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Lead Versant Media Group, the cable-network and digital-asset portfolio spun out of Comcast, began trading on the Nasdaq on Monday under the ticker VSNT, marking its formal debut as an independent public company. The stock first appeared in when-issued trading on Dec. 15 at $55 per share and was quoted at $46.65 as of market … Read more
Lead: A weekend of major developments opened markets on Monday. U.S. forces conducted a large-scale operation in Venezuela that Washington says resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and prompted regional airspace restrictions. Markets responded cautiously — S&P 500 futures ticked higher after a losing week — while energy, technology and … Read more
On Jan. 5, 2026, Novo Nordisk began U.S. distribution of the first daily oral GLP-1 treatment for obesity, rolling out the Wegovy pill after U.S. regulators cleared the drug on Dec. 22, 2025. The company said the starting 1.5 mg dose is in more than 70,000 pharmacies and through several telehealth partners, and that cash … Read more
Chick-fil-A launched a yearlong marketing push on Monday to mark its 80th anniversary, rolling out retro packaging, collectible cups and themed merchandise while adding new menu items permanently. The privately held chain — founded from a 1946 diner in Hapeville, Georgia — said the campaign is its largest promotion to date and aims to broaden … Read more
Lead: In the predawn New Year auction at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market on Monday, a 243-kilogram (535-pound) Pacific bluefin tuna from Oma fetched a record 510 million yen (about $3.2 million). The winning bid came from Kiyomura Corp., owned by Sushi Zanmai operator Kiyoshi Kimura, surpassing the previous 334 million yen mark set in 2019. … Read more
Lead Published Jan 05, 2026 — As the NFL regular season wrapped, this analysis sorts the 14 playoff teams by their odds of lifting the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California. No dominant favorite emerged: perennial power Kansas City missed the field, and several recent title contenders looked beatable down the stretch. … Read more
Lead Actor Mickey Rourke has launched a public crowdfunding appeal to cover more than $59,000 in overdue rent on his Los Angeles home, seeking to avoid eviction. The campaign—hosted on GoFundMe and reported by local and national outlets—was started with Rourke’s permission on Sunday, January 4, 2026, and had raised nearly $40,000 by Sunday night. … Read more
On Jan. 5, 2026, the U.S. Mint began circulating redesigned coins commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary, after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent approved a set of motifs that depart from the recommendations of a citizen advisory panel. The released designs feature pilgrims and early presidents — including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison — while … Read more
Lead: At the 2024 CES trade show in Las Vegas, SwitchBot introduced the AI MindClip, a clip-on wearable microphone that records and transcribes the wearer’s spoken words. The company says the device can summarize conversations and extract actionable items, and it may generate reminders automatically. SwitchBot showcased the product among many exhibitors offering thought-logging hardware, … Read more
In early January 2026, Wall Street analysts are divided between two headline AI names: Palantir Technologies and Oracle. Palantir has delivered enormous returns since its October 2020 IPO but now trades at a very rich multiple, prompting many analysts to adopt neutral stances. Oracle stunned markets with massive remaining performance obligations tied to AI data-center … Read more
Lead At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Samsung revealed a 130-inch Micro RGB television concept that dominated its First Look stage and stunned attendees. The display is mounted inside a full-surround metal stand that lets the enormous screen tilt slightly or be affixed to a wall, but Samsung says the design is a technology showcase … Read more
Rookie kicker Tyler Loop watched a season-long hope turn into a heartbreaking finish in the closing seconds of the Ravens’ regular-season finale in Pittsburgh. With the AFC North title on the line, Loop pushed a 44-yard attempt wide right, sealing a 26-24 loss and ending Baltimore’s season. Loop said he felt the kick was off … Read more
State investigators visited child-care programs in Minnesota after a 43-minute video posted Dec. 26 alleged widespread fraud at Somali-run centers; on-site checks found the centers operating as expected, but federal scrutiny and a freeze on federal child-care payments remain in place. The Department of Health and Human Services froze roughly $185 million in yearly child-care … Read more
In a tense weekend escalation, former US president Donald Trump warned Venezuela’s incoming leader Delcy Rodríguez that she could “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to cooperate, remarks published as Nicolás Maduro was due to appear in a New York courtroom on Monday. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores … Read more
Lead On Monday, January 5, 2026, the Moon sits in Leo and the day carries few astrological restrictions for shopping or major choices. Across the zodiac, six signs receive a generally positive forecast while the other six are described as having an “average” pace. Themes include heightened personal expression, a focus on possessions and values, … Read more
