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Philadelphia Eagles made critical mistake with AJ Brown in win over Panthers, says ESPN expertConnected, brainy, athletic: the suspect in US insurance CEO's slayingNEW 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 year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their . But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. , gold and other investments also drove higher. Here’s a look at some of the numbers that defined the year. All are as of Dec. 20. Remember when President Bill Clinton got impeached or when baseball’s Mark McGwire hit his 70th home run against the Montreal Expos? That was the last time the U.S. stock market closed out a second straight year with a leap of at least 20%, something the S&P 500 is on track to do again this year. The index has climbed 24.3% so far this year, not including dividends, following last year’s spurt of 24.2%. The number of all-time highs the S&P 500 has set so far this year. The first came early, on Jan. 19, when the index capped a two-year comeback from the swoon caused by high inflation and worries that high interest rates instituted by the Federal Reserve to combat it would create a recession. But the index was methodical through the rest of the year, setting a record in every month outside of April and August, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. The latest came on Dec. 6. The number of times the Federal Reserve has cut its main interest rate this year from a two-decade high, offering some relief to the economy. Expectations for those cuts, along with hopes for more in 2025, were a big reason the U.S. stock market has been so successful this year. The 1 percentage point of cuts, though, is still short of the for 2024 at the start of the year. The Fed disappointed investors in December when it said it may cut rates just two more times in 2025, fewer than it had earlier expected. That’s how many points the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by the day after Election Day, as investors made bets on what Donald will mean for the economy and the . The more widely followed S&P 500 soared 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. Aside from bitcoin, stocks of banks and smaller winners were also perceived to be big winners. The bump has since diminished amid worries that Trump’s policies could also send inflation higher. Related Articles The level that bitcoin topped to set a record above $108,000 this past month. It’s been climbing as interest rates come down, and it got a particularly big boost following Trump’s election. He’s turned around and become a fan of crypto, and he’s named a former regulator who’s seen as friendly to digital currencies as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, replacing was overly aggressive in his oversight. Bitcoin was below $17,000 just two years ago following the Gold’s rise for the year, as it also hit records and had as strong a run as U.S. stocks. Wars around the world have helped drive demand for investments seen as safe, such as gold. It’s also benefited from the Fed’s cut to interest rates. When bonds are paying less in interest, they pull away fewer potential buyers from gold, which pays investors nothing. It’s a favorite number of Elon Musk, and it’s also a threshold that Tesla’s stock price passed in December as it set a record. The number has a long history among marijuana devotees, and Musk famously said in 2018 that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at . Tesla soared this year, up from less than $250 at the start, in part because of expectations that Musk’s close relationship with Trump could benefit the company. That’s how much revenue Nvidia made in the nine months through Oct. 27, showing how the artificial-intelligence frenzy is creating mountains of cash. Nvidia’s chips are driving much of the move into AI, and its revenue through the last nine months catapulted from less than $39 billion the year before. Such growth has boosted Nvidia’s worth to more than $3 trillion in total. after Keith Gill, better known as “Roaring Kitty,” appeared online for the first time in three years to support the video game retailer’s stock, which he helped rocket to unimaginable heights during the “ ” in 2021. Several other meme stocks also jumped following his post in May on the social platform X, including AMC Entertainment. Gill later disclosed a sizeable stake in the online pet products retailer Chewy, but he . That’s how much the U.S. economy grew, at annualized seasonally adjusted rates, in each of the three first quarters of this year. Such growth blew past what many pessimists were expecting when inflation was topping 9% in the summer of 2022. The fear was that the medicine prescribed by the Fed to beat high inflation — high interest rates — would create a recession. Households at the lower end of the income spectrum in particular are feeling pain now, as they contend with still-high prices. But the overall economy has remained remarkably resilient. This is the vacancy rate for U.S. office buildings — an all-time high — through the first three quarters of 2024, according to data from Moody’s. The fact the rate held steady for most of the year was something of a win for office building owners, given that it had marched up steadily from 16.8% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Demand for office space weakened as the pandemic led to the popularization of remote work. That’s through the first 11 months of 2024. Sales would have to surge 20% year-over-year in December for 2024’s home sales to match the 4.09 million existing homes sold in 2023, a nearly 30-year low. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. A shortage of homes for sale and elevated mortgage rates have discouraged many would-be homebuyers.jili slot 。

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LOS ANGELES -- Defending national champion South Carolina women defeated by UCLA 77-62 for their first loss since the 2023 Final Four.Crescent Energy Company Announces Public Offering of Class A Common StockRichard Drury Overview Business development companies continue to be my favorite place to capture a high yield because of their easily understood business models and risk profiles. However, recent interest rate cuts have recently exposed a ton of weakness in the Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in BCSF over the next 72 hours. 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. 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.

Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote, and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Yoon, who appeared likely to be impeached over his actions, imposed martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Less than three hours later, parliament acted, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that the martial law was “invalid” and that lawmakers would “protect democracy with the people.” In all, martial law was in effect for about six hours. The president’s surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own party. Lee Jae-myung , leader of the liberal Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the 300-seat parliament, said the party’s lawmakers would remain in the Assembly’s main hall until Yoon formally lifted his order. Woo applauded how troops quickly left the Assembly after the vote. “Even with our unfortunate memories of military coups, our citizens have surely observed the events of today and saw the maturity of our military,” Woo said. While announcing his plan to lift martial law, Yoon continued to criticize parliament’s attempts to impeach key government officials and senior prosecutors. He said lawmakers had engaged in “unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation that are paralyzing the functions of the state.” Jo Seung-lae, a Democratic lawmaker, claimed that security camera footage following Yoon’s declaration showed that troops moved in a way that suggested they were trying to arrest Lee, Woo and even Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s People Power Party. Officials from Yoon’s office and the Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment early Wednesday. Seemingly hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment. Some protesters scuffled with troops ahead of the lawmakers’ vote, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or major property damage. At least one window was broken as troops attempted to enter the Assembly building. One woman tried unsuccessfully to pull a rifle away from one of the soldiers, while shouting “Aren’t you embarrassed?” Under South Korea’s constitution, the president can declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order. It was questionable whether South Korea is currently in such a state. When martial law is declared, “special measures” can be employed to restrict the freedom of press, freedom of assembly and other rights, as well as the power of courts. The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote. Following Yoon’s announcement, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. The military said anyone who violates the decree could be arrested without a warrant. In Washington, the White House said the U.S. was “seriously concerned” by the events in Seoul. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden’s administration was not notified in advance of the martial law announcement and was in contact with the South Korean government. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 U.S. service members based in South Korea. They are not confined to base or under any type of curfew, Ryder said. The South Korean military also said that the country’s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, Yonhap said. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools. Soon after martial law was declared, the parliament speaker called on his YouTube channel for all lawmakers to gather at the National Assembly. He urged military and law enforcement personnel to “remain calm and hold their positions. All 190 lawmakers who participated in the vote supported the lifting of martial law. At one point, television footage showed police officers blocking the entrance of the National Assembly and helmeted soldiers carrying rifles in front of the building. An Associated Press photographer saw at least three helicopters, likely from the military, that landed inside the Assembly grounds, while two or three helicopters circled above the site. The leader of Yoon’s conservative People Power Party called the decision to impose martial law “wrong.” Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, said Yoon’s announcement was “illegal and unconstitutional.” Yoon said during a televised speech that martial law would help “rebuild and protect” the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” He said he would “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.” “I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country,” he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences.” Yoon — whose approval rating dipped in recent months — has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022. Yoon’s party has been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition over next year’s budget bill. The opposition has also attempted to pass motions to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Lee, who has been seen as the favorite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls. During his televised announcement, Yoon also described the opposition as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens,” but he did not elaborate. Yoon has taken a hard line on North Korea over its nuclear ambitions, departing from the policies of his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who pursued inter-Korean engagement. Yoon has also dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals. Yoon’s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987. The country’s last previous martial law was in October 1979, following the assassination of former military dictator Park Chung-hee. Sydney Seiler, Korean chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argued that the move was symbolic for Yoon to express his frustration with the opposition-controlled parliament. “He has nothing to lose,” said Seiler, comparing Yoon’s move to the Hail Mary pass in American football, where he hoped for a slim chance of success. Now Yoon faces likely impeachment, a scenario that was also possible before he made the bold move, Seiler said. Natalia Slavney, research analyst at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Yoon’s imposition of martial law was “a serious backslide of democracy" that followed a “worrying trend of abuse” since he took office in 2022. South Korea “has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments,” Slavney said, citing the example of former President Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, who was ousted from office and imprisoned for bribery and other crimes in 2017 .

