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Insurance crisis exposes shocking natural disaster reality
When the Eaton Fire consumed Fox’s Restaurant in Altadena, owner Paul Rosenbluh hoped his insurance would provide a straightforward path to recovery. But like many small business owners across America, he’s discovering that navigating post-disaster insurance …
Good Morning, News: President-Elect Trump Sentencing Nothingburgers, Oregon Firefighters Head to ...
by Suzette Smith If you appreciate the Mercury's interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. Good Morning, Portland: A deluge of cold rain…
Biden administration extends temporary status for more than 200,000 from El Salvador for 18 months
The Department of Homeland Security says more than 200,000 Salvadorans who have lived more than two decades in the United States can remain in the country another 18 months, marking one of the Biden administration's final acts on immigration policy.
What We’re Up Against: The Challenge of Fighting for Women’s Rights in 2025
As we enter 2025 at what seems to be a heyday of impunity for human rights abuses worldwide, autocratic leaders worldwide are taking note. In countries rich and poor, these leaders are flexing their muscles by curtailing our rights—to speak our minds, control…
Shettima to attend World Economic Forum in Switzerland
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday departed Abuja to represent Nigeria at the 2025 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum scheduled for Davos, Switzerland. “While in Davos, the Vice President will hold bilateral meetings with other leaders as well a…
An Unqualified “Predator”: Caroline Kennedy Urges Senate Not to Confirm Her Cousin RFK Jr.
In a scathing letter to the Senate ahead of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s confirmation hearings to become Secretary of Health and Human Services, Biden administration ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy has described her cousin as a hypocritical “predator” wh…
Super Bowl Halftime Show Is Recruiting Workers for Less Pay Than Fast-Food Servers
A job listing for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show offers $12 per hour — part of a long pattern of host-city residents getting the short shrift. The post Super Bowl Halftime Show Is Recruiting Workers for Less Pay Than Fast-Food Servers appeared first on The …
Mystery of summer-killing volcano solved
A climactic mystery about a year that gave summer a deadly pass may have been solved. Using new ice core techniques, scientists have concluded that the dark, chilly year of 1831 was due to the massive eruption of a volcano north of Japan.Continue ReadingCateg…
Columbia County Federal With Charm-Filled Interior, Barn Asks $1.9 Million
In Columbia County, an extensive landscape of 67 acres ranges from secluded woods to rolling lawns and includes a 19th century brick main house filled with lovingly cared for period details and enough outbuildings to hold guests and a multitude of hobbies. W…
Federal Reserve Withdraws from Global Climate Coalition
In a move that has sent shockwaves through climate advocacy circles, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced its withdrawal from the NGFS—a coalition of central banks established in 2017 to address climate-related risks in financial systems. Citing its limited sta…
French Navy Atlantique 2s Make Rare Visit to Indonesia as Charles de Gaulle CSG Participates in H...
The two Atlantique 2s will take part in the La Perouse 2025 exercise in the Indonesian archipelago together with the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and its Carrier Strike Group, which is currently sailing in the area as part of the Clemenceau 25 deploymen…
Trump’s new White House Press Secretary targets transgender people in first briefing
Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history at 27, debuted her media sparring skills on Tuesday by speaking for 47 minutes in the James S. Brady Briefing Room showcasing the Trump administration’s early moves, including an acr…
Sanitization Robots Market to Hit Valuation of US$ 6,937.14 Billion By 2033 | Semi-Autonomous Rob...
