Author: NV Today Contributor

Stargazers across the United States marked one of the final celestial highlights of the year as the Ursid meteor shower reached its peak overnight from December 21 into December 22. The annual event, visible across much of the Northern Hemisphere, offered skywatchers a chance to observe streaks of light cutting across the winter sky during the longest nights of the year. With favorable viewing conditions and minimal moonlight interference, the 2025 Ursids drew renewed interest from amateur astronomers and the general public alike. The Ursid meteor shower is known for its relatively modest activity compared with more famous displays such…

On December 19, 2025, Visa and Mastercard agreed to a significant $167.5 million settlement in a class action lawsuit that has been ongoing for over a decade. The lawsuit accused the two payment giants of conspiring to keep ATM access fees artificially high, ultimately costing consumers millions of dollars in unreimbursed charges when using independent, non-bank ATMs. This proposed settlement is currently awaiting judicial approval in federal district court in Washington, D.C., and, if approved, will bring an end to years of legal battles over ATM fees that many cardholders believe were inflated due to restrictive practices by Visa and…

Apple Inc. confirmed a major leadership transition in December 2025 as Lisa Jackson, its longtime vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, announced plans to retire at the end of January 2026. Jackson, who joined Apple in 2013 after serving as the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has spent more than a decade at the helm of Apple’s environmental and social strategy, helping transform the company’s public image and internal practices around sustainability, corporate responsibility, and equity. Her departure marks the end of a significant era for Apple’s ESG leadership and prompts a broader restructuring of how…

As 2025 draws to a close, the U.S. cultural landscape continues to shine with a series of significant artistic events that reflect the nation’s rich diversity and evolving creative expressions. Among the standout moments of the season is the highly anticipated Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater residency at New York City’s City Center, which began on December 15, 2025. The residency is a hallmark of the late-year cultural scene, drawing audiences with its powerful performances that celebrate modern dance and honor the legacy of African-American artistic expression. For decades, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been a cornerstone of…

The highly anticipated JAPAN Fes Florida festival made its return to Coconut Grove in Miami over the weekend of December 13–14, 2025, bringing a colorful and vibrant celebration of Japanese food, culture, and entertainment to the heart of the city. Each year, the festival has become a significant highlight of Miami’s winter cultural calendar, and this year’s event was no exception. Thousands of visitors gathered to enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavors of Japan, experiencing an immersive journey into one of the world’s most beloved cultures. At the center of the festival was a showcase of authentic Japanese cuisine. Food…

On December 11, 2025, the Humanoids Summit 2025 opened its doors at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, drawing a diverse crowd of innovators, engineers, and investors eager to explore the future of humanoid robotics and embodied artificial intelligence. Now in its third year, the summit has rapidly become a key event on the global robotics calendar, providing a platform for showcasing the latest advancements in robotics technology. The two-day event featured live demonstrations of cutting-edge humanoid robots, highlighting the strides that have been made in fields like robot dexterity, sensor-motor integration, and human-robot collaboration. These demos allowed…

On the night of December 9, 2025, skywatchers across the United States were given the rare opportunity to witness one of nature’s most mesmerizing phenomena—an auroral display visible far beyond the usual high-latitude regions. The event was sparked by a surge in solar activity, driven by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun that interacted with Earth’s magnetic field. This powerful interaction created conditions that allowed the northern lights, typically confined to Arctic regions, to be visible in a much broader expanse of the U.S. As the CME approached Earth, astronomers and space weather experts predicted that the aurora…

U.S. financial markets wrapped up a week of trading that was marked by a combination of year-end investor positioning and strong signals coming from the retail sector. As the holiday shopping season gained momentum, retail performance emerged as a central economic driver, and analysts noted a clear pattern of elevated consumer spending. This surge in consumer activity has played a crucial role in bolstering market sentiment, as several major retailers reported higher-than-expected sales in early December. With the holiday season well underway, these positive retail trends helped set a hopeful tone for both investors and retailers, despite the challenges that…

Americans nationwide came together to observe Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, marking the 84th anniversary of the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. This day serves as a solemn reminder of the lives lost and the profound impact the attack had on the United States, not only during World War II but also in shaping the nation’s future. On that day in 1941, 2,403 Americans tragically lost their lives when the Japanese military launched a surprise strike on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii, a moment that led to the United States’ formal entry into World War II. Across the…

On December 5, 2025, the Swiss Federal Council made a historic decision by approving a draft mandate to formally begin trade negotiations with the United States, marking a significant milestone in the potential strengthening of economic relations between the two countries. This approval follows a framework agreement that was reached just a month earlier, which included several key provisions aimed at improving trade and investment flows. Under the agreement, the U.S. agreed to reduce tariffs on Swiss imports from a high 39 percent to a more manageable 15 percent. In return, Swiss companies committed to making substantial investments in the…