• This is the busiest time of year for returning holiday gifts.
• Retailers from Amazon to L.L. Bean have adopted a range of return policies.
• Most shoppers consider whether they can make free returns when deciding where to shop.

That unwanted kitchen gadget or too-big sweater someone gave you over the holidays represents a growing problem for retailers.

With the holiday shopping season over, retailers now face return requests from customers at the fastest pace of the year. The days between December 26 and 28 are the busiest for returns, with up to three times more than usual, payments platform Lightspeed Commerce found in a review of returns data collected over the last two years.

The amount of stuff that gets returned has been growing each year, too.

Marcus Shen, the CEO of B-Stock, which resells returned items and other excess merchandise, told Business Insider that his company has seen the volume of returns that it processes grow over the last few years. Some of the most-returned items include clothing, electronics, and toys, Shen said.

The share of goods returned to retailers is expected to reach almost 17% and be worth $890 billion this year, a report from the National Retail Federation, or NRF, found earlier this month. In 2019, it was about 8%.

The growth of e-commerce — and easy return policies at many retailers — has contributed to that explosion of returns, Shen said. Some shoppers even plan on making returns from the start with strategies like bracketing, which is buying multiple sizes or colors of an item with the intent to keep just one and return the others.

"I think that a lot of these very consumer-friendly policies are really a big driver here," Shen said.

Returns represent extra costs for the stores that handle them, whether it's the cost of shipping or marking down the price of the returned item when reselling it.

Many companies try to trim the costs of returns by offering customers incentives to use less costly methods. Earlier this year, for example, Amazon offered customers discounts on groceries if they stopped by an Amazon Fresh store to make a return.

Many retailers offer at least one free way to return a purchase, which often involves customers dropping their return off at a store or other physical location. That usually saves the retailer the cost of shipping the item from a customer's home to a processing center.

Many have also added incentives — or penalties — meant to steer customers toward those options.

Outdoor retailer REI, for instance, recently banned some customers who made frequent returns from doing so in the future. The action targeted a group of customers that had an average return rate of 79% on purchases, REI told ABC in November.

Amazon took a different approach with one of its policies, which tries to preempt returns entirely by letting shoppers on its website know when a product is frequently returned.

Other companies, such as L.L. Bean and GameStop, assess a fee of less than $10 in order to mail something back to them.

"Retailers are responding by investing in a variety of innovative returns options," the NRF said in its report. "But, at the same time, they are facing growing costs for managing and processing returns."

The NRF's report found that 76% of shoppers decide where to shop based on whether the retailer offers free returns.

"Given the priority shoppers place on free returns, retailers have to walk a fine line in implementing these policies," the NRF said in its report.

At the same time, retailers are paying more attention to controlling the costs of processing returns, Shen told BI.

Getting merchandise back to retailers is only part of the challenge: Once a retailer has the item, it has to decide whether to write it off completely or resell it at a discount, either to its own customers or through companies like Shen's.

"It's cash that's sitting on the floor of a warehouse," he said.

• We found so much to see, do, eat, and drink while exploring Germany and Austria.
• Some of my favorite experiences were Oktoberfest in Munich and a spa day in Baden-Baden.
• As an avid hiker, I enjoyed my time in the Black Forest and the German and Austrian Alps.

My husband and I recently returned from an almost monthlong trip to Germany and Austria.

Over the span of 25 days, we climbed mountains in the Alps, drank beer at Oktoberfest, visited castles and museums in Salzburg, and drank riesling on the Rhine River.

We had so many great adventures during our time abroad, but these are things I recommend to anyone visiting the area:

Treat yourself to a spa day (or two) in Baden-Baden.

The last thing I expected to find in a German town was a Roman-Irish bath — but Baden-Baden, on the northern edge of the Black Forest, is known for just that.

We spent a day at the thermal baths of Friedrichsbad, which had warm and hot air baths, thermal steam rooms, cold and warm pools, a quiet room, a cream service, and a reading room.

It's a nude spa, though it offers two days a week where swimwear is required. At first, being naked with a bunch of strangers threw us off, but once we got past feeling awkward, it was a unique, relaxing experience.

The next day, we also visited a nearby family-friendly thermal bath with hot and cold plunges and a sauna.

If you time your trip right, go to Oktoberfest in Munich.

We planned our trip for the fall for several reasons, but going to Oktoberfest in Munich was at the top of that list.

For our day at Oktoberfest, we arrived at the fairgrounds just as they opened. This gave us all day to visit multiple beer tents and throw back pints like we were in college all over again.

But the festival is more than just beer: It has live music, fried foods, and all sorts of rides. Our day was carefree and filled with good drinks, good food, and good times.

Consider challenging yourself with a tough hike in Berchtesgaden National Park.

My husband and I love taking long hiking trips on vacation.

I recognize that climbing mountains in the German Alps is not everyone's idea of a good time, but there are plenty of more accessible hikes in Berchtesgaden National Park for all skill levels, including the stunning Wimbach Gorge.

The best hike of our trip, however, was to Germany's highest waterfall. We scaled the cliffside using tree roots as handholds and footholds, dealing with rock scrambles, fallen trees, and slippery terrain the whole way up and down.

It's not for the faint of heart, but it's the most thrilling hike we encountered in Germany.

Don't miss the Eltz and Neuschwanstein castles.

Of the many castles we explored in Germany and Austria, my favorites were Eltz and Neuschwanstein.

The former is in the Rhine region of Germany and looks like it was plucked right out of a fairy-tale. A third of it is still in use by the descendants of the family who built it, so you can't take pictures inside, but you can learn its interesting history during the tour.

Neuschwanstein is perhaps the most famous German castle — it even inspired Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. Since it's located in Bavaria, it's surrounded by dramatic scenery, including snowcapped mountains and a beautiful alpine lake.

Live out your favorite fairy-tales in the Black Forest.

If those castles aren't enough to satiate your need for fairy-tale magic, head to the Black Forest, which is said to have inspired the Brothers Grimm to come up with stories like Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, and Sleeping Beauty.

We went on multiple hikes in the Black Forest, which, despite its name, is one of the greenest places I've ever been.

The area felt lush and dramatic, with constant fog swirling around, occasionally revealing or concealing mountaintops, ancient ruins, and murky lakes.

Plus, while in the area, we got to try a hefty slice of Black Forest cake.

Take the Hungerburg funicular to the Alpenzoo — and then higher for amazing views of Innsbruck.

One of the best things we did in Austria was in Innsbruck, where we took the funicular up to the Alpenzoo (Alpine Zoo).

This zoo is built into the mountainside, so be ready for plenty of steep ascents and descents as you wander around. That's by design since it's home to animals who thrive on the mountainside. We saw bears, moose, marmots, otters, eagles, bison, ibexes, lynxes, and more.

After a few hours, we hopped back on the funicular and took it all the way to the snowy summit. Up there, we had sweeping views of Innsbruck below, which is surrounded on all sides by mountains.

Schedule time for a salt-mine tour.

We intended to hike to the Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden, but it was closed due to avalanche risk while we were there. Instead, we pivoted to a tour of the nearby salt mine, and it was a great decision.

Our guided tour was excellent. We loved taking multiple fun modes of transportation throughout, including a mine train, a funicular, a boat that crossed a brine lake, and, my favorite, multiple long slides that took us deeper into the mines.

Berchtesgaden isn't the only place in the area where you can explore salt mines — Salzburg and Hallstatt also have tours.

Honestly, my list could keep going.

Looking for even more things to do in Germany and Austria? Here are a few of my honorable mentions:

• Spend an evening drinking local rieslings in Cochem while enjoying a view of the castle on the hill.
• Go to a Mozart concert in the Marble Hall of Salzburg's Mirabell Palace.
• Order schnitzel at a small mom-and-pop restaurant in Bavaria.
• Hike around Lake Gosau (near Hallstatt) and take the path that branches off to see the greenest swamp you'll ever encounter.

• The Netflix Korean-language series "Squid Game" returned for season two this week.
• The latest "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Joy to the World," is streaming on Disney+.
• Comedian Nate Bargatze has a new stand-up special on Netflix.

The year is winding down, but there are still plenty of new streaming releases to catch up on before 2025 arrives.

Netflix's wildly popular Korean-language show "Squid Game" returned three years after season one premiered and became a global phenomenon. Meanwhile "Doctor Who" fans, also known as Whovians, will rejoice in the franchise's annual Christmas special, released on Disney+ this week.

Comedy fans can check out Nate Bargatze's new stand-up special on Netflix. Those who have been keeping up with the ongoing drama surrounding the UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect, Luigi Mangione, can watch a special edition of "20/20" on Hulu.

Here's a complete rundown of all the best movies, shows, and documentaries to stream this weekend, broken down by what kind of entertainment you're looking for.

Whovians can tune into the new "Doctor Who" Christmas special, "Doctor Who: Joy to the World."

The "Doctor Who" special, released on Christmas Day, follows the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) as he and a woman named Joy (Nicola Coughlan) meet at the Time Hotel and embark on a time-traveling adventure.

Streaming on: Disney+

Keep the Christmas season vibes going with "Elf."

In Jon Favreau's 2003 movie "Elf," Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a human raised by elves who experiences culture shock when he travels to New York City in search of his biological father.

Streaming on: Hulu, Max

Or another classic, "The Holiday," before it leaves Prime Video in a few days.

The iconic 2006 Nancy Meyers rom-com stars Cameron Diaz as Amanda and Kate Winslet as Iris, two heartbroken women who swap homes during the holidays and end up striking up new romances.

Streaming on: Prime Video

"Squid Game" returned for an explosive second season this week.

In season two of Netflix's breakout hit, Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), known as Player 456, returns to the games and tries to end the deadly competition for good. The new season features two major plot twists, a high-stakes finale, and a tease for "Squid Game" season three, coming in 2025.

Streaming on: Netflix

Sports fans can get a behind-the-scenes look at Aaron Rodgers' comeback in "Aaron Rodgers: Enigma."

