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DaVita Inc. stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitorsSouth Africa tourists issued 'high threat' warning as Foreign Office raises alarmIncoming first lady Melania Trump announced her first major East Wing hire on Friday, naming her longtime aide, Hayley Harrison, as her chief of staff. “Mrs. Harrison has maintained an integral role and exceptional leadership on the First Lady’s team over the past seven years,” she said in a statement on X. The time-period spans Trump’s White House years and as well as her post-First lady life at Mar-a-Lago, their estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump said Harrison had a “strong understanding of White House operations,” and in her new role would “oversee and manage the East Wing’s team while strategically liaising with other parts of government.” In an appearance on ‘Fox & Friends’ on Oct. 29, a week before the election, Trump said she was not “anxious” because she had “much more experience” as she had already lived in the White House. Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team. “So when you go in, you know exactly what to expect,” she said. “You know what kind of people you need to get.” “You need to have people that are on your team that they have the same vision as me and to serve me because they serve the country,” she added. Harrison was one of the figures named and identified as “Trump Employee 1” in the indictment against the former and future President Donald Trump last year for his alleged mishandling of classified documents, according to ABC News. Special Counsel Jack Smith looks is expected to wind down the investigation before Trump is inaugurated. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal

China bans exports of key minerals for microchip production to the U.S.NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes rose to more records Wednesday after tech companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to add to what’s set to be one of its best years of the millennium. It’s the 56th time the index has hit an all-time high this year after climbing in 11 of the last 12 days . The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce helped pull the market higher after delivering stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell just short. CEO Mark Benioff highlighted the company’s artificial-intelligence offering for customers, saying “the rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale.” The stock price of the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, jumped 11%. Marvell Technology leaped even more after delivering better results than expected, up 23.2%. CEO Matt Murphy said the semiconductor supplier is seeing strong demand from AI and gave a forecast for profit in the upcoming quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. All the optimistic talk helped Nvidia , the company whose chips are powering much of the move into AI, rally 3.5%. It was the strongest force pushing upward on the S&P 500 by far. They helped offset an 8.9% drop for Foot Locker, which reported profit and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Mary Dillon said the company is taking a more cautious view, and it cut its forecasts for sales and profit this year. Dillon pointed to how keen customers are for discounts and how soft demand has been outside of Thanksgiving week and other key selling periods. Retailers overall have offered mixed signals about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain. Their spending has been one of the main reasons the U.S. economy has avoided a recession that earlier seemed inevitable after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to crush inflation. But shoppers are now contending with still-high prices and a slowing job market . This week’s highlight for Wall Street will be Friday’s jobs report from the U.S. government, which will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. A narrower report released Wednesday morning suggested employers in the private sector increased their payrolls by less last month than economists expected. Hiring in manufacturing was the weakest since the spring, according to Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The report strengthened traders’ expectations that the Fed will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. The central bank had appeared set to continue cutting rates into next year, but the election of Donald Trump has scrambled Wall Street’s expectations somewhat. Trump’s preference for higher tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , which could alter the Fed’s plans . Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank can afford to cut rates cautiously because inflation has slowed from its peak two years ago and the economy remains sturdy. A separate report on Wednesday said health care, finance and other businesses in the U.S. services sector are continuing to grow, but not by as much as before and not by as much as economists expected. One respondent from the construction industry told the survey from the Institute for Supply Management that the Fed’s rate cuts haven't pulled down mortgage rates as much as hoped. Plus, “the unknown effect of tariffs clouds the future.” In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.18% from 4.23% late Tuesday. On Wall Street, Campbell’s sank 6.2% for one of the S&P 500’s sharper losses despite increasing its dividend and reporting a stronger profit than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, and the National Football League’s Washington Commanders hired Campbell’s CEO Mark Clouse as its team president. Gains for airline stocks helped offset that drop after JetBlue Airways said it saw stronger bookings for travel in November and December following the presidential election. It also said it’s benefiting from lower fuel prices, as well as lower costs due to improved on-time performance. JetBlue jumped 8.3%, while Southwest Airlines climbed 3.5%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 36.61 points to 6,086.49. The Dow climbed 308.51 to 45,014.04, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 254.21 to 19,735.12. In stock markets abroad, South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.4% following a night full of drama in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol was facing possible impeachment after he suddenly declared martial law on Tuesday night, prompting troops to surround the parliament. He revoked the martial law declaration six hours later. In the crypto market , bitcoin climbed near $99,000 after Trump said he would nominate Paul Atkins , a cryptocurrency advocate, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.

