panaloko halo bunos The injury report for the Boston Celtics (23-8) heading into their game against the Indiana Pacers (15-17) currently features two players. The Pacers have five injured players listed on the report. The matchup is scheduled for 6:00 PM ET on Sunday, December 29. Watch the NBA, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Last time out, the Celtics bested the Pacers 142-105 on Friday. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics in the win with 44 points, while Tyrese Haliburton scored 19 in the losing effort for the Pacers. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get live and on-demand access to NBA games. Get tickets for any NBA game this season at StubHub. Catch NBA action all season long on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .NoneBali Nine members could continue sentences in Australia

1 2 Kolkata: The public mass sacrifice of animals, a tradition at the 400-year-old Bolla Kali Mata Temple in South Dinajpur , came to an end on Thursday after the puja committee informed Calcutta High Court that the sacrifice would only take place in a designated sacrifice-room. The committee told the court goat sacrifice had been a centuries-old ritual at the temple and it would be done only at a "designated place for which a licence had been obtained". "The bali ghar (sacrificial room) is a recognised and licensed slaughterhouse conforming with all rules and regulations," it said. Two PILs were filed against illegal animal slaughters "in the name of God". Last year, the Reforms Social Welfare Foundation had approached the HC against the mass sacrifice ritual, and this year, Akhil Bharat Krishi Go Seva Sangh moved the court against it. Giving a report on the 2023 puja, Bengal govt told the court that the Bolla Kali temple committee even encouraged people to participate in the mass sacrifice. By doing this, the committee flouted its own undertaking that no encouragement would be given from the temple's side to citizens to participate in the mass sacrifice, govt said. The HC said if any violation of the undertaking given by the puja committee took place this year, appropriate action would be taken. CJ TS Sivagnanam said: "No one is trying to interfere with any religious practice. For ages together, it's been practised. But 100 years before and now, there is a lot of difference. Several legislations have come into place, particularly in 2001 when slaughterhouse rules were notified. It states that slaughtering can be done in a licensed premises. The counsels for the committee say they have obtained the licence. As per the rule, one animal cannot be slaughtered in the presence of another animal. If there should be a sacrifice, it needs to be done in a designated place. All over the place, you cannot keep slaughtering." CJ Sivagnanam was hearing the case with Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya. Highlighting the tradition, ASG Ashoke Chakraborty shared his views by saying that people pray before the deity, and if the prayer is granted, they sacrifice goats as offering. Advocates for the committee said animals were slaug-htered one by one and were not visible to each other. The space has three places of sacrifice separated by partitions, they said.

How to answer questions about your body this holiday season, according to a psychologist

NoneIn recent market trends, ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) emerges as a standout in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Spurred by new analyst insights, the company’s innovative strides in artificial intelligence have caught the attention of investors and analysts alike. Cantor Fitzgerald’s CJ Muse notes that the current cycle of AI investment differs from past trends, highlighting the hefty capital influx by tech giants as they chase after artificial general intelligence (AGI), a pursuit requiring robust computational power. Unlike previous tech revolutions, this wave is marked by a substantial generation of free cash flows, offering significant opportunities for companies like ServiceNow. On its latest earnings call, ServiceNow unveiled impressive third-quarter results, paving the way for future growth. The introduction of their Now Platform Xanadu highlights over 350 generative AI tools, enhancing areas such as data visualization automation and virtual agent capabilities. Another feather in their cap is the release of RaptorDB Pro, which consolidates operational data and analytics, strengthening ServiceNow’s IT market position. Stifel analysts are optimistic, predicting that ServiceNow could see organic revenue growth rates soar between 20% to 22% beyond 2025. They also forecast considerable margin expansion opportunities, underpinned by operational efficiencies and strategic advancements. With the global IT service management (ITSM) market projected to grow at a 9.3% CAGR through 2030, ServiceNow seems well-positioned for continued success. As the company climbs to 8th on the list of high-profile AI stocks, investor interest remains strong, driven by the potential for substantial returns in a booming sector. Discover How ServiceNow is Transforming the AI Landscape In recent developments, ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW) has solidified its status as a key player in the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector. This evolution is fueled by new market insights and cutting-edge advancements in AI technologies that are capturing significant attention from investors and analysts. Innovations Driving Growth ServiceNow’s introduction of the Now Platform Xanadu stands out as a pivotal moment in its growth strategy. Featuring over 350 generative AI tools, Xanadu enhances capabilities such as data visualization automation and the performance of virtual agents. Additionally, the