A gripping thriller starring Liam Neeson, dubbed the ‘Irish Avengers’, has Netflix viewers on the edge of their seats. The film, In The Land Of Saints And Sinners, premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year before making its way to Netflix earlier this year. The movie boasts a stellar Irish cast including Kerry Condon…
Why it matters: Another warning has been issued about the potential impact of the Trump administration’s tariff proposals. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) writes that the extra cost of technology products could lead to a decline in US purchasing power of up to $143 billion. With purchases of laptops and tablets declining by as much as 68%, the tariffs could spoil what is set to be a record year for technology retail revenue in the United States.
Trump has said he plans to impose 10% to 20% tariffs on imported goods, while imports from China will be hit with an additional 60% tariff. He also proposed a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports
The CTA writes that Americans are set to spend a record $537 billion on consumer technology this year, up 3.2%, but that doesn’t factor in the potential impact of the tariffs.
The organization writes that more expensive tech goods could lead to a spending decline of $90 billion to $143 billion. The report suggests that purchases of laptops and tablets could decline by as much as 68%, gaming console purchases could drop by as much as 58%, and consumption of smartphones could fall by up to 37%.
The CTA also believes that the tariffs could push laptop and tablet prices up by 45% in the US. Game consoles would become 45% more expensive, monitors would see a 31% rise, and smartphones would be up 26%.
“The tech sector is America’s economic engine, driving global innovation and job creation,” said CTA CEO Gary Shapiro. “Our positive forecast reflects the industry’s strength, but proposed tariffs threaten the deflationary power of tech in the global economy. Tariffs are a tax on American businesses and consumers. We urge the incoming administration and Congress to prioritize an Innovation Agenda that fosters growth.”
The report also disputes Trump’s assertion that the tariffs would bring manufacturing back to the US. The CTA predicts that it will simply move from China to other countries where it is cheaper to operate than in North America. Even if manufacturing did come back to US shores, the tech industry would still rely on Chinese suppliers for many components.
It’s not just general consumer tech goods that could see price increases. It was reported last month that Nvidia and AMD are increasing the production and shipping rate of their upcoming GPUs so they can avoid the Trump administration’s tariffs – at least for a while.
Currently, Allu Arjun starrer Pushpa 2 is in the news and the film is getting all the love. It is breaking all the records at the box office. The songs, dialogues of the movie have become quite famous. Everyone is enjoying the movie at the theatres and are now waiting for the film to come on OTT soon. However, until it comes on OTT, there are some amazing movies on OTT already. There are many psychological thrillers that have released and it is one of the most watched genres. However, we have seen some amazing psychological thrillers made by the South industry. Also Read – Baahubali, RRR and Pushpa 2: How SS Rajamouli and Sukumar are revolutionising Pan-Indian cinema
There are many Malyalam movies made in this genre. There is one such movie that has spin-chilling scenes. The movie has grabbed attention on OTT and is trending on number 1 on Hotstar. Yes, we are talking about the movie, Athiran. It is a Malyalam psychological thriller that was released in 2019. Also Read – Pushpa 2 The Rule Reloaded: 20 minutes of bonus footage to be added to Allu Arjun film
The movie stars Fahadh Faasil, Sai Pallavi, Atul Kulkarni, Renji Panicker, Shanthi Krishna and Sudev Nair in pivotal roles. Prakash Raj also has a cameo in the movie. The film is directed by Vivek and bankrolled by Raju Mathew. It is similar to Hollywood film Stonehearst Asylum. Also Read – Ram Charan offers Rs 10 lakh aid to families after Game Changer event accident
The film is about mental illness, power dynamics, and the human psyche. It has some really brilliant scenes and the actors have really outdone themselves in terms of performance. Fahadh Faasil portrays doctor in the film and has done an amazing job. He has proved that he is one of the most versatile actors in the country.
He is also a part of Pushpa 2: The Rule. He played the role of antagonist Bhanawar Singh Shekhawat. The movie also stars Rashmika Mandanna as the female lead. The movie released on December 5 and has become the highest grossing film of 2024 in India.
