Azerbaijani and US officials believe a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the deadly crash of an Azerbaijani passenger jet, media reports and a US official said Thursday, as the Kremlin cautioned against "hypotheses" over the disaster. The Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau, an oil and gas hub, on Wednesday after going off course for undetermined reasons. Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board died. The Embraer 190 aircraft was supposed to fly northwest from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the city of Grozny in Chechnya, southern Russia, but instead diverted far off course across the Caspian Sea. An investigation is underway, with pro-government Azerbaijani website Caliber citing unnamed officials as saying they believed a Russian missile fired from a Pantsir-S air defence system downed the plane. The claim was also reported by The New York Times, broadcaster Euronews and the Turkish news agency Anadolu. Some aviation and military experts said the plane might have been accidentally shot by Russian air defence systems because it was flying in an area where Ukrainian drone activity had been reported. A former expert at France's BEA air accident investigation agency said there appeared to be "a lot of shrapnel" damage on the wreckage. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the damage was "reminiscent" of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was downed with a surface-to-air missile by Russia-backed rebels over eastern Ukraine in 2014. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "It would be wrong to make any hypotheses before the investigation's conclusions." Euronews cited Azerbaijani government sources as saying that "shrapnel hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight". A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said early indications suggested a Russian anti-aircraft system struck the plane. Kazakhstan news agency Kazinform cited a regional prosecutor as saying that two black-box flight recorders had been recovered. Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew through a flock of birds, before withdrawing the statement. Kazakh officials said 38 people had been killed and there were 29 survivors, including three children. Jalil Aliyev, the father of flight attendant Hokume Aliyeva, told AFP that this was supposed to have been her last flight before starting a job as a lawyer for the airline. "Why did her young life have to end so tragically?" the man said in a trembling voice before hanging up the phone. Eleven of the injured are in intensive care, the Kazakh health ministry said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of mourning and cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of former Soviet nations. "I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash... and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Aliyev said in a social media post Wednesday. The Flight Radar website showed the plane deviating from its normal route, crossing the Caspian Sea and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed near Aktau, on the eastern shore of the sea. Kazakhstan said the plane was carrying 37 Azerbaijani passengers, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz and 16 Russians. A Kazakh woman told the local branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) she was near where the plane crashed and rushed to the site to help survivors. "They were covered in blood. They were crying. They were calling for help," said the woman, who gave her name as Elmira. She said they saved some teenagers. "I'll never forget their look, full of pain and despair," said Elmira. "A girl pleaded: 'Save my mother, my mother is back there'." Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Aliyev and "expressed his condolences in connection with the crash", Peskov told a news conference. bur/rlp/jsybeth 。

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.Influential people who died in 2024

HAMPTON — When you’re given the name Tuff Robinson, there are certain expectations for how you play basketball. Diving on loose balls, being a hard-nosed defender, and giving high-effort all of the time comes with the territory. “I’ve played every position since I was little,” Robinson said. “I just do whatever it takes to win. That’s the mindset, whatever I need to do, I’ll do it.” Toughness isn’t just something Robinson showcases on the floor, but off of it as well. Being born the youngest of three, the Hampton guard said his father wanted him to be resilient around his older brothers. Especially since the siblings were 10 and 11 years his senior, respectively. “My dad – I have two older brothers – and he said I would have to be tough or die,” Robinson said. “So he named me Tuff.” More than being an energy player for the Bulldogs, Robinson has stepped into an expanded role to start the 2024-25 campaign. Head coach Ned Smith had to replace his entire starting lineup from a year ago, and Robinson was one of the names he called on to make the jump. The junior has made the move pay dividends, as he has been one of Hampton’s most consistent options on offense. A defining moment for Robinson