Bill C-284 is the Act to establish a national strategy for accessible eye care. (Michelle Siu/Canadian Press) An act to establish a national eye care strategy has become law. Put forward by Liberal MP Judy A. Sgro, Bill C-284's goal is to provide accessible eye care to all Canadians, with an extra emphasis on serving rural populations. Dr. Nina Ahuja of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society says a large part of the importance of the bill is to make sure that comprehensive eye exams are made available to everyone, with a focus on ensuring that eye conditions are picked up early. The bill orders the development of a national eye care strategy. Ahuja said she expects this strategy to come into effect in the next two to three years. She said the Canadian Ophthalmological Society sees a successful path forward through new technologies and resources like telemedicine — where assessments can be done on location and sent to a main centre for diagnostics. "The idea with this, then, is to set up centres and offices where we have people trained to use these technologies who can then transmit these images to optometrists, internal ophthalmologists depending on the need," Ahuja said. Further, the bill aims to push eye care to be provided by an integrated network of specialists, from opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. Ahuja said creating networks or "a tapestry of eye care provision" between different vision health practitioners is crucial for the plan to be effective. Listen to the full interview with CBC Radio's Newfoundland Morning: CBC Newfoundland Morning 8:06 New law aims to improve eye care for people in rural areas Some Canadians may now find it easier to be able to get eye care.At least, that 's what federal Bill C-284 is meant to do. Among many things, the new law aims to make give people in rural areas more help with their vision. The Canadian Opthalmological Society is celebrating this as a major step. Dr. Nina Ahuja is an ophthalmologist and a member of the Society's board of directors. "That's really looking at the patient journey from, you know, having usual sight to getting those initial exams and then, you know, being monitored and progressing through the treatment if required," she said. The challenge in distanced health care is ever-present. The distance could complicate getting equipment and training to remote locations. Internet connectivity is also a factor that could impede access to the national eye care strategy, said Ahuja. Awareness of the importance on eye health is another challenge the strategy needs to meet, she said. "Certain conditions, if not diagnosed early, can actually have a significant impact on vision health as a long-term sense," Ahuja said. The last time Canadians heard tell of a legislated national eye care strategy was in 2003. Ahuja said things are looking a lot different this time around. "It's certainly not going to take over 20 years," she said. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here . Click here to visit our landing page .Pakistan ranked 198th in global internet speed rankingsBaidu’s robotaxi division, , just rolled out its latest robotaxi across multiple cities in China, and if stakeholders in the US aren’t nervous yet, they should be. The RT6 is the sixth generation of Apollo Go’s driverless vehicle, which made its official debut in May 2024. It’s a purpose-built, Level 4 autonomous vehicle, meaning it’s built without the need for a human driver. And here’s the thing that should make US competitors nervous: adopting a battery-swapping solution, the price for one individual RT6 is “under $30,000,” Baidu CEO Robin Li said in . “All the strengths just mentioned above are driving us forward, paving the way to validate our business model,” Li added. Adopting a battery-swapping solution, the price for one individual RT6 is “under $30,000” With Alphabet’s Waymo operating in multiple cities in the US and Baidu deploying hundreds of vehicles in China, the world is now getting its first taste of an autonomous future. These vehicles are geofenced, meaning they can only operate in a select geographic area. And sure, they occasionally get confused or block traffic. But they’re real, and they’re growing in number. But it’s Baidu’s achievements in cost-effectiveness that should have Waymo and other robotaxi operators a little uncomfortable. Because while the technology is growing more mature, the economics of a robotaxi business are still very much unproven. We still don’t know the net effect of Baidu’s cost improvements. But bringing down the upfront cost of each individual vehicle to below $30,000 will go a long way toward improving the company’s unit economics, in which each vehicle brings in more money than it costs. There are still a lot of outstanding costs to consider, such as hardware depreciation and fleet maintenance, but from what Baidu is signaling, things are on the right track. From the looks of it, the company is passing those savings along to its customers. Base fares start as low as 4 yuan (around 55 cents), compared with 18 yuan (around $2.48) for a taxi driven by a human, according to . Apollo Go said it has provided 988,000 rides across all of China in Q3 2024 — a year-over-year growth of 20 percent. And cumulative public rides reached 8 million in October. With Waymo, we just don’t know. The company has spoken publicly about its efforts to reduce the costs of each vehicle by . But its latest vehicle, Geely’s Zeekr, is on imports from China. found the company’s business in San Francisco to be profitable, while also estimating capital expenditures for the vehicle and sensor suite to be north of $150,000 per unit. Lowering costs is going to be increasingly important for robotaxi companies as they look to expand to new cities. Alphabet doesn’t break out Waymo’s costs in its earnings report, but its “Other Bets” unit, which includes the robotaxi company, brought in $388 million in revenue in the , up from $297 million a year ago. But the unit’s losses held flat at $1.12 billion compared to $1.94 billion in the year-earlier period. Alphabet recently led for Waymo to help it cover costs as it eyes its next phase of growth. We know the technology works, but for driverless cars to have a real chance, we need to see evidence that it can make money, too. /
Republicans lash out at Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is 'compromised'SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was fully aware of and actively participated in a coup plot to remain in office after his defeat in the 2022 election , according to a Federal Police report unsealed Tuesday. Federal Police last Thursday formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup. They sent their 884-page report to the Supreme Court, which lifted the seal. “The evidence collected throughout the investigation shows unequivocally that then-President Jair Messias Bolsonaro planned, acted and was directly and effectively aware of the actions of the criminal organization aiming to launch a coup d’etat and eliminate the democratic rule of law, which did not take place due to reasons unrelated to his desire,” the document said. At another point, it says: “Bolsonaro had full awareness and active participation.” Bolsonaro, who had repeatedly alleged without evidence that the country's electronic voting system was prone to fraud, called a meeting in December 2022, during which he presented a draft decree to the commanders of the three divisions of the armed forces, according to the police report, signed by four investigators. The decree would have launched an investigation into suspicions of fraud and crimes related to the October 2022 vote, and suspended the powers of the nation's electoral court. The navy’s commander stood ready to comply, but those from the army and air force objected to any plan that prevented Lula’s inauguration, the report said. Those refusals are why the plan did not go ahead, according to witnesses who spoke to investigators. Bolsonaro never signed the decree to set the final stage of the alleged plan into action. Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or awareness of any plot to keep him in power or oust his leftist rival and successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. “No one is going to do a coup with a reserve general and half a dozen other officers. What is being said is absurd. For my part, there has never been any discussion of a coup,” Bolsonaro told journalists in Brazil’s capital Brasilia on Monday. “If someone came to discuss a coup with me, I’d say, that’s fine, but the day after, how does the world view us?” he added. “The word ‘coup’ has never been in my dictionary.” The top court has passed the report on to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. He will decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. Ahead of the 2022 election, Bolsonaro repeatedly alleged that the election system, which does not use paper ballots, could be tampered with. The top electoral court later ruled that he had abused his power to cast unfounded doubt on the voting system, and ruled him ineligible for office until 2030 . Still, he has maintained that he will stand as a candidate in the 2026 race. Since Bolsonaro left office, he has been targeted by several investigations, all of which he has chalked up to political persecution. Federal Police have accused him of smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them and directing a subordinate to falsify his and others’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses . Authorities are also investigating whether he incited the Jan. 8, 2022 riot in which his followers ransacked the Supreme Court and presidential palace in Brasilia, seeking to prompt intervention by the army that would oust Lula from power. Bolsonaro had left for the United States days before Lula’s inauguration on Jan. 1, 2023 and stayed there three months, keeping a low profile. The police report unsealed Tuesday alleges he was seeking to avoid possible imprisonment related to the coup plot, and also await the uprising that took place a week later. Hughes reported from Rio de JaneiroNatixis Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Repligen Co. ( NASDAQ:RGEN – Free Report ) by 53.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 33,625 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after purchasing an additional 11,731 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Repligen worth $5,004,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of Repligen by 21.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,370,375 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $172,749,000 after acquiring an additional 237,884 shares during the period. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Repligen by 26.7% during the 2nd quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 946,877 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $119,363,000 after acquiring an additional 199,322 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its stake in shares of Repligen by 240.5% during the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 601,829 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $75,866,000 after acquiring an additional 425,061 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its stake in shares of Repligen by 14.4% during the 3rd quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 567,044 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $84,387,000 after acquiring an additional 71,274 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Repligen by 39.4% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 429,524 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $54,149,000 after acquiring an additional 121,305 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.64% of the company’s stock. Repligen Stock Up 0.6 % Shares of RGEN opened at $142.58 on Friday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $140.20 and its 200-day simple moving average is $143.62. Repligen Co. has a 1 year low of $113.50 and a 1 year high of $211.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -385.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.87 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 10.44 and a quick ratio of 5.56. Insider Activity at Repligen In related news, Director Anthony Hunt sold 22,191 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.37, for a total transaction of $3,225,905.67. Following the sale, the director now owns 139,840 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,328,540.80. This represents a 13.70 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In RGEN has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Repligen in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. They set a “peer perform” rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Repligen from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Benchmark restated a “hold” rating on shares of Repligen in a research note on Monday, August 5th. UBS Group dropped their price target on Repligen from $205.00 to $185.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Repligen in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $180.00 price target for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $190.25. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on RGEN About Repligen ( Free Report ) Repligen Corporation develops and commercializes bioprocessing technologies and systems for use in biological drug manufacturing process in North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It offers Protein A ligands that are the binding components of Protein A affinity chromatography resins; and cell culture growth factor products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RGEN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Repligen Co. ( NASDAQ:RGEN – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Repligen Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Repligen and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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Verstappen heating up in Las Vegas with title beckoningMics Picked Up Jameis Winston's Comical Four-Word Plea to Steelers' Defense - Sports Illustrated‘We love you!’: Domestic worker gifted brand new car from employers [video]Subhashree Sahu is set to make her mark in the upcoming web series ' The Worse of Social Side ', a compelling drama that delves into the adverse effects of social media on creators and users alike. The series, which will be available in Hindi and English, features Subhashree alongside other prominent artists and promises to shed light on the darker realities of the digital age. Her involvement in the series is particularly poignant, as she herself has been a victim of social media's harmful impacts. Once celebrated as the “Viral Girl Subhashree,” she faced a harrowing experience when AI-generated videos and photographs falsely attributed to her went viral, sparking relentless trolling and scrutiny. The content, which spread like wildfire across platforms, trended for nearly two months, leaving a significant dent in her personal and professional life. Speaking out against the malicious use of AI and the cyberbullying she endured, Subhashree’s attempts to defend herself were met with further challenges. Her social media accounts, including her Instagram , were banned after mass reporting campaigns staged by trolls. “The fame that comes with social media can often feel like a double-edged sword,” Subhashree remarked in a recent interview. “While it offers immense opportunities, it also exposes creators to unimaginable harassment and exploitation. I hope this series starts a conversation about the mental toll social media can have and encourages platforms to take stronger actions against cyberbullying.” 'The Worse of Social Side' explores themes of online trolling, the psychological effects of fame, privacy violations, and the misuse of AI technology in the digital era. The series seeks to offer a nuanced perspective on the trade-offs creators face in their quest for online visibility.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. The announcement caps a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” He did not immediately announce a new selection. Last week, he named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible contender, Matthew Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. The withdrawal, just a week after the pick was announced, averts what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight that would have tested how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to support Trump’s Cabinet picks. The selection of the fierce Trump ally over well-regarded veteran lawyers whose names had circulated as possible contenders stirred concern for the Justice Department's independence at a time when Trump has openly threatened to seek retribution against political adversaries. It underscored the premium Trump places on personal loyalty and reflected the president-elect's desire to have a disruptor lead a Justice Department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. In the Senate, deeply skeptical lawmakers sought more information about Justice Department and congressional investigations into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls, which Gaetz has denied. Meanwhile, Justice Department lawyers were taken aback by the pick of a partisan lawmaker with limited legal experience who has echoed Trump's claims of a weaponized criminal justice system. As Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. "They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” Leppard said Thursday of his clients. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Justice Department’s investigation ended last year with no charges against him. Gaetz’s political future is uncertain. He had abruptly resigned his congressional seat upon being selected as attorney general, a move seen as a way to shut down the ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He did win reelection in November for the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, 2025, but he said in his resignation letter last week that he did not intend to take the oath of office. There are plans for a special election in Florida for his seat. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee declined this week to release the panel's findings, over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. As word of Gaetz's decision spread across the Capitol, Republican senators seemed divided. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move." Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” Others said they had hoped Gaetz could have overhauled the department. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close ally of Trump, said he was “disappointed. I like Matt and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hopes Trump will pick someone “equally as tenacious and equally as committed to rooting out and eliminating bias and politicization at the DOJ.” Gaetz is not the only Trump pick facing congressional scrutiny over past allegations. A detailed investigative police report made public Wednesday shows that a woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth, the former Fox News host now tapped to lead the Pentagon, after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at the Capitol, where he was meeting with senators to build support for his nomination. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!At Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, more than a year of war has taken its toll. Global airlines have canceled flights, gates are empty and pictures of hostages still held in the Gaza Strip guide the few arriving passengers to baggage claim. But one check-in desk remains flush with travelers: the one serving flights to the United Arab Emirates, which have kept up a bridge for Israelis to the outside world throughout the war. The Emirati flights, in addition to bolstering airlines' bottom lines, have shined a light on the countries' burgeoning ties — which have survived the wars raging across the Middle East and could be further strengthened as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to office. "It's a political and economic statement," said Joshua Teitelbaum, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Israel's BarIlan University. "They are the main foreign airlines that continue to fly." Since the wars began with Hamas' initial Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, many international airlines have halted, restarted and halted again their flights into Israel's main gateway to the rest of the world. The concern is real for the carriers, who remember the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine 10 years ago and Iran shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 after takeoff from Tehran in 2020. But FlyDubai, the sister airline to the long-haul carrier Emirates, has kept up multiple flights daily and kept Israel connected to the wider world even as its other low-cost competitors have stopped flights. Abu Dhabi's Etihad has continued its flights as well. While maintaining the flight schedule remains politically important for the UAE after its 2020 diplomatic recognition of Israel, it also provided a further shot in the arm for revenues — particularly for FlyDubai. Since the Israeli's wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon started, international carriers such as Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, Germany's Lufthansa and other major airlines halted their flights. Some resumed, only to stop again after Iran's Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel and Israel's Oct. 26 retaliatory strike on the Islamic Republic. Tehran has threatened to strike Israel again. That's brought major business to Israel's national carrier El Al, which had struggled in the coronavirus pandemic and prior years. The airline posted its best-ever half-year results this year, recording a $227 million profit as compared to $58 million profit in the same period last year. El Al stock has risen by as much 200% over the past year, as compared to a 29% rise in the wider Tel Aviv 125 stock market index. El Al, however, lacks the routes and connections of major international carriers. Low-cost carriers as well have stopped flying into Israel during periods of the war, sending the price of El Al tickets ever higher. Passenger numbers through Ben Gurion halved compared to the same period the year before, El Al said in its second-quarter financial results. However, FlyDubai has kept flying. The carrier has operated more than 1,800 flights to Israel since October 2023, cancelling only 77 flights overall, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. In September alone, it flew more than 200 flights. As a line snaked toward the FlyDubai check-in counters at Ben Gurion Airport, UAE-bound Motti Eis said the flights were "a symbol that the Emirates countries decided to keep the peace." FlyDubai declined to answer questions from The Associated Press about the flights. Etihad, the flag carrier for Abu Dhabi, has kept flying into Tel Aviv, but the number of its flights has been dwarfed by FlyDubai. FlyDubai had 3.6% market share at Ben Gurion, compared to El Al's 43.2% in the second half of 2024. However, at least two of the foreign low-cost airlines with greater market, Wizz Air and Blue Bird, stopped flying for extended periods this year. Etihad said it maintains a close watch on the situation in the region, but continues its daily flights to and from Tel Aviv. "Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, employing best practices in safety and security practices, enabling Etihad and other airlines to provide essential air connectivity as long as it is secure to do so," the airline said in a statement. Beyond the financial impact, the decision also takes root in the UAE's decision to recognize Israel in 2020 under agreements brokered by President Donald Trump known as the Abraham Accords. While Abu Dhabi has repeatedly expressed concern and outrage at Israel's conduct during the wars, Israel's consulate in Dubai and embassy remain open in the country. And while Dubai, broadly speaking, remains focused on business in the country, Abu Dhabi's focus long has been on its geopolitical aims — which since the 2011 Arab Spring have been squarely focused on challenging Islamist movements and those who back them in the wider region. The UAE, a hereditary autocracy, long has viewed those groups as serious challenges to its power. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Even before the rise of the great Maya civilization, the people who occupied Central America’s Yucatan Peninsula were applying their engineering skills to make the land more productive and liveable. This was made crystal clear by a recent discovery by a team of archaeologists and anthropologists, who discovered the most ancient fish-trapping operation ever identified anywhere in the region inside Belize’s largest inland wetland. Examining imagery collected by drones and Google Earth, the researchers from the Belize River East Archaeology (BREA) project were fascinated by an interconnected network of zigzag lines they saw running through the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Their concluded that this was likely a network of pre-Columbian canals , which had probably been constructed in Belize thousands of years ago (but had never been noticed at ground level). To verify this theory the researchers carried out a series of excavations inside the wildlife sanctuary, and their discoveries confirmed that a series of canals had indeed been dug there a long time ago, to guide and trap freshwater fish in holding ponds where they could be easily harvested. Excavations at Maya Settlement in Belize Tell Story of Maya Golden Age The Horrifying History of the Midnight Terror Cave in Belize Notably, the researchers found several barbed spearpoints within the boundaries of the fish-trapping system during their excavations, which presumably would have been tied to sticks to make spears for killing the fish. The size of the fish-trapping system was quite impressive, the researchers said. “The network of canals was designed to channel annual flood waters into source ponds for fish trapping and would have yielded enough fish to feed as many as 15,000 people year-round, conservatively," said University of New Hampshire anthropologist Eleanor Harrison-Buck, in a press release issued by her university. Researhers excavating sediment that will help them date the evidence of a large-scale pre-Columbian fish-trapping facility. ( Belize River East Archaeology (BREA) Project ). Harrison-Buck is the director of the Belize River East Archaeology (BREA) project, and has been leading the ongoing study of ancient fishing practices in Central America. She has been joined by colleagues from the United States and Australia, in a pursuit of knowledge about how ancient humans in the region interacted with wetlands and used them to help meet their survival needs. A Fish Harvesting Legacy from Deep in Prehistory At first, the researchers assumed they’d discovered a fish harvesting operation that had been set up by the Maya . But a series of radiocarbon dating tests carried out at various spots inside the canal network proved this wasn’t true. How