The court unanimously ruled that prison officials were liable for Eighth Amendment violations only if they acted with "deliberate indifference" to a prisoner's suffering. "And when this is true of prison officials, no constitutional liability may lie, however 'soul-chilling' the conditions." As long as prison officials assert that they didn't know about the risk, he said, a federal court will rarely find an Eighth Amendment violation. Prison officials weren't aware of the altercation, according to an incident report, until Hodges' then-fiancée called the prison, concerned about his safety. She disagreed with how her colleagues assessed the question of mindset, writing that a committee finding alone should not release prison officials from liability.

Less than a day after Trump named Kash Patel as his choice for FBI director, a former federal law enforcement official asked me a question: "curious if I'm on that list?" His definition of the 'deep state' appears to include the organization he hopes to lead. “One of the most cunning and powerful arms of the Deep State is the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” he wrote. “I have received calls from lifers who are putting in their papers,” said the former FBI official, who asked not to be named, citing fears of retaliation. Ultimately, he will fire the Attorney General and the FBI Director or force them out if they don’t do what he wants.”

CNN —After a chaotic week in which House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself at odds, at different times, with President-elect Donald Trump, hardline conservatives and minority Democrats, he returned to a similar joke. However, Collins noted that Johnson — who won the gavel after conservatives’ ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy kicked off weeks of chaos in 2023 — retains Trump’s support. Finally, on Friday — with six hours to spare before the government funding deadline — Johnson and the House GOP punted. The House approved a three-month spending bill that included $110 billion for disaster relief and a one-year extension of the farm bill. Some House Republicans who opposed the year-end funding bill on Friday were noncommittal on whether they’d support him.

Both are staunch fossil fuel advocates, but each has also worked with clean energy. But Musk’s influence on Trump’s energy policy is less certain, as he has been tasked with a new commission cutting government spending and agency jobs. Trump’s energy policy will also be impacted by the fast-changing energy landscape. We would obviously like to see our permits uphold court challenges.”The battle lines on clean energy are less clearWhat’s less clear is what Trump’s picks will mean for clean energy. Nuclear has enjoyed bipartisan support, and it’s getting major boosts from big tech companies that have signed agreements to source much of their power from nuclear energy.

McMahon’s book, though, is more than a historical reminder — it’s a civic sermon that may inspire Americans during this turbulent time for the country. It’s not just the mighty who are mighty.”McMahon’s book offers two lessons for how everyday Americans today might move forward with new purpose. I need to make soup for a sick relative.”Doing the next needed thing avoids the type of inaction that results from the belief that must rely on charismatic leaders to change America, McMahon says. They want to win.”‘They knew that hope was a choice’The victories of the small and mighty aren’t always immediately apparent. McMahon says Americans can do the same today — if they remember one final lesson from the small and mighty.

Slop, rap beef, brain rot and, yes, “hawk tuah” — what a year it’s been on the internet. “Cultural savviness is more required for memes today than they’ve ever been.”For those who were not extremely online this year, NBC News rounded up the biggest memes and moments that shaped 2024. Brat summerFrom green walls to presidential campaigns, “Brat,” Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, was inescapable this year. Many buzzworthy moments gained traction online, turning some competitors into even bigger stars and energizing people watching at home. Their back-and-forth continued throughout the summer as the rappers churned out track after track.

Even though Republicans will control the White House, the House and the Senate, they’ll again need Democratic votes to stop a shutdown in less than three months. In addition, Trump’s demand that Congress extend or abolish the debt ceiling to take it off his plate next year failed dramatically. On Friday, 170 House Republicans defied him and did just that. A day after Speaker Mike Johnson released an initial bipartisan deal, Trump and his billionaire confidant Elon Musk blew it up. Van Orden's fellow Wisconsinite, Sen. Johnson, was less bullish about smoothly plowing through the early part of the 2025 agenda.

While the adoption of humanoid robots could pick up rapidly in factories, RBC analyst Tom Narayan sees the big upside coming from when — and if — humanoid robots can be part of a consumer's everyday life. Citigroup is even more bullish, predicting a $7 trillion humanoid robot market by 2050 with 1.19 billion humanoid robots in operation. Making a human friend Xiaomi is another Chinese company that's been tackling humanoid robots, Morgan Stanley said. While the adoption of humanoid robots could pick up rapidly in factories, RBC analyst Tom Narayan sees the big upside coming from when — and if — humanoid robots can be part of a consumer's everyday life. Citigroup is even more bullish, predicting a $7 trillion humanoid robot market by 2050 with 1.19 billion humanoid robots in operation.

