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Consumers in the United States scoured the internet for online deals as they looked to take advantage of the post-Thanksgiving shopping marathon with Cyber Monday. Even though e-commerce is now part and parcel of many people's regular routines and the holiday shopping season, Cyber Monday — a term coined in 2005 by the National Retail Federation — has become the biggest online shopping day of the year, thanks to the deals and the hype the industry has created to fuel it. Adobe Analytics, which tracks online shopping, expected consumers to spend $13.2 billion Monday — a record, and 6.1% more than last year. That would make it the biggest shopping day for e-commerce for the season — and the year. Online spending was expected to peak between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Monday night, per Adobe — reaching an estimated $15.7 million spent every minute. For several major retailers, a Cyber Monday sale is a dayslong event that began over the Thanksgiving weekend. An Amazon Prime delivery person lifts packages while making a stop Nov. 28, 2023, in Denver. Amazon kicked off its sales event right after midnight Pacific time on Saturday. Target's two days of discount offers on its website and app began overnight Sunday. Walmart rolled out its Cyber Monday offers for Walmart+ members Sunday afternoon and opened it up to all customers three hours later, at 8 p.m. Eastern time. Consumer spending for Cyber Week — the five major shopping days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday — provides a strong indication of how much shoppers are willing to spend for the holidays. Many U.S. consumers continue to experience sticker shock after the period of post-pandemic inflation, which left prices for many goods and services higher than they were three years ago. But retail sales nonetheless remain strong, and the economy kept growing at a healthy pace. At the same time, credit card debt and delinquencies are rising. More shoppers than ever are also on track to use "buy now, pay later" plans this holiday season, which allows them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items. Many economists also warned that President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs next year on foreign goods coming into the United States would lead to higher prices on everything from food to clothing to automobiles. A FedEx delivery person carries a package from a truck Nov. 17, 2022, in Denver. The National Retail Federation expects holiday shoppers to spend more this year both in stores and online than last year. But the pace of spending growth will slow slightly, the trade group said, growing 2.5% to 3.5% — compared to 3.9% in 2023. A clear sense of consumer spending patterns during the holiday season won't emerge until the government releases sales data for the period, but some preliminary data from other sources shows some encouraging signs for retailers. Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, noted that discounts from Thanksgiving onward "exceeded expectations" and online spending throughout Cyber Week is on track to cross a record $40 billion mark combined. U.S. shoppers spent $10.8 billion online on Black Friday, a 10.2% increase over last year, according to Adobe Analytics. That's also more than double what consumers spent in 2017, when Black Friday pulled in about $5 billion in online sales. Consumers also spent a record $6.1 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, Adobe said. Meanwhile, software company Salesforce, which also tracks online shopping, estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $17.5 billion in the U.S. and $74.4 billion globally. Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks in-person and online spending, reported that overall Black Friday sales excluding automotive rose 3.4% from a year ago. A United Parcel Service driver sorts deliveries July 15, 2023, on New York's Upper West Side. E-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $5 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $4.6 million per minute — with top categories by volume including clothing, cosmetics and fitness products, according to the Canadian company. Toys, electronics, home goods, self-care and beauty categories were among the key drivers of holiday spending on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to Adobe. "Hot products" included Lego sets, espresso machines, fitness trackers, makeup and skin care. Other data showed physical stores saw fewer customers on Black Friday, underscoring how the huge crowds that were once synonymous with the day after Thanksgiving are now more than happy to shop from the comfort of their homes. RetailNext, which measures real-time foot traffic in stores, said its early data showed store traffic on Friday was down 3.2% in the U.S. compared to last year, with the biggest dip happening in the Midwest. Sensormatic Solutions, which also tracks store traffic, said its preliminary analysis showed retail store traffic on Black Friday was down 8.2% compared to 2023. Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions, noted that in-store traffic was getting spread across multiple days since many retailers offered generous discounts before and after Black Friday. "Some of the extended Black Friday promotions really ended up leading to a little bit of a softer day-of traffic than expected," Gustafson said. In 2024, staying small on purpose seems to be paying off big for small businesses. They're keeping operations small and targeting niche, highly specialized customers. And some business owners find this strategy results in more time, energy, and money to intentionally capitalize on unique, small cap opportunities. The data tells the story of growth in small businesses for the year. According to NEXT , the Small Business Administration (SBA) reports awarding 38,000 SBA 7(a) loans under $150,000: double the amount they awarded in 2020. Here are the related small-business trends paying off in 2024. Commercial real estate agent Ryan Beckenhauer of Market Real Estate in Boulder, Colorado, has noticed that small businesses are growing smaller, and that their office and warehouse spaces are starting to reflect that as they shop for business space. In commercial real estate, many small business owners gravitate toward industrial condos and other flexible spaces. These are small-scale industrial spaces with a 90:10 or 80:20 split of warehouse to office. "More individuals are leveraging skills acquired at larger organizations