Housing affordability crunch: Experts say the U.S. housing market is in “unprecedented times,” with home prices up about 60% since COVID, mortgage rates still high, and the homeownership rate hitting a 2019 low—making it especially tough for first-time buyers. Preventive health as wealth strategy: Longer retirements raise the stakes for health spending; the case is that routine screenings and preventive care can help avoid costly chronic conditions later. EU online shopping duties: A reader question highlights confusion over the new €3 customs duty on parcels under €150, and how “de minimis” rules may affect VAT-zero-rated goods like food. Data centers vs. local costs in Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott says AI data centers shouldn’t be built in rural Texas neighborhoods and wants to end tax breaks tied to them. UAE tenant screening: A new service lets landlords request a tenant’s credit score only with consent via UAE PASS, with automatic refund if consent isn’t granted. Workplace financial wellness: Corporate India is shifting from salary-only thinking toward structured financial wellness programs as living costs and debt stress hit productivity. China tuition hikes: Public universities are raising tuition—sometimes by 30%+—as local government finances tighten.