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Theater kids have been singing during screenings of Wicked , and AMC isn’t having it. With the movie adaptation of the hit Broadway musical—starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande—set to appear in theaters across the U.S. on Friday, the movie theater chain is planning to air a 30-second ad ahead of screenings that implores attendees not to belt out the show’s immensely catchy numbers, Vulture reported . And yes, that even includes “Popular.” Some attendees of early screenings for the flick told The New York Times they were put off by their fellow audience members’ blatant disregard for movie theater norms. “It started slow. Then people heard each other—it was like they encouraged each other,” attendee Angela Weir told the Times . “It was a beautiful scene, and then you’re taken out of it.” But those with the irresistible inclination to join Grande, Erivo, and the rest of the cast need not fret too much. About 1,000 North American cinemas will host special sing-along showings of Wicked beginning after Christmas, Variety reported earlier this week. Former Rep. Mike Rogers is no longer under consideration to lead the FBI, a senior Donald Trump adviser said Friday. “Just spoke to President Trump regarding Mike Rogers going to the FBI. It’s not happening—In his own words, ‘I have never even given it a thought.’ Not happening," Dan Scavino, who will serve as deputy chief of staff in the incoming administration, posted on X . Sources told Fox News that Rogers, who lost his Senate race in Michigan earlier this month, visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss leading the law enforcement agency. During his first administration, Trump appointed Christopher Wray for the 10-year term but has repeatedly criticized him since then and said on the campaign trail that he wants to fire Wray. Rogers, who once served as an FBI officer and was on the House Intelligence Committee for four years, was also floated for the job in 2016. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. The pursuit of youth has long plagued our world. Many modern-day consumers go to great lengths to reduce the ravages of aging—Botox, plastic surgery, weird vampire facials, you name it. And while some products do show promise of slowing down aging, nothing can reverse time. However, effective products like the FDA-cleared (and derm-approved) Omnilux Contour Face can help reduce wear and tear. When I first saw the Omnilux Contour Face , it terrified me. Not only does it look like a mask a serial killer might wear, but LED light therapy was something I had never heard of until recently, and, frankly, I was pretty skeptical of it. But as someone who tires of trying one-trick products that often don’t deliver on their sky-high promises, I wanted to see if the device actually lived up to its incredible reviews . Free Returns | Free Shipping While the mask is a bit cumbersome at first, once you get it fitted and light it up, the magic begins working over a quick 10-minute period. As recommended, I used the Omnilux Contour Face at least three times a week and up to five times a week and noticed a slightly more contoured jawline and general smoothness after about two weeks of consistent use. While $395 may seem like a lot for an at-home face mask, once I did the math, I realized I spend much more on facials, creams, and dermatologist visits over time, I figured splurging on this light therapy mask could potentially save me some money in my beauty-maintenance fund, and it’s much cheaper than injectables like Botox and filler and other in-office procedures. Fortunately, right now, you don’t have to pay full price. Omnilux is offering a sitewide sale ahead of Black Friday next week. Score $60 off on one device with the code SAVE60, $140 off two devices with the code SAVE140 and $240 off when you buy three devices. Read my full review of Omnilux’s Contour device. Click Here > While Baby Boomers say a person has to earn around $100,000 a year to be “financially successful,” members of Generation Z say they would need to make almost six times that figure—$587,800—to fit the label, Axios reported based on a September survey by Empower. Gen Z is truly in a league of its own—Generation X put the figure at $212,300, while for Millennials it was a bit lower, at $180,900. Across all generations, the average was $270,200. Despite their lofty ideal of financial success, 71 percent of Gen Z still said they thought they would achieve financial success in their lifetime, which was more than any other generational group. Boomers, who reportedly control over half of all American wealth, could actually end up helping Gen Z achieve their goal. Over the next few decades, as much as $50 trillion could flow from the older generation to younger ones in the form of inheritances—although experts also warn that it could also end up being spent on health-care costs for the aging Boomers. Morning Joe star Mika Brzezinski announced Friday she’s leaving Twitter, encouraging her followers to listen to her appearance on The Daily Beast Podcast as she headed for the exit. “I’ve decided to leave X, but I’d love to keep the conversation going. Join me on BlueSky !” the MSNBC host wrote in her presumably final post on Elon Musk ’s platform. Brzezinski’s penultimate post promoted her Daily Beast Podcast episode, in