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Social media app TikTok has officially completed its transition from Chinese-company ByteDance to a US-based joint venture, allowing it to stay legal in the country. Back in 2024, the Biden administration suspected ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, of spying on American citizens and the US government using the application. Because of this, a ban on TikTok was imposed in January 2025, but the deadline for ByteDance to agree to a deal with American investors was later extended by US President Donald Trump. After weeks of negotiations, the United States and China reached a framework deal in September, but that framework has now been officially implemented. Now, TikTok is primarily owned by four companies, with the rest of the ownership going to other corporations and shareholders. Oracle, owned by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, is one of the two American firms involved, with a 15% stake in the deal. Ellison is also very close with Trump, and his son, David Ellison, has been making waves with the recent Paramount Skydance merger and their unsuccessful attempt to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery. Under the deal, Oracle will oversee the security of Americans' data on TikTok, and all TikTok data will continue to be stored on Oracle servers to fully convince the US government that their data is not being sent to China. Silver Lake, a major technology investment firm, will also hold a 15% stake in TikTok. They have experience with the field and have also worked with Oracle on past projects, making them a solid second owner. Meanwhile, the third non-Chinese owner of TikTok will be MGX, an Emirati investment company focused specifically on new technology and artificial intelligence. MGX will also maintain a 15% stake in TikTok alongside Oracle and Silver Lake. Additionally, G42, a co-partner in the founding of MGX, has been the recipient of Silver Lake investments for over five years, giving the group a strong connection between partners. Finally, the fourth major owner will be ByteDance themselves, who will maintain a 19.9% stake in TikTok, which was their original application to begin with. Today, the social media platform has 1.9 to 2 billion monthly active users across the globe, but that's not all. ByteDance also owns a host of other apps, including Douyin, the original Chinese version of TikTok; Toutiao, a major personalized news platform; CapCut, a world-leading short video editor; and Lemon8, a lifestyle-focused social media platform. The rest of the shares will be distributed among shareholders and other corporations interested in getting involved, fully completing TikTok's transition from full ByteDance ownership to primarily a joint venture between Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX. Leadership structure at the company will also change– Adam Presser, the company's previous head of operations, will be promoted to CEO, while Shou Zi Chew, TikTok's CEO, will become a director. In addition to him, there will be six other directors; one from each of the partners in the joint venture and three others from additional companies investing in TikTok. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Octopuses only touch in situations of mating or aggression. Female octopuses sometimes do both, strangling and eating the male during or after the mating process. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list. (Michelle Obama) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Disheveled (adj, dih-SHEV-uld) - A disheveled person or thing is not neat or tidy. In a Sentence: His wrinkled suit gave him a disheveled appearance. Image credit to Getty Images

US President Donald Trump made some major statements at the World Economic Forum– here's exactly what he said in Davos and what implications they have for the US and the world. Trump's speech was viewed in various different ways, but he addressed numerous topics over the course of an hour and 20 minutes, adding in elements of humor and even antagonism as he called out several nations and politicians in the audience. He began the speech with assertions to Europe about their unwillingness to comply with his requests for Greenland and proclaimed that Europe has been taking advantage of the United States. Trump also claimed that Europe is "not even recognizable" due to poor immigration policies and economic decisions like investing in renewable energy, labeling their Green New Deal as the "Green New Scam." However, debatably the most crucial part of Trump's speech came just after– his address over Greenland. Trump labeled Greenland as "our territory" and called it a "big, beautiful piece of ice" before referencing back to World War II. Trump stated that Denmark was unable to defend Greenland from the Germans and credited the Allies' win to the US: " Without us, right now you would all be speaking German and a little Japanese, perhaps." Nevertheless, he later confirmed that he would not use military force to take the island. Instead, he called for "immediate negotiations" and threatened Europe to agree to discuss– " You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember." The announcement has major implications for what is one of the world's most powerful and influential