EXCLUSIVE: A leading travel guide declared three Spanish holiday hotspots as ‘forbidden’ to travel to this year – but not all hope is lost for sun-seeking Brits14:49, 08 Jan 2025Updated 14:49, 08 Jan 2025Three Spanish holiday destinations have been put on the ‘forbidden’ list – but it’s not all bad news for sun seeking trips (stock)(Image:
EXCLUSIVE: A leading travel guide declared three Spanish holiday hotspots as ‘forbidden’ to travel to this year – but not all hope is lost for sun-seeking Brits14:49, 08 Jan 2025Updated 14:49, 08 Jan 2025Three Spanish holiday destinations have been put on the ‘forbidden’ list – but it’s not all bad news for sun seeking trips (stock)(Image:
Nominations for the 2025 High Plains Book Awards opened Jan. 6 and will be accepted through March 7. Information and nomination forms can be found online at
http://highplainsbookawards.org
.The Billings Public Library Board of Directors established the High Plains Book Awards in 2007 to recognize regional authors and/or literary works that examine and reflect life on the High Plains. The High Plains region includes Montana, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 2025 awards feature 13 book categories: Art and Photography, Children’s Picture Book, Children’s Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, First Book, Indigenous Writer, Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Short Stories, Woman Writer, and Big Sky Award.Nominated books must be published for the first time in 2024. Winners of each category will be announced at an awards event held in October 2025 in Billings, Montana, and each winner will receive $500 provided by sponsors.Each nominated book is read and evaluated by four community readers.Finalist books in each category will be announced in June. Winners in each category will be determined by a panel of published writers with connections to the High Plains region.For more information about the High Plains Book Awards, visit
www.highplainsbookawards.org
or contact Shari Nault, High Plains Book Awardspresident, at 406-672-6223 or [email protected]
The popular tourist city of Alicante is cracking down on the huge numbers of Airbnb and tourist flats.Up to 20% of homes in districts including the Old Town, San Juan beach and city centre are rental holiday accommodations, according to The Olive Press. A new city council study has revealed that Alicante has witnessed around a 23% increase in flats being rented out via the internet in the last year. The majority are offered online without the necessary permits, the authority added.To legally rent out a property in the short term to tourists in Alicante, landlords are required to register the property with the Valencian Tourism Registry and obtain a Tourist Use House License, which involves submitting a declaration of tourist use.The report calculates that there are around 3,555 tourist homes in Alicante, meaning that, according to the council, 2,596 are being advertised on the Airbnb platform without a registration number issued by the Valencian government. In areas like San Juan beach, a staggering 75% of promoted holiday properties do not have the mandatory registration. The new report comes shortly after the city council overwhelmingly approved an up to two year moratorium on awarding new holiday home rental licences. Rocío Gómez, the area’s urban planning councillor, explained that the two-year ban would provide an opportunity to review and refine regulations governing holiday rentals.“We aim to purify all those homes that do not comply with the regulations,” she said. She added that each district of the city will be studied to establish an appropriate number of holiday homes in the neighbourhood.Other top Spanish destinations have already announced similar limits, while Barcelona’s mayor, Kaume Collboni, also announced plans to ban short-term rentals in the Catalan capital from November 2028. Alicante, a port city on the east coast of the mainland, is one of the most popular destinations for British tourists, boasting stunning beaches, amazing restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. In December, Spain opened an investigation into Airbnb for failing to delete thousands of rental offers from its platform in an attempt to curb the business which has been blamed by authorities and many residents for contributing to housing shortages and soaring real estate prices.As of January 7, the average monthly rent for a property in the Alicante province was 1,371 euros (£1,141), with a single bedroom apartment costing 1,289 euros (£1,073). According to the council, the average nightly price for the 3,555 tourist homes in Alicante advertised on the Airbnb portal was an eyewatering 107 euros (£89).With these unbeatable prices, it is therefore not surprising that an increasing number of landlords are turning towards renting to tourists instead of long-term residents in order to increase their profits.