came in the Food City Thanksgiving Classic at Sullivan East. With the Bulldogs trailing by six at halftime against Mountain Mission (Va.), Robinson took the game over. He scored the first six points out of the locker room and 20 points in the third quarter on the way to a win. The guard said the ability to be a scorer is a result of his surrounding cast. “We’ve got so many people that can score,” Robinson said. “Just getting everybody else open and I always just find myself open. I like to drive, so that’s my main goal. Everybody else being able to shoot it, Chase (Davenport) and Caden (Davis), being such good shooters, the lane is always open.” Despite the whole starting five being new from a year ago, there isn’t much new among the members of the unit. “We’re all good friends and we work well together,” Robinson said. “So it hasn’t been too hard. It’s a lot of pressure, stepping into the starting five, but I think we’ve handled it pretty well so far.” After starting the year 7-2, the Bulldogs got their first taste of conference play on Tuesday night against Chuckey-Doak. They cruised to an 81-43 win, and Robinson played a large role in the contest. He scored 15 points while going 5-of-7 from the field, while also getting seven assists and six steals. The guard said he feels as though he rises to the occasion for big games like conference matchups. “It’s a little bit more pressure, but I like to play with the mindset that it’s always a big game,” Robinson said. “I try my hardest to do what it takes to win, and I think everyone else does, too.” Hampton has another early-season Three Rivers Conference showdown upcoming on Friday, as they will play host to South Greene. Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today

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Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid homage to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, lauding him as a 'giant of economics.' Sai expressed deep sorrow over Singh's passing at AIIMS Delhi, where the esteemed former leader died at age 92. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel echoed these sentiments, honoring Singh as a 'great national worker.' Both leaders reflected on Singh's remarkable contributions to India's economic and political landscape, notably his roles as Finance Minister, Reserve Bank Governor, and Planning Commission Head. Honoring Singh's legacy, former CM Raman Singh acknowledged the immeasurable loss his death represents for Indian politics. Leaders united in grief, emphasizing Singh's enduring influence on the nation's history. (With inputs from agencies.)Edo Govt declares over 200 vehicles missing

By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Apple launches AI integration

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A senior official in President Joe Biden's administration who oversaw its contentious efforts to address climate change by curbing oil drilling on federal lands while expanding renewable power was named Tuesday as the next president of a prominent environmental group. U.S. Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning will become president of The Wilderness Society effective next February, the Washington, D.C.-based group announced. Stone-Manning's 2021 nomination by Biden was bitterly opposed by Republicans who labeled her an “eco-terrorist” over her past ties with environmental extremists. Senate Democrats pushed through her confirmation on a party-line vote. The land bureau has jurisdiction over almost a quarter-billion acres (100 million hectares) of land, primarily in western states, that is used for oil exploration, mining, livestock grazing, recreation and other purposes. Under Stone-Manning, it sharply reduced oil and gas lease sales and raised royalty rates that companies must pay to extract the fuel. It also issued a rule elevating the importance of conservation , by making it a “use” of public lands on par with drilling or grazing. That marked a sharp departure from the land bureau's longstanding reputation for favoring commercial development over environmental preservation. The moves drew pushback from the energy, mining and ranching industries and their Republican allies in Congress. They have vowed to undo actions taken by Stone-Manning when the GOP assumes control in Washington next year as a result of its 2024 election wins. The land bureau also approved new solar and wind power projects and opened more public lands to renewable energy development under Biden. Before joining the administration, Stone-Manning worked as a senior aide to Montana Democrats U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and Gov. Steve Bullock. Her nomination by Biden sparked intense Republican opposition because of Stone-Manning's involvement in a 1989 environmental sabotage case. As a 23-year-old graduate student at the University of Montana, Stone-Manning sent a letter to federal officials in 1989 saying spikes had been inserted into trees in Idaho’s Clearwater National Forest. Spiking trees involves inserting metal or ceramic rods into trunks so they can’t be safely cut down, and the tactic has sometimes been used to halt timber sales. Two men were charged in the case, and