to venture out on their own," explains Beckenhauer. And he goes on to say that they don't need a large commercial space as they make that leap to start a business. His clients include engineers, consultants, builders and other tradespeople. Beckenhauer's clients like the flexibility of being out of an office and being close to their inventory and workshop space. "The clients want to see and touch the finishes," he says. Small business owners both rent or buy these spaces. But he's seeing his clients opt to own industrial condos to stabilize costs due to rent increases in Boulder. And because these spaces are smaller, it can be easier for new buyers to qualify for financing. Mariana Alvarez, owner of Controller Works , an online bookkeeping and advisory firm, has noticed that small business owners outsource financial support services because they don't want to increase headcount. "Outsourcing gives them the possibility of having access to the knowledge and the skills of a CFO without having to pay for the salary," she says. "They don't have to manage or deal with the workload, employment taxes , and all that comes with it," says Alvarez. Additionally, many small business owners in fields like construction are family-owned, and this makes it easier for business owners to hand off delicate financial work to a trusted person with financial experience. Every small business has recurring tasks that can benefit from some level of artificial intelligence automation . And Alvarez sees a lot of value in using AI for small business bookkeeping. She explains that you can automate the data entry on Quickbooks. "When you create rules, as long as you create the rules correctly, it pretty much does itself," says Alvarez. From there, you can lean on financial experts to help you analyze the data and make more informed decisions. She uses AI as a background resource when guiding her accounting clients. "I believe that we still need the human-to-human interaction that comes with more perspective for financial analysis," she explains. According to the SBA , 77% of consumers feel that human interaction is still required for a positive customer experience. People turn to small businesses every day for a human experience. According to Arvind Rongala, CEO of Edstellar , small business workers can show up for their customers but still use AI for routine tasks like customer queries. "This balance allows companies to scale their operations without losing the personal touch that makes them unique. It's important to remember that AI isn't there to replace the human element—it's there to enhance it," he says. "By really focusing on one very small weakness that Amazon has, I've been able to carve out a successful business by offering something different," says Lou Harvey owner of Tank Retailer , a retailer of commercial water and fuel tanks. "When you read our customer reviews, many of them actually mention me by name because of how much we focus on customer service and go the extra mile." One of Harvey's most successful business strategies this year has been to lean into his small, niche market and offer the kind of customer experience that large retailers like Amazon don't. "Any small weaknesses that Amazon has (however small those weaknesses may be) needs to become a strength of a smaller business focusing on a niche market," says Harvey. Harvey has his company's customer service phone number front and center on the website to help earn customer trust. "I prominently feature our phone number, and a real person always answers the phone (usually it's me)," says Harvey. Lucie Voves, CEO and founder of Church Hill Classics , an online, woman-owned diploma framing company that uses sustainable materials, has noticed an uptick in customers seeking services from a business on a mission. "This year, we've seen a growing inclination for consumers to actively seek out and support small businesses owned by women and minorities," says Voves. When consumers shop small, they choose to make their dollars count. "Customers are fueled by a desire to promote social impact through purchasing power," says Voves. Long gone are the days of online retailers "building it and they will come." In 2024 we've seen more small businesses than ever turn to social commerce to sell directly on social media platforms like Instagram Shopping , Facebook Marketplace , and TikTok . Small business owners are turning toward influencers, social media ads, and organic content to target their customers. Mike Vannelli of Envy Creative creates online ads for businesses, and he has seen his clients succeed on TikTok of late. "I've seen businesses, especially in retail, use TikTok's short-form video format to make their products go viral. Think of it as word-of-mouth marketing on steroids," says Vannelli. He uses the platform's algorithm to push a company's content to the right audiences, and it works because TikTok loves storytelling. "I know small brands that use behind-the-scenes videos, customer testimonials, and even playful challenges that tap into trends to humanize their products and build trust," explains Vannelli. To stand out on TikTok, he says, smaller brands need to embrace authenticity and emotional connection. Show your team, share your journey, and involve your community in content creation. This story was produced by NEXT and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
Analysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easyAP News Summary at 5:57 p.m. ESTThe remote village of Rarik in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh is now connected with 4G broadband services. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said here on Sunday that this achievement was made possible through collaboration with BSNL, enabling residents of this cold and challenging region, where temperatures frequently plunge below zero degrees, to access modern telecommunication infrastructure. Sukhu said the newly commissioned 4G site at Rarik has been set up using the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology. Advertisement The Chief Minister said that the state government played a proactive role in ensuring the success of this initiative, as Himachal Pradesh is the first state in India to grant 100 per cent approval for land transfers under the 4G Saturation Project. “All necessary clearances from state departments were processed in a time-bound manner, facilitating the establishment of 4G towers in uncovered villages across the state. Till date, clearances have been provided for 366 forest sites and 46 government sites, covering a total of 658 locations. As of now, 294 towers have been commissioned, while work on 37 additional towers is underway,” he said. Sukhu said that the government is dedicated to improving the lives of residents in tribal and remote regions by offering quality and hi-tech services. “Since assuming office, the present state government has implemented numerous measures to uplift the living standards of people in tribal and hard-to-reach areas. In a historic step, the government also celebrated its first Himachal Day in Kaza, Spiti Valley, in April 2023,” he said. Advertisement