White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniorsFlorida Lawmaker's Party Switch Increases Republican Supermajority in the House

Department of Commerce announces preliminary terms with SkyWater Technologies, solidifying ...The coverage of Jay-Z 's rape allegation has been nonstop the subplots keep on rolling in. Every publication you could possibly imagine is reporting on it, but one really. That would be The Joe Budden Podcast . So far, only one new episode has been uploaded in the last three days, with next one hitting on Wednesday. In that latest entry, the crew got nowhere near the story, so what gives? Well, their host and founder himself recently sent out a tweet to address the noise. "No need for think pieces guys, I’m dealing with a personal family matter, pls allow me to do so personally. Super grateful to each member of the crew for holding it down in my absence, thank you.🙏🏾" Thankfully, social media users were respectful to his wishes and sending positive thoughts. "They did a great job! Prayers up!" one X user writes. "Take your time, Joe.💯" another adds. We too are wishing Joe Budden and his family the best during this time, and we hope that whatever is happening isn't too dire. While it sounds like it's been a wild week for Mr. Budden, the same can be said for Jay-Z. Read More: NBA YoungBoy Receives His Official Prison Sentence For His Federal Gun Charges As it stands, him and his lawyer, Alex Spiro, are making some serious moves to get this case wiped . In the last 48 hours since the rape allegations news began to circulate, Spiro, is going at Tony Buzbee and this alleged victim. His most recent offensive play has been to accuse the Houston lawyer of coercing this Jane Doe to bringing Diddy into this lawsuit. "After several outreaches, the woman again spoke with members of the Buzbee firm, who she felt were pressing her to make allegations," Spiro wrote to Judge Analisa Torres. "When the woman declined to adopt the version of events proposed by members of the Buzbee firm, she was summarily dropped as a client. Though the woman provided her identity to Ms. [Mari] Henderson, she wishes to remain unnamed at this time for fear of retaliation by the Buzbee firm." Read More: Drake Trolls Kendrick: Disses & Drama In Hip-Hop’s Top Feud

WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth fought to save his nomination to be Donald Trump’s defense secretary Wednesday as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about the former Fox News host’s personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation. Hegseth met with legislators on Capitol Hill and conducted a radio interview to deny allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking, insisting he was “not backing down one bit” and that Trump still supports him. The president-elect’s team was looking at alternatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump remained quiet about Hegseth while issuing a flurry of statements on social media Wednesday about other nominees and his news coverage. Hegseth is the latest nominee-designate to be imperiled by personal baggage after the recent withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose vulnerabilities were well-documented. But Hegseth’s past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies, was not widely known. Hegseth paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault at a California hotel in 2017 after Hegseth had given a speech at a Republican event. His lawyer said the payment was to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. The Trump transition team was increasingly concerned about Hegseth’s path to Senate confirmation and actively looking at potential replacements, a person familiar with the matter said. Three other people said DeSantis, who competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, was being discussed as an option if Hegseth’s nomination does not move forward. The people spoke on condition of anonymity. Beyond DeSantis, there have also been discussions about shifting Michael Waltz, who was chosen by Trump for national security adviser, to the Defense Department, according to another person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. As he made the rounds on Capitol Hill, Hegseth told reporters that he had received a fresh message of support from Trump. He ignored questions about the allegations he faced. Hegseth, accompanied by his wife, held talks in private with GOP senators before shifting to the House to meet with legislators there. While House members have no direct role in the confirmation process, conservatives can hold outsize influence on the debate. Get local news delivered to your inbox!None

