It’s every traveller’s worst nightmare – after landing at your dream destination, you realise your luggage hasn’t quite made the journey with you. So, what should you do?TravelVita Molyneux Travel reporter15:05, 19 Dec 2024Updated 16:49, 19 Dec 2024Losing your luggage can be stressful but there are ways to make it easier(Image:
Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreThe first trailer for the highly anticipated new Superman film from director James Gunn has arrived and fans of the comic book hero are ecstatic that a beloved character was included in the preview. The new film, which is just called Superman, will see David Corenswet take up the mantle of the Man of Steel as DC Studios looks to reboot its movie output under the vision of Gunn.The first snippet was shared on Thursday (19 December) and sees Corenswet in action for the first time as the Last Son of Krypton. Although the trailer doesn’t give much away about the story nearly all the key characters are shown including Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillon), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Mr Terrific (Edi Gathegi).However, the one character that everyone is talking about is Krypto the Superdog, Superman’s pet dog, who has many of the same powers as his owner. In the trailer, Krypto is seen rescuing Superman as he’s seen lying bloodied in the snow, presumably near Superman’s base in the Arctic, otherwise known as the Fortress of Solitude.Gunn wrote in his post about the trailer: “Here you go: the Superman trailer. Krypto, take us home.”Soon enough Krypto’s name was trending, with many fans expressing their delight at seeing the four legged friend in the teaser trailer. Clerks and Mallrats director, Kevin Smith said: “Good boy, Krypto! Great boy, @JamesGunn!”DC Comics writer Tom King, simply added: “Hell yeah”.Another enthusiastic fan wrote: “THEY GOT KRYPTO IN THIS? I have got the biggest smile on my face right now.”A third person wrote: “I truly don’t know why anyone ever doubts James Gunn. The #Superman trailer feels every bit like the triumphant new era for DC that this movie needs to be. David Corenswet exudes Big Superman Energy. And you just know Gunn is going to make you fall in love with Krypto. Excellent.”Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 daysNew subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelledTry for freeWatch Apple TV+ free for 7 daysNew subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelledTry for freeMeanwhile, a fourth person joked: “Let’s be real the best part of that trailer was Krypto. THAT’S MY BOYYYYYYYYYY”Krypto the Superdog in ‘Superman’
As Florida recovers from another devastating hurricane season, recovery and rebuilding are top priorities for many residents. However, there is one important step in the process that many home and business owners continue to overlook at their own expense – flood mitigation.Neglecting flood mitigation perpetuates a continuous cycle of flood loss and recovery. To give you an example of how serious the problem is in Florida, a Jacksonville home holds the record for most federally funded rebuilds with 21 claims.Flood mitigation is a relatively new industry and much of the nation is stuck in a “sandbag” mentality when it comes to protecting their homes from flooding. Over the past 20 years, the flood mitigation industry has experienced exponential growth and innovation. The sandbags of yesteryear have been replaced with professionally engineered and thoroughly tested flood mitigation systems – many of them manufactured in Florida, including at the Jupiter-based Flood Panel. Such systems are designed to protect everything from family homes and small businesses to hospitals, power plants and schools.National Weather Service doesn’t mention flood mitigationThe industry is so new that the National Weather Service doesn’t mention flood mitigation in its advice on what to do to strengthen your home before a tropical storm or hurricane, instead providing tips to board up your windows, bring your patio furniture inside, and keep trees around your home trimmed — all good tips, but none to keep floodwaters from damaging your home.Opinion:Florida isn’t alone in its home insurance crisis. We must reimagine the system.Flooding causes more damage annually than any other natural disaster, equating to billions of dollars in property damage. Building structures that are properly protected from flooding costs slightly more, but the additional expense will ultimately benefit communities in case of future flooding events. According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, every dollar invested in flood mitigation will save you $6 compared to the cost of recovery.In Jacksonville, Palm Beach and Miami, flood mitigation systems protect businessesIn Jacksonville, Palm Beach, Miami, the Keys and everywhere in between, I have met with home and business owners whose properties were protected from the flooding following hurricanes. Those businesses that invested in effective flood mitigation systems reopen to customers as quickly as the next day. Those businesses not protected face weeks or months planning their next steps or awaiting federal dollars to rebuild and losing revenue each day that they are closed. The devastation is heartbreaking, even for someone who has witnessed it hundreds of times. So, why don’t more property owners use modern flood mitigation systems? One issue is a lack of awareness of the range of flood mitigation solutions available and their effectiveness in protecting their most significant investment. Another reason is a reluctance to invest in protection. Flood mitigation is a lot like preventative care in medicine – those who get regular check-ups, immunizations, and screening are likely to catch issues before they become serious problems. Proper flood mitigation is like immunization for your home or business. Lastly, there is “flood amnesia,” a tendency for communities to forget about the impacts of flooding over time.Opinion:The connection between hurricanes and investment in FloridaAn important step in this process is educating lawmakers and changing the policy mindset that emphasizes flood recovery rather than flood mitigation. How many hurricane seasons will it take before Florida lawmakers realize that investing in flood mitigation now will protect communities, safeguard our infrastructure, and save taxpayer money? Florida’s economy is the fourth largest in the United States, roughly equivalent to the gross domestic product of Spain, which makes it critical to the financial well-being of our country.Clearly, hurricanes and tropical storms are becoming increasingly frequent and more severe, which makes flood mitigation even more important in the future. We owe it to Florida home and business owners, our state, and our nation to break this cycle of devastation and recovery and be more forward thinking in protecting our vital assets.Christopher Rodriguez is a flood mitigation specialist and a territory manager for Floodproofing.com in Jupiter.