Saint Nick-Mas: 10 Best Nickelodeon Holiday Specials, RankedAP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:14 p.m. ESTThe counting for the Irish General Election 2024 concluded on Monday evening, December 2, more than 72 hours after polls opened across Ireland on Friday, November 29. The top three parties are unchanged since Ireland’s last General Election, which was held in February 2020. Fianna Fáil has won 48 Dáil seats this time around, while Sinn Féin won 39 and Fine Gael won 38. Each of the top three parties also saw gains on 2020 - Fianna Fáil is up 10 seats, Sinn Féin is up two, and Fine Gael is up three. However, the number of seats in the Dáil Éireann has also increased since 2020, from 160 to 174. The number of constituencies also increased from 39 to 43. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! With 174 seats up for grabs in this year's election, one party would have needed to win at least 88 seats to win the majority and thus control of the Dail. However, no one party fielded enough candidates in the Irish General Election 2024 to win the majority outright. As such, Ireland is likely heading for another coalition government, where parties come together as a bloc to reach the majority. The results of the Irish General Election 2020 also gave way to a three-way coalition between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and The Green Party. Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil), Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael), and Simon Harris (Fine Gael) all served as Taoiseach at different points during the outgoing Dáil. With a combined 86 seats, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will likely be a part of Ireland's new coalition government. While on the campaign trail, the leaders of both parties vowed not to go into coalition with Sinn Féin. Meanwhile, Sinn Féin said earlier on Monday before counting was finalized that it was contacting the leaders of the Social Democrats, Labour, and "other progressive TDs and groupings this week." With a combined 61 seats, a Sinn Féin - Social Democrats - Labour coalition would need lots of support from other 'progressives' to reach a majority. As parties begin to contact each other in hopes of forming a majority-winning coalition, discussions will now turn to a timeline of when Ireland's next Government will be formed. TD Jack Chambers, Ireland's Minister for Finance, told RTÉ on Monday: “I don’t expect a government to be formed in mid-December, when the Dáil is due to meet on the 18th of December, probably a Ceann Comhairle (speaker) can be elected, and there’ll have to be time and space taken to make sure we can form a coherent, stable government. “I don’t think it should take five months like it did the last time – Covid obviously complicated that. "But I think all political parties need to take the time to see what’s possible and try and form a stable government for the Irish people.” Meanwhile, RTÉ News reports that Fianna Fáil won 21.9% of the first preference votes, followed by Fine Gael with 20.8%, and Sinn Féin with 19%. Voter turnout in the Irish General Election 2024 sunk to 59.7% from 62.9% in 2020. This year's election saw the lowest turnout since 1923, the last time the number was below 60%.
Enthusiast cars tend to be quite divisive for one reason or another. Gearheads tend to be pretty specific with their tastes, which often leads to certain cars having cult followings and other cars being highly criticized for many reasons, from not living up to expectations to not having the specific engine that a small subset of cars people want. There's also enthusiast car royalty. These cars are constantly in the spotlight for a multitude of reasons, and enthusiasts can't seem to get enough of them. In the same way that gearheads have strong negative opinions about some of these cars, they also have quite the strong positive opinions about others. Indeed, some of these cars deserve the hype, and are as good as car people make them out to be. Sometimes, however, this transcends anything related to hype or simply being fans of a certain car, and it has led to a lot of enthusiast cars that are absurdly and bizarrely overrated. Technically, the Lamborghini Urus is supposed to be an enthusiast car, a more practical SUV from an enthusiast brand commonly known for its involvement in the supercar business. The Urus is not Lambo's first production SUV, but it is the first one that isn't a nightmare to own. In many respects, the Urus is an impressive car. The original version packed 641 horsepower from its turbo V8, and the latest Urus SE plug-in hybrid pushes well over 800 horsepower. It takes less than four seconds to reach 60 mph, it drives pretty well for what it is, and it tops out at 190 mph, which is not something a lot of SUVs can brag about. However, in the few years that the Urus has been with us, it has become somewhat of a hype car. People can't seem to stop posting it all over social media, and it got lost in this thick fog of hype, even though it was always planned to be just the Lamborghini of SUVs. It's also not the best looking, which is another way of saying that it's hideously overstyled and a little ungainly. There are many overrated cars, but few can quite claim to be on the same level of overrated as the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R. This was the final generation of the iconic performance car to use the Skyline nameplate, and it was sold only in Japan throughout the late 90s and the early 2000s. It would be silly to dispute that the Skyline GT-R is an impressive car because it undeniably is. The RB26DETT engine is fantastic in stock form, but it gets even better when you add more power. Combined with AWD and incredible chassis tuning, the R34 was very difficult to beat for the standards at the time. Then, "2 Fast 2 Furious" happened. Despite its comparative lack of screen time in that movie, the Skyline GT-R quickly