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Showing posts from December, 2025

With silver prices spiking, here's a look at its dark history

Silver is breaking price records as demand for the critical metal surges. But its supply around the world is dwindling. We went inside Bolivia's Cerro Rico, a 15,000-foot mountain that used to be the world's largest source of silver, to see how miners spend hours searching for silver, tin, and zinc. Read the original article on Business Insider from Business Insider https://ift.tt/GNnYBlu via IFTTT

Trading guru Peter Brandt warns winners of silver's epic rally to watch out

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Veteran trader Peter Brandt has warned winners from silver's rally to be careful. Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images Market veteran Peter Brandt has urged those who've profited from silver's rally to be careful. The trading guru said that price peaks rarely last and assets can give up all of their gains. Silver, gold, and other metals have soared this year, partly because investors use them as hedges. A Wall Street veteran warned jubilant silver traders to be careful after a searing rally in the precious metal's price — days before it went into reverse. Writing on X over the weekend, Peter Brandt congratulated those who've won big by betting on silver and platinum in recent months, but cautioned the market could quickly turn on them. "Being right is fun," he wrote. "But know this -- moves can far exceed anything expected. And tops come quickly when they come. And retracements are almost always full." Early on Monday, the market ...

The 14 best convertible bags that transform from polished tote to practical backpack in seconds

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When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Left and center: The Senreve Maestra Bag. Right: Caraa's Studio Tote. Sally Kaplan, Ashley Phillips/Business Insider The best convertible backpack totes are all about flexibility — something you appreciate the moment your commute gets crowded. I take the subway to work, and anyone who's done the same knows the unspoken rule: backpacks come off during rush hour. It's polite, but it's also awkward and uncomfortable to suddenly wrestle a heavy bag by the handles while trying not to knock into the person next to you. That's where a hybrid backpack-tote earns its keep. Being able to switch from wearing a bag on your back to carrying it over your shoulder or in your hand makes moving through the day noticeably easier. It also simplifies your closet: instead of juggling separate backpacks and totes that only work in certain situations, one well-designed bag can handle it all...

Social media follower counts have never mattered less, creator economy execs say

“I think that 2025 was the year where the algorithm completely took over, so followings stopped mattering entirely,” LTK CEO Amber Venz Box said. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/582Wgb1 via IFTTT

2025 was the year AI got a vibe check

AI’s early-2025 spending spree featured massive raises and trillion-dollar infrastructure promises. By year’s end, hype gave way to a vibe check, with growing scrutiny over sustainability, safety, and business models. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/0kHqBTM via IFTTT

ClassPass free trial: Get a month of fitness training

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When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Using a ClassPass free trial, you can learn from the experts in Pilates, HIIT, boxing, and much more. ClassPass If you love to mix up your workouts with Pilates, spin, boxing, HIIT, yoga, reformer classes, and more, ClassPass is worth considering. The class-booking platform lets you try thousands of workouts from coveted boutique studios in person to live streams from tried-and-true trainers and brands, all for a monthly subscription. More appealing than its wide range of offerings is that ClassPass is currently offering a free one-month trial, a 50% improvement from the standard two-week trial typically offered. If you're in it for the freebies, or can't decide if you want to commit or not, ClassPass allows any new signee to cancel their membership whenever they please throughout the trial — and it'll remind you two days before your trial ends. If you don't cancel, you...

I've eaten my way through all 50 states. These 5 had surprisingly incredible food.

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Out of all 50 states, a few have really stood out to me for their culinary offerings. Abby Price After visiting all 50 states, I'd say five have pleasantly surprised me with their local cuisines. Oregon, Connecticut, and South Carolina have some incredible local dishes and specialties. Wyoming is home to my favorite restaurant, and I've loved checking out the food scene in New Mexico. Visiting all 50 states was always a dream of mine, but growing up in a small town in Virginia, I never imagined I'd check them all off in my mid-20s. When my husband and I had the chance to work remotely, we set out to see the entire country, and I had no idea how much food would shape that journey. States famous for their food scenes, like New York, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Texas, all lived up to their reputations. However, many of the meals I think about the most came from places I never expected. These five states gave me some of the best meals of my life — but, in my opinion, do...

A guide to choosing the right Apple Watch

The gap between Apple's standard and budget smart watches has never felt smaller.  from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/9shXJGT via IFTTT

'This world is insane': Miss Universe contestants reveal the chaos behind this year's pageant

China is going after US defense firms and execs over weapons sales to Taiwan — and Palmer Luckey's on the list

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Palmer Luckey, founder of defense tech firm Anduril Industries. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images China imposed sanctions on several US defense firms and executives on Friday. China's foreign ministry said the move came in response to US arms sales to Taiwan. The sanctions list includes Boeing's St. Louis branch, as well as Anduril founder Palmer Luckey. China announced sanctions against 20 US defense companies and 10 senior executives on Friday, citing US arms sales to Taiwan as its motive. In a statement, China's foreign ministry said its assets within China, including movable and immovable properties, would be frozen and that domestic organizations and individuals would be prohibited from doing business with them. Individuals named on the list would also be denied visas and entry to the country, the ministry added. The sanctions list includes Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Boeing's St. Louis branch, Epirus , and Anduril Industries founder Pa...

