Keeping up with America

Massive Winter Storm Grounds 1,300+ Flights and Shuts Schools Across the U.S.

A brutal ice and snow system is currently stretching from Texas to New England, prompting airlines to preemptively cancel thousands of flights and governors to urge residents to stay off the roads.

Protests Erupt in Minnesota as Hundreds of Businesses Close Over Immigration Crackdowns

Business owners in Minneapolis and St. Paul staged a “general strike” on Friday, shutting their doors to protest recent federal enforcement actions that they say target vital members of their community.

Texas Families Gain First Access to New State Education Savings Accounts

A major shift in Texas education policy went live Friday, allowing parents to begin the application process for state-funded accounts to pay for private schooling and other educational expenses.

Jack Smith Defends Trump Investigations in High-Stakes House Judiciary Testimony

The former Special Counsel faced a grueling day of questioning from lawmakers, maintaining that his decisions to bring charges were based strictly on evidence, despite fierce pushback from committee Republicans.

Maine Protesters Rally Against ICE Following ‘Operation Catch of the Day’ Detentions

Dozens gathered in Portland to challenge the detention of over 100 individuals, as court records suggest those arrested may not all meet the “worst of the worst” criteria initially claimed by officials.

Uvalde Jury Finds Former Officer Adrian Gonzales Not Guilty in School Shooting Trial

In a verdict that has sparked emotional reactions across Texas, a jury acquitted the former officer of child endangerment charges related to his response during the 2022 tragedy.

Around the World

United States Officially Finalizes Withdrawal from the World Health Organization

The U.S. government completed its exit from the WHO on Friday, a landmark move that officials say is aimed at reclaiming health sovereignty but critics fear will weaken global pandemic preparedness.

Trump Unveils New ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza Reconstruction at Davos

The newly proposed board aims to oversee the ceasefire and direct the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip, though international leaders remain divided on how it will interact with existing UN frameworks.

US-Canada Border Crossings Drop 24% Amid Growing Travel Tensions

New data shows a massive slump in Canadian visitors to the U.S., with experts projecting a $12.5 billion loss in tourism spending as travelers opt for domestic destinations or Europe instead.

Davos Leaders Urge Focus on Economic Growth Amid Political Turmoil

Heads of the IMF and WTO told the World Economic Forum that the global economy is showing “unexpected resilience” despite a week of tense negotiations and shifting trade alliances.

Greenland Negotiates Broad U.S. Military Access for Arctic Security Framework

President Trump confirmed that talks are underway to give American forces “total access” to Greenland, integrating the territory into the “Golden Dome” missile defense system.

China Summons Philippine Envoy Over Recent Maritime Disputes

Tensions in the West Philippine Sea escalated Friday as Beijing formally summoned diplomats following remarks by the Philippine Coast Guard regarding recent vessel rescues.

Business & Tech

Adobe Rolls Out AI-Powered ‘Podcast Generator’ for PDF Summaries

Adobe Acrobat users can now turn long documents into conversational audio summaries, making it easier to consume dense reports while on the go.

TikTok Reaches New Deal with U.S. and China to Avoid National Ban

The popular video app will now be operated by a new U.S.-based entity controlled by American investors, effectively ending a years-long legal battle over national security.

Wix Launches ‘Aria’—The First AI Agent Capable of Building Production-Ready Websites

The new Wix Harmony platform allows users to “vibe-code” their sites, using an AI agent that handles both design and back-end reliability through natural language prompts.

Datarails Raises $70M to Build ‘AI Foundation’ for Corporate Finance

The funding round will accelerate the rollout of “FinanceOS,” an AI engine designed to help CFOs automate board-ready reporting and cash management.

Databricks Open-Sources ‘BlackIce’ to Help Companies Hack Their Own AI

The new toolkit allows developers to “red-team” their AI systems, simulating attacks like prompt injection to find weaknesses before hackers do.

J.P. Morgan Acquires WealthOS to Digitize Retirement Planning

The banking giant is folding the UK-based wealthtech’s SaaS platform into its international division to offer fully digital pension drawdown options.

Richer, Wiser, Happier

Why ‘Radical Gratitude’ is the Best New Practice for Mental Health Management

Psychologists are moving beyond simple “thank yous” to radical gratitude—finding growth specifically in failure and disappointment to build long-term resilience.

The 30-Day ‘Gratitude Challenge’ to Close the Gap Between What You Have and Want

A simple daily habit of writing down one specific thing you’re thankful for has been scientifically proven to rewire the brain for more positive emotions.

How Employee Wellness Programs are Using ‘Peer Motivation’ to Combat Burnout

New university-led programs are finding that group exercise and student-led coaching significantly improve workplace productivity and mental clarity.

The High Cost of Living: Inflation Hits 2.8% as Tariffs Impact Goods Prices

While the economy is growing, consumers are feeling the pinch as inflation remains above the Fed’s target, largely driven by a rebound in goods pricing.

Positive Psychology vs. Toxic Positivity: How to Stay Rooted in Reality

Experts warn against wellness influencers who say you should be “grateful for everything,” suggesting instead a focus on realistic practices that acknowledge life’s difficulties.

Revised GDP Numbers Show Surprisingly Strong 4.4% Economic Growth

New government data reveals the highest growth in two years, suggesting that despite high prices, the American consumer is still spending at a record pace.

Sports & Showbiz Shenanigans

Mitch Marner’s Historic Return: Golden Knights Topple Maple Leafs 6-3

In his first game back in Toronto since being traded, Mitch Marner helped lead Vegas to a dominant victory, while teammate Mark Stone extended his record-breaking point streak to 13 games.

Hershey Bears Host Penguins for ‘Halfway to Summer’ Promotion Night

The AHL giants turned up the heat Friday, offering fans $5 beers and summer-themed fun to distract from the freezing temperatures outside the Giant Center.

Victor Wembanyama Jokes the NBA ‘Needs More Bald Players’

The Spurs superstar made headlines with a lighthearted locker room comment that has fans and hair-care brands buzzing on social media.

Filipino Swimmers Secure 4 More Golds at the 13th ASEAN Para Games

Ernie Gawilan and Angel Mae Otom dominated the pool on Friday, continuing a record-breaking streak for the Philippine delegation in Thailand.

Jack Eichel’s Scoring Tear Continues with 10-Game Point Streak

The Vegas star has picked up points in 15 of his last 16 games, solidifying his spot as one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the league this season.

College of Saint Benilde Kicks Off ‘Five-Peat’ Campaign with Thrilling Volleyball Win

In a five-set nail-biter, Zamantha Nolasco dropped a career-high 29 points to secure a victory over Mapua University in the NCAA Season 101 opener.

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