became the absolute king of the Japanese car community. Combined with the unfortunate passing of Paul Walker , who actually owned several of these in real life, we are now living in a time where people are justifying spending $300,000 on what is, ostensibly, a late 90s Nissan. For that money, you can have about six used R35 GT-Rs in good condition, and the R35 GT-R is faster, more powerful, and handled even better. It was officially sold in North America, making it much easier to source. In the world of Japanese car fandom, if you're not in camp R34, then you are definitely in camp Mk4 Supra. Launched in the early 90s, the A80 Toyota Supra was the final generation of Toyota's flagship grand touring sports car, at least before the excellent GR Supra, co-developed with BMW, appeared at the end of the previous decade. Powering the A80 Supra was the iconic 2JZ six-cylinder engine, which was either naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Obviously, this engine is known for taking a beating when it comes to tuning and for being ultra-reliable, and we're not gonna sit here and explain how the 2JZ wasn't a very good engine. The Supra was, at its core, a grand tourer. It was heavy, approaching the weight of a modern Camry, and while it was good to drive, it was never all that special. But again, its appearance in various media franchises means a pristine Mk4 Supra is now worth six figures. For comparison's sake, you can quite easily buy any other 90s Toyota with 200,000 miles on the odometer off Craigslist for whatever small amount of cash you currently have in your wallet. Over a decade ago, we would have said that the Mazda Miata deserves the hype, including the original NA Miata. However, these days, it's absolutely out of control. We're not disputing the Miata's contribution to the world of sports cars because it is truly a massive one. Taking inspiration from British roadsters of the 60s and 70s, the Miata was conceived as a modern interpretation with limited power, RWD, a manual transmission, and a removable roof. It was an absolute smash hit, and it continues to be the best-selling small sports car of all time. While the Miata is a great car in just about every way, the hype surrounding it is absolutely crazy. You can't go more than a few minutes on social media without seeing an NA Miata flexing its pop-up headlights, or some bizarre modifications that include mounting a tongue and teeth to the grille to make it look like it has a face. Good car? Yes. Completely overhyped nowadays? Absolutely yes. With the refresh of the Challenger back in 2015, Dodge decided to shoot for the stars and create the most powerful muscle car in history. Enter the Hellcat, which initially featured the namesake 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with an incredible 707 horsepower. From 2015 to the present day, this engine was pushed to well over 1,000 horsepower, allowing the Challenger to obliterate multiple production car records, including 0-60 and 1⁄4 mile times. The obscene power combined with the old-school muscle car feel contribute to the Hellcat being a special car. With the demise of the Hellcat powertrain and the LX platform vehicles, the Challenger Hellcat has started to garner quite the reputation in the car community. In actuality, the Hellcat's competitors will run rings around it on the race track. Let's face the facts: the Hellcat is a bit of a one-trick pony — just one that persistently has yellow front splitter guards. It's not really a precision tool. The Tesla Model S is more than a decade old now, and we can't deny the influence the Model S has had on the automotive industry as a whole. In fact, it might even be the most influential car of the past decade due to its contribution to the industry shift towards electrification. A couple of years ago, Tesla gave the Model S a thorough refresh, including revised exterior styling and a completely overhauled interior. As part of this refresh, the top-of-the-line Plaid model was introduced, with a 1,020 horsepower tri-motor setup, a claimed 0-60 time of less than two seconds, and a top speed of 200 mph. Indeed, along with all of that, the Model S Plaid does have some other cool features, too. Sure, the Model S Plaid's acceleration is very, very impressive, and even the most jaded of drivers and passengers will be shocked. However, at the end of the day, it's a decade-old car with quality control issues, a really high sticker price, and it doesn't even have a proper steering wheel.Like all other Teslas, it isn't that good of a car in the long run. You're better off spending your money on a Lucid Air Sapphire, and if electric isn't a requirement, Bob's your uncle. Don't worry — even though you can have multiple R35 GT-Rs for the price of a single R34, that doesn't mean the R35 is any less overrated. When the R35 GT-R arrived back in the late 2000s, it was the first Nissan with a GT-R badge to be sold globally, and initially, it was a very impressive car. Despite having "only" a twin-turbo V6 under the hood, the GT-R could easily keep up with and surpass a lot of the very best supercars and sports cars of its day. As time went on, the competition caught up, and the GT-R became an ancient veteran that just didn't perform as well in comparison. Nissan stubbornly continued making the GT-R, finally ending the obscenely long production run after model year 2024. The GT-R might have been the supercar killer once, but by the mid-2010s, it lost the magic when it became the must-have car for YouTube daily vloggers. Nobody believed that Volkswagen could actually do it, but as soon as it bought Bugatti back in the early 2000s, it promised that it would build the fastest production car in the world. Launched in the mid-2000s, the original Veyron 16.4 was exactly that: shortly after its launch, became the fastest production car in the world, reaching 253 mph. Later versions of the Veyron achieved even higher speeds, and Bugatti became the first automaker to break the 300 mph barrier with a modified Chiron. The Veyron was a special car, sure, but over the past few years, the magic has been somewhat lost. For one, you can get more power and better acceleration from an electric sedan nowadays. Veyrons are incredibly expensive and difficult to own, and it's no fun owning a car that you're too scared to drive. While the Veyron's speed record was and still is impressive, the McLaren F1 is the more special of the two: it's the fastest naturally aspirated production car in the world, and not a single car has dethroned it since.