Many Maya Gods Were Worshipped? Hint: There Were Hundreds Mexican Mayor Weds Alligator in Colorful Ancient Indigenous Ceremony! It seems the fish-trapping network was conceived of and constructed by the people who occupied the land before the rise of the great Maya civilization. These were a semi-nomadic people who settled along the Yucatan Peninsula coastal plain, and who constructed the canal system approximately 4,000 years ago. “Data collected from the largest inland wetland in Belize, Central America, demonstrate the presence of large-scale pre-Columbian fish-trapping facilities built by Late Archaic hunter-gatherer-fishers, which continued to be used by their Maya descendants during Formative times (approximately 2000 BCE to 200 CE),” the study authors wrote in an article published by Science Advances . The researchers believe the early practice of fish trapping on such a significant scale was an adaption to changes in environmental conditions in ancient Central America . Researchers searching for evidence of ancient fishing activity in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize. ( Belize River East Archaeology (BREA) Project ) . “ We suggest that such landscape-scale intensification may have been a response to long-term climate disturbance recorded between 2200 and 1900 BCE,” they wrote. “Agricultural intensification after 2000 BCE has been credited for supporting the rise of pre-Columbian civilizations in Formative Mesoamerica, but we suggest that some groups relied more heavily on the mass harvesting of aquatic resources.” Sediment samples were collected along the walls of the excavation units, and they were tested for chemical elements that might reveal the types of environment changes that occurred in prehistoric times. These tests showed that tropical forests had dominated the landscapes of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary 4,000 years ago, and that no cultivation of maize or any other crops had taken place during that time. Along with a lack of pollen from domesticated crops, there were no signs of the ditching or draining that would have been needed to prepare the land for agricultural use. As for the fish-trapping network, analysis showed it was used for approximately 1,000 years, or from approximately 2,000 to 1,000 BC. "It seems likely that the canals allowed for annual fish harvests and social gatherings, which would have encouraged people to return to this area year after year and congregate for longer periods of time," said study co-author Marieka Brouwer Burg, a professor of anthropology at the University of Vermont and the BREA project co-director. "Such intensive investments in the landscape may have led ultimately to the development of the complex society characteristic of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, which subsequently occurred in this area by around 1200 BCE." Did Their Predecessors Help the Maya Thrive? The so-called “ Formative Period ” of the Maya civilization overlapped with the fishing system’s time in use. This suggests the Maya took advantage of this ingenious creation of their predecessors, relying on the harvest of freshwater fish to supplement what they were able to produce their their early ventures into agriculture. If this is so, the existence of this ancient fishing operation may have been a hidden factor that helps explains the rise of the Maya civilization , which grew to be the most advanced and sophisticated in all of ancient Mesoamerica . With the support of the local population, the BREA research team plans to return to Crooked Tree to continue their investigations soon. They will be looking for more signs of prehistoric land modification, which could reveal some fascinating facts about how ancient fishing practices led to significant cultural development in the Yucatan region later on. Top image: Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize. Source: Bernt Rostad/ CC BY 2.0 . By Nathan Falde News Ancient Places History Belize maya Central America pre-columbian In a recent discovery, a team of researchers has uncovered what appears to be an underwater portal to the Maya underworld . The team had set out to explore the sacred pools of the ancient Maya,... Not even 50 years ago, Belize, in Central America, gained independence on September 21, 1981, but its history dates back to 9,000 years. In prehistory the territory was home to several ancient... Archaeologists studying Belize’s “Midnight Terror Cave” have discovered mysterious blue fibers in the tooth plaque of sacrificed teenagers, which suggests the young sacrifice victims had been gagged... Representatives of the Belize Institute of Archaeology have been working with graduate students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on a series of excavations in Central America. During... Something of a hidden gem, Caracol is one of the largest Maya sites of Central America, and certainly the largest in Belize, yet it receives far less footfall than other ruins in the region. The... A fresh analysis of artifacts collected from a salt-making facility submerged beneath a lagoon in Belize has revealed enlightening details about the organization and functioning of the Maya salt...Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday the government will work with business leaders and labor unions to create an environment where salaries keep rising, vowing to achieve his goal of raising Japan's average minimum hourly wage to 1,500 yen by the end of the 2020s. But Ishiba also instructed relevant ministers to draw up measures by next spring to ease concerns among smaller businesses unable to increase salaries rapidly. He met with representatives from the Japanese Trade Union Confederation and business lobbies including the Japan Business Federation at the prime minister's office, starting discussions toward annual minimum wage revisions and wage negotiations between labor unions and management in 2025. The average minimum hourly wage for fiscal 2024 was set at 1,055 yen. Achieving Ishiba's target of raising it to 1,500 yen in the 2020s requires 7.3 percent growth each year, and business leaders who attended Tuesday's meeting expressed their concerns. "Small business owners in rural areas cannot pay if the pace of wage hikes is too fast," Ken Kobayashi, chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told reporters after the meeting. Masakazu Tokura, head of the business federation or Keidanren, said, "It takes time for management to make improvement efforts." At the meeting, Ishiba also urged companies' efforts to realize "significant salary hikes" at annual wage negotiations in early next year, as the country has been facing rising prices due largely to higher import costs amid the weaker yen. In the so-called shunto spring wage talks this year, member unions of the confederation secured an average 5.1 percent pay rise, topping 5 percent for the first time in more than 30 years. The average pay hike for smaller firms, meanwhile, stood at 4.45 percent in 2024. In another effort to mitigate the impact of soaring prices and boost consumption, Ishiba is planning to pledge in a parliamentary policy speech Friday that the government will raise the nontaxable income threshold from the current 1.03 million yen, an issue being discussed as part of tax changes for fiscal 2025, sources close to the matter said. Trump's policies Also Tuesday, the government warned of the potential adverse impact of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's economic policies, as it maintained its view that the country's economy is recovering moderately in its monthly report for November. The Cabinet Office, which is in charge of economic and fiscal policy, said the economy is "recovering at a moderate pace, although it remains paused in part," using the same expression for its overall assessment for the fourth straight month. The government upgraded its assessment of imports, which typically reflect robust domestic demand, citing improved shipments of goods such as personal computers from China and automobiles from India. But the report said "full attention" should be given to the "future policy trends in the United States," following Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election in early November. He will assume office in January. Trump's proposed plans, such as raising tariffs and cutting taxes, could affect the U.S. economy and accelerate inflation, a Cabinet Office official said. Any impact on the world's largest economy is bound to affect Japan, given the strong economic ties between the two countries, the official said. Consumer prices, a key gauge of inflation, were changed from "rising moderately" to "rising recently," due partly to a surge in food prices including rice. It was the first change in 10 months. The Cabinet Office revised its wording on corporate goods prices from "the pace of rise is slowing" to "modestly rising." The assessment of public investment was downgraded, as the effect of public works financed by a supplementary budget for the previous fiscal year that ended in March tapered off. The budget was aimed at strengthening infrastructure. The government made no changes to its evaluations of other key components such as private consumption, which accounts for more than half of the nation's gross domestic product, and exports.
