A 13-year-old Australian boy utilized his endurance to swim for four hours and seek rescue for his family, who were swept out to sea while paddleboarding. After drifting 14km offshore due to unexpected wind and lost equipment, the family was rescued, highlighting the importance of water safety awareness. The teen's actions demonstrate the potential for quick thinking in emergency situations.

A 13-year-old Australian boy utilized his endurance to swim for four hours and seek rescue for his family, who were swept out to sea while paddleboarding. After drifting 14km offshore due to unexpected wind and lost equipment, the family was rescued, highlighting the importance of water safety awareness. The teen's actions demonstrate the potential for quick thinking in emergency situations.

Multiple news sources reveal a complex global landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and technological advancements, alongside domestic issues such as a partial government shutdown triggered by House inaction on a funding bill, investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's network, and the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother. President Trump urged House lawmakers to pass the Senate-approved funding bill to end the shutdown, highlighting Speaker Johnson's challenge in navigating partisan divisions.

Multiple news sources reveal a complex global landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, and technological advancements, alongside domestic issues such as a partial government shutdown triggered by House inaction on a funding bill, investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's network, and the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother. President Trump urged House lawmakers to pass the Senate-approved funding bill to end the shutdown, highlighting Speaker Johnson's challenge in navigating partisan divisions.

Multiple news sources detail how snowboarder Kevin Pearce, once a major rival to Shaun White, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 2009 accident while practicing for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, ending his competitive career and leaving him with lasting neurological effects. The injury occurred after Pearce, driven to match White's skill, attempted a difficult trick, and he has no memory of the accident or the following month, later undergoing extensive rehabilitation.

Multiple news sources detail how snowboarder Kevin Pearce, once a major rival to Shaun White, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a 2009 accident while practicing for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, ending his competitive career and leaving him with lasting neurological effects. The injury occurred after Pearce, driven to match White's skill, attempted a difficult trick, and he has no memory of the accident or the following month, later undergoing extensive rehabilitation.

YouTube is now enforcing its Premium subscription requirement for background playback on mobile devices, closing a loophole previously exploited by users of browsers like Brave and Edge. This change, intended to ensure consistent functionality across platforms, impacts users who previously enjoyed background audio without a Premium subscription and may drive more users to subscribe. The move has sparked user frustration and workarounds are being explored.

YouTube is now enforcing its Premium subscription requirement for background playback on mobile devices, closing a loophole previously exploited by users of browsers like Brave and Edge. This change, intended to ensure consistent functionality across platforms, impacts users who previously enjoyed background audio without a Premium subscription and may drive more users to subscribe. The move has sparked user frustration and workarounds are being explored.

Multiple news sources report that the second Trump administration has missed the legal deadline to submit its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, raising concerns about the White House's commitment to addressing the growing national debt and deficit. Experts, like the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), are urging the administration to share a concrete fiscal plan with specific policies to put the nation's finances on a sustainable path, including potential reforms to Social Security, Medicare, defense, and revenue.

Multiple news sources report that the second Trump administration has missed the legal deadline to submit its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, raising concerns about the White House's commitment to addressing the growing national debt and deficit. Experts, like the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), are urging the administration to share a concrete fiscal plan with specific policies to put the nation's finances on a sustainable path, including potential reforms to Social Security, Medicare, defense, and revenue.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the world is grappling with geopolitical instability, social debates, and rapidly advancing AI risks that are outpacing mitigation efforts, as highlighted in a new international report. Meanwhile, a leaked guide is empowering community organizers with secure communication strategies via Signal, and the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics offer a positive counterpoint amidst these complex global challenges.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the world is grappling with geopolitical instability, social debates, and rapidly advancing AI risks that are outpacing mitigation efforts, as highlighted in a new international report. Meanwhile, a leaked guide is empowering community organizers with secure communication strategies via Signal, and the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics offer a positive counterpoint amidst these complex global challenges.

