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Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, has diedPet of the week: Meet Charley, the adorable member of the basketball team at Montclair State UniversityBARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in downtown Barcelona on Saturday to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living" and “The people without homes uphold their rights.” The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States . Organizers said that over 100,000 had turned out, while Barcelona’s police said they estimated some 22,000 marched. Either way, the throngs of people clogging the streets recalled the massive separatist rallies at the heigh of the previous decade’s Catalan independence movement. Now, social concerns led by housing have displaced political crusades. That is because the average rent for Spain has doubled in last 10 years. The price per square meter has risen from 7.2 euros ($7.5) in 2014 to 13 euros this year, according to the popular online real estate website Idealista. The growth is even more acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Incomes meanwhile have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Protestor Samuel Saintot said he is “frustrated and scared” after being told by the owners of the apartment he has rented for the past 15 years in Barcelona’s city center that he must vacate the premises. He suspects that the owners want him out so they can renovate it and boost the price. “Even looking in a 20- or 30-kilometer radius outside town, I can’t even find anything within the price range I can afford,” he told The Associated Press. “And I consider myself a very fortunate person, because I earn a decent salary. And even in my case, I may be forced to leave town.” A report by the Bank of Spain indicates that nearly 40% of Spaniards who rent dedicate an average of 40% of their income to paying rents and utilities, compared to the European Union average of 27% of renters who do so. “We are talking about a housing emergency. It means people having many difficulties both in accessing and staying in their homes,” said Ignasi Martí, professor for Esade business school and head of its Dignified Housing Observatory. The rise in rents is causing significant pain in Spain, where traditionally people seek to own their homes. Rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Many migrants to Spain are also disproportionately hit by the high rents because they often do not have enough savings. Spain is near the bottom end of OECD countries with under 2% of all housing available being public housing for rent. The OECD average is 7%. Spain is far behind France, with 14%, Britain with 16%, and the Netherlands with 34%. Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for Barcelona’s Tenants Union which helped organize the protest, said that renters should consider a “rent strike” and cease paying their monthly rents in a mass protest movement. “I think we the tenants have understood that this depends on us. That we can’t keep asking and making demands to the authorities and waiting for an answer. We must take the reins of the situation,” Arcarazo told the AP. “So, if they (the owners) won’t lower the rent, then we will force them to do it." The Barcelona protest came a month after tens of thousands rallied against high rents in Madrid. The rising discontent over housing is putting pressure on Spain’s governing Socialist party, which leads a coalition on the national level and is in charge of Catalonia’s regional government and Barcelona’s city hall. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presided over what the government termed a “housing summit” including government officials and real estate developers last month. But the Barcelona’s Tenants Union boycotted the event, saying it was like calling a summit for curing cancer and inviting tobacco companies to participate. The leading government measure has been a rent cap mechanism that the central government has offered to regional authorities based on a price index established by the housing ministry. Rent controls can be applied to areas deemed to be “highly stressed” by high rental prices. Catalonia was the first region to apply those caps, which are in place in downtown Barcelona. Many locals blame the million of tourists who visit Barcelona, and the rest of Spain, each year for the high prices. Barcelona’s town hall has pledged to completely eliminate the city’s 10,000 so called “tourist apartments,” or dwellings with permits for short-term rents, by 2028.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges Tuesday night. The FTC had earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment. ___ Christopher Rugaber, The Associated Press