alliances– one that, before the WEF, was on the brink of collapse. Trump had announced tariffs on several European allies alongside his military threats on Greenland, and the EU was considering the use of their "trade bazooka," an amalgamation of sweeping sanctions to prevent coercion. Trump's speech sent US markets soaring after a plunge the day before, but Europeans remained irritated by his attempt to pressure them into giving up Greenland. Trump also claimed that Europe and the US had reached a framework deal for future negotiations on the long-term ownership of Greenland, permitting him to revoke the tariffs announced several days ago. These tariffs were set to impact some of the United States' strongest allies, but their removal will allow markets to remain unburdened. Europe, on the other hand, has halted the passage of a US-EU trade deal negotiated in July, maintaining support for Greenland. Lawmakers have declined to continue considering the deal until all threats on Greenland come to a stop. As usual, throughout the speech, Trump mixed in dozens of his "accomplishments" and domestic policy changes since arriving at the head of the US government – some true statements, some false claims – and called out his predecessor, "Sleepy Joe Biden," numerous times. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Canada eats more macaroni and cheese per capita than any other nation in the world. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don’t confuse having a career with having a life. (Hillary Clinton) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Schmooze (verb, SHMOOZ) - To schmooze is to warmly chat with someone often in order to gain favor, business, or connections. In a Sentence: The event provides an opportunity for local business owners to network and schmooze . Image credit to AP

US President Donald Trump is on his way to the World Economic Forum, where he plans to assert new threats over Greenland and negotiate with European leaders. The World Economic Forum takes place in Davos, a town in eastern Switzerland, each year, which major leaders from various walks of life attend. Examples include presidents and prime ministers, CEOs of large corporations, innovators, journalists, and representatives of other groups like NGOs. In total, over 3,000 high-level individuals are invited to the event each year. According to the White House, Air Force One – the president's plane – departed from the East Coast on Tuesday but was forced to turn around due to a "minor electrical issue," but Trump has boarded another government plane and will land in Davos three hours later than his scheduled arrival time. Once there, Trump plans to push his Greenland plans to the numerous European leaders attending, and will reassert his calls for a business deal to purchase Greenland from Denmark. Trump's administration has also refused to rule out the idea of a military takeover. These statements ignited a strong sense of fear among many American people– if the US were to attack Greenland, every NATO country would be compelled by their treaty to fight back against the US to defend Denmark. Trump also implemented significant tariffs on eight different European countries over the weekend, sparking further concerns of a possible trade war. The Supreme Court is still deciding whether Trump has legally utilized the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 as a basis for these tariffs, and their decision is sure to impact the outcome of any possible trade war. Due to these rising geopolitical tensions, stock markets were sent plummeting yesterday after opening for the first time since Friday, with the Dow tumbling 871 points, or 1.76%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ indexes completely erased their gains on the year so far, dropping by 2.06 and 2.39%, respectively. The VIX, colloquially known as the fear index, spiked by over 5%, sending it near 20 points– a level that signals a strong increase in market volatility. Experts confirmed that investors had begun to sell US stocks and bonds due to fears of a more volatile market, sending the dollar index plunging by around 0.8%. The euro, on the other hand, was up 0.65% against the dollar, showing a growing wider sentiment towards Europe and away from US markets. Republicans on Trump's side of the geopolitical battle have assured US citizens that the tariffs will not spark a trade war, and they insist that Trump will not go to war with Denmark over Greenland and that he will be able to work out a different solution. However, the Trump administration has proved to be very unpredictable, and fears of a war in the making continue to rise. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Vatican had music that was forbidden to be copied and was only played twice per year. It was kept secret for almost 150 years until 14-year-old prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart heard it and transcribed everything from memory. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Emotional pain cannot kill you, but running from it can. Allow. Embrace. Let yourself feel. Let yourself heal. (Vironika Tugaleva) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Quiddity (noun, KWID-uh-tee) - Quiddity refers to the essence of a thing—that is, whatever makes something the type of thing that it is. Quiddity can also refer to a small and usually trivial complaint or criticism, or to a quirk or eccentricity in someone's behavior. In a Sentence: The novelist’s genius was her unparalleled ability to capture the quiddity of the Maine seacoast in simple prose. Image credit to Getty Images

