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define cockfighting US urges push for Syria de-escalationMore Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggests

Tips for saving on back to school costsA TRAVEL expert has revealed the clever packing hack that stops your clean clothes getting dirty on holiday. Travellers are always eager to find new hacks that allow them to pack their luggage more efficiently before jetting off on holiday . One of the biggest annoyances for those heading abroad is keeping dirty clothes separate from clean ones while on holiday. It goes without saying that our bags often become a jumbled mess by the end of the trip. However, a well-seasoned flyer has shared one method which could help stop this headache for holidaygoers . According to Samantha Hamilton, an expert traveller who runs the New England Wanderlust blog, there is a correct way to pack your dirty laundry when traveling. Read More in Travel H amilton, who has been travelling for over 10 years, told holidaygoers: "Keep your dirty laundry in a separate packing cube." The travel whizz says that packing cubes have been the most effective way to contain the smell. She also says they are especially handy as they maintain an element of the compression to save space. A specific compression packing cube will help you save space and keep the smells away from clean clothes. Most read in News Travel Compression packing cubes are great at creating more space in your suitcase as they reduce the room taken up by clothes and other items. Hamilton also advises travellers to “throw a dryer sheet into your dirty laundry cube" to help with bad smells. You might not use a lot of dryer sheets in your normal laundry routine, but pack a few to keep your suitcase from permanently absorbing the scent of every adventure. There is no harm in putting them in your suitcase and also in the packing cube with your dirty laundry. Hamilton says they are her "last line of defence" to stop odours from seeping into the rest of her suitcase. And for longer trips they come in handy even more thanks to taking up no room at all. Hamilton added: “I also no longer mix my dirty laundry with my shoe bags, and keep them separate. “I noticed that, especially with shoes like canvas sneakers, they would start to absorb odours from the dirty laundry.” READ MORE SUN STORIES It follows this travel expert's clever trick using tape that makes packing so much easier and keeps everything in one place. And this packing expert has revealed how to pack enough luggage that is still under 7kg. Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday. 1. Write a list Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase. Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack. 2. Involve your kids Jemma said: “My girls are getting older, they’re 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say ‘this is what you need’ and they follow the list. “And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them ‘you can have whatever you want in there as long as it’s not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that’s their ‘home away from home’ items.” 3. Try a hack or two She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you’ve just got to pick the right one for your trip. "Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you’re trying to get a lot of items into your case, it’s a space saver. “Packing cubes are great - for example, I’m going on holiday with my three kids and we’re all using the same suitcase for our clothes. "These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked. "I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we’ve arrived." 4. Decant beauty products Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller. Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive. 5. Get organised before you come home Jemma said: “When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes. “Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person. "Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don’t leave it."

GSC Game World has released Patch 1.0.2 for Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl , focusing on bug fixes for six main missions that could block players from moving further into the game. The missions On the Edge, A Minor Incident, Just Like the Good Old Days, All That is Left, Down Below, and Visions of Truth have all had problems big and small fixed. Most of them are focused on situations where you might have done something in an unexpected order, or where an NPC(s) would spawn dead or not at all. In addition, more of those obnoxious EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION errors are fixed. This patch comes hot on the heels of the first one yesterday , which had more than 650 fixes across a broad spectrum of Stalker 2's systems, quests, visuals, and more. It also had fixes for teeth, and we all know how important teeth are to Stalker 2's developers. You can find the full details of Stalker 2 Patch 1.0.2 on Steam . Despite and because of the bugs, Stalker 2 is very much the kind of mess that we expected it to be—with the 83% PC Gamer review calling it a "beautiful, brilliant, but busted Stalker just like they used to make." "Stalker 2 is killing it on Steam because we stan a janky weirdo," wrote PC Gamer's Fraser Brown . The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. "All in all, it's a pretty great result for a game that revels in its rough edges and old-school design sensibilities. But if anyone was going to love it, it would be us PC lot. While Stalker is a multiplatform series, at its heart it's a pure PC game: complex, systemic and risky."