which she spoke about why she visited Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago after his election victory. The personal visit, which Brzezinski made with her husband and co-host Joe Scarborough, set off a furious backlash —and an exodus of viewers —over what some saw as a capitulation to the president-elect after years of denouncing him. “We heard from many of you wanting to let us know that it was the right thing to do, our jobs,” Brzezinski said as she introduced the footage Friday. “We’ve also faced a lot of criticism about the meeting, largely from folks online.” On the podcast, Brzezinski told co-hosts Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee that one of the reasons she and Scarborough went to Mar-a-Lago is that “people are really scared about Donald Trump’s comments about political adversaries.” She added that while she doesn’t “regret anything” she said during the campaign, she is nevertheless “looking at how to do things differently.” “I would never turn down an opportunity to gain insight or information,” Brzezinski added. “Never.” Watch the full podcast interview below. New episodes of The Daily Beast Podcast drop every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , YouTube , or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each episode debuts. A quality wig should make you feel confident. That means it has to look good, feel good, and stay put all day. After a decade, Luvme Hair has refined its products to hit each of those marks. They believe comfort is key when you want to own your look. That starts with 100% human hair and the signature minimalist lace designed to be completely unlockable so no one will ever know you’re wearing a wig. The finishing touch is the AiryFitTM collection’s breathable caps made from skin-friendly materials for long-term wearability. The current stand-out is the Effortless Water Wave . 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With his court order, Judge Juan Merchan indefinitely postponed the hearing that was scheduled to take place next week, allowing Trump’s legal team time to submit their motions for dismissal of the hush money case by December 2. After that, the District Attorney’s office will have a week to deliver its response. On Tuesday, prosecutors signaled that they were fine to give Trump’s attorneys more time to get their argument together, but would oppose any attempts to toss the case. Still, given that Trump is about to assume ultimate pardon power, it now seems unlikely that any consequences will follow from the May conviction. “Just as a sitting President is completely immune from any criminal process,” Todd Blanche, a Trump lawyer poised to join his client’s Justice Department, argued to Merchan in a letter, per NBC , “so too is President Trump as President-elect.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a MAGA darling and three letter initialism-haver, is poised to lead a new House Oversight Committee Subcommittee that will work with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy ’s ‘DOGE’ commission to “eliminate government waste.” Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a progressive darling and fellow three letter initialism-haver, is fine with that. “This is good, actually,” AOC tweeted Thursday. “She barely shows up and doesn’t do the reading.” She then likened giving MTG the job to “giving someone an unplugged controller.” Earlier this month, President-elect Donald Trump anointed MAGA entrepreneurs Musk and Ramaswamy as the co-leaders of his planned Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is not a government department but a commission that will table recommendations for how to take a chainsaw to U.S. Federal spending—Musk has mused about up to $2 trillion in cuts. “Absolutely dying at those two now getting assigned the ‘privilege’ of ‘working’ with MTG,” added AOC. “That is actually hilarious. Enjoy, fellas!” This is good, actually. She barely shows up and doesn’t do the reading. To borrow a phrase I saw elsewhere, it’s like giving someone an unplugged controller. https://t.co/cgu6B4IAYV If Matt Gaetz ’s stamp of approval still holds any weight on Capitol Hill after his scandal-ridden attorney general nomination went up in flames Thursday, then president-elect Donald Trump’s new pick for the role, former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi , is headed in the right direction. Bondi “is a stellar selection,” Gaetz wrote in a post on X Thursday. “Pam and I worked closely together when she was Florida’s Attorney General and I chaired Criminal Justice in the state house. She’s a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ.” Bondi has been just as candid a Trump supporter as Gaetz, having spoken at his rallies and attended sessions of of New York criminal trial. She was also a defense lawyer during Trump’s first impeachment trial. Like Gaetz and other cabinet nominees Pete Hegseth and Sean Duffy, Bondi has also appeared frequently on Fox News to defend Trump’s record. . @PamBondi is a stellar selection by President Trump for Attorney General. Pam and I worked closely together when she was Florida’s Attorney General and I chaired Criminal Justice in the state house. She’s a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all... https://t.co/K86sK7WkPf Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reached an 11th hour