Major U.S. airlines are planning to start new domestic and international flight routes in 2026. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines will introduce flights to various destinations in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., offering more travel options during peak travel seasons.
Key Facts
Delta Air Lines will start its largest transatlantic flight schedule ever, launching seven new flights to Europe from U.S. cities like Boston, New York, and Seattle in 2026.
United Airlines will begin flights from Newark to Split, Croatia; Bari, Italy; Santiago de Compostela, Spain; and start its first Washington, D.C. to Reykjavik, Iceland route.
United Airlines will also introduce a new daily nonstop flight from Newark to Seoul, South Korea, in September 2026.
American Airlines will add new routes to Europe, featuring the only U.S. non-stop flights to Budapest, Hungary, and from Dallas Fort Worth to Zurich, Switzerland.
Alaska Airlines will offer 17 nonstop destinations from Anchorage, Alaska, next summer, the most flights it has ever had during the Alaska travel season.
Alaska Airlines will introduce new routes from Portland, Oregon, to Bellingham and Everett in Washington, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
These new routes by major airlines aim to expand travel options for passengers and increase connectivity between the U.S. and international destinations.
The new flight routes are set to launch primarily in the spring and summer seasons of 2026, aligning with peak travel periods.
Energy bills in England, Scotland, and Wales have risen slightly due to an increase in Ofgem's price cap. This small adjustment means households with a typical amount of energy usage will see an annual increase of around £3. The cost is expected to decrease in April as announced changes in the Budget take effect.
Key Facts
Ofgem increased the energy price cap slightly, causing a 0.2% rise in energy bills.
The typical household will see an annual bill rise from £1,755 to £1,758.
Standing charges for electricity and gas have also increased by 2% and 3%, respectively.
The price cap applies to England, Wales, and Scotland. Northern Ireland is regulated separately.
Households can potentially reduce bills by switching to a fixed tariff with lower rates.
Some areas have cold weather payments of £25 a week if temperatures fall to 0°C or below for seven consecutive days.
The government extended the £150 Warm Home Discount to more low-income households.
President Donald Trump's media company, Trump Media and Technology Group, announced it will give a new cryptocurrency to its shareholders. Shareholders will receive one token per share and the distribution will happen through a partnership with the Crypto.com exchange. The company has expanded into the cryptocurrency field alongside other areas like artificial intelligence and financial services.
Key Facts
Trump Media and Technology Group is behind President Trump's Truth Social platform.
The new cryptocurrency will be given to shareholders, one token for each share.
Trump Media partnered with Crypto.com to distribute the tokens on the Cronos blockchain.
Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump Media, stated the tokens aim to reward shareholders and encourage fair markets.
The company plans to offer "various rewards" for token holders, potentially including discounts on products.
Trump Media shares increased following the announcement but have dropped over 60% this year.
President Trump advocates for looser regulations on the crypto market and signed significant crypto legislation.
Trump's previous cryptocurrency projects have seen mixed financial success.
Several major health systems will stop accepting Medicare Advantage plans starting in 2026. These systems are dropping the plans due to issues like prior authorization denials and slow payments, which are causing seniors to face higher costs. Over half of Americans on Medicare choose Medicare Advantage, which offers some cost benefits but can also create problems like treatment authorization issues.
Key Facts
Fifteen health systems will no longer accept Medicare Advantage plans in 2026.
MultiCare in Washington will stop accepting any Medicare Advantage PPO plans.
Mayo Clinic, Providence Clinical Network, and Mount Sinai will drop various Medicare Advantage plans.
UNC Health, Lehigh Valley Health Network, and TriHealth are ending contracts with multiple Medicare Advantage providers.
Medicare Advantage plans often reimburse rural hospitals at lower rates than traditional Medicare.
Appeals overturn about 82% of prior authorization denials under Medicare Advantage plans.
Patients may face increased out-of-pocket costs if hospitals go out of network with their Medicare Advantage plans.
The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage in the U.S. dropped to 6.15%, the lowest this year. This decline is a favorable sign for prospective homebuyers, although overall home sales have decreased compared to last year.
Key Facts
The average 30-year mortgage rate fell to 6.15% from 6.18% last week.
The lowest rate before this was 6.12% on October 3, 2024.
One year ago, the average 30-year rate was 6.91%.
The average 15-year mortgage rate decreased to 5.44% from 5.50%.
Mortgage rates often follow the 10-year Treasury yield, which was 4.14% recently.
The Federal Reserve has been cutting rates since September, seen as influencing mortgage rates indirectly.
Home listings have increased, and many sellers are lowering prices.
Home sales in the past 11 months are down 0.5% compared to the same period last year.
Sprinkles, a well-known cupcake bakery chain, is closing all its locations. Candace Nelson, the founder, announced the closure, surprising many fans. The company started in 2005 and grew to include nearly 24 stores.
Key Facts
Sprinkles is a cupcake bakery chain.
Candace Nelson founded Sprinkles in 2005.
The company expanded to nearly two dozen stores.
Nelson announced the closure of all locations.
The stores are still listed on the Sprinkles website.
Bottled water sold at Waitrose is being recalled because it might have glass pieces inside. Customers are advised to return the affected bottles, which include certain batches of No1 Royal Deeside Mineral Water.
Key Facts
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a warning about potential glass in the water.
The recall includes 750ml No1 Royal Deeside Mineral Water and its sparkling variant.
Customers should not drink the affected water and can get a refund from Waitrose.
Notices about the recall will be displayed in Waitrose stores.
The water comes from Scotland's Cairngorms national park.
Specific batch codes with best before dates in November and December 2027 are included in the recall.
The price of each bottle at Waitrose is around £1.60.
President Donald Trump made many tariff threats in 2025, but not all were implemented. Some import taxes were put into place, changing longstanding U.S. economic policies, while others remain unfulfilled.
Key Facts
President Trump threatened new tariffs and promised changes in trade this year.
Some of these tariffs have been implemented, changing U.S. economic approaches.
A number of the threatened tariffs are still not enacted by the end of 2025.
Tariffs are taxes on imports that can affect prices and availability of goods.
Trump's tariffs included new taxes on imported metals.
The U.S. traded retaliatory tariffs with major trading partners like China.
These tariffs caused uncertainty for businesses and consumers around the world.
Drug companies plan to raise prices on at least 350 medications in the U.S. in 2026, including vaccines and cancer treatments. This follows efforts by the Trump administration to lower medication costs. Some companies, like Pfizer, are leading these price increases, while a few drugs will see price cuts.
Key Facts
Drugmakers will increase prices on over 350 medications in the U.S. in 2026.
Price hikes include COVID-19 vaccines, migraine treatments, and cancer drugs.
Pfizer plans to raise prices for about 80 drugs and vaccines.
Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, will go up by 15%.
Some drug prices, like Jardiance for diabetes, will be cut.
The Trump administration has pushed for lower drug costs, but overall prices will still rise.
Price increases are mostly around 4%, consistent with the previous year.
Starting January 1, 2026, New York will raise the salary minimums that determine which executive and administrative employees are exempt from receiving overtime pay. This change means that some employees who were not eligible for overtime before might become eligible. Professional employees remain exempt, and businesses will need to adjust to these new rules.
Key Facts
New overtime salary thresholds start on January 1, 2026, in New York.
Executive and administrative employees will be affected by the new rules.
In New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, employees must earn at least $1,275 per week ($66,300 annually) to be exempt from overtime.
The previous threshold in these areas was $1,237.50 per week ($64,350 annually).
In other parts of the state, the threshold rises to $1,199.10 per week ($62,353.20 annually).
Before, the threshold in these other areas was $1,161.65 per week ($60,405.80 annually).
Employees making less than these amounts must get overtime pay for working over 40 hours a week.
Employers not complying with the changes may face wage claims and penalties.
