2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism — and cute little animalsLabour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has pledged full support for 859 former employees of Yarnapund Co Ltd who were laid off without receiving severance pay. The layoffs, announced on Nov 26, have left many struggling financially. Approximately 200 affected workers, led by Veerasak Lupa, president of the Yarnapund Workers' Union, submitted a petition to the Ministry of Labour yesterday calling for intervention. Mr Phiphat assured the workers his ministry would expedite assistance. Employees were advised to file complaints with labour inspectors to initiate legal proceedings and gain access to the labour union welfare funds. The ministry will also summon the company's management. Meanwhile, the Department of Employment (DoE) has been asked to match laid-off workers to new job opportunities. The Social Security Office (SSO) will process unemployment benefits for them worth 50% of monthly wages for up to 180 days. Compensation disputes arose after the company failed to honour its promise to pay severance in instalments, comprising 70% due last Friday, 20% due this Friday and 10% due on Jan 27. Protests ensued, with workers rallying outside the company and the owner's home, demanding immediate payment. Demonstrators have set up tents and plan to continue a peaceful protest for at least three days. One affected worker, Somnuek (surname withheld), 51, who worked for the company for 30 years, expressed deep frustration, highlighting his loyalty to the firm. Forced to vacate his rented room, he now must sleep in front of a local store. The labour union expressed cautious optimism after the minister promised swift action. However, workers remain resolute, vowing to escalate their protests if results are not seen soon.
They are the cornerstone of law and order - providing law abiding folk with vital assistance and acting as a deterrent to the bad guys. But as our investigation reveals the humble police station is under threat. Hundreds have been sold off by the Tories over the past decade raising half a billion pounds. But the vanishing nicks have sparked concern over rising crime in communities across the UK. Our probe found 579 stations police houses and plots of land have been sold by forces in England Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland. The total raised was a staggering £462,085,828. It covers 30 of 45 forces who answered Freedom of Information requests. The Met raked just short of £190m with huge deals from 2013-23. Chelsea police station was sold for £40m in 2015. The station in Belgravia prime real estate because of its location went for £75m in June 2022. West End police station on Savile Row brought in £56m to the Met on March 29 2021. Thames Valley made £27.3m West Midlands £15.4m Northumbria almost £34m and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight £62.5m. Police Scotland sold the most with 115 station sales and seven more up for sale. They did not give a figure for the amount raised. All the forces were asked how the money was spent. Hampshire Constabulary stressed that all sale proceeds were ring fenced for capital investment. But the vast majority stated that the money was taken back into their overall policing budgets. Stations are not just disappearing in city centres our probe showed they are being lost in rural locations. Worried residents told us how criminals are being given “a free rein” in crime-plagued estates. The latest Office For National Statistics figures reveal that knife-enabled crime in England and Wales rose by 4% in the year ending June 2024 with 50,973 offences. It marked a significant 80 percent increase over the past decade. Offences involving firearms rose by six percent to 6,268 offences to 5,917 in 2023 with a 24 percent increase in the use of imitation firearms. Robbery went up by eight percent while shoplifting offences rose by 30 percent to 443,995 overall. One city of around 347,000 people will be left with just one police station after yet another sell-off was announced. In Sunderland Tyne and Wear the Farringdon Hall site in the west of the borough is now a pile of rubble. It stood at the heart of a community where locals now feel “abandoned” by police. For eight and half years the former station stood derelict with vandals lighting fires inside. With the closure of Washington police station announced in September Sunderland’s urban area will have just one station Southwick. Farringdon Labour councillor Phil Tye said: “It’s a relief to see it now demolished because it’s been a danger to the community when once it was there to keep it safe. “However that doesn’t take anything away from the fact that the ward I represent has lost its police station and along with it any real visible police presence in the community. “I believe Sunderland as a whole is now dangerously exposed with only one working police station left in a city of this size. It’s a very worrying situation.” Local John Bruce 52 said: “The Tory government is to blame for the fact we no longer have a police station they’ve all closed because there’s been no money to keep them open. “I think Keir Starmer is a law and order man and I trust him to put more