Indiana University's Hoosiers defeated the University of Miami's Hurricanes in an exciting finale to the college football season last night. Indiana was set for a historic season when they won the Big Ten conference championship against Ohio State, 13-10, in December, having never won the CFP. In American college football, colleges are split up between divisions, with smaller universities typically ending up in lower divisions like Division II and Division III. Meanwhile, Division I has the highest-tier teams, and is split into the FBS, which has around 130 higher-ranking, stronger teams, and the FCS, which has 120 smaller teams. Within FBS, teams are split into conferences– the Power Four (P4) consist of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC, while the Group of Five (G5) includes AAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, C-USA, and MAC. Usually, teams that qualify for the CFP are in the P4 conferences, as teams are selected by a committee that decides which are the strongest by considering their record and the difficulty of their opponents. Because G5 teams often face easier teams in their respective conferences, they are rarely picked for the CFP. By winning the Big Ten, Indiana secured their conference championship and was selected as the #1 seed in the CFP, having gone undefeated (13-0) the entire season. Meanwhile, despite losing out in the ACC conference championship due to tiebreaker rules, Miami made the CFP seeded #10 with a 10-2 record for the season. Then, the CFP begun, with many fans supporting major teams like Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech– teams historically known for being strong CFP contenders. However, Indiana made its way through the playoff with ease, crushing Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl and following it up with a 56-22 victory over Oregon in the semifinal. Meanwhile, Miami had a longer journey due to its seeding as #10– the team beat Texas A&M in the playoff, secured a strong victory over #2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, and then squeezed out a 31-27 win over Ole Miss in the semifinal to reach the championship game. Tickets for the final, held at Miami's Hard Rock stadium, quickly sold out, with prices soaring higher than any championship game ever– the average ticket price for the game was around $4,300. Nevertheless, many parents could be seen enjoying the game with their kids, and various celebrities also showed up, including US President Donald Trump, actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and former Shark Tank investor and businessman Mark Cuban. The game begun with an Indiana field goal in the first quarter, while Miami was left without points on the board after a 50-yard doink off the upright on a field goal attempt. Indiana later extended their lead to 10-0 at halftime after a long drive that culminated in a short rush, with tight end Riley Nowakowski carrying the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. The third quarter kicked off with an Indiana punt, which Miami capitalized on. Around midfield, running back Mark Fletcher Jr. broke free for a 57-yard rushing touchdown, speeding into the end zone after evading the Indiana defense. However, Indiana followed it up with a defensive touchdown after blocking a punt by the Miami team, ending the third quarter at 17-7. Miami begun the fourth quarter with another rushing touchdown from Fletcher Jr., bringing the score to 17-14, but Indiana later drove down the field and into the red zone. On a possibly game-deciding 4th & 4 at Miami's 12-yard line, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza scrambled past several defenders, picking up the first down. However, before stopping, he launched himself into the air. A defender attempted to take him down, resulting in a considerable hit, but Mendoza was able to complete the 12-yard distance into the end zone before going down. Miami responded with a quick passing touchdown soon after, and Indiana was only able to manage a field goal on the next drive. Nevertheless, they wound the clock down, giving Miami just 1:42 to score a touchdown and win the game. Miami attempted to drive down the field, getting under 1:00, but an Indiana interception from defensive back Jamari Sharpe sealed the game, winning them their first College Football Playoff in the university's history and completing their undefeated season at 16-0. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): There is a geocache on the International Space Station placed in 2008. It has since been visited four times by other astronauts. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. (Franklin P. Jones) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ephemeral (adj, ih-FEM-uh-rul) - Something described as ephemeral lasts only for a very short time. In a Sentence: The performance was not recorded, a fact that made its ephemeral nature all the more poignant. Image credit to AP

