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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. Stock market today: Stocks drift higher as US markets reopen after a holiday pause Stocks are drifting higher on Wall Street in light trading as U.S. markets reopen following the Christmas holiday. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite were up by less than 0.1% in midday trading Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.1%. Gains in technology companies overall and retailers helped boost the market, despite a pullback by some heavyweight Big Tech stocks. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Treasury yields rose. U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. 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 near him, 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. 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. Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finnish police say authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables. It was the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Police and border guards boarded the Eagle S and took control as they investigate damage to the Estlink-2 undersea power cable. The cable brings electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea. The cable went down on Wednesday. The incident follows damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Both have been termed sabotage. Russian ship that sank in the Mediterranean was attacked, owner says MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian operator of a cargo ship that sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria says it has been hit by a series of explosions in an act of sabotage. Oboronlogistica is a state-controlled company that operated the Ursa Major freighter. The company said the vessel was wrecked by three powerful explosions just above the water line in what it described as a “terrorist attack” that caused it to sink on Monday. The company said in a statement carried by Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday that the explosions left a hole in the ship’s starboard and filled the engine room with acrid smoke. That hampered the crew’s attempts to access it. Undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia hit by outage, prompting investigation FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finland’s prime minister says authorities are investigating an interruption in a power cable under the Baltic Sea between his country and Estonia. Petteri Orpo said on X that power transmission through the Estlink-2 cable suffered an outage Wednesday. Authorities have been on edge about undersea infrastructure in the Baltic after two international data cables were severed in November and the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany were blown up in September 2022. Japan to maximize nuclear power in clean-energy push as electricity demand grows TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese government panel has largely supported a draft energy policy calling for bolstering renewables up to half of Japanese electricity needs by 2040. It also recommends maximizing the use of nuclear power to accommodate the growing demand for power in the era of AI while meeting decarbonization targets. Cabinet is expected to formally approve the plan by March following a period of public consultation. The policy says nuclear energy should account for 20% of Japan’s energy supply in 2040, with renewables expanded to 40-50% and coal-fired power reduced to 30-40%. Working Well: Returning to the office can disrupt life. Here are some tips to navigate the changes NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of workers are facing an unsettling reality heading into 2025. After years of working from the comfort of home, they're being told it’s time to return to the office full-time for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic. That can bring a host of challenges, including losing time with family. Workers at Amazon, AT&T and other companies have been called back to the office five days a week. Experts have advice to share about how to navigate the changes when an employer calls you back to the office. Workers can convey what they need, seek flexibility and if all else fails, consider other options. US applications for unemployment benefits hold steady, but continuing claims rise to 3-year high WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. The US Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claim applications ticked down by 1,000 to 219,000 for the week of Dec. 21. That’s fewer than the 223,000 analysts forecast. Continuing claims, the total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits, climbed by 46,000 to 1.91 million for the week of Dec. 14. That’s more than analysts projected and the most since the week of Nov. 13, 2021. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered representative of U.S. layoffs.Another point of contention lies in the pricing of products in Russian supermarket stores. While some argue that the high prices of certain items reflect their quality and authenticity, others question whether these inflated costs are justified. The allure of imported goods can lead consumers to overlook potential red flags, such as discrepancies in labeling or packaging, that may indicate the true origin of a product.