High-traffic medical settings, hotels, and corporate campuses increasingly deploy specialized disinfecting bots. Continuous AI-driven enhancements boost efficiency while durable hardware coatings ensure reliability. Growing multi-robot management and advanced…
RFK Jr's nomination hits roadblock over financial disclosures: report
Incoming President Donald Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is still awaiting a date for his confirmation hearings following a delay over his finances.The Washington Post reported Sunday that the Office of Governm…
How Observing Street Photographers Can Sharpen Your Eye
Street photography forces you to think and react differently compared to travel or landscape photography. While the latter might involve waiting for a perfect scene to unfold, street photography demands quick reflexes and an ability to anticipate moments befo…
Justices meet to fill out 2024-25 docket
The Petitions of the Week column highlights some of the cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here. When the justices meet for their next regularly scheduled conference today, they will discuss…
Oil Disaster Averted After Sabotaged Tanker Is Salvaged
An oil tanker attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, raising fears of an environmental catastrophe, has been successfully salvaged, security firm Ambrey confirmed on Friday. The Sounion, laden with one million barrels of crude oil, posed a signific…Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2025
Open access notables Would Adding the Anthropocene to the Geologic Time Scale Matter?, McCarthy et al., AGU Advances: The extraordinary fossil fuel-driven outburst of consumption and production since the mid-twentieth century has fundamentally altered the wa…The Last Question is the Most Important Question
Senator Tim Sheehy emphasized rebuilding America’s shipbuilding industry as vital to countering China’s growing naval power during Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing. This past week, the U.S. Senator from Montana, Senator Tim Sheehy, asked the very last, but…
Despite 2024 Layoffs, Tech Jobs Expected to Take Off
In 2024, the technology sector saw yet more layoffs after massive cuts in 2022 and 2023. Though the pace was somewhat slower last year, more than 150,000 employees were laid off across hundreds of companies, according to Layoffs.fyi, a site started during the…
Mozambique Retools Weather Tech for Impactful Forecasting
Extreme weather events are increasingly impacting eastern and southern Africa, with Mozambique among the worst affected. In response, the country is overhauling its early warning system in collaboration with the Savona, Italy-based International Center for En…
California couple fined $165,000 for damaging rare Central Coast flower habitat
California couple fined $165,000 for damaging rare Central Coast flower habitat..... San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced on Wednesday that his office had settled an environmental enforcement action against the couple, who agreed to pay …
Mark Carney: The Wrongest Man at the Wrongest Time Ever
Mark Carney’s bid for Canadian leadership pits a climate-activist banker against a political and economic tide increasingly rejecting the very ideals he champions. The politicization of business and capital markets has many fathers. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, …Trump ramps up threats to gain control of Greenland and Panama Canal (Liberal fear mongering alert)
President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his desire for the US to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, calling both critical to American national security. Asked if he would rule out using military or economic force in order to take over the autonomous …
Top 10 Game-Changing Appliances For The Smart Home Enthusiasts
Top 10 Game-Changing Appliances For The Smart Home EnthusiastsIn the fast-paced world of technology, our homes are evolving into smart ecosystems where convenience, efficiency, and personalization coalesce. For those passionate about integrating innovation...
Donald Trump broke the law by removing climate change references from USDA websites, lawsuit alleges
The US Department of Agriculture’s decision to purge information about climate change from its websites harms organic farmers and threatens their livelihoods, a new lawsuit alleges. Since President Donald Trump stepped into office, the USDA has removed “score…
VDH weighs in on the LA fires: “It's something like a DEI Green New Deal hydrogen bomb
“It was a total systems collapse from the idea of not spending money on irrigation, storage, water, fire prevention and forest management, a viable insurance industry, a DEI hierarchy, you put it all together and it's something like a DEI Green New Deal hydro…
Huawei Maextro S800: Where Technology Meets Art in Automotive Design
Huawei Maextro S800: Where Technology Meets Art in Automotive DesignThe Huawei Maextro S800 represents a design study of how digital technology companies approach automotive creation. Unlike traditional automakers who often begin with engineering requirements…
Manufacturing Training Reimagined: A Holistic Blueprint For Digital Upskilling
With an increasing number of manufacturing jobs requiring advanced digital skills, it's time to upskill the manufacturing workforce with smart factory technologies. Learn how to revolutionize manufacturing training and reach success in this new age. This post…
The Gulf of America is now officially open for business!