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-led Senate confirmed the 235th federal judge nominated by President Joe Biden, marking a milestone for the outgoing occupant of the White House by giving him one more than former President Donald Trump secured. The latest confirmation Friday could be Biden's last, meaning he will leave office having secured one Supreme Court justice, 45 appeals court judges, 187 district court judges and two judges on the U.S. Court of International Trade. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer heralded the vote as “historic” as the gavel fell to some applause in the Senate chamber. “The majority has now confirmed more judges under President Biden than any majority has confirmed in decades. “These men and women have the power to uphold basic rights or to roll them back,” the White House said in a fact sheet.

Courtesy Chiugo AkujuobiAkujuobi is one of millions of Americans who are struggling in today’s economy. The cost of living crisis in the US has eased somewhat, but low-income Americans are still struggling after years of high inflation and elevated interest rates. “Lower-income households are always going to be the ones that feel the brunt of high inflation and high interest rates,” said Elizabeth Renter, senior economist at NerdWallet. But their earnings have slowed sharply since then, trailing the wage growth of the richest Americans as of November. But prices could rise slightly less if Americans purchase goods that are produced domestically or from countries with lower tariffs.

They were there for the Great American Family Christmas Festival, an event put on by the cable TV network of the same name. Great American FamilyBure's reign as the queen of Christmas started more than a decade after the end of "Full House" with the 2008 Hallmark Christmas movie "Moonlight and Mistletoe." Goldhar's company is based in Canada, where many Christmas movies are filmed, and many working Canadian actors make them their day-to-day livelihoods. Christmas movie sets are a 'well-oiled machine,' and the mood is usually lightChad Michael Murray stripped down for the Netflix Christmas movie "The Merry Gentlemen." Christmas movies have a cheesy reputation, but it probably won't damage yoursSarah Ramos with Marilu Henner in "A Kismet Christmas."

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants consume only breast milk — no formula — until they are about 6 months old. But at that age, just 56% of US babies consume any breast milk, according the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But for some women or birthing parents, exclusive breastfeeding or chestfeeding is simply not possible because of inadequate supply. “It is personalized.” Studies suggest that breastfed babies have lower risks of illness and chronic health problems, and that breastfeeding parents have lower risks of maternal diabetes and hypertension. “We have a long way to go.”The Lactation Network is privately held and doesn’t have external investment, Neff said.

CNN —A top Senate Democrat on Saturday accused conservative Supreme Court justices of violating federal disclosure laws in a lengthy report that caps a monthslong investigation by the Senate Judiciary Committee and comes weeks before Republicans take control of the chamber. Both Thomas and Alito have cited the “personal hospitality” exemption from annual reporting requirements, which they said relieved them of any obligation to report the trips. In response to the outcry over the Thomas trips, the Supreme Court adopted its first-ever code of conduct a year ago, but the document quickly faced criticism because it includes no enforcement mechanism. Durbin’s report also recounts a scandal this year involving two controversial flags – including an upside-down US flag – hoisted over properties that Alito owns. Republicans, including Trump, have defended Thomas and Alito and have accused Democrats of trying to delegitimize the court’s conservative majority by focusing on ethics.

Jeff and Mellissa Rupnow married and divorced twice, during which their daughter Natalie Rupnow would at times travel between her parents’ homes every few days and attend therapy. They married in 2011 and divorced for the first time in 2014, according to court documents. Mellissa and Jeff Rupnow again agreed to share custody of Natalie, but this time she would spend “equal time with both parents,” the court documents show. The FBI detained Alexander Paffendorf, 20, in California earlier this week and ordered him to temporarily surrender his firearms after he allegedly communicated with Natalie Rupnow. Natalie’s mother agreed to connect with her therapist and “participate in therapy to the extent recommended by the therapist,” according to the court documents.

As the holidays approach, the ultrawealthy will decamp to some of the world's most expensive destinations. Each December, the richest among us depart for expensive destinations to enjoy time with their families — and often other billionaires. AdvertisementThe less expensive hotels aren't exactly cheap — which is part of the appeal. It's impossible to be there unless you are really wealthy," Chesterfield said. Advertisement"The holidays in the mountains are more of an escape than any other holidays, even escapes to their own remote private islands and things," Chesterfield said.

