Category: News
Scientists capture the crackling sounds of what they believe is lightning on Mars
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Scientists have detected what they believe to be lightning on Mars by eavesdropping on the whirling wind recorded by NASA’s Perseverance rover.
The crackling of electrical discharges was captured by a microphone on the rover, a French-led team reported Wednesday.
The researchers documented 55 instances of what they call “mini lightning” over two Martian years, primarily during dust storms and dust devils. Almost all occurred on the windiest Martian sols, or days, during dust storms and dust devils.
Just inches (centimeters) in size, the electrical arcs occurred within 6 feet (2 meters) of the microphone perched atop the rover’s tall mast, part of a system for examining Martian rocks via camera and lasers. Sparks from the electrical discharges — akin to static electricity here on Earth — are clearly audible amid the noisy wind gusts and dust particles smacking the microphone.
Scientists have been looking for electrical activity and lightning at Mars for half a century, said the study’s lead author Baptiste Chide, of the Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology in Toulouse.
“It opens a completely new field of investigation for Mars science,” Chide said, citing the possible chemical effects from electrical discharges. “It’s like finding a missing piece of the puzzle.”
The evidence is strong and persuasive, but it’s based on a single instrument that was meant to record the rover zapping rocks with lasers, not lightning blasts, said Cardiff University’s Daniel Mitchard, who was not involved in the study. What’s more, he noted in an article accompanying the study in the journal Nature, the electrical discharges were heard — not seen.
“It really is a chance discovery to hear something else going on nearby, and everything points to this being Martian lightning,” Mitchard said in an email. But until new instruments are sent to verify the findings, “I think there will still be a debate from some scientists as to whether this really was lightning.”
Lightning has already been confirmed on Jupiter and Saturn, and Mars has long been suspected of having it too.
To find it, Chide and his team analyzed 28 hours of Perseverance recordings, documenting episodes of “mini lightning” based on acoustic and electric signals.
Electrical discharges generated by the fast-moving dust devils lasted just a few seconds, while those spawned by dust storms lingered as long as 30 minutes.
“It’s like a thunderstorm on Earth, but barely visible with a naked eye and with plenty of faint zaps,” Chide said in an email. He noted that the thin, carbon dioxide-rich Martian atmosphere absorbs much of the sound, making some of the zaps barely perceptible.
Mars’ atmosphere is more prone than Earth’s to electrical discharging and sparking through contact among grains of dust and sand, according to Chide.
“The current evidence suggests it is extremely unlikely that the first person to walk on Mars could, as they plant a flag on the surface, be struck down by a bolt of lightning,” Mitchard wrote in Nature. But the “small and frequent static-like discharges could prove problematic for sensitive equipment.”
These aren’t the first Mars sounds transmitted by Perseverance. Earthlings have listened in to the rover’s wheels crunching over the Martian surface and the whirring blades of its no-longer-flying helicopter sidekick, Ingenuity.
Perseverance has been scouring a dry river delta at Mars since 2021, collecting samples of rock for possible signs of ancient microscopic life. NASA plans to return these core samples to Earth for laboratory analysis, but the delivery is on indefinite hold as the space agency pursues cheaper options.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/27/crackling-sounds-lightning-mars/
Suspenden en Colombia a general y funcionario de inteligencia por presunta filtración a disidencias
Associated Press
BOGOTÁ (AP) — La Procuraduría colombiana suspendió provisionalmente de sus cargos el jueves a un general del ejército y un alto funcionario de inteligencia mientras surten las investigaciones en su contra por presuntamente filtrar información de seguridad estatal a un grupo armado ilegal.
La suspensión será hasta por tres meses al general Juan Miguel Huertas y de Wilmer Mejía, un alto funcionario de la Dirección Nacional de Inteligencia, para evitar que interfieran en la investigación en su contra o que vuelvan a incurrir en la conducta “escenario probable por las características de las funciones del cargo que actualmente ocupan”, según explicó la Procuraduría en un comunicado.