Article content It’s a new year, a fresh start, and with that many of us vow to improve something about ourselves. Perhaps this is the year you finally lose the spare tire, kick the smoking habit, or cut down on alcohol consumption. Or maybe it’s time to better manage your finances, stress, or work-life balance? Regardless of what your New Year’s resolution is, as the expression goes, there’s an app for that. A healthier lifestyle could mean a clearer head at home and work, more energy, and increased happiness. And so, the following are a few recommended – and free – health-related downloads for your smartphone or tablet (iOS and Android). Some of these include an optional “pro” (paid) option for more advanced features or extra content. LOSE WEIGHT Log your food intake and exercise, wherever life takes you, so you can keep track of your fitness goals. This is the idea behind the free MyFitnessPal . More than 14 million foods and restaurant dishes are in the database – and you can scan the barcode of millions of packages to automatically log the info – therefore you can expect an accurate look at your caloric intake for each meal. The company says your info is securely synchronized with the web version, too, should you want to log in on a computer. A similar free app is Lose It! . Use your fingertip to set a goal – such as a modest goal of losing five pounds in one month – and then the program will calculate what should be your caloric intake each day. Tap in what you’ve been eating (by food, such as “one medium apple,” or even by brand, like one bowl of “Kraft Macaroni and Cheese”) and it will calculate the calories for you (and even fat, sodium, and so on, if you like). Exercise is also factored into your daily routine. Your info can be also synched to the LoseIt.com website . GET FIT MapMyFitness lets you easily calculate the impact of your physical activity – whether it’s a walk, jog, runs, hike, bike rides or rock-climbing excursion. Heck, even vacuuming can be tracked. Your workout is analyzed – including your time, pace, and estimated calories burned – so you can see you progress and stay motivated. The app can also connect you with other users in your area to join a group. If you like, you can even share your fitness goals and results with your social network. Devices, like activity trackers, smart watches and heart rate monitors, are also supported. For some fun fused with your fitness, the free Zombies, Run! lets you hear a terrifying tale in your headphones about a zombie-infested future, and you’ll need to run faster to get away from the flesh-eating undead as they get closer. You’ll automatically collect supplies to build up your base, such as ammo and medicine for other human survivors. Part of the larger ZRX app, Zombies, Run! features include more than 100 missions, a “Zombie Chase” interval training mode, the ability to run with your own music and optional synchronization with a password-protected website to track your progress on a map. QUIT SMOKING Overcoming an addiction, like nicotine, can be extremely difficult. But tech may be able to help. The free Smoke Free app might be able to help motivate you to reach your goal in 2025. The app creates a personalized plan to help you quit smoking, and you can choose whether you want to go cold turkey or wean off the nicotine. It’s up to you to keep track of the cigarettes you smoke, but you’ll see progress rings that keep track of your smoke-free streaks, money saved, unlock goal-based achievements as extra motivation, and access to a robust community for additional support, filled with likeminded people. Over 40 different techniques will help you become (and stay) smoke free. Get tips on dealing with cravings, add notes to see what patterns can be identified, and use the graph to see how temptations are diminishing. DRINK LESS Ideal for quitting drinking – but also smoking, vaping, eating junk food or gambling – Quitzilla: Quit Tracker lets you track actions you want to curb and help work towards you beating them. If you quit “cold turkey,” add the exact day of the occasion and read daily facts and stats about it, along with a running tally of the money saved, which you can put towards a healthy reward for yourself. Quitzilla also features a motivation tab in which you can add your own reasons to quit – and let them serve as motivation for when you feel a temptation. The app also displays a “Quote of the Day” from various famous authors. For Android, there’s also Sobriety Counter, which lets you view the number of days you’ve spent without a drink. This could serve as a powerful motivating tool, along with how much money you’re saving through sobriety. The app also includes a journal to help you record your progress and experiences, plus there’s a distracting memory game, nearly 30 themes to personalize the look of the app (along with optional home screen widgets), and 64 badges that virtually reward you for not drinking. – Marc Saltzman is the host of the Tech It Out podcast and the author of the book, Apple Vision Pro For Dummies (Wiley)The cryptocurrency market is a treasure trove of opportunities for those ready to invest in its game-changing projects. As 2024 approaches, keeping an eye on the best cryptos to watch is essential for any investor. Qubetics, a rising star with revolutionary ideas, leads alongside seasoned blockchain giants like Solana, Cardano, Avalanche, Polkadot, and Near Protocol. Here's why these six will dominate the crypto conversation in the coming year. 1. Qubetics: Transforming Blockchain with Innovation Qubetics is much more than a blockchain network; it’s an entire ecosystem addressing critical issues in Web3. One standout feature