launch of RaptorDB Pro marks a significant upgrade in operational data and analytics, enabling ServiceNow to strengthen its hold in the IT market. Predictions and Market Trends According to Stifel analysts, ServiceNow is on a trajectory of impressive growth, with projected organic revenue increases of 20% to 22% extending beyond 2025. This optimistic forecast is bolstered by the firm’s strategic focus on operational efficiencies and expansion into new technological areas. Capitalizing on a booming market, ServiceNow is leveraging these innovations amid a projected 9.3% CAGR for the global IT service management (ITSM) sector through 2030. As a result, the company has climbed to 8th place among high-profile AI stocks, a testament to its potential for significant returns. Insights from Industry Experts CJ Muse from Cantor Fitzgerald highlights the current AI investment cycle as markedly different from previous trends. Unlike past technological revolutions, this era is characterized by robust computational demands and the generation of free cash flow. Such dynamics present substantial opportunities for companies like ServiceNow, which are positioned to capitalize on these industry shifts. Market Analysis The strategic advancements of ServiceNow not only fortify its position in AI but also underscore its potential within a broader market context. As the ITSM market continues to grow, ServiceNow’s focus on leveraging AI for operational transformation is drawing considerable interest from stakeholders, further cementing its role as a leader in the digital transformation space. For more insights into the evolving AI market and ServiceNow’s role in it, visit ServiceNow’s official site . This platform provides an in-depth view of their latest offerings and industry trends.M/I Homes CEO Robert Schottenstein sells $1.31 million in stockBethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Middle East latest: Bethlehem marks a somber Christmas Eve amid war in Gaza TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Palestinian city of Bethlehem is preparing for another somber Christmas under the shadow of war in Gaza. Most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue just as the Christmas travel season kicks into overdrive and winter weather is threatening more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. American flights were cleared to fly by federal regulators about one hour after a national ground stop order was issued by federal regulators Tuesday. The American groundings couldn’t come at a worse time for the millions of travelers expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through January 2. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. 20 years after the Indian Ocean tsunami, a boy found in the mud embraces being known as 'Baby 81' KURUKKAL MADAM, Sri Lanka (AP) — The boy once known as “Baby 81,” who was pulled from the mud as an infant after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and reunited with his parents following an emotional court battle, is now a 20-year-old dreaming of higher education. Jayarasa Abilash’s story symbolizes that of the many families torn apart by one of the worst natural calamities in modern history, but it also offers hope. He grew up being followed by the nickname “Baby 81” and feeling embarrassed until he learned more about the events that tore him from his family and brought him back. He has lost his fear. A blast at a Turkish ammunition factory kills 11 people ISTANBUL (AP) — An explosion at an ammunition factory in northwest Turkey left 11 dead and five injured Tuesday morning. The state-run Anadolu Agency says the blast occurred in Balikesir province, in a rural area away from population centers. The provincial governor says one building collapsed and others were damaged, The governor says the explosion was due to a technical issue and there was no possibility of sabotage. An investigation has begun. France has a new government, again. Politics and crushing debt complicate next steps PARIS (AP) — France’s president and prime minister have managed to form a new government just in time for the holidays. Now comes the hard part. Crushing debt, pressure from the nationalist far right, wars in Europe and the Mideast. The hallenges abound for President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. They already had a tumultuous 2024. The most urgent order of business is passing a 2025 budget. Financial markets, ratings agencies and the European Commission are pushing France to bring down its deficit. It is threatening the stability and prosperity of all countries that share the euro currency. Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee’s long-awaited report into Rep. Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations of misconduct, including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican’s nomination to lead the Justice Department. Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and other evidence, the committee painted a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. Gaetz, who had filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report’s release Monday, slammed the committee’s findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. Legendary Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal dies at age 90 NEW DELHI (AP) — Shyam Benegal, a renowned Indian filmmaker known for pioneering a cinema movement that tackled social issues in the 1970s, has died after chronic kidney disease. He was 90. His contribution to cinema was recognized as a director, editor and screenwriter. He came into the limelight with films that challenged mainstream Bollywood by dealing with the social realities of a poor nation. He also was a mentor to top Indian actors. India's prime minister says he is “deeply saddened” by Benegal's death.