French government toppled in deepening political crisis

ATLANTA (AP) — Ahmad Robinson scored 21 points as Mercer beat Georgia State 71-68 on Saturday. Robinson had nine rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals for the Bears (7-6). Tyler Johnson went 7 of 15 from the field (3 for 10 from 3-point range) to add 19 points. Cam Bryant shot 4 for 7, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. The Bears outscored the Panthers 10-4 over the final 4 1/2 minutes. The Panthers (4-9) were led in scoring by Cesare Edwards, who finished with 20 points and two steals. Georgia State also got 14 points from Malachi Brown. Zarigue Nutter also put up 14 points and four assists. The Panthers prolonged their losing streak to six straight. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

1. A mini Bob Ross paint-by-numbers kit so they can relive the magic of the famously wholesome show The Joy of Painting by letting their inner Bob Ross create a masterpiece. The kit comes with three different numbered canvas designs, seven paint pots, a mini brush, and an easel. Promising review: "I have to admit I was skeptical because of the price and size. However, I got these for my husband for his birthday (he loves Bob Ross), and what a find!! We had so much fun mixing colors and painting. Would definitely recommend it. The fact that they are small makes them even more special. I wish there were more to paint!" — slb m Get it from Amazon for $7.99 . 2. Subpar Parks — this collection of wildly negative reviews of America's (absolutely breathtaking) national parks is sure to make your travel-loving, hiking-obsessed, camping aficionado friend belly laugh. Promising review: "Discovered this book at the recommendation of my favorite barista and loved it so much I decided to gift it to my brother (we both have been traveling and camping at national parks since we were 10). The absolute PERFECT and hilarious book since we know these parks so well!" — Luke Henkel Get it from Amazon for $16.59 . 3. A pair of heat-resistant cat paw oven mitts purr-fect for keeping their own pretty paws protected. Promising review: "I didn't know that these would be even cuter in person! My boyfriend and I both love quirky kitchen gadgets and I got these as part of his birthday present. He was SO HAPPY when he saw them. I actually didn't know he'd like them as much as he did. The look on his face made my heart sing, and I think these are just so cute. They're also really inexpensive, which is a bonus. Great for gifting and a cute addition to your kitchen. Just grab a pair!" — C Rowyn Richards Get it from Amazon for $15.79 . 4. A deck of Buffy the Vampire Slayer -themed tarot cards featuring never-before-seen original art inspired by the hit TV show. If they've been mulling over whether to take up the slayer mantle themselves, they might just need this deck to help them figure out what their destiny is. Promising review: "Honestly couldn’t be more pleased with these. Bought this deck as a gift for a friend and ended up buying another deck for myself. They are thick, high-quality cards, and the artwork is gorgeous. Plus, the cards come with a pamphlet with layouts and explanations and you can tell that a lot of thought went into relating each tarot card to the Buffy theme. It’s really well done, and someone who loves the show puts a lot of love into making these. They’re my new favorite deck!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $24.07 . 5. A funny adult coloring book — since they tend to reach for a glass of pinot after a long day, this wine-themed coloring book will be a great addition to their self-care routine. This even comes with a set of colored pencils! Promising review: "Great design and very fun. I bought it for my sister, who is laid up with a knee injury. Brought hours of enjoyment while she is down and bored." — tinker Kalous Get it from Amazon for $10.36 . 6. A huggable banana duck plush toy ...that's it. That's the tweet. I mean, look at how adorable this little (but kinda big) guy is! Promising review: "Once you get this duck, your life will be changed. It is soft and plush and perfect for snuggling! Banana duck is life." — Sarah Kenton Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four sizes). 7. A screaming goat figurine because every now and then they need to scream but feel a little too self-conscious to let out their roar. That's where this lil' guy comes in. It'll do the screaming for them! It even comes with a book full of fun facts and trivia about the ever-majestic goat. Promising review: "This is a hilarious way to scream at the universe without hurting your throat. I often gift this to people who are struggling. It generates a smile and lets them know it’s OK to feel like screaming." — meggysmallz Get it from Amazon for $7.65 . 