Major retailers in UK and Ireland pull products associated with Conor McGregor
As a way to promote her newest endorsement deal, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese recently gave away a few boxes of her "Angel X Reese's Puffs" cereal to random fans in the streets. Reese shared the video on social media as a bunch of unexpected supporters were left in disbelief by their chance encounter with the WNBA All-Star. Reese's cereals hit supermarket shelves on Nov. 14, and it appears to have been quite a hit. So much so, that some stores have run out of stocks. One fan recently posted a video on social media wherein she started knocking down random cereal boxes in the grocery store after finding out that they had run out of Reese's Puffs. Reese herself caught wind of the fan's "irritated" complaint, and the Sky forward just had to respond. "omgg nooo don’t knock over the boxes😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 send your address so i can send you a box auntie cause ion need you crashing out & going to jail bout me lmaooo," Reese wrote on X. omgg nooo don’t knock over the boxes😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 send your address so i can send you a box auntie cause ion need you crashing out & going to jail bout me lmaooo https://t.co/jd8ljMDvIg In her video, the fan admitted that she was "irritated" by the fact that she wasn't able to purchase a box of Reese's cereals for her niece. The former LSU superstar came to the rescue, though, by saying that she would be happy to send a box to the disgruntled supporter just so she doesn't end up getting in trouble for causing a ruckus in the grocery store. © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Needless to say, her fans have come out to support Reese's latest endorsement deal. Reese's Puffs is just the latest in a growing line of product endorsements for the 22-year-old, which also includes brands such as Reebok, Beats by Dre and McDonald's, to name a few. As for her basketball, Reese is coming off a tremendous rookie campaign with the Sky -- one that had her finishing as the runner-up for the coveted Rookie of the Year title behind Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. In 34 games played before her season was cut short by surgery on her wrist, Reese produced averages of 13.6 points , a league-best 13.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. Related: Angel Reese's Honest Confession About 'Scary' Career DecisionNo. 1 South Carolina women stunned by fifth-ranked UCLA 77-62, ending Gamecocks' 43-game win streak
Youngkin: We're making progress combating fentanyl deathsTECH4GOOD One sign that the Christmas holiday season has started is the influx of migrant mendicants in cities all over the country. They are the face of the continuing saga of street dwellers, a situation that has been looking for a solution for the longest time. When you drive around the city right after dusk, you will not fail to notice these people beginning to settle down on sidewalks. Some are in karitons with a dog in tow. The situation of street dwellers is a global concern and a glaring reminder of urban poverty. More than half of the estimated 4.5 homeless individuals scattered around the country are in Metro Manila. In recent years, nomadic Badjaos have started to come to urban cities looking for subsistence opportunities, only to find themselves facing harsher living conditions. Often referred to as “sea gypsies,” they are an indigenous group originally from the coastal regions of western Mindanao. Historically, they were sea dwellers, relying on fishing and marine resources for their livelihood. Their migration to urban areas has led to significant changes in their way of life, presenting challenges that threaten their cultural identity and survival. These metropolitan street dwellers are a visible reminder of our societies’ social and economic disparities. Often referred to as the homeless, they live in precarious conditions, face numerous challenges daily, and are in a constant state of vulnerability. Many find temporary shelter in parks, sidewalks, under bridges, or makeshift settlements. These locations offer little protection from the elements, making them susceptible to harsh weather conditions, health issues, and violence. Access to basic amenities such as clean water, sanitation facilities, and healthcare is often limited. They rely on public restrooms, charitable organizations, and occasional assistance from the community and individuals for their daily needs. The lack of proper nutrition and hygiene exacerbates health problems, making street dwellers more prone to illnesses and infections. Understanding the factors that lead to homelessness, their living conditions, and potential solutions is crucial to addressing this complex issue. The reasons for homelessness are multifaceted and interlinked, varying from individual to individual. In metropolitan cities, where living costs are exorbitant, even a slight dip in income can lead to eviction and homelessness. Mental health issues and substance abuse disorders can significantly impact an individual's ability to maintain stable housing. Without adequate support and treatment, these conditions can spiral into homelessness. Family issues such as domestic violence, family breakdowns, and abuse can force individuals, particularly women and children, to flee their homes and live on the streets. The shortage of affordable housing options in urban areas is a significant contributor to homelessness. Even working individuals may find it impossible to afford rent in expensive metropolitan cities. The livelihoods of street dwellers are often precarious and informal. Securing stable employment becomes a challenge without a permanent address or proper identification. Many street dwellers resort to begging for alms, which is a common way for them to earn money. Some scour street garbage dumps to collect recyclable materials that they can sell. However, this is often insufficient to meet their basic needs. Some engage in informal work such as street vending, collecting recyclable materials, or offering shoe shining and car washing services. While these jobs provide some income, they are irregular and low-paying. Street dwellers mostly rely on the support of charitable organizations such as Rotary Clubs, non-profits, and government aid programs. Addressing homelessness requires a multifaceted and compassionate approach. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently launched its flagship anti-hunger program, “Walang Gutom” (No Hunger) Kitchen, which provides nutritious hot meals to impoverished individuals. The project also intends to examine their health and medical needs and provide access to hygiene facilities and even laundry services. It is a good start to address the need to care for the homeless, but DSWD will have to move fast to cover all those hungry and homeless individuals scattered across the country. They should also be given priority as beneficiaries of the current Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) Program. The DSWD or even the local government should start by conducting a census of these individuals. Most street dwellers I have talked to say they are not even registered voters, which explains why most local officials fail to address their needs. The development of housing projects designed for the bottom of the pyramid, employment programs, mental health services, education, community support, and substance abuse treatment can help them address underlying issues and transition into stable living conditions. Homelessness in metropolitan cities is a complex issue that requires a compassionate and comprehensive approach. Crafting appropriate policies and advocacy for systemic change is necessary to address the root causes of homelessness. We should face the issue head-on and move fast. Those street dwellers are the faces of what our country is. We should afford them the chance to live with dignity. The author is an executive member of the National Innovation Council, lead convener of the Alliance of Technology Innovators for the Nation (ATIN), vice president of the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines, and vice president of the UP System Information Technology Foundation. ( [email protected] )