deal with congressional Republicans to quickly confirm more judges to lower federal court positions—in exchange for not moving forward with four nominations to federal appellate court positions. The deal will see the Senate consider seven judges for lower court appointments the week after Thanksgiving, while another six are put on the executive calendar for consideration later in December. Although Democrats control the chamber until January, President-elect Donald Trump called on congressional Republicans to block all appointments until his inauguration. Republicans in the Senate succeeded in delaying Wednesday’s confirmation proceedings out until after midnight, prompting Schumer to strike a deal that he defended from criticism. “The trade was four circuit nominees—all lacking the votes to get confirmed—for more than triple the number of additional judges moving forward,” a spokesperson for the Democratic leader told Politico . Democrats have approved 221 judges to the federal bench since President Joe Biden took office, and Schumer’s deal could get Democrats close to matching Trump’s total of 234 confirmed judges during his first term in office. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Made In Cookware is known for quality kitchen tools that look as good as they perform. Its sleek, chef-approved kitchen essentials are for people who know that the plates matter as much as the food. That makes its full sets a great option for anyone looking for a little uniformity in their cabinets. To sweeten the deal, Made In is not only offering up to 30 percent off, but shoppers can also score freebies like Dutch ovens, frying pans, and wine glasses with select purchases. We’ve pulled a few of their best deals just in time for your turkey prep. The 10-piece Stainless Set includes everything a cook needs to get started in the kitchen. Each item was made in Italy and is compatible with gas, electric, and induction cooktops. These also come with a free Non-Stick Frying Pan for a limited time. Free Shipping The 7-Piece Copper Set offers elegance with peak performance. The copper was crafted in France and is safe up to 800° F. Right now, score a free Dutch Oven with your purchase. Free Shipping The Complete Tabletop Set is simple and timeless. Designed in the UK, these dishes are classically English and have a one-year no-chip guarantee. If you refresh your cabinets with these today, you’ll also receive a free Glass Wine Set. Free Shipping Alex Jones on Thursday called Matt Gaetz “quite the stud” after a new allegation of sexual assault emerged against the former congressman. Gaetz, who had been picked by Donald Trump as his nominee for attorney general, withdrew his name from contention after he was contacted for comment on the CNN report about the alleged crime. In it, the same woman who said she had sex with Gaetz when she was 17 revealed that she had an additional underage encounter with Gaetz, involving another, adult woman. Jones, a far-right pundit and conspiracy theorist, took the news of the new criminal accusation as a chance to praise Gaetz for his sexual prowess. “I treat women super nice,” Jones explained to viewers of his show Infowars. “So does Trump. Women love me. And so, I mean, I know what’s happening to Gaetz.” Jones suggested that the allegations against Gaetz were being blown out of proportion, claiming that the victims, who were “super gorgeous,” surely thought Gaetz was “so nice.” “People are like, damn, Matt Gaetz is quite the stud,” Jones said, adding: “That’s it, we’re really bad people, we like women.” Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey Jr. conceded his re-election campaign to his Republican rival, Dave McCormick, ending his recount efforts and confirming the GOP’s new Senate majority of 53-47. The Senate race was called by the Associated Press on Election Night, but McCormick’s slim margin of victory automatically triggered a recount. By Thursday, Casey was behind McCormick by about 16,500 votes, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported—a lead that the Democrat could not overcome after Pennsylvania courts decided against counting undated ballots. In a message posted on social media, Casey thanked election officials for their work in the recount effort. “This race was one of the closest in our commonwealth’s history, decided by less than a quarter of a point,” he said. Casey, the son of former Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey Sr., was running for his fourth term representing the Keystone State in the Senate. “I want to thank the people of Pennsylvania for granting me the privilege of serving them for 28 consecutive years in public office as auditor general, state treasurer, and United States senator,” the outgoing Senator said. “Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me through all these years. It’s been the honor of my lifetime.” McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO, thanked Casey for his “decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice” in a statement posted on social media. During my time in office, I have been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: “All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.” Thank you for your trust in me for all these years, Pennsylvania. It has been the honor of my lifetime. pic.twitter.com/RSXEFwdge8INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jarvis Walker's 20 points helped IU Indianapolis defeat Trinity Christian 106-49 on Saturday. Walker shot 7 for 12, including 6 for 10 from beyond the arc for the Jaguars (4-5). Paul Zilinskas shot 5 for 9, including 4 for 7 from beyond the arc to add 15 points. DeSean Goode had 14 points and shot 4 of 5 from the field and 5 for 5 from the line. The Trolls were led in scoring by Tylan Harris, who finished with 11 points. Kaden Eirhart added nine points for Trinity Christian. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .sr fc188 ih 。

