jilibay review Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organizer of Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP), has addressed the party’s significant defeat in the December 7, 2024, presidential and parliamentary elections, calling for reflection and a renewed focus on rebuilding. In a Facebook post, Mustapha acknowledged the deep disappointment among party members, particularly the youth who were instrumental in the campaign as reported by Modern Ghana. “It’s been a little over two weeks since the December 7th elections, in which we lost, massively. I have read so many of your commentaries on various platforms about the elections and their outcomes. “I can feel your souls and spirits splitting up. For especially the youth who gave their all for this campaign, I can understand your pain. I’m more pained and saddened that we disappointed you. I feel your anger,” He emphasized the need for a thorough analysis to uncover the root causes of the defeat, aiming to implement meaningful reforms that would enable the party to bounce back stronger. Mustapha’s call for introspection comes at a time when the NPP is grappling with the aftermath of the electoral loss, seeking to understand the factors that led to their unexpected defeat. The National Youth Organizer’s statement reflects a commitment to addressing internal challenges and rebuilding the party’s connection with its base, particularly the youth, who are seen as pivotal to the NPP’s future success. As the party embarks on this period of reflection, Mustapha’s emphasis on a comprehensive postmortem analysis underscores the NPP’s dedication to learning from its setbacks and implementing strategies that resonate with the electorate. The forthcoming period will be crucial for the NPP as it seeks to rebuild trust and reestablish its position within Ghana’s political landscape. Mustapha’s message serves as a rallying call for unity and proactive engagement in addressing the issues that contributed to the party’s defeat, with the aim of emerging more resilient and attuned to the needs and aspirations of the Ghanaian people.

Stocks set for strong weekly gain, US yields slip as markets eye Trump policies1. L'Oréal Paris BB Cream , a FAST-acting, anti-redness moisturizer with results that feel like legitimate magic — especially considering its competitor, the Dr Jart+ Cicapair Color Correcting Cream , is over twice as expensive. Reviewers especially love this as a base for their makeup, because it leaves skin super soft and primed. Promising review: "I’d yet to find anything (even foundation) that could cover up my red areas. Cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead. It comes out green, but has a gorgeous lightweight finish of a tint that indeed covers my redness beautifully. There’s no greasiness to it at all. It dries down to a beautiful matte finish. It’s super easy to use. I use my fingers. The texture is like silk. It leaves my face baby-soft, not sticky at all. It doesn’t settle into my fine lines or wrinkles, and I don’t need powder to 'bake' it under my eyes. It also covers the black circles under my eyes." — Julie F. Get it from Amazon for $9.98 (available in six styles). 2. Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm in Black Honey you're definitely going to want to stock up on *now*, before TikTokers go feral again (guilty as charged). This cult-classic, lightweight, slightly glossy shade is beyond "holy grail" status — it matches skin tones so beautifully that I'm personally starting to suspect witchcraft, after seeing so many TikToks of it subtly transforming entire beauty looks with just a few swipes. I was very adamant about not buying this for the longest time because I am stubborn about "expensive" beauty products, but this is worth every penny and then some . It's so lightweight and layerable, it's foolproof to apply, and I have yet to wear a single outfit it doesn't complement??? I love watching it instantly elevate a casual look or add simple elegance to dressy ones. I wear it every day now, and after weeks of use, I've barely made a dent . Also, and maybe this is just me, but I tend to get pigment on my teeth with a lot of lip products, and I've simply never had an issue with this magic stick. Anyway, watch this TikTok of someone using it on their lips AND cheeks , because I did and oops, this lipstick FELL into my cart. Get it from Amazon for $18.75 (also available in pink honey !). 3. A TikTok-famous "Soft" perfume rollerball that honestly has no right smelling so delectable and layering so well considering it's only five cash dollars. Reviewers are obsessed with the scent's warm sweetness with a hint of citrusy zest, comparing it to waffle cones, lemon pound cake, and warm vanilla scones ... and this $65 bottle of Pink Sugar 👀. Promising review: "Like so many, I found this scent on TikTok. I was a bit skeptical at first but finally got around to trying it. First off, this scent smells amazing! Almost every time I've worn it, I receive compliments. It has a sweet smell, almost like warm cake or sugar cookies with a hint of lemon . With such an affordable price, I would definitely recommend this to anyone curious about trying it." — Chrissy Get it from Amazon for $6.84 (available in two styles). 4. A Baccarat Rouge 540-inspired moisturizing body wash infused with white jasmine, red currant, and sweet amber that reviewers swear by for a cheap alternative to keep that delectably luxe scent on them all day long. Nothing wrong with smelling a lil' ~~expensive~~! I bought this after being peer-pressured by all the lovely reviews, and I'm happy to report it lives up to the hype. The scent is lovely — it has depth with a hint of floral, but it's light and not at all overpowering . My favorite thing about it is how easily it pairs other scents, because I am a body mist gremlin who swaps out her scents every day. The lather is also deeply satisfying and I feel quite refreshed and squeaky clean without ever feeling dry. Promising review: "Cremo's body wash is nothing short of exceptional. If you’re a fan of luxurious fragrances, this product will quickly become your new favorite. It boasts an incredible scent that perfectly mimics Baccarat Rouge 540 — a fragrance renowned for its sophisticated and captivating aroma. What sets this body wash apart is not just its stunning scent but also its longevity. The fragrance lingers beautifully throughout the day , ensuring you stay enveloped in that luxurious aroma long after your shower." — Ralph D. Thompson II Get it from Amazon for $9.34 . 5. Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener , which will be your holy grail for concealing and brightening dark circles under your eyes when your schedule is throwing you for a loop. This lightweight, color-adapting formula is designed for truly ~invisible~ coverage that makes a drastic difference — one that a lot of reviewers compare to the $33 Becca version. The color-adaptive formula is designed so one of two shades will work on any skin tone. Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." — Monica T. Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in two shades). 6. Plus Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel , a cult-fave product that's giving expensive eye creams a run for their money. This will quickly help minimize eye puffiness and swelling thanks to its winning combo of caffeine and hyaluronic acid — basically an alarm clock for your eyeballs because, boy, howdy are they awake now!! Good Molecules is a small business that specializes in affordable skincare products. Promising review: "I never write reviews, but this eye cream has made a difference on my under eyes! I’ve only been using it for a week and I would definitely recommend it. I’ve bought different eye creams (expensive brands) and never noticed a difference as fast as I’ve seen using this product." — Natalie Get it from Amazon for $5.99 . 7. TruSkin vitamin C serum that just short of startles reviewers for how fast it visibly brightens and firms skin even from the first use, and how well it reduces wrinkles and the appearance of dark spots over time. This may be on the pricier side of skincare, but reviewers compare the cult-fave blend of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E to the $182 SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic serum. With nearly 97,000 5-star reviews on Amazon and dozens of before-and-after reviewer photos, the hype is more than earned. Promising review: "I struggled with acne for over 12 years . I tried medications, pretty much every skincare line out there, but thanks to a random girl on TikTok, I found this product and will never go back. This is the only serum that has helped clear my scars! I never write reviews, but because I noticed a difference within days of using, I had to write one. I’m only on month two and I have seen a noticeable difference. My skin looks clear/lighter/glowing/young for the first time since my preteen years . I use this vitamin C serum and a simple wash and moisturizer/sunscreen every day, and that’s it!" — Rebekah Get it from Amazon for $38.99 . 