Only 38 minutes after a Madison, Wisconsin, teacher called 911 to report Monday’s school shooting, the lies began to spread. The first one, in a post on X, said simply: “Taking bets on another trans shooter.” The post didn’t pick up much traction. Without the context, dozens of X accounts used the Townhall video to speculate that the shooter was transgender. His post received only about 47,000 views, compared to the millions of views the false claim got on the platform. One X account said “the trans thing is obvious” from comments on an X account that appeared to belong to her.

The Herculaneum scrolls, as they are known, still remain unopened, but thanks to the powerful tool that is artificial intelligence, their contents now lie within reach. Artificial intelligence encompasses a range of computational techniques: using data sets to train and improve machine learning algorithms and enabling them to spot patterns and inform predictions. When visualized with artificial intelligence, previously unseen coda patterns emerged in what the researchers described as akin to phonetics in human communication. Jambajantsan wasn’t involved in the Nazca research but uses an AI model to identify burial mounds in Mongolia based on satellite imagery. AlphaFold is only the most high-profile of a number of AI tools being deployed in biomedical fields.

Editor’s note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Switzerland aims highA spectacular new cable car has opened in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps. It connects the village of Stechelberg with the car-free village of Mürren, some 1,650 meters (5,413 feet) above sea level. The world’s steepest funicular railway opened in the alpine village of Stoos in 2017, rising 743 meters (2,438 feet) along gradients as steep as 110%. CNN Travel asked flight attendants to share their secrets for getting from A to B through the season.

A fifth of Americans reside in rural areas, and on average they live three years less than their urban counterparts, largely due to heart disease and strokes. Hypertension, diabetes and obesity have all been rising among younger adults over the past decade, with rural areas disproportionately affected, said Longenecker. John Trembly Sr.John used to clean rental houses during the day and businesses at night, his father said. Another supplies ultrasound machines to community health workers so that they can check patients for heart disease. An uncertain futureBetter health care delivery will certainly help address rural cardiovascular disparities but won’t necessarily address the underlying socioeconomic drivers.

Restrictions on gender-affirming care proposed by Republicans in Congress and President-elect Donald Trump could be devastating for transgender youths, doctors say, especially for teens with eating disorders. Taking the hormones estrogen or testosterone, which many trans teens eventually receive, restores most of that bone loss. Additional restrictions could lead more kids to develop eating disorders and make it harder for people with eating disorders to recover, Menzel said. Tiffany Justice, a co-founder of the influential conservative group Moms for Liberty, dismisses gender-affirming care for minors as “child abuse” and “snake oil,” and she said her organization is working to ban gender-affirming care for minors in every state. Research shows such state bans on gender-affirming care heighten the stress and anxiety with which many trans people already live.

Florence, Italy CNN —It was built as a secret passageway for the elite of Florence to pass undetected, far from the regular citizens. Now, for the first time in history, the Corridoio Vasariano, or Vasari Corridor, has opened to the general public. The main stretch of the corridor, running from the Uffizi to the Boboli Gardens outside Palazzo Pitti, opened to the public on Friday. The corridor connects Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, via the Uffizi Galleries and the Ponte Vecchio. Hitler later spared the Ponte Vecchio while he destroyed all the other Florence bridges during World War II.

Many older Americans regret some career choices that affected retirement plans and job prospects. This is part of an ongoing series about older Americans' regrets. AdvertisementSince September, BI has heard from older Americans about their career regrets in two surveys it conducted. Some older Americans BI spoke with agreed that their degrees haven't helped further their careers. Chuck SmithMany older Americans, like Chuck Smith, 60, couldn't control how long they stayed in roles because of layoffs but wished they had settled somewhere more stable.

The traffic cameras, which use AI to detect and flag certain driving behaviors, might make it easier to prosecute more people than ever before for driving infractions. Acusensus, an Australian company, has worked with governments in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to roll out some of the AI traffic cameras. Its camera system, called “Heads Up,” uses AI to catch drivers who are texting while driving or aren’t wearing seat belts. Speed and red light cameras are already familiar to U.S. drivers, capturing license plates and sending tickets by mail. The Queensland government reported that since it set up the cameras, road deaths have gone down by 7.1%.

A majority of sexual assaults, an estimated 63%, are never reported to the police, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Rape victims are also significantly more likely to later have drug- and alcohol-related problems and experience mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Rape victims are 13 times more likely than non-crime victims to attempt suicide, according to a study by the National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center. The College of William & Mary later changed its policy to require school officials to suspend students found guilty of sexual assault. Editor’s note: Anyone affected by sexual violence can reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.