Investors share what to remember while raising a Series A

Investors share what founders should remember if looking to raise a Series A. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/yPLQfrC via IFTTT

I rang in 2025 on a solo trip. Now, I'd happily celebrate every New Year's Eve abroad and surrounded by strangers.

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caption tk Chelsia Durkee I spent last New Year's Eve on a solo trip, celebrating with new friends from around the world . It felt meaningful to start the year focused on what brings me joy: new experiences and connection. Now, I hope to spend every New Year's Eve that I can surrounded by new friends. As the crowd cheered among the explosive crackle of fireworks, upbeat dance music, and cries of " Feliz Ano Novo," a surge of gratitude coursed through my body. It was New Year's Eve 2024, and I was hugging and cheering with new friends I had met just hours before. Earlier that year, I'd spent two months gallivanting around London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, and Prague solo. Although I loved returning home to San Francisco, it didn't take long for my wanderlust to set in again. I knew my thirst for adventure could only be quenched by revisiting Europe. I missed the walkable cities , the slower lifestyle, and the abundance of fresh food. I...

As people look for ways to make new friends, here are the apps promising to help

We've compiled a list of friendship apps, from friend discovery platforms like BFF to event-focused ones like Timeleft. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/gCS6PVJ via IFTTT

I struggled to make it to the office due to day care drop-off, so my boss lets me work from home. I sometimes feel guilty about it.

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Georg Loewen Georg Loewen Georg Loewen struggled to get to the office on time due to his daughter's day care drop-off. His manager approved a more flexible schedule than the company's policy typically allowed. Loewen shared the challenges of his commute — and how others might secure similar flexibility . This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Georg Loewen, a 35-year-old senior director of digital marketing at SourceCode Communications, a public relations agency. He lives in West Orange, New Jersey. Business Insider has verified Loewen's employment with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity. When I joined my current employer in November 2024, I made it clear that my first job was being a dad. My wife and I both work, and our daughter was barely a year old. I'd always been fortunate to work for flexible employers , but like many new parents, I was still figuring out what fatherhood meant — and how it collided with th...

Best Athleta coupon codes we've tested in December 2025

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When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more The best Athleta coupons can save you 20% on your next order. Athleta Athleta is best known for its stylish, high-performance activewear, but the brand's lineup extends well beyond leggings and sports bras. From polished workwear to cozy everyday essentials, Athleta designs pieces that transition seamlessly from workouts to errands and everything in between. The quality comes at a price, though, which is why using Athleta coupons at checkout is one of the easiest ways to save on your favorite styles. Our style editors have tested a wide range of Athleta apparel and found plenty of standout options. The Elation V-Neck Longline Bra and Ultra High Rise Elation Legging make up one of our go-to matching workout sets , while the Endless High Rise Pants remain the best stretchy work pants we've ever worn. Athleta's sale section often features solid markdowns, but stacking Athle...

Morgan Stanley says tariff-fueled inflation could save the economy from layoffs

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Al Drago/Getty Images Morgan Stanley said many US firms avoided raising prices in early 2025 by decreasing hiring. But by the third quarter, the trend had shifted, and the same firms were pushing prices higher. Analysts think that as long as prices can remain elevated, widespread layoffs might be avoided. The job market is brutal right now, and there's growing concern that 2026 could see more layoffs. However, Morgan Stanley says that many companies may be able to avoid having to slash head count. The bank's chief US economist, Michael T. Gapen, and his team wrote on Tuesday that the US economy may be able to avoid widespread layoffs in 2026 but only if companies continue hiking prices, after already raising them throughout 2025. The cost of avoiding layoffs Rising layoffs and sticky inflation were two of the big macro themes that defined 2025. According to Gapen and his team, companies opted to decrease hiring and reduce staffing to avoid raising prices earlie...

The career rise of billionaire Alex Karp, Palantir's brash CEO

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Palantir CEO Alex Karp Brendan McDermid/Reuters Alex Karp is the iconoclastic and eccentric leader of Palantir. After the data mining company went public in 2020, Karp's net worth skyrocketed. Palantir is now one of the world's most valuable companies. Alex Karp welcomes his haters. "My biggest fans started off as Palantir skeptics and Palantir haters," Karp said during The New York Times 2025 DealBook Summit. "I believe that someday, almost everyone in this audience is going to agree with me. You may not like me now, but you're going to agree later." The longtime iconoclastic CEO of data mining company Palantir is not above a victory lap. "Please turn on the conventional television and see how unhappy those that didn't invest in us are," Karp said before signing off on the company's Q3 2025 earnings call. "Enjoy, get some popcorn. They're crying. We are every day making this company better." He has many reas...