The three-episode docuseries follows Rodgers as he recovers from an Achilles heel injury, experiments with alternative medicine, and draws controversy for his stance on the COVID-19 vaccine.

Streaming on: Netflix

For sports-meets-true-crime, watch "ChiefsAholic: A Wolf in Chief's Clothing."

The documentary is based on the real-life story of Xaviar Babudar, a Kansas City Chiefs mega fan who funded his obsession through a series of bank and credit union robberies in 2022. Babudar, who was known as "ChiefsAholic," was charged with 19 counts in 2023.

Streaming on: Prime Video

There's already a primetime special about Luigi Mangione, called "Manhunt: Luigi Mangione and the CEO Murder — A Special Edition of 20/20."

The one-hour special chronicles the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a sidewalk in Manhattan in early December and unpacks the public's fascination with Luigi Mangione, who was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a five-day hunt for the killer.

The primetime special hit Hulu on December 20, after premiering on ABC the night prior. Mangione pleaded not guilty to state and federal murder charges.

Streaming on: Hulu

The 2022 psychological thriller "Alice, Darling" starring Anna Kendrick arrives on Hulu on Saturday.

Anna Kendrick portrays the titular Alice, a woman who goes on a vacation with two friends amid issues with her psychologically abusive boyfriend.

Streaming on: Hulu

For a romantic drama, check out "Culpa Tuya."

"Culpa Tuya" (which translates to "Your Fault") is the sequel to 2023 movie "Culpa Mia" ("My Fault") and continues the love story between the characters Nick (Gabriel Guevara) and Noah (Nicole Wallace).

The YA films are based on Mercedes Ron's New York Times best-selling book trilogy "Culpables."

Streaming on: Prime Video

For laughs, watch the new comedy special "Your Friend, Nate Bargatze."

After hosting "Saturday Night Live" for the second time and performing at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival earlier this year, stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze released this third comedy special on Netflix.

Streaming on: Netflix

Beyoncé's Christmas Day NFL halftime show, dubbed "Beyoncé Bowl," was released on Friday as a stand-alone special.

After experiencing livestreaming difficulties during the Mike Tyson and Jake Paul boxing match, Netflix was prepared for the Beyhive turnout for Beyoncé's halftime performance at the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game on Wednesday. The Texas native performed an array of tracks from her country album "Cowboy Carter" and brought out surprise guests including her daughter Blue Ivy Carter, Post Malone, and Shaboozey.

In case you missed her performance or want to watch it over and over again, "Beyoncé Bowl" is now available as a stand-alone special on the streamer.

Streaming on: Netflix

• It was a busy year for M&A in the creator economy.
• Startups in influencer marketing, talent management, and podcasting became acquisition targets.
• Companies also sought to expand globally by acquiring creator startups in new regions.

Dozens of merger and acquisition deals were inked between companies across the creator economy in 2024.

One of the most impactful sales was Publicis Groupe's purchase of Influential for $500 million, two M&A experts told Business Insider. It signaled that one of the world's largest ad holding companies viewed influencer marketing as a must-have offering.

"If influencers are the new gatekeepers and authority within these digital channels, then they're going to command audiences," Chris Erwin, founder of M&A advisory firm RockWater, told BI. "Advertising revenue dollars are going to flow towards them."

Goldman Sachs analysts highlighted influencer marketing spending as a primary driver of growth in the creator economy when they valued the industry at $250 billion last year.

A few other clear trends emerged this year around deals. Outside influencer marketing, popular acquisition targets included talent-management firms and podcasting tech. There was also a push among non-US firms to build out creator businesses globally through purchases.

Business Insider combed through data from PitchBook and Crunchbase and connected with M&A insiders to understand some of the key deals in 2024.

Here are 4 takeaways from our analysis:

1. Influencer marketing was a big focus among acquirers in 2024. It's a category that has a proven business model compared to some of the more experimental parts of the industry. Beyond Publicis' deal with Influential, other large advertising brands brought in influencer expertise through acquisitions.

A few noteworthy deals in this category:

• Marketing firm Stagwell announced in July that it had acquired the influencer-marketing agency Leaders.
• Canadian talent agency Dulcedo Group acquired the influencer-marketing app Node in July.

2. The creator economy is maturing globally. Several companies made strategic deals across markets like India, Japan, and Australia. Publicis highlighted Influential's global reach in its July announcement around the deal.

   "Creators really can be global from day one," said Ollie Forsyth, a former senior manager at the investment firm Antler who now writes the newsletter New Economies. He pointed to technologies like AI-powered audio dubbing and video editing tools as paving a new path for creators to easily distribute content to a global audience.

A few noteworthy deals in this category:

• French influencer firm Ykone announced in March it had acquired a majority stake in the Indian influencer-marketing firm Barcode to build a business in the Indian influencer market.
• Finnish influencer firm Boksi announced in February that it had acquired the German influencer-marketing company the Influencer GmbH to grow its business in Central Europe.

3. Podcasting is a hot category. As platforms like YouTube and Spotify drive listenership (and viewership) of longer content, advertisers are paying close attention. US ad spend for podcasts is expected to hit $2.28 billion this year, a roughly 16% increase from 2023, per EMARKETER's forecast. Meanwhile, M&A deals in the category focused on podcasting tech and IP in 2024.

   "It's a publisher play of rolling up these popular networks of shows," said James Creech, an M&A advisor through Quartermast Advisors and founder of Creator Economy Jobs. "I think that'll continue because you're likely to see a handful of winners in this space."

A few noteworthy deals in this category:

• Triton Digital said in March it had acquired podcasting ad tech firm Sounder to boost its targeting and brand safety tech.
• Night announced in April that it had acquired The Roost, a podcast network that includes shows from Theo Von and other popular creators.

4. Creator-focused talent firms are continuing to consolidate. There's no shortage of talent managers and agencies looking to represent creators. But a smaller number are prepared to support the businesses of top creators who aim to book deals, exclusive podcast agreements, and Hollywood roles.

A few noteworthy deals in this category:

• Talent-management firm Wasserman announced in September that it had acquired the talent-management agency Long Haul to grow its gaming and sports creator business.
• Influencer marketing and creator talent company Whalar announced in October it had acquired the influencer-management firm Sixteenth.

Looking ahead to 2025

Both Erwin and Creech are expecting the next year to be fruitful for creator-economy companies.

"We're going to see more activity next year," Creech said.

One area the two M&A advisors are watching closely is whether consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies will continue to shop for creator-owned businesses, such as Hershey buying creator Maxx Chewning's Sour Strips brand in 2024.

Companies that successfully raised new funding in 2024 may also signal where M&A activity is heading next in the industry. Creator startups with unique offerings in artificial intelligence, newsletter tech, influencer marketing, and e-commerce all drew in investor dollars in the past year. Among the big rounds were creator-marketing platform Agentio, newsletter app Beehiiv, social-shopping app Flip, and AI firm ElevenLabs. Startups flush with funding could become acquirers in 2025.

"If you are looking to sell or to raise capital now, it's a good time to do it," Erwin said.

• Sony Pictures CEO Tony Vinciquerra blamed critics for the failure of "Kraven" and "Madame Web."
• He said that the recent Marvel movies were "crucified" by the press.
• Vinciquerra said that the studio needs to "rethink" how they continue the franchise.

Tony Vinciquerra, the Sony Pictures CEO, said critics are to blame for the box office failure of its recent Marvel movies "Kraven the Hunter" and "Madame Web."

Sony has owned the rights to Spider-Man and other superhero characters since buying them from Marvel in the 1990s. In 2017, Sony launched a new series of Marvel movies, a rival to Disney's popular Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Some have done pretty well, like the "Venom" trilogy, which stars Tom Hardy as the titular antihero and has collectively made some $1.8 billion, according to TheNumbers.com.

Others less so, particularly "Madame Web" and "Kraven the Hunter," released in February and December respectively.

According to Box Office Mojo, "Madame Web" just broke $100 million worldwide, and "Kraven the Hunter" has made $43 million at the time of writing.

"Madame Web" had a budget of $80 million per Forbes, and Variety reported that "Kraven the Hunter" had a budget of more than $100 million, marking both as uninspiring returns on investment.

Speaking to The Los Angeles Times, Vinciquerra described "Kraven" as "the worst launch" that Sony has had since starting its Marvel franchise.

He said: "So that didn't work out very well, which I still don't understand, because the film is not a bad film."

"Kraven" currently has a 17% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Vinciquerra went on to defend "Madame Web," which received a lowly 11% score.

He said: "'Madame Web' underperformed in the theaters because the press just crucified it. It was not a bad film, and it did great on Netflix. For some reason, the press decided that they didn't want us making these films out of 'Kraven' and 'Madame Web,' and the critics just destroyed them."

"They also did it with 'Venom,' but the audience loved 'Venom' and made 'Venom' a massive hit. These are not terrible films. They were just destroyed by the critics in the press, for some reason," he said.

The movies are origin stories for Spider-Man characters, and are distinct from the Tom Holland-led "Spider-Man" movies in the Disney Marvel franchise.

"Madame Web" was met with overwhelming criticism on its release. The Daily Telegraph's Robbie Collin said: "What an unreservedly hopeless film this is: a sort of two-hour explosion in a boringness factory, in which the forces of dullness and stupidity combine in new and infinitely perturbing ways."

The Wall Street Journal's Zachary Sprang tore into "Kraven" and wrote: "About as exciting as the board meeting from which it surely sprang."

Vinciquerra also suggested that the studio might need a new strategy in light of the persistently poor critical showing.

He said: "I do think we need to rethink it, just because it's snake-bitten. If we put another one out, it's going to get destroyed, no matter how good or bad it is."

For now, Sony hasn't announced its next live-action Marvel movie, although it's soon to release an animated Spider-Man sequel, "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse."

• Luxury powerhouses struggled in 2024 as they faced macroeconomic headwinds.
• The stock price of Kering, the owner of Gucci, has fallen more than 40% this year.
• Two luxury companies, Hermès and Richemont, managed to buck the trend.