Dior Conners hits game-winning 3 with a second left as Appalachian State tops William & Mary, 79-76NHS bosses ordered to prioritise emergency treatment for the sickest patients rather than worry about targetsIt’s rare to experience a perfect blend of traditional culture, ancient buildings and spirituality alongside towering skyscrapers, ultra modern technology and lightning-fast trains, but Japan is a country of wonderful contrast, one that should be on everyone’s travel wish list. After our wedding back in September, my husband and I jetted off to Japan for our honeymoon. Wrecked from the journey and the celebrations, we arrived in Narita International Airport, which is an hour outside Tokyo, a tad dazed and confused. At the airport, we bought a pocket wifi, which is a little portable box that ensures you’ve internet access. Read more: Harry Potter fans can stay at the real Hogwarts this Christmas from under €85 Read more: I went to Europe’s number one Christmas market and I wouldn’t recommend it We then got Suica cards, which act as a Leap card and rechargeable bank card all in one. The subway system is very complicated so I advise booking the Limousine Bus (don’t be fooled by the fancy name, it’s a coach) to the Tokyo City Air Terminal (T-CAT), which is a bus and train station in central Tokyo. Immediately we noticed how amazing the toilets are in Japan. Each one has a remote with various functions, from warming the seat, playing the sound of running water for privacy, to a bidet that shoots out water! After we emerged into the quiet part of Shinjuku, we were greeted by the sound of running water and relaxing music at our hotel, the Onsen Ryokan Yuen. Our room was small but cosy and afforded us an amazing view of the city’s skyscrapers. The hotel also offered a delicious traditional Japanese breakfast. For our first few days, we explored all of the glittering towers that made up Tokyo’s skyline. Shibuya Crossing is a must see, think Times Square except cleaner and less tacky. Flashing neon signs, glowing restaurants and the most amazing shops await tourists here. I recommend going to Uniqlo for some great basics and Don Quiote for souvenirs and Asian beauty products (it’s like Dealz on steroids). I also loved the Nintendo and Pokemon stores which are located in the Shibuya Parco shopping centre. Here they have an army of plushies, stickers and accessories, all exclusively available in Japan, so stock up! During our stay in Tokyo, we also visited the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. It showcases the creative processes of the famous Japanese animation studio and the building is straight out of the films. Afterwards, we visited the Corn Barley restaurant in Kichijoji for a Ghibli-themed six-course meal. I consider myself a spiritual person and one of my favourite parts of my trip was visiting the Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Shintoism is an ancient religion involving the belief in the natural world and kami (spirits). The entrance to Shinto shrines are marked by giant Torii gates, and usually worshippers purify themselves with sacred water before ringing a large bell in front of the shrine (so the spirits are alerted to the worshipper’s presence), bowing twice, clapping twice, making their silent prayer, and bowing again. Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, was one of my favourites. This shrine was like a peaceful forest in the middle of the city. I also enjoyed the Gotokuji Temple, the birthplace of the lucky beckoning cat. Temples and shrines sell omamori, which are amulets promising various kinds of good luck, along with omikuji (fortune-telling slips), and original stamps known as goshuin. I purchased a goshuin book and got stamps at the majority of the temples and shrines I visited in Japan. The kannushi (priests) and monks also do calligraphy over the stamp and each one is unique, making my goshuin book a perfect memento of my honeymoon. After the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, we took a bullet train (which can be booked the night before) to the mountainous region of Hakone. This beautiful forested area was so peaceful and our hotel, which was a traditional Japanese inn called Hakone Onsen Guesthouse Tsutaya, was embedded into the mountain beside a gushing waterfall. We were instructed to take our shoes off at the door and were provided with slippers. Our bedroom boasted incredible views and traditional tatami flooring. Here, I enjoyed an onsen, which is a communal hot spring bath that is segregated by gender. A stipulation of using an onsen is getting completely naked, which I was a little shy about, but there was no one in the outdoor or indoor onsen when I used it, so I enjoyed a relaxing few minutes alone in the hot spring water. The best way of seeing Hakone is purchasing the Hakone Free Pass and doing the loop, which consists of bus journeys, trains, a funicular, cable cars and a pirate ship across Lake Ashinoko. On this journey, we saw the volcano Mount Hakone, Hakone Shrine with its famous red Torii gate that overlooks the lake, and on clear days you can see Mount Fuji. Traditional wooden Japanese architecture (minka) and some of the country’s finest temples and shrines are in Japan’s former capital. It’s well worth doing a walking tour to understand the city’s ties to the samurai and the history behind geishas. Our hotel, Gionkoh, was located in the historical Gion area and was complete with a koi pond, tatami flooring and futon beds. The city is famed for its many temples and shrines, and the Chion-in Temple with its massive front gate is worth seeing, as is the inside of the temple where you can see Buddhist monks chanting. My husband and I also went to the Kodaiji Temple, where newly-married couples can write a wish or a prayer on a wooden sign. This temple encompasses beautiful gardens and a bamboo forest. One of the most beautiful sites we visited while in Kyoto was the Fushimi Inari Shrine, which had a walkway of thousands of red Torii gates circling up a wooded mountain. While in Kyoto, we also enjoyed an amazing nine-course meal in Korin in the Higashiyama area. The owner of the restaurant correctly guessed we were honeymooners and gave us a little charm to wish us well. Arcades are still massive in Japan and Round 1 in Kyoto was filled with tourists as well as professional arcaders. They have hours of entertainment here, from karaoke, bowling, snooker, UFO (claw) machines, casinos and arcade games. After blowing our money on Dance Dance Revolution and Mario Kart Arcade, we got a bite to eat in a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. While in Japan, we did a short one-night trip to Hiroshima to pay our respects to the victims of the atomic bomb. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was hard-hitting but necessary to understand the devastation caused by nuclear weapons and why they must never be used again, and the surrounding Peace Park offers a quiet place for reflection.