The popular tourist city of Alicante is cracking down on the huge numbers of Airbnb and tourist flats.Up to 20% of homes in districts including the Old Town, San Juan beach and city centre are rental holiday accommodations, according to The Olive Press. A new city council study has revealed that Alicante has witnessed around a 23% increase in flats being rented out via the internet in the last year. The majority are offered online without the necessary permits, the authority added.To legally rent out a property in the short term to tourists in Alicante, landlords are required to register the property with the Valencian Tourism Registry and obtain a Tourist Use House License, which involves submitting a declaration of tourist use.The report calculates that there are around 3,555 tourist homes in Alicante, meaning that, according to the council, 2,596 are being advertised on the Airbnb platform without a registration number issued by the Valencian government. In areas like San Juan beach, a staggering 75% of promoted holiday properties do not have the mandatory registration. The new report comes shortly after the city council overwhelmingly approved an up to two year moratorium on awarding new holiday home rental licences. Rocío Gómez, the area’s urban planning councillor, explained that the two-year ban would provide an opportunity to review and refine regulations governing holiday rentals.“We aim to purify all those homes that do not comply with the regulations,” she said. She added that each district of the city will be studied to establish an appropriate number of holiday homes in the neighbourhood.Other top Spanish destinations have already announced similar limits, while Barcelona’s mayor, Kaume Collboni, also announced plans to ban short-term rentals in the Catalan capital from November 2028. Alicante, a port city on the east coast of the mainland, is one of the most popular destinations for British tourists, boasting stunning beaches, amazing restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. In December, Spain opened an investigation into Airbnb for failing to delete thousands of rental offers from its platform in an attempt to curb the business which has been blamed by authorities and many residents for contributing to housing shortages and soaring real estate prices.As of January 7, the average monthly rent for a property in the Alicante province was 1,371 euros (£1,141), with a single bedroom apartment costing 1,289 euros (£1,073). According to the council, the average nightly price for the 3,555 tourist homes in Alicante advertised on the Airbnb portal was an eyewatering 107 euros (£89).With these unbeatable prices, it is therefore not surprising that an increasing number of landlords are turning towards renting to tourists instead of long-term residents in order to increase their profits.
ByJared RasicBecause I don’t live in L.A., New York, or some larger market like that, I don’t get to see a lot of the big releases before they open wide in theaters. This usually means that by the end of the year, many of the big awards contenders haven’t opened near me, so I have to build a list without having watched everything buzz-worthy.
I’m happy with the movies I have seen. Still, this list might look completely different in February. How we view art changes constantly, and when we compile these lists, it’s not so much a marker of what movies are objectively better than others but a look at the people we were at this specific time in history and the art shaping our social moment.
It was another powerful year for television, with streaming services dominating the landscape again.
“The Bear” Season 3 may have been its weakest season so far, but it was still better than most shows. Netflix’s adaptation of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” is sumptuous and gorgeous, finding the novel’s soul and expanding it in surprising and inevitable ways.
“Shogun” was intense and epic, yet it also managed to be fun and exciting in ways many shows forget to be. Nothing felt dragged out. It moved like a sword through grass. “Black Doves” and “Slow Horses” were both handily the best spy shows on television, proving once again that the United Kingdom has that genre on lock.
My favorite new shows in 2024 were MAX’s “The Penguin,” which basically set “The Sopranos” in the world of “Batman” (more fun than it sounds), and “Say Nothing,” Hulu’s uncompromising and electric limited series set in Belfast during The Troubles. If “Say Nothing” was a movie, it would be my favorite film of the year.
Here are my Top 15 movies of 2024:
15. “Inside Out 2” —Any animated movie that tries to teach children how to deal with low self-worth and anxiety is a classic in my book.
14) “Strange Darling”—A fractured cat and mouse chase told non-chronologically featuring an all-time great performance by Willa Fitzgerald and gorgeous, grimy cinematography from Giovanni Ribisi. Insane.
13) “The Outrun”—Saoirse Ronan has long been an actress of limitless depth and empathy, but her turn as an alcoholic rediscovering herself on the Orkney Islands while searching for a rare bird was an absolutely soaring achievement.