This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter. If you're already thinking about what to do with money you might receive this season, perhaps follow this family's lead. Still, if you're wondering how much to tip the people who've helped you all year, here's some general guidance. However, teachers and parents say that's still not helping kids discover the joy of reading. AdvertisementMore of this week's top reads:The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City.

Christophe Rull is a world-renowned chocolate master and executive pastry chef at the Hotel Bel-Air. Business Insider asked him to share his favorite store-bought chocolate brands. Christophe Rull is a world-renowned chocolate master, a cast member of Netflix's "Bake Squad," and the executive pastry chef at Los Angeles' iconic Hotel Bel-Air. Rull is developing a chocolate program at the hotel's new bakery, The Patisserie, but was happy to share the two store-bought chocolate brands he loves — just in time for holiday shopping — with Business Insider. Rull told BI that one of his favorite store-bought chocolate brands is Läderach, which is currently run by 2018 World Chocolate Masters champion Elias Läderach, who made history as the first Swiss person to win the title.

The smart ring market is exploding, with options available at Costco and Walmart. But 2025 may just be the year that smart rings become the "it" tracker for the masses. Every smart ring has a different competitive claimSamsung's ring has a charging case that looks like something you'd pack an engagement ring inside. A smart ring is also "considered a little premium," Jeffrey Kim, Samsung America's senior product lead for the Galaxy smart ring, told BI. Smart ring vs smartwatchSmart ring prosSmall, inconspicuous, and unobtrusiveGreat for sleep trackingLong-lasting battery (~1 week)Smart ring cons

Here's everything I spent during my 18 months in South America and Asia, broken down by category. Flights within countries typically cost between $50 to $100, and twice that to fly across very large countries like China or Brazil. Meals at no-frills spots or night markets where many locals eat typically cost me $2.50 to $6. Entry fees typically cost $1 to $5. Those typically cost about $30 to $40.

Elon Musk has had a big year with Tesla and SpaceX soaring in value, supercharging his net worth. Scroll down for seven charts showing how Musk's 2024 played out. Related Video How Elon Musk makes and spends his billionsThe situation seems worse at X, formerly Twitter, after Musk's $44 billion takeover and reshaping of the platform sparked an advertiser exodus. Take a look at Musk's 2024 in charts (all data is accurate as of Friday, December 20):1. Building brainpowerNeuralink, Musk's neurotechnology company, was valued at $8 billion this summer, up from about $2 billion three years earlier.

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles health officials are investigating a norovirus outbreak after around 80 people were sickened after eating raw oysters at an event to showcase the city’s best restaurants. The Los Angeles County Department of Health said that people got sick after attending an event on Dec. 3, and that oysters have been recalled. Those sickened attended the Los Angeles Times “101 Best Restaurants” event at the Hollywood Palladium, a theater on Sunset Boulevard, the newspaper reported. The Times event was to be attended by the some of the city's best chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants, the newspaper announced in promoting it. The Los Angeles County health department said it is continuing to investigate the outbreak.

“Christmas Day will feature green and brown grass for much of the U.S. — not exactly what Bing Crosby crooned about!” the weather service wrote on X Friday. But all is not lost: Some parts of the Northeast were forecast to possibly get snow showers on Tuesday, the day before Christmas. Plattsburgh, New York, close to the U.S.-Canada border, has a 50% chance of snow showers Tuesday. Charles Krupa / APBuffalo, famed for its snow, will get likely get snow Monday night and Tuesday morning but that will probably turn into rain, and Christmas Eve is forecast to be cloudy. Snow or no, travelers were expected to take to the skies in the millions Friday ahead of Christmas and Hanukkah, the Transportation Security Administration said.

CNN —This Christmas Eve, one lucky lottery ticket could celebrate with a Mega Millions jackpot nearing $1 billion – the largest prize ever offered in the month of December. With no one winning the jackpot Friday, the grand prize for Tuesday’s drawing ballooned from $862 million to $944 million, according to the lottery. Those tickets were sold in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania, according to the Mega Millions website. But the jackpot has only been won once on Christmas Eve, according to Mega Millions. Overall, the chances of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are approximately 1 in 302.5 million.

She said parents must strive to find self-compassion and "separate their identity from their child's actions," no matter how challenging. "Elliot was far from evil," Rodger told ABC that year. Such an event "forces us as parents to contend with our worst fears," Annie Wright, another family therapist, told Business Insider. Despite his seemingly solid network of friends and family, Mangione had spondylolisthesis, a painful spinal condition. Parents can still protect themselvesGoldberg's clients, particularly parents of kids with substance abuse issues, struggle to move past their guilt.

WASHINGTON — A lengthy investigation by Senate Democrats into alleged ethical lapses by Supreme Court justices has ended with the release of a report Saturday criticizing the judiciary and calling for legislative reforms that incoming Republican leadership opposes. “The Supreme Court has mired itself in an ethical crisis of its own making by failing to address justices’ ethical misconduct for decades,” the report says. “An enforceable code of conduct for the Supreme Court is essential in light of the court’s failure to police itself,” the report says. In other findings, the report found justices are lax in identifying conflicts of interest that should trigger recusal. “This entire investigation was never about ‘ethics’ but about trying to undermine the Supreme Court because the Court is no longer acting like a super legislature handing down opinions implementing the Democrats’ political agenda,” he wrote.

Elon Musk has sparked backlash in Germany after calling for the chancellor to resign and backing the AfD. Elon Musk has stirred controversy in Germany after calling Chancellor Olaf Scholz an "incompetent fool" and backing the country's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. "Only the AfD can save Germany," Musk, who is the richest person in the world, wrote alongside the post. REUTERS/ Fabian BimmerThe AfD party was established in 2013 as an anti-euro party, but it has since focused more on immigration and has been seen as increasingly far-right. AdvertisementEarlier this week, Farage boasted that Musk was "right behind" him and hinted that the tech mogul might financially back his party.

As many baby boomer homeowners look to cash in on their home equity and downsize, some are grappling with a shortage of suitable homes. AdvertisementOlder homeowners are increasingly staying put, as mortgage rates and housing costs remain stubbornly elevated and inventory— particularly of affordable and accessible homes — is scarce. She says the homes she's looked at would need a lot of work and aren't in familiar neighborhoods. Courtesy of Kim Cayes'A lateral financial move'Some boomers who can afford to stay in their homes don't want to endure the costs and possible stress associated with downsizing. Andrea's income is lower than she expected it to be at this point in her life — she's struggled to work since suffering from a head injury in a car crash in 2021.

The analysis focused on products directly associated with Christmas decor: artificial Christmas trees, Christmas tree lights and both non-electric and electric Christmas decorations. What to watch out forClassic, no-frills Christmas decor was the biggest cause of accidents. Many of the injuries from nonelectric Christmas decor were lacerations. The most common injuries associated with Christmas decor are strains and sprains, followed by lacerations, fractures, contusions/abrasions and ingested objects. Predictably, ladders came out on top, contributing to 17% of the estimated hospital visits.

Bank of America said a slew of stocks, including Nvidia , have plenty of upside in 2025. In addition to the chip juggernaut, the names include Block , Cadence Design Systems , Chevron and East West Bancorp . Block Wall Street is gushing over the payment fintech company, including Bank of America analyst Jason Kupferberg and team. East West Bancorp Top pick East West Bancorp is teed up for strength in the new year, according to analyst Ebrahim Poonawala. Cadence Design Systems Analyst Vivek Arya said the electronic systems design manufacturer is firing on all cylinders.

Riot Platforms is engaged in both the mining of bitcoin, as well as owning and operating its own mining facilities. Riot has two business segments: Bitcoin Mining and Engineering (designing and manufacturing power distribution equipment and custom-engineered electrical products). The Rockdale, Texas bitcoin mining facility is the largest in North America with 700 MW of developed capacity. Extrapolating from the Core Scientific deal, Riot has the opportunity to generate $1 million of cash flow per MW on hyperscaling. Riot is being lapped by its competitors for failing to capitalize on the massive opportunity presented by leasing capacity to hyperscalers.

Mr. Anh is the chef and owner of Mosu, South Korea’s only three-star Michelin restaurant, where his exacting and uncompromising standards have served him well. Yet, despite reaching the pinnacle of the culinary world, Mr. Anh was not a household name in the country. “Culinary Class Wars” feels like “Iron Chef” meets “Survivor.” It manufactures a class struggle, pitting renowned chefs against undiscovered talents like a school cafeteria cook. But the breakout star was Mr. Anh, 42, and now he is everywhere. It has been a remarkable homecoming for Mr. Anh, who emigrated with his family to America as a teenager almost three decades ago.

My kids are teenagers now, but they believed in Elf on the Shelf for more than a decade. When they were preschoolers, I'd set up elaborate displays showing Jingle and Garland (each kid had their own elf, naturally) pulling all sorts of pranks. Now that my kids have outgrown Elf on the Shelf, I miss itThe author would set up the Elf on the Shelf while her kids were sleeping. "I forgot to move the elves," I'd sometimes groan, warm under the covers and ready for bed. Memorize the faces and the giggles and the joy that Elf on the Shelf brings because, believe it or not, you will miss it one day.

A missile launched from Yemen struck the Israeli city of Tel Aviv early Saturday morning, marking a rare instance of a failed interception over the city, the Israel Defense Forces said. The crater left by a Houthi missile fired on Tel Aviv Saturday. In September, nine people were injured running to shelters after a ballistic missile launched from Yemen crossed into Israel, landing in an open field outside Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv, Israel’s second-largest city, serves as the nation’s commercial and diplomatic hub. On Thursday, the IDF said a school near Tel Aviv was damaged after the “partial interception” of a missile launched from Yemen.

The mom of two was disappointed her district didn't teach phonics as part of its literacy program. Her father, Paul, and I decided that she should repeat kindergarten in her public school. We had to employ a reading tutorA key issue was the school district didn't teach phonics for reading. She finished her second kindergarten year in public school before beginning first grade at a local Catholic school. Related storiesWe were so happy with the Catholic school that we sent Huddy, Carter's younger brother, there, too.

She and her husband prioritize experiences over gifts, so they invest for their kids in lieu of toys. They want to teach their children financial literacy and set them up for a secure financial future. For birthdays, I'll make a cake, and instead of buying toys and clothing, I invest money for them to set them up for a more secure financial future. I similarly want to teach my kids financial responsibility and literacy. If you have a unique way of teaching your children financial literacy and would like to share your story, email Jane Zhang at janezhang@businessinsider.com.

I am a single mom and allowed my son a lot of independence growing up. My parenting may be unconventional but it worked because of how I raised him at a young age. My parents were relatively carefree and let us roam with minimal supervision, as long as our chores were done. Other parents often questioned my free-range parenting approach, but I wasn't concerned. AdvertisementI don't regret how I raised my sonMy 13-year-old son and I stand next to an iconic landmark in Austin on the side of Jo's Coffeeshop.

Business Insider asked etiquette experts about the mistakes to avoid when hosting for the holidays. Although hosting friends and family for the holidays can be fun, there's no denying that doing so also comes with its fair share of stress. AdvertisementTo avoid making etiquette mistakes in the process, Business Insider asked two experts to share the top mistakes they see people make when hosting. wilpunt/Getty ImagesShellis told BI that serving too much alcohol is an easy way to create unnecessary issues at a party. "For 30 years, I've been hosting parties, and I'm going to tell you there's nothing that will kill a beautiful environment quicker than somebody that's hammered and acting foolish," Shellis told BI.

Google on Friday proposed possible remedies to resolve an antitrust case over its search business. Judge Amit Mehta is expected to rule on the final remedies by August 2025. Google on Friday proposed limitations to its search partnerships as a potential remedy to resolve antitrust violations in its search business. They also asked that Google be stopped from entering default search agreements with Apple and other companies and that Google should open its search engine results to competitors. Representatives for the Justice Department's antitrust division did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The Summary NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is expected to dive extremely close to the solar surface on Dec. 24. The mission was designed to study the sun’s outer atmosphere and help researchers learn about how solar storms erupt into space. The agency’s Parker Solar Probe is days away from making its closest-ever approach to the sun on Tuesday, swooping nearer to our star than any other human-made object in history. As the Parker Solar Probe swoops close to the sun, it will likely fly through plumes of solar plasma and could even dive into active regions of the star, Korreck said. This busy phase, which is typically characterized by a flurry of solar storms and high magnetic activity, is known as the solar maximum.

Bill Smead warns of a market bubble similar to the dot-com era in 2000. High equity ownership and a penchant for risk-taking signal a bubble, Smead says. Heightened interest in uber-risky assets can signal that investors are allowing greed, instead of fundamentals, to guide their decisions. "Incredibly high valuations allow zero comfort." AdvertisementBut a large part of those losses can come all at once — and Smead warns that time could come soon.

This has many Americans waiting for mortgage rates to fall. Mortgage rates can be influenced by Fed policy. This, combined with signals sent from the market for mortgage-backed securities, determine the rates issued within new mortgages. Economists at Fannie Mae say the Fed's management of its mortgage-backed securities portfolio may contribute to today's mortgage rates. This process is known as "quantitative tightening," and it may add upward pressure on the spread between mortgage rates and Treasury yields.