police on the street because we need them. You only have to look back a month two when we had rioting from people in Sunderland who said they were protesting about immigration. “It was a disgrace and they had to bring police in from all over to deal with it. There’s no visible police presence any more you never see them walking around and the criminals feel like they have free rein.” Anthony Stephenson 34 added: “The only time you see a police officer walking around is when there has been a road accident. “They’re not out on the streets not even the community support officers who you used to see in the fairly recent past. Closing down police stations can never be a good thing and it does affect the way people feel about their own security.” Sunderland City Council confirmed in September that the local authority had been notified about the plans to sell the building. Northumbria Police said: “Washington Police Station is an old building which is no longer fit for purpose and would require considerable investment if we were to retain the site.” They added the premises had not been open to the public “for a number of years”. But local Josephine Johnson 85 fondly remembered better days. She said: “It’s a real shame to see all these police stations closing in a place where so many people live. “When I was growing up every area had a police station but on our estate there were also two police houses where the police officers and their families lived. They were part of the community and everyone knew them and where they were if they were needed. “Things have changed so much now and it’s certainly not for the better. People feel less safe than they used to.” And Rhoda Armstrong 77 said: “There are a lot of people in Washington it’s a big place with no police station at all. It is a concern that if something happens it’s going to take a long time for anyone to reach you.” In Heswall an affluent town on the Wirral Merseyside Police sold the local police station for £1.3m in 2022. It has been turned into a pub the Harry Beswick which recently won an award for its design. Resident Neville Hope 62 an accountant said: “We are fortunate to live here but I don’t think it’s as safe as it once was. You hardly ever see a bobby on the beat now. With a lack of police presence there’s no deterrent for criminals.” Pam Walton 57 a dental hygienist added: “It is just a sad reflection that whatever government is in power there always seems to be cutbacks. All we ever hear from politicians is that they will put more police on the streets but it never seems to happen. “My friend was broken into recently and when she reported it to the police all they asked about was if there was any CCTV. When she said no she was given a crime number and told it was very unlikely anyone would be caught. It appears the police have just given up.” Russell Dakin 80 a retired engineer added: “I remember when almost every town had its own police station. Some of the smaller villages even had a police officer living there. If you had a problem you could just walk into the police station and find someone there. Communities left in fear of crime after police stations close - while the great Tory sell-off made millions “I don’t know if it actually made the town safer by having a police station but somehow it gave you some reassurance.” In the community of Selsey in East Sussex where the town council serves a population of 11,000 the local police station is on the market for 420,000 after being sold off. Coun Andrew Brown 49 a member of the Local Alliance party said: “I have lived here all my life and it was sad when it closed. It is not that they are not dealing with crime but it is about the perception of the local people they want to see bobbies on the beat. “Unfortunately the reality is that it is now dealt with by an inspector in Chichester.” In Durham the force has steadfastly refused to close any stations and they have an intercom system in 14 stations during hours when they are not manned giving a direct link to central control. Mike Barton the former chief constable of Durham Police who retired five years ago warned the sale of stations was “short-sighted.” Terry Fisher property expert at webuyanyhome.com said their FOI research showed that the sale of police stations had raised a “staggering amount of money”. He added: “While there has been a move away from some city and town centres since the Covid pandemic with more people working from home and shopping online there is still a great demand for prime real estate in prime locations - and price tags match that demand. “There are also a number in rural areas that are becoming more popular with homebuyers as they take advantage of improving technology to be able to work remotely.” A Home Office spokesman said having officers ‘visible in our communities’ remained a priority. They added: “We are committed to ensuring thousands of additional police officers police community support officers and special constables are out patrolling towns and communities as part of our mission to deliver safer streets.