"The brazen and shameless admission of the assassination of a political leader in the sovereign territory of one of the member states of the United Nations once again reveals the international responsibility of the Israeli regime for its terrorist and aggressive actions," Iravani said addressing the UN session. The full text of Iravani's letter to the UN is as follows: Excellency, Further to our letters dated 31 July and 1 October 2024 (S/2024/584-S/2024/713), regarding the cowardly assassination of Mr. Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas and former Prime Minister of Palestine, on 31 July 2024 in Tehran, as well as Iran’s legitimate response to this heinous terrorist act, I wish to draw the attention of Your Excellency and the members of the Security Council to recent statements of the Israeli Defense Minister. On Monday evening of 23 December 2024, during an event attended by the Defense Ministry personnel of this regime, the Israeli Defense Minister, Yisrael Katz, publicly and shamelessly acknowledged that the Israeli regime was responsible for the assassination of Mr. Ismail Haniyeh while he was visiting Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian. This brazen admission marks the first time the Israeli regime has openly confessed to its responsibility for this heinous crime. This audacious and shameless confession to the assassination of a political leader within the sovereign territory of a United Nations Member State once again underscores the international responsibility of the Israeli regime for its acts of terrorism and aggression. It also reaffirms the legitimacy and legality of Iran’s defensive response on 1 October 2024, as well as Iran’s consistent position that the occupying and terrorist regime of Israel remains the most serious threat to regional and international peace and security. This regime is now desperately attempting to justify and legitimize its past and future acts of aggression against Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity by fabricating baseless allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Security Council must not allow the continued impunity of a regime that flagrantly defies international law, destabilizes the region, and threatens and endangers international peace and security. The continued silence of the Security Council, entrusted with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, would not only embolden this terrorist regime for the commission of more atrocious crimes but also undermine the core principles upon which the United Nations was founded. I would be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.Spears' 31 lead UTSA past Houston Christian 78-71

Miguel Tomley scores 28 to lead Weber State over Pepperdine 68-53 at Arizona Tip-OffSpears' 31 lead UTSA past Houston Christian 78-71

Players have mixed feelings about being on the road on Christmas as NFL adds more holiday gamesTrump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretariesThat's what they voted for

Every Black Friday, there’s a number of viral products that everyone has on their Christmas wish list, and we don’t expect this year to be any different. However, not all of these popular items are going to stay in stock, and we have some insight on the ones that won’t. Black Friday is big business, and last year shoppers spent $222.1 billion during the entire holiday shopping season, according to Queue-it. Sales on Black Friday reached $16.4 billion (online and in stores), and this was a 9% increase from the year before. While it comes as no surprise that electronics are the most sought-after products of the holiday season, Queue-it said this accounts for the majority of holiday sales, jumping to $50.8 billion in 2023. Apparel, furniture, groceries and toys are the other hot sellers of Black Friday. Together, these five categories accounted for 65% of sales during the holidays last year and is only expected to grow in 2024. While many items that sell out over Black Friday are driven by a good deal, we also know that a hot product is just that — a gift that most people want to open on Christmas Day. So, here are our picks for the top 10 hot-ticket items that could sell out over Black Friday. The holidays are ripe for TV deals, and we expect shoppers to buy a ton of them in 2024, especially at Walmart. Consumers are trending toward bigger TVs and the super low-price deals over Black Friday force many models to sell out. This is especially true of popular models from Samsung, Hisense, LG and more favorites. Apple's smartwatches are a top pick among Apple fans. We’ve seen prices on the Apple Watch continue to trend downward, which was only spurred by the release of the new Apple Watch 10 in September. This pushed down prices on earlier models, with the best deals coming