News Headlines - 27 December 2020

▽Bitcoin hits record above $28,000 - CNN

Bitcoin is crashing -- upward. It just passed $28,000 and shows no signs of stopping... Bitcoin passed $20,000 for the first time just 11 days ago. Now it's knocking at $30,000's door... But there's some logic to the run-up: Investors are pouring money into bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies during the Covid-19 pandemic as the Federal Reserve sent interest rates near zero (and expects to keep them there for several more years), severely weakening the US dollar.
That makes bitcoin, comparatively, an attractive currency. There's a set limit to the number of bitcoins on the planet, and investors believe that once the supply runs out, the digital coin's value can only increase.

▽China to leapfrog U.S. as world's biggest economy by 2028: think tank | Reuters

China will overtake the United States to become the world’s biggest economy in 2028, five years earlier than previously estimated due to the contrasting recoveries of the two countries from the COVID-19 pandemic, a think tank said... The CEBR said China’s “skilful management of the pandemic”, with its strict early lockdown, and hits to long-term growth in the West meant China’s relative economic performance had improved.
China looked set for average economic growth of 5.7% a year from 2021-25 before slowing to 4.5% a year from 2026-30.

▽Birmingham 'memory cop' Andy Pope spots 2,000 suspects - BBC News

A police officer with a remarkable talent for remembering faces has now identified more than 2,000 suspects.
West Midlands Police PCSO Andy Pope says he can remember faces for years and has even been able to single out wanted people wearing face coverings.
The 43-year-old was recognised by the force's chief constable in 2018 when he passed the 1,000 milestone and is now aiming to reach 2,500 by 2022.

▽KFC launches game console that keeps your chicken warm - CNN

Fast-food chain KFC has launched a new Intel-powered games console that comes with a built-in "chicken chamber" to keep your snacks warm.
The KFConsole is part of a partnership with hardware manufacturer Cooler Master, KFC said in a statement on Tuesday... Your chicken will be kept hot thanks to a custom-built cooling system that keeps the console hardware at a regular temperature while using heat produced by its components to warm the chicken chamber.

▽Pompeii: Ancient 'fast food' counter to open to the public - BBC News

A "fast food" shop from the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was destroyed in a volcanic eruption almost 2,000 years ago, is to open to the public - for viewings only - next year.
The food counter, known as a thermopolium, would have served hot food and drinks to locals in the city.
The shop, with its bright frescoes and terracotta jars, was discovered in 2019 and unveiled on Saturday.