That Christmas to Beatles ’64: the seven best films to watch on TV this week

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Pick of the week
That ChristmasWeaving together the plots of three children’s books by Richard Curtis, Simon Otto’s studiedly British but bubbly animation is set in a tight-knit Suffolk coastal town just before Christmas. Shy newcomer Danny pines for nice, studious Sam; however, her twin sister – and budding lord of misrule – Charlie is in danger of missing out on pressies when Santa (Brian Cox) flies by. But after a blizzard strands most of the adults out of town, the home-alone kids have the chance to break with tradition, learn those inevitable life lessons and find inventive uses for the brussels sprouts. There’s something for everyone – snowball fights, runaway turkeys, an Ed Sheeran song – in a film destined for repeat viewings.
Wednesday 4 December, NetflixBeatles ’64View image in fullscreenDavid Tedeschi’s documentary – produced by Martin Scorsese and using extensive fly-on-the-wall footage by the Maysles brothers – follows the Fab Four’s 14-day trip to the US, when their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (watched by over 70 million people) catapulted them to international stardom. New interviews with Paul and Ringo, and the likes of Ronnie Spector and Smokey Robinson, plus reminiscences from fans, give a real sense of the hysteria the Beatles inspired, while the archive film captures the lads in their cocky, witty, world-beating prime. Out now, Disney+The Edge of the WorldView image in fullscreenThis 1937 drama turned out to be director Michael Powell’s ticket to the big time. It’s a lyrical but clear-eyed yarn about a Shetland island community in its death throes. The escalating conflict between tradition and modernity is personified in Eric Berry’s Robbie, who feels constricted by parental expectation, and childhood friend Andrew (Niall MacGinnis), who is involved with Robbie’s sister Ruth (Belle Chrystall) and wants to preserve the old ways. It’s followed by a quirky 1978 short that takes cast member John Laurie back to Foula, where the film was shot. Saturday 30 November, 10.30pm, BBC FourThe American Society of Magical NegroesView image in fullscreenA magical negro here is a “Black supporting character who exists solely to serve a white protagonist’s storyline”. In this satirical romcom, failed artist Aren (Justice Smith) is recruited to the titular secret group (with nods to Harry Potter) and assigned to boost the self-worth of Drew Tarver’s tech startup worker Jason, which includes hooking him up – Cyrano-style – with co-worker Lizzie (An-Li Bogan). If he doesn’t, levels of “white discomfort” could lead to the loss of the society’s magic powers – and racial violence. Sunday 1 December, 8.35am, 5.10pm, Sky Cinema PremiereThe Quiet GirlView image in fullscreenA delicate performance from the young Catherine Clinch anchors Colm Bairéad’s beautiful, achingly tender Irish-language film. She plays Cáit, one of five neglected children of a pregnant mother and feckless father, who is sent for the summer to a childless cousin Eibhlín (Carrie Crowley) and her farmer husband Seán (Andrew Bennett). They are attentive and kind but nurse a sadness Cáit can’t fathom in a drama as absorbed in the child’s view of the world as the woes of the grownups. Thursday 5 December, 9pm, Film4Fly Me to the MoonView image in fullscreenGreg Berlanti’s easygoing romantic comedy offers up a new, if fictional, angle on the oft-told story of Nasa’s historic Apollo missions. Marketing specialist Kelly (Scarlett Johansson, ladling on the charm) is hired by the Nixon administration to boost the public profile of the beleaguered US space programme, which she does through PR stunts and product placement – much to the irritation of Kennedy Space Center launch director Cole (Channing Tatum). Naturally, opposites attract – but a top-level directive to secretly fake the moon landing as a backup to Apollo 11 leads to personal and political complications. Friday 6 December, Apple TV+WonkaView image in fullscreenThis sugar rush of a fantasy musical from Paddington maestro Paul King brings those films’ homespun eccentricity to bear on an origin story for Roald Dahl’s confectionery genius. Timothée Chalamet (with a surprisingly effective singing voice) is all gangly exuberance as young Willy, who has a vision of selling his magical chocolates – but a trio of established rivals (Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas and Mathew Baynton) set out to crush him. New songs by Neil Hannon hit the spot, while the scene-stealing Hugh Grant is a hoot as an irate Oompa-Loompa. Friday 6 December, 7.55am, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere

Is holiday travel as bad as we think? The data is surprising.