on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 9. For Black Friday, we think the prices will drop even lower and sell out due to high demand. Wireless headphones are one of the most popular products of 2024, and Beats are one of the top brands. We’re already seeing big markdowns on Beats Wireless Headphones, and we expect these price drops to continue into Black Friday. The Beats Solo3 is likely to be on sale for even cheaper than we’ve already seen, and we think they will sell out for Black Friday, with the possibility of other popular Beats headphones joining them. If you haven’t picked up a pair of Apple AirPods yet, this could be your year to do it. With Apple launching a fourth generation of AirPods earlier this year, the price on prevvious models are creeping lower. We think over Black Friday they’ll be at their cheapest price ever, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) likely to sell out. Bluetooth speakers are a must-have for many this year, and with the big sound that comes from JBL’s speakers, it’s easy to see why they might sell out for Black Friday. These popular speakers come in a variety of portable sizes and waterproof designs. We expect big deals on JBL’s top-rated Clip 5 and Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker models. One of Apple’s most sought-after products of the year was the iPad, and we saw the 9th Gen and 10th Gen models drop to their lowest prices ever. We think this year will bring some iPad bliss with even better discounts, but these deals will disappear just as fast as they arrive. We think that mega discounts on the iPad (9th Gen) and iPad (10th Gen) could cause sell outs, especially on Amazon. The Dyson Airwrap just might be the top product of Black Friday, as this is one of the rare times there’s a discount on the beloved hair styling tool. At $600, the Airwrap carries a hefty price tag, so any discount presented is a welcome surprise. But as we’ve seen in the past, any Black Friday deal on the Dyson Airwrap causes a crush of interest that’s followed by a sell out. If you’ve tried to scoop up the UGG Tasman Slippers in previous years, you already know they never stay in stock for long. As the “it” slipper of the holiday season, UGG’s Tasman sells out multiple times over the holidays, even without a discount offered. We think that this year will be similar, with popular sizes and colors of the Tasman Slipper snatched up fast over Black Friday. The Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner is a popular home product that just can’t seem to stay in stock. With prices falling under $90, this mighty machine can be a blessing for pet owners and parents, as its compact size makes it easy to store and use when needed. We’ve seen the Little Green Machine sell out before, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t do it again over Black Friday. We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a top toy that we think will be hard to find and gift this year. Our pick is the Furby Galaxy Edition. This glow-in-the-dark Furby is based on the original Furby from the late ’90s with even more features, interactive modes and more fun. Making a comeback in 2023, we saw the revival of this popular toy sell out last year, and we expect the new Furby Galaxy Edition to do the same. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

David Beckham’s doing it. So is Meghan Markle. With a list of fans longer than Jack’s beanstalk, we ask experts if TikTok’s latest hobby could make us healthier. When you think of Kate Moss, does a pair of pruning shears spring to mind? No? How about Gisele Bündchen? It turns out the supers share more than a talent for the runway, since the notorious nature lovers have been quietly cultivating their veggie gardens for years. And with more than 660 million gardening posts and counting on TikTok, the cover girls seem to have been early adopters of a burgeoning trend for tillage . It’s 2024 and everyone from Meghan Markle (who has made jam from the fruits of her own garden) to David Beckham with his farming forays in the Cotswolds, is a budding botanist. As a passion for plants grows on social media (thanks in no small part to these celebs and their high-end horticulture), the ‘green thumb’ demographic is skewing younger than ever before. Celebs have clearly cottoned on to the benefits, but is it all aesthetics, or is gardening a sleeper hit for mental health? Should we all start bending over flower beds like Beckham? Scientifically speaking, there’s little doubt that time spent in the great outdoors is good for the noggin. In 2022, a multidisciplinary taskforce from the World Federation of Societies for Biological Psychiatry and Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine included exposure to green spaces in their recommended guidelines for the treatment of major depressive disorders. The report also recommended physical activity – another key component of a good gardening sesh. Dr Maria-Elena Lukeides, psychologist at The Wellness Fountain, confirms that connecting with nature can offer meaningful psychological benefits, ranging from reduced stress to improved mood and even a sense of accomplishment. “When people nurture plants, they experience a sense of control and achievement,” she explains. “Then, if we look at the repetitive nature of gardening tasks, this can serve as a form of meditation, helping you