blackjack free
A Look at How Some of Trump's Picks to Lead Health Agencies Could Help Carry Out Kennedy's OverhaulEAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has been placed on injured reserve after hurting his hamstring Sunday in a 30-27 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears. The move announced Tuesday means that Pace must miss at least the Vikings next four games. The Vikings also activated outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy from injured reserve and signed linebacker Jamin Davis off the Green Bay Packers practice squad. Pace, 23, had started each of the Vikings nine games this season. The 2023 undrafted free agent from Cincinnati had 56 tackles — including six for loss — and three sacks. Murphy, 24, signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent this spring. He was placed on injured reserve Aug. 27. Davis had Oct. 29 after by the Washington Commanders a week earlier. Washington selected him out of Kentucky with the in the 2021 draft. The 25-year-old Davis has 282 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, two forced fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in his NFL career. He led the Commanders with a career-high 104 tackles in 2022. The Vikings (9-2) host the Arizona Cardinals (6-5) on Sunday. ___ AP NFL:‘American Idol’ Alum Caleb Kennedy Pleads Guilty, Gets 8 Years in Prison After Fatal DUI CrashThe benchmark S&P 500 and Nasdaq continued their upward trend on Tuesday, driven by a rally in technology stocks, while market participants considered President-elect Donald Trump's tariff proposals. The Federal Reserve's recent minutes revealed a division among officials regarding future interest rate cuts. U.S. short-term interest-rate futures reduced earlier losses following this revelation. The discussions from the Fed's November meeting suggested a wait-and-see approach in offering monetary policy guidance. Trump's announcement of a 25% conditional tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports, which may challenge an existing trade agreement, further intensified trade tensions. An additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports was also proposed, escalating the threat of a trade conflict. Shares of Ford and General Motors declined significantly, reflecting worries about increased production costs and potential revenue dips. Market analyst Robert Pavlik remarked on the current investor uncertainty. Major indices showed mixed results with the Dow Jones experiencing a slight decline, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted gains, supported by tech giants like Microsoft and Apple. Financial and automotive sectors faced challenges amid complex trade and regulatory landscapes. (With inputs from agencies.)
It’s giving retro chic and brewing what might just be the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had. The Technivorm Moccamaster has become a viral sensation on TikTok and other social media platforms as a high quality coffee maker that will please even the most selective aficionados. Right now, it’s only $260 at Amazon (normally $360), but that price won’t last long. Buy the Moccamaster coffee maker while the sale lasts on Amazon. If the price increases, be sure to check other colors to find the best available sale price. Why do people love the Moccamaster? Some of the best cups of coffee you’ll ever have will be lovingly, laboriously made by hand-pouring water through a kettle with an articulated spout over a smoothed bed of evenly ground beans. It might cost you $8 and half of your day, but it will be delicious. With the Technivorm Moccamaster , you can get that quality without the labor or high-end price tag, mostly due to the way the Moccamaster handles water. Why is the Moccamaster so expensive? As the second of two ingredients, water has a significant impact on the flavor of a cup of coffee. From the mineral content present in your H2O to the temperature of the water you brew with, it all has an effect on the final cup. Most drip coffee brewers on the market will brew a fine cup of coffee, but it won’t measure up to anything you’d get at a coffee shop and a lot of that is because of water temperature. Brewers like a Mr. Coffee don’t heat water up to the recommended 196-205 degrees Fahrenheit like the Moccamaster does. The proper water temperature, kept consistently hot throughout brewing extracts more of what’s in your beans--from bright notes of blueberry to mellow milk chocolate and everything in between. The Moccamaster can also keep your coffee at the perfect temperature (175°F - 185°F) once brewed, without burning it, thanks to a hot plate with an independent heating element. And none of this takes any extra time. The Moccamster can brew up to 40 ounces of pour-over quality coffee in 4-6 minutes. The Technivorm Moccamaster comes in fun bright colors like Rose Gold, Yellow Pepper, Beetroot, and more. On sale now for as low as $250.13, down from $359 at Amazon , pick up a Moccamaster for the coffee lovers on your list today. Looking for something a little different, or cheaper? Here’s a list of some of our favorite milk steamers, cold brewers, espresso machines, and accessories: Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine ($799.95, down from $999.95) Outin Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine ($149.99) Nespresso Aeroccino4 Electric Milk Frother (dishwasher safe!) ($119) Fellow Stagg electric gooseneck kettle ($129.99, down from $165) The iconic Bialetti Moka Pot ($37.13, down from $50) OXO Good Grips cold brew coffee maker ($41.59, down from $51.95) Gaggia Classic EVO pro espresso machine ($453.30, down from $499) Locally made Ratio coffee series 2 coffee maker ($359 at Amazon , also available at Clive Coffee ) KitchenAid cold brew coffee maker ($89.95, down from $109.99)
Woodside shares lower despite big US news
India's former PM Manmohan Singh dies aged 92
da-kuk After a four-month rally, the market has taken Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) from a low of $49k in early August up to $99.7k in late November. An epic tease, perhaps. With many, myself included, expecting a $100k BTC price, crypto's top coin is taking a breather. Have we already Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BTC-USD, ETH-USD, FBTC either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. I'm not an investment advisor. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Artificial intelligence is still a mysterious concept for the average consumer, who wonders how it will penetrate their daily lives. In the financial world, however, it is undisputable that businesses are cashing in on its potential. 2024 has been a phenomenal year for the stock market, especially for the tech sector. The Nasdaq is up an impressive 33%, and other U.S. stock indexes have also experienced significant double-digit gains. Companies that have benefited from the rapid acceleration of AI technologies have emerged as major players in this rally. Chipmaker Nvidia is one of them, but it’s far from the only one. Cryptocurrency also played a pivotal role this past year. With the introduction of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds early in January, the crypto market has experienced a whirlwind year. This surge gained momentum following Donald Trump’s election victory, which received considerable backing from the crypto sector, benefiting several related stocks. As the calendar year draws to a close, let us take a closer look at the five top-performing U.S. tech and AI stocks 2024-particularly those with market capital over $5 billion. Table of Contents Top 5 U.S. tech and AI stocks AppLovin: From Gaming Studio to Ad Powerhouse MicroStrategy: A Bitcoin Custodian Palantir: Data Analytics in High Demand Robinhood: Crypto and Stock Trading Boom Nvidia: The AI Champion Top 5 U.S. tech and AI stocks AppLovin: From Gaming Studio to Ad Powerhouse Starting the year with a market capitalization of around $13 billion, AppLovin was pretty much known for its investment in several mobile gaming studios. The company has found popularity with titles like “Woody Block Puzzle” and “Bingo Story.” Now, as the final months of 2024 approach, AppLovin’s valuation has gone shooting over $110 billion in valuation, surpassing giants such as Starbucks and Airbnb. The firm’s share prices have skyrocketed at a phenomenal 758% within the year. While AppLovin went public in 2021 with the boom in gaming, it is shifting toward digital advertising and AI-driven profitability. AXON 2.0 is its new revamped ad search engine, which transformed targeted advertising for its applications of gaming. This move increased software platform revenue by a staggering 66%. According to CEO Adam Foroughi, the company has high hopes for an upcoming e-commerce venture and expects to see promising results soon. MicroStrategy: A Bitcoin Custodian MicroStrategy’s performance has equally shocked onlookers. While it gained a whopping 346% last year, the company surged another 467% in 2024 following its aggressive bitcoin investment policy spearheaded by its founder Michael Saylor. Since it declared its bitcoin acquisition policy in 2020, MicroStrategy has acquired more than 444,000 bitcoins, making it the world’s fourth-largest holder of bitcoins. Its market cap has increased from about $1.1 billion to an astonishing $80 billion. Michael Saylor attributes this amazing growth partly to Trump’s recent election victory, which implies that renewed support for Bitcoin will drive broader growth in digital assets. Palantir: Data Analytics in High Demand Palantir Technologies has also been the talk of the town as its stock price rose 380% this year. The company highlighted its potential for revenue during an earnings announcement right before the presidential election, promising high growth through AI-driven demand. In an interview, CEO Alex Karp said that the financial performance of Palantir is above expectations since it capitalizes on increasing needs from government and commercial sectors. Robinhood: Crypto and Stock Trading Boom Despite a dip in shares earlier this fall, Robinhood’s stock price has tripled in 2024. Analysts attribute this growth to the rising interest in cryptocurrency trading through the app. Revenue from crypto transactions soared by 165% in the third quarter, highlighting the platform’s significance in the retail investment landscape. Nvidia: The AI Champion Last but not least, is Nvidia, which, after a wonderful 239% increase during 2023, did it again with an 183% increase this year. The company’s market capitalization has ballooned sometimes to the point of rivalry for the title of the most valuable publicly traded company. For Nvidia, innovations in artificial intelligence technology and its being a crucial player in the world of cloud computing speak for themselves as businesses throw themselves headlong into applying AI solutions. With this in mind, these tech stocks mark how well artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, and the healthy economy are interrelated. From emerging opportunities each has seen, they were able to capture significant interest from the investors, leaving it interesting for 2025. Also, see: Manmohan Singh passes away aged 92: Here is how he contributed to Indian economyNone
Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’
Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brassReport: NFL warns players of burglary rings targeting pro athletes
"Making music always made me feel like I was getting to know him better" Sean Ono Lennon has revealed that he started making music in order to “fill the void” left by the death of his father, John Lennon . READ MORE: ‘Let It Be’ review: The Beatles dust off their spellbinding 1970 break-up doc The musician and producer was born in 1975 to the former Beatles icon and the artist Yoko Ono , and was only five years old when his father was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman in 1980. In a new interview with People , Lennon has shared a personal insight into how the tragedy affected him and how music became an outlet for his creativity. “I never played music because I was good at it,” he explained. “I lost my father and I didn’t know how to fill that void. Learning how to play his songs on guitar was a way to process the loss with an activity that made me feel connected to him.” Sean Ono Lennon and John Lennon. Credits: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images and Chris Walter/WireImage “When you’ve lost a parent, things like that motivate you – because you’re trying to find them. Making music always made me feel like I was getting to know him better.” Lennon has released a number of solo records, including this year’s ‘Asterisms’, and in recent years has become a sought-after producer for alternative bands including Fat White Family , Temples and The Lemon Twigs . Sean has also recently been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package for the reissue of his father’s 1973 album ‘Mind Games’, for which Sean oversaw new “meditation” mixes . “The whole album is about my mum,” Sean explained in the new interview. “My dad declared to the world that ‘John and Yoko’ were one word. I think he always had his heart set on her. He was so in love with her. They had a legendary love and I think that this album is infused with that love. You can hear it.” At the time of the ‘Mind Games’ reissue, Sean spoke about his father’s post-Beatles work . “One thing that distinguishes my dad’s solo career is how personal his lyrics became. It is like a diary, and it is my duty to bring attention to my father’s music. Not just my duty to him, but a duty to the world.” “With the world as it is now, people have forgotten so many things that I never imagined could be forgotten. I refuse to let that happen to this music – it means too much to me.” Related Topics John Lennon Pop Rock Sean Ono Lennon The Beatles Yoko OnoWatch Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics free live stream
A Look at How Some of Trump's Picks to Lead Health Agencies Could Help Carry Out Kennedy's OverhaulEAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has been placed on injured reserve after hurting his hamstring Sunday in a 30-27 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears. The move announced Tuesday means that Pace must miss at least the Vikings next four games. The Vikings also activated outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy from injured reserve and signed linebacker Jamin Davis off the Green Bay Packers practice squad. Pace, 23, had started each of the Vikings nine games this season. The 2023 undrafted free agent from Cincinnati had 56 tackles — including six for loss — and three sacks. Murphy, 24, signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent this spring. He was placed on injured reserve Aug. 27. Davis had Oct. 29 after by the Washington Commanders a week earlier. Washington selected him out of Kentucky with the in the 2021 draft. The 25-year-old Davis has 282 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, two forced fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in his NFL career. He led the Commanders with a career-high 104 tackles in 2022. The Vikings (9-2) host the Arizona Cardinals (6-5) on Sunday. ___ AP NFL:‘American Idol’ Alum Caleb Kennedy Pleads Guilty, Gets 8 Years in Prison After Fatal DUI CrashThe benchmark S&P 500 and Nasdaq continued their upward trend on Tuesday, driven by a rally in technology stocks, while market participants considered President-elect Donald Trump's tariff proposals. The Federal Reserve's recent minutes revealed a division among officials regarding future interest rate cuts. U.S. short-term interest-rate futures reduced earlier losses following this revelation. The discussions from the Fed's November meeting suggested a wait-and-see approach in offering monetary policy guidance. Trump's announcement of a 25% conditional tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports, which may challenge an existing trade agreement, further intensified trade tensions. An additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports was also proposed, escalating the threat of a trade conflict. Shares of Ford and General Motors declined significantly, reflecting worries about increased production costs and potential revenue dips. Market analyst Robert Pavlik remarked on the current investor uncertainty. Major indices showed mixed results with the Dow Jones experiencing a slight decline, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted gains, supported by tech giants like Microsoft and Apple. Financial and automotive sectors faced challenges amid complex trade and regulatory landscapes. (With inputs from agencies.)
It’s giving retro chic and brewing what might just be the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had. The Technivorm Moccamaster has become a viral sensation on TikTok and other social media platforms as a high quality coffee maker that will please even the most selective aficionados. Right now, it’s only $260 at Amazon (normally $360), but that price won’t last long. Buy the Moccamaster coffee maker while the sale lasts on Amazon. If the price increases, be sure to check other colors to find the best available sale price. Why do people love the Moccamaster? Some of the best cups of coffee you’ll ever have will be lovingly, laboriously made by hand-pouring water through a kettle with an articulated spout over a smoothed bed of evenly ground beans. It might cost you $8 and half of your day, but it will be delicious. With the Technivorm Moccamaster , you can get that quality without the labor or high-end price tag, mostly due to the way the Moccamaster handles water. Why is the Moccamaster so expensive? As the second of two ingredients, water has a significant impact on the flavor of a cup of coffee. From the mineral content present in your H2O to the temperature of the water you brew with, it all has an effect on the final cup. Most drip coffee brewers on the market will brew a fine cup of coffee, but it won’t measure up to anything you’d get at a coffee shop and a lot of that is because of water temperature. Brewers like a Mr. Coffee don’t heat water up to the recommended 196-205 degrees Fahrenheit like the Moccamaster does. The proper water temperature, kept consistently hot throughout brewing extracts more of what’s in your beans--from bright notes of blueberry to mellow milk chocolate and everything in between. The Moccamaster can also keep your coffee at the perfect temperature (175°F - 185°F) once brewed, without burning it, thanks to a hot plate with an independent heating element. And none of this takes any extra time. The Moccamster can brew up to 40 ounces of pour-over quality coffee in 4-6 minutes. The Technivorm Moccamaster comes in fun bright colors like Rose Gold, Yellow Pepper, Beetroot, and more. On sale now for as low as $250.13, down from $359 at Amazon , pick up a Moccamaster for the coffee lovers on your list today. Looking for something a little different, or cheaper? Here’s a list of some of our favorite milk steamers, cold brewers, espresso machines, and accessories: Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine ($799.95, down from $999.95) Outin Nano Portable Electric Espresso Machine ($149.99) Nespresso Aeroccino4 Electric Milk Frother (dishwasher safe!) ($119) Fellow Stagg electric gooseneck kettle ($129.99, down from $165) The iconic Bialetti Moka Pot ($37.13, down from $50) OXO Good Grips cold brew coffee maker ($41.59, down from $51.95) Gaggia Classic EVO pro espresso machine ($453.30, down from $499) Locally made Ratio coffee series 2 coffee maker ($359 at Amazon , also available at Clive Coffee ) KitchenAid cold brew coffee maker ($89.95, down from $109.99)
Woodside shares lower despite big US news
India's former PM Manmohan Singh dies aged 92
da-kuk After a four-month rally, the market has taken Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) from a low of $49k in early August up to $99.7k in late November. An epic tease, perhaps. With many, myself included, expecting a $100k BTC price, crypto's top coin is taking a breather. Have we already Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of BTC-USD, ETH-USD, FBTC either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. I'm not an investment advisor. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Artificial intelligence is still a mysterious concept for the average consumer, who wonders how it will penetrate their daily lives. In the financial world, however, it is undisputable that businesses are cashing in on its potential. 2024 has been a phenomenal year for the stock market, especially for the tech sector. The Nasdaq is up an impressive 33%, and other U.S. stock indexes have also experienced significant double-digit gains. Companies that have benefited from the rapid acceleration of AI technologies have emerged as major players in this rally. Chipmaker Nvidia is one of them, but it’s far from the only one. Cryptocurrency also played a pivotal role this past year. With the introduction of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds early in January, the crypto market has experienced a whirlwind year. This surge gained momentum following Donald Trump’s election victory, which received considerable backing from the crypto sector, benefiting several related stocks. As the calendar year draws to a close, let us take a closer look at the five top-performing U.S. tech and AI stocks 2024-particularly those with market capital over $5 billion. Table of Contents Top 5 U.S. tech and AI stocks AppLovin: From Gaming Studio to Ad Powerhouse MicroStrategy: A Bitcoin Custodian Palantir: Data Analytics in High Demand Robinhood: Crypto and Stock Trading Boom Nvidia: The AI Champion Top 5 U.S. tech and AI stocks AppLovin: From Gaming Studio to Ad Powerhouse Starting the year with a market capitalization of around $13 billion, AppLovin was pretty much known for its investment in several mobile gaming studios. The company has found popularity with titles like “Woody Block Puzzle” and “Bingo Story.” Now, as the final months of 2024 approach, AppLovin’s valuation has gone shooting over $110 billion in valuation, surpassing giants such as Starbucks and Airbnb. The firm’s share prices have skyrocketed at a phenomenal 758% within the year. While AppLovin went public in 2021 with the boom in gaming, it is shifting toward digital advertising and AI-driven profitability. AXON 2.0 is its new revamped ad search engine, which transformed targeted advertising for its applications of gaming. This move increased software platform revenue by a staggering 66%. According to CEO Adam Foroughi, the company has high hopes for an upcoming e-commerce venture and expects to see promising results soon. MicroStrategy: A Bitcoin Custodian MicroStrategy’s performance has equally shocked onlookers. While it gained a whopping 346% last year, the company surged another 467% in 2024 following its aggressive bitcoin investment policy spearheaded by its founder Michael Saylor. Since it declared its bitcoin acquisition policy in 2020, MicroStrategy has acquired more than 444,000 bitcoins, making it the world’s fourth-largest holder of bitcoins. Its market cap has increased from about $1.1 billion to an astonishing $80 billion. Michael Saylor attributes this amazing growth partly to Trump’s recent election victory, which implies that renewed support for Bitcoin will drive broader growth in digital assets. Palantir: Data Analytics in High Demand Palantir Technologies has also been the talk of the town as its stock price rose 380% this year. The company highlighted its potential for revenue during an earnings announcement right before the presidential election, promising high growth through AI-driven demand. In an interview, CEO Alex Karp said that the financial performance of Palantir is above expectations since it capitalizes on increasing needs from government and commercial sectors. Robinhood: Crypto and Stock Trading Boom Despite a dip in shares earlier this fall, Robinhood’s stock price has tripled in 2024. Analysts attribute this growth to the rising interest in cryptocurrency trading through the app. Revenue from crypto transactions soared by 165% in the third quarter, highlighting the platform’s significance in the retail investment landscape. Nvidia: The AI Champion Last but not least, is Nvidia, which, after a wonderful 239% increase during 2023, did it again with an 183% increase this year. The company’s market capitalization has ballooned sometimes to the point of rivalry for the title of the most valuable publicly traded company. For Nvidia, innovations in artificial intelligence technology and its being a crucial player in the world of cloud computing speak for themselves as businesses throw themselves headlong into applying AI solutions. With this in mind, these tech stocks mark how well artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, and the healthy economy are interrelated. From emerging opportunities each has seen, they were able to capture significant interest from the investors, leaving it interesting for 2025. Also, see: Manmohan Singh passes away aged 92: Here is how he contributed to Indian economyNone
Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’
Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brassReport: NFL warns players of burglary rings targeting pro athletes
"Making music always made me feel like I was getting to know him better" Sean Ono Lennon has revealed that he started making music in order to “fill the void” left by the death of his father, John Lennon . READ MORE: ‘Let It Be’ review: The Beatles dust off their spellbinding 1970 break-up doc The musician and producer was born in 1975 to the former Beatles icon and the artist Yoko Ono , and was only five years old when his father was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman in 1980. In a new interview with People , Lennon has shared a personal insight into how the tragedy affected him and how music became an outlet for his creativity. “I never played music because I was good at it,” he explained. “I lost my father and I didn’t know how to fill that void. Learning how to play his songs on guitar was a way to process the loss with an activity that made me feel connected to him.” Sean Ono Lennon and John Lennon. Credits: Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images and Chris Walter/WireImage “When you’ve lost a parent, things like that motivate you – because you’re trying to find them. Making music always made me feel like I was getting to know him better.” Lennon has released a number of solo records, including this year’s ‘Asterisms’, and in recent years has become a sought-after producer for alternative bands including Fat White Family , Temples and The Lemon Twigs . Sean has also recently been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package for the reissue of his father’s 1973 album ‘Mind Games’, for which Sean oversaw new “meditation” mixes . “The whole album is about my mum,” Sean explained in the new interview. “My dad declared to the world that ‘John and Yoko’ were one word. I think he always had his heart set on her. He was so in love with her. They had a legendary love and I think that this album is infused with that love. You can hear it.” At the time of the ‘Mind Games’ reissue, Sean spoke about his father’s post-Beatles work . “One thing that distinguishes my dad’s solo career is how personal his lyrics became. It is like a diary, and it is my duty to bring attention to my father’s music. Not just my duty to him, but a duty to the world.” “With the world as it is now, people have forgotten so many things that I never imagined could be forgotten. I refuse to let that happen to this music – it means too much to me.” Related Topics John Lennon Pop Rock Sean Ono Lennon The Beatles Yoko OnoWatch Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics free live stream
-
"> -
"> -
"> -
">