Emergency services and firefighters respond to an attack at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on December 20. D'rthe Hein/picture-alliance/dpa/APGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Germany must remain unified after a fatal car-ramming attack in the city of Magdeburg, and not let hatred divide the country. “For me it’s important that when such a terrible, awful event happens, a terrible attack in which so many people were injured and killed, almost on the anniversary of the Breitscheidplatz terror attack in Berlin, that we as a country stay together and stick together,” Scholz told reporters in Madgeburg on Saturday, referring to another ramming attack on a Christmas market in 2016 that left 12 dead. “What is important now is that we investigate what happened and carry out a proper, careful investigation,” he said. And we will.”

I visited Walmart in Wisconsin and New Jersey to compare stores in the Midwest and the East Coast. AdvertisementFirst, I visited a 200,000-square-foot Walmart store in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The following week, I visited a Walmart in Teterboro, New Jersey, around 8 miles from Manhattan. Unions and politicians have long blocked Walmart stores from opening in New York City due to concerns about its potential impact on local businesses. The 150,000-square-foot Teterboro store is one of 12 flagship Walmart stores in the country, offering technologies and amenities unavailable in all locations.

Jobs in management consulting can be difficult to land, especially at prestigious firms. Jobs in management consulting can be notoriously difficult to land, especially for job seekers hoping to join a prestigious MBB firm — McKinsey, Bain, or BCG. According to Management Consulted, 80% of their premium clients get at least one job offer from a consulting firm. Advertisement"There are literally hundreds of consulting firms out there doing amazing work," he said. Preparing for case interviews can be the most time-consuming part of getting a job in consulting.

Honda and Nissan are considering producing vehicles in one another's factories as part of their plan to deepen ties and potentially merge, Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Saturday. Honda will consider supplying hybrid vehicles to Nissan as part of the plan, the report said, without citing the source of the information. A merger of Honda, Japan's second-largest car company, and Nissan, its third-largest, would create the world's third-largest auto group by vehicle sales, behind Toyota and Volkswagen, making 7.4 million vehicles a year. As announced, Honda, "Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors are in the process of bringing together our strengths and exploring potential forms of cooperation, but nothing has been decided yet," a Honda spokesperson said, when asked about the report. Kyodo said Honda could use Nissan's car factory in Britain, as it now only has factories for engines and motorcycles in Europe.

After three years of tense reductions, the skies are clearing over Silicon Valley, and startup investors seem broadly optimistic about a resurgence in tech dealmaking. AdvertisementIn 2025, venture capitalists expect a loosening of antitrust regulations under the new presidential administration. Established funds raised the lion's share of funding dollars, while many newish and boutique funds struggled to raise. "Uncertainty breeds defense, optimism breeds offense," said Matt Murphy, a partner at Menlo Ventures and early Anthropic investor. AdvertisementFrom IPOs to robotaxis, these are the tech trends to watch in 2025, according to venture capitalists.

Yet in a few respects, a bit of wobbly action in the indexes, surge in volatility and reversals in some of the more overheated assets were overdue and probably necessary to test the bull market against higher bond yields and a more-foggy policy horizon. The S & P 500 retreated back to a check of levels seen the morning after Election Day and held there. The one-line story of this entire 26-month bull market is, "Inflation coming down faster than the economy has slowed." The resolute bullish commentators like to point out that the current bull phase is not particularly mature, with the average duration of a post-1945 cyclical bull market (defined as the span between 20% or greater index declines) exceeding five years. Yet both of those extended bull cycles featured two 19% S & P 500 setbacks each (in 1990, 1998, 2011 and 2018), barely stopping short of a loss that would've punctuated them.

Gig work has expanded to include nurses at hospitals and medical facilities, per a new report. Nursing represents a high-stakes use case of gig work apps, one of the researchers said. The interviewees all used at least one gig work app to find nursing shifts. The nursing apps often charge a fee for access, and workers bid with their pay rates. Advertisement"At most hospitals and medical facilities, no orientations are required for gig nurses and nursing assistants," the report reads.

I took an overnight train from Helsinki to Lapland that's called the Santa Claus Express. Santa didn't appear on the 12-hour ride, but I found the journey exciting and festive anyway. AdvertisementThis month, I embarked on the overnight rail experience of a lifetime: Finland's Santa Claus Express. The 12-hour train rides from the Finnish capital of Helsinki to Rovaniemi in Lapland — the "official home of Santa Claus," known for its Santa Claus Village. My trip was a real adventure, but there are a few things I wish I'd known beforehand.