B.C. man charged over tractor crash with police during 2023 anti-SOGI protest
Season 8 of Tyler Perry’s “Sistas” continues on BET this Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT with a new episode. Those without cable can watch the new episode for free through either Philo , FuboTV , or DirecTV Stream , each of which offer a free trial to new users. “‘Sistas’ follows a group of single Black women as they navigate the ups and downs of modern life, which includes careers, friendships, romances, and even social media,” FuboTV said in a description of the series, which is written, directed and executive produced by Tyler Perry. “The comedy-drama series features Andi Barnes, an ambitious divorce lawyer, Danni King, a funny and fearless airport employee, Karen Mott, a street-smart hair salon owner, and Sabrina Hollins, a smart and stylish bank teller,” FuboTV added. “The TV show takes viewers on a roller coaster ride of emotions and moments that epitomize ‘squad goals.’” Season 8, episode 8 is titled “Appearances” according to FuboTV, which added in a description, “Andi’s loyalty is questioned following Gary’s recovery; Karen and Danni confront their views on love and past relationship struggles; Zac and Fatima team up for a covert mission.” How can I watch Tyler Perry’s “Sistas” without cable? Those without cable can watch the new episode for free through either Philo , FuboTV , or DirecTV Stream , each of which offer a free trial to new users. What is Philo ? Philo is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers 60+ entertainment and lifestyle channels, like AMC, BET, MTV, Comedy Central and more, for the budget-friendly price of $25/month. What is FuboTV ? RECOMMENDED • masslive .com Patriots vs. Colts: Free stream, TV, how to watch NFL Week 13 games Dec. 1, 2024, 10:00 a.m. New England Botanic Garden’s “Night Lights” display returns for 2024 Nov. 30, 2024, 5:40 a.m. FuboTV is an over-the-top internet live TV streaming service that offers more than 100 channels, like sports, news, entertainment and local channels. It offers DVR storage space, and is designed for people who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to miss out on their favorite live TV and sports. What is DirecTV Stream ? The streaming platform offers a plethora of content including streaming the best of live and On Demand, starting with more than 75 live TV channels.DHAKA: Squeezing rubber-covered robotic prosthetic hands, Bangladesh protesters wounded during the deadly revolution to topple autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina test out replacement arms for their lost limbs. “I’ll be able to do some everyday tasks with this artificial hand,” said student Hafeez Mohammad Hossain, 19, whose right hand was ripped off in gunfire on August 5. It was the same day protesters stormed Hasina’s palace as she fled to India by helicopter. In the middle of the chaos, Hossain said a police officer leveled a shotgun at him and fired. He described searing pain as gun pellets lacerated his back and leg. Surgeons picked out the gunshot, but were unable to save his hand. “I can’t write anymore,” Hossain said. “I’m struggling to learn how to write with my left hand.” On Thursday he was fitted with a prosthetic limb, alongside four other students who also lost their hands during the months-long protests in which at least 700 people were killed during a police crackdown. Robolife Technologies, a Bangladeshi organization manufacturing artificial hands, said the prosthetic limbs use sensors connected to the nerves to move. The company says it allows users to grasp objects, to type and use a phone. “If you ask me whether they work like organic hands, I’d say no,” said Antu Karim, who is working on the government-backed project to fit the limbs. “But these hands allow the boys to hold a glass if thirsty, or a spoon to eat,” he added. “At least, they won’t be looked down upon for not having hands.” ‘Rely on others’ Hasina’s 15-year tenure saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents. Limbless protesters held a rally earlier this month demanding the interim government who took over after Hasina’s fall support those injured in the protests. Many say they have not received the aid they need. The four other former protesters who had arms fitted on Thursday included Mohammad Mamun Mia, 32, a father of two, whose hand was hacked off by a gang he said was loyal to Hasina’s Awami League party. The new arm is far from perfect, but it has made a huge difference. “I’ll be able to do some regular tasks with this hand,” he said, saying that while he cannot work driving a tractor in the fields again, he hopes now to open a small business. Arif Hossain Sagar, 19, had his hand amputated after it failed to heal from an injury he sustained during the protests, and doctors worried about gangrene. “I can’t do any regular activities now,” Sagar told AFP. “I rely on others for eating or bathing.” The new hand will return a degree of normality to his life, he said. Nayeem Hasan, wounded when attackers pounced on him as he went to donate blood to help those injured after a fire, broke into tears. The new arm would help him fulfill his simple dream. “I have a one-year-old daughter who wants me to hold her,” Hasan said. — AFP
Haiti gang attack on journalists covering a hospital reopening leaves 2 dead, several woundedNone
Kirsty Bryant lived the worst day of her life when one Friday morning her 11-month-old son, Henry, was bitten by a deadly funnel-web spider. Login or signup to continue reading "I thought I was going to lose my son, I thought he was going to die in front me," she said. Her son was quickly rushed to her local hospital in Coffs Harbour before being flown via helicopter to the John Hunter Hospital due to their specialised paediatric intensive care unit. Henry had crawled over to their sliding glass and slid them open when Ms Bryant noticed a big, black spider running up his arm. "He was screaming, and his little finger was bleeding, and that's when I knew I needed to ring the ambulance," she said. "I think I said to them, 'it's a big, black f---ing spider', and he [first responder] was the one that suggested we needed to treat this as a funnel-web bite." The 11-month-old had started to vomit, was gagging on his saliva, sweating and was red in the face. Once in the ambulance, he immediately stopped breathing, Ms Bryant said. "By far the worst day of my whole entire life." "I just kept thinking to myself, his not even one, how could this possibly be happening?" At Coffs Bay Hospital he was given three vials of anti-venom while specialists from John Hunter Hospital were watching on cameras. Ms Bryant said they were worried about a cardiac arrest because his heart rate was at 200 beats per minute, which luckily didn't occur. Henry was then flown to the John Hunter paediatric ICU (PICU), where he had a catheter, was kept on oxygen, and monitored for the next 48 hours. "They were amazing, the first thing the nurses in the PICU said is 'you climb into the bed and we will put him on top of you'," she said. "It was really nice that I was able to hold him at last." After a nightmare weekend, Ms Bryant finally got to bring her son home. "I think he bounced back really quickly but I think it will take me a little longer to get over everything," he said. While funnel-web spider bites are fairly rare, NSW ambulance superintendent Jake Broughton-Rouse said they were more active towards the end of spring and into summer. "If anyone does get bitten by a funnel-web spider, it is a medical emergency," he said. He said early recognition of symptoms such as, tingling at the mouth, increased sweating and drooling in infants, was key. "We just encourage early recognition, treatment and first aid is key when it comes to in-venomation whether it is spider or snake bite," he said. Professor Geoff Isbister, director of clinical toxicology at the Calvary Mater Newcastle, said funnel-web spiders were difficult to differentiate from trap door or mouse spiders. That's why he said people needed to apply a pressure bandage to any large, black spider bites and be wary of the rapid onset of symptoms. Mr Isbister said snake and human interactions also increased into summer. He said, on average, from September to April, anti-venom might be used between two and six cases in the Hunter Region. "We will usually see more of them as the Christmas holidays start and people are out and about," he said. Journalist at the Newcastle Herald. Email me at jessica.belzycki@austcommunitymedia.com.au Journalist at the Newcastle Herald. Email me at jessica.belzycki@austcommunitymedia.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!
