🚪Apple Smart Doorbell

☀️Good morning. It's Monday, Dec. 23, and we're covering, Apple Developing Smart Doorbell With Face ID, Trump Wants To Keep TikTok In The U.S. For A While, Trump Threatens To Reclaim Panama Canal Over Fee Dispute, and much more. First time reading? Sign up to get this newsletter: Sign up here. 

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MARKETS

Cryptocurrency Prices by Market Cap

• The global cryptocurrency market cap today is $3.32 Trillion, a 0.16% decrease in the last 24 hours.

• The total crypto market volume over the last 24 hours is $147.69B, which makes a 12.23% decrease.

• The total volume in Defi is currently $10.48B, 7.09% of the total crypto market 24-hours.

• The volume of all stablecoins is now $136.82B, which is 92.64% of the total market 24-hour volume.

• Bitcoin’s dominance is currently 57.23%, an decrease of 0.39% over the day.

Bitcoin First Weekly Decline Since Trump’s Victory

Bitcoin recorded its first weekly decline since Donald Trump’s election victory, falling over 7% in a seven-day period, while the broader cryptocurrency market saw a sharper 10% drop. The Federal Reserve delivered its third consecutive interest rate cut last week, while signaling a slower pace of monetary easing for 2025 to manage inflation. This hawkish policy stance triggered a global stock market sell-off, which also spilled over into the cryptocurrency sector. Trump’s earlier pledges to support Bitcoin and create a national crypto stockpile had initially fueled market enthusiasm, but the Fed’s move has tempered speculative sentiment. (Read Deeper)

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Apple Developing Smart Doorbell With Face ID

Apple is developing a smart doorbell and lock system that would use Face ID to unlock doors for recognized residents. The doorbell would connect to a smart deadbolt, potentially working with HomeKit-compatible third-party locks or a new lock system developed with a partner. The project is still in early development, with a release not expected until late 2025.

Takeaway: This new product would position Apple against competitors like Amazon's Ring and Google Nest in the smart home market. Additionally, Apple is reportedly working on an indoor security camera and a smart home hub, set to launch in the coming years. (Read Deeper)

Palantir, Anduril, And Tech Giants Join Forces For Pentagon Contracts

Palantir Technologies and Anduril Industries are spearheading efforts to form a consortium of tech firms to bid for U.S. government defense contracts. The group, potentially including SpaceX, OpenAI, Saronic, and Scale AI, aims to modernize defense contracting by offering advanced technologies such as AI and autonomous systems.

Why It Matters: The collaboration comes in response to criticism of traditional defense programs and a push for more affordable, mass-produced technologies like drones and missiles. This initiative signals a shift towards integrating Silicon Valley's innovation with defense needs, challenging established contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. (Read Deeper)

TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE

Trump Wants To Keep TikTok In The U.S. For A While

President-elect Donald Trump suggested that TikTok could remain in the U.S. for a while, praising its success during his campaign, where he received billions of views on the platform. This came after the U.S. Senate passed a law requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app due to national security concerns. If no divestiture occurs, TikTok could face a ban by January 19.

Takeaway: Trump, however, indicated he might oppose the ban, citing his campaign’s positive experience with the platform. Despite concerns from the Justice Department over national security risks, TikTok maintains that its data and content moderation are handled in the U.S. (Read Deeper)

Parker Solar Probe Set For Record-Breaking Sun Flyby On Christmas Eve

NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set to make its closest approach to the Sun on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2024, at 6:53 a.m. EST (1153 GMT). The spacecraft will pass within 3.8 million miles of the Sun's surface, traveling at a record-breaking speed of 430,000 mph. This marks its 22nd close encounter since its launch in 2018 and is part of its mission to study the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.

Takeaway: The Parker Solar Probe's mission includes a total of 24 solar flybys, with its final encounters planned for March and June 2025. The spacecraft, protected by a cutting-edge heat shield, will endure temperatures up to 1,800°F during this flyby. While no live coverage is planned, updates will be available through NASA and mission team channels. Initial status reports are expected by Dec. 27, with detailed scientific data to follow in late January. (Read Deeper)

AROUND DE WORLD & POLITICS

Trump Threatens To Reclaim Panama Canal Over Fee Dispute

President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of charging excessive fees and warning against potential Chinese influence on the strategic waterway. Speaking at a rally, Trump criticized Panama's management of the canal and suggested the U.S. could demand its return if certain "principles" weren’t followed.

Takeaway: The Panama Canal, which facilitates 2.5% of global trade, was handed over to Panama in 1999 under a long-standing treaty. Experts have stated that any U.S. attempt to reclaim the canal would violate international law and harm diplomatic relations. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino responded, defending the canal's sovereignty and independence while dismissing Trump's claims of Chinese involvement. (Read Deeper)

Deadly Christmas Market Attack In Germany Leaves Five Dead, Hundreds Injured

A deliberate car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killed five people (four women and a 9-year-old boy) and injured 200 others, 41 seriously. The incident occurred on December 20, 2024, when a car sped through a gap in the market's barriers, striking a crowd of holiday shoppers. The suspect, Taleb A., a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist, was arrested at the scene. Authorities are investigating potential motives, including dissatisfaction with refugee treatment in Germany.

Takeaway: The attack has prompted criticism of German authorities for prior warnings about the suspect that went unaddressed. This tragedy has led to increased security at public events, cancellations of Christmas markets in several towns, and heightened political debate ahead of Germany's February elections. (Read Deeper)

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

Charlie Woods Hits First Hole-in-One At PNC Championship

Charlie Woods, the 15-year-old son of Tiger Woods, hit his first hole-in-one during the final round of the PNC Championship on the par-three fourth hole. The shot helped briefly propel Team Woods into the lead at the family-focused golf tournament. Despite their strong showing, they were defeated in a playoff by Bernhard and Jason Langer, who secured their second consecutive title with an eagle on the first playoff hole. (Read Deeper)

Liverpool Win Spurs In Nine-Goal Thriller To Extend Premier League Lead

Liverpool triumphed in a breathtaking 6-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, extending their Premier League lead to four points. The Reds took an early lead through Luis Díaz, followed by goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the first half, despite James Maddison pulling one back for Spurs. (Read Deeper)

PODCAST(WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO)

• Jesse Itzler, an entrepreneur, shares a structured approach to planning an epic 2025 in a 56-minute session. (Listen)

EXTRA BREVITI

• Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, is testing a standalone iOS app for its chatbot, Grok, expanding its availability beyond X (formerly Twitter). ( Read More )

• Coca-Cola's iconic red branding is not changing, but the yellow caps on some bottles signify that the soda is kosher for Passover. (Read More)

• Ukrainian drones have targeted a major Russian fuel depot for the second time in just over a week. (Read More)

• Singapore’s core inflation in November rose by 1.9% year-on-year, marking the smallest increase in nearly three years. (Read More)

• Shrinking US Bar Tabs Signal Challenges for Liquor Makers During Holidays. (Read More)

• Japan's Antitrust Watchdog to Rule Against Google in Search Monopoly Case. (Read More)