Lawyer who fought for DACA urges undocumented immigrants to prepare for a future without itAlmost three quarters of Scottish businesses are confident about their prospects next year, a survey has suggested. The Bank of Scotland’s business barometer poll showed 73% of Scottish businesses expect to see turnover increase in 2025, up from 60% polled in 2023. Almost a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more. The poll found that 70% of businesses were confident they would become more profitable in 2025, a two per cent increase when compared with the previous year. Revenue and profitability growth was firms’ top priority at 52%, though 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than one in five (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability. Other areas businesses are hoping to build upon AI-assisted technology (19%), and 24% will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and 23% plan to invest in staff training. The business barometer has surveyed 1,200 businesses every month since 2002, providing early signals about UK economic trends. Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland commercial banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams. “As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”

When it comes to home theater soundbars , one brand that knows how to drive the decibels home is Vizio . And, as luck would have it, both Amazon and Best Buy are offering a slew of Cyber Monday discounts on some of Vizio’s best soundbars of the last few years! You’ll save up to 25% on some of the best Vizio gear, and we have no doubt you’ll love what you hear. In terms of markdowns, the Vizio Elevate 5.1.4 is the best of the bunch, with both retailers offering the premium Dolby Atmos system for $550, which is $450 less than normal. It’s hard to say exactly how long these discounts are going to stick around for though. While we’d like to say they’ll stick around for a while after Cyber Monday, that may not be the case. So, if you like what you see, your best bet is to buy soon! Our top pick: Vizio Elevate 5.1.4 — $550 $1,000 45% off We’ve had great things to say about the Vizio Elevate Series in the past , and this edition of the P514a-H6 5.1.4 is getting the Cyber Monday treatment from both Amazon and Best Buy! Save $450 for this awesome Dolby Atmos emulator, which comes with the main soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, and two rear speakers. You can thank us after watching your first movie in surround sound! Vizio All-in-One Soundbar (SV210D) — $130 $150 13% off The Vizio SV210D is $20 off today and features two built-in subwoofers for deep, room-rattling sound. You’ll even be able to download the Vizio mobile app to fine-tune audio settings in a pinch! Vizio M-Series All-in-One 2.1 Soundbar — $141 $200 21% off Bringing the power of four high-performance drivers and two bass-heavy woofers to the table is just another walk in the park for Vizio. And that’s exactly what you’ll get with the Vizio M-Series All-in-One 2.1 Soundbar. Score this killer setup for $59 off as part of Amazon and Best Buy’s Cyber Monday soundbar deals. Vizio Elevate 5.1.2 — $400 $500 20% off Continuing the Cyber Monday soundbar deals , we have the incredible Vizio Elevate 5.1.2. Marked down to $400 from $500, this is another Atmos emulator that can virtualize a complete surround system. It also comes with a Vizio QuickFit attachment, allowing you to easily connect the soundbar to the bottom of your 4K TV. How to choose a Vizio soundbar for Cyber Monday One of the most important questions to ask yourself is, “Do I just want better TV sound, or am I looking for a complete surround sound experience?” If the former is what you’re after, you’ll want to focus on the Vizio soundbars with 2.0 or 2.1 designations, which means the soundbar only has two audio channels (plus some kind of subwoofer). If you’re saying yes to the latter, keep an eye out for 5.1, 5.1.2, and 5.1.4. These numbers mean the Vizio soundbar decodes Dolby and DTS surround and that the soundbar can (in most cases) virtualize a big speaker system. Other essential features to look out for are built-in Alexa or Google Assistant for music streaming and smart home controls, as well as HDMI ARC/eARC if you want Netflix and other smart TV apps to be playable through your new soundbar. And if you want more than just Vizio options, do have a look at our roundup of the best soundbars , best Dolby Atmos soundbars , and best soundbars under $500 . How we chose these Cyber Monday Vizio soundbar deals When it comes to Vizio audio, you’re always in good hands. So, we do our best to highlight the soundbars that give you the best bang for your buck. First and foremost, this means keeping a keen eye on the best discounts and promos for the days and weeks leading up to Cyber Monday. If you’re only going to save a few bucks on a product that may not have the best reviews or is hard to find, you’re not going to see it on our list of deals. We’ve also reviewed several Vizio products over the years and know what it takes to create a high-performance entertainment space. To that end, we look for Vizio soundbars that deliver an excellent mix of highs, mids, and lows, along with convenient technologies such as wireless subs and rear channels. HDMI ARC/eARC are checkboxes that are just as important to us. Without this certification, you’ll have a much harder time sending TV audio to your Vizio soundbar.BBC Strictly Come Dancing 'winner' confirmed hours before quarter-final airs