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lynne Roberts wasn’t looking to leave the Utah women’s basketball team. Then she got a call from Los Angeles Sparks general manager Reagan Pebley that changed her thinking. Roberts was introduced Thursday as coach of the Sparks, becoming the second coach to make the leap from college to the WNBA this month. of Florida Gulf Coast got the Atlanta Dream job last week. “I was 100 percent invested at Utah,” Roberts said. “It just kind of felt like this is a golden opportunity. As a competitor, the chance to coach the best in the world, it’s what I want.” She replaces , who was let go in September and now is general manager of the Dallas Wings. Roberts inherits a team that has a strong young nucleus of Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink and Dearica Hamby. The Sparks have the No. 2 pick in next year’s WNBA draft. “We’ve got kind of a cool combination of some veteran leadership and then we’ve got a really dynamic young group,” Roberts said. “That’s a good roster right there and then we can keep working with it.” Los Angeles finished 8-32 last season for the league’s worst record and has missed the playoffs for four straight years. “I want to compete, I want to win now,” Roberts said. “I know that’s easier said than done, but I’m up for the challenge and I can’t wait to get started.” Roberts is friends with Southern California women’s coach Lindsay Gottlieb and UCLA coach Cori Close. “That was intentional,” Sparks general manager Reagan Pebley said. “That we were bringing somebody into this role that had existing relationships because again this is a community of women’s basketball that is exceptional.” Roberts added, “I want to be the top of that pyramid with the Sparks.” Roberts is returning to her native California. The 49-year-old coach grew up in the Northern California city of Redding. She played college ball at Seattle Pacific and then began coaching at Chico State before moving to Pacific and then Utah. Roberts was 165-116 in nine-plus seasons at Utah and recently signed a six-year extension. She led the team to three straight NCAA Tournament berths and was the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2023. The Utes have started this season 3-1 and will be coached by Gavin Petersen, who was promoted from associate head coach. “I poured 10 years of my life into that place and I loved it. I loved every minute of it,” Roberts said. “Where we started wasn’t great, where it is now is great and I’m very proud of that.” Roberts said the current upheaval in college basketball including name, image and likeness, the transfer portal and Utah’s move to the Big 12 this season had nothing to do with her leaving. “I’m sitting here because it’s a chance to coach the best people in the world and win a championship in LA. That’s it,” she said. “As a competitor and as someone that kind of thrives in pressure, being in this market, being in LA, it sounds like heaven to me.” ___ AP WNBA:SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Primo Spears' 31 points led UTSA over Houston Christian 78-71 on Saturday night. Spears had five assists for the Roadrunners (3-3). Raekwon Horton added 19 points while shooting 6 of 7 from the field and 7 for 7 from the line while he also had nine rebounds. Damari Monsanto finished 3 of 8 from 3-point range to finish with 11 points. Julian Mackey finished with 20 points for the Huskies (2-6). Bryson Dawkins added 16 points and two blocks for Houston Christian. Demari Williams also had 11 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Data Skrive.Tech companies led a broad rally for U.S. stocks Tuesday, a boost for the market in a holiday-shortened trading session. The S&P 500 rose 0.7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 177 points, or 0.4%, as of 11:20 a.m. Eastern time. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite was up 1%. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.6%, while semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 1.1%. Super Micro Computer jumped 4.6%. Tesla climbed 5.2% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Amazon.com rose 1.5% American Airlines slipped 0.4% after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. U.S. Steel edged up 0.1% a day after an influential government panel failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of the nearly $15 billion proposed sale to Nippon Steel of Japan. NeueHealth surged 70.1% after the health care company agreed to be taken private in a deal valued at roughly $1.3 billion. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62% from 4.59% late Monday. European markets were mostly higher. Markets in Asia mostly gained ground. U.S. markets will close at 1 p.m. Eastern and stay closed Wednesday for Christmas. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to this week, including a weekly update on unemployment benefits on Thursday. Tuesday’s rally comes as the stock market enters what’s historically been a very cheerful season. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. The so-called “Santa rally” also correlates closely with positive returns in January and the upcoming year. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the stock market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up about 26% so far this year and remains within roughly 1.3% of the all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year.