2024 was a bad year for luxury.

Many of the world's largest luxury companies saw their share prices decline this year as the market for high-end goods experienced a brutal slowdown.

"50 million luxury consumers have either opted out of the luxury goods market or been forced out of it in the last two years," Claudia D'Arpizio, who leads Bain's global luxury goods and fashion practice, wrote in a report last month.

"The negative environment predicted by many in the fashion industry this time a year ago has now materialized," a McKinsey report said earlier this year.

One chart — featuring some of the luxury's most notable companies — shows just how rough 2024 was through mid-December.

Only two companies — Hermès and Richemont, the parent company of Cartier and Van Cleef — managed to beat the STOXX Europe 600, an index that represents a mix of European stocks, this year.

Meanwhile, share prices for LVMH — the largest of the luxury conglomerates and owner of brands like Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior — and Burberry have fallen this year. (Prada and Moncler also slipped, though aren't pictured here.)

Kering, the company behind Balenciaga and Saint Laurent, fared the worst. Its stock price dropped more than 40% this year as its headline brand, Gucci, floundered.

While certain high-end lines suffered from specific pitfalls — Burberry priced their goods too high, Gucci spread itself too thin — the economy at large was to blame for a number of luxury's troubles.

"Many are navigating a momentary crisis, driven by macroeconomic pressures and a polarized customer base," Claudia D'Arpizio, who leads Bain's global luxury goods and fashion practice, wrote in a report.

An economic crisis in China, where real estate sales slumped and unemployment rose, meant a consistent group of luxury shoppers reined in their spending. In America, inflation squeezed the aspirational shoppers who had rushed to buy expensive goods during the post-pandemic spending boom. And in Europe, political uncertainty led consumers to hold off on big purchases.

2025 may be brighter for high-end companies, however.

HSBC analysts wrote in a December note that they believe the third quarter will be the "trough for the sector." Meantime, EMARKETER, a sister company to Business Insider, predicts that personal luxury retail sales will grow 4.1% next year — up from a low of 3.2% this year.

• An Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed after sustaining damage over Russia, killing 38.
• The plane was likely hit by Russian air defense before the crash, BI reported Thursday.
• Several airlines are canceling flights to Russia, citing passenger safety and risks.

Airlines are avoiding Russian airspace after an Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed on Wednesday, killing 38 passengers.

The Embraer 190 jet was bound for Russia from Azerbaijan — but veered off course after sustaining some kind of damage over Russia.

It managed to reach Aktau airport in Kazakhstan before crash-landing. 29 passengers survived.

The reason for the crash remains unknown. Business Insider reported Thursday, citing reports from Euronews and The New York Times, that Azerbaijani investigators believed Russia shot the plane down, a view supported by many analysts.

Several airlines suspended flights to Russia since the crash.

Azerbaijan Airlines said it would suspend flights to 10 Russian cities starting Saturday, citing "physical and technical external interference."

"The suspension will remain in effect until the completion of the final investigation," it said.

El Al, Israel's flagship carrier, said in a Telegram post on Thursday that it was suspending all flights on the Tel Aviv-Moscow route for this week due to the events in Russia's airspace.

It said it would carry out a new assessment next week on whether the route would be resumed.

Flydubai, an Emirati low-cost carrier, said it would suspend flights from Sochi in Russia until January 2 inclusive and from Mineralnye Vody until January 3, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia reported on Friday.

Qazaq Air, a Kazakh air carrier, said it was temporarily suspending flights from Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, to Yekaterinburg, Russia, from Saturday until January 27, 2025.

Western airlines generally have not operated in Russia's airspace since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, meaning they have no services to divert or cancel.

Peter Frankopan, an expert on Russian and Balkans history at Oxford University, told Business Insider that if Moscow is determined to be at fault, it will "make people nervous about ever flying over Russian airspace."

"That has significance during the war and after it is over — including for Russian revenues from overflights," he said, referring to fees paid to countries for the right to cross their airspace.

According to a Reuters analysis, Russia had spent over $12 billion in state subsidies and loans as of December 2023 to sustain its civil aviation industry since Western sanctions took effect.

• Aaron Taylor-Johnson leads "Kraven the Hunter," an origin story for the "Spider-Man" villain.
• Sony produced the movie, and it previously made all the "Spider-Man" films alongside Marvel.
• Here's every Sony Marvel movie, ranked.

When superhero fans think of Marvel movies, they tend to think of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Avengers. But Marvel Studios and Disney aren't the only ones adapting over 80 years of beloved comic book adventures.

In 1999, Sony and Columbia Pictures bought the rights to "Spider-Man" and other characters from Marvel Entertainment, which was still facing financial difficulty after filing for bankruptcy in 1996.

Fast-forward to the early 2000s, and Tobey Maguire starred in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man." Sony continued to make Marvel movies in the years that followed and even set up its own shared universe to rival the MCU.

The studio found success in bringing the alien antihero, "Venom," to the big screen with Tom Hardy playing the lead in two movies, which have raked in $1.4 billion worldwide, according to industry data provider thenumbers.com.

The most recent film, "Kraven the Hunter," tells the villain's origin story, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson starring in the title role. Here's how it stacks up against the other "Spider-Man" movies.

18. "Madame Web"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 11%

"Madame Web" is the most nonsensical Sony Marvel movie thanks to its baffling story. Ezekiel (Tahar Rahim), a man with spider-like powers, hunts a group of girls who he believes will kill him in the future. Cassandra Web (Dakota Johnson) uses her clairvoyant abilities to stop him. editing means most of Ezekiel's scenes are dubbed over, which pulls the audience out every time he speaks.

The poorly-written movie also tries to shoehorn as much Spider-Man-related lore into the plot as possible, including the birth of baby Peter Parker — which bears little influence on the adventure. It just happens. Basically, "Madame Web" is a mess.

17. "Morbius"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%

"Morbius" follows Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) as he tries to cure himself of a degenerative disease using bats from Costa Rica. Instead, he turns into a bloodthirsty vampire. While it attempts to be a comic book horror movie, "Morbius" quickly descends into a predictably boring punch-up between Leto and Matt Smith. Yawn.

16. "Kraven the Hunter"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 17%

"Kraven the Hunter" tries to replicate the success of "Venom" by pitching its lead character, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as a brutal vigilante who has no issue with dishing out bloody vengeance against those who wrong him.

The action is nothing special, though Taylor-Johnson does a decent job of carrying those sequences. The convoluted origin story tries to cram too much into its two-hour runtime, and the result is a mediocre mess.

15. "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 19%

Nicolas Cage's second time as Ghost Rider came in 2011's "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," with a completely forgettable storyline involving demons hunting a young boy. Fans have seen this plot numerous times over: a grizzled fighter protects an innocent person. It falls flat on its flaming face.

14. "Ghost Rider"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 27%

"Ghost Rider" isn't a bad film, but it is incredibly average. It's a shame because the character is completely over the top: He's a motorbike rider who turns into a flaming skeleton at night and fights demons. But it was moderately successful, earning $228 million worldwide, according to Box Offive Mojo. Cage's wacky performance shows he had fun with the role, but the film doesn't showcase how scary Ghost Rider can be like he is in the comics, which feels like a missed opportunity.

13. "Venom"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 30%

The first "Venom" movie is a strange blend of a dark, gritty superhero movie and a slapstick rom-com around journalist Brock and a gooey, Symbiote alien called Venom. It never quite finds its footing, and the outcome is a subpar comic book adventure that somehow managed to make $800,000 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Stranger things have happened.

12."Venom: The Last Dance"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 37%

"Venom: The Last Dance" is the worst of the "Venom" trilogy. It attempts to create a new big villain for Sony's growing universe with the god of the Symbiotes, Knull (Andy Serkis). But it fails to tap into anything interesting about the character from the comics because the story is pulled in so many different directions.

The messy plot sees Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) on the run from Knull's huge monsters who have been sent to kill the not-so-dynamic duo. Rushed sub-plots include: Brock and Venom running from the military, an alien-loving family looking for Area 51, and a talented scientist experimenting on the Symbiotes.

Throw in some painfully generic dialogue, and "Venom: The Last Dance" feels like someone asked an AI to make a comic book movie with the prompts: "Venom," "Tom Hardy," "rock music," and "cinematic universe."

11. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

Andrew Garfield played Parker for a second time in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2." He revels in the chance to explore the hero even further as he grapples with his family's legacy. His chemistry with Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy deepens including that heartbreaking ending. It's just disappointing that, like other early "Spider-Man" movies, it tries to do too much.

This sequel is so preoccupied with setting up sequels and a spinoff that it forgets to focus on the fact that audiences fell in love with Garfield's take on both Parker and Spider-Man.

10. "Venom: Let There Be Carnage"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 57%

"Venom: Let There Be Carnage" is similar to the first film, except a piece of the Symbiote is now bonded to a depraved serial killer called Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson), and they call themselves Carnage. The film's boring plot revolves around Brock (Hardy again) and Venom trying to stop Carnage from killing more people. There's not much substance to it, but it leans harder into the fun slapstick comedy between Eddie and Venom.

9. "Spider-Man 3"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 63%

"Spider-Man 3" is the mediocre ending to Sam Raimi's trilogy, starring Tobey Maguire as the titular hero. Although the film's attempt to adapt the Venom storyline is admirable, it ultimately falls short.

It tries too hard to cram in Topher Grace as Eddie Brock/Venom, Harry Osborn (James Franco) as the new Green Goblin, and Thomas Haden Church as the Sandman. Plus, the climax rushes at breakneck speed to resolve everything, making the film a disappointing end to Raimi's trilogy and Maguire's time as Spider-Man.

8. "The Amazing Spider-Man"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%

"The Amazing Spider-Man" arrived in theaters in 2012, only five years after "Spider-Man 3". The new take on the hero introduced Garfield as Parker in an edgier story that leaned closer to the "Ultimate Spider-Man" comics.

