- The top 25 stories curated by editors and fellow readers!
Editor's Pick |
| Work 'We are not California': New Jersey dealers push back on electric truck rules  As a handful of states start adopting California's sales mandates for zero-emission trucks, dealers in New Jersey are pushing back. These rules are designed to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles in heavy trucking. |
| Work Yes, Americans are much richer than Japanese people  Now, Samo makes what I think is a major mistake here -- using GDP at market exchange rates rather than at purchasing power parity. If only imports mattered for living standards, we could use market exchange rate GDP here, since that reflects how many imports you can afford. |
| Work Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Revealed: Next Film Is 'Mythic Action Epic' Shot With New Imax Technology  Sing to me, muse! Details of Christopher Nolan's star-studded next project at Universal have finally been revealed. According to a new X post from Universal Pictures, the filmmaker's next project "is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. |
| Work A Look Inside Huawei's Phone Shows How China's Chip Advance Has Stalled  In the tense geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States for control of advanced technology, Huawei is often in the middle. The Chinese telecommunications giant is a main target of a U.S. |
| Work My horrible career -- Bitfield Consulting  I recently had a fascinating, and wide-ranging, conversation with ace developer advocate Zack Proser, of the highly recommended Supercharge Your Dev Skills blog. |
| Work Luigi Mangione Prosecutors Have a Jury Problem: 'So Much Sympathy'  An attorney has said that jury selection may be very difficult in Luigi Mangione's murder trial as there is so much public sympathy for the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. |
| Work Ireland embraced data centers that the AI boom needs. Now they're consuming too much of its energy  CLONDALKIN, Ireland (AP) -- Dozens of massive data centers humming at the outskirts of Dublin are consuming more electricity than all of the urban homes in Ireland and starting to wear out the warm welcome that brought them here. |
| Work Astronomers discover 'tunnel' connecting solar system to other stars  Astronomers have made a shocking new discovery about our solar system. The research was conducted by astronomers at the Max Planck Institute in Germany led by Dr. L. L. Sala. |
| Work GRAPHIC: Recent Tyson Foods, Butterball meatpacking plant closures highlight industry trend  Meatpacking plants closed at an unprecedented rate this year, accelerated by a number of factors such as rising livestock costs, workforce shortages, food safety violations and foodborne illnesses, and ongoing industry consolidation. |
| Work The birth of Jesus would probably have been forgotten if it wasnt for a plague  In our Christmas imagery, ancient symbols such as fir trees, mistletoe, holly and ivy sit alongside the baby Jesus, Virgin Mary, angels and shepherds. This mixture of pagan and Christian traditions reminds us that Christmas was superimposed on to much older midwinter festivities. |
| Work The rise and rise of Maye Musk Chinas love affair with Elon Musks mother  Maye Musk is a busy woman. As well as being the mother of the world's richest man, she has been jetting between various glamorous events - many of them in China. |
| Work Bilderberg Group changes itself for the modern world and return of Trump  The former head of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg, has been named the new co-chair of the influential Bilderberg Group, which convenes a yearly transatlantic policy conference and has long been the subject of conspiracy theories around the extent of its power to shape global events. |
| Work Nvidia sees 'remarkable' influx of retail investor dollars as traders flock to AI darling  As Michael MacGillivray saw artificial intelligence becoming more ubiquitous in everyday life, the 25-year-old wanted his investments to reflect that. It didn't take long to figure out how he wanted to play the trend. |
| Work FinlandEstonia power cable hit in latest Baltic Sea incident  An undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia broke down on Wednesday, Finland's prime minister said, the latest in a series of incidents involving cables and energy pipelines in the Baltic Sea. |
| Work Experts warn of mental health risks after rise in magic mushroom use  Magic mushrooms are rapidly growing in popularity, sparking a "psychedelic renaissance" as people become more interested in their mental health benefits. But experts have warned that using them recreationally risks doing more harm than good. |
| Work We wish we'd written that: STAT staffers share their favorite stories of 2024  In STAT's "jealousy list" for 2024, STAT staffers explain what makes a selection of stories they read in other publications so compelling. |
| Work PharmEasy investor cuts value of its stake drastically, implying new valuation of $456M | TechCrunch  The startup’s financial challenges emerged after it deferred an $843 million IPO planned for November 2021. It then turned to debt financing, including a $300 million loan from Goldman Sachs, which proved problematic as the company struggled to repay those loans and raise new equity in a deteriorating market. |
| Work Revisited: The birdwatcher fighting racism in public spaces a?? podcast  Cooper says he knew something like this could happen to him, as a birder who is black, and that it is symptomatic of a much deeper problem. But, he tells Hannah Moore, he is determined to use the platform he has gained to show that the natural world is for everyone. |
| Work a??Wild westa??: experts concerned by illegal promotion of weight-loss jabs in UK  "The current system is based on, primarily, reputational damage and issuing rulings which point out to rule breaches. And this is intended to, basically, name and shame the offenders," he said. "But actually, what seems to be working better is very significant financial penalties." |
| Work Resist a??predatorya?? Boxing Day gambling offers, say NHS bosses amid worsening crisis  In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 988 or chat for support. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org |
| Work Exhibition debunks a??no Welsh arta?? myth amid calls for permanent national gallery  The sculptor and blacksmith David Petersen, from Saint Clears in Carmarthenshire, expressed his frustration succinctly in the visitors' book: "Why has it taken so long to have this fantastic exhibition?" |
| Work Campaigners call for right to roam on edges of private farmland in England  “We are committed to making sure the public access nature, from green spaces to forests to river walks, in a responsible way and we strongly encourage everyone to follow the countryside code.” |
| Work Man, 61, charged with murder after Hungarian woman found dead in Bolton  “As part of our investigation, we are once again appealing for additional information from the local community. You can speak to our officers in person or call 101 quoting incident 1670 of 23 December 2024. |
| Work UK gambling with climate targets over carbon capture, say campaigners  The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We follow the agreed international approach for estimating and reporting greenhouse gas emissions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and we expect the country that captures CO2 to continue to benefit from negative emissions. |
| Work Middle East crisis live: 14 security personnel killed in Syria after clash over former prison officer  Israel’s air and ground offensive has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry. It says more than half the fatalities have been women and children, but does not say how many of the dead were fighters. |
| Work Support for Ukraine a??until it winsa?? falls sharply in western Europe, poll finds  A settlement was seen as more likely by those in Denmark (47%), Germany (40%), the UK and France (38%) and Italy (36%), with continued fighting seen as marginally the more likely scenario by those in Spain (36%) and Sweden (35%). |
| Work Russia-Ukraine war live: Ukraine claims it struck military facility in Russia  Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a call with the Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, where he thanked Japan’s government for a decision to transfer an additional $3bn secured from frozen Russian assets. The Ukrainian leader also thanked Japan for the total $12bn in humanitarian and financial aid provided to Ukraine, according to a readout of the Wednesday call. |
| Work Melbourne stabbing: Man arrested after woman found dead at Langwarrin home on Boxing Day  A crime scene has been established and police are calling on anyone who witnessed the incident, who has any information or who may have dashcam or CCTV footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au |
| Work Boxing Day sales: crowds flock to stores around Australia in search of bargains  The survey of more than 1,000 Australians revealed almost half did not think about how the gifts they bought for others will be disposed of while 52% would have preferred it if others had not bought them a gift. |
| Work Two women fighting for life after suspicious house fire in Townsville  The pair, 53 and 83, were rushed to Townsville university hospital with critical airway burns, while a third resident, a 55-year-old man, was taken to the same facility with non-life threatening injuries. |
| Work a??Considerable environmental damagea?? from Victoria blaze a?? as it happened  The current fires are burning at Grampians national park, Bullengarook, Creswick and at the Gurdies. Residents in the Grampians towns of Bornes Hill, Moyston and Pomonal were also ordered to leave on Wednesday as the blaze raced towards them. |
| Work Elon Musk urges supporters not to donate to Wikipedia after it spent $50M on DEI: 'Wokepedia'  Elon Musk urged his supporters not to donate to the nonprofit that runs Wikipedia after the organization budgeted more than $50 million to spend on controversial diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The Wikimedia Foundation site said that it set a goal of spending $51. |
| Work Birdsville notches up another temperature record as Australia faces more heat before New Yeara??s Eve  Most tourists passing through at this time of year were usually on their way to visit family around the country, Pursell said. Outback travellers usually understood the hot weather, he said, but locals did make sure they knew to bring enough water and food. |
| Work Indian Ocean tsunami: how survivors found love after Boxing Day disaster  His wife and daughter are both volunteers who raise awareness of disaster preparedness in the community. He is proud of them both, he says. “At least we have knowledge [now] and we already know how to escape, how to survive.” |
| Work Cambodian opposition leader jailed after conviction for inciting disorder  Similar charges have been used this year against union leaders, environmental activists and Mech Dara, an award-winning Cambodian journalist known for exposing corruption and human trafficking, whose arrest in September prompted a global outcry. |
| Work The best Xbox Series X and Series S accessories for 2025  In Hellblade II, Senua is figuring out how to live outside of her father’s influence, but his voice still rumbles in her head at inopportune times, drowning out the softer whispers that she’s come to view as her allies. Hellblade II is the perfect game for a quiet afternoon when you’re craving a dark sensory overload. — J.C. |
| Work The best PS5 accessories for 2025  Here are the best accessories for the Sony PlayStation 5, as chosen by Engadget editors. |
| Work Air missile accident emerges as probable cause of crash tragedy  An Azerbaijan Airlines crashed on Wednesday morning in the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 on board the Embraer 190, according to officials. |
