casi casi cast

NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit to the delightful . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. became a thing, as did And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: and kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. It starts as from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called which makes its awards season debut at the But perhaps the comes from neither film: , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a with boyfriend on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “What was I made for?” sings at channeling . And what was made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear was made to play him. His singalong version of is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? and sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre popcorn bucket. Beyonce And carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by the sweaty romance triangle starring and (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, drops then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for and make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. Welcome to ! releases her , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy shows in London, we see shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, infielder with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. Bonjour, it’s time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by perched on the , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar , rugby player , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. This is them ... now: After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker 's act — even the Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: perky pooch does in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, , Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with ? Why it’s , the now-viral mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. does a pretty good laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? herself. The Democratic candidate three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of , and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake . As for , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. Director ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers and, in a veritable tidal wave, which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!casi casi cast 。

Sanctuary Advisors LLC reduced its stake in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ( NYSE:CM – Free Report ) (TSE:CM) by 33.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,541 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 2,267 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC’s holdings in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce were worth $297,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC raised its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 675.8% in the third quarter. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC now owns 2,211 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $136,000 after purchasing an additional 1,926 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 8.6% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,245,235 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $262,598,000 after acquiring an additional 336,854 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new stake in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce during the third quarter worth about $10,045,000. MML Investors Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 0.5% during the third quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 44,008 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,699,000 after purchasing an additional 237 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC boosted its stake in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 76.1% in the third quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 15,935 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $977,000 after purchasing an additional 6,888 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.88% of the company’s stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages recently weighed in on CM. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and set a $97.00 target price (up from $74.00) on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in a report on Friday, December 6th. StockNews.com upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $89.00. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Trading Down 2.4 % Shares of NYSE:CM opened at $62.89 on Friday. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 52 week low of $43.86 and a 52 week high of $67.45. The company’s 50 day moving average is $64.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $57.81. The company has a market cap of $59.41 billion, a PE ratio of 11.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 28th. Investors of record on Friday, December 27th will be issued a $0.6912 dividend. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.40%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 27th. This is a positive change from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s dividend payout ratio is 53.46%. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile ( Free Report ) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ( NYSE:CM – Free Report ) (TSE:CM). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Daily Post Nigeria NPFL: Champions Rangers happy to end 2024 with win Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Sport NPFL: Champions Rangers happy to end 2024 with win Published on December 29, 2024 By Taiwo Adesanya Rangers are delighted to end the year on a high following Sunday’s 1-0 away win at Niger Tornadoes. Bashir Usman netted the decisive goal in the 33rd minute of the thrilling encounter. “We finish the year with three points in Kontagora, finishing strong with a well-earned win!”Rangers wrote on X. Rangers moved up to third position with 31 points following the win. The Flying Antelopes will open the second stanza with a home clash against the same opponent at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu. They are expected to embark on a short break before the commencement of the second half of the campaign. The reigning champions of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, will take on Niger Tornadoes in the second stanza of the season. Related Topics: NPFL rangers Don't Miss EPL: ‘We need help’ – Guardiola You may like NPFL: Rangers beat Tornadoes away, Pillars pip El-Kanemi Warriors NPFL: Abdallah berates El-Kanemi Warriors playing turf NPFL: Kano Pillars coach Abdallah targets victory over El-Kanemi Warriors NPFL: Wikki Tourists to resume training after Christmas break Monday NPFL: ‘I’m returning to familiar terrain’ – Eguma speaks on Enyimba appointment NPFL: Abdullahi happy with positive spirit in Akwa United’s camp ahead Remo Stars clash Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdWill Dorian Thompson-Robinson be healthy enough to start vs. the Dolphins?NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