8. A convenient lil' condiment fork if their love of pickles and olives is only matched by how much they hate getting soggy fingers by grabbing them straight out of the jar. All they have to do is just place the silicone band around the top of the jar, and voila! Check out a TikTok of the condiment fork in action. Promising review: "Great kitchen item. Forks are great to get pickles out of the jar, but if you have kids/lazy people (lol) you know that dirty hands are going into that jar. 😉 This has really prevented that from happening . It comes with two different rings to fit whatever size jar, a stabber holder, and a stabbing stick." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 9. A book of 642 tiny things to draw so you can give them the gift of curing boredom. This lil' guided journal will help them become the best doodler there is. This book is only 5.4 inches tall, so it'll easily fit in a stocking — multiple reviewers on Amazon said they purchased as a stocking stuffer! BuzzFeed contributor Jonathan Mazzei owns this and says, "My girlfriend got me this book as a gift a few years ago, and it turned out to be even better than I expected! The prompts are super fun and help you to think outside of the box, even during those moments when you feel like you have no ideas. It's great to casually doodle in while passing time since you don't have to think of what to draw, but it also can be really helpful when brainstorming for creative projects. My girlfriend is a visual artist and graphic designer, and she loves using it to play around with ideas and make her think of things she never would have thought of without it. Plus, it's small and super portable! Highly recommend!" Get it from Amazon for $9.25 . 10. A "Gracula" garlic crusher — just because the Count has a garlic aversion doesn't mean he can't help them mince a little for their homemade pasta sauce. And it'll only take them a few seconds! Promising review: "I love this little guy. I found him on a BuzzFeed list and had to have it as soon as I saw it! I’ve minced as many as five cloves in it in seconds. It’s a little tricky getting all of the garlic out once minced (I use a silicone basting brush to get most of it, but I always use more than the recipe calls for anyway, so it’s not a deal breaker). Cleanup is a breeze because he goes right in the dishwasher! " — Barbie Get it from Amazon for $22.95 . 11. A game of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza because it's easy to learn, fun to play, fast-paced, and a round is sure to end in a barrel of laughs! Dolphin Hat is a small business whose mission is to create easy-to-learn games that are fun for the whole family! Promising review: "Fun for the whole family! Even my 5-year-old granddaughter learned it with no problem and can win!" — E/A Get it from Dolphin Hat on Amazon for $9.99 . 12. A pair of socks with their pet's face on them that'll make it easier for them to show off little Archie to strangers without having to pull up 176 photos on their phone. Who are we kidding? They're gonna do that anyway. Don't forget to click the customization button and fill out info about their pet! Promising review: "This was a Christmas gift I bought for my aunt, who just LOVES her fur baby. She was so happy with these socks, she shared pictures of them and a big thank you to me on Facebook . She is out of state, so I can't speak on the quality of the socks, but if they were a fraction less than fantastic, my all-too-honest- aunt would have let me know, but all she could do was rave about them. Well done :-)" — Deb P Get them from Amazon for $14.59+ (available in 37 colors). 13. The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook — filled with delicious recipes they can make with all the groceries they buy at Trader Joe's, this cookbook is sure to become a family heirloom. Plus, it'll incentivize them to continue shopping there...which they were gonna do anyway. Promising review: "I received this cookbook as a Christmas gift, and I am extremely excited about it! There are so many recipes in an abundance of styles that I have never thought about making before. The directions are pretty clear, and the ingredients listed on every page help ensure you know exactly what to do to make the best dishes. One recipe my family recently tried was the blackberry fool. It only called for five simple ingredients, took about 15 minutes to