8. A painless, mint-flavored teeth-whitening pen reviewers swear by as an alternative to pricey professional treatments and strips. This gets results from the very first use, lightening up years' worth of stains from coffee, tea, wine, or just, you know, existing as a human with teeth. Promising review: "This product actually works! Very affordable, too. There are a lot of expensive teeth whitening products out there, but why spend extra money when you don't have to? Definitely worth trying!" — Mona L Cureton Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.26+ (clip the 30% off coupon on the product page for this price). 9. MagicMinerals AirBrush Foundation , your new favorite alternative to Dior's (discontinued!!) Airflash that lives up to the hype — one quick spray of the foundation on the included brush, and it glides so smoothly and subtly over your skin texture that you'll feel like a makeup artist did it for you. Reviewers in their thirties, forties, and up especially swear by this lightweight but effective formula, and love that it's ridiculously easy to use. Jerome Alexander is a small business that specializes in airbrush cosmetic products. HELLO — I found this through a recommendation on a Reddit beauty forum for people in their thirties, and I am OBSESSED. I am not very skilled with makeup and was intimidated by the brush factor, but it's nearly foolproof . This foundation straight-up glosses over my pores and redness and makes my skin look so even-toned and natural that it doesn't look like I used much foundation at all. It's a bit price-y compared to brands I used in the past, but I'm still on my first bottle of it, and it's been three full months. I hope this never stops getting made. It is so lightweight and lovely and has made my makeup routine feel like a TREAT. Promising review : "Bought this because I saw it on TikTok, and it did not disappoint. I love the lightweight feel of it and how easy it is to build." — Smickens Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 12 shades). 10. A bottle of sulfate-free biotin shampoo that rivals the $$ prescription versions — thousands of reviewers swear by for helping restore their hair and promote healthy hair growth over time. It also includes nourishing ingredients like rosemary oil, zinc, and coconut oil to help moisturize locks and give them a fuller, more volumized look. Read more about how biotin shampoo could help with the fullness of hair at Cleveland Clinic . Maple Holistics is a small business that specializes in beauty products with all-natural ingredients. Check out a TikTok of the biotin shampoo in action. Promising review: "I've had fine, thin hair my whole life, but I used to have a lot more of it. My hair has been thinning and falling out a lot. There is a prescription shampoo that is over $100, and it used to be the only thing that worked. I thought I'd give this a shot before placing another order with the pharmacy, and so far, it seems to have a similar effect, plumping and strengthening the existing strands while addressing the problems with new growth. The new fuzzies are visible again at the hairline, always a good sign." — Susan Get it from Amazon for $12.95 . Psst — reviewers mention this is most effective when paired with a scalp massager to work it into their roots! 11. E.l.f's Lash XTNDR Tubing Mascara , an alternative to the $26 Blinc version and a GODSEND for anyone with thin or fragile lashes. This uses lightweight ~tubing~ technology to wrap around lashes and give them a natural-looking, smudge-proof extension so good it almost looks fake. The real boon, though, is how easily the "tubes" slide off in clean, easy swipes at the end of the day when you're washing your face — absolutely no smudging, over-scrubbing, or special eye makeup removal products required. Check out a TikTok of the E.l.f. tubing mascara in action. I am not a new human to the tubing mascara game, and in fact readily spent $26 on the famous OG blend from Blinc every time it needed replacing . I didn't even love it for the length half as much as the fact that tubing mascara like this genuinely never smudges, but can I just say — regardless of price, the E.l.f. tubing mascara formula blows all the others I've tried out of the water. It gives me way more length and volume than other brands, slides on so much more easily, stays put ALL day, and never, ever smudges. My favorite part, though, is how gently and easily it comes off with soap and water. In the past, other mascara removals have felt rough on my lashes, but this comes off so fast that I'm like ??? was I even wearing mascara a minute ago?? Anyway, I hesitate even writing this review because I want to gatekeep the hell out of this before it sells out, but the world needed to know. I'm a big fan of the brown shade (which is what I'm wearing above!), but it also comes in black and soft black. Get it from Amazon for $7 (available in three shades). 12. Eos' Shea Butter Vanilla Cashmere body lotion , which TikTok is going *feral* over both because of the lightweight, long-lasting moisture, and the soothing, delicious smell that reviewers compare to more expensive brands like Philosophy and Bath & Body Works. Promising review: "Heaven sent for your skin; heavenly scent to enjoy. This feels absolutely amazing going on. Gets absorbed quickly, for a lotion rich with oil. Doesn't leave a greasy feeling, as long as you give it a minute or two to fully absorb. The scent is, for me anyway, like aromatherapy. It smells like an iced sugar cookie, and is a great base layer for fragrance. Very relaxing. " — Dragonheart Jo Get it from Amazon for $8.98 . 13. A deliciously soothing, super gentle Briotech spray reviewers compare to the pricier Tower 28 SOS Spray . It's similarly designed with hypochlorous acid, which targets bacteria that causes acne, skin irritation, and blemishes *without* drying your skin. Reviewers swear by this handy little spray for helping not just with acne, but rosacea, eczema, dryness, dermatitis (scalp included!), and even toenail fungus. Promising review: "This spray is amazing. I had a rash on my face and it disappeared after one use of this spray. I had a stye in my eye and the skin around the eye was irritated. This spray fixed not only the irritation but the stye went away as well. Any sort of blemish or acne is taken care of with this simple inexpensive spray. Great for after-sun care or workout redness. Everyone loves Tower 28's expensive SOS spray. The SOS spray contains hypochlorous acid, which is the exact same ingredient in the Briotech spray for much less money . It’s a miracle worker." — Squid466 Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four sizes and in multipacks). 14. A bottle of Elizavecca hair treatment , an Olaplex-like repairing mask infused with collagen ingredients and protein extracts that will help restore hair health and reduce shedding. All you gotta do is apply it on wet hair after a shampoo, wait five minutes, and rinse it out. This is designed to work on all hair types, with reviewers with 2b to 4c curls mentioning it worked for them! Promising review: "Like many others, I tried this as a replacement for Olaplex. Honestly, Olaplex never had a great effect on my hair and certainly wasn’t worth the price. This did an unreal job on my hair!! I was skeptical (tried a little bit first because I was petrified it would burn off my hair and I would end up bald!) but, lo and behold, it was magic! My hair is so strong, silky, and healthy looking after just one use. Plus, you can’t beat the price! Have already ordered another box. I should also add I have curly/wavy hair that’s been colored to a light brown. Buy it!!" — BB Check out BuzzFeed's full review of the Elizavecca hair treatment for more deets! Get a bottle from Amazon for $8.40 . 15. Etude's delightfully multipurpose Dear Darling Water Tint , which a lot of reviewers compare to Benefit's Lip Tint. This smudgeproof formula is designed primarily to be a natural-looking, weightless lip stain, but reviewers use it as a blush as well! Promising review : "I bought the Benefit version a couple of months ago and was very underwhelmed by it, but this product is sooo soo much better than Benetint. The pigment is so good and natural at the same time. A 10/10 for sure. And at this price point what’s there not to like?" — Rachael Get it from Amazon for $6.20+ (available in three shades and combo packs). 