusion Qubetics, Cosmos, and Bittensor TAO, represent diverse and high-potential opportunities for investors seeking the best cryptos to invest in now. Qubetics leads with its privacy-driven dVPN and remarkable presale performance. Cosmos stands out for its role in blockchain interoperability, and Bittensor TAO pioneers the convergence of AI and blockchain technology. Each of these projects offers a unique value proposition and the potential for significant returns, making them standout investments in the ever-evolving cryptocurrency landscape. Qubetics: https://qubetics.com Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://x.com/qubetics Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.

AP News Summary at 10:00 p.m. ESTYou Can Already See Signs Of Trump's Crony Capitalism In ActionWhen the snow is falling and hot chocolate is piping, few activities are more refreshing and relaxing than plopping down on the couch and turning on the television. Some will watch live Christmas events from Rockefeller Center, while others will tune into a bowl game. But if you’re of a certain age, you clearly remember the excitement when Nickelodeon began to roll out its litany of timeless Christmas specials. From Kenan & Kel in the 1990s to Danny Phantom in the late 2000s, Nickelodeon has entered the pantheon of networks that have consistently rolled out classic holiday specials. While Nickelodeon’s legacy is cemented, the ranking of its best holiday season episodes is and will always be hotly contested. Not to start a debate at the holiday dinner table, but here are the 10 best classic Nickelodeon holiday specials. Show: Keenan & Kel Air Date: December 14, 1996 Kel ( Kel Mitchell ) loves orange soda and Kenan ( Kenan Thompson ) loves Christmas. He spends the entire year saving money to buy a new bike and takes an extra job as Santa at the mall to help get the last few dollars he needs. However, his plans are derailed when he comes across a brother and sister who dream of a great Christmas filled with presents that their mother can’t afford. In a selfless mood, Kenan uses the money he makes as Santa to surprise the kids and their mom with presents. Kenan’s upset that he didn’t get the bike he wanted, but he knows he did the right thing and Santa rewards him with a bike of his own. As with many Nickelodeon holiday specials, Kenan’s act of giving underscores the importance of family, friends, community, and giving throughout the holiday season. Show: Invader Zim Air Date: December 10, 2002 Name two more idiotically entertaining rivals than Zim ( Richard Steven Horvitz ) and Dib (Andy Berman). I’ll wait. While I wait, also figure out why Dib’s dad, Professor Membrane ( Rodger Bumpass ), named him Dib. Anyway, Zim and Dib’s rivalry takes center stage when Zim learns about the lure of Santa, kidnaps a man dressed up in a Santa suit and drains his brain. Normal holiday festivities, right? Once Zim drains the man’s brain and learns more about the lure of Santa, he devises a plan to build a Santa suit and convince all of humankind that he’s worthy of following and giving their undying devotion too. For the most part, it works and Zim is close to bringing all of human kind to the Tallest in order to extend his rule. However, Dib intervenes and garners the support of his sister, Gaz (Melissa Fahn), and his father, Professor Membrane, and stops Zim before he’s able to fully takeover. Overall, it’s a pretty weird storyline for a kid’s show during the holiday season, but Invader Zim is at its best when it’s weird. Show: Rocko’s Modern Life Air Date: December 1, 1994 Rocko ( Carlos Alazraqui ) is a better person than most because his grace throughout this Christmas special is unmatched. For nearly the entire episode, Rocko works to put together beautiful holiday decorations and host a lovely holiday party. Instead, his friends treat him poorly, other characters bully him, and no one except a magic elf shows up to his party. The elf works his magic and creates a memorable snowfall around Rocko’s house and Rocko’s house only. When the blizzard leaves a perfect amount of snow and holiday cheer around his house, Rocko’s friends show up at his front door to apologize and make the most of the holiday party. Rocko, being the kind soul he is, lets them in and thanks them for coming. Show: iCarly Air Date: December 13, 2008 Timmy Turner ( Tara Strong ) isn’t the only character in the Nickelodeon