prepare, and made a great dessert to enjoy after dinner. I would highly recommend this Trader Joe's cookbook for anyone looking for new dishes to make, from simple appetizers and desserts that require limited prep work to advanced entrees that challenge your cooking skills and leave you wanting more." — Angela Koonce Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 14. A light-up rain cloud diffuser because it'll actually start pouring raindrops into the spill-resistant container below! It has three levels of brightness and five levels of water flow speed, so they can customize their aromatherapeutic experience. Check out a TikTok of the rain cloud diffuser in action. Promising review: "I love this thing. I have anxiety and insomnia, and I need background noise to function/sleep. This little desktop fountain is SO SOOTHING, both aesthetically and the sound of the little raindrops. If I’m in the room with it, it’s probably on. If you love the sound of rain this is for you. Because I’m paranoid and I want this to last, I run it with plain distilled water and I have not used essential oils with it even though they say it’s fine. It’s very dry here right now, and I still only have to top up the water every few days, even with it running daily . It’s a solid 12/10 from me." — Violet Get it from Amazon for $56.80 . 15. A dimmable sad duck night-light who is just oh so relatable. He just needs to lie down real quick forever. This night-light has a 30-minute timer, so they don't have to get up and turn it off before falling asleep. Promising review : "I ordered this lamp because of its appearance. This has totally filled a void in my life I didn't know existed. Everyone who sees it pokes it. The lamp is actually very functional. It's got a really nice set of brightness options, and the glow is yellowish, which is much nicer than white in a dim/dark room. One thing that isn't mentioned in the description is that its legs are utterly floppy. It's terrific." — Literated Get it from Amazon for $15.99 . 16. Or a rechargeable toast-shaped lamp with a darling smile on its face. What could be better? It offers a nice, soft glow that can be adjusted, and it has a 15-minute timer! Promising review: "I first fell in love with this lamp online but fell to another level once it was delivered. It's the cutest little lamp I've ever seen. It's smaller than I thought, but it's just perfect. I love that you can manage how bright it is, as well as the 15-minute timer, which is great at night. Would definitely recommend this product as a gift or as a self-gift." — María José Sánchez Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three colors). 17. A super friggin' cute Squishmallow pet bed with cushioned bolsters that make for a natural headrest. This squishy bed is perfect for their cuddly pet! Promising review: "This is my first and only Squishmallow product, and honestly, I love it! It is as soft as expected from the brand, but I'm also very impressed with how sturdy the bottom is. Most of the bottoms of my dogs' beds are made of fabric, but the bottom of this bed is pretty firm and tough. I'm no dog-bed expert, but from a loving dog parent, I'm very satisfied." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $31.49+ (available in 4 sizes and 10 animal styles). 18. A pup-tastic dog-shaped door draft stopper if they need a helping paw to keep their heater's warm air where it belongs: inside. Promising review: "Would definitely recommend. It's durable and does efficiently block out drafts from our front door. Material is soft and easy to clean with a cloth, and it stores away easily." — Michelle Leo Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in six sizes and five animal styles). 19. A sleek and unconventional flat travel water bottle since it'll fit snugly against other angular things in their bag like their laptop, phone, or books. Promising review : "TikTok made me buy this water bottle and I’ve never been more pleased with a purchase. It was delivered exactly as expected, even better. The size is perfect for inside a purse, book bag, or suitcase. I ordered the gray, and it's so understated. Beyond satisfied with this TikTok purchase." — Christina Carson Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in nine colors). 20. A ~stable~ donkey-shaped sticky note holder for quick and easy access to little sheets of paper they can write their to-do lists on. They can even open the clothespin-like mouth and have it hold their favorite pen! Monkey Business is a small, well, business! Promising review: "Great way to store note paper. I was looking for an alternative to sticky notes, and this is perfect. It is well made, super cute, and I found 'Let Loose' refill pages easily on Amazon with 3.5-inch dimensions." — Kate Get it from Monkey Business on Amazon for $15 (available in three colors). 