Fabian Schar’s 87th-minute strike secured a point against the league leaders, with Newcastle twice having claimed the lead through Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. However, while Howe was delighted with the quality of his side’s attacking play and the spirited way in which they battled back after falling behind in the second half, he felt three important calls did not go his side’s way. First, he was surprised that VAR did not instruct referee Andy Madley to look at the first-half incident that saw Virgil van Dijk angle his shoulder into Anthony Gordon’s face after the winger had fired a shot at Caoimhin Kelleher. Then, in the second half, Howe felt Newcastle should have had a penalty when Jarell Quansah appeared to bring down Isak in the box. And then, right at the end of the game, the Newcastle boss was frustrated at Madley’s decision to blow the final whistle just as looked as though the home side were launching a two-on-one break with Isak and Callum Wilson charging towards the Liverpool box. READ MORE : “I thought it was a penalty on Alex, but I haven’t seen a replay, that was just an initial thought,” said Howe, whose side delivered a much-improved display in the wake of Saturday’s attacking no-show at Selhurst Park. “I was surprised by the final whistle because I think we’d spent around two minutes on a free-kick in extra-time, so I was expecting seven minutes to be played. I think it was 5.15 when he’s blown, so that was a blow because it looked like we were in a good position. “Then, I think VAR looked at (the van Dijk on Gordon incident) and concluded nothing happened, so we have to accept it. I was surprised by it initially though.” Howe was nevertheless pleased with his side’s performance against the runway league leaders, even if he was left slightly frustrated that they were unable to claim all three points after leading on two separate occasions. “It’s mixed emotions,” he said. “Part of me feels we should have won it, a big part of me, but part of me is pleased we didn’t lose either because it was such a late goal for us. “Generally, I’m just pleased with the performance. There was much more attacking output, a much better feel about the team. There was much better energy, and it was a really good performance against, for me, the best team we’ve played so far this season in the Premier League. So, it was a big jump forward for us.”Seven payments worth £4,202 coming in 2025 for householdsAs 2024 winds down, the drivers of telecoms sector have highlighted key issues and challenges that shaped the sector, while raising hopes for better service quality in 2025, writes Emma Okonji With a deep retrospect into the activities of the telecoms sector in 2024, telecoms operators came to a conclusion that the sector was fraught with challenges that slowed down development in the sector in 2024, a situation, which they said, compelled them to subsidise telecoms service offerings for data and voice calls below cost price that was not sustainable. Despite the challenges, telecoms operators contributed immensely to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, job creation, investments, connectivity, quality of service, broadband and internet penetration in 2024. GDP Growth Relying on the figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for GDP growth, telecoms operators are of the view that the sector contributed immensely to GDP growth in 2024. According to NBS figures, telecoms contribution to GDP in 2024 stood at 16 per cent, which is quite significant from the scheme of things. Pleased with the contribution of telecoms to Nigeria’s GDP, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), who doubles as the spokesperson for telecoms operators in Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, told THISDAY that the sector contributed immensely to GDP growth adding that there was increased growth of about three per cent in every quarter of 2024. According to Adebayo, “If you look at the statistics, the telecoms sector had the most-steady contribution to GDP as a sector. I think our contribution has been steady and has been consistent in the past years, in particular between 2023 and 2024. I think the contribution has been steady and that also in no small way, helped in stimulating the economy. Remember that we provide the infrastructure that drives other infrastructure. So in that regard, we can say that we have contributed immensely as a sector to Nigeria’s GDP, and the contribution of other sectors to the economy is powered by the telecoms sector.” Job Creation According to Adebayo, the telecoms industry has done more in terms of indirect employment because a lot of the non-core services in the telecoms sector, has gone into outsourcing, and so the impact of employment creation by outsourced companies supporting telecoms providers and by other sectors, depended on telecoms. He explained that the sector has helped small businesses to grow and that the small businesses have in turn, created employment for several Nigerians. “I would say we’ve had more jobs created outside of our sector, relying on the services provided by our sector. So the growth of Fintech, for example, is linked to the existence of the telecoms sector. So if Fintech employs X number of people in a year or in the intervening year, that wouldn’t have been possible if you don’t have the telecoms infrastructure behind it. Also, the eCommerce sector that has also employed several people, relied greatly on telecoms infrastructure in 2024,” Adebayo said. Telecoms Investment According to Adebayo, in the year 2024, there was not much investment in the telecoms sector, even though some telecoms operators had major investments that impacted the Nigerian economy in 2024. He said the Licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos), did a lot, both in terms of the expansion of the fiber backbone, including Data Center operators. “InfraCos did a lot in investment and Data Centers did a lot in investment in 2024, and such investments will boost development in 2025,” Adebayo further said. Connectivity While reviewing telecoms activities in the area of connectivity, Adebayo said connectivity improved in the year 2024, even though there were pockets of challenges that affected quality of service, such as vandalisation of telecoms infrastructure, denial of access to maintain telecoms sites by social miscreants, among others. Regulation Adebayo said telecoms regulation in 2024 was quite commendable. “I must appreciate the leadership of the industry. I must thank those who led the sector in terms of regulation and policy implementation in 2024. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) did very well in regulating the telecoms sector in 2024 and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, also did well in his business-friendly policies and implementation that helped the growth of the sector in 2024. The policy on SIM card linkage with the National Identification Number (NIN) of telecoms’ subscribers, was concluded this year, after several years of implementation. “As for the NCC, the interoperability between the various players is decided by the regulator. The rules of engagement are decided by the regulator, and the do’s and the don’ts are also decided by the regulator. Again, the fact that there was no significant infraction or significant penalty on any player, was because the regulator was transparent and the operators also complied with the laid down policies,” Adebayo said. Challenges According to Adebayo, the telecoms sector faced several challenges in 2024, that slowed down development in the sector. He said vandalisation of telecoms infrastructure led to significant revenue losses by operators, both in terms of connectivity and in terms of high cost of operations. “There were severe damages on telecoms’ infrastructure, caused by road contractors, which affected connectivity and quality of service in 2024, coupled with theft of diesel and power stations on sites. But I am glad about the passage of the Critical National Information and Infrastructure (CNII) Bill that seeks to protect telecoms infrastructure going forward,” Adebayo said. The biggest challenges we had in 2024 were more about vandalisation, denial of access to site by social miscreants, including site closure by government agencies, and of course, the issue of non-sustainability of telecoms tariff, Adebayo said, adding that telecoms tariff in 2024, was far below cost. “So I can say that 2024 was actually a year of subsidy where operators subsidised their services for everybody. We provided subsidised services and that is not commendable because it is not sustainable,” Adebayo said. Restoration of Damaged Subsea Cable This year, precisely March 14, 13 African countries faced internet disruptions, which led to operational downtime for all businesses connected to the internet, including banks, where bank customers could not carry out banking transactions for hours. Internet Service Providers (ISPs), as well as broadband connectivity providers were completely disconnected from the internet and from the broadband connections, as they could not provide connectivity access to their customers in banks, schools, churches, mosques, business centres, call centres as well as to organisations in different sectors of the economy. The disruption was caused by multiple cuts in the submarine cable around the coast line of Senegal and Cote d’ Ivoire. The affected 13 countries include: Cote d’ Ivoire, Liberia, Benin Republic, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Lesotho, and parts of South Africa. Speaking about the restoration process, the CEO, West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), Mr. Chris Wood, told THISDAY that 35 networks across West African countries, Nigeria inclusive, were restored to full capacity resilience, few after the cut. adding that it will take another four weeks to fully restore internet services to all network operators that are connected to the affected four submarine cables that came from Europe, with landing points along the West African coast. According to him, it cost a total of about $2 million to achieve full restoration to a single subsea cable, depending on the extent of the cut on the cable. This brings it to a total of about $8 million to fix the affected four submarine cables that were affected by the cut. Nigeria’s .ng Domain The total figure for the registration, renewal and restoration of Nigeria’s .ng domain name dropped slightly in July this year to 226,454, after a major leap in the months of May and June this year, which recorded 223,891 and 226,702 respectively. The statistics was released by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the body responsible for managing Nigeria’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD). According to the statistics, the total .ng domain name registration, renewal and restoration, reached 223,891 in May 2024, and further increased to 226,702 in June 2024, before sliding slightly 226,454 in July 2024. THISDAY had last month, reported an initial steady growth of Nigeria’s .ng domain name, which grew from 212,890 in December 2023 to reach 215,496 in January 2024, before increasing again to 217,527 in February 2024, with a further increase to 220,216 in March 2024, and another increase to 222,820 and 223,891 in April and May 2024 respectively, before reaching 226,702 in June 2024. Although the summation of .ng domain name includes registration, renewal and restoration, but the latest statistics on Nigeria’s .ng domain name as released by NiRA, showed that registration alone reached 8,066 in May 2024, and it increased 8,164 in June 2024, with a further increase to 8,607 in July 2024. The .ng domain name renewal alone was 5,545 in May 2024, and it decreased to 5,028 in June 2024, before increasing to 5,743 in July 2024, while the .ng domain name restoration alone was 140 in May 2024 and it increased further to 142 in June 2024, with a further increase to 209 in July 2024. The ccTLD .ng domain name is Nigeria’s identity in cyberspace, which has the .ng at the suffix of every official email address that originates from Nigeria. In the United Kingdom, official email addresses end with . co.uk . In United States of America, they end with .com, while in South Africa, the official email addresses end with . co.za . WATRA’s Regulatory Framework In response to the growing challenges posed by the introduction of Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbits (NGSO) services across West Africa, the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), which Nigeria belongs to, has developed a comprehensive framework aimed at regulating the advanced satellite systems. During the 21st Annual General Meeting, which held recently in Freetown, Sierra Leone, WATRA resolved to establish an Ad hoc Technical Working Group tasked with developing recommendations to address the regulatory gaps surrounding NGSO services. NGSO satellites, which offer significant advancements in connectivity and data transmission, have created