Garfield's dedicated performance and his endearing dynamic with Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy make up for the cluttered plot, which sees Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) try to turn the world into lizards to rid humanity of all illnesses.

7. "Spider-Man"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

2002's "Spider-Man" is the blueprint for every subsequent cinematic version of the iconic hero. Raimi masterfully translated the Web-Slinger from the page to the screen, complete with the will-they-won't-they dynamic with Mary-Jane Watson (Kristen Dunst). Maguire delivers a pitch-perfect dorky performance as Parker, but he also nails Spider-Man's signature quips.

The story is cheesy in places, but when the characters are that engaging, who cares? It gets bonus points for Willem Dafoe's delightfully ham-fisted Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin.

6. "Spider-Man: Far From Home"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Back in 2019, "Spider-Man: Far From Home" looked at how Parker copes with the death of his mentor, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), following the events of "Avengers: Endgame." Although it's understandable why he fails to notice that Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal) is up to no good as a new "hero" named Mysterio, it's irritating nonetheless.

He arrives in the story claiming to be from a different universe, holding all the information about a mystery unfolding around the world, and Peter barely suspects a thing.

Regardless, it is still pretty fun watching Spider-Man try to work out of his comfort zone across Europe, proving that the hero doesn't need the cityscape of New York to thrill audiences. Plus, Holland and Zendaya's adorably awkward dynamic adds a surprisingly authentic teen romance story amongst the thrilling fight sequences and plot twists.

5. "Spider-Man: Homecoming"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

"Spider-Man: Homecoming" is Tom Holland's second outing as the Wall-Crawler after his MCU introduction in "Captain America: Civil War." While most MCU movies involve end-of-the-world stakes, "Homecoming" refreshingly focuses on a smaller threat, as the hero tries to stop Michael Keaton's Vulture from selling experimental weapons to gangsters in his neighborhood. It deserves your attention for its smart third-act twist.

4. "Spider-Man: No Way Home"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

Yes, Maguire and Garfield returning to play their respective Spider-Men next to Holland in the multiverse story is an exhilarating treat. It helps that the trio has exquisite chemistry together throughout the climax. However, the plot is just an excuse to bring heroes and villains back from previous films rather than trying to tell a truly original story.

However, it manages to raise emotional stakes outside of the multiverse mcguffin, largely due to a tearjerker gut punch involving Parker's Aunt May (Marisa Tomei).

The sequel also does a great job of pushing Holland's young hero to his limits. It'll be interesting to see how Marvel and Sony carry him forward after stripping the character back to basics in the film's closing moments. Tom Holland confirmed "Spider-Man 4" starts filming in Summer 2025.

3. "Spider-Man 2"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man 2" continues the franchise by exploring how Parker copes with maintaining his life and his college degree while battling a man with eight mechanical arms. Sure, it's a silly premise, but the film offers a fascinating juxtaposition between Parker's insecurities next to the villainous Doctor Octopus' (Alfred Molina) genuine desire to better the world.

Plus, Spidey's fight with Doc Ock on the subway is one of the best live-action superhero fights of all time.

2. "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" is the follow-up to 2018's "Into the Spider-Verse," and sees Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) face the realization that he was never meant to get spider-powers. It's crammed full of Easter eggs that nod to live-action "Spider-Man" movies and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The comic-inspired animation also makes each new dimension unique with different color palettes and musical cues. And that's without mentioning the fiercely elegant fight scenes. But it's Miles' conviction that he's meant to be a hero that really makes his story worth revisiting again and again.

1. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" hurls the audience into a multiverse story with numerous Spider-Men. But it does a fantastic job of weaving in a heartfelt, coming-of-age story about a young teenager, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore). He struggles to balance the weight of getting superpowers with the pressure of starting a school for talented students and making his parents proud.

Throw in its gorgeous animation style, and it's easily the best Sony Marvel movie of the last two decades.

• Militaries like the US, China, and Russia are building robot dogs to employ in security and combat operations.
• Some of these remote-controlled canines feature guns, rocket launchers, and flamethrowers
• These robotic dogs can fill a variety of jobs, from scouting to counter-drone roles.

Militaries, law enforcement, and more around the world are increasingly turning to robot dogs — which, if we're being honest, look like something straight out of a science-fiction nightmare — for a variety of missions ranging from security patrol to combat.

Robot dogs first really came on the scene in the early 2000s with Boston Dynamics' "BigDog" design. They are becoming increasingly prolific with improved designs, and they have been used in both military and security activities. In November, for instance, it was reported that robot dogs had been added to President-elect Donald Trump's security detail and were on patrol at his home in Mar-a-Lago.

Some of the remote-controlled canines are equipped with sensor systems, while others have been equipped with rifles and other weapons. One Ohio company made one with a flamethrower.

Some of these designs not only look eerily similar to real dogs but also act like them, which can be unsettling. Their emergence comes as uncrewed systems take on greater roles, from the civilian sector to the armed forces, and amid growing competition in this emerging technology space prompted by the great realization of what they could do in future wars.

Militaries have been incorporating robot dogs into operations for a few years now. They've performed scouting and security missions and explosive ordnance disposal, relying on sensing systems and advanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

By joining manned formations, the quadrupedal unmanned systems can assist their human companions and complete functions that may be too dangerous or impossible for them. But that doesn't mean some of these military robot dogs aren't a little disconcerting. It's kind of weird that they can jump, roll, and play like dogs.

In the US

Across the US military, the services are experimenting with robot dogs. The Marine Corps has tested its systems with remote assault rifles and anti-armor rocket launchers. In some cases, these robots are designed specifically for counter-drone operations — in other words, putting a drone up against another drone.

The Army has also conducted urban assault drills alongside robot dogs. In March, it deployed one of the systems in a training environment as part of Project Convergence, a series of exercises and experiments focused on future war-fighting, at Fort Irwin in California. The quadruped was there to "provide enhanced situational awareness and support for frontline soldiers, acting as their eyes and ears," the Army said.

Then, in August, the Army and its industry partners tested one armed with a service rifle as part of Fort Drum's "Operation Hard Kill," which tests counter-drone systems they're working on. The dog is remotely controlled, meaning an operator can remain a safe distance away from it while testing it.

The rifle was also enhanced with artificial intelligence, suggesting automated targeting. The Marine Corps, too, has been experimenting with AI-enabled weapons on its robot dogs.

US defense officials have long considered the development of weaponized robot dogs experimental, exploring what might be possible in future conflicts.

Efforts to adopt robot dogs really ramped up in 2020 when the Air Force began integrating robot dogs into an exercise securing an airfield against a simulated attack. Other Air Force efforts have seen robot dogs helping airmen respond to nuclear and chemical threats.

And at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, for example, autonomous canines have been assisting with base security, a first for the US military.

One video showed these drones sitting and rolling around like they were actual dogs. One of the biggest players in this space is Ghost Robotics, which develops Q-UGVs, quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles, for the US military. Ghost Robotics describes one of its Q-UGVs, Vision 60, as "a mid-sized high-endurance, agile, and durable all-weather drone for use in a broad range of unstructured urban and natural environments for defense, homeland, and enterprise applications.

In China

The US isn't alone in its robot dog research endeavors; rivals are also interested in these unusual capabilities. China's advancements with robot dogs have often mirrored US efforts and raised some concerns in Washington.

Earlier this year, Chinese state-run media showed off one of Beijing's developments in this space — a robot dog running around a testing range and shooting an automatic rifle.

Footage of the system prompted US lawmakers to raise concerns with the Pentagon on "the threat of rifle-toting robot dogs used by China."

China has also shown off its robot dogs at military exercises, including a joint one with Cambodia and other militaries last year. And at a defense trade show, a Chinese defense company, Kestrel Defense, shared footage of one of the drone systems carrying guns and smoke grenades.

In Russia

Russia, too, has been working on integrating robot dogs into its military. Its most prominent exhibition came in 2022 during a Russian army trade show, when a robot dog wrapped in an odd black coverall and carrying an anti-tank weapon walked around the exhibit.

Video footage showed the dog even acting like a real dog — stomping and spinning around as if excited and lying down. Imagine something like that on the battlefield.

At the time of the reveal, observers said that the dog looked to be a commercially available one from Chinese company Unitree, or at least included some similar parts and functions. The Russian company responsible for the system, Machine Intellect, said it's useful for transporting supplies, attacking targets, and scouting.

In actual combat

In the Ukraine war, robot dogs have seen use on the battlefield, the first known combat deployment of these machines. Built by British company Robot Alliance, the systems aren't autonomous, instead being operated by remote control. They are capable of doing many of the things other drones in Ukraine have done, including reconnaissance and attacking unsuspecting troops.

The dogs have also been useful for scouting out the insides of buildings and trenches, particularly smaller areas where operators have trouble flying an aerial drone.

"Such a dog should be in every unit," Kurt, a commander in the 28th Mechanized Brigade, said, per a post from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

• Early Walker is the founder of W&W Towing.
• He grew it into a highly profitable business that was acquired earlier this year.
• A friend has helped him learn about money management and avoiding flashiness.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Early Walker, senior vice president of government affairs at Vehicle Management Solutions. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I've been working since I was old enough to swing a hammer. My dad was an electrician and preacher, and I worked afternoons with him since grade school. When I was 9 I started my own business, mowing yards and shoveling near my family's home on the West Side of Chicago.

Despite that, I didn't think I wanted to work for myself as an adult. Instead, I took jobs in sales, and later in government, but nothing seemed to work out. My family had shown me the value of being self-employed, and I couldn't unsee it. I didn't like knowing there was a cap on my income in a traditional job, or that someone else was profiting off my work.

I realized there was big money in government contracts

Even when I was working a traditional job I was dabbling in entrepreneurship. Around the time I was 30 — 10 years ago — I was part owner of a car dealership. I got tired of paying other people to tow our vehicles, so I bought a cheap $8,000 tow truck. It was from the early 1980s and had no AC or heat, but soon other people were calling me for tows.