21. A set of cat and mouse hooks who are playing a game of hide-and-seek. When they hang something heavy on the hooks, the cute little animal heads will pop out! Check out a TikTok of the cat and mouse hooks in action. Promising reviews : "These are so cute and easy to install. My husband always forgets to put his keys away, so I got these to try to condition him into hanging them up. Now he has a little friend say hello when he gets home." — leaaffy Get a four-piece set from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in a six-pack that includes a monkey and baby chick). 22. A vintage-inspired orange juice carton vase — a decorative ceramic piece that'll be a beautiful and unique home for their buttercups and coppertips! Check out a TikTok of the orange juice vase in action. Ban.do is a US-based small business that specializes in quirky accessories, home products, and stationery. Promising review: "I bought this for my best friend, who loves kitschy decor as much as I do. It is even cuter in person! I want one for myself now. Highly recommend!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Ban.do on Amazon for $26.95 . 23. A cute and useful banana slicer for perfectly even slices of this delicious fruit (which they weren't getting when they were cutting them by hand)! If they like to prep their smoothies days in advance, easily slice bananas with this and then toss the pieces in the freezer for later. Promising review: "THIS WORKED VERY WELL! The 'banana' curve makes all the difference. Very useful and very adaptable. We use it primarily as a tool for prepping large quantities of bananas for freeze-drying. WORKS PERFECTLY for that task. Money very well spent!" — Tim Get it from Amazon for $6.65 . 24. A "Noodle Monster" spaghetti container because their favorite long boys deserve a safe space to wait to be devoured. Promising review: "I love this so much. Like, so much. The canister part is glass, which I love. It's tall enough for long pasta, but also good for macaroni. His lil' noodle noggin is plastic with a silicone seal, so it's actually practical while also being literally the cutest thing in the world. And his eyestalks make opening the lid a breeze while also being absolutely adorable. I really want a little gang of them for my pantry, and I'd make little hats for them. " — Surua Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in two sizes). 25. A Loch Ness monster-shaped ladle that'll make any pot of soup look like a delicious swamp for this lil' guy to live in. It has "feet" that allow it to stand tall in pots. Plus she's dishwasher safe! Promising review: "I got this for my birthday. I love it so much! It's completely functional and super easy to clean. The best part is that it's fun! She just sits in the soup, hanging out, watching everyone enjoying their soup, waiting to be useful." — SKW Get it from Amazon for $16.94+ (available in other styles and colors ). 26. A pair of rabbit-shaped toast tongs to help ensure they keep their precious fingers safe from hot pieces of bread. Promising review: "These are the cutest toast tongs! They are nicely crafted and the long-eared bunny design is adorable. Perfect tongs for my toaster and waffle iron. It stands by itself as a little functional piece of art, and won't get lost in the utensil drawer like my old boring tongs. The packaging is also nice and makes this really giftable, so I'll be ordering more as gifts for sure." — Tuzi Get it from Amazon for $16.99 . 27. A realistic shrimp-shaped neck pillow so cozy they won't even be ashamed to take it on flights, trips to the movie theater, or anywhere else their neck might just need a little seafaring support. Promising review: "This pillow changed my life. Birthday for someone you're in love with? Wanna show your teacher you appreciate them? Does your hairdresser give you solid looks for solid prices and you need a Christmas gift for them? Does your neck need support when you're playing scary video games in the dark at 2 a.m. when you should be studying for finals? This shrimp neck pillow was the answer to all those questions. It's so comfortable. It's so fashionable. It's so iconic. No one will ever disrespect you with this on your neck. If you have doubts, take my word for it. This pillow is where it's at." — McHOOT Get it from Amazon for $14.40 . 