Stone-Manning later testified against them, saying she mailed the letter at the request of one of the men and to prevent people from getting hurt. She was given immunity to testify and was never charged with any crimes, although an investigator later said she had stonewalled the criminal probe . During the debate over her nomination, GOP lawmakers called her a dangerous choice. She was confirmed with backing from moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. President-elect Donald Trump nominated Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to be secretary of the Interior, which includes the Bureau of Land Management. His selection for the land bureau director has not yet been announced. During Trump's first-term, the bureau went without a Senate-confirmed director. The Republican instead used acting directors who did not have to go before the Senate to advance his agenda to increase U.S. energy production. The bureau's headquarters were relocated to Colorado under Trump, leading to the resignation or retirement of hundreds of employees before it was returned to Washington, D.C., under Biden.IndieWire, the definitive outlet for creative independence in film and TV, announced on Thursday, November 21 new additions to the latest edition of its biannual IndieWire Honors event . Curated and selected by IndieWire’s editorial team, IndieWire Honors is a celebration of the filmmakers, artisans, and performers responsible for some of the most stellar offerings of this year’s film awards season . Today’s newly announced honorees include Spotlight Award winner “Emilia Pérez” star Selena Gomez, and Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow, Breakthrough Award winners as songwriters for “Moana 2.” They join previously announced honorees Denis Villeneuve, Pamela Anderson, Steve McQueen, Luca Guadagnino, Justin Kuritzkes, Jennifer Lopez, Amy Pascal, Angela Patton, Natalie Rae, RaMell Ross, Chris Sanders, and Adam Stockhausen. Additionally, IndieWire has announced that the December event will be hosted by “Blink Twice” star Simon Rex, returning to the hosting role that first drew him acclaim. Previous IndieWire Honors emcees include Emmy winner Alex Edelman, multi-hyphenate Dewayne Perkins, and lauded comedian Atsuko Okatsuka. The event’s fourth edition will be celebrated at an intimate cocktail reception on Thursday, December 5 in Los Angeles. Exclusive content, including honoree profiles, will be featured on Indiewire.com beginning November 29 and continue through the awards night, followed by video interviews from the event. “This will be another unforgettable IndieWire Honors, a night unlike any other,” said Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire’s Senior VP and Editor-in-Chief. “We’re excited to celebrate such a diverse group of extraordinary cinematic talent.” “We’re thrilled to have our most eclectic group of Honorees ever, celebrating the wide range of voices and artistry this awards season, as well as offering awards for animation and craft in film for the first time,” said IndieWire SVP & Publisher James Israel. The complete list of Winter 2024 IndieWire Honors honorees are: As someone who has spent the majority of her life working in entertainment, Selena Gomez is the modern model for how an artist can continually push themselves and expand their horizons into uncharted territory. Her gutsy turn in Cannes winner “Emilia Pérez” was something even her most ardent fans did not see coming. But living true to the spirit of “Mi Camino” — the breakout song her character Jessi performs in the film — Gomez shows off her gutsy ability to use her spotlight to guide audiences toward inspired work they never even knew they needed. The hold that “Moana” has on just about any young child with a Disney+ account is unfathomable, so to accept the task of following up Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Oscar-nominated music for the film is “Beyond” brave. But songwriting duo Emily Bear and Abigail Barlow cut their teeth with “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical,” which led to a Grammy in 2022, so they are already used to a high risk leading to a high reward. Their highly anticipated work on “Moana 2” brings new flavor to the world of Disney’s beloved Polynesian princess, almost certainly eliciting quite a few Chee Hoo’s from the fans that finally get to see it. It may be bold to refer to the person who adapted Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel as an auteur , but with “Nickel Boys,” a transfer of ownership has occurred. Filmmaker RaMell Ross takes an account of two young men trapped at an infamous reformatory school and composes his film in a way that provides the audience with a truly visceral experience. Using the tools that earned him an Oscar nomination for his directorial debut, the documentary “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” the filmmaker again shepherds a project that mesmerizes viewers in unforgettable ways, proving him to be a singular voice. It is its own accomplishment for a director to complete a “Dune” adaptation, so to see Denis Villeneuve take on the challenge of making the definitive cinematic version of Frank Herbert’s beloved