1. A Lego-inspired speed cube that said, "What if we combined our love of Legos and love of Rubik's cubes and created the Ultimate Toy?" The bricks on this cube are even removable if they want to customize it with their own Lego bricks at home! Promising review: " Colorful, fun, and functional. Operates smoothly. Great colors. A fun nod to Lego. Quick ship, too." — Debra Get it from Amazon for $9.69 . 2. " The Forest Feast, " yet another addition to the cult-favorite Magic Puzzle series so beloved on TikTok. Like the others before it, this isn't just a puzzle, but a whimsically illustrated, colorful journey — there are tons of Easter eggs in it, a collection of miniature scenes full of optical illusions and surprises, *plus* a magical twist at the end. They'll have to solve the puzzle to find out! Check out a (SPOILERS INCLUDED) TikTok of the Forest Feast in action. Promising review: "My family (including daughters 26 and 30) has had a Christmas tradition of puzzles the week leading up to Christmas. This year I bought this Magic Puzzle based on great reviews. Didn't really know what to expect for the 'surprise,' but was not disappointed; so much fun! This puzzle is challenging enough for adults, but would not be too hard for kids and the puzzle pieces and shapes make it more fun that most puzzles. Upon finishing this one, we immediately logged in to see how quickly Amazon can get another one to us! Highly recommended, good quality puzzle worth the extra money." — DJ Carolina Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (and check out the DELIGHTFUL assortment of Magic Puzzles for more options!). 3. Moodmatcher color-changing lipstick , which not only adapts to the pH of their skin to create a personalized, perfect shade for their skin tone, but lasts for HOURS. Reviewers marvel at its all-day staying power even after meals and breaking a sweat. Look at that lil' green lipstick go!! Moodmatcher is a small business that specializes in color-changing lipstick. Promising review: "This color is beautiful, and shows up differently on everyone. This thing that I like most about this product, is that it stays on all day even through eating several meals. I have to use a microfiber cloth to remove it at night!" — Rasheda Get it from Amazon for $6.59 (available in 12 shades). 4. A customized pet paint-by-number so they can turn their favorite four-legged friend into high art and display it proudly where everyone can see!! Van Gogh is shaking. The company provides the paint and a code to use their tech to turn any pet photo into a "paint by number" template, so you will need a printer to generate the image! Also, fun fact: this was one of Oprah's Favorite Things in 2023 — check out Oprah's 2024 picks on Amazon's gift shop ! Promising review: "This was so much fun! I tried three different photos in the tool they give you. It shows you a preview of each painting, which is really helpful when deciding which image to go with. Not every picture came out as good, so definitely try a few! Easy to use, and fun to paint — excited to frame it! Actually have some paint left over and will try to do another one!" — Jonathon Kebert Get it from Amazon for $39.99 . 5. A ceramic "Creature Cup," which features a lil' animal or critter at the bottom of the mug so they always have a buddy to join them for coffee. Creature Cups is a small business that specializes in unique drinkware. Options include a dragon, fox, hedgehog, cat, dog, pig, elephant, and SO many more!! Check out a TikTok of the Creature Cups in action. Promising review: "I got five different cups for presents for some of my special people. I love hidden critter cups, but find that most of them that I’ve seen in recent years have sort of clumsy, poorly executed critters. These are nicely sculpted and the cups are a modern clean design and well balanced. From the graceful cats to the perky fox and dignified dragon, they’re all just charming, not cartoonish. They are both funny and attractive." — hover Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in 16 varieties). 6. A magnetic rotating UFO-shaped Bluetooth speaker so they can have an ~otherworldly~ experience getting beamed up by their favorite bops. Promising review : "Bought as a gift, but I will get one for myself. I was totally surprised at the quality of the speaker part of this. Got it for my grandson for Christmas. He set it up while here after opening, and we listened to Christmas music all day." — Dawna324 Get it from Amazon for $99.99 . 7. And a light-up flying orb that's basically like if an alien made a boomerang and then dropped it on Earth — it's designed to ricochet back when they throw it, so they'll feel like they're bending space and time from their own living room. Gravity WHOMST???? Promising review: "Santa left this under the tree for my 9-year-old son, and he LOVES it! So easy to use and takes only a few tries to figure out the boomerang effect! So fun, my parents, his grandparents joined in and we had a blast with it! If you are thinking about purchasing this, DO IT!! And the charge life is not bad either. Lasts long enough to give you breaks!!" — Kerri " My teenager loved getting this as a stocking stuffer . It's easy to figure out, durable, and won't give anyone a concussion if you get hit with it. It's also visually appealing because of the lights. Would recommend as a gift — but definitely use somewhere you won't knock over your expensive decorations LOL!" — Nick O'Neill Get it from Amazon for $32 (available in seven colors). 8. A zero-ink, app-enabled Kodak instant phone photo printer to essentially transform their phone into a Polaroid camera, but with the ability to pick and choose which photos they print. They can even edit photos within the app for better lighting or fun little graphics to add their own personal touch! This is compatible with Zink's zero ink printer paper — you can snag 20 sheets of it on Amazon for $9.99 ! Promising review: "I take lots of photos but rarely do I ever print them out. We travel in our RV, and I like to keep some photos of places that we've been in the RV on our photo board. I really like it; it's a lot of fun. The color is pretty good, prints pretty fast, and the little backgrounds that you can stick them to are a fun touch. There's also some other stickers and frames that you could add to the pictures. I also keep a notebook of all the places that we've traveled (with campsite-specific info), and I try to keep one picture to represent each place in the notebook . It's perfect for this." — Link family Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in four colors and as a starter bundle that includes photo paper, frames, and other accessories). 9. A truly mind-blowing wall-crawling robot gecko that seems to defy the laws of physics?? This adorable little gizmo can scale walls and literal ceilings while mimicking the same movements of an actual gecko, operated by a remote to move it in any direction. Check out a TikTok of the robot lizard in action. Promising review: "This lizard is amazing! It crawls on walls with the remote control, and it's just wild to watch in action. Super easy to operate — my kids picked it up right away and have been having a blast. It’s sturdy, fun, and totally unique. I’d highly recommend this toy to anyone looking for something different and entertaining for kids (and adults, honestly!)." — k_grays Get it from Amazon for $26.49 . 10. A half-pound Reese's Peanut Butter Cup because you know the peanut butter lover in your life not-so-secretly dreams about going to CLOWN TOWN on a Reese's the size of a pancake. Promising review: "I ordered this for Valentine's Day for hubby because he looooooves Reese's Cups. They are his favorite candy. I was worried about freshness because while nothing is better than a fresh Reese's, nothing is worse than a stale one. However, this Reese's was fresh and delicious. The chocolate is very thick , which may or may not appeal to some, but there is a nice thick layer of yummy peanut butter as well. Hubby enjoyed it, so it's a win for me." — Tatanisha K. Howard Get two half-pound cups from Amazon for $12.99 . 11. A set of cat-themed tarot cards purrrfect for first-timers, complete with a guide on how to pull the cards and how to interpret them. They'll be doing readings for everyone from your to the barista to their own cat by the end of the week. Promising review: "Honestly, I saw this tarot deck and thought I needed this for ha ha’s. But man. This deck’s images are hilarious. It’s so much fun, and I felt so drawn to it as soon as it was in my hands. I am smitten over these kittens. 😍 10000% worth the purchase!" — Kathryn Prouty Get it from Amazon for $17.46 . 12. A spinning disco ball wax warmer because sometimes "come on Barbie, let's go party" secretly means "come on Barbie, let's melt some lavender wax and take a breather and do a face mask while the other Barbies party." This lil' bub will give them the best of both worlds. Don't forget to pick them up some giftable wax melts ! Promising review: "Surprised at the good quality of this product. It works great and heats up wax cubes in no time! Would definitely recommend." — Megan Hughes Get it from Amazon for $35.97 . 13. An interactive Fingerlings baby monkey so lawlessly adorable that everyone in the family will be clamoring to let it snuggle on them. It reacts to your touch, lets you feed and pet it, and even has a lil' heartbeat that lights up when you put them on your finger. Check out a TikTok of the Fingerlings in action. Promising review: "Adorable!! My eight-year-old niece wanted these cute little monkeys for her birthday so I bought her three of them. They ended up being the hit of the party. All of the kids wanted to play with them, and it was my niece's favorite gift." — Andrew Gamez Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in blue and purple). 