Friends and family members of OC Transpo staff were the first to get a chance to ride on Ottawa's new Trillium Line this weekend. The transit service ran what it calls a "dress rehearsal" with about 500 people getting to ride Lines 2 and 4 on Saturday, giving officials a clearer picture of what regular passenger service will look like. On Saturday, a spokesperson for the City of Ottawa said that the exercises and drills during the dress rehearsal were completed successfully but did not provide more details. Lessons learned from the day will be discussed at a technical briefing scheduled for Dec. 6. The southern extension of the LRT, which includes Line 2 from Bayview to Limebank stations and Line 4 from South Keys to Airport station, is more than two years behind schedule. It remains unclear when the north-south line will open, but officials say an opening date will be provided during next week's technical briefing. A presentation prepared for the city's LRT subcommittee meeting on Friday says there is still some work to be done, including additionals drills, winter performance preparations, a roll out of customer information and continued training for operators. TransitNext must submit its final safety case and final report from the Independent Safety Assessor. The City’s independent safety auditor must also provide a statement indicating no objections to the commencement of passenger service. With files from CTV News Ottawa's Ted Raymond This story will be updated Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 20 Of The Best Gift Ideas For Men Under $200 13 Of The Best Self-Care Gifts You Can Find On Amazon Canada 19 Of The Best Tech Gifts Under $100 Home Our Guide To The Best Cookware Sets In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Space Heaters In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide to the Best Portable Induction Cooktops in Canada in 2024 (And Where to Get Them) Gifts 21 Of The Best Gift Ideas For Women Under $300 19 Of The Best Stocking Stuffers For Teenagers 15 Useful Amazon Products That Make Great Stocking Stuffers Beauty Our Guide To The Best Self Tanners You Can Get In Canada 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit Deals Here Are All The Best Amazon Black Friday Deals You Can Find On Beauty Products In Canada Here Are The Best Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals You Can Find On Household Essentials In Canada This Smart Security Camera System Will Help You Keep An Eye On Your Home (And It's On Sale For 62% Off Right Now) Ottawa Top Stories Ottawa ringette team loses club support for naming itself 'The Boobies' New plan in the making to free cargo ship stuck in St. Lawrence River What's happening in Ottawa this weekend: Nov.29-Dec. 1 OC Transpo holds 'dress rehearsal' for Trillium Line on Saturday Here's a look at the latest holiday movies this season 'We will always be a downtown store': Steve's Music Store moving from Rideau Street after 42 years 'The snow will be magical': Annual Santa's Parade of Lights in Orléans back this Saturday Canadian Army vehicles on roads and highways in the Ottawa area starting this weekend CTVNews.ca Top Stories Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable in short term in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. 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Collision closes Wellington Road northbound A two vehicle collision had crews on the scene this morning in the south end of the city. Kitchener SIU invokes mandate after OPP-involved shooting on Highway 401 in Cambridge Highway 401, through Kitchener, was brought to a standstill Friday due to a police-involved shooting. Missing teenager last seen in Kitchener The Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) is searching for a 14-year-old girl who was last seen in Kitchener on Nov. 28. Cambridge man suffers 'serious injuries' after collision in North Dumfries Township: police Waterloo Regional Police say man from Cambridge has been seriously hurt following a single vehicle collision in the Township of North Dumfries early Saturday morning. Barrie Snow closes portion of Highway 11 OPP have closed a segment of Highway 11 in South Muskoka due to unsafe driving conditions caused by weather. Muskoka declares significant weather event The District Municipality of Muskoka has declared a significant weather event in response to the snow that continues to fall in the region. Driver uninjured after vehicle rolls over on slippery road Police in Owen Sound responded to a vehicle rollover where a driver reportedly lost control on a slippery road Friday evening. Winnipeg City shuts out province with 6-0 win in Winnipeg 150 hockey game The provincial government opened the floodgates to the City of Winnipeg Saturday, falling 6-0 in a match-up 50 years in the making. True North officially buys Portage Place Mall True North Real Estate Development (TNRED) has officially purchased Portage Place Mall. Canopy skating rink opens at The Forks Winnipeggers looking to lace up their skates this season can head to The Forks and hit the ice at the canopy rink. Calgary Man who died trying to help stranded motorist identified as Khalid Farooq, father of 5 The man who lost his life trying to help a stranded motorist Wednesday has been identified as Khalid Farooq. Cautious optimism? Alberta energy sector prepping for a turbulent 2025 Energy sector leaders say they're happy with how 2024 went but fear the stretch of good fortune could end in 2025. Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable in short term in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Edmonton Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable in short term in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Massage therapist charged in connection with sexual assault at Mill Woods clinic An Edmonton massage therapist has been charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident earlier this year. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scores in OT to lift Oilers to 4-3 win over Utah Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored 1:18 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Utah Hockey Club 4-3 on Friday night. Regina Regina's LED volume wall leaving Sask. months after opening Less than a year after an LED volume wall was introduced to the film world in Saskatchewan, the equipment is making its exit from the province. Over 400 volunteers play a part in 2024 Canadian Western Agribition As the Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) comes to s close, organizers are celebrating the volunteers who have helped make the event a success over the years. Postal workers union files unfair labour practice complaint over Canada Post layoffs The union representing Canada Post workers has filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board over the layoffs of striking employees. Saskatoon Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage young girl with hug and kiss A Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage and reassure a young girl when he hugged and kissed during his testimony at Saskatoon Provincial Court Friday. One dead, two injured in Sask. highway collision A 61-year-old man was killed and two others were taken to hospital following a collision between an SUV and a truck near Prince Albert on Friday night. Saskatoon temporary smudge location to be taken down While the City of Saskatoon says it granted a temporary permit for smudging and a ceremonial open fire, that expired at 6p.m. Tuesday night. Vancouver 1 dead following crash on Sea to Sky Highway Bruce the tiny Vancouver parrot lands internet fame with abstract art Mononymous painter Bruce has carved a lucrative niche on social media with his abstract artworks, crafted entirely from the colourful juices of fruits. Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable in short term in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Vancouver Island Yuletide festivities help kick off holiday season in Greater Victoria Greater Victoria has a host of yuletide festivities this weekend for residents ready to kick off the holiday season. Supreme Court clears way for B.C. to include other governments in opioid lawsuit B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma says a Supreme Court of Canada victory has cleared a "pathway" for governments across the country to go after opioid makers and distributors for damages arising from the opioid crisis. Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay Connected
NoneBlackbaud CEO Michael Gianoni sells $2.53 million in stockA brawl between Michigan and Ohio State players broke out Saturday afternoon, moments after the unranked Wolverines stunned No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Players from the Wolverines planted a Michigan flag at midfield and were accosted by Buckeyes players, who took issue with the gesture following their 13-10 defeat. In a video of the melee, Michigan players can be seen congregating over the “O” at midfield in Ohio Stadium, waving the flag and planting it. Players began shoving, swinging, tackling and restraining one another. Video from alternate angles shows coaches and authorities caught in the chaos, with some trying to intercede and at least one person falling to the ground. Multiple skirmishes broke out nearby. After the melee, Ohio State police said on social media that officers used pepper spray to try to break up the altercation. Some videos showed Michigan players crouching and squinting their eyes. Sports Illustrated reporter Pat Forde, who reported being hit himself, said players from both teams were affected. Later, Michigan players made another effort to plant their flag. Wolverines defensive end Derrick Moore led the way, but Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer grabbed the flag, ripped it off its pole and threw it to the ground, instigating another round of chasing and shoving. A reporter asked Ohio State Coach Ryan Day about the incident during the postgame news conference, noting that some Buckeyes staff members appeared to be “bloodied” in the skirmish. “I don’t know all the details of it, but I know these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren’t going to let that happen,” Day said. The melee erupted as Fox reporter Jenny Taft interviewed Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham, before the broadcast cut away to focus on the fight. Later, Taft asked Wolverines running back Kalel Mullings to reflect on the episode. “You hate to see stuff like that after the game. It’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football,” Mullings said. “But at the end of the day, they got to learn how to lose, man. You can’t be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes, we had four quarters to do all that fighting.”