sci-fi epic, and achieve such critical and commercial success while doing it, is inspirational. With “Dune: Part Two,” the Oscar-nominated director delivers on the promise of a deeper look at Arrakis, sandworms, political unrest, unsettling visions, and all. Along the way, he mixes everything from infrared camera techniques to wiring and practical effects, and brilliantly captures the imagination that fans of the novels harbored for decades. The setting is a vision realized, executed by a cast of young actors on the precipice of superstardom. A story about a superintelligent service robot raising a baby goose alongside a fox does not immediately suggest a film that absolutely drains the tear ducts of parents and children alike. Still, it’s fair to say that for the filmmaker behind projects like “Lilo & Stitch,” Chris Sanders knows how to deliver a beloved film that audiences did not know they needed. “The Wild Robot” is a confluence of all the elements that make animation special, from painterly images to a stellar voice cast and music that unlocks new levels of emotion. World War II has been mined so often that it’s a film genre unto itself, but even now, there are aspects of the global event that have been too often glossed over. With “Blitz,” director Steve McQueen and production designer Adam Stockhausen again team up to not only illuminate what life was like in London when Nazis bombed the city, but to also walks their audience right through its devastation, emotional and physical. Though the film centers on a mother and her son, the massive scale and practical design takes us away from the rubble, through infernos, and into the crowded, gilded tunnels toward safety. Pamela Anderson’s performance in Gia Coppola’s “The Last Showgirl” beautifully reflects her own isolation through decades in Hollywood — no wonder she describes it as the role she has been waiting for her whole career. There is a richness to her Shelly, the titular last showgirl at a Vegas revue, that allows viewers a deep empathy and understanding after spending just 85 minutes with her. While it may seem like the end of the road for Anderson’s showgirl, Coppola’s film feels like the start of a renaissance for the actress in finding more roles that understand her talent and further her evergreen appeal. It’s a simple concept: a day in which young girls attend a dance with their incarcerated fathers — but directors Angela Patton and Natalie Rae’s “Daughters” has extraordinary depth. It’s unnerving to witness the effects of America’s flawed justice system on families, but this Netflix documentary is not gloomy. Whether parent or child, many of these people are bright lights that prove everyone has a story worth telling. Although it is heartbreaking to watch them say goodbye after the climactic dance, the film leaves viewers with the hope that it can effect change, and lead to more programs rooted in keeping families connected through hardship. After three decades of chart-topping music, movie-star roles, and producing dozens of films that appeal to viewers across generations, Jennifer Lopez is not just a star, but someone who was truly born to entertain. In Amazon’s “Unstoppable,” based on the true story of one-legged college wrestling champion Anthony Robles, Lopez opts for a lower key: She portrays his mother Judy, who is inspired by her son to pursue a fresh start that results in her own triumphs. It’s a fitting role for Lopez in a career filled with them: she knows what it means to blaze her own trail, and what it takes to get there. “Unstoppable” is an apt description for this maverick performer. When “Challengers” hit theaters in April, it satiated an audience that suffered from months of ambivalence about theatergoing. Finally, there was a high-quality film that was fun to talk about and inspired theories — not to mention giving tennis lessons a try, or buying a pair of Chanel sandals, or opening up relationships. Released outside the standard window for awards contenders, it has staying power: This Halloween, character costumes of Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, and Zendaya were inescapable. It’s the grand slam for debut screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes, producers Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor, and director Luca Guadagnino, who delivered one of the defining films of 2024.Call the Midwife viewers 'rumble' Roger Noble's true identity in dark twist