28. A genie lamp oil stopper/pourer because their ~wish~ for an even pour of their fave EVOO has often gone unfulfilled. Promising review: "This is functional and adorable! It does a great job at preventing oil from leaking down the side of my olive oil bottle, and it hasn't popped off while pouring." — Razzlebeedaz Get it from Amazon for $13.90 . 29. A shaker of edible cocktail glitter that'll turn any drink into a magical potion! And don't worry, it's kosher, gluten-free, and vegan. Bakell is a small business! Promising review: "Don’t think any further and just buy it. This was so cool and everyone loved it! I got the clear one because it will go with any drink. I will be the one to put this in all my friends drinks. Also had no taste so it was just the look. Sooooooo cool!" — gigi Get it from Bakell on Amazon for $7.25+ (available in 17 colors). 30. An all-too cute teddy bear water bottle whose leakproof top has a straw for easy drinkage. It even has a shoulder strap so they can wear this bottle like a bag, except this one will help keep them hydrated. Promising review: "My daughter uses this as her school water bottle. It’s great because it has a strap and she doesn’t have to squeeze it in her backpack! No leaks. Easy to clean but we only put water in it!" — Sarah Witt Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 31. A dope on a rope soap — this lovely leaf soap has a eucalyptus peppermint scent sure to ~lift~ their spirits. Their guests will love washing their hands with this *joint*. Promising review: "This was purchased as a stocking stuffer for my son, and he freaking loved it. It smells great and is so gentle!" — KRISTY GEERHOLT Get it from Amazon for $8.99 . The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.Strictly Come Dancing champion Joe McFadden has long been a beloved presence on British television, his career punctuated by notable roles such as Raffaello 'Raf' di Lucca in Holby City, and appearances in The Crow Road, Heartbeat, and Sex, Chips and Rock n' Roll. Dancing his way into the nation's heart, Joe clinched first place in 2017's Strictly Come Dancing with his captivating performances. Here's a look beyond Joe McFadden's on-screen persona, from his "soulmate" to a poignant family bereavement during his early acting days. Joe McFadden hails from Glasgow where he grew up with two older brothers and a younger sister, educated at Holyrood R. C. READ MORE: Historic equal pay deal struck between Birmingham City Council and unions Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp , click the link to join Secondary School, where a drama teacher swiftly recognized his potential, steering him towards his first TV gig in Taggart. Treading the boards, Joe has impressed in theatrical productions like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Rent, and Rainbow Kiss, even sharing the stage with Sir Ian McKellen in Aladdin at The Old Vic. He carved a successful route through television with stints in Cranford, Sparkhouse, and The Glass, gaining steady acclaim before his stint as PC Joe Mason in Heartbeat from 2007 to 2009 cemented his status as a household name, reports the Mirror . Roles in Casualty and Little White Lies followed before he appeared as Raffaello Di Lucca in Holby City for 144 episodes. Viewers will remember he was shot dead at the hospital and Joe had to keep his character's death a secret during his Strictly Come Dancing stint. Joe has also voiced characters in video games, including Assassin's Creed Black Flag and the first two Harry Potter games. Joe also featured on a celebrity version of Tipping Point. Joe McFadden's Strictly winIn 2017, the Scottish actor joined the line-up for Strictly Come Dancing. He previously told the BBC : "I've done little bits of dance over the years in the few musicals that I've been in, but they were more for comic effect than for showing off any dance prowess." "I was particularly blown away by the exceptional standard of last year's three finalists Danny, Louise and Ore." "If I could have a fraction of their ability at some point then I'll be made up." While he downplayed his dancing talents, Joe managed to beat Debbie McGee, Alexandra Burke and Gemma Atkinson to the glitterball trophy. He was flooded with messages of congratulations, including one from Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The actor is now engaged to artist Rob Smales, who he branded his "amazing soulmate". Joe took to social media with a radiant selfie of the couple, captioning it: "Couldn't be happier to be engaged to be married to my amazing soulmate, Rob. #loveislove." He once referred to himself as a hopeless romantic, lamenting his single status with only his dog Doug for company. Speaking to the Daily