to slow down and calm the mind.” And with burnout at an all-time high, it’s no surprise we’re turning to green spaces for some much-needed solace. This is certainly the case for Lee Sullivan, founder of Urban Veggie Patch, who shares gardening tips with more than 150,000 followers on her Instagram account. “My garden has become a haven. Somewhere I can go when life gets stressful or busy to regain clarity and a sense of peace,” she says. Sullivan’s passion for plants blossomed in the wake of new motherhood while experiencing mild postpartum depression. “I found gardening was helping me regain a sense of self, lifting my mood and creating new purpose.” But she’s noticed other benefits, too. “Not only are you eating lots of nutrient-dense wholefoods, caring for a garden can also be great cardio!” A 2024 metanalysis looking into the impact of gardening on overall wellbeing confirms the benefits may indeed stretch further than a healthy mind. Studies included in the analysis linked gardening with lower stress levels, improved emotional resilience, greater community connection and even physical health outcomes – think lower blood pressure and a dialled-down risk of health conditions including type 2 diabetes. A 2024 metanalysis looking into the impact of gardening on overall wellbeing confirms the benefits may indeed stretch further than a healthy mind. Image: Pexels Stuck in the inner city with little more than a windowsill to work with? Don’t let that kill the vibe. Dr Lukeides assures me, “Tending to plants indoors still provides similar benefits.” According to researchers from RMIT and the University of Melbourne, simply sharing your home with greenery might be enough to reap the benefits of what you’ve sown. They found that living with multiple indoor plants can meaningfully enhance both air quality and mental wellbeing. So, slap on your gumboots, some gloves and a cute pair of op-shop overalls, and get planting. We’re rooting for you. More Coverage How to be a better plant parent Melissa King Super herbs: The best herbs to keep your immunity in top shape Charlotte Brundrett Originally published as Why A-List Celebs are hot for horticulture Lifestyle Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Entertainment Punk rock band The Offspring planning Aussie tour in 2025 American punk rockers The Offspring are playing an exclusive Melbourne show on Sunday at one of the city’s most loved venues. Read more Lifestyle Jordan Ablett gives thanks for life with Levi Jordan Ablett has endured more heartache than most. But the mum-of-three is doing all she can to look on the bright side. Read moreAttorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual

The yearning for Uranus: A far-out world with a tale to tell

Kolkata, Nov 23 (PTI) As the ruling Trinamool Congress swept the by-elections in six assembly seats in West Bengal, Kurseong's party MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma attacked the state leadership, saying the party dreams of winning polls with money power and that it sidelines legislators and gives "unnecessary importance and responsibilities" to MPs. The TMC retained five of the six seats it had previously won during the 2021 polls, while wresting the key Madarihat seat from the saffron camp in north Bengal's Alipurduar district. Also Read | Nana Patole, Maharashtra Congress Chief, Scrapes Through in Sakoli Assembly Constituency, Wins by 208 Votes. In a Facebook post, Sharma alleged, "The BJP runs a membership drive in West Bengal over the phone from a Kolkata office, while party leaders turn a blind eye to factionalism within the party. The party sidelines MLAs and gives unnecessary importance and responsibilities to MPs. It dreams of winning elections relying on money power. Despite having no shortage of political issues in the state, it centers its politics solely around religion." "The BJP accuses opponents of corruption while carrying Adani and Ambani on its shoulders. It tries to undermine the rights of the indigenous population by luring Bangladeshi Hindus with promises of CAA. It halts MGNREGA funds and indulges in such tactics, hoping to win elections in the state," he alleged. Also Read | Assembly By-Elections Result 2024: Ruling Parties Hold Sway in States; BJP Gains in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan; TMC Reigns in West Bengal. On the other hand, the BJP MLA lauded TMC saying, that the ruling party in the state, armed with 26 different "pro-poor schemes" such as Kanyashree Prakalpa, Gitanjali Housing Scheme, Krishak Bandhu Scheme, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Rupashree Prakalpa, Shishu Sathi Scheme, and Student Credit Card, quietly works at the grassroots level. "Now, you decide who will win the elections. I have never seen a culture of self-criticism within the BJP; otherwise, this outcome wouldn't have occurred," he added. Since the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC has won every by-election, except the Sagardighi bypoll in March 2023, which was won by a Congress candidate who later switched to the TMC. With this victory, TMC's tally in the 294-member state assembly rose to 216, further consolidating its position. The BJP's tally, on the other hand, dropped to 69, from 77 in 2021. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)American has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group.