Principal Financial Group Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Kadant Inc. ( NYSE:KAI – Free Report ) by 4.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,304 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 292 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Kadant were worth $2,131,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new stake in Kadant in the 1st quarter valued at about $209,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in shares of Kadant by 13.5% in the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 5,005 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,642,000 after purchasing an additional 597 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Kadant by 46.3% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 967,638 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $317,482,000 after purchasing an additional 306,352 shares in the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kadant during the 1st quarter worth approximately $221,000. Finally, Capital World Investors purchased a new stake in Kadant in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $92,993,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.13% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades KAI has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barrington Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $360.00 price objective on shares of Kadant in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. DA Davidson raised their price target on shares of Kadant from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Insider Activity In other news, Director Thomas C. Leonard sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $337.40, for a total transaction of $674,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,250 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,433,950. The trade was a 32.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, VP Fredrik H. Westerhout sold 600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $397.25, for a total value of $238,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,437 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $570,848.25. This represents a 29.46 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 3,052 shares of company stock valued at $1,091,455. Company insiders own 1.40% of the company’s stock. Kadant Price Performance Kadant stock opened at $419.55 on Friday. Kadant Inc. has a 1 year low of $249.51 and a 1 year high of $422.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a current ratio of 2.29. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $347.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $317.47. The company has a market cap of $4.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.94 and a beta of 1.21. Kadant ( NYSE:KAI – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The industrial products company reported $2.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.43 by $0.41. The company had revenue of $271.61 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $266.38 million. Kadant had a net margin of 11.12% and a return on equity of 15.10%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.69 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Kadant Inc. will post 10.11 earnings per share for the current year. Kadant Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 9th. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.31%. Kadant’s dividend payout ratio is currently 13.10%. About Kadant ( Free Report ) Kadant Inc supplies technologies and engineered systems worldwide. It operates in three segments: Flow Control, Industrial Processing, and Material Handling. The Flow Control segment develops, manufactures, and markets fluid-handling systems and equipment, such as rotary joints, syphons, turbulator bars, expansion joints, and engineered steam and condensate systems; and doctoring, cleaning, and filtration systems and related consumables consisting of doctor systems and holders, doctor blades, cleaning shower and fabric-conditioning systems, forming systems and wear surfaces, and water-filtration systems. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KAI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kadant Inc. ( NYSE:KAI – Free Report ). 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For “Hysteria!” actresses Anna Camp and Julie Bowen, horror is harder than comedy. “Horror is really hard actually because there is a fine line you have to walk; you have to make it feel grounded and you’re put in these extreme circumstances: You’re being possessed or pulled through the air, there’s nothing you can do to relate to that,” explained Camp of “Pitch Perfect” fame. “With comedy, you can have a relatable situation and go, ‘I’ve been in situations like that.’ There’s nothing you can compare (horror) to, so you have to use your imagination. I find it harder. Your imagination goes home with you at the end of the day. You’re still thinking crazy thoughts.” Bowen, best known for playing Claire Dunphy on “Modern Family,” agreed. “Comedy’s pretty binary because it’s like either you can make people laugh or you don’t. I can’t watch horror. I’m terrified, terrified! I am the easiest scare in the world, so as far as doing (horror), I want to make it as real as possible. It was hard because I had to be really, really crazy. There were times when I’d get back to my hotel room at 3 a.m., I didn’t want to be alone in my head,” said Bowen, laughing. Camp, Bowen, Royal Oak native Bruce Campbell (“Evil Dead”), showrunner David A. Goodman (“Futurama”), and Ypsilanti native/creator Matthew Scott Kane (“American Horror Story”) were promoting “Hysteria!” at the New York Comic Con in October. The horror series is streaming on Peacock. Set in the fictional Michigan town of Happy Hollow, the first episode of “Hysteria” begins with a popular quarterback’s disappearance and a pentagram is discovered on a garage door. As a result, rumors