At least 39 people are dead after a devastating train crash in southern Spain yesterday, with the death toll expected to rise further. The incident occurred at 7:45 pm local time between two trains traveling through southern Spain. The first train, run by private high-speed rail operator Iryo, was on a route from Málaga to Madrid and had stopped at the city of Córdoba en route. After leaving Córdoba, several rear carriages of the train derailed on a straight track near the town of Adamuz– an occurrence that officials later described as "extremely strange." An oncoming train on a route from Madrid to Huelva, traveling at 124 miles per hour, then slammed into these rear carriages, sending the second train careening off the side of the railway embankment. The Iryo-operated train had 371 people onboard, while the second train, operated by state-owned railway company Renfe, was carrying approximately 100 passengers. Local police quickly arrived at the scene, attempting to save as many passengers as possible, but many bodies were too badly damaged by the time they were recovered. Five mobile intensive care units, four emergency critical care units, and multiple ambulances were among the vehicles deployed to the scene In particular, the two frontmost carriages of the Renfe train were mangled after being hit, trapping victims inside the mess of twisted metal. In total, at least 39 people were killed, and dozens were hospitalized with injuries– several of which are still in critical condition. Search-and-rescue operations are underway, helping victims escape from the remnants of the two trains through smashed doors or broken windows. Others had to be carried out on stretchers, further complicating the situation. Authorities have also confirmed that heavy machinery will be needed to move the remains of the trains off the tracks, and railway operator Adif has halted all operations on the track to allow for a proper cleanup and investigation. Other railways across Spain – which has the world's second-longest high-speed rail network after China – have also been shut down The exact cause of the incident is still unknown, but officials will conduct a thorough investigation to find out how and why the rear end of a train would have derailed on a straight section of track. Authorities also noted that the train was relatively new and the tracks had recently been renovated, ruling out age as a factor. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Blockbuster was a video rental giant that went bankrupt due to streaming companies. Of the 9,000 Blockbuster stores that existed in the early 1990s, only one remains. The last Blockbuster on Earth can be found in Bend, Oregon. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The greatest mistake you can make is to be continually fearing that you’ll make one. (Elbert Hubbard) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Elicit (verb, ih-LISS-it) - Elicit is a formal word meaning “to get (a response, information, etc.) from someone.” In a Sentence: The announcement of the final amount raised by the charity walk elicited cheers from the crowd. Image credit to AFP

US President Donald Trump has announced a 10% tariff on eight European countries in retaliation for their support of Denmark against the United States in the political battle for control of Greenland. Trump has long expressed his desire to take over Greenland, but action by the administration has seriously ramped up within the last few weeks. Due to environmental concerns, Denmark has never taken advantage of Greenland's treasure trove of materials, which includes rare earth elements, zinc, gold, iron ore, copper, uranium, and titanium, along with billions of barrels of oil and at least 148 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Extremely cold conditions also make investing in local infrastructure very expensive and tough to execute. Greenland agrees with this approach, and citizens have asserted that they have no intention to allow the US to take over their territory, which is essentially a self-governing, autonomous region of Denmark. In fact, several demonstrations have taken place across Greenland's capital city of Nuuk, with local residents stating that they "have no interest in being Americans" and holding up signs with slogans like "Greenland is for Greenlanders." Additionally, enshrined in Greenland's constitution is the right to independence, as long as a referendum is conducted among existing citizens. Nevertheless, Greenland still relies on Denmark for economic support and infrastructure, preventing them from becoming independent, but various political parties have expressed their desire to achieve independence from Denmark at some point in the future. Either way, those parties have clearly stated that they would much rather be a part of Denmark than the US, echoing the wider sentiment of Greenlanders. Earlier this month, the US confirmed that they were contemplating the purchase of Greenland , but Denmark rejected the idea and responded that Greenland was not for sale. Trump also mentioned that military action was not out of the question, sparking concerns over the future of NATO and whether the political battle over Greenland could lead to a major conflict. Now, Trump has announced the arrival of another wave of tariffs, retaliating against European countries who supported Denmark and Greenland, opposing the US. This list of countries consists of Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, who will receive an additional 10% tariff on top of the existing 15% tariff on all member countries of the European Union and a 10% on the UK. Trump also confirmed that the levy would increase to 25% by June 1 if the aforementioned European nations refused to back a US purchase of Greenland and shift away from their position of solidarity with Denmark. The tariffs also endanger a US-EU trade deal struck in July , which lowered tariffs on the EU to 15% and prevented a trade war between the two. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Because snow is composed of ice, it can be classified as a mineral, along with ice itself. Water, however, does not fall under the same classification due to its state as a liquid and is not a mineral. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance . (Alan Watts) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Notorious (adj, noh-TOR-ee-us) - Notorious describes people and things that are well-known or famous, especially for something bad or unfavorable. In a Sentence: Their city is notorious for its extremely hot and humid summers. Image credit to the New York Times

The United States Department of Justice has opened up an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey amid rising tensions following the killing of a civilian by an ICE officer. Last week, Minneapolis citizen Renee Good was killed by an ICE officer during a local operation, sparking outrage across the country. The incident led to massive protests and created various controversial interpretations of the events that took place, while the White House defended the actions of the officer and blamed the situation on the woman killed, who was blocking traffic. Soon after, Walz and Frey – both Democrats – assumed extremely vocal positions over ICE, telling them to leave Minnesota, and continued on to express concerns over the fact that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had taken over the investigation and blocked local agencies from looking into the incident. This sparked major concerns over an unjust outcome and a likely government cover-up or meddling with the information found at the site. Both leaders also encouraged locals to protest peacefully and ramp up pressure on the Trump administration. Now, the Justice Department has launched an investigation accusing both Walz and Frey of impeding federal law enforcement through their public statements. Frey called the investigation an "obvious attempt" to "intimidate" him for "standing up for Minneapolis" and reasserted his focus on keeping the city safe. Meanwhile, Walz accused the Trump administration of "weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents," describing it as a "dangerous, authoritarian tactic." Unfortunately, the protests – despite their mostly peaceful nature – have simply created more chaos in the region. Trump later deployed over 2,000 National Guard members to Minneapolis and threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act– a move that would allow him to use military force against the people and overrule state authorities. However, strong backlash ensued, and he later backed down on that threat. Additionally, violence against the people has escalated further, with ICE officials arresting people of various backgrounds and races. Particularly, ICE has begun targeting Native Americans– the Oglala Sioux Tribe from South Dakota has seen multiple members arrested, despite the fact that all Native Americans are not considered "illegal aliens" and have been citizens of the United States for hundreds of years. Those members are still being held at an ICE detention facility near Minneapolis, but the Department of Homeland Security has refused to release them until the tribe "entered into an immigration agreement with ICE." Nevertheless, a federal judge in Minnesota ruled yesterday that ICE agents must avoid taking action against peaceful protesters, which has become a major issue. Countless videos have circulated on social media showing peaceful protesters smothered in chemical spray and shrouded in tear gas, and at least 2,500 protesters have been arrested by ICE officers or National Guard members. The judge also ruled that ICE officers cannot detain protesters who are not interfering with the activities of agents, responding to the activists and participants in these demonstrations who claim that their personal rights were violated by ICE agents. However, the Department of Homeland Security has defended the actions of the ICE agents, claiming that they have had tires slashed, fireworks launched at them, and suffered from assaults. On the other hand, Democrats have pointed out that ICE officers are armed, while civilians are not, and they are required to use their power wisely– though many ICE officers lack training and are not instructed with the proper guidelines on how and when to use violence when in a self-defense situation. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): From 1953 to 1957, NBC’s Today Show had a chimpanzee co-host named J. Fred Muggs. It is estimated he brought in the network around $100 million. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. (Sam Levenson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Vendetta (noun, ven-DET-uh) - Vendetta refers to an active and mutual hatred between two families or groups, also known as a blood feud . It can also refer to an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts, or to a commitment to carrying out such acts. In a Sentence: The student insisted that the principal had a personal vendetta against her. Image credit to CNN