Byfield scores in 200th career game as Kings hold off Kraken for 2-1 winChristmas is filled with traditions, and one of the favorites at Christ Community Church is the congregation singing “Silent Night” by candlelight. “Christmas does play a big part in this story,” said Pastor Todd Hertz, spokesman for the church, which has a main campus on Randall Road in the South Elgin/St. Charles area and satellite locations in Aurora, Streamwood, DeKalb and Huntley. “Christmas has always been very special. We have a lot of traditions.” This year was particularly special because it’s the church’s 40th anniversary and the final time founding Pastor Jim Nicodem, who is retiring next year, will lead the “Silent Night” rendition. The six couples who helped establish nondenominational Christ Community were part of a prayer group that decided they wanted a different kind of church experience, Hertz said. Church felt irrelevant to their lives and wasn’t a place they felt they could invite others to attend; they wanted something they could enjoy, he said. “The thinking was how can we reach people for Christ? How can we introduce people to Christ in a way that doesn’t feel old and stuffy?” Hertz said. The new church made its debut on Dec. 16, 1984, with the organizers deliberately choosing the holiday season because studies show that people are more open to attending services at that time of year, Hertz said. One of Christ Community Church’s many Christmas traditions is to place a large tree in the atrium of its main South Elgin/St. Charles campus church and surround it with a holiday train that runs continuously. (Christ Community Church) “It was a strategy to launch at Christmas. I think it had a lot to do with the growth,” Hertz said. Nicodem was chosen as their first pastor. He and his family lived on the East Coast, but Nicodem was familiar with the area because he graduated from Wheaton College. Getting the word out was done by going door to door to tell people about the new venture, passing out pamphlets, and inviting family and friends to attend. They had 150 people at the first service, Hertz said. It grew quickly from there, and they began holding services at a St. Charles movie theater that was part of a shopping center anchored by a Kmart store. It didn’t take long for it to become known as the “Kmart” church and the “blue light special” church, the latter a nod to the store’s practice of announcing special sales by turning on a blue light,Hertz said. Within five years, the church had 700 members. It was time to build its own meeting place. Forty acres of land — a former alfalfa field — at Bolcum and Randall Roads were purchased in 1990. An extension campus in DeKalb followed in the early 1990s, and now there are locations in Aurora, Streamwood and Huntley as well. Attendance at the St. Charles/South Elgin church is about 2,500 weekly with another 1,300 congregants worshipping at the other locations, Hertz said. This year, Christ Community’s Christmas services culminated in a teaching series looking at the life of Jesus through the eyes of Mary, his mother, including the nativity story, he said. “This series has been really impactful for the people in the church. I think whenever we lead up to Christmas, we want to focus on Jesus,” Hertz said. The series has provided a different perspective that created a lot of excitement among the congregation, he said. Christmas traditions are special because “they tie us back to when we were young, to our families, to really good memories,” Hertz said. “I think they are really important, especially in hard times like the last several years. We’ve had political division and wars and things like that. I think these traditions do something to comfort us,” he said. For 40 years, Nicodem has been part of those traditions. He will step down in May but will stay involved in the church, Hertz said. Well-known Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman, seen here performing at the GMA Dove Awards in 2016, will help Christ Community Church in South Elgin celebrate its 40th anniversary with a concert on Feb. 21 (Wade Payne/Invision/AP) “He’s handing the leadership to two other pastors on staff. He’s ready to let new voices lead,” he said. And Christ Community will celebrate its anniversary from February through March with 40 days for 40 years. Among the events planned are comedy club featuring Christian comic Jaron Myers and a Feb. 21 concert by well-known Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman, who has 59 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, five Grammy awards and an American Music Award. (Tickets go on sale Jan. 1.) The church also commissioned a documentary film about its founding that’s to premiere at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles in the spring. Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.Manipur: Ban on mobile internet in 9 districts extended till Dec 9

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings' lone opportunity with the man-advantage. After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl