Next year may mark a turning point for the US housing market.
After several years in a deep freeze, with high borrowing costs and soaring prices locking many Americans out of homeownership, economis… [+5176 chars]

The housing market has spent the last several years in a deep freeze, with high borrowing costs and soaring prices stalling sales and new listings. But US homebuyers may get some relief in 2026.

Trump promised ‘aggressive’ housing reform next year. Here’s what to expect for home prices in 2026 - CNN

U.S. stock futures were little changed Friday as traders came back from the Christmas holiday, with the major averages on pace for weekly gains. 
S&amp;P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures traded ar… [+1198 chars]

U.S. stock futures were little changed Friday as traders came back from the Christmas holiday, with the major averages on pace for weekly gains.

CNBC

Stock futures are little changed, Wall Street heads for winning week: Live updates - CNBC

A lucky Powerball ticket holder in Arkansas has won an estimated $1.8 billion jackpot, the second largest in US lottery history, after matching all six numbers in Mondays drawing.
The winning ticket… [+1973 chars]

A lucky Powerball ticket holder in Arkansas has won an estimated $1.8 billion jackpot, the second largest in US lottery history, after matching all six numbers in Monday’s drawing.

$1.8 billion Powerball winner could remain anonymous for some time under Arkansas law - CNN

Stocks extended their year-end rally in thin trading, driven by optimism over economic growth and expectations for improved corporate earnings. Gold and silver advanced to records.
The MSCI All Coun… [+332 chars]

Stocks extended their year-end rally in thin trading, driven by optimism over economic growth and expectations for improved corporate earnings. Gold and silver advanced to records.

Bloomberg

Asian Stocks Set for Muted Open in Holiday Trade: Markets Wrap - Bloomberg.com

<ul><li>The post-Christmas return rush typically peaks in the days immediately after the holiday. Returns jump 25%35% beginning Dec. 26 compared with earlier in the month, according to Adobe Analytic… [+2720 chars]

Retailers are betting AI can shrink — but not eliminate — the volume of returns.

Axios

Most returned Christmas gifts: What shoppers send back after the holidays - Axios

China has officially launched a national venture capital fund and three large regional funds, together worth billions of dollars, as part of a push to foster home-grown tech champions and improve inv… [+249 chars]

China has officially launched a national venture capital fund and three large regional funds, together worth billions of dollars, as part of a push to foster home-grown tech champions and improve investment efficiency.

China Starts State-Backed Venture Funds to Support Tech Startups - Bloomberg.com

Access to eight surprising articles a day, hand-picked by FT editors. For seamless reading, access content via the FT Edit page on FT.com and receive the FT Edit newsletter.
<ul><li></li>FT Edit: Ac… [+23 chars]

Elon Musk stays on top as Nvidia’s Jensen Huang powers up the rankings on an AI-fuelled surge in fortunes

Financial Times

AI boom adds $500bn to net worth of US tech billionaires in 2025 - Financial Times

The US economy continues to surprise on the upside except when it comes to jobs.
Hot growth, as seen in this week's GDP report, typically corresponds to stronger hiring and personal earnings, which … [+4293 chars]

Can't find a job, but keep hearing that the economy is strong? That might be the economic story of 2026.

Business Insider

The Economy Is Growing. That Doesn't Mean Companies Are Hiring More. - Business Insider

Tolland, Connecticut — Stephen Boyer has owned The Country Butcher in Tolland, Connecticut, for nearly 40 years. He says the holidays are one of their busiest times of the year.
"It's about 20-25% o… [+1255 chars]

With higher prices for beef, customers are looking for alternatives.

CBS News

As beef prices rise, small butcher shops adapt to changing demand - CBS News

The U.S. auto safety regulator said on Wednesday it has opened a defect investigation into Tesla Model 3 compact sedans over concerns that emergency door release controls may not be easily accessible… [+1616 chars]

The Office of Defects Investigation said the probe covers an estimated 179,071 model year 2022 vehicles.

U.S. auto safety agency probes Tesla Model 3 emergency door release - CNBC

Asia-Pacific markets traded higher Friday, with several exchanges in the region closed for the Boxing Day holiday, while precious metals continued their rally for the year.
Spot gold rose as much as… [+2247 chars]

Australia and Hong Kong markets were closed for the holidays.

Asia markets edge higher amid holiday-thinned trade; gold and silver hit fresh highs - CNBC

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST: 
 Imagine a computer that could solve incredibly complex problems at a speed we can't yet fathom and bring about breakthroughs in fields like drug development or clean energy. T… [+6590 chars]

Governments and tech companies continue to pour money into quantum technology in the hopes of building a supercomputer that can work at speeds we can't yet fathom to solve big problems.

When will quantum computing deliver on its promise? - NPR

There was only one winner for the Powerball's Dec. 24 jackpot worth more than $1.8 billion, and that valuable ticket was sold at a gas station outside Little Rock, Arkansas. But several lottery playe… [+1288 chars]

Eight Powerball players in Massachusetts matched enough winning numbers to win $50,000.

8 Powerball tickets worth $50,000 sold in Massachusetts for Christmas Eve drawing. Here's where. - CBS News

Nordic candy was almost inescapable for Maddie Langlois.
Anytime she opened TikTok last year, she encountered sweets of all shapes and sizes from the New York shop BonBon. They had tiny strawberry s… [+277 chars]

With a particular focus on viral Nordic candies, new sweet shops are cropping up all over the country.

The Washington Post

Colorful Nordic candy shops are making sweet waves across the U.S. - The Washington Post

Bloomberg
(Bloomberg) -- The bearish chorus on the yen is growing louder after the Bank of Japans latest interest rate hike failed to deliver a sustained lift to the currency, reinforcing views that… [+4645 chars]

Strategists at JPMorgan Chase & Co., BNP Paribas SA and other firms see the yen weakening to 160 per dollar or beyond by the end of 2026, driven by still...

Yahoo Entertainment

Yen Bearish Voices Build for 2026 on Cautious BOJ Policy Path - Yahoo Finance

In late October, major industry trade groups and food companies, including Kraft Heinz as well as frozen-pizza-maker Nestle, and PepsiCo, which along with its signature drink makes all-American favor… [+11292 chars]

The companies behind Doritos, Oscar Mayer wieners, and Kraft Mac & Cheese are warning state regulation promoted by the health secretary is driving up your food bill.

Politico

The ultraprocessed food makers have an answer for RFK Jr. - Politico

(Salwan Georges/The Washington Post)
Your reward for climbing Mount Fuji? A steaming bowl of udon and an unforgettable sunrise.
December 25, 2025 at 5:00 a.m. ESTToday at 5:00 a.m. EST
MOUNT FUJI,… [+9116 chars]

Climbing Mount Fuji is a test of strength and stamina. Steaming bowls of curry udon await climbers who make the overnight hike.

On Mount Fuji, summit udon is a lifesaver - The Washington Post

Don Adkins was walking along the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles late one night this month when he heard a plea for help.
Please close the right-side rear door, thanks, Adkins recalled a synthetic voice… [+177 chars]

Waymo robotaxis get stranded when a passenger leaves the door open. Tow truck operators can get paid $22 to close a door and set them free again.

When robot taxis get stuck, a secret army of humans comes to the rescue - The Washington Post

A lucky New York LOTTO ticket that won a jackpot worth $13.9 million was sold at a small business on Long Island.