| Work China approves Tibet mega dam that could generate 3 times more power than Three Gorges  China has approved the construction of a colossal hydropower project on Tibet's longest river that could generate three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday. |
| Work A new magnetic survey of the ancient Assyrian capital of Khorsabad has revealed a 127-room villa twice the size of the U.S. White House  Archaeologists in northern Iraq have conducted an extensive magnetic survey using an exhaustive magnetic survey at Khorsabad, once the ancient Assyrian capital, and with the help of this technology have found the remains of a huge villa (with 127 rooms), royal gardens, the city's water gate and fi |
| Work Prosecutors in Taiwan Indict Ko Wen-je, Former Presidential Candidate  The prosecutors asserted that Ko Wen-je, a former mayor, took bribes. He and his supporters have maintained that the charges are a political vendetta. |
| Work Opinion | Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni and the Brute Force of Celebrity P.R. Tactics  On the internet, the truth and the manufactured lies about celebrities are hard to sort through. |
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| Work Still Sounding Young at 85, She Is the Voice of Old Japan  Midori Kato is the last original member of the cast of “Sazae-san,” a cartoon series that premiered in 1969 and never quite joined the modern world. |
| Work Five Journalists Killed in Gaza Strike, Palestinian Officials Say  The Israeli military said it had struck a vehicle containing a “terrorist cell” in the Nuseirat area of Gaza. |
| Work A Young Sudanese Trapped by War Makes Painful Choices and Is Viewed With Suspicion  Trapped in Sudan’s brutal civil war, a young woman chose to work in a clinic on the front line, treating civilians and combatants. She had to navigate suspicion from both sides. |
| Work Beyonce's Netflix Halftime Set: A Stunning 'Cowboy Carter' Showcase  The star performed songs from her country-and-more album for the first time during an N.F.L. game, spotlighting her onstage prowess and the contributions of her collaborators. |
| Work Hanukkah in Pictures: Keeping the Flame Alive  Jews around the globe lit the first of eight candles on Wednesday and came together to celebrate and reflect on their history. |
| Work The top billionaires have these 7 things in common  Most investors will never become billionaires, but there are still some valuable lessons to be learned by examining what the richest people in the world have in common. You may be able to apply some things to your own life or portfolio, even if you don't ultimately reach billionaire status. |
| Work Chrismukkah, the Mash-Up Holiday for Interfaith Families  Like many members of interfaith families, I get to observe the two holidays on the same day this year. |
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| Work Indian Ocean Tsunami Was the Deadliest in History. 20 Years Later, Challenges Still Remain.  Experts said they were “blind” to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Twenty years later, working toward a world without tsunami deaths is a challenge. |
| Work In Some Doctors' Offices, the Weigh-In Is No Longer Required  It may be a longstanding practice, but critics say routine weight measurements are driving some patients away from care. |
| Work Human Thought Is Far Slower Than Your Internet Connection  A new study is “a bit of a counterweight to the endless hyperbole about how incredibly complex and powerful the human brain is,” one researcher said. |
| Work Is the Tech Industry Already on the Cusp of an A.I. Slowdown?  Companies like OpenAI and Google are running out of the data used to train artificial intelligence systems. Can new methods continue years of rapid progress? |
| Work Japan Airlines Cyber Attack Causes Flight Delays  The airline also temporarily stopped selling tickets for flights departing Thursday, but said that there was no impact on flight safety. |
| Work Tokyo Plane Collision Was Caused by Human Error, Investigators Find  A report confirmed prior indications that a pilot’s misunderstanding of air traffic control directives, and a missed warning, caused the January accident. |
| Work How A.I. Could Reshape the Economic Geography of America  As the technology is widely adopted, some once-struggling midsize cities in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and South may benefit, new research predicts. |
| Work The retro hobby that can help boost happiness levels  BBC InDepth is the new home on the website and app for the best analysis and expertise from our top journalists. Under a distinctive new brand, we’ll bring you fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions, and deep reporting on the biggest issues to help you make sense of a complex world. And we’ll be showcasing thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. We’re starting small but thinking big, and we want to know what you think - you can send us your feedback by clicking on the button below. |
| Work Agentic AI vs Generative AI: Understanding the Key Differences and Impacts  Large Language Models (LLMs) (opens new window) like GPT (opens new window) can generate text, answer questions, and assist with many tasks. However, they are reactive, meaning they only respond to the input they receive based on patterns they've learned. |
| Work Squid Game season 2 review: 'A highly welcome return to this hellscape world'  While it's a little long – at seven episodes, it's two episodes shorter than the last series, but some of the repetitive voting and gun-fight scenes can drag – and the reveal of a double-crossing character felt obvious from the start, it's a highly welcome return to this hellscape world. The series ends abruptly; with both a cliffhanger and a flash of a mid-credits scene that sets things up for a third series, due out in 2025. It's a tortuous, frustrating end for viewers, but hey, isn't that the name of the game? |