of the occult and satanic influence run rampant through the town. A trio of outcasts in a heavy metal band called Dethkrunch exploit this by rebranding themselves as a satanic metal band, which leads to them becoming the targets of the town’s witch hunt. “Something on my mind a lot in 2019 was we’re living in this post-factual age with social media. It seemed like decades and decades ago, you could trust the news. Now everything is in question. When lies end up getting disseminated as truth, that starts to warp people’s version of reality. Suddenly, they’re living in a world other people are not. That was going on in the world I was living in and I very quickly connected it to the 1980s satanic panic. It’s not really that different because people were saying Ozzy Osbourne, Jason Voorhees (of ‘Friday the 13th’), and the Smurfs were going to turn your kids into satanists and kill you in your sleep. That didn’t happen. It wasn’t true, but so many people got worked up into such a fervor over it, bad things happened. ... It was smoke without fire,” Kane said. “Disinformation is not new,” Campbell said. “Disinformation will tear a town apart.” Campbell portrays Happy Hollow Police Chief Ben Dandridge. “This guy’s a reasonable cop; he’s a rational person who doesn’t treat the teenagers like they’re idiots. It’s all very refreshing,” he said. “I want to play that guy again. I want cops to be that guy. I’m playing the cop (that) cops need to be. That’s my whole motivation for playing this guy: How would you like cops to be, especially the guy in charge, the chief of police? They’re lucky to have Chief Dandridge.” “It was truly an exciting moment when Bruce signed on,” Goodman said. By the end of the first episode, a supernatural phenomenon happens to Linda Campbell, played by Bowen. “Linda seems like one thing, then you realize she’s bananas. She’s either bananas or she’s possessed. Either way, it’s a complicated thing to play,” Bowen said. “With Julie, you can have your cake and eat it too,” Kane said. “She’s this fun, quirky mom. ... As the episode goes on, she’s pulled deeper into this thing and crazy stuff starts happening. That final act of the first episode was my favorite moment with her because this announced that this is not Claire Dunphy. We’re not doing that again; we’re pushing her as a performer. “Julie was so excited about doing stunts. She told us on many occasions she’s very sturdy and can take it. The same goes for Bruce and for Anna. We didn’t ask anyone to give us a flavor of the thing they did before. We cast people we loved so much (in their famous projects) that we wanted to give them the opportunity to do the exact opposite.” Added Bowen: “I got this script and was like, ‘Oh great. She’s a mom. How fun.’ I love moms. I’m a mom, but I felt this was not worth flying out of town to Georgia and being away from my kids. Then I got to the end of the pilot and was like, ‘She’s crazy!’ Is she possessed? There’s a lot more questions. It’s fun to just stretch again and do things I haven’t done in a while, which I found really exciting.” Kane said he felt lucky Bowen signed on at the beginning. “She was the first adult actor to sign on. That gave us such credibility to have a two-time Emmy-winning actor leading this show. Suddenly, it goes from this script from a relatively unknown writer into the new Julie Bowen show,” he said. It was the quality of the writing that attracted Camp, Bowen and Campbell to “Hysteria!” “I loved the script; it was incredibly well-written. It was immersed in the time period. It was such a good coming-of-age story, too — the feeling of being in high school again, being in the 1980s,” Camp said. “I talked to Matt who said my character (Tracy) was incredibly pivotal to the series and we’ll learn about why she is the way she is. So I was like, ‘I’d love to do this!’” For Campbell, the writing is everything. “A lot of times, I’ll get a script that could make the words interchangeable with every other character because the writing is very bland and just doesn’t have the detail you need. This was different. Every character was pretty distinct and pretty well-drawn,” he said. “It’s quality. It’s not a (expletive) show. It’s a real show that’s playing around with interesting themes. A lot of it is still relevant to this day.” “Hysteria!” has other Michigan connections, including University of Michigan alumnus Jonathan Goldstein (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”) and Dondero High School alumnus Jordan Vogt-Roberts (“Kong: Skull Island”), who both serve as executive producers. Kane explained why he set “Hysteria!” in Michigan. “You write what you know. I grew up in Ypsilanti, so that had a lot to do with it. More importantly, when you’re in a small town in the Midwest — somewhere like Michigan — these things don’t ever happen and word spreads fast and paranoia spreads quickly and (everything’s) blown out of proportion and takes up a lot of people’s minds,” he said. “Whether or not something is real doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if there are people willing to believe it does and willing it into the world. What does it matter if it’s objectively real or living rent-free in someone’s head?”