Travel

If holiday travel stresses you out, you’re not alone.A recent survey by the travel platform KAYAK found that 84% of American travelers believe holiday flights face more delays or cancellations than at other times of the year, with 81% thinking that flight disruptions are getting worse. (Is anyone else getting flashbacks to the Southwest Airlines meltdown between Christmas and New Year’s Eve in 2022?)The travel experts at KAYAK decided to find out if that’s actually the case. “It really started as office chatter and debate as we headed into the holiday travel season,” said Kayla DeLoache, a travel trends expert for KAYAK and Cheapflights. “While some felt delays and cancellations were always expected during this time of year, others felt more optimistic that they were getting better. So we crunched the numbers.”To debunk some of the most common myths around holiday travel, the experts analyzed 50 airports with the highest search volume on KAYAK against 2023 flight disruption data from Aviation Edge and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief because it turns out holiday travel isn’t as bad as we think. “Flying during the holidays can be chaotic, but it’s not always as crazy as people make it out to be,” DeLoache said. “The holidays cram a ton of travelers into a short period, so chaos is kind of expected. Plus, with social media, any little hiccup gets blown up online, shining a spotlight on the bad rather than the good.”Enjoy your worry-free vacation: Best travel insurance policiesHere’s the truth on some of the top travel myths around the holiday season.Flight cancelled this holiday season?You’re entitled to a refund or other accommodation.Myth 1: There are more delays during the winter holidays than the rest of the year, and it’s getting worse.Last year, less than 1% of flights were canceled during the holidays. Only 5% were delayed for more than an hour during Thanksgiving and 6% during the December holiday season. In fact, the summertime actually had more delays, with 28.6% of flights delayed in July and August.Flight disruptions are also getting better, not worse. In 2023, only 0.33% of flights were delayed, down from 28% in 2022. “Well, if you remember, there were some big delays in 2022 during the holiday season that got a lot of media attention – not to mention the frustrated customers,” DeLoache said. So, airlines ramped up operations with better weather forecasting, streamlining systems, and improving crew scheduling procedures.Myth 2: Bad weather is the main reason why holiday flights are delayed.It may seem like winter storms are a holiday traveler’s worst enemy, but fewer than 27% of flights were delayed due to weather last winter. The leading reasons were carrier delays, like maintenance or crew issues, and late aircrafts.(Not a) myth 3: Flights that depart later in the day are more likely to be delayed.This is actually true. KAYAK found that air passengers who departed before 10 a.m. for Thanksgiving or Christmas in 2023 faced 12% fewer delays than those leaving after 5 p.m., thanks to reduced air traffic and additional buffer time. During Christmas and New Year’s, 31% of flights that left at 6 p.m. were delayed.Myth 4: Flying on the actual holiday is better.If you can be flexible with your travel dates, consider flying on the holiday itself. Not only will you score a cheaper flight price, but also a better chance of no delays. Last Thanksgiving Day saw 9% of flights delayed, compared to 20% the day before. Similarly, on Christmas Day, 17% of flights were delayed, compared to 33% the day after.(Sort of) a myth 5: Bigger airports have more delays.It depends. Major hubs such as John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and Denver International (DEN) experienced significant delays last Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, the airport with the highest percentage of delayed flights was actually the smaller Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL), where 34% of flights were delayed during the holiday travel period. Still, your chances for a smoother airport are better at a small airport, DeLoache said, with ones like San Jose International Airport (SJC) and San Antonio International Airport (SAT) the most on-time last holiday travel period.

Washington State Cougars and the Virginia Cavaliers meet in Carolina, Puerto Rico

Technology

#inform-video-player-1 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

#inform-video-player-2 .inform-embed { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }

Virginia Cavaliers (6-1) vs. Washington State Cougars (3-3)Carolina, Puerto Rico; Friday, 4 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Virginia and Washington State square off in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
The Cougars have a 3-3 record in non-conference play. Washington State ranks eighth in the WCC with 8.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Tara Wallack averaging 1.8.The Cavaliers are 6-1 in non-conference play. Virginia averages 18.6 assists per game to lead the ACC, paced by Yonta Vaughn with 5.8.

