- Get used to it: your brick and mortar bank is soon to be extinct. Technology continues to reshape the banking industry
From credit cards to NFC readers and AI banking solutions, financial technology has rapidly transformed banking in the last few decades. Big data analytics has been the major innovation affecting us today, allowing providers to gather more customer insights and optimize their operations like never before. New and existing technologies based on big data will continue to redefine the way we manage and trade our money in 2025—let’s break down some of the key trends to watch. [7 trends]
- What is your opinion of Pete Hegseth? (Only 2 in 10 Americans approve of Hegseth being nominated as the secretary of defense
The survey, which was conducted before Hegseth’s confirmation hearings began, finds that roughly one-third of U.S. adults disapprove of Trump’s choice, and about 1 in 10 say they neither approve nor disapprove. About one-third of Americans say they don’t know enough about Hegseth to have an opinion. Hegseth’s experience in the Army National Guard is seen by the incoming administration and supporters in Congress as an asset for the job, but he also brings a jarring record of past statements and actions, including allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking and derisive views about women in military combat roles, minorities and “woke” generals. He has vowed not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. Hegseth acknowledged during his hearing that he does not have the traditional background of past defense secretaries, promising to be a “change agent” for the branch.
- Do you know anybody who doesn’t have an achy back!? These exercises might help
When you spend a ton of time sitting—especially if you’re hunched over a screen—your head, neck, and shoulders tend to pull forward, leading to that rounded improper posture that can cause uncomfortable tightness. The muscles associated with good posture are the ones that retract the shoulder blades, depress the shoulder blades, and put the shoulder blades in a good position in order to help keep you upright. Working these muscles, as well as other muscles in the back of your body, like your latissimus dorsi (the large, triangular muscles that span the width of your lower back), help counteract that forward slouch and work to build muscles. This workout will give you a complete back-of-the-body burn in just over 20 minutes. [See the workout]
- Donald Trump will become the first president to take office with a felony conviction on his record. Sentenced to no punishment in his historic hush money case.
The judgment that lets him return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine. The New York case became the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will. Trump called the case “a weaponization of government” and “an embarrassment to New York.” He maintained that he did not commit any crime and reiterated that he would appeal his conviction. Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan could have sentenced the 78-year-old to up to four years in prison. Instead, Merchan chose a sentence that sidestepped thorny constitutional issues by effectively ending the case but assured that Trump will become the first president to take office with a felony conviction on his record..
- La Niña has arrived. And brought the snow. Here’s what the country can expect for the winter months
The forecast is not too bad. The climate pattern — which typically has an outsized influence on winter weather in the US — is rather weak and may not stick around for long. But that won’t totally eliminate its effect. And, despite its late arrival, it’s already played a clear role in this winter’s weather. California is the most obvious example. Northern California has had plenty of rain while Southern California is so tinder-dry that thousands of acres ignited this week. La Niña also typically delivers more precipitation to the Midwest, having one of the wettest starts to winter to date. Periods of brutally cold Arctic air have dominated the eastern two-thirds of the country since December and winter storms have delivered disruptive weather on a weekly basis since the year began.
- Another generational icon is lost. Peter Yarrow, of the Folk Group Peter, Paul and Mary, Dies
On many of the trio’s recordings they split the vocal parts equally, braiding Mr. Yarrow’s precise tenor around Noel Paul Stookey’s gentle baritone and Mary Travers’s warm contralto. But Mr. Yarrow also had some prominent lead vocals as well, fronting such well-known group recordings as “Puff the Magic Dragon,” “Day Is Done” and “The Great Mandala,” all of which he either wrote or co-wrote. “Puff” became a No. 2 Billboard hit, while “Day Is Done” grazed the Top 20. In their peak years, Peter, Paul and Mary reached the Billboard Top 40 12 times; six of those songs made it onto the Top 10, including one, their cover of John Denver’s “Leavin’ on a Jet Plane,” that reached No. 1. They racked up five Billboard Top 10 albums and twice topped the magazine’s album chart.
- Moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits for the heart. Now a study reports, drinking alcohol can affect your health
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has called for updating the existing surgeon general’s health warning label on alcohol-containing beverages to include the risk of cancer. Drinking raises the risk of several types of cancer, including colon, liver, breast and mouth and throat. Alcohol breaks down in the body into a substance called acetaldehyde, which can damage your cells and stop them from repairing themselves. That creates the conditions for cancer to grow. Thousands of U.S. deaths per year could be prevented if people followed the government’s dietary guidelines. Those guidelines advise men to limit themselves to two drinks or fewer per day and women to one drink or fewer per day. One drink is the equivalent of about one 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a shot of liquor.
- Tax deadline 2024: When is the last day you can file taxes in 2025?
Taxes for 2024 are due for most of us by April 15, which falls on a Tuesday this year. If you don’t expect to file by then, you can request a six-month extension. When do I get my refund? If you filed electronically and chose to receive your refund by direct deposit, your refund will probably be issued within 21 days, the IRS says. If you mailed a paper return, the wait could be four weeks or longer. What happens if I miss the tax deadline? If you fail to file your federal tax return on time, the standard penalty is a whopping 5% of any tax due for every month the return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance. If you file a return but fail to pay any taxes you owe, or if you get an extension, you typically face a much smaller monthly penalty of 0.5% of any unpaid amount.