Record in December 2017, he said: "I don't know why I'm single. I must be unlovable, I don't know. Who knows? Maybe I work too hard." Brumwish 2024 - buy a gift for a child in need BrumWish 2024 is Birmingham Live's festive drive to get thousands of gifts to children and young people across our city - among them the homeless, the vulnerable, kids in care, kids who are poorly or struggling, and kids who have little. There are THREE simple ways to help. Buy a new gift from the Brumwish 2024 Amazon giftlist . In just a click your donation will be whizzing its way to our volunteers at Edgbaston Stadium. Donate money to the appeal fund hosted by Thrive Together Birmingham - this will help pay for gifts for kids with specialist needs or specific wishes. Buy a gift and, even better, rope in friends, neighbours and workmates to do the same, then drop off your pressies at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, B5 7QU on Friday 6th December, 10am - 3pm; Saturday 7th December, 10am - 1pm; or Monday 9th December, 10am - 1pm. Volunteers will be there to help you. Please don't wrap your gifts. You can also drop off by arrangement until Monday 16th December - contact Louise on 07469 979286. Thanks to our partnership with #Toys4Birmingham, every single gift will find a good home in the loving care of a child living in B&Bs or hotels, hostels or refuges, children receiving support from specialist organisations and charities, and families being supported by children's centres and charities around the city. Making up the Brumwish and Toys4Birmingham gang are Thrive Together Birmingham, Birmingham Playcare Network, Warwickshire Cricket Foundation (the charitable arm of Warwickshire County Cricket Club), Birmingham Forward Steps and BirminghamLive/Birmingham Mail. Thank you to Amazon UK and the amazing team at the Sutton Coldfield depot for their support. The family suffered a profound loss when Joe's mother, Frances, died from cancer in November 2008, an event that deeply affected him. He opened up to the Daily Record, saying: "Mum passed away just last year - she had cancer and had been ill for a while." "She was very supportive of my work - I really miss her. It's been a hard time for us all and I still find it so hard to talk about, to be honest." On Mother's Day in 2018, the Strictly champion honoured his mother at a charity function, praising The Beatson hospital in Glasgow for their dedication during Frances's last days.

Ace Green Recycling, a Global Leader in Battery Recycling Technology, to Become a Public CompanyWASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. Straight Arrow News The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Straight Arrow News Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Robert Nickelsberg // Getty Images If your phone falls into the wrong hands, there's a good chance you won't be getting it back. Out of those 91,000 phones stolen in London in 2022, only 1,915 (or about 2%) were recovered. The good news is that you can take precautions to make the loss of your phone less devastating by backing up your data before you travel. With backed-up data, you can acquire a new device and still access your photos, contacts, messages, and passwords. Moreover, if you have "Find My Device" or "Find My Phone" enabled, you can remotely wipe your stolen phone's data so the thief cannot access it. It's safest to back up your data to a hard drive and not just the cloud. That way, if you have to wipe your device, you don't accidentally erase the backup, too. Mike_shots // Shutterstock In order for the previous tip on this list to work, "Find My Phone" must be turned on in advance, but remotely wiping your device isn't the only thing this feature allows you to do. The "Find My Phone" feature enables you to track your device, as long as it's turned on and not in airplane mode. This is particularly helpful if you misplaced your phone or left it somewhere since it can help you retrace your steps. While this feature won't show you the live location of a phone that has been turned off, it will show the phone's last known location. With "Find My Phone," you can also remotely lock your phone or enable "Lost Mode," which locks down the phone, suspends any in-phone payment methods, and displays contact information for returning the phone to you. If your phone was stolen, experts caution against taking matters into your own hands by chasing down the thief, since this could land you in a potentially dangerous situation and is unlikely to result in getting your phone back. Canva Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. KT Stock photos // Shutterstock