Good Morning!

It's Friday, December 26, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Trump orders US strikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria. 

• Nobody wants to be online now! 

• Your new year health resolutions are not doomed to fail.

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

US News

Trump Administration Orders US Strikes On ISIS Targets In Nigeria

President Donald Trump said he ordered numerous US strikes on Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, accusing them of killing Christians. In a Truth Social post, Trump described the action as a “powerful and deadly” strike. The Pentagon released video showing a projectile launched from a warship, with targets not specified. US Africa Command said the strikes were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC the operation was joint, targeted terrorists, and was not religion-based.

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Shopping

The Christmas Gifts Americans Return The Most

Americans return tens of billions of dollars’ worth of unwanted Christmas gifts each year. Returns typically surge 25%–35% starting Dec. 26, according to Adobe Analytics, and continue into January in a period known as “Returnuary.” Clothing, shoes, accessories, and electronics are the most frequently returned items due to sizing, fit, or duplication issues. Data from Seel estimates 20%–25% of annual retail sales in 2025, or about $1 trillion in merchandise, will be returned. Many items are not restocked and often discarded, industry executives said.

Tech

Being Too Online Is Cringe Now

Some people in 2025 are adopting “analog bags” filled with non-digital items such as journals, art supplies, puzzles and books to reduce screen time. Emily Karst, an assistant principal in Ohio, said the habit helps replace phone use with hobbies. The trend reflects a broader effort to limit online activity and address doomscrolling. Apps and devices like Focus Friend and the Brick aim to restrict phone use. Others have created physical phone docks or hosted phone-free events, while DJs and bars have banned phones to encourage in-person interaction.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🚫 US imposes visa bans on European digital misinformation, hate-speech leaders.

💛 If you’re lonely over the holidays, here’s a great way to deal with it.

✈️ Turns out, you could make your economy-class seat a little less miserable.

📂 Justice Department says it found a million more Epstein-related documents, delaying public release.

🎄 On Christmas call, Trump asks children some interesting questions.

🕊️ Zelenskyy outlines peace plan, signaling possible withdrawal from eastern Ukraine.

🤖 AI likely to bypass safeguards to turn fully clothed women into bikini deepfakes with Google and OpenAI chatbots.

🤍 Why Irritable Bowel Syndrome hits women more often.

🗣️ Yep, this IS the best question to ask a a party!

🤢 What is the surging “winter vomiting bug”? It’s more contagious than we thought!

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🎯 New year, new you? Wait — everybody knows most health resolutions end up failing by the year's end. That doesn’t mean accomplishing your goals is a lost cause! 

🧬 Living until your 80s, 90s, or even 100s? Here’s what ‘super agers’ — and the scientists who study them — suggest for living a long, healthy life. Good news, it’s not all genetics. 

💪 We’ve all been a victim of bloating, yet food may not be the only cause of your misery. Muscle dysfunction is a likely trigger, but thankfully, it’s easy to beat.

🚰 You could be consuming a heavy metal right now without knowing it. A 20-year study reveals how purifying this daily essential can slash your disease risk by half.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

🧣 When the chills get to your head (literally), toss the hats and tie the scarf for a hair-friendly alternative. It’s also chic for every occasion. 

💅 Blaming your brittle, peeling nails on water exposure or age? Your body might be flagging a deeper imbalance of these essential nutrients. Don’t top it with lotion for a miraculous fix! 

👖 Denim — well, specifically these celebrity-endorsed styles — will never go out of style. They’re the 'cool girl' shortcut for looking polished with zero effort. 

✨ The future of fashion is in high-shine, specifically the hyper-glossed chrome that’s about to bombard your feeds. Is this a sign to get out of the age-old neutral rut?

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🎬 The Duffer brothers are finally talking about the Stranger Things endgame.  

🏈 A festive Christmas for Taylor Swift and fiancé Travis Kelce meant game day at Arrowhead. Perfectly romantic? 

⚖️ Sean “Diddy” Combs files an appeal to seek immediate prison release, while his attorneys accuse the criminal trial’s judge of acting as “a thirteenth juror.”

👻 Rapper Nicki Minaj has gone ghost on Instagram. The surprising appearance at AmericaFest was the slip that started it all.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

By 2026, doctors may predict your future health the way meteorologists predict storms. New AI models could forecast individual risk for cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s decades before symptoms appear, using biomarkers, aging clocks, scans, genetics, and health data. Supporters say this could unlock truly personalized prevention plans. Critics warn the science still needs validation and raises ethical questions about privacy, anxiety, and access. The promise is big, but so are the stakes.

“I did not know how brave I was until I had no choice.” 

— Isabel Allende