The US stock market ended 2025 on a high after a year of ups and downs. Despite initial drops due to President Trump’s trade tariffs, strong company profits and enthusiasm for AI investments helped the market gain by year's end. Key stock indexes like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite achieved significant growth.
Key Facts
The S&P 500 index is set to increase by about 17% in 2025.
The Nasdaq Composite index is anticipated to rise by 21%.
President Trump's trade tariffs initially caused stock market declines.
Stocks rebounded after Trump eased some of his tariffs.
Gold prices are up nearly 70% as investors seek safe investments amid economic concerns.
Bitcoin is expected to end the year slightly lower, despite earlier support from the Trump administration.
Investor excitement over AI investments drove major tech firms' growth.
There are concerns over potential overvaluation in the tech sector, though smaller companies showed growth in the later part of the year.
Gold and silver prices rose significantly in 2025 and are expected to keep increasing in 2026. Experts believe factors like inflation, economic uncertainty, and global political issues could drive these prices higher. However, if the U.S. Federal Reserve raises interest rates, it could lead to a drop in prices.
Key Facts
In 2025, silver prices increased from $30 to $70 per ounce, and gold rose from $2,600 to over $4,300 per ounce.
The Swiss bank UBS predicts gold might reach as much as $5,400 if economic and political tensions continue.
Rising inflation is linked to higher gold and silver prices as people look to these metals as safe investments.
A weaker U.S. dollar and low interest rates could further boost gold prices, according to the World Gold Council.
Potential interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve in 2026 might decrease gold and silver prices.
Gold and silver are often seen as hedges against inflation, especially when currencies like the U.S. dollar lose value.
Economic conditions in 2026 will be crucial for future gold and silver price trends.
Stock markets around the world had a great year in 2025, with non-U.S. stocks showing stronger performance than U.S. stocks. Analysts believe factors like President Trump's global trade changes and other economic shifts contributed to this trend.
Key Facts
Stock markets globally had significant gains in 2025.
President Trump's changes in global trade affected investor behavior.
The MSCI ACWI Ex-US index went up about 30%, outperforming the S&P 500’s nearly 18% gain.
Asian markets saw large increases, with South Korea's KOSPI rising by almost 76%.
SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics greatly contributed to South Korea's market surge.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index and Shanghai’s SSE Composite Index rose by about 31% and 21%, respectively.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 increased by roughly 28%.
Europe’s FTSE 100 and DAX 40 indices both rose over 20%.
Major live TV events and in-person gatherings are seeing more viewers and attendees this year compared to recent years. This trend shows that people are interested in shared, live experiences again after a period of low interest during the pandemic. Popular events like the Super Bowl, Thanksgiving Day games, and concerts have set new records in viewership and attendance.
Key Facts
The Super Bowl in February had 127.7 million viewers, the highest ever for a U.S. TV broadcast.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade saw 34.3 million viewers across NBC and Peacock.
Thanksgiving Day NFL games averaged 45 million viewers, breaking last year's record.
Award shows have increased viewership but are still below their peaks from the 2010s.
The MLB World Series had its largest audience since 2016, with over 16 million viewers.
The U.S. Open had a record attendance of over 1.1 million fans.
MLB attendance increased for the third year in a row, totaling over 71 million.
Live Nation reported record revenue of $8.5 billion in the third quarter.
There was a 32.6% increase in fans traveling internationally for concerts in 2025 compared to 2024.
The article lists which grocery stores will remain open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. While most stores will operate on regular or modified hours, some will close on January 1. This information is useful for people planning to shop for last-minute holiday needs.
Key Facts
Aldi will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day.
Costco will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and closed on January 1.
Publix will open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Sam’s Club is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and closed on January 1.
Target will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and maintain normal hours on New Year’s Day.
Trader Joe’s will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and will be closed on January 1.
Whole Foods will generally open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Day, but hours may vary.
Walmart will retain its regular hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on both days.