La Procuraduría, encargada de investigar y sancionar disciplinariamente a los funcionarios, abrió el lunes indagación contra Huertas y Mejía por presuntos vínculos con grupos armados ilegales. Huertas es investigado por la fiscalía y ambos tienen abiertas investigaciones internas en sus respectivas instituciones.
Huertas y Mejía han negado cualquier vínculo con las disidencias de las FARC o cualquier otro grupo ilegal.
La investigación fue publicada el fin de semana por Noticias Caracol y sugiere presuntos nexos entre Huertas y Mejía con las disidencias de la antigua guerrilla Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, que no se acogieron al acuerdo de paz con el Estado en 2016.
El medio local presentó documentos y chats que provienen de material incautado en un retén militar en 2023 al jefe disidente Alexander Díaz Mendoza, alias “Calarcá, y otros miembros del grupo ilegal. La información sugiere que filtraron información clasificada acerca de movimientos de tropas y operaciones en contra del grupo armado.
Petro ha dicho que las acusaciones son falsas, pero ordenó un “examen forense” para los chats y documentos que sustentan la denuncia, los cuales creen que corresponden a montajes.
El ministro de Defensa, Pedro Sánchez, dijo el jueves que acatarán la instrucción de la Procuraduría. “Es un mensaje claro que todas las instituciones estamos velando por la integridad, la legitimidad, la transparencia”, indicó a la prensa.
Jordan Love’s 4 TD passes — 2 on 4th down — lift Green Bay Packers to season sweep of Detroit Lions
DETROIT — Jordan Love converted a pair of fourth downs with touchdown passes in the first half and matched a career high with four TD throws, leading the Green Bay Packers to a 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
The Packers (8-3-1) swept the season series to earn a potential tiebreaker in the NFC North and are in second place in the division behind the Chicago Bears (8-3), who play Friday in Philadelphia.
The two-time defending division champion Lions (7-5) entered the game out of the playoff picture, then fell further back in the hunt with a third loss in five games.
Detroit turned the ball over on downs on the opening drive of the second half and early in the fourth quarter.
Two plays after Jahmyr Gibbs was stopped for a loss just inside Green Bay territory on fourth down, Love threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Christian Watson to give Green Bay a 24-14 lead early in the third.
The Lions went for it on fourth-and-3 from the Packers 21, trailing by 10, and Jameson Williams dropped a pass.
Detroit’s defense responded with a stop and the offense reached the Green Bay 4 before Micah Parsons’ sack forced coach Dan Campbell to settle for a field goal and a 31-24 deficit with 2:59 left. Parsons finished with 2½ sacks.
On the ensuing possession, Love converted a third-and-5 with an 8-yard pass to Watson and a fourth-and-3 with a 16-yard pass to Dontayvion Wicks to seal the victory.
Love was 18 of 30 for 234 yards with a 22-yard pass to Wicks and a 2-yard pass to Romeo Doubs for touchdowns on fourth down in the second quarter. In the third, he threw a long touchdown pass to Watson and a 1-yard throw to Wicks for the receiver’s second score of the game — and season.
Jared Goff was 20 of 26 for 256 yards with two touchdowns, a 22-yard pass to Williams late in the first half and a 17-yard pass to rookie Isaac TeSlaa in the third quarter.
Williams finished with seven receptions and 144 yards — both career highs — but the dropped pass on fourth down in the fourth quarter was costly.
Gibbs was held in check, running for 68 yards on 20 carries and gaining 18 yards on three catches.
Injuries
Packers: DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle) was carted off the field late in the game. … CB Keisean Nixon (neck) was active after leaving last week’s game with a neck injury. … WR Matthew Golden, LB Quay Walker and CB Nate Hobbs were inactive.
Lions: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) left in the first quarter with an ankle injury. … CB Terrion Arnold (concussion) and edge rusher Marcus Davenport (shoulder) returned from injuries. … WR/PR Kalif Raymond, TE Brock Wright, C Graham Glasgow and S Kerby Joseph were inactive.
Up next
Packers: Host the Bears on Dec. 7.
Lions: Host the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 4.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/27/green-bay-packers-detroit-lions-thanksgiving/
Malen marca dos goles en victoria de Aston Villa sobre Young Boys en la Liga Europa
Por KAREL JANICEK
Donyell Malen firmó un doblete y Aston Villa derrotó el jueves 2-1 a Young Boys de Suiza en la Liga Europa, un partido que fue interrumpido debido a que un proyectil lanzado desde las gradas impactó al delantero.
Malen pareció ser golpeado por un vaso de plástico después de anotar a los 27 minutos, lo que le dejó un pequeño corte en la cabeza. Los aficionados de Young Boys volvieron a lanzar objetos a los jugadores del Villa después de que el delantero neerlandés duplicara la ventaja a los 42. Algunos seguidores visitantes luego se enfrentaron con la policía, lo que llevó a que el partido se detuviera durante unos cinco minutos.
Loris Bento, capitán de Young Boys, pidió a los aficionados que se calmaran y decenas de agentes de policía fueron desplegados con equipo antidisturbios frente a la zona visitante durante el resto del partido, sin más incidentes después del descanso.
Después de un flojo comienzo de la temporada, el Villa lleva cuatro victorias consecutivas en todas las competiciones, además de ganar cuatro de cinco duelos europeos.
La Roma se recuperó de dos derrotas en casa cuando Neil El Aynaoui anotó en el séptimo minuto y el suplente Stephen El Shaarawy añadió el segundo gol cerca del final para asegurar una victoria 2-1 sobre Midtjylland en el Stadio Olimpico.
La Roma suma nueve puntos en cinco partidos después de derrotas anteriores en casa ante Lille y Viktoria Plzeň.
Midtjylland, que había ganado sus primeros cuatro partidos y sopresivamente lideraba la clasificación, descontó mediante el gol del suplente Paulinho a los 86.
Además, Lille goleó 4-0 al Dinamo Zagreb,; Fenerbahçe, que se quedó con diez hombres por la expulsión del colombiano Jhon Jader Durán, empató 1-1 con Ferencváros; y Friburgo empató 0-0 en Plzeň.
Porto marca a los 19 segundos
Gabriel Veiga le dio la ventaja a Porto contra Niza apenas 19 segundos después de que comenzó el partido en una jugada que surgió del saque inicial. Fue el sexto gol más rápido en la historia de la Liga Europa, según la UEFA.
Veiga irrumpió en el área para duplicar la ventaja después de media hora. Samu decretó el 3-0 definitivo al cobrar un penal. Niza sigue sin puntos en el torneo.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
NATO Chief Rules Out Russian Veto On Ukraine Joining Alliance, Erecting Barrier Toward Peace
NATO Chief Rules Out Russian Veto On Ukraine Joining Alliance, Erecting Barrier Toward Peace
As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day, the Russians and Ukrainians keep growing further apart regarding their respective positions on Trump’s peace plan. Trump’s tentative Thursday deadline to get the deal signed has come and gone.
This trend of division over the plan even among the Western allies is being aided in no small part by the hawkish statements of some European leaders, as well as NATO Secretary-Mark Rutte, the latter to who has just made clear that Russia has no veto over Kyiv’s bid to join NATO.
His words this week appear aimed at rebuffing the US deal, or at least giving the Ukrainians a better negotiating position. “Russia has neither a vote nor a veto over who can be a member of NATO,” Rutte said in an interview with El País and German outlet RND.
NATO’s founding Washington Treaty “allows any country in the Euro-Atlantic area to join,” he added, also as quoted in Politico.
The US-led proposal has a key condition placed on Kyiv, namely that “it will not accept Ukraine at any moment in the future.” However, the leaked European counter-proposal deletes this point, instead leaving future NATO accession wide open.
The European draft states that Ukraine’s potential NATO membership “depends on the consensus of NATO members, which does not exist.”