$100 Invested In Agnico Eagle Mines 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much TodayCBC is restoring its live New Year’s Eve celebration. A year after the national broadcaster cancelled the 2024 countdown due to “financial pressures,” it says the special event is back on the TV schedule to mark the dawn of 2025. Festivities begin Dec. 31 with the one-hour “22 Minutes New Year’s Eve Pregame Special,” a satirical reflection on the events of 2024 with the cast of the political comedy series “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.” It will be followed by “Canada Live! Countdown 2025,” a special hosted by news anchor Adrienne Arsenault and singer Jann Arden broadcasting live from Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, and anchor Ian Hanomansing and comedian Ali Hassan at Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden. A representative for the CBC says the coast-to-coast show will feature reporters at more than a dozen community events across the country while a countdown to the new year will take place in each of the six time zones. Throughout the seven-and-a-half-hour program, “many Canadian celebrity guests” will appear in live and pre-taped messages. “Canada Live! Countdown 2025” begins at 8 p.m. ET on CBC News Network and CBC Gem with CBC-TV and CBC Radio picking up the feed at 9 p.m. in local markets. Last year, the CBC replaced its live New Year’s Eve programming with a taped Just For Laughs special hosted by comedian Mae Martin. That left Canadians without a homegrown countdown on any of the major networks, which sparked blowback on social media from some viewers. The CBC began its annual specials in 2017 to mark Canada’s sesquicentennial year. Some of the more recent broadcasts were hosted by comedian Rick Mercer and featured fireworks and musical performances in key cities. But when CBC paused those plans last year, it said the show had become “increasingly expensive to produce.” The decision to sideline the program was made shortly after members of Parliament summoned outgoing CBC president Catherine Tait to testify about job cuts and her refusal to rule out bonuses for CBC executives.

ORCHARD PARK — Cole Bishop’s eyes glanced the wrong way for less than a second. That’s all it took for Houston Texans receiver Nico Collins to run by for an easy 67-yard touchdown. Buffalo Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas gave Bishop an earful before Collins even crossed the goal line. It was Week 5 and Bishop’s first NFL start after being drafted in the second round in April. The day after Bishop was drafted, Bills general manager Brandon Beane made it known how excited the Bills were to have gotten Bishop, while simultaneously pumping the brakes on any ideas he was an immediate replacement for Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde. Safety is among the most difficult positions to learn in the NFL and it’s even harder in Buffalo’s scheme. Rookie safeties almost never start for coach Sean McDermott, dating back to his days as a defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. The communication and disguising are more important than physical traits once the ball is snapped and a newcomer to the system can feel like they are drowning. Bishop had his struggles subbing for Taylor Rapp while he recovered from a concussion early in the season and he had a few in his second career start against the Detroit Lions in Week 15. But Bishop’s lightbulb appears to have turned on and it’s brightening with every start he gets. “I’m just learning,” Bishop told GNN Sports. “I’ve gotten a lot more reps (since earlier in the season). In practice, in games, every rep is just helping you feel more comfortable out there.” Is simply winning a game no longer enough for #Bills fans? How much goodwill can the #Sabres get back after a 13-game losing streak? And just how much coal did @billhoppe.bsky.social get in his stocking? fireside.fm/episode/sMvb... [image or embed] Bishop’s NFL beginnings were stunted when he injured his shoulder on the third day of training camp and his recovery extended almost the entire preseason. He was already battling veterans Damar Hamlin and Mike Edwards for a starting job and Hamlin seized it through his knowledge of the defense and injuries to prolonged Bishop and Edwards. When Hyde didn’t re-sign in the offseason and Poyer was released, not only did the Bills draft Bishop and re-sign Rapp, but they also added four veterans between free agency and the preseason. When Week 1 arrived, the Bills named Rapp and Hamlin, the two safeties with most experience in the defense as the starters, but even Rapp needed a full season in the system to get comfortable. “It took Po and I a full season to really get comfortable with all the adjustments we needed to make week-to-week,” Hyde said. “... Going on our second season is when we started to know the playbook like the back of our hand and we’ve been through and installed plenty of times. ... I don't know how he was in the beginning, but I know that now he's an intelligent football player and instinctive. So I'm eager to see him finish off this season.” When Bishop arrived in Buffalo, he quickly latched on to Edwards, who was signed on a one-year deal after spending four years with the Buccaneers and last year with the Chiefs. But after being a healthy scratch six times in the first nine weeks, Edwards requested his