According to multiple news sources, the original Nintendo Switch has become Nintendo's best-selling console ever, surpassing the Nintendo DS with over 155.37 million units sold since its 2017 launch. Fueled by holiday sales and the successful launch of the Switch 2 in June 2025, Nintendo is aiming to dethrone Sony's PlayStation 2 as the best-selling video game console of all time.

According to multiple news sources, the original Nintendo Switch has become Nintendo's best-selling console ever, surpassing the Nintendo DS with over 155.37 million units sold since its 2017 launch. Fueled by holiday sales and the successful launch of the Switch 2 in June 2025, Nintendo is aiming to dethrone Sony's PlayStation 2 as the best-selling video game console of all time.

Drawing from multiple news sources, China has banned hidden car door handles on electric vehicles due to safety concerns, particularly after fatal incidents involving Xiaomi EVs where power failures may have prevented door operation. The new regulations, effective January 1, 2027, mandate mechanical releases and specific recessed spaces for door handles, potentially impacting the global car industry as other regions also investigate or consider similar rules.

Drawing from multiple news sources, China has banned hidden car door handles on electric vehicles due to safety concerns, particularly after fatal incidents involving Xiaomi EVs where power failures may have prevented door operation. The new regulations, effective January 1, 2027, mandate mechanical releases and specific recessed spaces for door handles, potentially impacting the global car industry as other regions also investigate or consider similar rules.

Drawing from multiple news sources, speedskater Erin Jackson, the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympics gold, and bobsledder Frank Del Duca, the first bobsledder in 70 years to do so, have been chosen by fellow athletes to jointly carry the U.S. flag at the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony. For Del Duca, an Army sergeant with Italian heritage, the honor is especially meaningful as the games are being held in Italy, connecting his family's roots with his service to the United States.

Drawing from multiple news sources, speedskater Erin Jackson, the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympics gold, and bobsledder Frank Del Duca, the first bobsledder in 70 years to do so, have been chosen by fellow athletes to jointly carry the U.S. flag at the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony. For Del Duca, an Army sergeant with Italian heritage, the honor is especially meaningful as the games are being held in Italy, connecting his family's roots with his service to the United States.

Planet Money attended the American Economic Association's annual conference, a major event for economists, to get a sneak peek at cutting-edge research. They highlighted several pre-peer review papers, including one exploring the productivity impacts of AI in American industries, suggesting AI initially slows productivity before ultimately accelerating it. This is based on observations and discussions with economists at the conference.

Planet Money attended the American Economic Association's annual conference, a major event for economists, to get a sneak peek at cutting-edge research. They highlighted several pre-peer review papers, including one exploring the productivity impacts of AI in American industries, suggesting AI initially slows productivity before ultimately accelerating it. This is based on observations and discussions with economists at the conference.

Several sports, including bandy, ski ballet, and equestrian skijoring, have appeared in past Winter Olympics but will not be included in the 2026 games. These sports, ranging from a mix of field hockey and soccer to dancing on skis while being judged on artistry, had brief appearances in the Olympic program, with some like ski ballet influencing modern freestyle events.

Several sports, including bandy, ski ballet, and equestrian skijoring, have appeared in past Winter Olympics but will not be included in the 2026 games. These sports, ranging from a mix of field hockey and soccer to dancing on skis while being judged on artistry, had brief appearances in the Olympic program, with some like ski ballet influencing modern freestyle events.

Multiple news sources report that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened, facilitating limited medical evacuations and family reunions after months of closure. This follows heavy strikes, humanitarian lobbying, and the return of an Israeli hostage's remains, with Egyptian officials managing the flow of a limited number of people in both directions for medical screening and transfer.

Multiple news sources report that the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has partially reopened, facilitating limited medical evacuations and family reunions after months of closure. This follows heavy strikes, humanitarian lobbying, and the return of an Israeli hostage's remains, with Egyptian officials managing the flow of a limited number of people in both directions for medical screening and transfer.