Strangely some Western leaders keep talking about the possibility of accession, dangling it in front of the Ukrainians, and yet Washington and others behind closed doors know that it would never happen, as it would mean certain direct war with Russia…
Zelensky’s former press secretary Iuliia Mendel:
“Uncompromising stance on NATO membership means we are knowingly sacrificing tens or hundreds of thousands of lives right now for a theoretical promise of security sometime in the distant future… a promise that may never… https://t.co/OGRakSFTcP
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) November 26, 2025
On giving up land, the European document says that any discussions on territorial exchanges would start from the current Line of Contact. Freezing the front lines is something President Zelensky has wanted to do all along. Moscow has seen in this a way of allowing Ukrainian forces to regroup and rearm.
Zelensky is already not happy with the US version of the peace plan, as Ukraine would surrender the areas of Donbas it still controls, and the front lines would be frozen in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia – where Russian forces also holds territory. Meanwhile President Putin has just reiterated his view that the Zelensky government is illegitimate, thus bringing into question whether it can legally sign a final deal. Needless to say, this presents yet another major barrier.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 11/27/2025 – 16:15
Telescopio en Chile captura impresionante imagen de la Nebulosa de la Mariposa
Por MARCIA DUNN
CABO CAÑAVERAL, Florida, EE.UU. (AP) — Un telescopio en Chile ha capturado una impresionante nueva imagen de la Nebulosa de la Mariposa.
El NoirLab de la Fundación Nacional de Ciencias publicó la imagen el miércoles.
La Nebulosa de la Mariposa se encuentra a entre 2.500 y 3.800 años luz de distancia, en la constelación de Escorpio. Un solo año luz equivale a unos 9 billones de kilómetros (6 billones de millas). La imagen fue tomada el mes pasado por el telescopio Gemini Sur.
En el corazón de esta nebulosa bipolar se encuentra una estrella enana blanca que hace mucho tiempo desechó sus capas exteriores de gas. El gas descartado forma las alas similares a las de una mariposa que se despliegan desde la estrella envejecida, cuyo calor hace que el gas brille.
Niños de Chile eligieron este objetivo astronómico para celebrar los 25 años de operación del Observatorio Internacional Gemini.
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El Departamento de Salud y Ciencia de The Associated Press recibe apoyo del Departamento de Educación Científica del Instituto Médico Howard Hughes y de la Fundación Robert Wood Johnson. La AP es la única responsable de todo el contenido.
Patinadores rusos y bielorrusos obtienen permiso para competir en los Juegos Olímpicos de Invierno
LAUSANA, Suiza (AP) — Tres patinadores artísticos de Rusia y Bielorrusia, incluyendo a una candidata a la medalla olímpica de oro, recibieron el jueves la aprobación del Comité Olímpico Internacional para competir como neutrales en los Juegos de Invierno de Milán-Cortina en febrero.
Entre los aprobados se encuentra Adeliia Petrosian, de 18 años, quien mostró potencial de medalla en el evento individual femenino al ganar un evento clasificatorio olímpico en Beijing en septiembre.
Los otros que recibieron el estatus neutral son Petr Gumennik, el campeón ruso de individuales que ganó el evento masculino en Beijing hace dos meses, y la bielorrusa Viktoriia Safonova que quedó cuarta detrás de Petrosian.
El evento clasificatorio en Beijing fue la primera vez que los rusos recibieron permiso de la Unión Internacional de Patinaje para competir en uno de sus eventos de patinaje artístico desde que comenzó la invasión militar en gran escala de Ucrania en 2022, apenas cuatro días después del final de los Juegos Olímpicos de Beijing.
El COI realiza su propia evaluación para aprobar a los atletas rusos y bielorrusos para recibir el estatus neutral y competir en Milán-Cortina, como lo hizo antes de los Juegos de Verano de París 2024.
Para ser elegibles, los atletas individuales no deben haber apoyado activamente la invasión de Ucrania ni tener vínculos con las agencias militares y de seguridad estatal de Rusia o Bielorrusia.
Los patinadores artísticos también deben aceptar su invitación individual y firmar un compromiso de respetar la Carta Olímpica, indicó el COI.