release and it was granted. When Hyde re-signed to the practice squad Dec. 5, Bishop immediately started seeking his advice. But whether it’s coaches or veterans, Bishop is constantly trying to pick up more information and feedback, which is why Hyde is strategic when he gives input so that Bishop isn’t overloaded. At 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Bishop is a longer, heavier safety than they have used under McDermott. Bishop showed his explosiveness at the NFL scouting combine by running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and recording a 39-inch vertical leap. But what Bishop adds to the defense is a safety who can play near the line of scrimmage and be an enforcer against the run. In three seasons at Utah, Bishop played 73% of his snaps near the line of scrimmage. If the Bills bring a safety into the box or blitz one, it’s typically Hamlin, who is roughly 10 pounds lighter. “He's already, to me, a freak athlete. Just how big he is and how well he can move,” Bills cornerback Taron Johnson said. “But what sets him apart, I think, is his mindset and how he's so coachable, always listening to the coaches and talking to the older guys, trying to see how they see things. And I feel like he's going to be a really good player.” Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said Bishop is improving with each rep. But for most of the season, Bishop wasn’t getting many. At least not during games. While Bishop was learning in practices and watching film, there is no way to simulate how to execute all of the information gleaned at the speed in which games are played in the NFL. For Bishop, that wasn’t an easy transition, especially for a player who was used to learning by doing in college. In Bishop’s first true action over 2 1⁄2 games, it seemed like the Bills were trying to bring him along slowly. He played in the box roughly 53% of the time as Buffalo preferred a two-high safety look. But against the New England Patriots, Bishop played in the box on 50 of 73 snaps. In Bishop’s three starts, the Bills have allowed 89.3 yards rushing on 3.7 yards per carry, compared to 125.5 yards on 4.8 yards per carry in the other 12 games. And it’s also easy to see Bishop becoming a better communicator on the field. On safety Cam Lewis’ interception, Bishop effectively communicated a Banjo coverage with linebacker Dorian Williams, where the outside defender takes the inside receiver, and without that communication, Lewis isn’t able to bait Patriots quarterback Drake Maye into throwing at Williams’ receiver. “When we get the game plan, I try to get all the fundamentals of it, all the details and just try and execute it,” Bishop said. “So whatever they’re asking, I just try to execute to the best of my ability.” NOTES: S Damar Hamlin (rib), DB Cam Lewis (shoulder), S Taylor Rapp (neck) and WR Curtis Samuel (rib) all wore red non-contact jerseys and were limited in Thursday’s practice. ... OL Tylan Grable did not practice for personal reasons.AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:39 p.m. ESTAshworth, widely respected for his professionalism and dedication to the club, was unceremoniously ousted following a dispute with the club's board over strategic communications. His departure has raised concerns among United's workforce about the potential for swift and decisive action against even long-serving and loyal employees.

Who Is Katharine H. Parker? Luigi Mangione's Pre-Trial Judge Draws Attention For Marriage To Ex-Pfizer ExecNEW YORK (AP) — The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview Thursday that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione also mentioned the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania. “We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So that’s possibly why he targeted that company,” said Kenny. UnitedHealthcare is in the top 20 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization but is not the fifth largest. It is the largest U.S. health insurer. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald's in the city of Altoona, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, has said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey also said he has yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. Mangione's arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Police say the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, early on the morning of Dec. 4. He approached Thompson from behind and shot him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York so that he can face a murder charge in Thompson's killing. A hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 30. The 26-year-old, who police say was found with a “ ghost gun ” matching shell casings found at the site of the shooting, is charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family. In posts on social media, Mangione wrote about experiencing severe chronic back pain before undergoing a spinal fusion surgery in 2023. Afterward, he posted that the operation had been a success and that his pain had improved and mobility returned. He urged others to consider the same type of surgery. On Wednesday, police said investigators are looking at his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the U.S. health care system . Kenny said in the NBC interview that Mangione's family reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November.

