Today Briefly
Today Briefly

Cate Blanchett says she swears by a 'cliche' morning habit to kickstart her day

Cate Blanchett, 56, uses daily cold plunges, lymphatic facial massage, and Tai Chi to invigorate mornings and maintain glowing skin, favoring minimal makeup.

fromwww.cnbc.com

23 hours ago

Harvard expert Arthur Brooks says when it comes to happiness, we're getting it all wrong

"These pursuits are not inherently bad, but they become toxic when they're treated as ultimate goals," he said.

Digital life

fromThe Verge

fromLondon Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

The Verge's 2025 in review

2025 delivered relentless, often baffling events; retrospectives and roundups will revisit key trends and numerous gaming and streaming releases before 2026.

Wellness

fromPsychology Today

23 hours ago

Can Breathwork Help You Stay Healthy in Winter Virus Season?

Breathwork improves mental health, reduces stress, and may modestly, temporarily influence immune markers, but clinical significance remains unclear.

OMG science

Harvard scientist believes alien 3I/Atlas could have been sent to 'seed' life on Earth - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS shows anomalous comet-like behavior prompting speculation about possible non-natural origins, including deliberate seeding by advanced life.

OMG science

fromThe Atlantic

Day 3 of the 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: A Galactic Cluster

Galaxy Cluster Abell 209 contains over 100 galaxies about 2.8 billion light-years away whose combined mass gravitationally lenses and stretches background galaxies.

UX design

3 color contrast mistakes designers still make

WCAG color contrast applies to text and non-text elements—UI components, links, and data visualizations require their own contrast rules to ensure accessibility.

Tech industry

fromThe Verge

What could've been Google's worst year turned into one of its best

Google overcame major antitrust threats and AI competition in 2025, kept its core businesses intact, and achieved record profits and clear AI-market success.

Tech industry

fromTheregister

14 hours ago

India unveils a homegrown dual-core 1GHz RISC-V processor

CDAC unveiled DHRUV64, a 1.0 GHz dual-core RISC-V chip on 28nm, positioned for infrastructure and IoT as an early step toward a domestic semiconductor industry.

Privacy professionals

fromZDNET

The coming AI agent crisis: Why Okta's new security standard is a must-have for your business

AI-powered agents requesting OAuth-based app-to-app access create substantial organizational security risks, requiring new standards for visibility and control over permissions.

UX design

Product Research with AI

Establish a clear, intentional AI-powered product research process starting with a concise research brief to provide context, improve design efficiency, and reduce business risk.

UX design

fromElectronic Frontier Foundation

How Design Recruiters Judge your UX Portfolio in 5 Seconds?

Make the first visible fold clearly show role, credibility, and your top two outcome-focused projects to win recruiter attention quickly.

Privacy professionals

Trends to Watch in the California Legislature

California advanced privacy, transparency, and law-enforcement-accountability laws, including browser opt-out support, public court copying, bans on masked officers, and AI disclosure requirements.

EU data protection

fromPractical Ecommerce

23 hours ago

The Top Conversion Barrier in the E.U.

European consumers require strong privacy protections, transparent pricing, clear returns, verified reviews, and regulatory compliance, creating major trust barriers for non-EU merchants.

Privacy professionals

fromThe Cyber Express

fromPrivacy International

India's DPDP Act: Why 2026 Is The Year Privacy Becomes Real

The DPDP Act and Rules require Indian companies to overhaul systems, governance, and accountability for personal data within an 18-month compliance window.

Election observers adopt Principles and Guidance for Observing Personal Data Use in Elections

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the Declaration of Principles (DoP) for International Election Observation. Over 50 endorsing election observation organisations representing all regions of the world met at the United Nations to reaffirm their commitment to supporting genuine democratic elections and to the principles for international election observation as set forth in the Declaration.

EU data protection

fromComputerWeekly.com

All I want for Christmas is a ChatGPT nativity scene... | Computer Weekly

Tech billionaires are building privatised sovereignty across data, defence, space, energy and money, undermining democratic foundations.

Marketing tech

fromExchangewire

4 hours ago

GeoEdge & ProgrammaticX Partner to Strengthen Omnichannel Ad Quality & Brand Safety

GeoEdge and ProgrammaticX partnership enforces omnichannel ad quality to protect publisher inventory, improve user experience, and preserve ad revenue.