Petrosian es la más reciente patinadora que trabaja con la entrenadora Eteri Tutberidze, quien fue una polémica personalidad en los Juegos Olímpicos de Beijing.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
IATA le pide a Venezuela que reconsidere la revocación de la concesión a seis aerolíneas
Associated Press
CARACAS (AP) — La Asociación de Transporte Aéreo Internacional (IATA) urgió el jueves a las autoridades venezolanas a que reconsideren la revocación de los permisos de operación de seis aerolíneas internacionales que suspendieron sus operaciones en Venezuela tras una advertencia de la Administración Federal de Aviación de Estados Unidos sobre los presuntos riesgos de volar en el espacio aéreo del país sudamericano.
El Ministerio de Transporte anunció el jueves la cancelación de la concesión de vuelo de las empresas Iberia, TAP Portugal, Avianca, LAN (Latam), Turkish Airlines y Gol luego de cumplido el plazo de 48 horas que le había dado el gobierno venezolano para reanudar sus operaciones.
En un comunicado publicado en su sitio web IATA afirmó que “las aerolíneas han priorizado la protección de los pasajeros y de sus tripulaciones, evitando operar en zonas con riesgo elevado” e instó a “encontrar soluciones que aseguren la seguridad aérea y, al mismo tiempo, preserven la conectividad de Venezuela con el resto del mundo”.
Las compañías aéreas reafirmaron además su “disposición a restablecer el servicio de manera segura y eficiente tan pronto como las condiciones lo permitan”, agregó el comunicado.
Las autoridades venezolanas argumentaron que esas seis aerolíneas fueron despojadas de la concesión por “sumarse a las acciones de terrorismo de Estado promovido por el gobierno de los Estados Unidos”.
La Administración Federal de Aviación estadounidense (FAA por sus siglas en inglés) advirtió el 21 de noviembre a los pilotos que tengan “precaución” al volar sobre Venezuela “debido al empeoramiento de la situación de seguridad y la creciente actividad militar” alrededor del país.
La advertencia de la FAA se produjo en medio de la tensión por el despliegue de fuerzas militares estadounidenses en aguas internacionales del Caribe y del océano Pacífico que ejecutaron una serie de ataques contra embarcaciones sospechosas de contrabando de drogas que, afirman, habían partido de Venezuela. Al menos 80 personas han muerto.
El gobierno de Donald Trump dice que el despliegue busca combatir las amenazas de los cárteles de drogas latinoamericanos. Pero el presidente de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, lo describe como un ataque a la soberanía de la nación y parte de un esfuerzo para derrocarlo.
La Asociación de Líneas Aéreas en Venezuela (ALAV) confirmó la víspera a The Associated Press que también suspendieron sus vuelos Air Europa, Plus Ultra, Caribbean y las aerolíneas venezolanas Laser y Estelar, pero hasta el momento no han sido objeto de una medida en su contra.
La noche del miércoles el ministro del Interior de Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, manifestó que el gobierno se reservaba “el derecho de admisión” en su espacio aéreo.
Small Retailers Enter Holiday Season Optimistic
Small Retailers Enter Holiday Season Optimistic
Authored by Mary Prenon via The Epoch Times,
With Amazon and Walmart gearing up for the coming holiday season, competing on delivery speed and massive deals, small store owners may be fighting an uphill battle. Yet many of them are confident this stretch could make—not break—them.
A Nov. 11 report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) shows that its small business optimism index dipped to 98.2 in October, down by 0.6 points from September, while remaining above its long-term average. The organization’s chief economist, Bill Dunkelberg, attributed the slight decline in optimism to lower sales, reduced profits, and ongoing labor shortages.
Although the index remains above its 52-year average of 98—which Holly Wade, NFIB’s executive director of research, described in a podcast as “an OK space” for small businesses to be in—she said declining profits are a challenge worth watching.
Meanwhile, online marketing platform Constant Contact’s survey of nearly 2,000 small business owners shows that 77 percent of owners remain confident they’ll reach their revenue targets, despite challenges from inflation, tariffs, the government shutdown, and competition from larger retailers and online commerce.