multiverse to have their dreams come true during the holiday season. When Carly’s brother, Spencer ( Jerry Trainor ), builds an electromagnet Christmas tree that sets fire to holiday gifts, Carly ( Miranda Cosgrove ) wishes that her brother was a bit more normal. However, things aren’t as great as Carly hoped they’d be. Spencer becomes a “normal” lawyer dating Ms. Benson (Mary Scheer) while Freddie ( Nathan Kress ) no longer has a crush on Carly, and Sam ( Jennette McCurdy ) is in a juvenile detention center. Most shockingly, Carly, Spencer, and Freddie were never friends in this alternate universe and never launched a webcast. The weirdness of the episode pays off in the end because Carly realizes what we’ve always known: her life is pretty great as is. Show: As Told by Ginger Air Date: December 10, 2001 As Told by Ginger is one of the most underrated series in the Nickelodeon catalog for various reasons, including its humor and ability to reach both young and older audiences. Case in point, the show’s “Even Steven” holiday special is immaculate. In the tertiary plot, Ginger (Melissa Disney) discovers that her grandfather is Jewish and immediately pivots from celebrating Christmas to celebrating Hanukkah. Her shift from Christmas to Hanukkah happens so quickly that it causes a rift between her and Dodie (Aspen Miller) because Ginger refuses to go to Dodie’s Christmas party and hosts her own instead. Splitting the room down the middle, half of Ginger’s party is devoted to celebrating Hanukkah, and the other half is adorned with Christmas decorations. Meanwhile, Hoodsie ( Tress MacNeille) is writing letters to Santa, asking him to give him rhythm for Christmas. Yes, you read that correctly. He genuinely asked Santa for rhythm, the ability to dance on beat. When Ginger’s brother, Carl (Jeannie Elias), finds Hoodsie begging Santa for rhythm, he not only makes fun of him, but also declares that Santa isn’t real. As a result, Carl spends the remainder of the episode attempting to prove that Santa is real. Through this effort, he learns that Carl is not a fan of the holiday season because he routinely asked Santa to bring his father home for Christmas as a kid, and his dad rarely stopped by on the holidays. With this information, Hoodsie runs up to a man dressed as Santa on the street and asks him to bring Hoodsie’s Dad home for Christmas. Little does Hoodsie know, the man dressed up as Santa is Carl’s dad. In the end, Carl’s dad visits him for Christmas, and while they’re talking in the driveway, a fire starts inside as Ginger is hosting her holiday party. Carl’s dad runs in, puts out the fire, and saves the day, making Ginger realize that the most important part of the holidays is being surrounded by family and friends. And no, Carl does not get rhythm. Show: The Fairly OddParents Air Date: December 12, 2001 Clichés may be annoying, but they’ve stood the test of time for a reason. However, when an elder said, “Be careful what you wish for,” Timmy Turner clearly wasn’t listening. Instead, he had to learn the hard way when he told Wanda (Susanne Blakeslee) and Cosmo ( Daran Norris ) that he’d like it to be Christmas every day. In his head, there’d never be school, and he’d get presents every time he woke up. Conversely, Wanda and Cosmo are magically depleted, his parents can’t work, and the other holidays become envious of Santa Claus. As a result, Timmy must make a trip up to the North Pole all alone. Tough luck for a kid who can literally wish for whatever he wants every other day of the year already. Show: Drake & Josh Air Date: December 5, 2008 Give a little girl named Mary Alice the best Christmas ever, or go back to jail. That’s essentially the plot of “Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh.” Drake ( Drake Bell ) desperately wants to host a party on the rooftop of Josh’s workplace, Premier Theater. To the surprise of just about everyone, Josh’s boss agrees to let Drake host the party as long as he volunteers to dress up as Santa for kids in the mall. Drake agrees, but things go haywire when a woman tries to kiss him, and he runs away. While hiding, he runs into a little girl named Mary Alice ( Bailee Madison ) and promises to give her the best Christmas ever. Drake finishes his shift as Santa and gets to host the party after all, but it’s cut short when a few uninvited guests show up, and Josh ( Josh Peck ) calls the police. However, there’s a mixup when