in its roadmap is the introduction of a decentralised VPN (dVPN). Unlike traditional VPNs that operate under centralised control, the Qubetics dVPN is powered by blockchain technology, ensuring complete decentralisation. This means: True Privacy : Your internet data and browsing activity are entirely shielded from centralised oversight or logging. Censorship Resistance : The decentralised, peer-to-peer network ensures access to an unrestricted internet. Enhanced Security : Built on blockchain transparency, the Qubetics dVPN offers unparalleled protection against data breaches and surveillance. By integrating dVPN technology, Qubetics is redefining how users experience internet freedom in a digital age with restrictions. Qubetics’ Presale Phase 9 offers investors the chance to get in at the ground level: Current Price : $0.023 per $TICS token. Raised Funds : Over $2.9 million so far. Next Phase : A 10% price increase is scheduled weekly, culminating in a 20% hike in the final phase. Post-Presale Target Price : $0.25, offering an ROI of 986.95%. For example, a $1,000 investment would yield approximately 43,478 $TICS tokens at this stage . If $TICS reaches $10, the value of this investment would skyrocket to $434,000 , a 43,000% ROI . If the price rises to $15, that same investment would be worth $652,000 , delivering a 65,000% ROI . Qubetics'the best cryptos to watch ,is a rare gem, offering technological innovation and unprecedented financial potential. 2. Solana: Speed and Efficiency in Blockchain Solana remains a trailblazer in blockchain performance, offering unmatched transaction speeds and ultra-low fees. Built for scale, Solana handles thousands of transactions per second, making it a favourite among developers building DeFi platforms, NFT marketplaces, and blockchain-based games. Solana's Proof of History (PoH) consensus mechanism sets it apart, which ensures seamless scalability without sacrificing decentralisation. As more projects migrate to Solana for its efficiency, it remains one of the best cryptos to invest in for long-term growth. 3. Cardano: Sustainability Meets Innovation Cardano has established itself as a pioneer in sustainability and academic rigour within the blockchain sector. Its layered architecture separates the settlement and computational layers, enhancing security and scalability. Cardano is a crypto to watch in 2024 because it focuses on delivering real-world solutions, particularly in developing nations. With initiatives like blockchain-based land registries and decentralised identity systems, Cardano is proving that cryptocurrency can drive global change. The project’s emphasis on peer-reviewed research and methodical upgrades ensures it remains a strong contender in the crypto space. 4. Avalanche: The Multi-Chain Ecosystem Avalanche is leading the charge in multi-chain interoperability. Known for its innovative consensus protocol, Avalanche delivers near-instant finality and high throughput, making it a go-to platform for DeFi projects and institutional-grade applications. Its support for multiple subnets allows enterprises and developers to create custom blockchains tailored to specific use cases. With its growing ecosystem and commitment to scalability, Avalanche is cementing its place as one of the top cryptos for developers and investors alike. 5. Polkadot: The King of Cross-Chain Communication Polkadot is a blockchain of blockchains designed to enable seamless communication and interoperability between different networks. Its unique parachain model allows for scalability and customisation, making it a hub for multi-chain innovation. With its ecosystem expanding through new parachains and upgrades, Polkadot continues to attract projects that benefit from its cross-chain capabilities. For those seeking a blockchain project with a solid foundation and room for exponential growth, Polkadot is a must-watch in 2024. 6. Near Protocol: Usability at its Core Near Protocol is gaining momentum due to its focus on developer- and user-friendly solutions. By prioritising simplicity, scalability, and affordability, Near is making blockchain technology accessible to a wider audience. Its Nightshade sharding technology ensures high throughput, while its low fees attract developers building high-volume applications. Near Protocol’s focus on Web3 and its expanding ecosystem make it one of the best cryptos for forward-thinking investors. Final Thoughts The crypto landscape is evolving at breakneck speed, and these six projects are at the forefront of innovation. For investors looking to maximise their gains in 2024, Qubetics stands out as the best cryptos to watch with its incredible ROI potential and groundbreaking dVPN technology. Meanwhile, established players like Solana, Cardano, Avalanche, Polkadot, and Near Protocol continue to shape the future of blockchain. The key to success in crypto is acting early, and these projects represent some of the best opportunities to capitalise on the next wave of blockchain breakthroughs. Don’t wait—2024 could be the year these cryptos transform your portfolio! Qubetics: https://qubetics.com Telegram: https://t.me/qubetics Twitter: https://x.com/qubetics Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.