Global monitor says famine is weeks away in north GazaVictor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York

In recent weeks, gamers diving into the latest Delta Force release, “Hawk Ops,” have encountered surprising challenges, sparking lively discussions across forums. While the game is lauded for its cutting-edge graphics and immersive storytelling, a new issue has emerged, leading players to question the reliability of certain in-game mechanisms. Innovation Meets Frustration As developers integrate emerging technologies, the game’s AI decision-making has become notably complex. Enthusiasts have observed the AI behaving unpredictably, with characters making questionable tactical decisions during critical missions. This has introduced a real-world problem where an AI’s capacity for adaptation might be overstretching current technological boundaries. The Implications of Advanced AI Delta Force’s “Hawk Ops” serves as a poignant case study in understanding the balance between innovation and practicality. By utilizing advanced AI, the aim was to enhance realism, offering players a richer experience. However, the unpredictable behavior suggests a need for a redesign or recalibration. Industry specialists propose that a hybrid approach might be required, merging AI ingenuity with human oversight to remedy current issues. The Developer Response Acknowledging player concerns, the development team is actively working on patches to address these challenges. They have expressed openness to player feedback, noting that collective insights will inform future updates. As Delta Force navigates these technological seas, the gaming world watches on, eager to see how developers will harmonize next-gen tech with player experience. Delta Force: Hawk Ops – The AI Revolution in Gaming and Its Challenges Unpacking the AI Complexity in Delta Force: Hawk Ops The latest title from the Delta Force franchise, “Hawk Ops,” has both wowed and frustrated players with its cutting-edge technology and complex AI. While the game is praised for its stunning graphics and gripping narratives, the AI’s unpredictable decision-making has left players perplexed. This issue underscores the ongoing struggle in gaming to balance advanced technology with user expectations. Pros and Cons of Advanced AI in Gaming The integration of sophisticated AI in games like “Hawk Ops” aims to enrich the virtual environment by making it more responsive and challenging. However, there are both benefits and downsides to this innovation: Pros: – Enhanced Realism: AI that adapts in real-time offers an unparalleled realism, mimicking human-like behavior. – Dynamic Gameplay: Unpredictable AI can lead to varied gaming experiences, enhancing replayability. Cons: – Unpredictable Outcomes: Players often feel frustrated by AI making nonsensical choices in critical game scenarios. – Increased Complexity: Handling highly sophisticated AI can be daunting, both for developers and players. The Future of AI in Gaming Industry experts predict that future advancements in AI will continue to shape the gaming landscape. Hybrid models, which fuse AI management with human oversight, are seen as a potential solution to current issues. This approach could strike a better balance between innovation and playability, allowing developers to harness AI’s full potential while maintaining control over the user experience. Developer’s Commitment to Improvement The development team behind “Hawk Ops” is keenly aware of the feedback from the gaming community. They are actively working on updates to refine AI behavior, emphasizing community feedback as a pivotal part of the improvement process. This open-dialog approach suggests that future titles will likely benefit from lessons learned with “Hawk Ops.” Looking Ahead: Predictions and Insights In the coming years, gaming is expected to see more seamless AI integration, where game and player interactions will be more fluid and intuitive. Developers are likely to continue exploring new ways to marry AI innovation with engaging game design, ensuring that technology enhances rather than hinders the player experience. For more information on the Delta Force series and its latest innovations, visit NovaLogic .He is the “Builder Governor.” The lasting impression of Eric Holcomb’s eight-year tenure as governor could be measured on what he built, and how he did so and with the steady assets he had at his command. He calls it the “new Indiana” emerging under his watch. He finished Interstate 69 to Evansville, including the hard part through suburban Johnson and Marion counties, with the new Ohio River bridge into Kentucky sited. He completed the $600 million double-tracking of the century old South Shore Line from Chicago to South Bend at the West Lake spur line. There’s the new $1.2 billion prison at Westville the state is paying cash for. There is the new combined $655 million Indiana Deaf and Blind School campus, the new Fall Creek Pavilion at the State Fairgrounds, the new State Archives Building, as well as the first new state park lodge being built in 85 years. There is the combined $300 million Gov. Holcomb is funneling into the 92 county health departments. There’s the amicable IUPUI divorce with twin campuses rising up just blocks from the state capital. As the governor drove from Culver to Potato Creek State Park this month to monitor the first new lodge since 1939 after the initial groundbreaking 14 months prior, Holcomb told Howey Politics, “I want to be graded and measured on the results, not the rhetoric. We don’t just want to build trails, we want to be the trail leader. We want to finish I-69. “We want to stay state-focused on always trying to do big things,” Holcomb continued. It will take a decade or