• Associated Press

    The winter solstice is almost here, the Northern Hemisphere's darkest day

    The winter solstice is Saturday, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year to the Northern Hemisphere — ideal conditions for holiday lights and warm blankets. For those who would rather have more sunlight, you can try to make your way to the Southern Hemisphere, where it is summer. Or be patient: Starting Sunday, days will get a little bit longer in the Northern Hemisphere every single day until late June.

  • Reuters

    Morning Bid: Fed looms and Europe gets inflation data

    As a host of major central banks hold policy meetings over the next 24 hours, the U.S. Federal Reserve hogs the spotlight but it could be the Bank of Japan that surprises markets. The Bank of England (BoE), Bank of Japan (BOJ), Norges Bank and Sweden's Riksbank announce rate decisions on Thursday, hours after the Fed's announcement on Wednesday. Pricing in Japan implies a 20% chance of a rate hike - but that higher rates are a matter of time with more than 40 bps of hikes priced in by the end of 2025.

  • The Guardian

    Country diary: A handful of summer on a frosty day

    Southill, Bedfordshire: On a ringing session of seed-eating farmland birds, I see up close the subtle beauty of the yellowhammer