I wanted to quit my day job, but I had to find a reason for people to hire me and my raggedy old truck. So, I started advertising a $40 local tow. That undercut all my competition, and I was still making a profit. My schedule filled up.

I realized the real money was in municipal towing contracts. There weren't really any Black people holding those contracts, so I saw an opportunity. I started meeting with mayors, especially Black mayors, to learn about what I would need to get those lucrative contracts.

Turns out I needed a much newer truck, more tow vehicles and drivers, and a large tow lot to store vehicles. I was determined to make it work, so I took out a 20-year lease on a lot, and formally started W&W Towing.

Within 3 years, my company was turning over $1 million

Launching and scaling the business was difficult because my credit was terrible. Back in high school, my strict dad didn't let me have a cell phone. So, I'd taken out a cell phone contract that I couldn't afford, and never paid the bill.

That ruined my credit and years later it was keeping me from being approved for vehicle and business loans. As I built the business I was also rebuilding my credit. No one had ever taught me the importance of credit, but now I understood it first hand.

That hard work paid off. Within three years of launching W&W Towing, the business was bringing in over $1 million a year. This year, the company was acquired, which meant a substantial payment for me. I don't like to talk about my exact net worth, but if I didn't want to work again, I wouldn't have to. I've been a millionaire for a couple years at this point.

My friend isn't afraid to teach me

As I've built wealth, I've learned that money is a tool. You have to make it work for you. I was never taught that, but it's a lesson I want to teach my five kids, who range in age from 2 to 16.

Like any tool, you need to be taught how to use money. At first I didn't realize the importance of having an accountant, a business bank account, and insurance. Later, I learned about high yield savings accounts and investments.

I have a close friend who is a multi-millionaire. He teaches me things I don't even know to ask about. Once he saw me paying for gas with my debit card, which led to a whole lesson about credit card points.

I've learned that when you can play with money, you benefit. If I want to splurge on something, I try to find an asset that can cover that expense. For example, investing in real estate gave me a new income stream that pays for travel, including a recent trip to Kenya for my 40th birthday.

Another passion of mine is philanthropy. Having money lets me support the same Chicago neighborhood that helped me get here.

I've learned money isn't loud, so I live humbly

I think it's easy to obtain money, but hard to keep it. A lot of people want to keep up with the Joneses, and I get the temptation. I'm selling my house right now, and my first instinct was to upgrade to something bigger. But then I realized that I could use the profits, along with some savings, to buy a more modest house with cash. Living without a mortgage is the better choice by far, and will improve my finances in the long run.

My rich friend always tells me "money isn't loud." The people who have the most don't wear or drive their wealth. They let their portfolio speak for itself.

• When my husband and I took a trip to Rome, we wanted a less-touristy Italian adventure.
• At the suggestion of a tour guide in Rome, we took a train to a smaller town called Bracciano.
• We explored the Bracciano Castle and relaxed on the beach without having to deal with any crowds.

During a 25-day trip to Italy, my husband and I spent six nights in Rome.

By the end of our time in the city, I would've done almost anything to escape the crowds.

Luckily, our tour guide for the Vatican told us about the less-populated lakeside town of Bracciano, just an hour's train ride away.

For our last full day in Rome, we packed a bag, hopped on a train, and got outside the city limits to explore something a little slower-paced.

Bracciano is a small town in Lazio, situated above a lake.

Bracciano, which shares its name with the lake, is close to several other small towns you can explore.

For a day trip, though, I recommend just sticking with one town.

It was easy to take the train from Rome to Bracciano (we spent about $15 for two round-trip tickets), explore the town, relax by the water, and return to our hotel.

We started our day by walking to get cappuccinos and pastries in the town square.

The main attraction in Bracciano seemed to be a well-preserved historic castle.

Our train dropped us off about an hour before the castle opened.

To kill some time, we went to a café and sat at tables overlooking the town square and the castle. We enjoyed pastries and cappuccinos and people watched.

This town is much less touristy than Rome, so we mostly saw Italians going to work, running errands, and walking their dogs.

The Bracciano Castle has a self-guided tour.

Exploring the Bracciano Castle, or Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano, was a welcome change from the guided tours in Rome.

Rather than ushering past all the highlights with a group of 20-plus people, we got to take our time in each castle area while listening to a free English audio guide.

We visited on a weekday at the end of the summer season and were the only people in the castle for most of our two-hour visit.

We went outside for some stunning views.

We climbed ramparts and saw gorgeous views of the lake during our time at Bracciano Castle.

We stopped for pictures and enjoyed the nice breeze.

The rooms were filled with medieval history.

After exploring the ramparts, as well as the castle's armory, kitchen, and courtyard, we saw some of the interior rooms curated with furniture, weapons, and artwork from the castle's history.

The lake was also a highlight of the trip.

After a few hours in the castle, my husband and I took a lunch break and headed toward the lake.

The walk from the city center and castle to the lakeside took about 20 minutes.

The castle and the town are technically up on a hill, so I recommend wearing shoes with a good grip for the descent to the water.

All the private beaches with boat rentals were closed for the end of the summer, but there were plenty of public shores for us to relax on.

We loved relaxing by the water.

We got an excellent water-view spot and pulled out our books, which we didn't have much time to enjoy back in busy Rome.

We didn't end up swimming in the lake, but my husband snuck in a nap by the water.

I sat on the beach and watched people swim far out into the water, teenagers canoodle on the beach, and an older woman curse at her phone in Italian while waiting at a bus stop.

We finally felt immersed in Italian culture, far from other tourists.

We ended our day with wine and dessert.

Though it was the end of summer, a few restaurants were open on the lake.

We grabbed a table on the water, shared a bottle of wine, and ate some of the most delicious desserts of the entire trip.

I ordered a lemon sorbet, and my husband stuck with his tried-and-true tiramisu.

We then hiked back up to the city, which I found to be a much tougher climb, and boarded our return train to Rome.

Having escaped the crowds of the Eternal City for a day, we felt refreshed and ready to dive back into our hectic travels.

This story was originally published on January 13, 2024, and most recently updated on December 27, 2024.

• I spend at least $275 at Costco when shopping for my family of four.
• I stock up on several essentials, including snacks, dog food, and sparkling water.
• I also buy non-food items like journals and children's medicine from Costco.

Growing up in South Georgia, Sam's Club reigned supreme for me when it came to grocery shopping.

However, I started shopping at Costco 12 years ago — which became a game changer when it came to budgeting for my family of four. From snacks for my kids to dog food, here are 11 items I typically make sure to put in my cart.

Prices may vary by location.

I stock up on big bags of snacks to feed my kids and their friends.

My two kids, aged 9 and 13, are perpetual snackers. Most of their friends live nearby, so our house — and especially our pantry — feels like it has a revolving door of snackers.

That's why I like to keep a steady supply of snacks on hand for them. On Costco runs, I always buy their favorites: the Frito-Lay variety snack pack ($18), one large bag of Dot's pretzels ($10), and one large bag of Wonderful pistachios ($20).

Kirkland Signature dog food and treats keep our pups healthy and happy.

I exclusively buy our two cattle dogs food from Costco. The Kirkland Signature healthy-weight dog food ($32) is not only a great deal, but it's also filled with protein.

I buy the Kirkland Signature dental chews ($37) as well because they keep our pups' teeth clean and cost less than the Greenies dental treats.

I firmly believe Costco has the best-tasting sparkling water.

This Kirkland Signature sparkling water 35-count variety pack ($11) includes lime, lemon, and grapefruit flavors.

My husband likes to pour a can over ice and drink it throughout the day, and I mix it with tonic water and flavored bitters for a dry mocktail in the evenings.

Costco sells my husband's and daughter's favorite ramen.

My husband and 13-year-old daughter consume massive amounts of ramen, and Costco carries two of their favorite quick-cooking varieties: Cup Noodles in the chicken flavor and TanTanMen with chili oil ($12 each).

Eaten as a hearty snack, lunch, or dinner, ramen is a go-to at our house, so I make sure it's always in my cart.

I buy Campbell's chicken-noodle soup year-round.

In addition to being delicious, Campbell's chicken-noodle soup is made with real broth and hearty chunks of chicken breast, making it a go-to for sick days in our household.

Our local grocery store doesn't stock this variety, so I get an 8-pack at Costco for $13.60.

I buy children's liquid Tylenol and Motrin as sick-day staples.

I keep plenty of children's liquid Tylenol and Motrin ($13 each) on hand, especially during cold and flu season.

Costco's three-packs are a steal compared to buying single bottles at my local grocery store or pharmacy.

I only buy bread at Costco since loaves come in a two-pack.

When buying a two-pack of bread ($5), I refrigerate one and freeze the other to prevent mold.

I like to try different kinds, but I opted for Grandma Sycamore's white bread on this particular shopping trip, which is ideal for making cinnamon toast or sandwiches.

I'm obsessed with the Kirkland Signature Italian-sausage-and-beef lasagna.

I've seen people rave about the Kirkland Signature Italian-sausage-and-beef lasagna ($17) online — and I can see why. It's nice and thick, with hearty layers of sausage that add an extra kick of flavor.

I prefer to cook it in the microwave before throwing it in the oven broiler for a minute or two to get the cheese brown and crispy on top.

Kirkland Signature's whole-bean coffee House Blend is my go-to for a daily pick-me-up.

I brew freshly ground coffee every morning, and the Kirkland Signature whole-bean coffee House Blend in the medium roast ($14) is my favorite by far.

The Kirkland Signature version is exceptionally smooth with a mild acidity, meaning it's not too strong or weak. It's perfect for everyday coffee drinkers.

I make dinner using the Kirkland Signature farm-raised Atlantic salmon filets.

The Kirkland Signature farm-raised Atlantic salmon filets ($35) are boneless and skinless, making them great for the kids.

For dinner, I prefer to oven-roast salmon on a sheet of Kirkland Signature parchment paper. Sometimes, I'll marinate them in a teriyaki or miso sauce so the edges caramelize to a brown, crispy texture.

I love the notebooks Costco sells.