- Nikki Glaser cracked up the stars at the Golden Globes. There were highs and lows but a good night of tv watching all in all
In the acting races, unexpected wins for the likes of Demi Moore, Fernanda Torres and Sebastian Stan produced some of the most heartfelt speeches of the night. Both poignant and relatable, Moore spoke movingly about her career struggles over more than 30 years, The award for “cinematic and box office achievement” debuted in 2024, and it was, unsurprisingly, given to “Wicked.” The official criteria is that it is the “most acclaimed, highest-earning and/or most viewed” feature. For an ostensibly glamorous ceremony, the show itself looked terrible onscreen. Presenters were filmed awfully close up, giving everything a harsh and casual vibe.
- Are you an investor in the stock market? You had a heck of a good year in 2024
Big Tech stocks led this year’s rally, pushing the Nasdaq to a yearly gain of 28.6%. The Dow, which is far less weighted with tech, rose 12.9% for the year. The stock market’s record-breaking turn in 2024 was certainly much better that what most people on Wall Street predicted. U.S. markets’ stellar run was driven by a growing economy, solid consumer spending and a strong jobs market. Skyrocketing prices for companies in the artificial-intelligence business, such as Nvidia and Super Micro Computer, helped lift the market to new heights. Solid corporate earnings growth also helped. Wall Street expects companies in the S&P 500 to report broad earnings growth of more than 9% for the year.
- Self-Checkout Is a Failed Experiment. Some companies have removed the kiosks entirely
When self-checkout kiosks began to pop up in American grocery stores, the sales pitch to shoppers was impressive: Scan your stuff, plunk it in a bag, and you’re done. Long checkout lines would disappear. Small talk with cashiers would be a thing of the past. Store associates, freed from the drudgery of scanning barcodes, would be close at hand to answer your questions. Didn’t happen! You still have to wait in line. The checkout kiosks bleat and flash when you fail to set a purchase down in the right spot. Scanning those items is sometimes a crapshoot—wave a barcode too vigorously in front of an uncooperative machine, and suddenly you’ve scanned it two or three times. [More]
- Agentic AI refers to software that can work autonomously, without much human supervision. Will is replace your job?
Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence (AI) software that can work autonomously, without much human supervision. It understands natural language, sets goals for itself, plans workflows, makes decisions, adapts to changing circumstances, and, finally, learns and improves from interactions. Agentic AI manages and monitors data in real time based on real-world current conditions and orders supplies and products more effectively and faster. Optimistically, this will free employers and employees alike for innovation, creativity, and personal and business growth. On the other hand, it could also result in them not being needed any longer! [More]
- 3 Big Medicare Prescription Drug Changes Coming in 2025. Millions of Part D beneficiaries will save money on medications.
The biggest change coming in 2025 is a new $2,000 cap on annual out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses, which will help an estimated 3.2 million people in Medicare prescription drug plans save money on their covered medications next year, a recent report from AARP shows. Part D enrollees who reach the cap will save an average of $1,500 in 2025, and some will see savings of $3,000 or more. The new $2,000 cap — a provision in the AARP-backed prescription drug law signed in 2022 — takes effect Jan. 1 and will be adjusted each year along with the other parts of the Part D benefit. [Read about other significant changes]
- 2024 Athlete of the Year, Caitlin Clark.
In February, she set the new NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball scoring record. A few weeks later, she broke Hall of Famer Pete Maravich’s mark, making her the top scorer overall. Her college championship game between Iowa and South Carolina averaged 18.9 million viewers, becoming the second most watched women’s sporting event, outside the Olympic Games, in the history of U.S. television, with American viewership outdrawing that of each game of the 2024 NBA Finals and World Series. And for the first time ever, more people tuned in for the women’s NCAA championship than the men’s. As a pro, she set a rookie record for most three-pointers made in a season, while also setting new all-time WNBA marks for most assists in a season and most assists in a single game. She signed a reported $28 million endorsement deal with Nike, the largest ever for a women’s basketball player. Clark’s Fever appeared in the most watched WNBA games ever on ABC, CBS, ESPN, and ESPN2. [More]
- Who are these people?!!? The Associated Press names its Breakthrough Entertainers of 2024
Seven young stars have been named Breakthrough Entertainers by the Associated Press. If you know one out of the seven, this editor will eat his hat! My friends, we are getting old! [The list]
- Here’s the new way to address “Senior Citizens.” Not sure if anyone was offended in the first place, but from now on, it’s “Older Adults” if you please
Here’s the line up of woke options when referring to seniors: evidently the arbitrators of what is politically correct nowadays prefer terms such as older persons, older people, older adults, older patients, older individuals, persons 65 years and older, or the older population. The reasoning: the new descriptions are less likely to connote discrimination and negative stereotypes, when describing individuals 65 years old and older. Hmm, what’s next? Maybe “Younger People” instead of teen-agers!
A newspaper by and for seniors, Senior News Daily scours the internet each morning for news of interest to active men and women of retirement age. Coverage includes financial and health news, politics, retirement strategies and assisted living news and helpful blogs about aging.
Senior News Daily is written by and for active seniors. We believe seniors have a sense of humor and can laugh at themselves. We know our readers are intelligent, influential, have active lives and get their news from a variety of national sources, both left and right of the political center. We don’t simply duplicate what they report. Each day we scour the internet for articles that interest and benefit seniors. We publish health and financial news for seniors, breaking political news, and retirement and community news of value to seniors. Humorous or serious, they advocate for our generation of AARP members. In addition to news by and for seniors, Senior News Daily publishes a Blog featuring posts from our editors and the opinions of our contemporaries. Occasionally there are reviews of products and services we test and endorse.