María Corina Machado, the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, presented her medal to US President Donald Trump yesterday in another effort to gain support from the United States– but she was left without clarity on the issue. Machado, a major opposition leader against now-former dictator Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for her heroic efforts against his regime, taking numerous risks and rallying the people for her cause. After she was awarded the Peace Prize in October, both the White House and Donald Trump expressed their disappointment at the decision, with the former criticizing the Nobel Committee and accusing them of putting "politics over peace." Then, last week, Maduro was abducted from Venezuela by American forces, leaving a void of power at the head of the country's government. However, instead of endorsing Machado, who has won support from over 50% of the Venezuelan population, the Trump administration backed Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's vice president– a woman with just 14% of the population behind her. Due to their interest in Venezuela's oil reserves, many experts believe that Trump continues to back Rodríguez because they view her as a candidate who requires less support from the US and will implement less change. Rodríguez is viewed as someone who would easily serve the Trump administration and adhere to their wishes, building up the oil sector without angering other powers in Venezuela. Meanwhile, Machado has numerous enemies within the government and lacks military support despite gaining support from the majority of the population. This means that the US would need to support her efforts militarily, which would be more work for the Trump administration and limit their abilities to export oil. Yesterday, Machado arrived at the White House carrying her Nobel Peace Prize medal, despite insistence from the Nobel Committee that the prize cannot be shared. Nevertheless, Machado left the medal in the White House, hoping that it could gain support for her campaign from Trump and possibly carry her to the leadership position that Rodríguez now holds. However, Machado was left without an answer– but she did not leave empty-handed. Instead, the White House awarded her with a red swag bag carrying Trump's signature– a gesture many found as funny, even mocking. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Humans have been performing dentistry since 7000 BC, making it one of the oldest professions. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): As a general rule, a reputation is built on manner as much as on achievement. (Joseph Conrad) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cloying (adj, KLOY-ing) - Cloying is used disapprovingly to describe something that is too sweet, pleasant, or sentimental. In a Sentence: She finds most romantic comedies cloying and predictable. Image credit to AP

Upmarket retailer Saks Global filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday, forcing them to close down stores and give away items at massive sales. Saks Global is one of the most prominent upmarket retailers in the United States, known for its high-quality, luxury goods from various aspects of the market. Within their brands, they bring high-end items under one roof, allowing customers to find a variety of luxury brands within one department store. Saks also holds seasonal sales and other promotions that high-end brands alone may not offer, giving the store serious appeal to the wealthier portion of the market. However, they are now closing stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Companies often file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy during times of extreme economic difficulty– right now, many people have begun to shift to online shopping or have avoided shopping altogether due to the shaky economic state of the US, leaving malls and department stores empty. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, companies are allowed to keep running their business instead of liquidating assets– instead, it gives them a platform to reorganize their debts and restructure the company while keeping the business running. Nevertheless, companies still shutter stores during this time to help ease back into a normal rhythm. In the case of Saks, they have secured $1.75 billion from investors to help reorganize their debts, which will have to be paid back at some point in time. Around $1 billion of that is a DIP loan, or debtor-in-possession. DIP loans serve as emergency funding for the company, and in Saks' case, they are being funded by existing bondholders like Pentwater and Bracebridge (two major hedge funds) who invested in Saks prior to its bankruptcy and are now providing extra money to protect their past investments. This loan will allow many stores to stay open, and employees will continue to be paid. A judge, though, has only allowed $400 