I prefer to handwrite the first draft of anything I'm working on, so I'm very particular about the look and feel of notebooks I use. I bought this three-pack of notebooks ($15) on a whim a while back and now I write in them exclusively.

They have an exceptionally sturdy cover and pages that lie flat, making them ideal for writing and transcribing.

• Ukraine is facing critical manpower challenges on the battlefield.
• An analyst recently back from Ukraine said Russia is trying to exploit this challenge by using small assault waves.
• "It's death by a thousand cuts. It's very stressful to units who are undermanned," she said.

Ukraine is facing increasingly serious manpower challenges all along the front lines, and Russia is relying on a brutal, albeit costly, tactic to stress Kyiv's defenses.

Dara Massicot, a senior fellow in the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Russia and Eurasia Program, recently returned from a research trip to Ukraine, where she met with different units that are all facing manpower shortages and other struggles.

"What the units are experiencing from the Russians is a significant amount of strain from Russian tactics," Massicot recounted from her trip on a podcast this month with the Center for Strategic and International Studies earlier.

She said that the Russians "are attacking [the Ukrainians] in very small groups all the time, day and night. It's death by a thousand cuts. It's very stressful to units who are undermanned."

Russia's small assault wave attacks, sometimes called human wave attacks or meat assaults, have been a problem for Ukraine throughout the conflict, but they have especially been a challenge for Kyiv as it faces critical manpower shortages.

To address this problem, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has lowered the mobilization age from 27 to 25, but the Biden administration has pushed Kyiv to lower it even more to expand the number of civilians who can fight. So far, Kyiv has been unwilling to do that.

Ukraine is not isolated in grappling with manpower challenges. Russia faces its own mobilization issues. They are much less urgent than Kyiv's, but Moscow is taking serious casualties on the battlefield, raising questions about troop sustainment and replacement down the road.

These human wave tactics come at a tremendously high cost. Conflict analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, said earlier this month that Russia's commitment to maintaining its theater-wide initiative in Ukraine is putting strains on its domestic labor pool.

The "constrained labor pool is likely unable to sustain this increased casualty rate in the medium-term," they wrote in a war update.

Russia experienced its highest number of casualties in any month of the war in November, averaging more than 1,500 soldiers killed and wounded every day, Britain's defense ministry said in an intelligence update earlier this month, citing Ukrainian military figures.

This made November the most costly month of the conflict for the Russian military, with nearly 46,000 total casualties, Britain's defense ministry said. It also marked the fifth straight month that Moscow saw an increase in its monthly losses. ISW said that the West needs to be boosting support to increase Russian losses, which are not sustainable.

"The high rate of casualties is likely reflective of the higher tempo of Russian operations and offensives," the British defense ministry said of the losses, adding that Moscow will likely continue to see over 1,000 soldiers killed and wounded every day as its forces push along the front lines.

Russia employs Soviet-style tactics in which any gained ground justifies the losses, no matter how heavy. It sends wave after wave of soldiers, offering undermanned and undersupplied Ukrainian units little rest or respite. Such tactics have been seen in Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Pokrovsk, among other places.

The Russian leadership has signaled it is willing to suffer these losses in a grinding, attritional campaign that is just not to Ukraine's advantage, given that it is the smaller combatant with fewer resources to throw into this fight.

Massicot said that even though Russia is suffering its highest casualty rates of the Ukraine war right now, Moscow is still applying overwhelming pressure on the Ukrainian forces trying to hold the line against continuous Russian attacks, and these attacks are taking ground.

"The casualties are not causing a cessation of this tactic or these waves of attacks," she said.

Russia is trying to advance against Ukrainian defensive positions in several different directions of the front. One important area of focus is the city of Pokrovsk, a key logistics and rail hub that Moscow is closing in on.

Russia is also trying to push Ukrainian forces out of its own Kursk region, which Kyiv invaded in a stunning move in early August. Thousands of North Korean soldiers have been deployed to this area in recent weeks to help Moscow with its efforts, putting more stress on Ukrainian troops struggling to hold territory.

US and Ukrainian officials have confirmed that North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat alongside Russian forces in Kursk. They have also suffered losses in battle, in part because they don't have any recent experience with this kind of war.

• We asked interior designers about the kitchen trends we can expect to see more and less of in 2025.
• Colorful backsplashes, unique lighting setups, and secondary kitchens could be big in the new year.
• Designers think we'll see fewer all-white kitchens and cool-toned cabinets.

Business Insider asked four interior designers which kitchen trends they think will be popular next year and which are going out of style.

Here are their 2025 design predictions.

Colorful backsplashes might add life to kitchens.

Courtney Wollersheim, interior designer at FLOOR360, said she expects to see backsplashes in colors like deep green or terracotta as more homeowners look for new ways to complement neutral walls and cabinets.

A colorful backsplash may seem risky, but a skilled tile installer can change it if your tastes change over time.

One designer said mixtures of modern and antique decor will stay trendy.

Wollersheim said she's also seeing more homeowners eager to personalize their kitchens by combining different decor styles for a custom look.

One example is mixing modern finishes with antique finds, such as treasures from flea markets or inherited items.

"Mixing old and new adds character and warmth while providing an opportunity for creative self-expression," she said.

Secondary kitchens could soar in popularity.

Sarah Pickard, founder of Pickard Design Studio, predicts more people will get rid of open kitchens and divide their space to create a secondary area, like a butler's pantry, that "can be used for prep or a place to store dirty dishes."

She told us this trend is returning as some millennials seek designs similar to the homes they grew up in and entertain guests in groups.

"It is more affordable to host and eat at home, and people want their spaces and kitchen to be received as luxurious and clean," Pickard said.

More nature-inspired looks could find their way into the kitchen.

Deana Duffek, CEO and principal designer of Pure Design House, said a continued interest in sustainability and biophilic looks will help nature-inspired designs rise in popularity throughout 2025.

"Kitchens now incorporate natural materials, like wood and stone, earthy colors, like sage and terracotta, and greenery, like indoor herb gardens," Duffek told BI.

She said we can also "expect to see more eco-friendly designs using reclaimed materials."

We may see more sophisticated lighting technology in kitchens.

Joyce Huston, lead interior designer at Decorilla, thinks we'll see kitchen lighting evolve in 2025.

"Lighting is everything in design, and people want flexibility. The ability to change your kitchen's entire feel with lighting creates a more dynamic, personalized space," Huston said.

She said that instead of basic under-cabinet strip lights, we might see more intricate options that allow people to control the color, temperature, intensity, and mood of a space through lighting.

Some will carefully curate the metallic finishes in their kitchen, especially when it comes to appliances.

Huston said she's also seeing more appliance manufacturers offer hardware in a variety of finishes, like brass or gold.

After all, the right pop of metal can be a small way to add depth, warmth, and sophistication to a design without overdoing it.

On the other hand, cool-toned cabinets are fading out in favor of warmer colors.

Sleek and modern designs introduced cool, neutral colors into kitchens over the last few years, but Wollersheim told BI that these shades have had their moment.

"Cool-color cabinets like white, gray, or black are moving aside for warm wood cabinets like oak or maple," she said.

Wollersheim expects this shift toward warmer colors to continue over the next few years.

All-white kitchens are no longer a first choice for many homeowners.

Although previously a staple in modern kitchens, all-white cabinets, counters, and kitchen walls are no longer as hot as they used to be, Duffek told BI.

"The dominance of stark, all-white kitchens with clean lines and minimalistic finishes is waning," she said. "Expect a surge in colorful, layered kitchens that blend bold hues with natural materials, reflecting a more dynamic and inviting aesthetic."

One designer said open shelving is quickly becoming unpopular.

Open shelving has been popular in kitchens for years, and many use it to showcase everyday dishes or collectibles.

But, Duffek said, this trend is fading out for a few reasons.

"While stylish, open shelving requires constant upkeep to remain presentable — and many homeowners prefer practical storage solutions that hide clutter," Duffek said.

• A California woman lost thousands to a scammer posing as Keanu Reeves.
• Romance scams are common online, with older Americans facing the largest financial losses.
• Americans lost about $650 million to romance scams in 2023.

A California woman is out tens of thousands of dollars after sending the money to a scammer she thought was actor Keanu Reeves.

Katherine Goodson, 67, said she sent thousands of dollars to the scammers through bitcoin, gift card transactions, and wire transfers over two years, according to KNSD, a local NBC affiliate. She said she is now living out of her car and had "29 miles of gas left."

"That's the lowest I've ever been," she told the outlet.

Imposter romance scams are among the most common scams on the internet. While romance scams can target people of any age group, older Americans usually suffer the largest monetary losses.

According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report, Americans lost more than $650 million to romance scams in 2023 alone. Americans over 60 reported the most losses to scammers of any age group, totaling $3.4 billion.

Melanie McGovern, the public relations director at the Better Business Bureau, told Business Insider that imposter scams are on the company's "12 scams of the holidays" list because there "are just so many." Scammers will impersonate almost anyone, from an online romantic interest to a health insurance company.

"They'll take any company name and scoop it," McGovern said.

Kate Kleinert, a 69-year-old widow, previously told BI that she lost $39,000 — most of her life savings — to an online romance scam.

"Losing the money — that was devastating. But losing that love and the thought of that family that we had? That's what crushed me," Kleinart told BI.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, some signs that you could be the target of a romance scam are if the person you are messaging refuses to meet in person, asks for money, or asks you to pay them in an unconventional way, such as a gift card or wire transfer.

If you suspect you may be the victim of a scam, stop talking to the person immediately and consult with someone you trust, the FTC says.

"Here's the bottom line: Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven't met in person," the FTC says.

Goodson told KNSD she is sharing her story to help other Americans from becoming victims of similar scams.

"I don't blame anyone but myself," she told the outlet.

• OpenAI shared new details about its plan to overhaul its company structure.
• Its current for-profit arm has been governed by a nonprofit board.
• OpenAI said its existing for-profit arm would become a public benefit corporation with ordinary shares of stock.