Small business owners said that 10 percent to 50 percent of their annual sales stem from holiday purchases, according to the report.
An Uphill Battle
On the big retailer side, Amazon and Walmart are ramping up for the holiday season. Each held an early-season sales event—Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2025 and Walmart Deals Event 2025—in October to attract early-bird gift shoppers.
Both companies also announced schedules for their big holiday sales, with Amazon’s spanning from Nov. 20 through Dec. 1—covering Black Friday week and Cyber Monday with deep discounts across categories—and Walmart’s having already kicked off on Nov. 14 and extending through Dec. 1 in two major waves.
With online sales hitting a record 22.7 percent of total U.S. retail sales in 2024—and the share growing every year except one since the Commerce Department began tracking the metric in 2000, according to a Digital Commerce 360 analysis—fast delivery has become a key battleground for major retailers, particularly Amazon and Walmart.
Walmart executives said during the company’s April 9 investment community meeting that the company is leveraging its far-reaching store network, along with its digital capabilities, to accelerate fast delivery.
CEO Doug McMillon, who is set to retire in early 2026, stated that the company’s same-day delivery program currently reaches 93 percent of U.S. households. John Furner, CEO of Walmart U.S., meanwhile, said the company will “soon be able to” deliver to 95 percent of U.S. households in less than three hours.
Amazon said in February that its same-day delivery program covered 140 U.S. metro areas. In June, the company announced plans to extend the service to 4,000 smaller cities, towns, and rural communities by year’s end.
Meghan Cruz, vice president of advocacy and engagement at the National Retail Federation, told The Epoch Times that the holiday shopping season is one of the most crucial times of the year for small businesses.
“These retailers operate on very thin margins, and this holiday season may make or break it for some small businesses that have been dealing with rising costs due to trade uncertainty,” Cruz said.
Mark Mathews, NRF’s chief economist and executive director of research, said in the report that although tariffs have put pressure on consumer prices, “retailers have tried to hold the line on prices given the uncertainty about trade policies.” He added that the economy has shown “surprising resilience.”
For some small retailers, still-elevated inflation could be a challenge as they try to keep customers happy while supporting their bottom line.
“Profit margins for smaller retailers might have to be lower, and if tariffs increase, they have a choice whether or not to pass that along to the customer,” Van Carlson, founder and CEO at Idaho-based risk assessment firm SRA 831(b) Admin, told The Epoch Times. “However, competition still exists, and they might not have the option to increase prices.
“I think this year they’ll be cautious and less likely to make big money decisions,” Carlson said.
Michael Cramer, Andy LaPointe, and Roberta Perry, small retail store owners in three different states, acknowledged their disadvantage against the two retail giants but expressed confidence in their sales this holiday season.
Offer What Amazon Can’t
For the past 26 years, Cramer has owned Adagio Teas, offering both loose and bagged teas in an assortment of flavors and varieties, as well as iced tea, teaware, tea cookies, scented candles, and gift sets. Based in Illinois, he also operates two brick-and-mortar stores located in Naperville and Skokie, and sells products online.
“I know I can’t compete with Amazon on prices, so the question centers on what I can offer that Amazon can’t,” he told The Epoch Times. “We narrow down the best selections out there, and we rely on personalization. We understand what our customers are looking for and we’re able to meet those needs.”
As a small retailer with roots in the local community, Cramer said people always know where to find him—unlike faceless online-only retailers.
“People tend to be more stressed out during the holidays and often wonder if their packages will arrive on time and in good shape,” he noted.
He relies on emails and social media to get the word out about holiday sales and special promotions. Some of Adagio Tea’s bestselling gifts include pre-boxed sampler sets offering a selection of four different teas. Prices range from $14 to $19.
“These are very affordable, but the way they’re packaged makes them look much more expensive,” he said.
The main thing for small retailers, Cramer noted, is to focus on showing customers how they’re different and what they can offer to personalize the shopper’s experience.