Marketing tech

fromExchangewire

5 hours ago

Creative Optimisation in the Age of AI: Predictions on a New Craft

Creative optimisation will shift from human production to human orchestration, with prompt engineering and strategic oversight becoming the primary skills guiding AI-driven advertising.

National Football League

13 hours ago

Four TD passes against the Packers? Bo Nix is leveling up at the right time

Bo Nix's improved play under Sean Payton's adjusted playcalling has increased offensive efficiency and helped extend the Broncos' long winning streak.

Marketing tech

fromAdExchanger

9 hours ago

AI That's Generative, Not Generic | AdExchanger

Amazon uses product-specific insights and unique behavioral data to generate distinctive AI-driven ad creative at scale, preventing formulaic commoditization while speeding production.

Information security

fromThe Hacker News

China-Linked Ink Dragon Hacks Governments Using ShadowPad and FINALDRAFT Malware

China-aligned threat actor Jewelbug (Ink Dragon) has targeted European government, Southeast Asian, and South American entities since at least March 2023 using stealthy, engineered intrusions.

Books

from48 hills

11 hours ago

Tip-top tomes: Our favorite books of 2025 - 48 hills

2025 offered an abundant, steady stream of notable books across genres, with memorable cookbooks emphasizing community, local sourcing, and compelling culinary memoirs.

#remote-work

fromPsychology Today

26 minutes ago

Remote teams

Remote Working and Loneliness

fromMoneyLion

Remote teams

Companies That Will Pay You To Work From Home

fromLEVEL Man

Remote teams

The One Thing I Won't Miss When I'm Asked to Return to the Office

fromPsychology Today

26 minutes ago

Remote teams

Remote Working and Loneliness

fromMoneyLion

Remote teams

Companies That Will Pay You To Work From Home

fromLEVEL Man

Remote teams

The One Thing I Won't Miss When I'm Asked to Return to the Office

GhostPoster Malware Found in 17 Firefox Add-ons with 50,000+ Downloads

GhostPoster used logo files in 17 Firefox add-ons to embed malicious JavaScript that hijacks affiliate links, injects tracking, and enables click and ad fraud.

Social media marketing

fromeuronews

fromwww.london-unattached.com

Influencer marketing in fast-fashion and food sectors under scrutiny

Influencer marketing often lacks transparency, promotes unhealthy foods, frequently fails to disclose paid partnerships, and may breach consumer law, prompting calls for joint liability and restrictions.

Wine

Humble Grape (Liverpool Street)

Humble Grape makes wine accessible by importing 450+ small-producer wines, offering informal, welcoming wine bars and exclusive sustainable labels across multiple London locations.

Environment

fromwww.aljazeera.com

15 hours ago

Arctic sees hottest year since 1900 as climate crisis continues

Arctic surface air temperatures from October 2024 to September 2025 were the warmest since 1900, with record low winter sea ice and sharply reduced snow cover.

Information security

fromThe Hacker News

Fix SOC Blind Spots: See Threats to Your Industry & Country in Real Time

Proactive, context-rich SOCs using threat intelligence and sector-specific visibility reduce alert fatigue, anticipate campaigns, and prevent incidents rather than merely responding.

Major League Baseball

14 hours ago

MLB free agency reset: Predictions for the remaining top 10 free agents

Multiple high-profile free agents remain unsigned while the New York Mets' spending decisions and roster needs will heavily shape the rest of the MLB offseason.

Food & drink

fromwww.npr.org

5 hours ago

Is the viral cheese pull saving chain restaurants?

Viral food moments like cheese pulls drive customers to familiar mid-tier American chain restaurants, helping chains survive economic pressures by creating shareable marketing.

Major League Baseball

fromBattery Power

Braves News: Ozzie Albies season review, draft target, and more

Multiple MLB teams completed offseason signings and roster moves, while Ozzie Albies suffered a season-ending hand injury and Eric Becker remains a draft target.