The Gulf of America Region (GOAR) manages three programs on the Gulf of America Outer Continental Shelf (OCS): oil and gas, renewable energy and marine minerals. The GOAR manages offshore resources in Federal waters off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississ…
The Shattered Mirror of Globalisation: Unveiling the Consequences for the Electricity Industry
2. The Future of Electricity and Industry The global energy sector is at a crossroads, with two competing pathways: Continuation of Fossil Fuels Many governments prioritize short-term energy security by extending the life of oil, gas, and coal, particularly i…
"We have to come together for each other," Hundreds protest in Madison for 'People's March' (WI)
Hundreds marched downtown Madison in preparation for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday. The event is described as "freedoms against relentless attack on our communities." According to the People's March's website the march was in support o…
Meeting the Muse at the Edge of the Light: Poet Gary Snyder on Craftsmanship vs. Creative Force
It is tempting, because we make everything we make with everything we are, to take our creative potency for a personal merit. It is also tempting when we find ourselves suddenly impotent, as all artists regularly do, to blame the block on a fickle muse and ru…
New breed of experts: How water sommeliers are educating the masses on the nuances of water quali...
In India, Ganesh Iyer, arguably the country’s first water sommelier, leads the way, followed by Avanti Mehta, Lakshitaa Khanna and Rajathi Kalimuthan, among others, who are helping water brands and hospitality businesses with everything water. “No two waters …
New Balance 9060 Olivine / Great Plains
The New Balance 9060 Olivine / Great Plains is an embodiment of both classic and contemporary sneaker aesthetics, designed to appeal to those who appreciate a blend of style and comfort. These sneakers are adorned with earthy tones, featuring a rich olivine h…
What will win, and what should win, at the Oscars this Sunday
Film critics make for notoriously spotty Oscar soothsayers. We sometimes prognosticate with our hearts instead of our heads. We’re often too close to a year in movies to guess what a bunch of industry professionals might decide are its highlights. That said, …
Administrator Zeldin Reportedly Working to Strike Endangerment Finding, Undermining EPA’s Ability...
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has reportedly submitted recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget that seek to strike the EPA’s “Endangerment Finding,” which forms a key scientific and legal basis for the agen…Zeldin’s EPA Urging Trump To Take Illegal Action That Will Endanger Americans
After attempts by the Administration to hide it from the American public for days, the Washington Post has reported that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is urging Donald Trump to further undermine bedrock environmental law and strip the agency he leads of essent…EPA Abdicates on Climate Change by Moving to Nix Endangerment Finding
In response to an executive order from President Donald Trump, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin recommended striking down the agency's 2009 finding that climate change endangers human health and welfare, according to publish…
Ascot Resources Provides Update on CEO Review and Postpones Scheduled Conference Call
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascot Resources Ltd. (TSX: AOT; OTCQX: AOTVF) (“Ascot” or the “Company”) announces that the Company’s newly appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Currie and his new management team,…
Global Extractables & Leachables Forum 2025
Extractables & Leachables (E&L) refer to the study of potential chemical compounds that can migrate from a product, such as a drug delivery systems, packaging, or medical devices, into the environment or directly into the patient. Extractables are chemical co…
MIT Study Reveals How Households Can Escape Energy Poverty
Energy poverty is a major problem around the world, affecting families in the richest countries as well as the poorest ones. Volatile and rising energy prices are hurting families’ bottom lines and even causing many to fall below the poverty line in diverse e…E2SOL and HOGREEN AIR MOU Signing at CES25
PROVIDENCE, R.I., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- E2SOL LLC and HOGREEN AIR Co. Ltd, both well established and recognized internationally as innovative companies, announced today that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding on January 9,…
Show HN: Freeact – A Lightweight Library for Code-Action Based Agents
Hello! We just released freeact (https://github.com/gradion-ai/freeact), a lightweight agent library that empowers language models to act as autonomous agents through executable code actions.By enabling agents to express their actions directly in code rather …
Boost your vision health with the right diet
The importance of nutrition in maintaining good vision has become increasingly clear in recent years. Although many focus on lifestyle factors such as screen time or environmental stressors, research highlights the critical role diet plays in preserving eye h…
