Explosions are seen at Fort Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, Jan. 3, 2026. Luis Jaimes/AFP via Getty ImagesThe U.S. military operation in Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro on Jan.
Imagine you are searching for a new mattress online and find something surprising. The retailer displays an ad featuring a “Mattress Comfort Scale” running from 1 (soft) to 10 (firm), followed by the message that if your firmness preference is at either end, this mattress is not for you. Wait … what? A retailer telling someone not to buy its product? No way!
Sometimes, very rich people approach philanthropy with a degree of whimsy. tiero/iStock via Getty Images PlusLaw professor Ray Madoff is the co-founder and director of the Boston College Forum on Philanthropy and the Public Good. In an interview with Emily Schwartz Greco, The Conversation U.S.
Rech Alcances Frisardi/ShutterstockNew advertising restrictions on unhealthy food and drink have come into force in the UK, targeting products deemed to be high in fat, salt or sugar. From now on, TV, radio or online adverts that feature these foods will be banned before 9pm.
proslgn/ShutterstockLithuania is entering 2026 with a tax shift that brings its system closer to countries like Ireland and the UK. From January 1, the long-standing flat 15% personal income-tax rate for self-employed people is being abolished for higher earners. These workers will now be integrated into the same new progressive bands that apply to employment income.
Getty ImagesGroaning your way back into the new work year? It’s an occupational hazard after the holiday break, of course, but these days there is the consolation (for some) of hybrid working.
For jobs that allow it, hybrid work is the new normal, allowing employees to work both remotely, usually from home, and in the office.
As China heads into the new year it will start rolling out its 15th five‑year plan, this one is for 2026-2030.
shutterstock Dochynets Maryna/ShutterstockSecondhand fashion is booming, yet most brides – even those who care about sustainability – still choose to walk down the aisle in a new wedding dress.
Vitaly Gariev/UnsplashWe’ve all been there – splitting a bill at dinner, covering a mate’s coffee, or sending a quick transfer for concert tickets. It’s part of modern social life. As money becomes increasingly digital and instantaneous, we no longer need to worry about doing maths in our heads or fussing about changing notes and coins.
Hundreds of broken toys get thrown away after Christmas. Zamrznuti tonovi/ShutterstockIt’s a Wednesday evening in a town hall in Penryn in Cornwall, and my friend Pete and I are volunteering at our local repair cafe. We set up tables, get our tools ready, put up a sign outside and wait for people to arrive.