Britain, Germany, France, Italy and several other European countries said Monday they would freeze all pending asylum requests from Syrians, a day after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad. While Berlin and other governments said they were watching the fast-moving developments in the war-ravaged nation, Austria signalled it would soon deport refugees back to Syria. Far-right politicians elsewhere made similar demands, including in Germany -- home to Europe's largest Syrian community -- at a time when immigration has become a hot-button issue across the continent. Alice Weidel, of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, reacted with disdain to Sunday's mass rallies by jubilant Syrians celebrating Assad's downfall. "Anyone in Germany who celebrates 'free Syria' evidently no longer has any reason to flee," she wrote on X. "They should return to Syria immediately." World leaders and Syrians abroad watched in disbelief at the weekend as Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus, ending Assad's brutal rule while also sparking new uncertainty. A German foreign ministry spokesman pointed out that "the fact that the Assad regime has been ended is unfortunately no guarantee of peaceful developments" in the future. Germany has taken in almost one million Syrians, with most arriving in 2015-16 under ex-chancellor Angela Merkel. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said many Syrian refugees "now finally have hope of returning to their Syrian homeland" but cautioned that "the situation in Syria is currently very unclear". The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees had imposed a freeze on decisions for ongoing asylum procedures "until the situation is clearer". She added that "concrete possibilities of return cannot yet be predicted and it would be unprofessional to speculate in such a volatile situation". Rights group Amnesty International slammed Germany's freeze on asylum decisions, stressing that for now "the human rights situation in the country is completely unclear". The head of the UN refugee agency also cautioned that "patience and vigilance" were needed on the issue of refugee returns. In Austria, where about 100,000 Syrians live, conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer instructed the interior ministry "to suspend all ongoing Syrian asylum applications and to review all asylum grants". Interior Minister Gerhard Karner added he had "instructed the ministry to prepare an orderly repatriation and deportation programme to Syria". "The political situation in Syria has changed fundamentally and, above all, rapidly in recent days," the ministry said, adding it is "currently monitoring and analysing the new situation". The French interior ministry said it too would put asylum requests from Syrians on hold, with authorities in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway announcing similar moves. Britain's interior ministry said it was taking the same measure "whilst we assess the current situation". The Italian government said late Monday after a cabinet meeting that it too was suspending asylum request "in line with other European partners." The leader of the far-right Sweden Democrats, a coalition partner in the government, said residence permits for Syrian refugees should now be "reviewed". "Destructive Islamist forces are behind the change of power" in Syria, wrote their leader Jimmie Akesson on X. "I see that groups are happy about this development here in Sweden. You should see it as a good opportunity to go home." In Greece, a government spokesman voiced hope that Assad's fall will eventually allow "the safe return of Syrian refugees" to their country, but without announcing concrete measures. In Germany, the debate gained momentum as the country heads towards February elections. Achim Brotel, president of a grouping of German communes, called for border controls to stop fleeing Assad loyalists reaching Germany. The centre-right opposition CDU suggested that rejected Syrian asylum-seekers should now lose so-called subsidiary protection. "If the reason for protection no longer applies, then refugees will have to return to their home country," CDU legislator Thorsten Frei told Welt TV. CDU MP Jens Spahn suggested that Berlin charter flights to Syria and offer 1,000 euros ($1,057) to "anyone who wants to return". A member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats criticised the debate as "populist and irresponsible". Greens party deputy Anton Hofreiter also said "it is completely unclear what will happen next in Syria" and deportation talk was "completely out of place". Many Syrians in Germany have watched the events in their home country with great joy but prefer to wait and see before deciding whether to return. "We want to go back to Syria," said Mahmoud Zaml, 25, who works in an Arabic pastry shop in Berlin, adding that he hopes to help "rebuild" his country. "But we have to wait a bit now," he told AFP. "We have to see what happens and if it is really 100 percent safe, then we will go back to Syria." burs-fz/rlp/phz/gv/giv

Gaxos.ai Inc. (NASDAQ:GXAI) Short Interest Up 970.1% in December