Argument
An expert’s point of view on a current event.
How China’s Antitrust Tactics Undermine U.S. Tech Leadership
U.S. firms are caught in China’s regulatory crossfire, with billions at stake.
By Ruby Scanlon, a research assistant at the Center for a New American Security, where she researches U.S.-China technology competition, artificial intelligence, and national security.
A photo of the Nvidia headquarters in Santa Clara, California. A black and green sign with the word Nvidia on it is in the foreground.
A photo of the Nvidia headquarters in Santa Clara, California, on on May 21, 2024 in . Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
On December 20, at 6 am is when the first show of Real Star Upendra’s UI will begin in Karnataka. KVN Productions, which is distributing the film in the state has fixed early morning shows, starting at 6 am, in single-screen theatres only, most of which are sold out. Those that aren’t yet, have, perhaps only a few seats in the front row left. Bookings for the early morning shows had opened on December 16 and within hours, there was a sea of orange on ticket aggregator sites.
Upendra in UIUI Day 1 bookings in Karnataka
Multiplexes joined in only by December 18, but will not open their doors as early. Multiplex shows start only at 9 am. As of noon on December 19, the official figure of tickets of UI that have been sold in Karnataka stands at 75,000, states Lahari Velu, the film’s executive producer, adding that it is likely to cross the 100,000-mark by the time the first show starts on Friday.The day 1 booking gross is yet to be ascertained, but the figure is unlikely to be very high, given that the film is not releasing with hiked ticket rates. While single-screen rates are in the range of Rs 200 to Rs 350, multiplexes tickets are between Rs 300 to Rs 550.
UI, which marks Upendra’s return to the director’s chair after nearly a decade, has been kept tightly under wraps, with the actor-filmmaker not revealing much about the plot. In fact, if it were up to him, he says he would have released the film without any promotional material and that the teasers so far were a business requirement.Upendra in UIThe film is all of 2 hours and 12 minutes in run-time, with the official synopsis stating that it is about the conflict between a king and an extraordinary man. How this clever man outwits the king and usurps his town to become its dictator is the basic log line. The film also stars Reeshma Nanaiah, Sadhu Kokila, Nidhi Subbaiah, late Guru Prasad, among others.On December 20, at 6 am is when the first show of Real Star Upendra’s UI will begin in Karnataka. KVN Productions, which is distributing the film in the state has fixed early morning shows, starting at 6 am, in single-screen theatres only, most of which are sold out. Those that aren’t yet, have, perhaps only a few seats in the front row left. Bookings for the early morning shows had opened on December 16 and within hours, there was a sea of orange on ticket aggregator sites.Multiplexes joined in only by December 18, but will not open their doors as early. Multiplex shows start only at 9 am. As of noon on December 19, the official figure of tickets of UI that have been sold in Karnataka stands at 75,000, states Lahari Velu, the film’s executive producer, adding that it is likely to cross the 100,000-mark by the time the first show starts on Friday.The day 1 booking gross is yet to be ascertained, but the figure is unlikely to be very high, given that the film is not releasing with hiked ticket rates. While single-screen rates are in the range of Rs 200 to Rs 350, multiplexes tickets are between Rs 300 to Rs 550.UI, which marks Upendra’s return to the director’s chair after nearly a decade, has been kept tightly under wraps, with the actor-filmmaker not revealing much about the plot. In fact, if it were up to him, he says he would have released the film without any promotional material and that the teasers so far were a business requirement.The film is all of 2 hours and 12 minutes in run-time, with the official synopsis stating that it is about the conflict between a king and an extraordinary man. How this clever man outwits the king and usurps his town to become its dictator is the basic log line. The film also stars Reeshma Nanaiah, Sadhu Kokila, Nidhi Subbaiah, late Guru Prasad, among others.
Mohamed Jabaly finds himself stateless in Norway when the Gaza border suddenly closes.Palestinian director Mohamed Jabaly travels abroad for the first time when he is invited to a film exchange in Norway. But he finds himself stuck in the arctic winter, unable to return home to Gaza. Jabaly is denied a work permit and ordered to leave Norway. With nowhere else to go, he appeals the decision.