OpenAI has detailed its plans for a new corporate structure that would separate its business from being controlled by its nonprofit board.

In a blog post shared by the company on social media on Friday, the company said its board was considering "how to best structure OpenAI to advance the mission of ensuring AGI benefits all of humanity have been."

"Our plan is to transform our existing for-profit into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation⁠ (PBC) with ordinary shares of stock and the OpenAI mission as its public benefit interest," OpenAI wrote.

"The PBC is a structure⁠ used⁠ by many others⁠ that requires the company to balance shareholder interests, stakeholder interests, and a public benefit interest in its decisionmaking," the company said. "It will enable us to raise the necessary capital with conventional terms like others in this space."

This structure aims to generate profit while also benefiting the public interest. The nonprofit arm would take shares in the public benefit corporation, it added.

OpenAI said it was planning to make the structural change "in order to best support the mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity."

"As we enter 2025, we will have to become more than a lab and a startup — we have to become an enduring company," it added.

In September, OpenAI confirmed that it would convert to a for-profit structure.

The move was also widely reported to be key to its $6.6-billion funding round in October: OpenAI has two years to make the switch, or else investors in the round could ask for their money back, multiple reports said.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said last month that a for-profit status makes it easier to attract new funding.

Altman is overseeing the transition just over a year after OpenAI's board temporarily removed him as the company's chief executive, thrusting its nonprofit governance into the spotlight.

While Altman was ousted for a few days, he returned as CEO, and many of the company leaders who pushed him out have since left their roles and new board members were added.

Now, OpenAI said the AI race has proven more costly than anticipated, which requires a structure more amenable to investors.

"The hundreds⁠ of billions of dollars that major companies are now investing into AI show what it will really take for OpenAI to continue pursuing the mission," OpenAI wrote in its latest blog post.

"We once again need to raise more capital than we'd imagined," it said. "Investors want to back us but, at this scale of capital, need conventional equity and less structural bespokeness."

• A group of Republicans recently introduced a bill to repeal the Impoundment Control Act.
• It would hand Trump more control over government spending — he could even unilaterally cut it off.
• Several Republicans who backed the bill told BI they're fine with giving up congressional power.

Ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House, some Republicans on Capitol Hill are ready to do something unusual: Relinquish some of their own power over federal spending.

More than 20 Republicans cosponsored a bill this month that would repeal the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, or ICA, a Watergate-era law that requires the president to spend all of the money that Congress approves. In the absence of that law and subsequent court rulings, the president would have the power to spend less money than what Congress decides — or refuse to spend money on certain programs altogether.

That would bring a massive power shift from the legislative to the executive branch, upending a balance between the two that's existed for 50 years. Some Republicans on Capitol Hill say it's their best hope of enacting spending cuts and reducing the national debt, given Congress's history of inaction and what they view as their colleagues' unwillingness to reduce spending.

"I think the spending is just out of control, and I think Congress is gutless," Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee told Business Insider. "I just don't think we're capable of making changes without some other interference, whether it be the executive branch or the voters."

"If the power is reducing expenditures, then I'm all for it," Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri told BI. "Something has to be done."

"You look at where we are in this country, why not give him that power?" Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina told BI, referring to the country's fiscal situation. "At this point, I'm willing to take that risk. Anything can be abused. I can drink too much water, and suffer from it."

The Trump-Vance transition did not respond to a request for comment.

'We can simply choke off the money'

Trump is no stranger to impoundment — his first impeachment was triggered by his refusal to deliver aid to Ukraine. As he's mounted his third presidential bid, Trump has argued that the ICA is unconstitutional and should be done away with, either via congressional repeal or via the courts.

"With impoundment, we can simply choke off the money," Trump said in a 2023 campaign video. "I alone can get that done."

As Trump has staffed up his administration, he's appointed staunch proponents of impoundment to key positions. That includes Russell Vought and Mark Paoletta, who have been nominated to their previously held roles of director and general counsel of the Office of Management and Budget, respectively.

The president-elect's allies have argued that impoundment is a constitutional power that all presidents hold, owing to the president's duty under Article II of the US Constitution to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."

They also point out that for roughly 200 years before 1974 — when Congress passed the ICA as President Richard Nixon refused to spend money on programs he disagreed with — presidents of all stripes have used impoundment for a variety of reasons, including policy disagreements.

"When Congress passes a spending bill, we pass a ceiling," Rep. Andrew Clyde, the Georgia Republican who introduced the ICA repeal bill, told BI. "It's not a floor and ceiling put together at one number."

More recently, impoundment has been embraced by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, whose "Department of Government Efficiency" initiative aims to enact trillions of dollars in cuts to federal spending. The duo have publicly agreed with Trump's argument that the ICA is unconstitutional, and the topic arose when they visited Capitol Hill to speak with Republicans earlier this month.

"I look at it as a tool of saving money, and being more efficient," Clyde said. "That's what the American people literally demanded in this election."

'Maybe this is too broad'

There are plenty of opponents of impoundment on Capitol Hill, including among Republicans. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the incoming GOP chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has told reporters that she's opposed to repealing the ICA. And it's not just Trump skeptics who are uneasy with it.

"If it's something that further weakens Congress' ability to do its job the way they should be, then I'm going to look at that real carefully," Republican Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada told BI in November.

Key Democrats, meanwhile, have expressed opposition to Trump's impoundment plans. Rep. Brendan Boyle, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, released a fact sheet making a case against impoundment.

"The legal theories being pushed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are as idiotic as they are dangerous," Boyle said in a statement. "Unilaterally slashing funds that have been lawfully appropriated by the people's elected representatives in Congress would be a devastating power grab that undermines our economy and puts families and communities at risk."

Republican skepticism, along with Democrats' likely opposition to any effort to give Trump more spending power, could make repealing the law via Congress an uphill battle.

The president-elect said in the 2023 video that he "will do everything I can to challenge the Impoundment Control Act in court," queueing up what would be a high-stakes legal fight early in his second term.

What remains unclear is exactly how expansively Trump would try to use impoundment. For some of the Republicans who support the effort, it's merely about spending less than what's necessary. Others warn that Trump could use that power in a retributive way, denying federal funding to states and localities over policy disagreements.

Even those who've cosponsored the ICA repeal bill expressed some ambivalence about its potential implications.

"Maybe this is too broad. I don't know," Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona told BI. "But I can tell you this: if you have a president who says 'I don't need 10 billion, I need 2 billion,' then I would like them not to spend that 8 billion. That's really kind of what the objective is, I think."

• In the new Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown," Elle Fanning plays Sylvie Russo.
• The character is a renamed version of Dylan's former girlfriend Suze Rotolo.
• They dated in the early '60s, and Rotolo appeared on the cover of "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan."

Elle Fanning's Sylvie Russo plays a key role in the new Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown," acting as the main romantic interest, artistic muse, and down-to-earth foil to Timotheé Chalamet's mysterious musical genius.

She's also the only character who was given a name different than her real-life counterpart, in this case Suze Rotolo, the artist, political activist, and eventual author who died in 2011 from lung cancer.

Rotolo met Dylan in the early 1960s shortly after he moved to New York City, where Rotolo was working for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). They quickly fell in love and moved in together in Greenwich Village.

Director James Mangold confirmed to Rolling Stone that Fanning's character Sylvie Russo is meant to closely resemble the real Rotolo, rather than be a "half-Suze, half-fictional" creation.

"It was a character who I felt — and I think Bob very much agreed when we talked early on — was the only one who wasn't a celebrity and an icon in and of themselves with a kind of public persona," Mangold said. "Everyone else is up for the gauntlet and has been in that game a long time. And Suze was just a real person."

"In many ways," he added, "Elle plays our access point or more normal kind of citizen, if you will, among all these eccentric characters. She's much more like someone we know."

According to Fanning, Dylan asked Mangold not to use Rotolo's real name, because she was "a very private person and didn't ask for this life."

"She was obviously someone that was very special and sacred to Bob," Fanning said in a separate Rolling Stone interview.

The movie accurately depicts the couple's first meeting in 1961 at a Riverside Church hootenanny, per Rolling Stone. At the time, Dylan was 20, while Rotolo was 17.

"Right from the start I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was the most erotic thing I'd ever seen," Dylan wrote in his 2004 memoir, "Chronicles: Volume One."

"She was fair skinned and golden haired, full-blood Italian. The air was suddenly filled with banana leaves," he continued. "We started talking and my head started to spin. Cupid's arrow had whistled past my ears before, but this time it hit me in the heart and the weight of it dragged me overboard."

In Dylan's recollection, Rotolo was embedded in the New York art scene as a painter, illustrator, and graphic designer, in addition to her work with civil rights committees. She'd grown up in Queens, he said, and was raised in a "left-wing family." It's been reported that both her parents were members of the American Communist Party.

"Meeting her was like stepping into the tales of '1001 Arabian Nights.' She had a smile that could light up a street full of people and was extremely lively, had a kind of voluptuousness — a Rodin sculpture come to life," Dylan wrote. "She reminded me of a libertine heroine. She was just my type."

Not long after their first encounter, Dylan said he ran into Rotolo's sister, Carla, and asked if he could see Rotolo again.

"She said, 'Oh, she'd like to see you, too,'" he recalled. "Eventually we got to be pretty inseparable. Outside of my music, being with her seemed to be the main point in my life."

By early 1962, Dylan and Rotolo had moved in together, even though her family disapproved. (Dylan described Rotolo's mother, Mary, as "very protective" and disapproving of Dylan's "nameless way of life." Rotolo's father, Gioachino, died when Rotolo was 14.)

Rotolo had a major impact on Dylan's artistic taste and political views

In his memoir, Dylan said he began to broaden his horizons once Rotolo entered his life. She loaned him poetry books, introduced him to works by Arthur Rimbaud and Bertolt Brecht, and took him to local hang-out spots for artists and painters. He was particularly fond of off-Broadway productions and local museums.

"A new world of art was opening up my mind," Dylan wrote.