million to be released to Saks at this moment, preventing them from misusing the money and allowing them to ask for more later on if the restructuring efforts prove successful. On top of this, they have received around $250 million in asset-based lending, a process where certain lenders give the company loans, but only on a measurable amount of assets that can be taken by the lenders if the company fails to pay the loan back. In this case, the primary lender is Bank of America, but there are others chipping into that $250 million. Finally, the remaining $500 million is post-bankruptcy equity, which will be given to the company after they escape bankruptcy. Once Saks gets out of bankruptcy, bondholders will provide the company with another $500 million, and Saks will give them ownership over some of the business in return for their funds. This largely wipes out shareholders, who lose out on their investments while bondholders take control during and after Chapter 11. The move to file bankruptcy, though, represents a larger issue in the upmarket retail industry– a lack of customers. Countless brands have seen serious declines in sales since the coronavirus pandemic, including Saks subsidiary Neiman Marcus. Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy in 2020 before being purchased by Saks Global last year for $2.7 billion. Saks hoped to create a luxury retail giant, but their debts simply continued to increase from there. Nevertheless, Saks will hope to restructure efficiently and effectively following their Chapter 11 filing, helping the company stay alive amid tough economic times. Customers, on the other hand, can take advantage of Saks' situation– some Saks Fifth Avenue stores are offering goods at up to 85% off, creating an incredible opportunity for Saks customers to purchase luxury goods at prices well below their usual. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York City has such a massive shoe department on the eighth floor that it was granted its own zip code by the US Postal Service: 10022–SHOE. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself. (Saint Francis de Sales) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Delegate (verb, DEL-uh-gayt) - To delegate something (such as control, responsibility, authority, or a job or duty) is to trust someone else with it. In a Sentence: Those tasks can be delegated to someone else. Image credit to AP

Based on reports from each company, Boeing had more net orders than Airbus in 2025, marking the first year since 2018 that they have achieved this. According to Boeing, they had 1,173 net orders for airplanes in 2025, while Airbus had just 889. However, Airbus outpaced Boeing in deliveries with 793 airplanes being sent to customers, while Boeing sent 600 planes. This was largely due to several major airplane incidents, including the devastating crash of an Air India 787 Dreamliner in June. December proved to be a huge month for Boeing, though, with three major orders coming in. Alaska Airlines ordered 105 of the popular 737 MAX 10 jets in addition to five new 787 widebody aircraft, which will be delivered through 2035. Meanwhile, Aviation Capital Group (ACG) – a firm that leases planes to over 90 airlines in around 50 countries – ordered 50 of Boeing's 737 MAX 10 jets, which are scheduled for delivery in 2032 and 2033. Finally, Delta Airlines made an order for 30 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, which will be the first 787 jets to be added to the Delta fleet– and they have the opportunity to purchase another 30 planes. Currently, the airline maintains 38 of the Airbus A350, known for its comfortable, quiet, and roomy cabin, with more on order, but they are slowly working to retire their fleet of Boeing 767s while having already retired all Boeing 777s in their fleet. In total, this year's achievement from Boeing marks a significant step forward since the deadly Boeing 737 MAX crashes of 2018 and 2019, damaging the manufacturer's reputation. Those incidents made way for an Airbus takeover, with the European manufacturer taking over the market– they currently maintain around a 60% market share, up from 50% in 2018. Nevertheless, while large orders are still coming in for Boeing, their manufacturing capabilities are still limited. Due to the MAX crashes, they continue to experience significant oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who have also capped the number of 737 MAX planes they can produce each year. Furthermore, major supply chain problems involving aviation parts and equipment across the globe have contributed to massive delivery delays for both Airbus and Boeing– if an airline orders an airplane now, the timeline for its arrival could stretch well over 10 years. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Snakes and lizards both molt out of their old skin as they grow. Investigators have come to the conclusion that dinosaurs may have also molted. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth . (Leo Tolstoy) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Umbrage (noun, UM-brij) - Umbrage refers to a feeling of being offended by what someone has said or done. It is often used in the phrase “take umbrage.” In a Sentence: Some listeners took umbrage at the podcaster’s remarks about the event. Image credit to Boeing