so to fully know the impacts of Holcomb’s eight years in office. He spent a decade as an apprentice to Gov. Mitch Daniels, serving as deputy chief of staff. While running a campaign for U.S. Senate, Gov. Mike Pence plucked him from relative obscurity to replace Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann in March 2016. Four months later after Pence joined the Donald Trump presidential ticket, Holcomb won a second-ballot Republican Central Committee nomination, launching a 106-day come-from-behind victory over Democrat John Gregg. Holcomb had unusual assets. He’s the only Hoosier governor to serve with Indiana General Assembly supermajorities for both entire terms. Earl Goode, his only chief of staff, is finishing an unprecedented 14 years at that job. He signed the most far-reaching abortion restrictions in state history. Holcomb’s Indiana received a stunning $6.7 billion from the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $868 million for rural broadband expansion and $100 million for electric vehicle charging stations. He never had to deal with a recession. The state’s jobless rate was always below 5%. The Holcomb administration has, so far, been scandal free. The result is what Holcomb calls an emerging “New Indiana.” “For us, when you look at the progress we’ve made across the economic development front, the workforce development front and the community development front, Indiana is a new Indiana,” he said. “We have a New Albany, a New Haven, New Castle, New Carlisle and there truly is almost a new Indiana when you think about our health innovation industry, LEAP, manufacturing of isotopes and planned genetics and where we’re taking life sciences and the future of mobility being determined here. We’re working on small modular nuclear reactors. Being in a center of the country gives us an advantage of being in the core.” And there were galactic challenges. He faced two pandemics, the first was the opioid crisis and a triple-digit increase in overdoses. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in shutting down much of society in late March 2020 for several months. Two million Hoosiers were infected and 26,115 died during the most lethal public health episode in state history. There was no written pandemic plan on the shelf other than for the flu. “We were transparent and very accessible,” Holcomb said of the weekly web-streamed press conferences that he held with state health officials such as Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box and Dr. Lindsay Weaver. “It was like Indiana went to Oz and when the curtain was pulled back and they got to see their government, which was just like them,” Holcomb said. Despite the criticism from Republicans like Secretary of State Diego Morales, who said he had overstepped his authority during the pandemic, Holcomb won reelection with 1.7 million votes (56.5%). “I had all kinds of people tell me politically this is going to be the end of me and, lo and behold, we got more votes than anyone who has ever run for governor in the history of this state, still to this day, by the way,” he said. What was the most surprising or gratifying thing he witnessed or learned? “To learn of the innovation and ingenuity that comes off the family farm or the family factory floor or the small business that has been taken to scale by someone needing to solve a problem on a bigger scale,” he said. His biggest disappointment? “I would have liked to see pregnancy accommodations done for the state, not just state government,” Holcomb said. What wisdom would he impart to a future governor? “Approach with the attitude that every day you’re gonna learn if you stay connected to the ground,” he said, adding that in “remaining humble” he was “courageous and forward-looking, understanding you are not going to please everybody all the time.”

Tammy Slaton has hit a snag in her weight loss journey. After being told that she would need to lose weight before she was eligible for skin removal surgery , Tammy visited a new surgeon in the Dec. 17 season finale of 1000-Lb. Sisters who confirmed Tammy would have to kick her vaping habit before he was able to operate. The 38-year-old was joined by sisters Amy Slaton and Misty Slaton as they visited Pittsburgh-based plastic surgeon Dr. J. Peter Rubin , where Tammy got candid about how much the excess skin was limiting her mobility . "I just want to be able to walk around better without losing balance," she told the doctor, before adding in a separate interview, "It's hard to walk because of the skin. I walk like a daggone penguin. My belly goes this way and I'm going that way." Dr. Rubin agreed to removing the excess skin around Tammy's lower stomach and chin, but noted that taking care of other parts of her body would have to be done in separate surgeries. "We shouldn't do everything at once," he explained, "it's a great stress on the body." Tammy was initially overjoyed by the news, saying, "I've been waiting to hear that I can get my skin removal for so long. When I get rid of the skin, I'm going to be a brand-new me. Better. I'm going to become a model and walk the catwalk." However, her doctor needed Tammy to get her protein levels up to help with wound healing—which led Tammy to confess her vaping addiction when asked if there would be issues with her lungs. "So there's one thing I haven't told my doctors about and it could mess up the chances of having skin removal," the TLC star admitted. "I do vape. I mainly use it for anxiety. It helps calm me down." Tammy explained that she is currently vaping "every day, several times a day," and will even smoke in the middle of the night to help her get back to sleep. Amy also noted how she's watched Tammy's addiction blossom , saying, "I