Many fast food chains and restaurants will stay open on New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day, although some have reduced hours. Customers should check the store hours for specific locations before visiting.
Key Facts
McDonald's will remain open on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, but hours may vary by location.
Starbucks stores are mostly open, although some have reduced hours during the holiday.
Dunkin’ stores will be open with varying hours, but will return to normal hours on New Year's Day.
Chick-fil-A will remain open on both holidays, as the holiday does not fall on a Sunday.
Burger King and Bojangles also vary hours by location and use store locators for exact timings.
Taco Bell, Chipotle, and In-N-Out compete for customers by staying open on both days.
Applebee’s is open on both holidays but may reduce hours on New Year’s Day.
Waffle House maintains standard hours, and Subway offers holiday service from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The U.S. dollar is experiencing its largest decline in nearly a decade, dropping 9.5% against major currencies this year. This decline is attributed to President Donald Trump's trade policies and economic conditions. Concerns are growing about how this might impact the U.S. economy and its global standing.
Key Facts
The U.S. dollar has dropped 9.5% against a group of major global currencies in 2023.
This is the largest decline for the dollar since 2017.
President Trump's trade policies, including tariffs on major partners, are linked to this decline.
Voter dissatisfaction is rising due to economic issues like inflation and high grocery prices.
The euro has increased nearly 14% against the dollar, reaching levels not seen since 2021.
The Russian ruble has surged 45% against major currencies, despite economic sanctions.
Analysts from Europac.com, Deutsche Bank, and FX Street have expressed concerns about the dollar's weakening performance.
President Trump attributed recent positive economic reports to tariffs in a post on Truth Social.
Krispy Kreme announced two special deals to celebrate New Year 2026. These promotions include a Double Dozen donut offer for $20.26 and free delivery for online orders of at least $5 from December 30, 2025, to January 1, 2026, in participating U.S. locations.
Key Facts
Krispy Kreme has two special deals for New Year 2026.
One deal offers two dozen donuts for $20.26.
Customers can mix Original Glazed and assorted or specialty donuts.
The deals are available in U.S. Krispy Kreme shops, but not in grocery or convenience stores.
Free delivery is available for online orders over $5 during the promotion period.
Customers can buy up to four "Double Dozens" each.
The promotions run from December 30, 2025, to January 1, 2026.
Disney has agreed to pay $10 million to settle claims that it violated U.S. child privacy laws. A federal court approved the settlement, which was based on allegations that Disney collected children's data without parental consent on its YouTube channel. Disney will also change its practices to comply with data protection rules.
Key Facts
Disney will pay $10 million to settle allegations of breaching U.S. child privacy laws.
The settlement was approved by a federal court following allegations by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Disney allegedly collected children's personal data from its YouTube videos without parental consent.
The videos in question were designated as not being aimed at children, which required compliance with specific privacy rules.
Under U.S. law, companies cannot collect data from children under 13 without informing parents.
Disney is required to ensure its YouTube channel complies with data protection regulations moving forward.
Other companies, like Google and Microsoft, have also faced similar legal settlements related to child privacy.
Disney's headquarters are in Burbank, California, and its revenue for the fiscal year 2025 was $94.4 billion.
Gold and silver prices have surged this year, marking the highest annual increase since 1979. Gold hit a record high before slightly decreasing, while silver also reached a new high. Various economic and geopolitical factors, including expected interest rate cuts and central bank gold purchases, contributed to these price changes.
Key Facts
Gold prices increased by over 60% in 2023, hitting a record high of more than $4,549 an ounce.
By the end of the year, gold's price had dropped to around $4,350 an ounce.
Silver reached an all-time high of $83.62 an ounce before settling at around $74.
Rising prices were partly due to expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts in 2026.
Central banks added hundreds of tons of gold to their reserves this year.
China's restrictions on silver exports affected global supply, impacting prices.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw significant investments in precious metals.
Silver price hikes were also due to supply issues and industrial demand.