NoneStock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of ChristmasNo. 18 Michigan State meets Western Michigan, aims to extend win streak

Bethlehem marks a 2nd subdued Christmas Eve during the war in GazaNORMAL — Yes, the University High School football team’s defense has improved significantly from a season ago, when opponents scored an average of 24.7 points. Yet U High coach Brody Walworth insists the Pioneers’ defense also has improved significantly since the early games of this season. “We’re even better than we were say week five,” Walworth said. “We struggled a little bit at the start of the season. We were playing a little bit as individuals on that side of the ball. We weren’t playing as a unit.” University High's Drew Rader (40) celebrates after a stop in the second quarter at Hancock Stadium against MacArthur earlier this season. A U High defense that surrendered 28 or more points in three of the first five games, hasn’t allowed more than 14 since while advancing to the playoff semifinals for the first time in school history. “We had some injuries and some people filling in,” said Walworth. “They weren’t quite ready to be part of that unit at a high level yet.” The No. 7-ranked Pioneers (10-2) face unranked Mount Zion (9-3) in the Class 4A semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium. U High has given up just 10.8 points per outing over the past seven games and has won its first three playoff games by 19 or more points. The development of the defense has been the final piece to the puzzle for the Pioneers, whose high-powered offense averages 45.5 points with standout quarterback Alek Weiland pulling the strings. Matejka “First of all, it’s being more physical and having the defensive mindset of we’re not going to bow down to the people we play,” said defensive end Cole Matejka, who will play in college at Columbia. “We’re going to stand tall and give you the best we got.” The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Matejka is a disruptive force on the edge with 56 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss. “Coach Jake Gates our defensive coordinator is in his second year. We’re making some massive strides,” Matejka said. “He’s really been putting us in a place to succeed. He’s giving teams a different defensive front every week so they don’t know what to plan for.” Rader Linebacker Drew Rader is the No. 1 tackler with 79, 19 for loss yardage. “We come in every day and we work hard. We’re really fortunate to have guys who want to do that every single day,” Rader said. “You work at something so long and so hard, you’re bound to get better at it. It builds exponentially, and it’s been awesome to see.” Walworth believes Rader’s partner at inside linebacker, Griffin Meyer, “has been playing really well. He’s stepped up his game,” while lineman Clay Nord “does a great job of anchoring the other side away from Cole.” In his first year playing football, senior Ethan Kieser has become more physical and reliable at free safety as the season progressed, according to Walworth. Junior cornerback Chenzo Cottone has six interceptions, while Rader and Lyfe Campbell each have three of U High’s 19 interceptions. Also playing key roles for the U High defense have been tackle Charlie Karun, outside linebackers Max Dameron and Martin Donahue and backs Austin Kruger and Calvin Jones. “We feel a lot more like a unit of 11 than a handful of really good individuals,” Walworth said. U High’s losses came to 4A powerhouse Rochester and 6A playoff qualifier Bloomington. The Pioneers knocked off Chatham Glenwood, which was ranked in the state 6A poll at the time. “The Rochester loss hurt, but we knew we could do toe-to-toe with them,” said Matejka. “Then when we come back here and beat Glenwood, we knew we were in a spot to make this run. If we can beat one of the best 6A teams in the state, what can we do in 4A? I think we’re showing off some of that potential.” U High defenders face another stern test in Mount Zion, which ousted No. 1 ranked Breese Central 17-3 in the quarterfinals. The Braves boast Illinois recruit Brayden Trimble at wide receiver and 6-7 junior JC Anderson, a four-star tight end with scholarship offers from a slew of top shelf college programs. Trimble has 54 receptions for 772 yards and Anderson 44 for 488, but the leading receiver is Jacob Harvey with 56 catches for 1,106 yards. “Trimble is a heckuva player. Straight-line speed is good, but lateral quickness and the way he moves with the ball and makes people miss is pretty impressive,” Walworth said. “The tight end they like in the red zone. He catches the ball well, blocks and plays D line for them. “Harvey, when you put a lot of attention on those other two kids, this kid is killing you going vertical on you.” Braves quarterback Keller Stocks has thrown for 2,772 yards and 32 touchdowns and also leads the team in ground yardage with 596. “The quarterback does a great job of distributing the ball. He moves well, gets out of the pocket and throws well,” said Walworth. “Honestly, it’s like looking in a mirror except some of their guys are getting bigger recruiting looks than some of our guys.” University High's wide receiver Cade Cunningham (2) catches a pass in the second quarter on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. U High’s offense is putting up gaudy numbers sparked by Weiland, who has passed for 3,494 yards (the most by any Pantagraph area quarterback since 2003) and 42 TDs. Like Stocks, Weiland is a running threat with 422 yards. Weiland’s favorite receivers are Cade Cunningham (62 catches, 1,143 yards, 15 TDs) and AJ Holden (51, 888, 13). Carson Stevens has covered 652 yards on the ground and is effective as a receiver out of the backfield. Rhett Lynch chips in 474 yards rushing. Mount Zion’s top tacklers are linebackers Jonny Jordan and Kaden Becker. The U High-Mount Zion winner will meet either DePaul College Prep or Coal City for the 4A state championship at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at Hancock Stadium. DePaul was ranked No. 8 in the final 3A poll of the regular season but was bumped up to 4A. Coal City is No. 8 in 4A. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High quarterback Alek Weiland celebrates after running for a touchdown against Richland County in the 4A playoffs at Hancock Stadium in Normal. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High wide receiver Cade Cunningham signals first down after a reception during a win over Richland County in the second round of the playoffs at Hancock Stadium. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. University High vs. Richland County on Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal during second round of state playoffs. Follow Randy Reinhardt on Twitter: @Pg_Reinhardt Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sports Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Article content OTTAWA — The Israeli expert leading a civilian commission into sexual violence by Hamas is calling for global bodies to recognize “a new crime against humanity” involving violence targeted at families. Cochav Elkayam-Levy said the world should take a stance against the destruction of families as a specific, identifiable weapon of war, aimed at terrorizing one’s kin. She is proposing the crime be called “kinocide.” In an interview, she also said Canadians can demand Hamas be brought to justice while also seeking accountability when Israeli troops commit sexual violence against Palestinians, without drawing a false equivalence. “We have to see Canada’s leadership in addressing the lack of moral clarity of international institutions,” Elkayam-Levy said in an interview during a visit to Ottawa last month. Elkayam-Levy is an international law professor at Reichman University and a former Hebrew University researcher, who chairs Israel’s Civil Commission on Oct. 7 Crimes Against Women and Children. That non-governmental body originally set out to document patterns in sexualized violence by Hamas and its affiliates during the 2023 attack and against hostages it took into the Gaza Strip. The aim wasn’t to come up with a tally of assaults, but to instead document systemic factors in how women were raped, tortured and mutilated. The idea was to have an understanding that could help victims and their descendants cope with intergenerational trauma, and to create an archive for researchers and prosecutors to use for possible investigations. Elkayam-Levy’s team reviewed hours of footage featuring “very extreme forms of violence” from closed-circuit cameras and what militants themselves recorded. They started to notice six patterns of violence involving among the circumstances of more than 140 families. These include using victims’ social media to broadcast that person being tortured to their friends and family, including hostages and those killed. Another involved murdering parents in front of their children or vice versa, while another is the destruction of family homes. “We started understanding that there is something here, a unique form of violence,” she said. “The abuse of familial relations to intensify harm, to intensify suffering.” Elkayam-Levy said she developed the term with the help of experts, including Canadians like former attorney general Irwin Cotler. The rules undergirding the International Criminal Court only mention families in procedural contexts, but not as a factor in war crimes, she noted. “It’s a crime without a name,” she said, arguing that impedes victims’ healing. She said experts in past conflicts have agreed with her, saying kinocide should have been a factor in how the world understood and sought justice for atrocities on various continents, such as how Islamic State militants targeted Yazidi families from 2014 to 2017. “Justice begins with this recognition; healing begins with recognition,” she said. Elkayam-Levy noted “gender-based violence” existed for centuries before the United Nations officially recognized the term in 1992. RECOMMENDED VIDEO She’s also taken aim at “the silence of many international organizations, and the lack of moral clarity,” in calling out sexual violence by Hamas, which Ottawa deems a terrorist group. In particular, UN Women did not condemn Hamas’ sexual violence until nearly two months after that attack, and Elkayam-Levy argued the institution has stayed largely silent, setting a bad precedent for upholding global norms. “They have fuelled denial of the sexual atrocities,” she said, adding that a constant demand for physical evidence pervades social media “in a very antisemitic way.” Israeli police have said forensic evidence was not preserved in the chaos of the attack, and people believed to be victims of sexual assault were often killed and immediately buried. Acts of sexual violence were not part of a 43-minute video that Israel’s Foreign Ministry has screened for journalists, including The Canadian Press, which was sourced from security footage and videos filmed by militants during their October 2023 attack. In March, a UN envoy said there are “reasonable grounds” to believe Hamas committed rape and “sexualized torture” during the attack, “including rape and gang rape,” despite the group’s denials. That same month, released hostage Amit Soussana went public about her captors groping her and forcing “a sexual act” that she asked not be specified. As part of its avowed feminist foreign policy, Canada funds initiatives abroad to prevent sexual violence and support victims. Yet the Conservatives have lambasted the Liberals for not condemning Hamas’ sexual violence until five months after the attack. In March, Ottawa came under fire for pledging both $1 million for groups supporting Israeli victims of Hamas sexual violence and $1 million for Palestinian women facing “sexual and gender-based violence” from unspecified actors. Global Affairs did not say whether that referred to domestic abuse or sexual violence by Israeli officials, drawing a rebuke from a senior Israeli envoy. Human-rights groups have long accused Israeli officials of sexually assaulting Palestinian detainees in the West Bank. In July, those concerns escalated when Israeli soldiers were accused of perpetuating the filmed gang rape of a Palestinian prisoner from the Gaza Strip. Far-right Israeli cabinet ministers voiced support for mobs attempting to free soldiers under investigation. Elkayam-Levy said Canadians can call out the patterns of sexual violence by Hamas against Israelis, while still demanding the Israeli state investigate and prosecute its soldiers who undertake individuals acts of sexual violence. “The fact that (western leaders) are trying to make the right political decision, instead of the right moral decision, is creating confusion, is creating moral blur — instead of making space for all victims to be heard for what they have endured,” she said. To her, there is a “false parallel” being made between individual cases of sexual assault from soldiers who should be held to account, and a group using patterns of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Elkayam-Levy said people should uphold the principles of international law instead of what she deems to be weaponizing global institutions against Israel. She is aware that many have instead argued that Israel’s military campaign has broken international law and undermined the systems meant to uphold human rights. Elkayam-Levy has been critical of the Israeli government, arguing before the war that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought anti-democratic reforms to the country’s judiciary. She has been critical of his war cabinet for lacking any women, and has highlighted extensive media reports that female military personnel had detected Hamas was planning a large attack only to be dismissed by male leaders. She said the world needs to condemn Hamas’ violence against families and try prosecuting those responsible. Otherwise, she fears combatants in other countries will take up its brutal tactics. Otherwise, “we are going to see an international system that will not last for long,” she said.