16. Lumify Eye Drops , a product so beloved by TikTok that despite being more $$ than other brands, it's the number one selling brand on Amazon right now. Reviewers swear by this for instant reduction in redness in their eyes, with visible differences within a minute of use. Learn more about different kinds of eye drops and what they can do at Cleveland Clinic . Note that eye drops can potentially mask symptoms of eye conditions, so you should talk to your eye doctor about what's right for you. And according to Mayo Clinic , you should avoid redness-reducing drops if you're looking for dry eye relief. Promising review: "I have a big spot of blood vessels in the inner corner of my left eye. I use the expensive lubricant eye drops for moisture — I've used Visine, Clear Eyes, you name it . No eye drop has made my eyes look this great. Only Lumify! I was soo happy when I looked in the mirror and saw some beauty in my eyes instead of darkness and redness." — Angela Leonard Get it from Amazon for $11.97. 17. Tree Hut's TikTok-beloved Sugarlips Original Lip Butter with all the hydrating relief of brands like Aquaphor, but all of the ~~pizzazz~~ of a satisfying shea butter texture and rosehip oil flavor. This balm also has subtle, nonsticky shine that plays well with other lip products. Check out a TikTok of the Sugarlips Lip Butter in action. Promising review : "This isn’t a gloss — it's slightly glossy, but it’s more of a really hydrating balm. It sinks in and really softens and heals your lips which is what I was looking for. I’ve wasted money on a lot of lip products, but I ordered more of this, and I’ll continue buying always." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (available in five styles). 18. A beautifully packaged, travel-friendly Touchland Power Mist hydrating hand sanitizer for anyone who's like "mindfully practicing health and safety, but make it fashion." Unlike other sanitizer sprays, it's infused with aloe vera to keep your skin hydrated and has the most luxurious floral scents. Touchland is a small business that specializes in hand sanitizers. Promising review: "Touchland's hand sanitizers are absolutely beautiful! Not only is the packaging functional for travel, but it’s pretty! Absolutely no issues with the product or the design of the packaging leaking, and it’s extremely easy to use! No sticky residue, and your hands feel completely hydrated and soft after each use . I’m especially impressed with this perk, considering most hand sanitizers leave your skin feel tight and dry . No leaks, great hydration, phenomenal fragrance.... what’s not to LOVE!!!? 🤍 SPOIL YOURSELF, NO EXCUSES NECESSARY!" — Briana R. Get it from Amazon for $16 (available in Lily of the Valley and Rose scents; check out Touchland's Amazon storefront for more options). 19. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer , an oil-free moisturizer formulated with ceramide and niacinamide, so it might actually replace more than one step in your skincare. This lightweight, fragrance-free moisturizer is formulated to strengthen the skin barrier to lock in hydration not just after you put it on, but in the long term, too. Reviewers are especially obsessed with how well it works as a makeup primer! I have had on and off dry patches on my face for *checks watch* my whole life, which I just accepted as a consequence of being a human in their thirties who spends a lot of time outdoors in cold weather. It took like two seconds for my (SPECTACULAR) dermatologist to assess the situation and recommend this. The dry patches around my mouth and eyes were gone within two days of using this. It absorbs so quickly into the skin that I was almost scared it wasn't doing anything, but the long-term results are undeniable. My skin is softer, and I was able to cut out the expensive niacinamide and exfoliant I was using, making this one of the most cost-effective skincare moves of my life. I am so grateful my dermatologist recommended this to me and only wish I'd gone to see her about it much sooner! Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (available with SPF and in multiple sizes). 20. A luxe reversible satin sleeping bonnet for anyone who wants the best in comfort, use, AND aesthetic. This not only protects your curls and hairstyles overnight, but features an adjustable strap and soft elastic, so not only does it STAY PUT, but it doesn't leave creases on your forehead in the morning. Hats off to this bonnet!! Promising review : "Best bonnet ever! Cute, comfy, practical, and good quality. I had this very same one six years ago. When it wore down I replaced it with the same one. My other bonnets had straps that dangled awkwardly on my forehead. This one has a seamless strap and it adjusts well. And not once has it fallen off my head in the middle of the night. Get it! " — Shalimar Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (clip the $3 off coupon on the product page for this price; available in 14 styles). 21. L’Oréal Paris Makeup True Match Lumi Glotion designed to enhance your skin's natural ✨ glow✨ just like the pricy Drunk Elephant drops — perfect for anyone who wants a lightweight alternative to foundation or just a lil' extra low-effort, ethereal shimmer in their lives. Promising review: "Love love love this stuff. This is such a stellar product that is so versatile . Can be worn alone to put some glowy life to skin. Add to foundation or layer it. Beautiful. Use it as a base where you put highlighter on top. Mix some with moisturizer. This, in my opinion, is better than so many high-luxury brands that make similar products . And I am pretty sure it can be used by all skin types. It’s not an oily feeling at all, and it doesn’t dry out the skin either. Just a total package. Can’t beat the price either." — Figgy08 Get it from Amazon for $13.98+ (available in four shades). 22. Glossier's You , a deliciously compelling "skin scent enhancer" — which is to say, it captures the essence of ✨you✨ and puts it on sweet, subtle, earthy blast. It is designed to be soft with notes of pink pepper and iris, but it's adaptive, so it smells slightly different on everyone. Promising review: "I am so obsessed with this smell, it is by far my favorite. It's also very long-lasting! I get so many compliments, and people asking what I'm wearing. Will over and over purchase again." — Taylor Get it from Glossier for $78 or Amazon for $78 . 23. A bottle of Nyx matte setting spray for anyone who wants the all-day protection of MAC and Urban Decay's setting sprays without the price tag — this matte finish will lock your look in place in just a few seconds, even on days when the sun is trying to melt you like an ice pop. Promising review: "Expensive isn't always better. I tried this spray before spending the day outdoors in 90-degree heat at Disneyland, and the only place my makeup moved was on the tip of my nose because I have allergies and use a lot of Kleenex. But otherwise it looked as fresh as it did when I put it on. I’ve used Mac and Urban Decay setting spray and they never worked as well as this stuff. I am completely amazed. Definitely give it a try." — Stephanie Get it from Amazon for $9.97 (also available in dewy and radiant finishes, and a jumbo size). 24. Lottabody's Coconut Oil Foaming Curl Mousse designed for all hair types to give you satisfyingly hydrated, volumized, frizz-free curls at a FRACTION of the price of its competitors. Take THAT, humidity!!!! Promising review: "I have super frizzy, curly hair and live in New England where we have super humid summers. I have been struggling to find a product that de-frizzes my hair without making it look oiled down, and this is it. I put it in my wet hair after washing, towel dried, and put my hair in a pony tail to go to work. My hair was frizz-free all night — even working outside in high humidity. People even asked if I did something to my hair! This is an amazing product for the price. Absolutely buying again and would recommend to anyone with a frizz issue." — Marissa Get it from Amazon for $3.98 . 