By Dan Heching, CNN

(CNN) — With a giant evil spider monster, mysterious briefcase and a whole lot of teary characters bidding adieu, “Stranger Things” has now become a thing of the past.

The Netflix series that capitalized on ’80s homages and synth notes mixed with pop hits ended its fifth and final season with a 2-hour-plus finale that debuted on New Year’s Eve, in which no one (really) died, lifelong friendships were reforged in fire, and a bunch of Dungeons and Dragons nerds finally graduated high school (even though they all look old enough to have college under their belts by now, too).

The first two chunks of the season – unceremoniously released smack-dab on Thanksgiving and Christmas – set up this last adventure, putting in place the pieces for a climactic showdown in an episode titled “The Rightside Up” that summoned essentially every surviving member of the extended cast (even Mr. Clarke!) to defeat Vecna, a.k.a. Henry Creel, a.k.a. One.

In a behind the scenes clip released before the episode, “Stranger Things” co-creator Ross Duffer said that since it was the last hurrah for the show, they wanted to “make it as big as possible, and I don’t think we could put another character in, I think the whole thing would break.” That felt true in this final stretch – some characters barely uttered a word of dialogue in the last episode, not for lack of urgency, but simply because there was no space or time for them to do so.

Still, the stakes were set high, as Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) wrestled with a fateful choice of what to do at the end, since even if the Upside Down were to be irrevocably destroyed, her sheer existence could leave a door open to a new version and a new threat like Vecna. Ironically, her conundrum was not dissimilar to that of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator in that film franchise’s second installment, which costarred Linda Hamilton. In Season 5 of “Stranger Things,” Hamilton’s Dr. Kay came to represent the shady and evil militaristic organization that, like Skynet in the “Terminator” films, would stop at nothing to get a hold of Eleven and use her to reproduce the madness of the Upside Down.

Ultimately, Eleven employs a strategy that was seen in a much more recent film franchise, namely “Wicked,” with the magically powered girl intentionally letting everyone – even those she loves most – believe she’s dead, when really she’s off discovering new and distant lands.

As for Vecna’s final demise, it turns out that denizens of the theater had the upper hand going into the finale, since clues to Henry’s inception as Vecna that were presented in the West End and Broadway production of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” were heavily referenced at the end.

For the many who have not seen the Tony-winning Broadway show, it explores Henry’s origins as they connect to his repressed childhood memories that were gradually revealed in Season 5. It all revolves around a briefcase that young Henry encounters in a cave, the contents of which begin his descent into the Upside Down. Helpful context via Nerdist and Reddit: The briefcase holds a sample of Dimension X particles,

* WHAT…Dangerous rip currents and breaking waves due to
elevated surf expected. Minor coastal overflows possible due
to abnormally high tides between 6.7 and 7.5 feet and gusty
southerly winds.

* WHERE…Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands, San Luis Obispo
County Beaches, Santa Barbara County Central Coast Beaches,
Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast, Santa Barbara County
Southeastern Coast, Ventura County Beaches, Malibu Coast and
Los Angeles County Beaches.

* WHEN…Through Sunday afternoon.

* IMPACTS…Pooling of sea water is possible around high tide at
beach and harbor areas that is uncommon with normal tidal
ranges. Enhanced beach erosion is also possible. No
significant damage is expected. There is an increased risk of
ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out
to sea. Waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and
capsize small boats nearshore.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Peak high tides are expected between 7 am
and 8 am Friday, shifting to between 9 am and 10 am by Sunday.
There is a moderate chance for Coastal Flood Advisories and/or
High Surf Advisories to be issued for this weekend as another
storm system may generate strong winds accompanied by a larger
swell.
Remain out of the water due to hazardous swimming conditions, or
stay near occupied lifeguard towers. Rock jetties can be deadly
in such conditions, stay off the rocks.

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By Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN

(CNN) — The United States Commerce Department is poised to significantly reduce the tariffs set to take effect on over a dozen Italian pasta makers’ products later this year.

Most products from the European Union are already subject to tariffs of at least 15%. The pasta-specific tariffs, initially proposed in October at 92%, would have subject Italian pasta to a total rate of 107%. The newly announced rates would put the levies between 24% and 29%.

The final rates, set to be announced on March 12 the Commerce Department said in a post-preliminary report published Wednesday, stem from an investigation some producers sold pasta at unfairly low prices. The decision to recommend lower rates before then results from an “evaluation of additional comments received following a preliminary determination,” a Commerce official told CNN.

“Italian pasta makers have addressed many of Commerce’s concerns raised in the preliminary determination, and reflects Commerce’s commitment to a fair, transparent process,” the official added.

The potential tariffs, which impact 13 Italian pasta makers, are due to an antidumping complaint two American companies filed with the US Commerce Department last July. In the complaint, two Midwestern companies, 8th Avenue Food & Provisions and Winland Foods, alleged that several Italian companies underpriced pasta that was shipped to the United States.

The preliminary investigation published by the Commerce Department in September stated that two companies, La Molisana and Pastificio Lucio Garofalo, made sales to the United States “at less than normal value.” It also said both were “uncooperative” during the investigation and provided “incomplete and unreliable” data.

The two companies accounted for the largest volume of pasta sales to the United States, according to the department. Neither immediately responded to CNN’s request for comment.

“The redetermination of the tariffs is a sign of the recognition by US authorities of our companies’ willingness to cooperate,” the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday.

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The post 107% tariffs on Italian pasta no longer to set take effect appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Por Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN en Español

Organizaciones de derechos humanos en Venezuela reportaron este jueves una nueva ronda de excarcelaciones de detenidos en medio de la crisis poselectoral tras la votación presidencial de 2024, apenas una semana después de la liberación de 99 personas en Navidad.

El Comité de Madres en Defensa de la Verdad reportó la excarcelación de 87 personas, una cifra que todavía no ha sido confirmada por el Gobierno.

El colectivo dijo en un comunicado que el proceso se realizó de madrugada en la cárcel de Tocorón, en el estado Aragua, en el norte del país. CNN contactó a las autoridades de Venezuela para solicitar detalles y está a la espera de una respuesta.

“El que se hayan retomado las excarcelaciones es producto de la lucha de centenas de madres y familiares que se han movilizado, durante más de un año, para exigir justicia”, afirmó la nota del Comité, que consideró la medida “insuficiente”.

La cifra de 87 excarcelaciones también fue reportada por el Comité Por la Libertad de Presos Políticos, que confirmó 29 casos, mientras que la organización de derechos humanos Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón reportó que hasta el momento ha “verificado la excarcelación” de 33 personas.

Por su parte, la ONG Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones dijo que los familiares recibieron el anuncio a las 3 a.m. (hora local) y que la mayoría de excarcelados tiene un régimen de presentación cada 30 días. “La persecución judicial no cesa, el Estado solo cambia la modalidad de la restricción de libertad”, apuntó la organización.

Alfredo Romero, director de la organización Foro Penal, dijo en su cuenta de X que estaban verificando el número de excarcelaciones, pero que entre los liberados figuraría Jonathan Torres, detenido en 2024.

CNN contactó a Foro Penal para obtener más información sobre las excarcelaciones.

La semana pasada, en Navidad, el Gobierno excarceló a decenas de personas que estaban detenidas por motivos políticos. El Ministerio para el Servicio Penitenciario dijo que fueron 99, mientras que el Comité reportó 71 y la Foro Penal dijo que había verificado 61.

Fue la excarcelación más grande de 2025, aunque según activistas todavía hay cientos de personas detenidas por motivos políticos. Con corte al 29 de diciembre, Foro Penal contabilizaba 863 personas en esa situación, incluyendo a quienes fueron detenidos en 2024 y en años anteriores.

Por su parte, el Gobierno de Venezuela niega que haya presos políticos en el país.

La Fiscalía de Venezuela reconoció entre finales de 2024 e inicios de 2025 la excarcelación de cientos de las más de 2.000 personas que fueron detenidas en el marco de las protestas postelectorales y que según las autoridades habrían cometido diversos actos contra el país. Posteriormente, el presidente Nicolás Maduro pidió revisar algunos casos por posibles “errores de procedimiento”, lo que derivó en unas 1.500 excarcelaciones, según la Fiscalía.

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