the police arrive and Josh gets arrested. Being the good stepbrother he is, Drake tries to break Josh out of jail. Unfortunately, Drake gets arrested, too. When Drake and Josh get to speak to a judge, they explain that they need to get out to fulfill Drake’s promises to Mary Alice. The judge releases them, but warns that they will be brought back if they do not give Mary Alice the best Christmas ever. No pressure, right? Show: Rugrats Air Date: December 6, 1992 It may not seem like it, but there is not much of a difference between The Boondocks ‘ Huey Freeman ( Regina King ) and the children of Rugrats . Huey chases Santa around the mall with a BB gun, screaming, “You gon’ pay what you owe.” Meanwhile, Tommy ( Elizabeth Daily ), Chuckie (Christine Cavanaugh), and the crew are setting dangerous traps for Santa , so they can question him about his character. “The Santa Experience” kicks off at the mall where Angelica (Cheryl Chase) bum rushes the line to see Santa and tells Mr. Claus how much she needs a dream dollhouse for Cynthia. While Mr. Claus pushed her away, mall staff gave her a box of free toys to apologize for Santa rightfully pushing her away. Even with the free presents, Angelica is ungrateful and doesn’t want them. Meanwhile, Tommy and Chuckie are debating whether or not Santa is a good person. You know, typical baby stuff, right? Tommy is convinced Santa is a great guy, while Chuckie is, of course, scared of Saint Nick and thinks he’s a bad guy. In the kitchen, the parents are having a relatable conversation about their challenges and struggles, trying to ensure each of their children has a good holiday season. Later, the kids and parents head north to celebrate Christmas in a cabin. There, Chuckie and Tommy set up a booby trap to catch Santa. Much to their disappointment, the trap only manages to catch Stu ( Jack Riley ). Ultimately, everything turns out for the best as Santa just rings the front doorbell and delivers the presents face-to-face. Angelica gets her doll house, Chuckie determines Santa is a good person after all, and the Rugrats get the perfect Christmas. Show: SpongeBob SquarePants Air Date: December 6, 2000 If you ask most fans of SpongeBob SquarePants about Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), most would say he’s closer to being the Grinch than Santa Claus. However, “Christmas Who?” proves otherwise. Spongebob ( Tom Kenny ) visits Sandy ( Carolyn Lawrence ) and finds the proud Texan setting up Christmas decorations around her house. Instead of helping her, Spongebob freaks out because he thinks the lights and decorations have started a fire. It would be nearly impossible to start a fire that far underwater, but I digress. Anyway, Sandy stops him and explains to Spongebob who Santa Claus is and what happens on Christmas. Excited and enchanted, Spongebob shares the story of Christmas and Santa Claus with nearly everyone in Bikini Bottom. As a result, everyone but Squidward sends letters to Santa and spends all night caroling. When Santa doesn’t show up, everyone calls Spongebob a fraud and mocks him, including Squidward. However, Spongebob turns Squidward’s heart from coal to gold when he gives him a handcrafted clarinet for Christmas so that he won’t go without a gift. In return, Squidward dresses up as Santa and surprises Spongebob, who is delighted, and wishes him a merry Christmas. Squidward didn’t account for all of the other citizens of Bikini Bottom spotting him and asking for gifts. Instead of ruining the charade, Squidward ends up giving away nearly everything in his home away as a gift. Thankfully, Squidward is rewarded when the real Santa Claus sends a letter thanking Squidward for helping keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Show: Hey Arnold! Air Date: December 11, 1996 “Arnold’s Christmas” is not only the best Nickelodeon late-year holiday special, but it’s arguably one of the best episodes of the entire series. The series revolves around Arnold (Toran Caudell) attempting to pull off a Christmas miracle for his neighbor, Mr. Hyunh (Baoan Coleman). Through this endeavor, much of Mr. Hyunh’s backstory is revealed, including the heartbreaking story of how he and his daughter, Mai (Hiep Thi Le), have been separated for more than 20 years. While Arnold and his best friend, Gerald (Jamil Walker Smith), fall short in their quest to find Mai and reconnect her with Mr. Hyunh, Helga (Francesca Marie Smith) unexpectedly saves the day and gets Mai in touch with her father. Helga never gets the credit for creating this touching reunion, but she will always be remembered for being the driving force behind one of the most touching moments in Nickelodeon history. More Headlines:

California lawmakers begin special session to protect state laws from second Trump presidency

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Drew Lock matched his career high of four touchdown passes and also rushed for a score and the New York Giants snapped their franchise-record 10-game losing streak with an entertaining 45-33 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. Malik Nabers had seven receptions for a career-best 171 yards and two touchdowns to exceed 100 receptions and 1,000 yards during his strong rookie campaign. New York (3-13) registered a season best for points scored by more than tripling its league-worst season average of 14.3 per game. The setback eliminated the Colts (7-9) from the AFC playoff race. Lock completed 17 of 23 passes for 309 yards, and Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Stayton also had receiving scores for the Giants, who won at home for the first time this season. Ihmir Smith-Marsette returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Joe Flacco started for Indianapolis with Anthony Richardson (back/foot) sidelined and completed 26 of 38 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. But he also was intercepted twice and lost a fumble. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, Michael Pittman Jr. had nine receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown, and Alec Pierce caught six passes for 122 yards and a score. Indianapolis pulled within 35-33 on Flacco's 7-yard touchdown pass to Pittman with 6:38 remaining. The Giants answered with Lock's 5-yard scramble with 2:57 left to push the lead to nine. After Flacco was picked off by Dru Phillips, Graham Gano tacked on a 30-yard field goal to put the game away. New York held an eight-point halftime lead before Smith-Marsette fielded the opening kickoff of the second half and returned it for a touchdown to give the Giants a 28-13 advantage. The Colts answered with Taylor's 26-yard run to move within eight with 11:03 left in the third quarter. Flacco threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Pierce with 10:53 remaining in the game to move Indianapolis within two. A trick play on the two-point conversion failed. New York increased its lead to nine just more than two minutes later when Nabers caught a short pass at midfield and easily shed two tacklers before sprinting down the right sideline for a 59-yard score. Lock tossed three first-half touchdown passes as the Giants led 21-13 at the break. Nabers caught a short pass in the right flat and raced 31 yards for a score to give New York a 7-3 lead with 1:05 left in the opening quarter. He finished the day with 104 receptions for 1,140 yards. Lock tossed touchdown passes of 32 yards to Slayton and 5 yards to Robinson while increasing the lead to 21-6. Taylor scored on a 3-yard run with 20 seconds remaining. --Field Level Media

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s bid for a fourth straight NFC South title and fifth consecutive playoff berth is gaining momentum. Back-to-back wins over a pair of last-place teams , combined with Atlanta’s three-game losing streak, have propelled the Bucs (6-6) to a tie atop the division. Although the Falcons (6-6) hold a tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams, Tampa Bay can control its own destiny by finishing strong against a less than imposing schedule. The Bucs, who are back in the thick of the race after beating the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, figure to be favored in four of their five remaining games. “Every week, we said it’s a playoff game, we got to take care of us. It’s not going to be easy. As it was (Sunday), it’s going to be a dog fight every week,” coach Todd Bowles said after Sunday’s 26-23 overtime win at Carolina. “We got to clean up some things, we know that, but it's hard to win in this league,” the coach said of the mistake-filled victory that lifted the Bucs back to .500. “We’ll take a win any way we can get it.” After facing Las Vegas (2-10) this week, the Bucs will finish with road games against the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) and Dallas