The Steam Deck is one of the best portable gaming devices around, despite one major shortcoming: It doesn’t run Windows. Unlike the Asus ROG Ally , the Lenovo Legion Go, and a fleet of other devices that come with Windows preinstalled, the Steam Deck uses Linux. To Valve’s credit, its handheld alone has changed the perception of gaming on Linux. It can run most Steam games pretty well, but you’ll need Windows if you want to play PC Game Pass titles, or take advantage of Epic Games Store’s constant stream of free games. You’ll also need Windows if you play multiplayer games that use anti-cheat software that isn’t compatible with Linux. That includes Destiny 2 , Fortnite , Apex Legends , and more. The simplest way to get Windows 11 on your Steam Deck without altering (and potentially screwing up) its internal file system is to make a portable version of the OS, conveniently stored on a USB-C SSD that you can easily plug into the Deck when you want it, and unplug it when you don’t. I’m going to walk you through the many steps required to get this done. This is a long guide, but try not to feel daunted; although the process is long, each of the steps is still fairly simple. Buy a new USB-C SSD, or construct your own (If you already have the SSD handy that you want to use, skip to the next step.) I suggest buying the smallest (in terms of form factor, not storage) portable SSD you can afford. As for internal storage, 2 TB should last you a while, but 1 TB or less may be sufficient for your needs. Crucial’s X6 2 TB SSD is a good, relatively small, and affordable option that connects via USB-C. It’s not that small, though. For something even smaller, prepare to pay more. Genki’s $49.99 SavePoint SSD enclosure is the better route by a wide margin. It’s tiny, fitting a compact M.2 2230-size SSD (not included), and it’s the only enclosure I’ve used that was thoughtful enough to include a second USB-C port in its design, allowing for passthrough charging. Normally, you give up the option to charge your Steam Deck when you connect an SSD — not with this one. It also includes a magnet, letting you secure it to your Steam Deck so it doesn’t dangle. Once you get your M.2 SSD, simply open the enclosure and insert it. Genki SavePoint This external M.2 2230 enclosure is a little fancier than others, containing a heatsink to stay cool, plus a second USB-C port that allows for up to 100 W of passthrough charging to keep handhelds charged up. Alternatively, you could buy an M.2 2280 SSD on a deal, plus this $29.99 SSD enclosure that’ll let you easily connect it to your Deck. It’ll be a bit bigger in size than the aforementioned Crucial and Genki SSDs, but it’ll work just the same. Download Windows 11 In case you didn’t know, it’s free, legal, and easy to download, install, and use Windows 11 (unregistered copies lack personalization options and feature a persistent watermark on the bottom-right corner of your screen). Microsoft hosts downloads of its latest OS, and grabbing a copy is a necessary part of this process. Head to this page and scroll down to the section called “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices.” Select “Windows 11 (multi-edition OS for x64 devices),” then hit the blue “Download Now” button. A page will load, then display another option that asks you to select your desired language. Once you do that, select “Confirm,” then finally click “64-bit download” to initiate the download. Create a bootable version of Windows 11 on your SSD With your SSD connected to the PC where you downloaded the Windows 11 file, it’s time to turn it into a bootable drive that your Steam Deck can recognize when you boot it up. Start by downloading a copy of Rufus , a free, simple-to-use application that specializes in turning USB devices into bootable drives. Scroll down to the “Latest Releases” section and download the latest standard version for 64-bit systems. In your downloads folder, find Rufus and open it. The first two steps include hitting the “SELECT” button on the app’s right side, then finding the Windows 11 OS file in your downloads. (The version of the file at the time of publishing is called “Win11_24H2_English_x64.”) Double-click it to mount it within Rufus. A message saying “Scanning image” will appear in its status bar, so hold tight as it verifies the file. Next, make sure you check the box next to “List USB Hard Drives.” Once you do that, your SSD drive should show up. Select it under the “Device” drop-down menu at the top of the program. Once your drive is mounted, click the drop-down window under “Image option,” then select “Windows To Go.” Selecting this option instead of “Standard Windows Installation” is what lets Windows run off of your SSD without having to install the whole OS on your Steam Deck, which is what we want in this case. Under “Volume label” in the “Format Options” section, feel free to name the drive whatever you want. Hit the “Start” button at the bottom and the process will begin to install Windows onto your SSD. Before it begins, a pop-up window will appear, asking which version of Windows you’d like to install. Just select “Windows 11 Home.” A second pop-up window will appear with more options to specify. You can select the first two, as well as the final option. You’re set with Windows on your SSD once this process finishes, but we’re not done