A bankruptcy judge will hear arguments on Monday over the auction that allowed satirical newspaper The Onion to buy Alex Jones' Infowars . Jones is attempting to block the sale, claiming there was fraud and collusion in the Nov. 14 bankruptcy auction where The Onion was named the winning bidder. A federal judge ordered the liquidation of Austin-based conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' personal assets. He owes more than a billion dollars for lies he spread about the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. Alex Jones declared bankruptcy and was forced to liquidate his assets after he was ordered to pay $1.4 billion to the families of victims in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Jones called the 2012 shooting that killed 20 first-graders and six educators a hoax. He has since acknowledged the shooting happened. A judge found Jones liable for defamation and emotional distress. All proceeds from the liquidation would go to Jones' creditors, which include the Sandy Hook families. Jones is appealing the $1.5 billion ruling, citing free speech rights. Satirical news publication, The Onion, has purchased Alex Jones' Infowars with plans to use the platform to raise awareness about gun violence prevention. The Onion was declared the winning bidder for Jones' Infowars. The live auction was held for the intellectual properties owned by Free Speech Systems Media Holdings, which includes Infowars, its production rights, archives and social media accounts. The auction also packaged the Infowars store to include its web domain, trademarks, contracts, e-commerce platform and customer lists. Jones' store sells supplements and apparel. Jones claims The Onion colluded with some of the families and a court-appointed trustee overseeing the liquidation process. The other bidder, First United American Companies, runs a website affiliated with Jones that sells nutritional supplements. First United American Companies offered $3.5 million, while The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash. The humor sites' bid also included a pledge to Sandy Hook families to forgo some or all of the auction proceeds due to them to give other creditors a total of $100,000 more than they would receive under other bids. Court-appointed trustee Christopher Murray says the provisions made the lower bid more beneficial to the creditors. Jones alleges the bid violated the rules of the auction and says Murray canceled an expected round of live bidding. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said during a Nov. 14 hearing that he was concerned about the process and transparency. Jones has called the auction "rigged and a "fraud" on his show. InfoWars founder Alex Jones (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) and The Onion website (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images) It is not clear how soon Lopez will issue a ruling. He could allow The Onion to move forward with the purchase, order a new auction or name First United American Companies the winner. If The Onion is declared the winner, it could kick Jones out of his Infowars studio in Austin. "The Onion is proud to acquire Infowars, and we look forward to continuing its storied tradition of scaring the site’s users with lies until they fork over their cold, hard cash," said The Onion’s CEO Ben Collins in a statement. The nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety said it would be the "exclusive launch advertiser" for the reworked site. If the sale is approved, it is expected to launch in January 2025. Jones has already set up a new studio, websites and social media platforms. Lopez is also expected to rule on if Jones' personal X account, and its 3.3 million followers, should be included in the sale. Lawyers for X submitted a court filing saying that the social media company is the owner of both Jones' and Infowars' accounts and that they have not given permission for them to be sold. Information in this article comes from the Associated Press, Everytown for Gun Safety, court filings and previous FOX 7 reporting.

Samsonov stops 31 shots as Golden Knights earn sixth straight win, 3-0 over the Flames

More Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggestsFormer female sports greats, media figures, and even a conservative lawmaker tore into a recent New York Times article for referring to women as “non-transgender women.” Tennis legend Martina Navratilova and other prominent people blasted the piece online for the characterization, stating the outlet should just be referring to biological women as women. “NYT- you stink. We are women, NOT TRANSGENDER WOMEN. Just WOMEN will do in the future,” Navratilova wrote on the social media platform on Friday. The Times published an article Thursday which documented the inner turmoil of a women’s college volleyball team – the San Jose State University Spartans – attempting to field a transgender female player in upcoming tournament games. The attempt to get the trans player to compete has caused division, not only in the league, but among team members, some of whom are suing their own team. The outlet reported, “Earlier this month, a senior co-captain of the Spartans and the assistant coach filed a lawsuit to stop the transgender athlete from playing in this week’s Mountain West Conference tournament, claiming that she violates Title IX rights to gender equity at federally funded institutions.” The co-captain was joined by 10 female volleyball players, most of whom are on other teams that play against the Spartans. The Times described the situation as a “complicated mess,” noting that “some of the Spartans no longer talk to one another at practice or outside of games” and adding that even the head coach – who supports the trans student – “has stopped talking to some players off the court, too.” The Times reporter Juliet Macur appeared to step into the debate as well, as further down in her piece, she employed the term “non-transgender women” as one way to distinguish biological women. Describing some of the science that fuels that debate as to whether trans women can compete in women’s sport, Macur wrote, “On its website, the N.C.A.A. says trans volleyball players are eligible to play if their testosterone level is less than 10 nanomoles per liter — that’s at least four times more than what many experts say is the top of the range for non-transgender women, and in the typical range for adult men.” At other points in the piece, the reporter also referred to the biological female athletes as “athletes assigned female at birth.” Frustrated social media users trashed these controversial descriptions of women. British Olympian and activist Sharron Davies posted, “Written in the NYT ... women are now Non-transgender women! Just wow! How anyone can say this isn’t a men’s rights movement I’ll never know, whilst women lose their rights, their words, their safeguards, their sports, their sex discrimination laws... I will never understand.” Anti-trans activism account “WomenAreReal” addressed the outlet on X, stating, “Hey @nytimes Don’t call us ‘non-transgender women.’ Just stop it. Stop all the offensive terms for us.” The account listed other politically correct terms trans activists have used to referred to biological women, including, “birthing parent,” “uterus haver,” “menstruator,” and “vaginal presenting.” “We are WOMEN!” the account added. Journalist Tiffany Wong posted, “LMAO, New York Times is calling normal, sane women ‘non-transgender women.’” Conservative journalist Andy Ngo remarked, “In woke ideology, there are only transgender women and non-transgender women.” Even Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., trashed the outlet, stating, “The New York Times, everybody, where women are defined as ‘non-transgender women.’ What bs. #HoldTheLine.” Fox News Digital reached out to The New York Times for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

Girl leaves for school, goes missing; probe launched

The Buffalo Bills made history Sunday night during their 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers in more ways than one. Not only did quarterback Josh Allen set a new record for total touchdowns throughout his career, but the Bills also became the first team since 2009 (the Indianapolis Colts) to clinch a division title with five or more games left in the regular season. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.

Roborock makes history with out-of-this-world video campaignFollowing the meeting between Chhagan Bhujbal, the senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader sulking over not being included in the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, party president Ajit Pawar made it clear that “it is an internal matter of the party”, hinting his disapproval of his party colleague seeking intervention of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership. Speaking in Pune, Ajit, the deputy chief minister in the new government, responded to Bhujbal’s complaints with a pointed remark. “It is an internal matter of the party, and we will resolve it our way.” Earlier in the day, Bhujbal had an elaborate discussion with the CM in Mumbai on the prevailing political and social atmosphere in the state. After the meeting, Fadnavis told reporters in Pune that there are plans to send Bhujbal to the “national stage” since Ajit wants the NCP to become a “national party”. “Bhujbal met me in Mumbai. He has already told you the reasons for which the visit was scheduled. He is our leader. Ajit Pawar cares about Bhujbal saheb. Ajit dada wants his party to become a national party. Thus, it was discussed to send Bhujbal saheb to the national stage,” said Fadnavis who was in the city for a programme on PM Awas Yojana. Bhujbal was accompanied by his nephew Sameer Bhujbal during the nearly 30-minute meeting with Fadnavis at the latter’s “Sagar” bungalow in Mumbai. “Fadnavis told me that the Other Backward Classes have played an important role in the landslide victory of the Mahayuti in the assembly elections (held on November 20) and he will take care that the community’s interest is not harmed,” Bhujbal said. He said Fadnavis has sought some time to think over the issues related to OBCs. “He (Fadnavis) said he would arrive at some decision in 10 to 12 days,” the NCP leader said. OBC leaders are opposed to activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s demand for reservation for the Maratha community in the Other Backward Class (Kunbi) category. Bhujbal has also been vocal about his opposition to the demand. Asked if he was planning to switch over to the BJP, Bhujbal refused to elaborate and said he has already spoken his mind on the issue of him being ignored in the ministry expansion. On Sunday, representatives of OBC organisations from different parts of Maharashtra met Bhujbal in the city. The NCP leader, who represents Yeola constituency in Nashik district, did not attend the winter session of the state legislature that concluded in Nagpur on Saturday. He left for Nashik on December 16, a day after 39 Mahayuti MLAs took oath as ministers. The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, won 230 of the 288 seats in the state assembly polls held last month.

More Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggests