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MIAMI — For the first time in nearly 20 years, the first night of Hanukkah fell on Christmas Day, marking a rare confluence of Jewish and Christian holidays, which occur on separate calendars. Many regions of the country are home to a variety of faith groups, with rich traditions and cultures. In South Florida, for instance, though there are significantly more Christians, including Catholics, the area hosts the third largest Jewish population in the country. And this year’s convergence of Christmas and Hanukkah, faith leaders say, is an opportunity to foster interfaith relationships through the holidays’ shared themes of hope and light. The Rev. Priscilla Felisky Whitehead said holiday gatherings are a perfect setting for people to learn about each other’s traditions. “It’s an opportunity to really hear people’s stories and to take the time ... to listen to people’s backgrounds and how important their faith communities, their families have been, and how they look at the world,” said Whitehead, who was a pastor at The Church by the Sea in Bal Harbour for 22 years. The holidays, Whitehead said, allow people to set aside their politics and “engage other human beings, at the place where their lives are touched the most by friends, family, tradition and faith.” For many faith leaders in South Florida, building relationships with people of other religious backgrounds is an important factor to building a stronger community. Interfaith work, which has roots to the 1930s in Miami, is often touted as a way to build bridges and find common ground in the face of prejudice and fear of “the other.” But, as prominent North Miami Rabbi Ralph Kingsley points out, interfaith dialogue is also about recognizing people’s differences. “The thing that makes us most alike as human beings is the fact that we are different and have a right to our own differences, at the same time being respectful of the other to have a right to his or her own way of life,” Kingsley said. “And I think both of our traditions try to project that message at this particular season.” Kingsley, 91, who served as the rabbi of Temple Sinai of North Dade for more than 30 years, remembers the ongoing battles of separation of church and state in his youth. He admits that he was adamant about not celebrating religious events in public spaces. But, today, he feels differently. “I kind of have come to appreciate the fact that today, when there was a Christmas tree on display or a creche, there’s also a menorah, and Americans have been sort of taught over the years that they’ve got to live with both side by side and appreciate the fact that there is the other.” Whitehead and Kingsley are long-time friends, partly because of their work in South Florida interfaith circles. They were reunited, unexpectedly, when they both became residents at the senior living community Vi at Aventura. Different holidays, same roots Jews and Christians already have a lot in common, as both come from Abrahamic religions, meaning they (along with Muslims) share the belief that Abraham was the initial prophet with whom God made a covenant. “Both traditions were birthed together in these ancient stories, and they kind of take a turn from each other, but ... our roots really are very much the same,” said Hafner of the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ. “We understand Jesus as being Jewish, and the early Christians came out of that Jewish tradition, so they would have understood Passover, they would have understood Hanukkah and a lot of the other traditions.” Christmas and Hanukkah, though originating from very different stories, have some shared themes: they’re both, in a way, celebrations of light and hope during the darkest time of the year. “It’s a time for both of our faith traditions to emphasize the importance of light and hope, which the winter months increasingly, not so much in Florida, but up North, certainly, become a time of darkness,” Rabbi Kingsley said. Both holidays, Rabbi Kingsley noted, are not really based on the Bible itself, but are holidays occurring in post-biblical times. Though the Bible refers — in many places — to the birth of Jesus Christ to the Virgin Mary, the exact date of Jesus’ birth is not recorded in the Bible, nor is the celebration of Christmas. And Jews learn about Hanukkah from the Apocrypha, Jewish writings that are not included in the Hebrew Bible. Similarly, the origin of Hanukkah is based on a real historical event that took place during a tumultuous time for Jewish people. Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Jewish people over the Syrian army in a fight to gain religious freedom. When the Syrians were trying to impose their religion and culture on the Jewish people, the non-conformist army, the Maccabees, were able to fight and win the rededication of their temple in Jerusalem. “When they went to rekindle the eternal light in the ancient temple in Jerusalem, they only had enough oil to last for one night, and it lasted for eight — hence the miracle of that season,” said Kingsley. “But the great miracle is the fact that this small group of Maccabees could defeat this large Syrian empire.” The way Kingsley sees it, that victory by the Maccabees ultimately led to the origin of Christmas. “Were it not for that victory, there would have been no Christmas, because there would have been no Judaism, out of which Christianity ultimately was born, so it’s an interesting twist of history.” Interfaith family celebrations For some families, the merging of two religions is an everyday occurrence. Miami native Sarah Robleto is Jewish while her husband, Frank Robleto, who was born in Nicaragua, grew up Catholic. When they were married, they had two weddings. And now, every year the family of four celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, integrating family traditions from both religions. “We definitely do both. And this year, it’s kind of even more special because the first night [of Hanukkah] is on Christmas night,” Sarah said. She added an important caveat: the children do not get “double the gifts.” The Robleto’s two children — Jacob, 19, and Madelyne, 13, were both raised Jewish — a decision their parents made early on in their discussion on how to merge their two faith backgrounds. “My biggest concern is that our kids were raised in a religion,” said Frank. “Whether it was Judaism or Catholicism, I didn’t mind either way. I was happy to have them being raised Jewish.” The Robletos, who live in Cutler Bay, currently attend Temple Judea, a Reform synagogue in Coral Gables and on some Catholic holidays, Saint Louis Catholic Church in Pinecrest. Frank, who is still a practicing Catholic, said attending service that’s different from what he’s used to has been made easier by the rabbis and welcoming atmosphere at the synagogues his family has been a part of. “It’s all about how open the temple or the church is on inviting mixed faith marriages. Luckily for us, because we’ve been, or Sarah’s mostly been at Reform temples, they’ve had that openness to invite me as well.” This year, the Robletos will be in Georgia visiting extended family for Christmas. But, Sarah plans to host a Hanukkah night to give her nieces and nephews a true Hanukkah experience. Rev. Laurinda Hafner, who is known in the community for her ability to use her faith to fight social justice causes, said interfaith work is also about working together towards a common goal. Her congregation has hosted events against the issue of book banning in schools and panels to discuss Christian Nationalism, a topic she calls a “common concern” among many faith leaders. She also says, interfaith work is most effective when people can sit down, share a meal and talk. “I am convinced that when you sit down with other people around the table and you enjoy a meal together, break bread, or have a glass of wine, that’s where the real interfaith dialogue and the real interfaith work begins,” Hafner said.( ) Thursday's as the medtech trades just below all-time highs it hit late last month. Meanwhile, analysts are raising BSX price targets with eyes on 2025. Boston Scientific stock has gained 57% in 2024 but the average analyst price target sits at 101.06, according to FactSet. That represents a further 11% upside for BSX as it looks to forge a new actionable base. Morgan Stanley analysts on Dec. 2 wrote that Boston Scientific has a "strong platform of assets it's pushing and integrating as we move into 2025." In late October, Boston Scientific reported better-than-expected . Total sales grew 18.2% organically, with overall cardiovascular sales — which includes electrophysiology sales — climbing 25% on a reported basis to $2.73 billion. Medical-surgical sales, Boston Scientific's other segment, brought in $1.48 billion in sales, climbing 10.3%. For the year, the company raised its profit outlook to an adjusted $2.45 to $2.47 per share, vs. its prior guidance for $2.38 to $2.42. Boston Scientific also expects full-year sales to grow about 15% organically, above its previous range for 13% to 14% growth. However, the medtech also announced it paused enrollment in a study of its pulsed field ablation technology. Pulsed field ablation, also called PFA, uses high-energy electrical pulses to treat abnormal heart rhythm and tumors. Boston Scientific launched its Farapulse PSA system earlier this year. Late last year, the company began the Avant Guard study to test the use of pulsed field ablation as a first treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat irregularly. Typically patients receive oral medications. Analysts view the Farapulse PSA system as major part of analyst optimism on the stock. Boston Scientific Stock Performance BSX edged down around 0.15% to 90.93 during on Thursday. The stock bounced of its last week, putting it in a buy zone. The stock is also technically in a . But the base is long, dating back to August, the rebound and a high of 91.59 both offer entries before the flat base's 91.93 entry. While BSX has surged in 2024, the 126 stocks in the industry group have collectively only advanced 1.5% this year. Last week, Truist analysts raised their price target on Boston Scientific to 110 from 100 and kept a buy rating on the shares. The firm broadly sees the medical technology sector as "one of the better/safer houses" in health care given its lower "front-line" exposure to health care policy rhetoric that is tied to the White House change of guard. Earlier this month, TD Cowen raised the firm's price target on Boston Scientific to 110 from 100 on expectations the company will achieve its goal of being the top-performing large-cap medtech company in 2024-26 and beyond. Citi also raised its BSX price target 107 from 98 this month. The firm predicts this year's BSX momentum to continue in 2025 with growth buoyed by the Farapulse pulsed-field ablation and continued adoption and penetration of the company's "Watchman" left atrial appendage closure device. Meanwhile, in a Dec. 16 safety communication posted to the site of the Food and Drug Administration, the agency stated alerted "patients, caregivers, and health care providers about the potential need for early device replacement of Boston Scientific Corporation Accolade pacemaker devices, which includes the Accolade, Proponent, Essentio, and Altrua 2 Standard Life and Extended Life pacemakers and the Visionist and Valitude cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers." "Boston Scientific announced a recall for a subset of Accolade pacemaker devices with an increased risk to permanently enter safety mode, which has limited functionality and has been associated with the pacemaker being unable to properly regulate the heart's rhythm and rate in some patients," the notice said. Boston Scientific stock has a 93 out of a best-possible 99. The stock also has an 88 and a 93 .
NoneUK households are bracing for another surge in energy bills come January, as the regulator is anticipated to announce its second consecutive winter increase to the price cap. Energy consultancy Cornwall Insight forecasts that Ofgem will disclose this Friday a 1% rise, or £19, bringing the typical household's energy bill from £1,717 to £1,736 starting January 1. This adjustment comes as a disappointment after Cornwall Insight initially predicted a 1% decrease to £1,697, especially following a 10% upsurge in October. The situation is further exacerbated for millions of pensioners who are set to endure the colder months with diminished support, as the new Government has axed winter fuel payments for those not on pension credit or other benefits, affecting about 10 million elderly individuals who will lose out on up to £300 this year. Earlier in the week, Cornwall Insight commented, "Given the price cap rise in October, many will have been hoping to see a fall in the cap for January." "Unfortunately, forecasts show that prices will be staying relatively high for the remainder of winter." However, there is a glimmer of hope as prices are projected to dip slightly in both the second and fourth quarters of the forthcoming year. Ofgem revises the price cap for households every three months, primarily influenced by wholesale market energy costs, with the regulator set to confirm the level for the first quarter of the next year on November 22. Introduced by the Government in January 2019, the energy price cap sets a maximum charge for energy suppliers in England, Scotland, and Wales per kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy used by consumers. It doesn't cap total bills, as households still pay for their actual energy consumption. Although the cap is currently lower than during the peak of the energy crisis, which was exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, market prices remain "very sensitive to global events" and supply concerns linked to geopolitical tensions, according to Cornwall Insight. Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, remarked: "Supply concerns have kept the market as volatile as earlier in the year and additional charges have remained relatively stable, so prices have stayed flat." He expressed disappointment that despite anticipation, prices will not decrease from the autumn rises as the colder months approach. Lowrey urged the Government to step in to protect vulnerable individuals and address long-term energy supply issues. He stated: "With it being widely accepted that high prices are here to stay, we need to see action." He suggested that measures such as social tariffs, adjustments to price caps, benefit restructuring, or other targeted support for vulnerable households should be seriously considered. He added: "The Government needs to keep momentum on the transition while acknowledging that immediate support is essential for those struggling now. "Inaction is a choice to leave people in the cold." Charities are raising alarms over another potential hike in energy prices, with National Energy Action highlighting the severe consequences the current cold weather is already inflicting on those most vulnerable. David Southgate, policy manager at disability equality charity Scope, commented: "This is a bitter pill to swallow for the many disabled people who face sky-high bills because they have no choice but to use more energy. "Life costs a lot more when you’re disabled, because of needing to use more heating to stay warm and healthy, or charging vital equipment like wheelchairs and breathing machines. "Our disability energy support services are hearing from disabled people who have cut back everything they can and racked up huge amounts of debt. "The Government urgently needs to step in and bring in discounted energy bills for disabled people." ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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No. 19 Arkansas beats Maryland Eastern Shore 109-35 with record-tying 1st halfRon Roberts Founder & CEO of Roberts Retirement Group, Interviewed on the Influential Entrepreneur Podcast Discussing Longevity Planning for Retirement 11-22-2024 09:56 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Authority Press Wire Image: https://authoritypresswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ron_old_picture_for_20181__1_-removebg-preview.png Ron Roberts discusses highlights of longevity planning for retirement Listen to the interview on the Business Innovators Radio Network: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-ron-roberts-founder-and-ceo-of-roberts-retirement-group-discussing-longevity-planning-for-retirement/ Ron Roberts, founder and CEO of Roberts Retirement Group, about the essential topic of longevity planning in retirement. With over 35 years of experience in financial services, Ron shares his journey into the industry, sparked by a friend's success in financial planning. The conversation delves into the importance of adapting retirement strategies to account for increasing life expectancies, emphasizing how better health and lifestyle choices contribute to longer lives. Longevity planning has emerged as a crucial aspect of retirement strategy, particularly in response to two significant trends: the decline of traditional pensions and the increasing life expectancy of individuals. As people live longer, the need for guaranteed lifetime income strategies has never been more essential. Historically, a substantial portion of the U.S. workforce relied on employer-provided pensions. When Ron Roberts began his career in financial services in 1990, approximately 76% of workers had access to these guaranteed income sources. Pensions offered retirees a reliable paycheck for life, regardless of how long they lived. However, this landscape has changed dramatically over the years. Many companies have phased out traditional pension plans in favor of 401(k) plans, which do not guarantee lifetime income. Instead, 401(k) plans place the responsibility on individuals to manage their retirement savings, often leading to uncertainty about whether their funds will last throughout their retirement years. This shift has left many retirees concerned about the possibility of outliving their savings. Advancements in healthcare and improvements in lifestyle continue to enhance the quality of life, resulting in longer lifespans. This increase in life expectancy raises important questions about retirement planning. Individuals must now consider not only how to accumulate wealth for retirement but also how to ensure that their savings will sustain them for potentially two to three decades after they stop working. With the reality that many retirees may spend 20 to 30 years in retirement, the risk of running out of money becomes a pressing concern. This is where longevity planning comes into play, focusing on creating strategies that provide guaranteed income for life, regardless of how long an individual may live. To address the challenges posed by the decline of pensions and increased longevity, financial advisors like Ron Roberts emphasize the importance of guaranteed lifetime income strategies. These strategies often involve utilizing products from legal reserve companies, primarily insurance companies that specialize in protecting pensions. By transferring funds from traditional investment accounts into legal reserve accounts, retirees can secure their principal and ensure that their growth is protected. One effective approach is to use indexed products tied to various market indexes, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. These indexed products can provide growth potential while also offering protection against market downturns. The key is that they allow retirees to benefit from market gains without the risk of losing their principal, thus ensuring a more stable income stream throughout retirement. Ron shared: "T he objective is growth every year, without worrying about the stock market." Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/5_3FxzEWeIA?rel=0&modestbranding=0&rel=0&showinfo=1&controls=1&autohide=2&showinfo=0?ecver=2 Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/5_3FxzEWeIA About Ron Roberts Ron was born in Burbank California and grew up in the Mojave Desert. Being the first of six children born to deaf parents, he learned responsibility at an early age. His commitment to family and faith is unwavering. It's the essence of who he is and the foundation of his business success. Living for a higher purpose and caring for others has always been Ron's focus. After high school, he joined the United States Coast Guard where he learned about hard work, discipline, and duty. He enjoyed serving his country and helping to keep people safe. He grew in experience through training, education, and travel. He developed a love for the sea and enjoys boating and sailing with friends and family. After completing his time with the Coast Guard, Ron served on a mission for the deaf in Chicago for his church. While there, he formed the first deaf scout troop in Chicago for the Boy Scouts of America. Returning from Chicago, Ron attended college in Stockton, California where he met his wife, Julie. They were married in the spring of 1984. In 1991, Ron and Julie moved to Amador County where they enjoyed raising their four daughters in a close knit community. Ron's hobbies include reading, boating, sports, and traveling with his family. Ron also volunteered at a private school where he taught history and American Sign Language. Family, faith, and community are the most important things that define Ron. Ron's chosen vocation as a Retirement Planning Professional allows him to use his experience, his gifts, and his love for family to help people in a very special way. Ron has been in the retirement planning industry since 1990. Founded in 2002, Roberts Retirement has grown over the years to serve families in northern California and around the country. Ron has served as President of the California Estate Planning Counsel and continues to mentor other retirement planning professionals all across the United States. He is constantly educating himself on the most up-to-date investment strategies and changes in the financial industry. Ron is recognized as a leader in the industry, is a sought-after speaker, and has been featured in Senior Market Advisor Magazine Learn more: https://www.robertsretirement.com/ Media Contact Company Name: Marketing Huddle, LLC Contact Person: Mike Saunders, MBA Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=ron-roberts-founder-ceo-of-roberts-retirement-group-interviewed-on-the-influential-entrepreneur-podcast-discussing-longevity-planning-for-retirement ] Phone: 7202323112 Country: United States Website: https://www.AuthorityPositioningCoach.com This release was published on openPR.
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LAHORE – As the fastest-growing smartphone brand in the world, realme has cemented its place as a trailblazer in the tech industry. With an impressive 11% market share in Pakistan, a staggering growth from just 3% last year, realme now ranks among the top four smartphone brands in the country, surpassing industry giants. Globally, the brand achieved 1443% YOY growth in the first half of 2024, a feat that underscores its relentless innovation and consumer focus. In Pakistan, realme has doubled its monthly sales volume in 2024, assembling devices locally to meet growing demand. This surge in popularity reflects the brand’s commitment to making cutting-edge technology accessible, while also contributing to the economy with a workforce of 412 employees and expanding job opportunities. realme also became the first smartphone brand in Pakistan to introduce a 24-month extended warranty across its product lineup in 2024. This groundbreaking initiative reflects realme’s unwavering confidence in the reliability of its devices and its dedication to providing unparalleled value to its users. The commitment to quality is further reinforced with the realme C75, which comes with an exclusive one-year water damage warranty, setting a new benchmark for industry standards. Priced at just PKR 49,999, the realme C75 brings flagship-level features to an entry-level smartphone, including: IP69 Rating: Unprecedented water and dust resistance, capable of withstanding high-pressure and high-temperature water jets. 6000mAh Battery with 45W Fast Charging: Offering all-day power with quick recharge times, ensuring seamless connectivity. ArmorShell Glass Protection: Enhanced shock resistance for durability in everyday and rugged conditions. Helio G92 Max Chipset with 90Hz Display: A powerful 4G chip with an octa-core design and clock speeds up to 2GHz delivering smooth gaming and multitasking experiences with crystal-clear visuals. Up to 8GB + 16GB dynamic RAM provides enough memory for games and apps to run smoothly. The C75 reflects realme’s philosophy of balancing affordability and premium features, setting new standards in the tech space. Designed with an IP69 rating, the C75 offers unparalleled water and dust resistance, making it perfect for users with active lifestyles and even redefining how they clean and maintain their smartphones. Whether rinsing under water or enduring harsh environmental conditions, the C75’s durability redefines expectations for smartphones. This launch marks not just the introduction of an innovative product but also a celebration of realme’s extraordinary year, including record-breaking sales of its flagship GT 6, the popular realme 12+ and 13+, and the affordable yet powerful C-series models. With a strong focus on the needs of young and dynamic users, realme continues to prove that it is not just a brand but a partner in technology for the modern generation. As it closes 2024 with a momentous event in Lahore, realme looks forward to scaling even greater heights in 2025 with plans to expand its mid-range and flagship offerings further.Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passes away at 92
Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military didn't immediate respond to questions about the WHO chief's statement. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies aged 92 NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reform program and a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, has died. He was 92. The hospital said Singh was admitted to New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences late Thursday after his health deteriorated due to “sudden loss of consciousness at home.". He was “being treated for age-related medical conditions,” the statement added. A mild-mannered technocrat, Singh became one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers for 10 years and earned a reputation as a man of great personal integrity. But his sterling image was tainted by allegations of corruption against his ministers. What is known about a plane crash in Kazakhstan that killed 38 of 67 people on board The crash of an Azerbaijani airliner in Kazakhstan has killed 38 of 67 people on board. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijani capital Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons that aren’t fully clear yet. It crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan after flying east across the Caspian Sea. Officials in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia haven't commented on a possible cause of the crash pending an official investigation. Some commentators pointed out holes in the plane's tail section pictured after the crash as a sign that it could have been fired upon by air defense systems. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.NoneRussia missile suspected in Azerbaijani plane crash, Moscow warns against 'hypotheses'
Syria’s ousted President, Bashar Al Assad, and members of his family arrived in Russia’s capital, Moscow, on Sunday, December 8, Russian news agency reported, citing a Kremlin source. “Assad, with his family, has arrived in Moscow. Russia, based on humanitarian considerations, has granted them asylum,” the source told TASS. According to the source, Moscow considers it necessary to resume negotiations on a settlement in Syria under the auspices of the UN. Асад с членами своей семьи прибыл в Москву, РФ предоставила им убежище, сообщил источник в Кремле: https://t.co/OdWi0dPeOk pic.twitter.com/fij1xkPSCb “The leaders of the armed Syrian opposition guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions in Syria,” the source added. On November 27, opposition armed groups launched a massive offensive against government forces in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. On December 7, Assad’s opponents successfully captured major cities including Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Hama, and Homs. On Sunday morning, Assad left his post and the country following internal Syrian negotiations.
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