Meanwhile, his documentary, Ambulance, gains international success as appeal after appeal is denied. Jabaly refuses to give up on his Palestinian identity and insists on being recognised for his work. He decides to take his case to court, which leads to an unprecedented ruling. All the while, he lives a parallel life online, staying connected with his family in Gaza and making this award-winning film for his mother and his city.
From Gaza to the Arctic is a documentary film by Mohamed Jabaly.
Lionsgate
Before he became the “Yellowstone” universe impresario he is today, Taylor Sheridan was a struggling actor who, after a recurring role on “Sons of Anarchy,” decided to turn his attention to writing. It’s a good thing he did, too, because he has since built nothing short of an empire for himself with “Yellowstone” and its ever expanding universe, home to a bewildering amount of series which will now include the recently confirmed Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser spin-off.
But since he left acting behind, Sheridan hasn’t just managed to take over the small screen. Even before “Yellowstone” launched in 2019, the man was churning out an impressive run of crime drama/thrillers which included such well-respected fare as the Denis Villeneuve-directed “Sicario” and snowy shocking thriller “Wind River.” Both films comprised part of what Sheridan called his “American Frontier Trilogy,” and there’s another film that also belongs to that group: 2016’s “Hell or High Water.”
This neo-Western crime drama features Chris Pine and Ben Foster as brothers Toby and Tanner Howard who, on the verge of losing their family ranch, turn to bank robbing in order to stay afloat. All the while, they’re pursued by Texas Rangers Marcus Hamilton and Alberto Parker (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham). With Marcus on the verge of retirement, he’s not about to let the Howards get away with their final robbery, leading to a tense showdown between the brothers and the rangers.
Though “Hell or High Water” grossed $37.9 million on a $12 million budget and was a big critical success, you don’t hear it mentioned as much as “Sicario,” which surely has to do with the fact that particular movie is one of Denis Villeneuve’s best films. But when you consider that “Hell or High Water” also earned four Oscar nominations and that it currently holds a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than any other Sheridan film, it really should command as much attention as Villeneuve’s celebrated collaboration with Sheridan. In lieu of that, the 2016 movie is at least faring well over on the Paramount+ streaming service.
Hell or High Water has found its way onto the Paramount charts
Lionsgate
“Hell or High Water” hit Paramount+ on December 1, bringing a nice dose of tense crime drama to the streamer just in time for the festive season. While the Paramount+ charts are indeed full of Christmas movies, they’re also a surprisingly mixed bag, with twisted horror sequel “Smile 2” managing to climb to the number three spot, just below Jack Black’s holiday offering “Dear Santa” at number one and “Bad Santa” at number two. But cast your eyes down to the lower half of the Top 10 and you’ll see Taylor Sheridan’s movie creeping into the rankings.
As of December 18, 2024, “Hell or High Water” has managed to hit number 10 on the Paramount+ most-watched movie charts. According to FlixPatrol, a site that tracks and aggregates streaming viewership data across platforms, it took until the 18th for the film to chart at all, but it seems audiences have only just discovered Sheridan’s crime drama beneath the mounds of content on offer. Whether the film can remain on the charts and outdo the festive fare there remains to be seem, but it would be a nice little renaissance for this particular Sheridan offering (and on the service that also hosts his vast “Yellowstone” empire, no less).
Hell or High Water is Taylor Sheridan’s best film, according to Rotten Tomatoes
Lionsgate
If “Hell Or High Water” manages to stay, or indeed climb the Paramount+ charts, it will be a well-earned renaissance for what is, according to Rotten Tomatoes, Taylor Sheridan’s “best” movie. Now, a site that states there’s only nine perfect horror movies in cinematic history should not be taken too seriously when it comes to deciding the quality of movies. But with a 97% score, there’s no doubt that “Hell or High Water” is about as objectively as “good” a movie as possible.
Interestingly enough, Sheridan’s top three films on Rotten Tomatoes are the “American Frontier Trilogy” movies, with “Sicario” managing a 92% score and “Wind River” hitting 87%. Fans might have expected the Denis Villeneuve-directed effort to top that list, but the rankings speak for themselves. And with 297 reviews to its name on the site, it’s not as if “Hell or High Water” managed its 97% score through some sort of fluke due to a lack of reviews.
Meanwhile, over on Prime Video, Sheridan’s “Sicario” sequel, “Sicario: Day of the Soldado,” is similarly occupying the number 10 spot on the streamer’s most-watched charts, as per FlixPatrol. Unfortunately, that 2018 effort only managed a 62% RT score, so if you’re going to join the streaming crowds and reacquaint yourself with any Sheridan movie, “Hell or High Water” is probably your best bet.
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Bipartisan work. Despite some contentious issues surrounding voting, election boards comprising both Democrats and Republicans work together to ensure a fair voting process. Image Credit: Tetra Images/Getty Images In October 2020, I was appointed to chair the board of elections in the North Carolina county where I live. While I’ve followed politics closely my whole…