Privacy technologies

fromComputerworld

13 hours ago

Mozilla appoints new CEO, unveils new AI focus

Mozilla will prioritize trust by making AI optional, transparent, privacy-focused, and subject to user and enterprise consent while evolving Firefox into a modern AI browser.

fromZacks

Pardon Our Interruption

There are a few reasons this might happen: You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser. You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed. You've disabled cookies in your web browser. A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. Additional information is available in this support article.

Food & drink

fromBuzzFeed

If You've Tried 11/16 Of These Fancy Foods, You're Probably Rich

Gourmet meals are unaffordable for most people, and some dishes give off exclusive "rich AF" vibes prompting a quiz about luxury-food experiences.

Food & drink

fromIndependent

9 hours ago

Katy McGuinness's 2025 foodie awards: the best restaurants, dishes and chefs in Ireland

New restaurant openings and creative reinventions coexisted with menu sameness while higher prices drove customers to eat out less and demand better value.

Major League Baseball

fromwww.cbc.ca

Canadian reliever Jordan Romano signs 1-year deal with L.A. Angels | CBC Sports

Jordan Romano signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels for the 2026 season.

Media industry

fromWIRED

4 hours ago

DEI Died This Year. Maybe It Was Supposed To

Black staffers at WIRED experience precarious job security, isolation, and confinement to race-focused assignments despite professional success.

Media industry

fromIntelligencer

fromwww.scientificamerican.com

New York's 20 Most-Read Stories of 2025

Readers gravitated to pieces on cultural trends, exposés of powerful figures, scandals involving ordinary people, and emotional, enduring love stories.

Books

fromwww.theguardian.com

6 hours ago

Bog Queen by Anna North review a tale that could dig deeper

Bog Queen braids voices—moss, a modern forensic pathologist, and an Iron Age druidine—to examine bodies, landscape, and personal displacement.

Books

fromThe New Yorker

4 hours ago

A Graphic Novel About Rage and Repression in Montreal

Home functions as the place where characters resist and suppress genuine emotion, making domestic spaces emotionally inhospitable.

Environment

Orcas on the BrinkWhat a Dog Named Eba and a Team of Scientists Are Fighting For

Free Willy spurred Keiko's rescue and popularized orcas as intelligent animals, while many captive orcas originated near the San Juan Islands.

Social media marketing

fromSocial Media Today

fromSouth China Morning Post

YouTube Tests Still Image Carousels Within the Shorts Feed

Image posts with up to 10 images are being tested in the Shorts feed to let creators reach audiences; music-testing updates will follow.

Environment

Delhi battles severe pollution with traffic bans, work-from-home order

Delhi's winter air pollution reaches "severe" levels from trapped vehicle, construction, and crop-burning emissions, prompting strict curbs, vehicle bans, and reduced office attendance.

Europe news

fromwww.aljazeera.com

fromFood & Beverage Magazine

Russian court designates punk band Pussy Riot as extremist' group

A Moscow district court designated Pussy Riot as an extremist organisation and banned its activities across the Russian Federation.

Wine

fromBon Appetit

21 hours ago

Make Your Next Holiday Gathering a Cozy Mulled-Wine Night

Mulled wine made with a fuller-bodied red, cider, whole spices, and citrus yields a cozy, aromatic winter drink ideal for sharing and reheating.

Wine

21 hours ago

Giesen 0% Celebrates Five Years as the Global Leader in Premium Non-Alcoholic Wine - Food & Beverage Magazine

Giesen 0% leads the premium non-alcoholic wine category with a nine-wine portfolio and dominant market share driven by Sauvignon Blanc quality and innovation.

Writing

fromwww.dw.com

fromRadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

Slop chosen as Merriam-Webster's 2025 Word of the Year DW 12/16/2025

Merriam-Webster named 'slop' 2025 Word of the Year to label low-quality, mass-produced AI digital content and to signal limits of AI creativity.

Europe news

2 days ago

No Regrets: Freed Belarusian Prisoners Say Challenging Lukashenko Right Decision

Several Belarusian opposition figures released after over four years in prison say they have no regrets for opposing Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Writing

fromwww.theguardian.com

3 days ago

Pens at the ready! A gen-Z trainee takes on the Guardian's scribbler-in-chief'

Switching end-of-year exams to onscreen could reduce hand fatigue and strain experienced by students during lengthy handwritten assessments.