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Here's how Costco, the world's largest warehouse membership club, came to be. Book bargain hunters will be disappointed to learn Costco plans to stop selling books at most of its U.S. stores at the beginning of the year. In January, Costco will remove the store’s popular book section from the majority of its 600-plus stores in the United States. And it will only return during the holiday season, from September to December, and at other intermittent times, the discount store chain told publishers over the summer, according to The New York Times. Costco told the executives the change was made because stocking books on tables is labor-intensive and must be done by hand rather than by forklift like other products, the Times reported. HOW TO SCORE A SELECT COSTCO MEMBERSHIP FOR JUST $20 Book bargain hunters will be disappointed to learn Costco plans to stop selling books at most of its U.S. stores at the beginning of the year. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) The decision comes as more consumers are buying books through online outlets like Amazon . Books will remain in around 100 Costco stores across the country all year, however, trade news magazine Publisher’s Weekly reported this week. The decision to keep some books in stores would be a reversal from the store’s earlier plans, the outlet reported. In January, Costco will remove the store’s popular book section from the majority of its 600-plus stores in the United States. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Publishing and Costco executives will also be watching sales trends for Taylor Swift’s official Eras Tour book, which is being sold exclusively at Target starting on Black Friday , Publisher’s Weekly reported. If book sales continue to do well, Costco could bring literary sections back to more stores, according to the magazine, or all of them could become seasonal if sales lag. Shopper looking at Costco books. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images) FOX Business has reached out to Costco for comment. LINK: Get updates on this story and more at foxbusiness.com.
‘A bit of a b***end’: Ed Sheeran apologises after gatecrashing Man Utd interview - Fox SportsPeavy's 24 help Georgetown beat Albany 100-68WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to abandon their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in one of their filings. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, welcomed the decision to drop the prosecutions against the president-elect, describing it as a “major victory for the rule of law.” "The American People and President Trump want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country,” Cheung said in a statement. Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will re-enter the White House free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. ___ Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story. Alanna Durkin Richer, Eric Tucker And Chris Megerian, The Associated Press
You can save an awful lot of money on a Tesla Cybertruck if you’re OK with it not working. A broken-down example of the electric pickup that went viral after it was abandoned on the streets of Seattle is heading to auction soon, according to Jalopnik . The EV is expected to sell for a fraction of its original cost despite the fame it achieved online earlier this year. Elon Musk loves a meme, so much so that he spent $44 billion on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter last year. Still, we imagine he wasn’t too fond of one starring the Cybertruck that started doing rounds in the less Tesla -friendly corners of the internet this summer. At the beginning of September, pictures of a mangled Cybertruck parked on a residential street in Seattle started popping up on Reddit. It was never quite clear who owned the pickup—which was quickly dubbed the “Cyberstuck,” after the subreddit where pictures of it were most frequently posted—but it was abundantly clear that it wasn’t going anywhere. Photos showed a rear driver-side wheel bent at an unnatural angle, a busted suspension, and an exposed charging port. The Cybertruck elicits strong reactions and the Cyberstuck was no different. So many people flocked to the vehicle’s parking spot to point and laugh at it, that it became its own tourist attraction with its own Google Map pin and everything. Eventually, the fun came to an end, after the truck was towed away one night under the cover of dark. Now, two months later, we know what happened to the pickup. It’s now popped up on Copart , a popular online auction platform that sells “used, wholesale and repairable vehicles,” i.e. cars in serious need of work. It’s unclear when the vehicle will go up for bid—a note on the website says it has yet to be assigned an auction and is not eligible for bidding—but it lists its value at $31,156.00. That’s less than half the cost of the least expensive Cybertruck (which starts at $79,990) and a third of the price of the current range-topping Cyberbeast ($99,990). Hopefully, the original owner had a good insurance plan. The Cyberstuck isn’t the only Cybertruck up for auction on Copart right now. A quick search of the site shows 13 listings as of press time. Bidding for an example located in Tampa, Florida , with an estimated value of $4,925 has already eclipsed $40,000 with less than 24 hours of bidding to go.
Spears' 31 lead UTSA past Houston Christian 78-71
Tomley shot 7 for 12 (6 for 7 from 3-point range) and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Wildcats (4-4). Blaise Threatt added 21 points and seven rebounds. Boubacar Coulibaly led the Waves (2-6) with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Stefan Todorovic added 13 points and Zion Bethea scored 12. Weber State took the lead with 9:18 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 33-23 at halftime, with Tomley racking up 11 points. T The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Tickets to the $1 Billion Mega Millions Draw available this Christmas Eve on Jackpot.com