25. E.l.f.'s Poreless Putty Primer , a lightweight base primer that some reviewers even swear by as a Tatcha Silk Primer alternative — this helps reduce the appearance of pores and lets you apply makeup more smoothly and evenly. Promising reviews: "I have wasted hundreds of dollars on expensive primers only to discover this one and never use anything else. It's smooth as butter and exceptional. I had my makeup professionally done for a gala and the MUA used this primer. She swears by it and she is right! My makeup lasted the whole next day too, lol." — Angie B. "Finally able to get my hands on this and it absolutely lives up to the hype! This is an amazing primer and really does visibly smooth and blur pores. I use my beauty blender to apply it and a little goes a long way. It’s a perfect [alternative] for the Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer at a fraction of the cost." — Rebecca Get it from Amazon for $10 . 26. Thank Me Later Eyeshadow Base to make anyone with oily skin REJOICE!! This formula locks eyeshadow in place to prevent the pigments from creasing or smudging, which is a very rude thing for your eyeshadow to do after you've worked so darn hard on it. Promising review: "So let me start by saying I have used nearly every eyeshadow primer available. From high end to low...they don't hold a candle to Thank Me Later. I have very oily skin. Using this primer, shadow lasts a full eight hours or more. I could get maybe five or six out of the other brands if I was lucky. I got this as a sample in my Ipsy bag, and I had to buy the full-size product straight away! I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Thank you, Elizabeth Mott, for finally making a primer that lasts! I love this stuff!" — Melissa Mae "Saw this used by a makeup artist on TikTok giving a tutorial for women over 40. Totally changed how my eyeshadow works. No clumping or crease lines!" — wo1995 Get it from Amazon for $13.99 . 27. A pack of cult-favorite Clean Skin Club Clean Towels — these ultra-soft, chemical-free disposable towels are ideal for drying your face or pairing with a makeup remover or face wash to gently remove makeup at the end of the day. A lot of folks with sensitive skin *swear* by these, particularly because it helps prevent exposing their skin to bacteria that may collect in ordinary reusable towels. Clean Skin Club is a US-based small business specializing in hygienic, vegan, and cruelty-free skincare products. Promising review: "I absolutely love these. I saw these on TikTok and bought them. I will be buying more. They are great for my face. Really soft and VERY durable and strong, even when wet. You can wash your face [with it] or just dry your face, either way, it’s the best option." — Sahara Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $17.95 . 28. A Benzene-free, travel-friendly applicator of I Dew Care's dry shampoo powder so easy to use that you can just dab it on your hairline and rub it in for an instant, oil-absorbing refresh. Now you don't have to waste nearly as much of your precious vacation time re-styling your hair! Check out a TikTok of the dry shampoo in action. Promising review: "I've had the best results from this dry shampoo than any other. It's a small container, but it lasts a very long time because a little really does go a long way! I also do this the night before so the powdery look goes away by morning, and it's more absorbed; you can also add a light oil to your ends and work it up if it feels too dry. There's no scent either, and it is very convenient for travel! This is the only thing that still makes my hair look 'clean' on the no-hair-wash days !" — Alice Get it from Amazon for $12.59 (available brown, dark brown, blonde, and in multipacks and bundles). 29. Medicube's "Zero Pore" Pads , which are dual-textured toner pads made with lactic and salicylic acid to exfoliate and refine your pores. The excess sebum oil in your face just met its worst enemy in this cult-fave Korean skincare product. 😈 Promising review: "I kept seeing this product on social media and finally decided to give it a try. I use this twice daily, and it’s been a couple of weeks, and I definitely noticed my pores have shrunk . I even apply it to my neck and chest area. Product is soothing, gentle on my skin (have extremely sensitive skin), no strong smell, cottons are soft, and did not cause any breakouts! It’s great for the value, and I’ll definitely be repurchasing these." — Ee El Get a pack of 70 from Amazon for $17.90 (available in four other styles). 30. And Mighty Patch Nose Patches for overnight use to help kick "nose gunk" to the curb — this extra-large hydrocolloid patch helps lift sebum to reduce the appearance of pimples, pores, and oil. You can even see all the satisfyingly gross evidence for yourself when you pull it off in the a.m. 👀. Promising review : "These things work! I’ve been dealing with bad breakouts recently and could not figure out what was causing them. I was recommended to try these, and let me tell you, the stuff that came out of my pores is unreal . I’ve tried charcoal face masks, and nothing has worked as well as these. My face is finally clearing up." — Hannah Braswell Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $16.55 . 31. Kahi Wrinkle Bounce Hydrating Multi-Balm , a Korean beauty product you may have already seen taking TikTok by storm — this easy peasy all-in-one moisturizer for your face, lips, eyes, *and* neck is formulated with salmon complex and collagen to help reduce fine lines and boost radiance. Reviewers especially love how instant the hydration feels, and swear by it for that ~glass skin~, "just out of the shower" effect. Promising review: "Okay! So I was skeptical at first, but honestly, this stick is life-changing!! ! In a matter of minutes, my skin felt hydrated and plumped. After an hour, still hydrated. No greasy after feeling, very light, and you can feel your skin hydrated and absorbing. I love the fact that you can use it on your eyes, lips, and wrinkles!! Game changer for me, will def try the others!" — Kristy Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in five styles). 32. A pomade hair wax stick designed to work for all hair types for some residue-free *instant* hold for slick-back ponytails or setting flyaways, cowlicks, and baby hairs into place, if that's the vibe you're going for this fall. Reviewers note how easy it is to glide over hair and brush back without leaving hair looking greasy or shiny. Promising reviews: "Saw this on TikTok and saved it. Waited months to buy because I’m cautious about products that are trending. I finally gave it a go and so happy! I had to get a haircut to get rid of dead weight, split ends, etc. So I am aware that my hair is still repairing itself. I did a blow out and then ran the flat iron in my head. The stick went on smooth, only required a little bit and the no fuzz or hair sticking out at the top . Love this! Worked well and I was able to keep my naturally wavy hair straight for three days." — carla Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in multipacks). 33. KISS PowerFlex Maximum Speed Nail Glue so reliable (and CHEAP) that you'll never sacrifice your time and money for other versions again. This has a strong hold that lasts most reviewers over a week, but is still easy enough to remove that you can safely reuse long-term press-ons. Check out a TikTok of the nail glue in action. Promising review : "I’ve been using this on my press-ons, and when I say they last a month or longer without any popping off! I will never go back to any other brand. Easy to use, quick-drying, GREAT PRICE!! Like, how can you best that value? The size you get for the price is really unmatched. The glue removal is pretty eas y. If I plan on reusing the press-ons, I’ll soak them in water and soap and pop them off. If not, I’ll cut and shave down the nails and soak in acetone until it dissolves the nails enough for me to use my drill." — Big Ming Get it from Amazon for $1.97 . Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, . ___ Playoff berths, draft positioning and more are up for grabs in Week 17. There’s going to be plenty of football on television this holiday week with the NFL playing games on five out of six days, starting with a doubleheader on Christmas Day featuring four of the AFC’s top five teams. Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs visit Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Then, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. The Bears host the Seahawks on Thursday night and there are three games on Saturday, making Sunday’s schedule light at nine games. The Lions-49ers wrap up the weekend on Monday night. Pro Picks goes for another winning week. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) at New England (3-12) Line: Chargers minus 4 The Chargers would clinch a wild-card spot with a victory over the Patriots, who battled hard against the Bills. Los Angeles is 9-2 against the spread as favorites. Justin Herbert is 9-0 ATS in the Eastern time zone in his career. The Patriots have lost eight straight home games in December. BEST BET: CHARGERS: 23-16 Denver (9-6) at Cincinnati (7-8) Line: Bengals minus 3 Joe Burrow and the Bengals have to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They’re favorites for the 12th time this season despite a losing record. The Broncos would clinch a wild-card berth with a win. They’re 11-4 ATS. UPSET SPECIAL: BRONCOS: 23-22 Kansas City (14-1) at Pittsburgh (10-5) Line: Chiefs minus 3 The Chiefs can set a franchise record for wins in the regular season and wrap up the No. 1 seed along with home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs as they continue their quest for a third straight Super Bowl title. Kansas City got another playmaker when wide receiver Marquise Brown made his season debut. Mahomes is 3-0 with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions in his career vs. Pittsburgh. The scuffling Steelers are trying to snap a two-game losing streak after missing an opportunity to clinch the AFC North. Wide receiver George Pickens should return from a hamstring injury and he’ll open up the passing game for Wilson and the offense. CHIEFS: 24-20 Baltimore (10-5) at Houston (9-6) Line: Ravens minus 5 1/2 The Ravens have won five in a row over the Texans, including 34-10 in a divisional playoff game last season. Baltimore can move into first place in the AFC North with a win and loss by Pittsburgh. But Jackson and Derrick Henry face a tough challenge against Houston’s defense. Stroud and the Texans are reeling after losing receiver Tank Dell to a devastating knee injury. RAVENS: 23-19 Seattle (8-7) at Chicago (4-11) Line: Seahawks minus 3 1/2 The Seahawks have to win to maintain slim playoff hopes. The Bears have lost nine straight. Geno Smith and Jaxon Smith-Njigba should have a big day against Chicago’s pass defense. SEAHAWKS: 26-20 Arizona (7-8) at Los Angeles Rams (9-6) Line: Rams minus 6 A four-game winning streak has the Rams on the verge of securing the NFC West. Los Angeles aims to avenge a lopsided loss to Arizona in Week 2. The Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs and are reduced to playing spoiler. With Kyren Williams leading the rushing attack, the Rams don’t have to rely on Matthew Stafford’s passing as much. RAMS: 26-16 New York Jets (4-11) at Buffalo (12-3) Line: Bills minus 10 The Bills will know going in if they have a shot at the AFC’s No. 1 seed. If the Chiefs beat the Steelers and lock it up, Buffalo’s main priority will be keeping Josh Allen and everyone healthy. Still, they can rest in Week 18. After a subpar effort against the Patriots, the Bills can’t take Aaron Rodgers and the Jets lightly. BILLS: 27-16 Las Vegas (3-12) at New Orleans (5-10) Line: Raiders minus 1 The Raiders already hurt their draft positioning by beating the Jaguars last week. Another win could further knock them down and negatively impact their quest for a franchise quarterback. But coach Antonio Pierce wants to win and the players don’t care about draft slots. The Saints can’t get to the end of the season fast enough. RAIDERS: 20-16 Carolina (4-11) at Tampa Bay (8-7) Line: Buccaneers minus 8 The Panthers have embraced the spoiler role and coach Dave Canales will try to derail his former team’s playoff hopes. Bryce Young keeps improving and Chuba Hubbard is having a career year. The Buccaneers would’ve lost to Carolina last month if Hubbard didn’t fumble in overtime. Baker Mayfield and a turnover-prone offense have to overcome a depleted defense that couldn’t stop Cooper Rush and the Cowboys. BUCCANEERS: 26-20 Tennessee (3-12) at Jacksonville (3-12) Line: Jaguars minus 1 The winner of this one really loses because it’ll be costly in the race for draft positioning. TITANS: 19-17 Indianapolis (7-8) at New York Giants (2-13) Line: Colts minus 8 The Giants have come too far to lose the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Colts are clinging to slim playoff hopes. Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson combined for 308 yards and four TDs against the Titans. They could have similar results against New York. COLTS: 27-16 Dallas (7-8) at Philadelphia (12-3) Line: Eagles minus 9 1/2 The Cowboys are left to play for a winning record after being eliminated from the playoff race. The Eagles still need a win to secure the NFC East, but are almost locked into the No. 2 seed. If Jalen Hurts can’t play because of a concussion, Dallas has a shot against Kenny Pickett. Saquon Barkley is 268 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. He could have a big day facing the fifth-worst run defense in the NFL. EAGLES: 24-17 Green Bay (11-4) at Minnesota (13-2) Line: Vikings minus 1 The Vikings are two wins away from the NFC’s No. 1 seed with Sam Darnold. Let that sink in. But those won’t be easy victories. Minnesota has to beat Green Bay and then Detroit on the road to win the NFC North and get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Vikings defeated the Packers 31-29 in Green Bay in September. They’re getting the Packers on short rest off a Monday night rout. The Vikings have been overlooked and underrated. This is a statement game. VIKINGS: 27-22 Miami (7-8) at Cleveland (3-12) Line: Dolphins minus 6 1/2 Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins still have slim playoff changes and get an opportunity to win a game in cold weather. A loss helps the Browns hold onto a top-five pick in the draft. DOLPHINS: 25-16 Atlanta (8-7) at Washington (10-5) Line: Commanders minus 4 The Falcons regained control of their NFC South hopes when the Buccaneers lost. Now, they have a tough test against the Commanders with Michael Penix Jr. making his second start facing off against Jayden Daniels in another matchup between rookie QBs. Daniels beat Caleb Williams and the Bears earlier this season on a Hail Mary. Washington clinches a playoff berth with a win or a loss by Tampa Bay. COMMANDERS: 24-23 Detroit (13-2) at San Francisco (6-9) Line: Lions minus 4 The Lions aim to avenge their loss in the NFC championship game, though this matchup lost its luster because the 49ers are eliminated from the playoff race. Detroit clinches the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a win if the Packers beat the Vikings. If Minnesota beats Green Bay, the Lions have to beat the Vikings in Week 18 to win the division and secure the top seed so the result against San Francisco won’t matter. In that case, Dan Campbell could choose to rest some of his starters in preparation for a winner-take-all regular-season finale. LIONS: 26-23 ___ Last week: 12-4. Against spread: 8-7-1 Overall: Straight up: 168-72. Against spread: 131-105-4. Prime-time: Straight up: 39-14. Against spread: 29-23-1. Best Bet: Straight up: 9-7. Against spread: 8-8. Upset Special: Straight up: 9-7. Against spread: 9-7. ___ AP NFL: Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country's highest court confirmed ruling Frelimo party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections killed at least 21 people, including two police officers, authorities said Tuesday. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court's announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. “From the preliminary survey, in the last 24 hours, 236 acts of violence were recorded throughout the national territory that resulted in 21 deaths, of which two members of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique also died," Ronda said. He said 13 civilians and 12 police were injured. Ronda said 25 vehicles were set on fire, including two police vehicles. He added that 11 police subunits and a penitentiary were attacked and vandalized and 86 inmates were freed. Tensions were high in the country ahead of the The Constitutional Council ruling on Monday and violent protests started immediately after the announcement was made. Footage circulating on various social media platforms showed protesters burning and looting shops in the capital Maputo and the city of Beira, where some city officials were reported to have fled the city. Mondlane has called for a “shutdown” starting Friday but violence in the country has already escalated and the situation remained tense in the capital on Tuesday night following a day of violence and looting by protesters. The country of 34 million people has been on edge since the Oct. 9 general elections . Mondlane’s supporters, mostly hundreds of thousands of young people, have since taken to the streets, and have been met by gunfire from security forces. This brings to more than 150 the number of people who have died from post-election violence since the initial results were announced by the country's electoral body.