"A Complete Unknown" also correctly notes that Rotolo inspired Dylan to write topical songs, including "The Death of Emmett Till" and "Oxford Town."

"A lot of what I gave him was a look at how the other half lived — left-wing things that he didn't know," Rotolo told writer David Hajdu in his book "Positively 4th Street."

"He knew about Woody [Guthrie] and Pete Seeger, but I was working for CORE and went on youth marches for civil rights, and all that was new to him," she explained. "It was in the air, but it was new to him."

After the commercial failure of Dylan's self-titled debut album, he pivoted from folk covers to writing his own songs, influenced by Rotolo's poetry and his expanding political awareness. These formed the bedrock of his 1963 sophomore album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan." Rotolo cemented herself in music history by posing with Dylan for the cover art, the pair walking arm-in-arm down Jones Street.

In her 2008 memoir, "A Freewheelin' Time," Rotolo said the album cover was beloved for its "casual down-home spontaneity," which was unusual for the "perfectly posed" trends of the time. She said it embodied the image of "rebellion against the status quo."

"The songs had something to say," she wrote. "It was folk music, but it was really rock and roll."

Before 'A Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' was finished, Rotolo went to study art in Europe, leaving Dylan heartbroken in New York

In the summer of 1962, Rotolo left New York to study art at the University of Perugia in Italy. ("A Complete Unknown" shows Russo leaving for 12 weeks. In real life, she was gone for six months.)

Dylan channeled his lovelorn yearning into songs like "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right," a much-celebrated highlight on his sophomore album; "Down the Highway," which includes a lyric about his lover taking his heart "away to Italy;" and "Boots of Spanish Leather," later included on his third album, 1964's "The Times They Are a-Changin.'"

The couple shot the album cover for "A Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" after Rotolo returned in January 1963. But their romantic relationship wouldn't last much longer.

As both parties recalled, Dylan's fast-growing fame eroded their trust and intimacy. Rotolo also said she took issue with Dylan's "paranoia and secrecy."

In "A Complete Unknown," the couple fight about Dylan's reluctance to discuss his pre-New York life in the Midwest. Russo specifically needles him about changing his name, which matches the recollections in Rotolo's memoir; she'd found out that Dylan's real name was Robert Allen Zimmerman when his draft card fell out of his wallet. "It was suddenly upsetting that he hadn't been open with me," she wrote. "I was hurt."

"People make up their past, Sylvie," Dylan counters in the movie. "They remember what they want. They forget the rest."

According to Fanning, Dylan himself added a line to the screenplay for the fight scene, which takes place before Russo leaves for Italy.

"It was something like, 'Don't even bother coming back,'" Fanning told Rolling Stone. "We know the arguments were real, so maybe he was remembering something — or regretting something that he said to her."

Even after they stopped living together, Rotolo said she and Dylan still spent time together

In August 1963, Rotolo moved out of their shared apartment on West 4th Street to live with her sister instead.

"I could no longer cope with all the pressure, gossip, truth, and lies that living with Bob entailed," Rotolo wrote in her memoir. "I was unable to find solid ground — I was on quicksand and very vulnerable."

Shortly after, Rotolo discovered she was pregnant and had an illegal abortion, which she said sent her into a depression. At the same time, Dylan's rumored affair with Joan Baez (Rotolo described him as "a lying shit of a guy with women, an adept juggler") and his long-simmering tension with Rotolo's family ("For her parasite sister, I had no respect," Dylan sings in "Ballad in Plain D," a song he later said was a mistake to release) put strain on their relationship.

However, the young couple continued to spend time together — or, as Rotolo put it in her book, they were "caught in the whirlpool of indecision that is tortured young love." She also described their connection as an "addiction."

Though Rotolo said they'd "ostensibly broken up" by late 1963, Dylan regularly visited Rotolo's apartment and called whenever he was out of town. Still, she felt increasingly suffocated by Dylan's mystique and the worship of his fans. She feared people were only nice to her to get close to him and, she wrote, lost a sense of herself in the process.

"It wasn't easy; even when broken, the bond between lovers tends to hold in unpredictable ways," Rotolo wrote. "But I knew I was not suited for his life. I could never be the woman behind the great man."

It's unclear exactly when the couple cut ties for good, but sometime in 1963 or 1964, Rotolo realized she had to walk away. Dylan agreed, she wrote, with a "resigned sadness."

In 1965, ahead of Dylan's spring tour in England, Rotolo said she got a call from his manager about updating her passport.

"This was another cue for me to sever another tie," she wrote. "Slowly untying all those entanglements. I said thank you but no."

In "A Complete Unknown," Russo is present for the climactic event: Dylan's electric performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.

In real life, Rotolo wasn't there to see Dylan enrage his friends and fans with rock music; Dylan was already living at the Chelsea Hotel with his future wife, Sara Lownds, by the time he performed at the festival in July 1965. Lownds was also pregnant with their son, Jesse.

"During our time together things became very complicated because so much happened to him so fast," Rotolo wrote in her memoir. "We had a good time, but also a hard time, as a young couple in love."

Dylan's memoir includes a similarly enigmatic description of their breakup.

"The alliance between Suze and me didn't turn out exactly to be a holiday in the woods," he wrote. "Eventually fate flagged it down and it came to a full stop. It had to end. She took one turn in the road and I took another. We just passed out of each others' lives."

• A North Korean soldier was captured by Ukraine, per South Korean intelligence.
• The soldier later died from his injuries, the National Intelligence Service said.
• It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was trying to hide North Korean losses.

A North Korean soldier captured by Ukrainian forces has died from his injuries, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on Friday, per Yonhap news agency.

The NIS had earlier confirmed reports that an injured North Korean soldier had been taken prisoner by Ukraine.

"Through real-time information sharing with a friendly nation's intelligence organization, (we) confirmed the capture of a wounded North Korean soldier and plans to thoroughly examine the subsequent development," the NIS said in a statement.

The incident marked the first reported case of a North Korean combatant being taken alive during the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The soldier was reportedly seized on December 26 in Russia's Kursk region, into which Ukraine launched an offensive in August.

It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this month that Russia was trying to "conceal losses" of North Korean troops fighting against Ukraine.

"After first combats with our warriors, Russians are trying… to literally burn the faces of North Korean soldiers killed in battle," Zelenskyy wrote on X, sharing a video seemingly showing the alleged act.

"There is not a single reason for North Koreans to fight and die for Putin. And even after they do, Russia has only humiliation for them," he continued. "This madness must be stopped—stoped by a reliable and durable peace, as well as Russia's accountability for this cynical war."

Pyongyang reportedly began sending troops to Russia in October, with up to 11,000 thought to have arrived in Kursk so far.

North Korea's elite "Storm" Corps have reportedly been at the forefront of the fighting in the region.

The NIS said more than 100 "Storm" troops had been killed and 1,000 more injured in their first battles for Russia.

The agency reportedly told lawmakers earlier this month that the elite troops — thought to be Pyongyang's best-trained and most heavily indoctrinated — are ill-prepared for drone attacks and the local terrain.

Zelenskyy said in December that preliminary estimates suggested over 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in Russia's Kursk region.

• The CDC randomly inspects and scores cruise ships to prevent the spread of stomach viruses.
• 27 cruise ships received a perfect score in 2024.
• Norovirus can spread quickly on packed vessels.

Not all cruise ships are created — or operated — equally.

In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 13 bacterial and viral outbreaks (mostly norovirus) on ships. However, not every floating resort is damned to become a floating petri dish.

Quite the opposite — in 2024, the public health agency awarded perfect sanitation scores to 27 vessels.

Norovirus, also known as the stomach flu, is the most common virus to afflict cruises. Crowded ships provide an ideal setting for the highly contagious bug to spread fast, often through contaminated water, food, surfaces, and people.

Just as quickly, it can ruin your vacation — the four predominant symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain.

To help mitigate these incidents, the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program regularly inspects cruise liners and scores them from zero to 100.

The reviews — which include checking heavily trafficked areas like pools and children's activity centers — are random and unannounced.

Vermin and improperly stored food are big no-nos. In addition to the obvious, inspectors also look behind the scenes for more nuanced details, such as the dishwasher's water temperature and the frequency at which the pool's hair and lint strainer is disinfected.

The CDC has performed 151 inspections in 2024, including repeat inspections on 23 ships. The majority scored above 95, and 27 (listed below) have received perfect marks:

• Celebrity Apex — Celebrity Cruises (inspected November 10)
• Seven Seas Grandeur — Regent Seven Seas Cruises (inspected October 23)
• Norwegian Jade — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected October 21)
• Carnival Magic — Carnival Cruise Line (inspected October 13)
• Star Pride — Windstar Cruises (inspected September 29)
• Jewel of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected September 28)
• Serenade of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected September 10)
• Carnival Spirit — Carnival Cruise Line (inspected September 3)
• Zuiderdam — Holland America Line (inspected August 24)
• Viking Orion — Viking Ocean Cruises (inspected August 18)
• Seabourn Odyssey — Seabourn Cruise Line (inspected August 16)
• Norwegian Jewel — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected July 24)
• Oceania Regatta — Oceania Cruises (inspected July 24)
• Radiance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected July 21)
• MSC Meraviglia — MSC Cruises (inspected July 9)
• Norwegian Bliss — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected June 22)
• MSC Seashore — MSC Cruises (inspected May 26)
• Norwegian Sky — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected May 23)
• Brilliance of the Seas — Royal Caribbean International (inspected May 16)
• Viking Polaris — Viking (inspected April 2)
• Celebrity Equinox — Celebrity Cruises (inspected February 25)
• Norwegian Breakaway — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected September 22)
• Norwegian Escape — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 27)
• Explora I — MSC Cruises (inspected January 25)
• Disney Fantasy — Disney Cruise Line (inspected January 24)
• Celebrity Ascent — Celebrity Cruises (inspected January 7)
• Norwegian Gem — Norwegian Cruise Line (inspected January 2)

In 2023, 24 vessels racked a perfect score.