yet. Download Windows drivers for your Steam Deck In order for your Steam Deck’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPU, and other components to work properly in Windows, you’ll need to grab Valve’s official drivers for the handheld. Open this page , then scroll to the section about whichever Steam Deck you have (the OLED or the LCD). Download each of the drivers listed under the Deck you’ll be running Windows on, and keep the page open, as it’ll serve as a useful guide later on. (Note: As Valve’s page indicates, the Steam Deck OLED needs to be running beta system software in order for its Bluetooth driver to work properly in Windows. To install the beta, head to settings, click into system, then in the “Beta participation” section, change “Stable” to “Beta” release, then restart your Deck.) Each driver will download as a .zip file, and you can unzip and extract the contents of each of the six downloads. Make a new folder called “Steam Deck drivers” or something similar, then move all of the extracted folders into it. Then, move this folder full of drivers into the root directory of the SSD you have that now has Windows installed onto it. Boot into Windows for the first time Unless you have the Genki SavePoint SSD enclosure, which allows for passthrough charging while in use, make sure to fully charge your Steam Deck before booting into Windows for the first time. Tap the “Steam” button on your Steam Deck, navigate down to “Power,” and select “Shut down.” Once the system has turned off, connect your SSD that contains Windows and your Steam Deck drivers. Then, hold the volume down button and click the Deck’s power button, without letting go of volume down until you hear the system chime. This should boot into the Steam Deck’s drive selector screen. Use the right touchpad to hover over your drive, then pull the right trigger as you hover over it. A lengthy loading process will take place as Windows initializes. Answer the questions it displays, but select “I don’t have internet” if it asks for Wi-Fi. Then, you’ll eventually get to the Windows home screen. You’ll notice something odd — that it’s displaying sideways. Fear not. In the next section, I’ll walk through how to fix this seemingly unavoidable quirk. Make Windows display correctly On an open section of the home screen, pull the left trigger to “right click,” which displays a bunch of options. Select “Display Settings.” Scroll down (either with your finger or the left touchpad) until you find “Display orientation” under the “Scale & layout” section. Change it from “Portrait” to “Landscape.” That solves that. Install your Steam Deck drivers It might be tempting to click around in Windows to initialize apps and install some games, but let’s continue on with the Steam Deck driver installation first. Open the folder where you opted to store them, and with Valve’s driver page open on your phone or PC, install them on the Deck according to its instructions. Use the left trigger to open up each file’s options, letting you easily select the correct option to install them. In case the Steam Deck hasn’t displayed a “your system must restart for changes to take effect” pop-up by the time you’ve finished installing the six drivers, go ahead and restart Windows 11 in order for the hardware changes to be reflected. The device should automatically reboot back into Windows without you having to hold down your Deck’s volume down button. But if not, at least you know how to get back to the Windows OS. Have fun! From here on out, it’s all about customizing your experience to the way you want it to be. The Xbox app is preinstalled with Windows, so signing in there will let you stream or download PC Game Pass games to the same SSD that Windows is installed on. Same goes for any other PC game store you may download. Now that you have your very own fully operational Windows install ready for your Steam Deck, you won’t miss out on any big PC games. Gaming Hardware PCThis demand for "evidence" has sparked a heated debate within the local community, with some labeling it as an outrageous ploy for financial gain, while others view it as a principled stand against negligence and substandard food practices. Regardless of the differing opinions, one thing remains clear – the incident has captured the public's attention and raised important questions about food safety and consumer rights.South Korea's move to swiftly arrest Yoo Byung-eun has garnered international attention. The National Assembly of South Korea passed a resolution calling for the rapid apprehension of Yoo Byung-eun, a controversial figure linked to the Sewol ferry disaster. The decision to escalate efforts to detain Yoo Byung-eun highlights the government's commitment to seeking justice for the victims of the tragic incident.

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:39 p.m. EST

UK man sues local council over 'billion-dollar' buried Bitcoin wallet

On the other hand, Qiong Yao, the owner of the controversial property, dismisses these claims as mere superstition and fear-mongering. She insists that there is nothing inherently "sinister" about her house and attributes the rumors to gossip and misinformation spread by envious neighbors. Qiong Yao has lived in the house for years without incident and is determined to defend her right to reside there peacefully.