know it's going to be really hard for her to quit vaping because instead of turning around one addiction, she went to another one. She went from food to vaping. I think it's her security blanket at this point." Unfortunately, the revelation meant that Tammy wouldn't be able to schedule her surgery, as Dr. Rubin explained using nicotine products increases the risk of wound healing problems. "So No. 1 we got to get you off the vapes completely, No. 2 the nutrition is really important," he told her. "We got to get those numbers up. That's going to take about two months minimum. So we can't schedule the surgery now until we can get all these things worked out." Tammy did not take the news well. When asked about her nicotine use in an interview after her appointment, the reality star replied, "I don't wanna talk about vaping." "I think I might need a five ‘cause I'm gonna flip. I'm pissed now," she said before angrily leaving the room to hit her vape again. "I don't give two s--ts about it." For a deeper dive into Tammy's weight loss transformation, keep reading. Sharing Her Journey Since 2020, TLC viewers have watched Tammy Slaton 's journey on 1000-lb. Sisters . She underwent bariatric surgery in mid-2022 and since then, fans have continued to witness her transformation on TV and on social media. As of August 2024, she has lost 500 pounds. Summertime Style The reality star shared a snap of herself in a floral print dress on Instagram in June 2023. Squad Photo That same month, Tammy posted a group photo with her brother Chris Combs and YouTuber Chelcie Lynn . A Heartbreaking Loss In July 2023, Tammy mourned the death of her husband Caleb Willingham . "Rip sweet angel you will forever be missed and loved so much," she wrote on Instagram alongside throwback photos, "thank you Caleb for showing me real love and happiness." Mirror Selfie Tammy stopped for a series of bathroom selfies, shared on Instagram August 2023. Posing in Jeans In October 2023, Tammy proudly posed for an Instagram selfie in jeans. Tie-Dyed Style Tammy posted this video on TikTok in January 2024. "Killing It" After she shared new selfies in April 2024, her weight loss surgeon, Dr. Eric Smith , commented, "You are killing it!" Great Cat-titude Tammy included in her update a pic of herself with her cat, Chocolate.Where to shop Alison Hammonds Bake Off looks and yes they are all from the high street, including River Island and AsosNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the all-time high it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Stock markets abroad mostly fell after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China once he takes office. But the movements were mostly modest. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index edged down by less than 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. The consequences otherwise for markets and the global economy could be painful. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. And unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his latest proposal would affect products across the board. General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The value of the Mexican peso fell 1.8% against the U.S. dollar. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support for the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the economy, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed’s last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another mixed set of profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates imposed by the Fed to get inflation under control. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Kohl’s tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. Still, more stocks rose in the S&P 500 than fell. J.M. Smucker had one of the biggest gains and climbed 5.7% after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 34.26 points to 6,021.63. The Dow gained 123.74 to 44,860.31, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 119.46 to 19,174.30. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.29% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $91,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

Happy Holidays! As we’ve done the past few years here at Smart Money , we’re going to look “forward” to the next year by looking back at what we’ve talked about this year. But before we get to that, I wanted to deliver a holiday gift to you... a special report featuring my Top 7 Stocks for 2025 that’s free to you just for being an important Smart Money follower. Each one of these stocks capitalizes on one of the powerful megatrends we talk about here. I hope you’ll check that out . And this year, we’ve talked about a technology so powerful that its existence could either herald the end of the world – or, at the very least, the world as we know it – or usher in the beginning of an unprecedented utopia. That development is artificial general intelligence, or AGI. As we’ve only just begun traveling down the path toward AGI, I’d like the revisit a past Smart Money from this year where I answered your most pressing questions. Updates will be provided as needed. This article is from August of this year, titled Answering Your Biggest AGI Questions ... Let’s jump right in... Scientists and other bright minds have put forth a few different timelines as to when they believe AGI will be developed. For example... The truth is that we really don’t know when AGI will become a part of our lives. However, the common denominator here is that the technology is developing fast... and will be upon us soon. AGI is going to impact several industries in ways many folks — including those on Wall Street — have never even considered. They are industries that I also believe everyone