How to set up your new monitorPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members opened fire on journalists in Haiti's capital on Tuesday as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country's largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. Haiti's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. “I send my sympathies to the people who were victims, the national police and the journalists,” Voltaire said, pledging “this crime is not going to go unpunished.” There were concerns there could be fatalities — a video posted online by the reporters trapped inside the hospital showed what appeared to be two lifeless bodies of men on stretchers, their clothes bloodied. One of the men had a lanyard with a press credential around his neck. Radio Télé Métronome initially reported that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded. Police and officials did not immediately respond to calls for information on the attack. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. They forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year during violence that also targeted the main international airport and Haiti’s two largest prisons. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire. Video posted online earlier showed reporters inside the building and at least three lying on the floor, apparently wounded. That video could also not be immediately verified. Johnson “Izo” André, considered Haiti’s most powerful gang leader and part of a gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm that has taken control of much of Port-au-Prince , posted a video on social media claiming responsibility for the attack. The video said the gang coalition had not authorized the hospital's reopening. Haiti has seen journalists targeted before. In 2023, two local journalists were killed in the space of a couple of weeks — radio reporter Dumesky Kersaint was fatally shot in mid-April that year, while journalist Ricot Jean was found dead later that month. In July, former Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, more widely known as the General Hospital, after authorities regained control of it from gangs. The hospital had been left ravaged and strewn with debris. Walls and nearby buildings were riddled with bullet holes, signaling fights between police and gangs. The hospital is across the street from the national palace, the scene of several battles in recent months. Gang attacks have pushed Haiti’s health system to the brink of collapse with looting, setting fires, and destroying medical institutions and pharmacies in the capital. The violence has created a surge in patients and a shortage of resources to treat them. Haiti’s health care system faces additional challenges during the rainy season, which is likely to increase the risk of water-borne diseases. Poor conditions in camps and makeshift settlements have heightened the risk of diseases like cholera, with over 84,000 suspected cases in the country, according to UNICEF. Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

The Moratuwa University Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) highlighted that Sri Lanka is expected to earn USD 5 million from the country’s Information Technology (IT) sector during the next few years. Speaking to Daily News Business, Moratuwa University, FIT, Prof. Thanuja Sandanayake said that the current statistics reveal that due to the brain drain in the country there has been a severe shortage of IT professionals. “The brain drain or the migration of professionals for overseas employment has become a threat to the development of the local IT sector and to minimize this situation steps will be taken to create nearly 200,000 IT personnel by 2025 with the assistance of stakeholders. However despite this it is reported that the country has earned around USD 1.2 million from the IT sector this year.” She said even President Anura Dissanayaka recently said that there is a high demand for IT personnel in the country and therefore this sector will be developed to a greater extent during his tenure. Quoting statistics Prof. Sandanayake said around 85,000 IT personnel are currently in the country and a large number of local IT sector personnel have already left the country seeking better IT related employment opportunities. She further said the global import-export sector mainly depends on the IT field and it is the country’s responsibility to take this sector to a remarkable position. She further observed that the time has also come to re-brand the country’s IT sector and this could be easily done through the National Budget which will be presented shortly.

JERUSALEM — Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and a witness in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the “Uvda” investigative program into Sara Netanyahu. The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. The announcement did not mention Mrs. Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. But in a video released earlier Thursday, Netanyahu listed what he said were the many kind and charitable acts by his wife and blasted the Uvda report as “lies.” “My opponents on the left and in the media found a new-old target. They mercilessly attack my wife, Sara,” he said. He called the program ”false propaganda, nasty propaganda that brings up lies from the darkness.” It was the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus — highlighted by the prime minister's ongoing corruption trial. The pair have also had a rocky relationship with the Israeli media. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favors with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media. The report obtained correspondence between Sara Netanyahu and Hanni Bleiweiss, a former aide to the prime minister who died of cancer last year. The messages indicated that Sara Netanyahu, through Bleiweiss, encouraged police to crack down violently on anti-government protesters and ordered Bleiweiss to organize protests against her husband's critics. She also told Bleiweiss to get activists in Netanyahu's Likud party to publish attacks on Klein. Klein is an aide to billionaire Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and has testified in the corruption case about her role in delivering tens of thousands of dollars worth of champagne, cigars and gifts to Netanyahu for her boss. According to the report, Bleiweiss also was instructed to organize demonstrations outside the homes of the lead prosecutor in the corruption case, Liat Ben-Ari, and then Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who had issued the indictments, and protests and social media campaigns smearing political opponents. According to the report, Bleiweiss was a loyal aid to Netanyahu for decades. But while she was ill, it said Sara Netanyahu mistreated her, prompting her to share the messages with a reporter shortly before her death. Sara Netanyahu has been accused of abusive behavior toward her personal staff before. This, together with accusations of excessive spending and using public money for her own extravagant personal tastes, has earned her an image as being out of touch with everyday Israelis. In 2019, she was fined for misusing state funds. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees police and has repeatedly said the attorney general, Baharav-Miara, should be fired over a series of grievances against her, said the latest announcement was another reason for her to be dismissed. “Someone who politically persecutes government ministers and their families cannot continue to serve as the attorney general,” he said. And Justice Minister Yariv Levin, another Netanyahu ally and critic of Baharav-Miara, accused her of focusing on “television gossip.” “Selective enforcement is a crime!” he said in a statement.Canada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump’s tariff threat

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:06 p.m. ESTWalmart is testing body-camera technology in North Texas, as it looks to increase security at its stores, according to CNBC. At least one store is in Denton, the cable news network reported. “We’re always looking at new and innovative security technology used across the retail industry,” a Walmart spokesperson said. “This is a pilot we are testing in one market, and we will evaluate the results before making any longer-term decisions.” The Walmart spokesperson declined to say where the body camera test is being conducted. The retail industry is looking to bolster security for employees as they try out new technologies such as body cameras. For example, in the U.K., Tesco offered body cameras last year, according to The Independent . TJX, parent of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, said it has equipped employees with body cameras over the last year, according to a TJX spokesperson. Body cameras are used by some loss prevention associates, who have gone through thorough training, the spokesperson said. “At TJX, the safety of our associates and our customers is always a top priority,” the spokesperson said. “Video footage is only shared upon request by law enforcement or in response to a subpoena. Body cameras are just one of the many ways that we work to support a safe store environment.”

Eagles QB Kenny Pickett expects to be ‘ready to go’ vs. CowboysThe Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) launched attacks against each other, accusing the other side of insulting Bhimrao Ambedkar. The Congress’ State unit took out protest marches in several parts of the State against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remarks on Ambedkar in the Parliament . Carrying placards and posters of Ambedkar and raising slogans, party workers who took part in marches in various cities alleged that the senior BJP leader had “insulted” the architect of the Constitution and demanded his resignation. In State capital Bhopal, the march was led by M.P. Congress president Jitu Patwari, Rajya Sabha MP and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Singh, and Congress Working Committee member Kamleshwar Patel among other leaders. Various other State leaders led the marches in their respective districts. Speaking to reporters during the march, Mr. Patwari alleged that the BJP is anti-Dalit and anti-Constitution. “RSS chiefs have repeatedly raised questions about the Constitution. BJP people have often broken statues and idols of Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s statues and idols. Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s constitution states that all citizens in this country have equal rights to eat, live and live freely, but the BJP even questions that. It becomes clear that basically the BJP is anti-Dalit, anti-Ambedkar, anti-Constitution. Therefore, Amit Shah should resign and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji should apologise to the people of the country,” Mr. Patwari said. Hitting back, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in the evening that the Congress had caused pain to Ambedkar when he was alive and even after he was gone. “Congress gave Babasaheb pain at every step. They did not let him win the elections. They themselves took Bharat Ratna and did not even build a memorial for Babasaheb’s contribution... Congress’s feelings for Babasaheb Ambedkar are becoming clear and they are asking us to apologise,” Mr. Yadav said, speaking to reporters. The BJP also shared a video from a recent Congress protest claiming that Mr. Patwari had insulted Ambedkar. In the video, the Congress chief is seen writing something at the back of an Ambedkar poster while resting it on his knee. “They will never get better...Congressmen learned the game of insulting Ambedkar from Nehru ji. Jeetu Patwari proved by placing Ambedkar ji’s picture on his feet in public that Ambedkar ji’s picture is just a piece of paper for him. On the sacred land of Hindustan, Nehru ji and his Congress have always used Ambedkar ji and Dalits for political gains,” former State Minister and senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra said in an X post. In the recently concluded Parliament session, Mr. Shah had said, “ Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai - Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar’. If they had taken God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven).” The remarks had created heavy uproar inside the Parliament along with protests in the premises. The Congress has now planned to take the matter to streets in parts of the country. Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers also carried out demonstrations against Mr. Shah’s remarks in various districts across the State. The Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress will also carry out foot marches in 53 districts of the State from December 25 to 29. Published - December 25, 2024 02:51 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Madhya Pradesh / Indian National Congress

For forty-five years, Tehran’s Shiite theocracy has heralded its political system as a model for all predominantly Muslim countries—and even beyond. “We should try hard to export our revolution,” Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini declared, in 1980, after ousting the last of several Iranian monarchies that had endured for two millennia. “We shall confront the world with our ideology.” It was the core of his government’s strategy to overtly and covertly build a network of allies—dubbed the Axis of Resistance—to serve as frontline buffers against Israel, its regional rival. In 2004, I interviewed King Abdullah II, the Sunni leader of Jordan’s Hashemite dynasty, who warned about an emerging “crescent” of Shiite powers that began in Iran and extended through Iraq, into Syria, and ended in Lebanon. The Middle East— dominated for centuries by Sunni monarchies, tribal sheikdoms, and autocracies—was being transformed by this Shiite arc, he told me. The rivalry between Sunnis and Shiites, who are a minority in the Muslim world, dates back to a dispute over political leadership after the Prophet Muhammad died, in the seventh century. It intensified after Iran’s Revolution. The international story of this year may be the collapse of Iran’s alliances. In Syria, the sadistic Assad dynasty, in power for more than a half century, has been ousted by Sunni rebels. (The Assads are members of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of early Shiite Islam.) As the rebels advanced on Damascus, Tehran abruptly pulled out its Revolutionary Guards and Basij paramilitary forces, which had been deployed to prop up President Bashar al-Assad. “Some expect us to fight in place of the Syrian Army,” the commander of the Revolutionary Guard Corps told Iranian media. “Is it logical for the I.R.G.C. and Basij forces to take on full responsibility while Syria’s Army merely observes?” Several Iranian generals have been killed in Syria since 2014, the most recent one in November. Tehran also shuttered its Embassy and evacuated four thousand citizens on emergency flights. The Iranians “certainly weren’t willing or able to come to Assad’s rescue,” John Kirby, the White House national-security communications adviser, told me. “And in the aftermath of his departure, it’s clear to us that they are reëvaluating—I think is the best way to put it—their presence in Syria.” In Lebanon, the Shiite leader and military commanders of Hezbollah—the Iranian-backed party responsible for huge suicide bombings and the imprisonment of dozens of hostages spanning four decades—have been assassinated in Israeli air strikes. Hezbollah, too, withdrew its forces from Syria, and conceded that the rebel offensive there cut off routes to smuggle war matériel from Iran. In Gaza, Hamas, which has ruled the territory for eighteen years, has been decimated, and its leader killed. And in Yemen, the Houthi rebels, another Iranian ally, have been pounded in air strikes by a U.S.-led coalition in response to their attacks on ships in the Red Sea. (Houthis are Zaidi Muslims, another early Shiite offshoot, and have long been opposed by the Sunni monarchies in Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E.) At home, far fewer Iranians seem interested in rallying around the regime’s triumphalist imperative to “confront the world.” “The average citizen is not unhappy about what has happened in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza,” Nasser Hadian, a political scientist in Tehran, told me. “Hawks think the resistance should continue. But the average citizen thinks it is over and is happy about it. The power of the Axis of Resistance has been tremendously diminished. Reformists think it’s no longer an important source of our deterrence.” Many Iranians fear that the Syrian upheaval will generate chaos—at a potential cost to them if Tehran continues to aid and abet its allies. “We will be in a mess,” Hadian added. “We should leave it. Let the Americans, Europeans, and regional countries deal with it.” The Islamic Republic is increasingly consumed by domestic challenges. The oil-rich nation is suffering through chronic fuel and electricity shortages. Power cuts have led to repeated closures of schools, government offices, and banks. The country’s oil exports, crimped if not crippled by U.S. sanctions, have plummeted, falling twenty-five per cent short of Tehran’s official budgetary needs. After Assad left Syria, Iran’s currency sank to a record low; the exchange rate is almost eight hundred thousand rials to a dollar. (A month after the Revolution, in 1979, the rial traded at seventy-five to a dollar.) Since 2017, sporadic protests have challenged the theocracy over soaring prices of basic necessities, repression and imprisonment of dissidents, and women’s personal rights. The regime is weaker—on multiple fronts—than any time since Khomeini’s ambitious speech. At the same time, the loss of regional partners has made Iranians feel more vulnerable. Debate is now intense both within the government and in the public sphere about whether the country should escalate work on its controversial nuclear program. Tehran claims the program is for alternative energy, but it already has an amount of enriched uranium that goes beyond “any credible civilian justification,” Britain, France, and Germany charged recently. Iran could produce more than a dozen nuclear weapons, U.S. intelligence reported last month, although it will still need other sophisticated technology if it opts to do so. “I have had a hard time convincing students that the bomb will not enhance our security and will increase our vulnerability,” Hadian, who taught at the University of Tehran for decades, said. “They think we deserve it because we are a great global power—and a great power has nuclear weapons. That was true in the Shah’s time and will be the case in the future, too.” Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national-security adviser, has noted that public statements from Iranian officials have changed in the past few months, amid strategic setbacks, and that this raises new questions about a shift in their official doctrine. “The thing about foreign policy and geopolitics is that, when good things happen, often bad things follow,” he said, this week, at the 92nd Street Y. “An adversary that has suffered blows that weaken it obviously presents—we could say, that’s a good-news story. But it also generates choices for that adversary that can be quite dangerous, and that’s something we have to remain extremely vigilant about as we go forward.” Across the Middle East, the strategic landscape has been transformed this year by physical destruction, death, political vacuums, and poverty. Uncertainty pervades. “Certainly, 2025 will be a problematic year,” Marwan Muasher, a former Jordanian foreign minister, who is now a vice-president at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Amman, told me. “Syria should teach the Arab world two things. First, the Arab Spring is not over and won’t be over until the problems of the region—economic prosperity and political inclusion—are properly addressed. Second, those who live by the sword die by the sword. Stability cannot be maintained by brute force.” Political dangers loom for Syria in the months ahead, and could affect its neighbors in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel. The rebel victory sounded the death knell for the Baath Party, which was founded in 1943, in Damascus, as a socialist movement meant to unify more than twenty Arab countries. Its slogan was “A single Arab nation with an eternal mission.” Branches reigned in Syria for sixty-one years and in Iraq for thirty-five, until Saddam Hussein was ousted, in 2003. The armies that propped up both Baathist regimes crumbled, in the end, with breathtaking speed. A recent study , conducted by political scientists from Georgetown, the University of Virginia, and Emory, analyzed governments created by successful rebellions between 1900 and 2020. The paper concluded that authoritarian regimes founded by fractured rebel groups were usually short-lived, as armed rivals defected and staged new rebellions. The regimes that survived were generally founded by a single rebel group. Syria’s civil war, which erupted in 2011, involved several militias. Five parties have claimed territory since Assad fled. “What is so critical in Syria is that we see a credible and inclusive political process that brings together all of Syria, all communities in Syria,” the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, has stressed. “We need to make sure that state institutions do not collapse.” The scale of destruction across the region this year has been horrific, and the death toll staggering. None of the local economies will be able to absorb the shocks anytime soon. According to World Bank estimates, seven out of ten people in Syria live in poverty. The economy has shrunk by eighty-five per cent during the civil war. Lebanon has incurred more than eight billion dollars in physical damages and economic losses. The economy in Gaza has contracted by ninety per cent; it will take until 2050 to get the G.D.P. back to prewar levels. The World Food Programme reported this month that the territory is headed toward famine. Governments in the region and beyond have been struggling over what to do, whether individually or with one another. Within a week of Assad’s ouster, many reversed their policies. On December 14th, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the U.S. had been in touch with Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamist militia that led the offensive, and which is still on the U.S. terrorism list. “Syria has changed more in less than a week than in any week this last half century,” Blinken told reporters. Turkey reopened its Embassy in Damascus, more than a decade after it severed diplomatic ties as the civil war escalated. In Aqaba, the Jordanian port city, a hastily convened conference of U.S., U.N., European, and Middle Eastern officials declared that Syria had the opportunity to end decades of isolation. They committed to “supporting and working with” the Syrian people during their “unprecedented transition”—notably without Iran. ♦ 2024 in Review The best movies . The best jokes . The best books . The best podcasts . Our most popular cartoons on Instagram. The animals that made it all worth it . Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the best stories from The New Yorker .Biden’s final freebie vacation of presidency sparks outrage as Dems admit they can’t wait for him to leave White HouseAdam McKay has shared his thoughts on Wicked ‘s future in the U.S. Recently, the movie musical was briefly banned in Kuwait because of its LGBTQ cast. McKay took to X , formerly Twitter, to say that he “wouldn’t be surprised to see the movie banned in 3-5 years” in the U.S. if “America keeps going on the track it is.” The director called Wicked “one of the most radical big studio Hollywood movies ever made” and pointed to its storytelling as the reason for a potential ban in the near future. “I know Part 2 swings back to the center a bit but Part 1 is nakedly about radicalization in the face of careerism, fascism, propaganda,” McKay continued. When another X account responded to McKay’s original tweet, writing, “It just looked like more American fantasy, franchise-wringing,” the director told the user he’d be “shocked” at Wicked ‘s central themes. McKay continued in his own thread, “What’s really striking about Wicked Part 1 is that it’s coming out NOW when America has never been more right wing and propagandized. And yes, I know the theatrical production and the book are much older so part of the timing is a coincidence but still...” Since its release, Wicked has been heralded for its inclusive storyline which centers Cynthia Erivo as the ostracized, green-hued Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba and her frenemy Glinda, played by Ariana Grande. In a now-viral press interview , Out reporter Tracy E. Gilchrist informed Erivo, who identifies as queer, how LGBTQ people are resonating with the lyrics of “Defying Gravity.” Despite being turned into a meme, the journalist had more sincere intentions when she shared the observation. “When I posed the question to Cynthia about people holding space with the lyrics to ‘Defying Gravity,’ it was two days after the election, and everyone I knew in the LGBTQ+ community was trying to make sense of what we might be facing,” Gilchrist later clarified in an Out article. McKay’s comments about Wicked extended into a larger discussion about censorship in the U.S. He went on to compare the movie musical to other “radical big studio” projects like The Sound of Music , Citizen Kane , and The Hunger Games . In recent years, the director has created his own major studio productions that have political leanings, including 2021’s Don’t Look Up , 2018’s Vice , and 2015’s The Big Short . McKay made a point to clarify that that his Wicked comments were not a critique on the film. “I’m not reviewing the movie. I’m talking about the story and POV as a commercial worldwide film.”

The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index’s three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as US markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. US-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4% respectively. The Japanese car makers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street also got a labour market update. US applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labour Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late on Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.

Quant Trading Society Launches QTS Investor Pro, Democratizing Algorithmic Trading for Retail Investors 12-20-2024 12:22 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Quant Trading Society (QTS) [ https://www.quanttradingsociety.com/ ], a pioneering quant trading company, is transforming the financial landscape for busy professionals seeking efficient investment solutions. Through its newly launched QTS Investor Pro program, the firm is making algorithmic trading-once exclusive to hedge funds-accessible to retail investors. With over two years of development and a proven track record, QTS aims to bridge the gap between traditional investment strategies and cutting-edge trading technology. "Automation can be an intimidating concept for many investors," says Moayad Sallabi, Founder of Quant Trading Society. "Our mission is to make this advanced technology approachable, reliable, and profitable for everyone, regardless of their financial background or trading experience." QTS Investor Pro offers a comprehensive and guided experience for participants, granting them access to the firm's proprietary trading algorithms. Unlike traditional strategies limited to bonds, stocks, or real estate, the QTS system operates with a unique mechanism called the Dynamic Optimization Protocol. This protocol employs rigorous criteria to determine when and how the algorithms engage with the market, minimizing risk and ensuring consistent performance. "Dynamic Optimization is a game-changer for retail investors," explains Moayad Sallabi. "It's this innovation that sets us apart from competitors and delivers the reliability that investors demand." Since its launch, the QTS Investor Pro program has garnered significant attention, attracting over 950 users. The platform boasts an impressive rating, highlighting its effectiveness and ease of use. For added reassurance, QTS offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, ensuring clients can test the platform risk-free. One satisfied user shared, "I never imagined automated trading could be this simple. It's like having a hedge fund's capabilities in my back pocket." Algorithmic trading has long been the domain of institutional investors and hedge funds. QTS's initiative marks a pivotal moment in democratizing this sophisticated tool for everyday investors. By removing the time and effort traditionally associated with trading, the platform allows users to reap the benefits of advanced market strategies while focusing on their professional lives. Quant Trading Society envisions a financial future where automation is no longer a daunting prospect but a trusted ally for investors. The QTS Investor Pro program emphasizes a market-neutral approach, empowering participants to explore diverse financial opportunities beyond conventional assets. Applications are now open for those interested in exploring this innovative platform. Licensing opportunities are available through the Quant Trading Society website at http://www.quanttradingsociety.com , and prospective users can learn more about the company's journey and expertise via their Instagram @quanttradingsociety [ https://www.instagram.com/quanttradingsociety ]. About Company: Quant Trading Society (QTS) is a leading quant trading company headquartered in Cork, Ireland. The firm specializes in making algorithmic trading accessible to retail investors, empowering them with innovative tools to achieve consistent returns. QTS is dedicated to simplifying automation and bridging the gap between traditional investments and advanced trading strategies. Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Media Contact Company Name: Quant Trading Society Contact Person: Moayad Sallabi Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=quant-trading-society-launches-qts-investor-pro-democratizing-algorithmic-trading-for-retail-investors ] City: Dublin Country: Ireland Website: http://www.quanttradingsociety.com This release was published on openPR.Focus likely to shift to more disciplined growth, sustainable business models for start-ups

US stocks experience mixed fortunes on quiet day of tradingWASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!