Keeping Up With America

Trump isn’t president yet, but that hasn’t stopped him from starting to act like he is: Foreign leaders have lined up to speak with him. He has rattled Mexico and Canada with threats of steep tariffs and warned there would be “hell to pay” for militants in Gaza unless they release the hostages by the time he’s sworn in.

Appeals court upholds TikTok ban, declining to block law that would force sale: A federal appeals court upheld a law that will ban TikTok in the U.S. in the coming months if its Chinese parent company doesn’t sell its stake in the app, dealing another setback to the widely popular video-sharing service in its battle with the federal government.

Pennsylvania grandmother who fell down sinkhole looking for cat found dead after 4-day search: The days-long search for a Pennsylvania grandmother, who fell through a sinkhole while searching for her cat, ended in tragedy when rescuers found the woman’s body, authorities said Friday.

UnitedHealthcare is increasing security after Brian Thompson’s killing, executive says: The CEO of UnitedHealth Group, Andrew Witty, told employees he would increase security, including “perimeter protection,” at the company’s sites following the killing of one of their colleagues, CEO of the company’s health insurance branch Brian Thompson.

How public health officials rapidly traced the source of the McDonald’s E. coli outbreak: In one of the early reports to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in what would later lead to a recall of McDonald’s Quarter Pounders in several states, a 61-year-old man from Wisconsin said he got sick after eating the hamburger with onions that he said he didn’t order.

Around the World

Protest planned over Dutch parliament motion to keep details of migrants: Protests are planned in the Netherlands in response to a motion accepted by the Dutch parliament to “keep details of cultural and religious norms and values of Dutch people with a migration background”.

Contaminated IV bags suspected in death of 13 children in Mexico: Thirteen children under the age of 14 died in central Mexico and authorities said they suspect contaminated IV feeding bags as the culprit.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

How ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Call of Duty’ Are Pushing Xbox Ahead of PlayStation, Nintendo in a Next Gen Console-Less Holiday Season

Want Top Tier AI Without The Expensive Price Tag? Here’s a Flexible, Cost-Effective Solution You Need to Try

OpenAI starts charging $200 per month for ChatGPT ‘Pro’

Richer, Wiser, Happier

How to get a low home equity loan rate for 2025: No one wants to pay more than they should. Unfortunately, millions of Americans have done just that in recent years with inflation and elevated interest rates hiked to account for it. And while paying an elevated rate on your credit card or personal loan can be prohibitive, it becomes even more dangerous when borrowing from your home equity. If you fail to repay a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) as agreed on, you could risk your homeownership as a result. That’s because the home functions as collateral in these unique borrowing exchanges.

How Does Your Savings Account Measure Up to the American Middle Class?: Having money in a savings account can help you sleep a little easier at night. It provides a critical buffer in an emergency and it can also be your ticket to future purchases that enhance your life, be it a new home or a vacation. It’s essential if you hope to ever leave the workforce, too. It’s no wonder we’re all trying to earn as much money as we can.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

Bucks’ Khris Middleton: Ankle recovery has been the toughest | Rangers move on from Jacob Trouba, send captain to Ducks

‘Moana 2’ Creatives on How Pacific Islander Nuances Helped Tell an Authentic AAPI Story | Angela Alvarez, Winner of the 2022 Latin Grammy for Best New Artist, Dies at 97

Lizzo dropped as defendant in harassment lawsuit, company still on the hook: Reports | Mariah Carey Responds to Claims Her Spotify Wrapped Video With ‘Bad Lighting’ Is AI

Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

The 10 Most Fun U.S. Cities in 2024

Elon Musk Exposes Shocking Secret

5 Health Conditions That May Increase Your Risk for Cognitive Decline—Plus What Experts Say Can Help

Three Ways to Get a Hot Christmas Breakfast on the Table With Minimal Effort