12) “Rebel Ridge”—With an instant movie star performance from Aaron Pierre, “Rebel Ridge” turns what could have been a dull retread of “First Blood” into an action-packed, blisteringly angry social commentary about police corruption and the power of family.
11) “Sing Sing” —This prison movie treats the bars like walls to a human soul more than the outside world. The movie refuses to wallow in po-faced pity, instead filling every frame with hope.
10) “Anora” —This drama is simultaneously a meet-cute romantic comedy and a deeply humane unpacking of the toll sex work can take on a soul.
9) “Challengers”—Sexy, fun, and genuinely surprising, “Challengers” is not just the best movie I’ve ever seen about tennis, but it beautifully carries the best love triangle since “The Notebook.”
8) “The Substance”—Deliriously disgusting body horror is held in check by a boldly fearless script that acts as a primal scream for a new kind of feminism that protects all women. It’s genuinely stunning.
7) “Do Not Expect too Much From the End of the World” —A pitch black Hungarian comedy that takes the piss out of late-stage capitalism while it spits in the face of the corporations that grind the working class to death, it’s both hilarious and devastating.
6) “Queer”—This film takes the drug-addled loneliness of “Naked Lunch” and plops it down in 1950s Mexico City, with seminal work from Daniel Craig and a scene-stealing Jason Schwartzman.
5) “Ghostlight” —This truly exceptional work of humanity ruminates on the healing power of artistic expression with grace, beauty, and breathtaking empathy. Remarkable.
4) “Conclave” — Who knew a bunch of old men voting for a new pope would feel like a glossy Hollywood thriller? Ralph Fiennes gives career-best work here, and that’s saying something.
3) “I Saw the TV Glow”—Still a movie I think about at least once a day, this dark and dreamlike fairy tale opens a young man’s lonely spirit and searches for ways to help him heal. Every viewing changes what I think this film means.
2) “The Beast” —This 3-hour French mind-bender only makes sense in your dreams. Bertrand Bonello is a master filmmaker, and this might be his best film yet.
1) “His Three Daughters”— Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, and Elizabeth Olson play three estranged sisters who reconnect in their father’s small New York City apartment to take care of him across his final days. Perfect in every way, it deals with grief so honestly that I found myself crying without really knowing why.
While I am looking forward to seeing several more 2024 offerings, I can’t wait to uncover what films 2025 brings.
A California high school known as a popular Hollywood film location was reportedly damaged by the Palisades Fire on Tuesday.According to Fox 11, ABC7, and CBS News, the flames reached the Palisades Charter High School football field and several campus structures, including the classrooms. The live news broadcasts show the blaze and heavy smoke on the property.Firefighters are seen on the ground trying to extinguish the fire to prevent it from spreading. On Wednesday, officials posted a closure notice on the school’s website.The notice states “students and families are advised to avoid the area and adhere to all evacuation orders. ” The school also noted that it will update the community about the start of the spring semester.USA TODAY has reached out to representatives of the school for more information.Palisades Charter High School has been used as a set for MTV’s beloved drama “Teen Wolf,” the movie “Freaky Friday” starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, and 1976’s horror-hit “Carrie,” among other movies and shows.Pacific Palisades is a neighborhood in Los Angeles.Palisades updates:Thousands flee, homes burn as wind-driven fires rage in CaliforniaResidents scramble for safetyMore than 30,000 people fled their homes as multiple wildfires driven by powerful Santa Ana winds blasted across parts of Los Angeles County on Tuesday, setting homes and hillsides ablaze as roadways clogged with residents scrambling to safety.Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency as firefighters struggled to contain the fires. The Palisades Fire, which destroyed buildings and had burned nearly 3,000 acres by early Wednesday, was burning between the beach towns of Santa Monica and Malibu. “California has deployed 1400+ firefighting personnel & hundreds of prepositioned assets to combat these unprecedented fires in LA,” Newsom said in a statement. “Emergency officials, firefighters, and first responders are all hands on deck through the night to do everything possible to protect lives.”Contributing: John Bacon, USA TODAYTaylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].