14. A PopLite personal popcorn maker with a built-in serving bowl that will give them eight cups of movie theater-quality popcorn in two mere mortal minutes. Reviewers especially love that the popcorn doesn't burn, and the machine doesn't leave unpopped kernels like the usual microwave brands. Check out a TikTok of the popcorn maker in action. Promising review: " This little popcorn popper is perfect ! No fuss, no mess, no chasing popcorn kernels!! Fabulous! Easy to use — the popcorn maker part fits into the bowl part for easy storage. This is one perfect unit!" — Chrystal Get it from Amazon for $34.99 . Psst — if you're looking for something delicious to pair this gift with, try this internet-famous popcorn salt that makes it taste like movie theater popcorn! 15. A National Geographic geodes science kit for all the budding geologists out there, young and old — this kit lets them break open and discover their own crystals while keeping them up to speed with a learning guide filled with info on geodes, volcanoes, and gemstones. Next stop, a cameo in an Indiana Jones movie! Each kit includes four natural crystal-filled geodes, one pair of safety goggles, one display stand, and one learning guide. Promising review: "I’m an adult in my thirties, but I was such a rock nerd as a kid, so when I saw this kit, I knew I had to buy it! I ended up buying it for myself and my adult siblings as a Christmas present — we had so much fun cracking open the rocks on Christmas Day, it brought be back to my childhood! Highly recommend this kit. You get a lot of rocks for the price, and it’s so fun cracking open a rock and discovering what’s inside." — Anna Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in four sizes). 16. A set of rainbow bath fizzes so magical that they will walk into the bath a mortal being, and walk back out an enchanted fairy witch lawlessly spreading joy wherever they roam. Promising review: "These bath bombs are pure joy for kids and adults alike! They smell amazing, are long-lasting, and turn bath time into a delightful experience. While a tad pricey, the fun and luxury they bring make them worth the splurge. A treat for the senses!" — Neha Get a set of three from Amazon for $19.99 . 17. A light-up rain cloud essential oil diffuser pulled out of their dizziest daydreams. Reviewers especially love how soothing the color changes and sounds of the water flow are. (And that both are fully adjustable!) Check out a TikTok of the rain cloud diffuser in action. (Note: According to Johns Hopkins , you may want to avoid diffusing oils around larger groups and young children because of the side effects of different oils. You may also want to avoid using an oil diffuser around pets with breathing problems, according to the ASPCA .) Promising review : "Love it! It’s so super cute! We call it our shroomcloud. It's peaceful and the mood changing colors are the best! I love hearing the subtle sound of water. Ahhh, zen! Works great as a diffuser with a few drops of your favorite essential oils, too." — Krissy Get it from Amazon for $39.98 . 18. A set of PicassoTiles (aka a cheaper, arguably better version of MagnaTiles) that both kids *and* parents have a blast putting together. These strong magnetized tiles let their imaginations run wild as they come up with creative solutions to use the shapes and colors to build whatever they can dream up. Check out a TikTok of the Picasso Tiles in action. Promising review: "These magnetic tiles have been an absolute hit in our household, providing endless fun for both kids and adults. The 100-piece set offers a perfect mix of colors and shapes, allowing for a wide variety of creations, from simple structures to elaborate designs. Every building session turns into a new adventure, sparking creativity and imagination in a way that keeps everyone engaged. " — Kata Get it from Amazon for $39.99 . 19. Cooking With Magic: A Century of Recipes, a full-color, oh-so-nostalgic collection of recipes inspired by beloved Disney films from every generation. We can all toast a sparkly Cheshire Cat Grin drink over Bibbidi Bobbidi Blueberry Tarts to that! Promising review: "When I first flipped through this book I was beaming with joy and excitement since I’ve been a Disney fan for years. They say food brings people together and this cookbook depicts fun and exciting food/drink recipes the whole family can enjoy. I couldn’t get over the photos for each recipe. They all had that magic touch Disney brings to its films. I see this book becoming a collectible and I feel every Disney fan should own a copy of it!" — Alena D. Get it from Amazon for $25.99 . 20. A NeeDoh "Dream Drop," the latest drop from the *elite* Needoh sensory fidget toy line for anyone who wants to add some whimsical calm to their day. This goo-filled, delightfully colorful fidget has a satisfying squish with a "slow rise" before going back to its original shape. Reviewers also love that it doesn't have the kind of stickiness that picks up debris and makes it hard to clean. Schylling is a small business that specializes in modern and retro toys, games, and sets. Promising review: "Great, and I love that it has a tray to sit on. I love how firm this is to squeeze, and the slow release is really relaxing. The included dish is a great touch — it keeps it clean and gives it a dedicated spot to rest." — AZMOM Get it from Amazon for $8.25 (the color is either blue, pink, or purple and gets selected for you at random)! Check out the rest of the Needoh fidget toy options on their Amazon storefront! 21. Or a set of TikTok-famous Globbles — these colorful balls are squishy, stretchy, and will stick to pretty much any flat surface they throw them at *without* leaving any messy residue. TikTokers have a blast tossing these at walls and ceilings to see the satisfying way they glom onto them. Promising review: "I have bought these over and over again for gifts. My own children have played with these balls repeatedly. We even left one on the ceiling to see how long it would stay for. It lasted four months before we decided to take it down. Since they are so sticky, they get dirty pretty quickly. All you have to do is a quick rinse in the sink and an air dry, then you are good to go. Great for adults and children! Will be buying again. " — Valerie Young Get a set of six from Amazon for $10.69 . 22. "You Need To Calm Down: A Coloring Book," which is the new ideal way for Swifities to de-stress. This features 45 pages of illustrations and quotes designed to loosely follow the Eras tour in order, so they can color their way back to the magic whenever they please. Psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $11.99! Promising review : "I never thought I would enjoy adult coloring as much as I do with this book. It provides many opportunities to be creative, mix colors, be whimsical, and enjoy the lyrics." — Sherry Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 23. A mini inflatable tube guy for their desk to cheer them on (or remind them to take a lil' dance break whenever they overwork themselves). Promising review: "OMG! I love this guy! These things, large and small, will ALWAYS make me laugh. My husband bought the desk version for me, and I can always count on it to make me laugh. My co-workers love it, too. People just stop by to turn him on for a quick pick-me-up. I would recommend getting the AC plug since batteries can run down fast. I think we should create a community of fellow air-dancer-havers and post clips of our little guys dancing to our favorite songs. Anyone in?" — Mark Get it from Amazon for $8.58 . 24. A miniature arcade Atari to put them in a delightful time machine to the '80s — this itty bitty console is loaded up with 10 playable retro-style games, including Pac-Man, Breakout, Asteroids, and more. Reviewers mention how much they love giving these as gifts! Promising review: "I've put probably 10 hours in playing with this little system . It's an excellent little Atari clone, the screen is crystal clear, the games play exactly as expected , the sound is great the controller is a joy. This is an absolute must for anyone that loves retro games." — Doug Welyczko Get it from Amazon for $26.52 . 25. A shaker of Thin Mint seasoning you need to buy for everyone as a gift to all taste buds on earth. Allow me to paint many pictures for you: Thin Mint coffee, Thin Mint pudding, Thin Mint popcorn, Thin Mint anything our dessert gremlin hearts desire. Check out a TikTok of the Thin Mint Seasoning in action. I stared at this for months online before caving and buying it, and when I tell you!! It jazzes up my morning coffee in a way that makes my little '90s baby heart sing. I've also loved it on Greek yogurt, oatmeal, and mug cakes. Plus, when I am feeling lonely for a real Thin Mint, and we're not in Girl Scout cookie season, I'll shake this on an Oreo Thin to stave off the despair. Get it from Amazon for $4.98 (and try their s'mores seasoning blend, too!). 26. Beats Studio Pro noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones with personalized spatial audio for a truly ~~cinematic~~ (and aesthetically pleasing??) listening experience that will make them feel like they're on another planet entirely. Reviewers are obsessed with how comfortable these are on their ears, and the long-lasting (up to 40 hours!!) battery life! The Kim Kardashian Collab colors of these headphones were featured on Oprah's Favorite Things for 2024 — check out more of Oprah's picks on Amazon's gift shop ! Promising review: "These are the most comfortable over-the-ear headphones I have ever used. Sound quality and noise cancellation is amazing . I can sleep with these on for hours. I work the night shift and drown out the surrounding noise from the kids in order for me to sleep before work! Well, let me tell you, these will give you the quietness you need." — Suecarla Adams Get it from Amazon for $249.99 (available eight colors). 27. A set of espresso martini mix packets that make this beloved cocktail a little TOO easy to recreate at home — all they need to do is add vodka and water, and BOOM. They're living their most delicious life (and have "Espresso" stuck in their head for the rest of the day). Craftmix is a small business that specializes in instant drink mixers. Check out a TikTok of the espresso martini packets in action. Promising review: "The closest thing to creating a drink from scratch as you can get! Tried the variety pack and the espresso martini mix, and it was a hit with folks, and most couldn't believe it when I told them it came from a packet . Especially if you're thinking of hosting or making drinks in batches, Craftmix is a real timesaver. Would definitely recommend and plan on repurchasing for future get-togethers!" — Kenneth Walfred Fojas Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $16.99 (available in eight other flavors and a variety pack). 28. A dimmable sad duck night-light for their desk or bedside table, because sometimes it helps to look at this emotionally deflated creature and be like, "Welp. At least I'm doing better than that little dude." Promising review : "I ordered this lamp because of its appearance. I didn't NEED a depressed duck lamp ... but it 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 . 29. A TikTok-beloved astronaut-shaped star projector that will blow all their other gifts ~out of this world~. This has eight different nebula effects they can project from the wall and control from a remote so they can finally be fully immersed in that self-insert Star Wars fan fic they keep writing in their head. Check out a TikTok of the projector in action. Promising review: "I bought this after seeing it on TikTok. I wasn’t sure how great it would be and the price was a little high to me but I bought it anyways. After getting it and seeing how badass it is I would definitely say it’s worth the money!! The lights are so cool and bright. My kids and husband love it!" — Shelby Fulford Get it from Amazon for $29.73+ (available in four colors). 30. Ray-Ban's Meta Smart Glasses , which are enabled with Meta AI to basically make them feel like they're an undercover operative living in the ~future~. These voice-enabled glasses can take pictures and videos from their "perspective" whenever they ask, can get information about their environment, scan QR codes, and even play music or take calls with tiny, discreet speakers. This was featured on Oprah's Favorite Things for 2024 — check out more of Oprah's picks on Amazon's gift shop ! Promising review : "I love them! I feel like a spy wearing these! They come in handy when I want to be hands-free! The sound quality is amazing! The video and picture quality is great!! 👍🏽 These are the best. besides, right now, I feel special because everyone is curious because I’m the only one I know that has them! Great product!" — Stillbeauty Get it from Amazon for $379 (available in three colors). 31. A reviewer-beloved electric fondue set for an investment in their future happiness, because I'm hard-pressed to think of anything a vat of melted cheese and chocolate *won't* fix. Kusini is a small business that specializes in kitchen products. Promising revie w: "I absolutely love fondue and this made at-home fondue easy and mess free ! Warms up quickly and holds the perfect amount of fondue plus dippers." — Ruby Pagel Get it from Amazon for $27.99 . 32. K. Carroll Accessories' Color Me Clutch LED Handbag , which will quite literally be the "light of their life." This deceptively simple, chic black evening bag has subtle LED lights that can light up in seven different colors, seamlessly matching any outfit they take out to the dance floor. This was featured on Oprah's Favorite Things for 2024 — check out more of Oprah's picks on Amazon's gift shop ! Promising review: "I went to a wedding, and this purse was perfect. It has an adjustable strap and plenty of room inside. The extra special thing was the change of color. So fun when the lights went down. I had on a black dress and had some many colors I could have changed The Color Me clutch to match my outfit. I totally recommend." –Kelsey coleman Get it from Amazon for $48 . 33. A set of vinyl coasters to give their coffee table a delightfully retro nostalgic touch *and* protect it from the perils of condensation. Check out a TikTok of the coasters in action. Promising review : "These are awesome! Each little coaster looks like a record and the bottom has a bit of rubber to keep it from shifting. The funny thing is they all have cute sayings on them for the song name. Like 'No Marks on the Table' by The Nostalgics. I’ve received a bunch of compliments and chuckles at the silly 'song names.' I also sent these as a gift to a music lover and it was very well-received! " — ra2151 Get a set of six from Amazon for $5.99 . 34. A "Billion Dollar Art Gallery" brick that will instantly turn their television into priceless art by making it a display for 500 of the most beautiful paintings in history. All you have to do is slide the memory stick into the TV's USB port, toggle the remote to switch to the USB import, and boom. The whole party can feast their eyes on stunning works of art like a rotating museum — no internet or other devices required! You can even toggle it to display captions to learn more about the history of the art! Billion Dollar Art Gallery is a small business that specializes in accessible art technology. Promising review : "I love everything about this product. I love the detail of the case, the etching in the USB drive, the selection of art, and the business idea itself is genius . I bought it years ago, and I'm coming back to review it now because I use it every single day on my Frame TV. My tiny children are art savvy (and appreciative) because they have a billion-dollar art gallery playing in their house every day. Bravo, person who came up with this idea. I wish you'd make another installment. I'd buy another 500 images. There are a lot more in the public domain that I'd love for you to collect for me." — Amy Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in four styles, including one for kids and a National Parks version). 35. A bitingly hilarious "I Hate You All" activity book for stress relief that delightfully straddles the line between wholesome and worrisome — perfect for the lovable curmudgeon in your life who needs a good laugh. Promising review: "Self-help for the misanthrope. Is perfect for that person in your life who hates everyone. They may even hate you slightly less for giving it to them." — John the Climber Get it from Amazon for $13.99. 36. A camera lens-shaped thermos that is both aesthetically pleasing *and* delightfully practical — this 12-ounce insulated mug not only will keep coffee hot, but will keep iced drinks and smoothies cold on the go. Why say "cheese" when they can say "caffeine?" Promising review: "I saw this while browsing, and at first, I thought it was a real lens (until I saw the price). I clicked and had to laugh because it incorporated my husband's two loves — coffee and photography! I got it for him as part of his Christmas gifts, and he loves it. The designer did an excellent job with this. It looks real at first glance, and the raised areas make it very easy to hold. We laughed when he opened it, and it has become one of his favorite mugs." — Susan Get it from Amazon for $12.83 . 37. A Vintage Bookshelf Edition of Scrabble designed in a box that blends so seamlessly into their bookshelf that guests will be downright dazzled when they pull it out for game night. Psst — you can gift even more of the 12 classic games converted into "books" from the vintage collection , including Monopoly and Clue ! This was featured on Oprah's Favorite Things for 2024 — check out more of Oprah's picks on Amazon's gift shop ! Check out a TikTok of the Vintage Bookshelf Edition of Candyland in action. Promising review: "I love this whole collection! These games look like art. They are so nice displayed on the built-in, I sometimes forget they’re actually real, practical games I can pull out and use!" – trey Get it from Amazon for $39.99 . Check out the rest of the vintage game collection on Amazon. Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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