Mononoke The Movie The Phantom in the Rain Ending, Explained: Is Karakasa Destroyed?

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

‘Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain’ ends with the medicine seller confronting the Ayakashi, who is haunting the halls of the birth celebratory ceremony. The legendary vanquisher of Mononoke faces the difficult task of finding the spirit’s location while also trying to determine its origins. Although the reasons remain murky, viewers are given a view into the oppressive environment within the Ooku and the politics that poison its interiors, mainly through the eyes of the central characters, Asa and Kame. Something feels drastically off about the event, including the carnal happenings in Emperor Tenshi’s chamber. In the final moments, a clearer picture emerges of the ceremony and the darkness brewing inside it. However, it still does not dissuade the ambiguity rife within the narrative. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Canada’s ABC Technologies to buy British firm TI Fluid for $1.32 billion

Technology

:Automotive components supplier TI Fluid has agreed to a 1.04 billion pound ($1.32 billion) takeover by Canada’s ABC Technologies, expanding the combined group’s reach across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, the British company said on Friday.Shares in TI Fluid, which have surged more than 45 per cent since ABC Technologies’ first takeover proposal in August, climbed 2 per cent to 193 pence in early trade.London-listed TI, which has operations in 27 countries including Canada, the United States and Mexico, , counts automotive original equipment manufacturers as primary customers, providing thermal solutions and fluid systems for vehicle manufacturers across the world.Apollo Global-owned ABC Technologies’ offer at 200 pence per share represents a 53.4 per cent premium to TI Fluid’s 130.4 pence closing share price on Aug. 21 before ABC’s initial proposal.Toronto-based ABC Technologies is a global manufacturer and supplier of components to the global automotive industry.The deal implies an enterprise value of about 1.83 billion pounds for TI Fluid, which raised guidance in August for full-year adjusted operating profit margin expectation of more than 7.6 per cent, up from 7.4 per cent previously.The company’s board said it intends to recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the deal.($1 = 0.7860 pounds)

‘We cannot afford business as usual on debt management’ – AGI tells incoming government

Business News

The President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr Humphrey Ayim Darke, has underscored the critical importance of effective debt management as Ghana approaches its December 7, election. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, November 28, he stressed that the sustainability of the country’s economy hinges on how the incoming…

Thai economy improved in October on tourism, consumption and exports

Travel

BANGKOK : Thailand’s economy improved in October due to tourism, exports and private consumption, which was helped by the government’s economic stimulus measures, the Bank of Thailand said on Friday.Exports, a key driver of the economy, rose 14.2 per cent in October from a year earlier, while imports rose 17.1 per cent, resulting in a trade surplus of $1.4 billion, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) said.As such, industrial production increased in line with domestic demand and exports, excluding automobiles, it said. The current account surplus was $0.7 billion in October, up slightly from September’s surplus of $0.6 billion, it said.Private consumption increased 0.8 per cent in October from September and private investment rose 4.5 per cent, the central bank said, adding that government spending also rose sharply.Tourism, another key economic driver, helped the service sectors. However, structural impediments pressured business and household income in some groups, the BOT said. The BOT cut its policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.25 per cent in a surprise decision at its Oct. 16 review. It also raised its 2024 GDP growth forecast to 2.7 per cent from 2.6 per cent, but trimmed its 2025 growth outlook to 2.9 per cent from 3.0 per cent. The economy grew an annual 3 per cent in the July-September quarter, the fastest pace in two years, but officials and analysts saw increased challenges to maintaining the momentum next year.

Black Friday 2024 live: The UK’s best deals on TV, chocolate, toys and tech

Technology

Hello and welcome to the Black Friday blog. It is officially Black Friday, Friday, November 29 and throughout the day we’ll bring you some of the best bargains on offer. Whether it’s for that big Christmas gift you’ve been waiting to drop in price, a holiday you want to save money on, or just the everyday household item you need to replace, the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday, is probably the day to get it.After starting as a day of big sales and discounts in the USA on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday is now growing in popularity in the UK. It is the time that many shoppers get Christmas presents, or a cheeky treat for themselves, and you don’t want to miss out. From fantastic TV deals, to bulk buying chocolate and of course toys – plus plenty more, here are some of the best Black Friday deals. Happy shopping! Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news. You will receive updates from us daily.