USA Update

CHRISTMAS is only days away, and as the holiday season draws near, the legendary makers of Beanie Babies are back in the spotlight with a new toy to add to your wishlist.

Beanie Bouncers combine the nostalgia of the 1990s craze with an interactive twist, and they’re set to rival the popular Squishmallows.

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The adorable toys are available now[/caption]

The pint-sized 4-inch plush toys are more than they seem. 

This exciting new launch comes at the perfect time. They make an excellent last-minute gift or stocking stuffer for kids aged three and up and adults alike.

Here’s what shoppers can look forward to this Christmas.

TOYS WITH A TWIST

Combining the classic sweet look of Beanie Babies with the big eyes of Beanie Boos, and the compact fun of Puffies, the Beanie Bouncers have an added feature: the bonus of bounce.

Priced at just $5.99, Beanie Bouncers are a budget-friendly option to add to a stocking.

The plush gifts are widely available at thousands of independently-owned gift and specialty shops across the U.S.

Aside from affordability, they are just as entertaining.

The Bouncers are designed to bounce up to an impressive 50 feet, they encourage physical play and creativity among children.

You’ll be able to throw them, kick them, juggle them, or enjoy the plush toy any way you want.

Not only are they adorable toys to collect, it comes at a time when screen-free activities are more valuable than ever.

These tiny toys pack a lot of fun into a small package.

12 NEW FRIENDS

For collectors and kids alike, there’s plenty to love with this new launch.

There are 12 unique characters making their way to the lineup.

Some of the favorites of the new collection include fan favorites such as Leggy and Fins, an adorable blue shark.

Other lovable options include Banana the monkey and Buzzy the bee.

Beanie Bouncers are sparking excitement in children while offering a sense of nostalgia for parents who remember the 90s phenomenon.

This new collection is quickly becoming a must-have for the holidays.

From stocking stuffers to collectable plushies to decorate your spaces, these adorable gifts are bound to add joy this Christmas.

FOX NFL Sunday got their playful jabs in with NFL broadcaster Tom Brady.

The New England Patriots icon appeared on Saturday’s edition of Fox NFL Pregame ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers–Baltimore Ravens Week 16 matchup.

The Fox NFL show brought on Brady and play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt who were both on the call of the divisional showdown in Baltimore.

Before the two analyzed the game, Fox NFL Pregame showed a clip of the show’s stars’ names on stockings for the Christmas season.

Two of the stockings also showed Burkhardt and Brady’s names, and host Curt Menefee informed TV viewers that the network made sure to add something specific to the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s stocking, which said ‘The Goat.’

“Tom Brady‘s stocking this year, we put some throat lozenges in [it] because the last couple of weeks [has] been a struggle [for him],” Menefee said as a video showed throat cough drops being placed into Brady’s stocking.

“This TV thing is not as easy as you think.”

Fox NFL Sunday stars Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long laughed at the joke along with Burkhardt and Brady.

“Tom had the most hot teas he ever had in his life last week,” Burkhardt spoke about Brady’s sickness struggles.

Brady laughed and smiled throughout the sequence but didn’t respond to the joke.

The segment then shifted to a discussion about the NFL game.

Brady’s voice appeared to be much better compared to recent TV broadcasts.

During the call of the Los Angeles Rams vs. Buffalo Bills game in Week 14, the former quarterback’s voice was not at 100 percent.

The 47-year-old Brady’s commentary was noticeably rough and raspy.

And he had to try and clear his throat numerous times throughout the commentary.

Fans at the time noticed Brady had difficulties with his voice.

“The GOAT is . . . hoarse today. Tom Brady is fighting some type of ailment. He’s a mix of Greg Olsen and frazzled Tony Romo,” one commented.

“Tom Brady has just about blown his voice out calling this game,” a second wrote.

“Someone get my guy Tom Brady a Cough drop and some hot tea with lemon and honey,” a second added.

“Tom Brady’s voice is terrible today. Homeboy is sick with what I had,” a fourth said.

Brady is in the first season as an NFL broadcaster.

He has a 10-year, $375 million broadcasting contract with Fox.

PRINCE Edward and wife Sophie were “unhappy” at plans for them to share a cottage with Prince Andrew at Christmas.

The couple were said to be “less than pleased” when informed they would be bunking up with the disgraced Duke of York at Sandringham.

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Prince Edward and wife Sophie were ‘unhappy’ at plans for them to share a cottage with Prince Andrew at Christmas[/caption]

Ian Whittaker

The couple were said to be ‘less than pleased’ when informed they would be bunking up with the disgraced Duke of York at Sandringham[/caption]

Rex Features

Yet their fears evaporated when Andrew sent back his invitation amid pressure to stay out of sight over the China “spy” scandal.

He is instead expected to spend the festive period in Windsor with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who has described herself as a “carer” looking after a “sad man”.

An insider said Edward and Sophie were disappointed last year when “effectively given the servants’ quarters” in Norfolk for the festive royal get-together.

The Edinburghs felt this year’s choice of Wood Farm — Prince Philip’s former hideout — was a “step up” but were unhappy at the thought of Christmas “cheek by jowl with the Yorks”.

The pair were “relieved”, the insider said, when Fergie “encouraged and cajoled” Andrew to stay away.

It had been suggested his decision was made easier as daughters Beatrice and Eugenie were due to spend Christmas with their in-laws and not at Sandringham.

However, Beatrice will now go to Norfolk with husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi and their daughter Sienna, two.