Writing

fromDefector

The Crossword, Dec. 15: Out Of Court | Defector

A reliable Monday crossword by Matthew Stock highlights his publishing credentials and personal interests while Defector crosswords run weekly with submission guidelines available.

Europe news

fromwww.aljazeera.com

3 days ago

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,389

Large-scale Russian overnight strikes disabled Ukraine's southern power grid, causing massive blackouts while cross-border attacks and counterstrikes produced casualties and infrastructure damage.

English Premier League

fromwww.bbc.com

Time to take a punt on Wirtz - FPL team of the week

Short turnarounds and injuries made Gameweek 14 difficult for FPL managers; five free transfers will help manage AFCON-related absences.

#liverpool

English Premier League

Slot: Teams expect to 'get a result' from Liverpool

fromRush The Kop

English Premier League

Liverpool's mixed night at Sunderland shaped by good, bad and ugly displays

English Premier League

Slot: Teams expect to 'get a result' from Liverpool

fromRush The Kop

English Premier League

Liverpool's mixed night at Sunderland shaped by good, bad and ugly displays

more#liverpool

New York Knicks

fromwww.theguardian.com

In-form Knicks surge past Spurs to win NBA Cup for first trophy since 1973

The New York Knicks rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 and win the NBA Cup, led by OG Anunoby's 28 points.

DevOps

3 weeks ago

CI/CD and Gitops with Microservices: Open Ecosystem vs AWS Native

CI/CD and GitOps automate testing, deployment, and management of microservices, making cloud deployments faster, safer, and more scalable.

NYC politics

fromStreetsblog

Wednesday's Headlines: Another Record Edition - Streetsblog New York City

The Adams administration claims 'record' protected bike lane installations while omitting crucial numbers and possibly failing to meet a legal 180-mile construction requirement.

Arts

fromwww.amny.com

Marcarson's incredible artwork at upcoming Not For Them pop-up meets you where you are, with no context required amNewYork

Marcarson's multidisciplinary art invites open, accessible engagement, blending painting, mixed media, fashion, and objects to encourage intimacy, reflection, and emotional resonance.

Online marketing

fromThe Rugby Paper

U.M Guest Post Service:Authority-Building Links That Drive Real Growth

U.M Guest Post Service uses manual outreach to place high-quality, niche-relevant guest posts on authoritative sites to build backlinks, trust, and sustainable SEO growth.

New York Islanders

fromEyes On Isles

NY Islanders business operations boss says fanbase must get younger, more diverse

The New York Islanders must expand and diversify their fan base—attracting younger, more female and multicultural fans—by leveraging on-ice success and community visibility.

Golden State Warriors

fromwww.mercurynews.com

15 hours ago

Steve Kerr shrugs off leaked email from Warriors owner Joe Lacob

Steve Kerr downplays owner Joe Lacob's email, prioritizes managing rotating lineups, injuries and continuity while affirming mutual support amid the team's 13-14 start.

New York Islanders

fromEyes On Isles

15 hours ago

NY Islanders captain Anders Lee on Schaefer's rise and Palmieri's legendary assist

Matthew Schaefer's immediate, composed impact energizes the Islanders, while Kyle Palmieri's torn ACL starkly illustrates hockey's physical risks and team resilience.

Marketing

fromAdExchanger

Coca-Cola Goes From Studio To Social; More Like 'Netpodz' | AdExchanger

Modern media integrates retailers, shoppers, creators and ecommerce data, driving brands to build content factories, shift budgets to social/influencers, and pursue podcast exclusives.

New York Islanders

fromEyes On Isles

11 hours ago

NY islanders can't complete season sweep of Red Wings as Detroit rallies in third

Islanders 3-2 loss to Red Wings after two third-period power-play goals erased the lead and ended the comeback.

SF LGBT

from48 hills

12 hours ago

Phoenix Hotel goes out with a bang-and More!-on New Year's Eve - 48 hills

San Francisco's Phoenix Hotel and several clubs are closing; a final New Year's Eve party will celebrate the venue's queer-house, Pride-party legacy.

Marketing

fromEMARKETER