Cowboys (5-7), followed by home dates vs. Carolina (3-9) and the New Orleans Saints (4-8). What’s working Kicker Chase McLaughlin has been one of team’s most consistent performers, converting 21 of 23 field goal attempts. He was 4 of 5 against the Panthers, including 51-yarder to force overtime on the final play of regulation. He missed from 55 yards in OT before winning it with a 30-yard field goal on Tampa Bay’s next possession. What needs help Just when it appeared the defense was beginning to trend in the right direction, Carolina's Bryce Young threw for 298 yards without an interception against the Bucs in one of his better outings of the season. “In the first half, he did it with his feet and the second half he did it with his arm,” Bowles said. Stock up Running back Bucky Irving rushed for a career-best 152 yards and finished with 185 from scrimmage against Carolina, making him the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to have consecutive games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. Stock down A week after playing well offensively and defensively in a 23-point rout of the New York Giants, the Bucs were sloppy against the Panthers. In addition to throwing two interceptions, Mayfield was sacked four times. Tampa Bay was penalized seven times for 54 yards, and the defense was only able to sack Young once. Injuries Mayfield (sore leg), linebacker K.J. Britt (sprained ankle) and safety Mike Edwards (hamstring) will be on the injury report this week. Bowles said he’s not sure what Mayfield's practice status will be when the team reconvenes Wednesday, however he expects the quarterback to play Sunday. Key numbers 37 and 101 — Wide receiver Mike Evans had another big day against Carolina, posting the 37th 100-yard receiving performance of his career — fifth among active players. He also moved ahead of Hall of Famers Steve Largent and Tim Brown for sole possession of ninth place on the all-time list for TD receptions with 101. Next steps The Buccaneers host Las Vegas in Tampa Bay's first home game in a month and the third consecutive outing against a last-place team. The Raiders (2-10) have lost eight in a row. ___ NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Fred Goodall, The Associated PressMac Jones threw two touchdown passes Sunday and the Jacksonville Jaguars earned a season sweep of the visiting Tennessee Titans with a 20-13 victory. Jones connected on 15 of 22 passes for 174 yards, finding Parker Washington and rookie Bryan Thomas Jr. for scores, as Jacksonville (4-12) left Tennessee (3-13) behind in the AFC South cellar. Cam Little booted field goals of 48 and 44 yards. Mason Rudolph hit 19 of 31 attempts for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Titans, which dropped their fifth consecutive game. Tyjae Spears rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries, playing in place of Tony Pollard (flu/ankle). Jones' 11-yard scoring strike to Thomas with 7:05 left in the game gave the Jaguars a 20-10 lead but Tennessee responded with Matthew Wright's 28-yard field goal at the 2:02 mark. After getting a three-and-out, the Titans had a chance to force overtime and reached the Jacksonville 26. But Rudolph's fourth-down pass intended for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was knocked down at the goal line with nine seconds left. The pregame storyline concerned which team could benefit most from a loss. Both entered a game behind the New York Giants for the potential No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft. Jacksonville initiated scoring on the game's opening drive, needing to drive only 38 yards on nine plays to set up Little for his first field goal at the 10:46 mark. The Jaguars got into the end zone for the first time with 8:59 left in the half on Jones' 2-yard touchdown pass to Washington, coming five plays after Rudolph tossed a tipped-ball interception. Little's second field goal upped the margin to 13-0 with 2:02 remaining before Tennessee pieced together a two-minute drive that set up Wright for a 39-yard field goal as time expired, making it 13-3 at halftime. The Titans started the second half with their best drive of the game, chewing up 85 yards and eight minutes before Rudolph hit Nick Vannett with an 8-yard strike to cut the margin to 13-10. --Field Level MediaIAEA and nucleareurope Host Key Meeting to Tackle Supply Chain Challenges for Advanced Nuclear Technologies