both opportunities and challenges for WATRA Member States. While some countries have successfully licensed these services, others are dealing with unauthorised NGSO operations that pose security risks, threaten national investments, and destabilise local telecommunications markets. Recognising the concerns, the newly formed Ad hoc Technical Working Group has proposed a detailed framework designed to guide member states in effectively regulating NGSO services. The Executive Secretary of WATRA, Aliyu Aboki, highlighted the importance of the recommendations in ensuring a stable and secure telecommunications sector. “The introduction of NGSO services has brought new technological capabilities to the region, but it has also introduced complex regulatory issues that cannot be ignored. This framework is a necessary step to protect the investments of our Member States, ensure national security, and maintain a fair and competitive market,” Aboki said. Support for Indigenous Tech Companies The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, during the year, promised government support for indigenous technology companies, through collaboration. The minister said this in Lagos, during his visit to Imose Technologies smartphone/tablet factory and the Teesas Learning Centre, one of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Applied Learning Clusters (ALC). Pleased with his on-the-spot assessment of the factory and learning centre, Tijani said the assessment of Imose Technologies factory, would enable the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to understand how best it could support indigenous companies to scale. “We do need companies, businesses that can actually truly build solutions for our people. In the digital economy space, we can’t achieve our objectives without local companies. Even as we start to invest in fiber optic network to ensure we can reach all of our people, it’s going to be useless if people don’t have the devices, such as the phone, the tablets, the laptops to be able to access internet and use it for meaningful purposes. So that’s why we need indigenous companies like Imose Technologies and many more out there to understand their pain points and how we can support them so that they can start to truly fully manufacture devices in Nigeria. And that way it can become affordable and our people can have access,” Tijani said.
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 Reddit
A shooter kills UnitedHealthcare's CEO in an ambush in New York, police sayOWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The biggest question facing the Baltimore Ravens right now has little to do with Lamar Jackson or even a defense that started the season poorly. It's about a kicking conundrum that has turned into a crisis. Can the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl with Justin Tucker? One of the more surprising subplots of this NFL season has been Tucker's decline from one of the greatest of all time to a week-in, week-out liability. Sunday's loss to Philadelphia might have been the nadir — he missed two field goals and an extra point in a game the Ravens ultimately lost 24-19 . “Points were at a premium in the game. They have been in a few of these games. Sometimes we haven't made the most of our opportunity to score points,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "We're racking our brains, talking to Justin, looking at what we're doing. I'm very confident that it's going to get fixed. I believe it will. It has to. “And he's the guy to get it fixed.” Harbaugh has given every indication that he's standing by Tucker, who is in his 13th season and is under contract through 2027. When he's at his best, he's the type of kicker that gives his team a clear advantage in close games, but this season he has missed eight field goals. Sunday showed that against a good defensive team, the Ravens (8-5) can't simply assume their excellent offense will pile up points. There almost certainly will be close games in the weeks to come. Tucker's ability to come through will be tested again, and it's hard for Baltimore to feel too confident at the moment. “When he was hitting, three or four years ago, hitting bombs, we were going 57, 58, 56 pretty regularly," Harbaugh said. “That's tightened up a little bit.” The Ravens continue to do a good job stopping the run. Although Saquon Barkley did eventually surpass the 100-yard mark late in the game, Baltimore held the Eagles to 140 yards on the ground, well below their usual output. Even beyond Tucker's problems, Sunday wasn't a great showing by Baltimore's special teams. Tylan Wallace was shaky returning punts, and the Ravens had to start four drives inside their own 20 and two inside their own 10. “They had great bounces, and they downed right down in there,” Wallace said. "I’m pretty sure we’ll come back and talk about those and see what we can do to avoid those.” The Ravens' defense continued to show signs of improvement, holding Philadelphia to 252 total yards. “I think we’ve just locked in on some things, and we’re playing our deep coverages better, bottom line,” Harbaugh said. "You watch the coverage, you watch the guys’ spacing, positioning, eyes, the communication, the checks that get made, and you just keep chasing doing the right things. It’s not (that we) changed the defense. We’re just playing it a lot better.” Harbaugh was vague on receiver Diontae Johnson's situation. He was active Sunday but didn't play, and he has only one catch in four games since the Ravens acquired him in a trade from Carolina. “I’m going to have to wait just to clarify it,” Harbaugh said. "There’s some moving parts there that we’re going to have to figure out and explore and just see where we’re at. I know that’s not the answer you want, but that’s the best I can do in fairness to everybody right now.” The Ravens were missing pass-rushing ace Kyle Van Noy (hamstring/neck) on Sunday, and WR Rashod Bateman was dealing with knee soreness. Through his first 12 seasons, Tucker made field goals at a 90% clip. That's dropped to 70% this season. He had a 95% success rate from under 50 yards, and that's dipped to 83%. The Ravens have this week off before a Dec. 15 road game against the New York Giants. Then comes a home matchup with Pittsburgh that may determine whether Baltimore has any shot to win the AFC North. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflKobe Sanders scores 27 points, Nevada never trails in 90-78 win over Oklahoma State
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