As the eldest sibling, I felt pressure to spend money on my family during past holidays. My income wasn't stable, and I felt more financial pressure than ever. I wanted to live up to what I expected of myself and what I felt my family expected of me. AdvertisementI had to look at why I felt so much pressure to pay for everythingI had a few fears. Related storiesI realized that spending money on my loved ones wasn't just a way to fulfill my role as the eldest sibling.

I've been to Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, three times. The cruise line has seen strong demand for voyages to the profitable resort-like port. Royal is set to debut three resorts through 2027 as it competes in the growing cruise-owned destinations market. AdvertisementRoyal Caribbean is poised to build a vast and highly profitable vacation network — driven not solely by its cruise vessels but by its land-based portfolio. AdvertisementAt first glance, it may seem ironic for a vacation-at-sea company to invest millions into land-based destinations.

I wanted a more flexible job that allowed me to stay at home with my kids. The pay wasn't great (after 10 years of teaching I was still taking home just around $3,000 a month) and I didn't enjoy the politics of teaching. Becoming a freelance writerBefore I went into education, I had been a journalist for a few years. So while I was still teaching, I joined Upwork, a website that connects freelancers with those looking to hire contract workers. I had just made $6,000 in one month from freelancing — and that was while I was still teaching.

Knowing I was going to be spending Christmas alone for the first time felt like a punishment. The previous year, I blacked outThe previous Christmas Eve, I had been in the same hospital for a mental health crisis. When I had been discharged earlier on Christmas Day, I went home and slept through the day. There were no awkward conversations around the dinner table with relatives I only see at Christmas, big birthdays, or funerals. Many people think the idea of spending Christmas on their own sounds lonely and unappealing.

The hurricane killed at least 223 people across the Southeast, about half of them in North Carolina, authorities said. Empty apartment complexes and waterlogged vehicles rot in the faint winter sun. Tree stumps and branches, trash and household appliances waste away on roadsides and in rivers. Asheville resident Jeff Davis, 62, said he has tuned out the noise and adapted to living amid the chaos. Typically, the winter months draw millions of visitors to the alluring blue mountains, inviting hiking trails and live music venues.

My fourth-grade teacher showed up to school with painting materials one day. My teacher made me feel seen and included, and I still remember her. That happened to me when I was sitting on the floor of my fourth-grade classroom, painting a poster for a school project. When my teacher came over to check on our progress, she leaned in and told me how much she liked my painting. But instead of assuming I didn't celebrate Christmas, which I did, my teacher just wanted me to feel included.

Russia's economy will be ground to a halt by 2026, a think tank said this week. Massive government spending on defense is costing other sectors, Alexandra Prokopenko wrote. "Yet this image of resilience is deceptive," Alexandra Prokopenko wrote for Carnegie Politika this week. "Over the past two years, Russia's economy has operated like a marathoner on fiscal steroids—and now those steroids are wearing off." AdvertisementA modest post-war reduction in defense spending won't end all problems, either.

The middle school in our neighborhood wasn't a good fitEverything changed when my daughter started middle school. I realized putting my daughter on the city bus was the only feasible optionWashington, DC, is a city with a robust and reliable public transportation system. As I frantically searched for a solution, it became clear that taking the city bus was the best, and perhaps only, solution. My daughter has taken public transportation around the city since birth, but never without an adult. She loves her independence, and so do I.AdvertisementWhen we travel, my daughter is adept at navigating new public transportation systems with ease.

I spent one night at Hotel Yellowstone, a luxury, adults-only resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was my first time staying in an adults-only hotel, and I was surprised by the relaxing amenities. AdvertisementI love kids, but it's tough for me to relax in a hotel full of them. That's why I decided to check out an adults-only hotel called Hotel Yellowstone for the first time during a September trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I expected a relaxing evening but didn't realize how much a kid-free environment would elevate my experience.

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A TV favorite is returning to screens, a celestial object is even older than once thought, and an NBA franchise had to apologize to a young fan after an embarrassing gaffe. Test your knowledge of the week in news, and take last week’s news quiz here.

I'm the only vegan in my family, and I stock up on holiday foods everyone can eat at Trader Joe's. Boxed baking mixes take the work out of holiday desserts, and Trader Joe's has some fun ones. Trader Joe's frozen appetizers simplify holiday entertaining at dinners, parties, or gatherings. Luckily, the variety of seasonal products at Trader Joe's simplifies hosting without compromising anyone's dietary preferences. AdvertisementHere are some of my favorite vegan Trader Joe's products for entertaining friends and family this time of year.

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