should consider investing their capital in right now. I’m talking about data centers, raw materials and metals, energy, software, semiconductor chips, robotics, and healthcare. As AI infiltrates the medical field, the U.S. healthcare industry is on track to grow faster than any other sector in the U.S. economy. Companies are converging with AI to bring about massive amounts of innovation in the healthcare industry. In the biotech sector, for example, AI could revolutionize the economics of drug discovery. First, it could boost the success rates of new therapies by prequalifying potential drug candidates more expertly than traditional trial-and-error processes could. Second, it could reduce the average expense and timeline of advancing these candidates through clinical trials by shortening the drug-development time frame. Today, without AI, it can take more than a decade and over $1 billion to bring a new drug to market. AI could impart a game-changing efficiency to the drug-development process, and thereby shower pharmaceutical companies, in particular, with a pixie dust of enormous prosperity. Collectively, the pharmaceutical industry seems to be banking on the pixie-dust scenario. For example, all 10 of the top holdings in the iShares Biotechnology ETF ( IBB ) are actively integrating some facet of AI into their drug-development processes. Many of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world are paying tens of billions of dollars to snap up promising biotech companies. You could call it a biotech gold rush. The volume of merger-and-acquisition deals in the global healthcare sector surged about 22% last year, according to data provider Dealogic, even though M&A activity across all industries dropped about 23%. I believe that the pharmaceutical industry, in aggregate, will reap handsome rewards from the expansion of AI in healthcare, especially as AGI continues to advance. Overall, I expect AGI to impart fantastic benefits to the healthcare industry. When I say “stealth AI,” I’m usually talking non-tech companies that will adopt and apply AI with the goal of reaping huge gains in efficiency, productivity, and profits. In many old-school industries, like shipping or travel, new AI- and AGI-enabled processes could boost efficiency and fatten profit margins. I consider industries like these to be future-proof, meaning they’re not going anywhere, despite whatever AI and AGI do. And when you put stealth AI to work inside a future-proof industry, you have the potential for both reliable and outsized gains. Artificial intelligence has added a powerful tailwind to platinum demand... a tailwind that AGI will kick in to high gear. At present, electronics and technology end-uses account for only 3% of total platinum demand. However, thanks to AI, the tech sector’s platinum consumption could grow by double digits for several years in a row. According to research from Metals Focus, a boom in demand for AI applications will create an echo boom in demand for the high-specification semiconductors and sensors that enable AI technologies to operate optimally. Much of this next-gen hardware contains platinum. As the World Platinum Investment Council explains... The performance of the myriad of miniature transistors and capacitors embedded into an integrated circuit is enhanced by the deposition of thin platinum films onto semiconductor wafers... These platinum films are created using a technology known as sputtering, where platinum particles are ejected and deposited onto a surface, creating a thin (only a few atomic or molecular layers thick) platinum layer. AI-driven platinum demand could add an additional kicker to any new bull market that emerges. The rise of AGI is also boosting demand for copper, because data centers use enormous amounts of copper for power and cooling systems. Even moderately sized data centers can require several thousand tons of the metal. All this makes copper a very attractive business to be in – for mining companies and investors alike. There were great questions, folks. As AGI develops, the future that lies ahead is not simply a continuation of what has been... it is a complete departure from anything we have ever known. So, I hope you’ve found these answers to your most pressing AGI questions helpful. In fact, we could be months, weeks, or even mere days away from achieving AGI. After that happens, we may reach a point of no return. And I’m tracking this information closely. In fact, you will hear more about my 1,000 day countdown to AGI soon after the new year. It’s a comprehensive look at the most important technological revolution of our lifetime. Finally, one last thing before I go... Regarding the Top 7 Stocks for 2025 free report I shared with you up top... sometimes knowing when buy a stock is just as important as knowing which stock to buy. And my colleagues at TradeSmith have developed a new way potentially double your money, by foreseeing the biggest jumps on 5,000 stocks, to the day , with 83% back-tested accuracy. And on January 8, at 10 a.m., they’ll be unveiling this financial breakthrough during a special free presentation. You can sign up for that here. In short, we’ve developed a breakthrough way to pinpoint dates of the calendar when certain stocks – like the ones in my new report – shoot up – year after year, producing one winning trade after another. Essentially, it tells you what each stock’s “green day” is. On January 8, they’ll explain exactly how this works. And if you sign up to join the guest list for that special event , you’ll receive instant free access to their system. You can try it yourself right now to see the “green day” for 5,000 different stocks. Regards, Eric Fry

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