She is pregnant and they were advised it was safer not to fly abroad to see his family, it is understood.

Andrew also pulled out of a pre-Christmas lunch for royals at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

He has faced mounting pressure after his links to Chinese “spy” Yang Tengbo emerged.

The Royal Household is investigating claims he took Tengbo to Buckingham Palace and Windsor.

Royal officials declined to comment.

PETER Mandelson is expected to try to enlist Nigel Farage to help his charm offensive on Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

The Labour grandee has been made Britain’s new ambassador to the US.

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Peter Mandelson is expected to try to enlist Nigel Farage to help charm Donald Trump and Elon Musk[/caption]

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Nigel has a strong relationship with important leaders across the pond[/caption]

And he is on a mission to prevent Britain being clobbered by crippling tariffs.

But it risks being derailed by X owner Musk — who loathes Sir Keir Starmer and his government.

Lord Mandelson has called on No 10 to “swallow its pride” and use Mr Farage as “a bridge to Mr Musk” and Mr Trump.

Reform Party boss Mr Farage is friends with both men and travelled to the US for talks with Mr Musk last week.

Speaking on his Times podcast last month, Mandy said: “If I were the Government here, I’d be asking the embassy in Washington DC to find out who his [Musk’s] other British friends are.

“Who are they all? They have got to be used as a bridge to Musk. And so that’s what I would do.

“Swallow your pride, find out who his friends are and try to get into those networks. You cannot just continue this feud indefinitely. You’ve got to get over it.”

He added: “I would include Nigel Farage. You can’t ignore him. He’s an elected MP.”

Mandy made the comments in November — when he was hot favourite to be US ambassador.

But he could face a hostile reception after he called Mr Trump a “white supremacist” in 2019.

The resurfaced comments sparked fury in the US — with Mr Trump’s campaign chief Chris LaCivita branding Mandy a “moron”.

PRINCESS Beatrice will join King Charles and the royal family at Sandringham this Christmas.

Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who are expecting their second child, will be joining in on the royal festivities after a “change of plans” as Andrew pulled out over the spy scandal.

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Princess Beatrice and her husband, who are expecting their second child, will be joining in festivities at Sandringham[/caption]

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Prince Andrew has been pulled out of the Christmas do[/caption]

The couple were planning on spending the holiday season overseas with the Edoardo’s family.

But it is understood she received medical advice which suggested she was not to travel long distances.

The royal baby, due in spring, will be a little brother or sister for the couple’s three-year-old daughter Sienna.

Beatrice and her husband also help raise his son, eight-year-old Wolfie.

Her sister Princess Eugenie and her family are planning on spending Christmas with her in-laws.

A large number of royals will be guests of the King and Queen at Sandringham on Christmas Day.

The Prince of Wales revealed recently 45 people will be “all in one room” at the royal residence.

However, Kate and Wills are understood to be skipping the Sandringham do.

It comes as it was revealed Andrew won’t be joining the Royal Family after his “close confidant” Chinese “spy” was unmasked.

The Duke of York decided to give the celebrations a miss this year.

It is understood his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, has also dropped out from the Norfolk festivities.

The pair are said to be staying at Royal Lodge, in Windsor, for the period instead.

The Sun also exclusively revealed insiders urged Andrew to “uninvite himself” from the family’s pre-Christmas bash.

He is due to attend the lunch at Buckingham Palace this Thursday – six days before the Sandringham do – but a source said: “He is under pressure to step away.”

The pair are said to be staying at Royal Lodge, in Windsor, for the period instead.

An insider said it’s hard to see the duke out in “public with the royals ever again”.

They said: “I find it hard to imagine he will ever join them again in public, if I’m honest.

“There’s only so many times the duke can be asked to keep his head down and wait for the storm to pass. Enough is enough.”

It comes as a suspected Chinese spy who was friends with Andrew has been unmasked for the first time.

Yang Tengbo, 50 – who is understood to have been a “close confidante” of the Duke of York – can be named after a court anonymity ban was lifted this afternoon.

During a tribunal hearing, judges concluded Yang had not been honest about his links to the Chinese state and could exploit his relationship with the duke and other public figures.

The former chairman of Hampton Group had been in the country for two decades.

Photos show him posing alongside ex-Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, as well as the royal.

He was even invited to Andrew’s birthday party in 2020 and supported him through his recent scandals.

But the suspected spy subsequently lost an appeal against a decision to ban him from the UK on national security grounds.

He was stopped by counter-terrorism services in 2021 and ordered to surrender his devices.

Court documents said Yang had split his time between China and the UK and told officials he considered this country his second home.

In February last year, he was “off-boarded” from a flight from Beijing to London and told the home secretary was in the process of examining the case to exclude him from the UK.

That order was made the following month, with his appeal against the decision rejected last week by a special immigration appeals tribunal.

Judges concluded Yang had not been honest about his links to the Chinese state and could exploit his relationship with the duke and other public figures.

Guy Vassall-Adams KC, for Yang, told the High Court: “There has been an enormous amount of media reporting in relation to this story, and particularly in relation to the relationship between my client, H6, and Prince Andrew, as well as a huge amount of speculation about the identity of my client.”

Yang said he has “done nothing wrong or unlawful”, adding in a statement that the “widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue”.

It comes after the Sun reported last week a foreign agent knew how to sneak people in and out of the duke’s Royal Lodge home.

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A large number of royals will be guests of the King and Queen at Sandringham on Christmas Day[/caption]

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