Andy LaPointe, owner of Travis Bay Farms in Michigan. Courtesy of Travis Bay Farms
LaPointe owns two retail locations for Traverse Bay Farms in Michigan, offering locally produced fruit juices, fruit-based dietary supplements, fruit salsa, dried fruit, barbecue sauces, preserves, and even cookbooks.
His Bellaire store opened in 2001, and his Elk Rapids outlet opened in 2011. Over the years, the business has won close to 40 national food awards.
“Our stores are unique—you can’t get this on Amazon or in ‘big box’ stores,” LaPointe told The Epoch Times. “We use as many local ingredients as we can for our products, and I think that’s something our customers really appreciate.”
Set on the banks of Lake Michigan, both locations are year-round tourist destinations. Nearby Traverse City is also known as the “Cherry Capital of the World.” The area is the largest producer of tart cherries in the United States and home to the National Cherry Festival as well as other cherry-themed events.
‘Experience Beats Convenience’
LaPointe often features salsa and jam tastings, as well as other product samplings, at both stores. While he does sell online, LaPointe noted that he has a loyal in-store customer following.
Part of his holiday sales strategy is transforming his stores into “mini holiday destinations,” complete with a train display, music, and product samples. “Experience beats convenience,” he said. “When shoppers feel the connection, they don’t just buy, they belong.”
LaPointe’s “secret weapon” is the company’s “two-bowl strategy.” Each store has two bowls by the checkout counters, with one offering an instant in-store discount and the other a coupon for a future date. The coupons can be used both in-house and online, and give customers a reason to return. “This simple experience bridges the offline-to-online gap and creates what I call holiday loyalty momentum,” he said.
Roberta Perry, owner of ScrubzBody Skin Care at her Long Island, New York store. Courtesy of ScrubzBody Skin Care
Perry, who has owned ScrubzBody Skin Care in Farmingdale, New York, for almost 20 years, also emphasizes experience.
The Long Island shop carries homemade scrubs, along with body lotions, oils, eye creams, shampoos, conditioners, and other related products. While Perry also sells products online, her core customers look forward to shopping in the store, especially during the holiday season.
“We’ve done the same thing for years—our ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ sale on the Friday before Thanksgiving,” she told The Epoch Times. “Our customers go wild, and it starts our holiday season off with a bang.”
Many of her customers order online and pick up at the store, while others choose to visit in person for the experience.
Occasionally, the store will feature special events and themed parties. “People work hard for their money, and we want to give them the experience, not just the products,” Perry said.
Perry is reluctant to compete with every other retailer on Black Friday, so this year, Nov. 21 will be the firm’s big sale day. Because it’s the week before Thanksgiving, Perry said people are less stressed, and there is no competition with Black Friday.
On Cyber Monday, the company offers free shipping, and by early December, most of Perry’s regular customers have already finished their holiday shopping.
“It’s just mind-blowing what this sale has turned into over the years,” Perry said. “We make enough money to cover us for months like January, when sales are really slow.”
Local Relationship Key
Tami Cannizzaro, chief marketing officer at Thryv, a small business software firm, deals with more than 100,000 small business owners throughout the country. The company’s main focus is to help small retailers get found online and turn leads into customers.
“It’s really important for small retailers to leverage that local relationship with their customers,” she told The Epoch Times. “National retailers cannot compete with that, especially when there’s an element of personal service.”
Cannizzaro suggests incorporating events such as small business shopping days along with other local retailers or “residents only” shopping days.
“This will make hyper-local people feel special and will also create an experience for them,” she said. Many of her clients have adopted special events such as “Wine Around Wednesdays,” where shops will offer wine and cheese while customers browse.
For the holidays, Cannizzaro recommends involving the local high school by inviting student singing groups that will bring in parents and friends. Inviting local artists or musicians is another way of creating an experience that customers won’t find online or in larger retail outlets.
“While the objective is to bring people into the store, retailers can’t ignore their online presence,” Cannizzaro said. “They need to make sure their website is optimized so that they can be found easily, and also ensure that all of their information is up-to-date.”
Best Deals Often Found in Stores
According to a recent survey involving more than 1,000 U.S. consumers, only 22 percent responded that they plan to shop exclusively in-store this holiday season, while more than 65 percent intend to shop both online and in-store.
“These hybrid trends could give smaller retailers an advantage, especially if they offer a flexible shopping experience,” Michael Podolsky, CEO and founder, told The Epoch Times.
Despite the high number of proposed online shoppers, the survey also discovered that more than 44 percent of shoppers admitted they have often found the best holiday shopping deals in stores.
“This is good news for brick-and-mortar retailers,” Podolsky added. “They can attract value-conscious customers through unique promotions, loyalty programs, and targeted discounts.”
Tyler Durden
Thu, 11/27/2025 – 15:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/small-retailers-enter-holiday-season-optimistic
El Salvador implementa programa con ayuda de IA para brindar servicio de salud a los ciudadanos
Por MARCOS ALEMÁN
SAN SALVADOR (AP) — El gobierno de El Salvador está implementando el servicio público de salud DoctorSV, una aplicación complementada con inteligencia artificial que permite consultas médicas virtuales gratis y la disponibilidad de más de 1.400 médicos las 24 horas del día.
La aplicación DoctorSv es una iniciativa del presidente Nayib Bukele para modernizar la atención médica a los salvadoreños, la cual lanzó el 13 noviembre. De acuerdo con las autoridades médicas, ya registra a más de 200.000 personas conectadas, brindando más de 10.000 consultas al día.
“Este es un nuevo sistema que busca acercar la salud a los salvadoreños en todo el país, las 24 horas del día, durante los 365 días del año, utilizando la inteligencia artificial para mejorar la precisión del diagnóstico, y al final se emite una receta con un código QR para obtener gratis los medicamentos y los trámites de exámenes”, destacó a periodistas el médico Manuel Bello, quien dirige el programa financiado con un préstamo del Banco de Cooperación Andina de Fomento.
Explicó que los salvadoreños que usan esta aplicación podrían retirar gratis los medicamentos en 350 farmacias privadas, acceder a 75 laboratorio de exámenes médicos y 35 centros de imágenes en todo el país.
“Yo ya consulté, mi hijo me bajó la aplicación porque tenía tos y no quería ir al hospital. Fue rápido, me dieron una receta y fui a la farmacia aquí cerca y me entregaron la medicina. No me cobraron nada”, afirmó a The Associated Press la señora Teresa Castrejón, de 52 años, mientras esperaba abordar un autobús en el centro de la ciudad de Santa Tecla, en la periferia oeste de la capital salvadoreña.
Por su parte, el médico Reynaldo Reyes, jefe de operaciones, explicó que la aplicación busca atender los padecimientos de salud de “primer nivel” o que son más fáciles de tratar y en que la salud del paciente no está en riesgo, como gripes, dolores de cabeza leves, molestias gastrointestinales, diarreas, cólicos y fiebres.
Un grupo de periodistas tuvo acceso al centro de operaciones donde los médicos sostienen una video llamada con el paciente. La llamada se graba y el sistema está analizando la atención.
Bello recalcó que la inteligencia artificial no sustituye al médico y que se utiliza esta herramienta para ayudar en la precisión del diagnóstico.
El presidente del Colegio Médico de El Salvador, doctor Iván Solano, quien en algunas oportunidades ha criticados la política de salud ciudadana del gobierno, resaltó que se utilice la telemedicina pública de forma gratuita.
“El uso de la telemedicina como herramienta para brindar servicios de salud es positivo”, dijo Solano en una entrevista con la Radio YSKL. “Es decir, nosotros le damos el beneficio de la duda a esta nueva estrategia de buscar que los servicios de salud sean más accesibles a la población”.
“En teoría esto es democratizar la atención en salud, es decir, que permite que muchas personas puedan acceder a servicios de salud y sobre todo en el área rural”, alejada de los centros de atención médica, agregó.
