/news3dMajor incident declared as 30,000 homes left without water in Kent and SussexA major incident has been declared in Kent and Sussex after 30,000 homes were left without water due to cold weather and Storm Goretti, causing burst pipes and disrupting water treatment. Schools, libraries, and hospitals have been impacted, with some appointments being carried out virtually. South East Water has apologized and is working to restore supplies, prioritizing vulnerable customers and essential services.
/news3dOne Dead in Australian Wildfires That May Burn for Weeks to ComeOne person has died in wildfires in the Australian state of Victoria, which have burned an area larger than Rhode Island. The body was found near the town of Gobur, and 32 active fires, including 10 major ones, are burning across the state. The fires have destroyed over 300 buildings, including homes, and the state and federal governments have announced an initial support package of A$19.5 million for those affected.
/food3dScientists just revealed a surprising new use for coffeeA new study published in the journal Methods reveals that ordinary espresso coffee can effectively stain biological samples for electron microscopy, offering a safe, low-cost alternative to the radioactive chemicals traditionally used in labs.
/offbeat3dFilipino woman worships green statue for 4 years, finds out it is animated character ShrekA Filipino woman in Manila worshipped a green statue for four years, believing it to be a Buddha figure. She discovered it was a 3D-printed Shrek statue, but intends to continue her daily worship.
/offbeat3dInfluencers and OnlyFans models are dominating O-1 visa requests: ‘This is the American dream now’This news article explores how content creators and influencers in the US are increasingly dominating requests for O-1 work visas, which are granted to individuals with extraordinary ability. The number of O-1 visas granted each year increased by 50% between 2014 and 2024. The O-1 category includes the O-1A, for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics and the O-1B, for those with 'extraordinary ability or achievement'. The article highlights the experiences of several influencers who have had success in obtaining or are still trying to obtain the O-1 visa, and discusses the evolving criteria for the visa, which now includes the accolades of an influencer.
/news4dUS military strikes Islamic State group targets in Syria, officials sayThe US military, under President Donald Trump's direction, carried out large-scale strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria in retaliation to a deadly attack on US forces. The operation, named Hawkeye Strike, involved over 20 aircraft and fired more than 90 precision munitions at over 35 targets. The strikes aim to combat terrorism and protect US and partner forces in the region.
/news5dBig changes coming to McDonald’s drive-thrusMcDonald's is rolling out AI across its restaurants to improve efficiency, order accuracy and drive-thru experience. The AI system, powered by Google Cloud, will include Accuracy Scales to ensure correct order weights, voice-activated AI chatbots to take orders, and expanded drive-thru lanes and Ready on Arrival program to speed up service.
/news6dMound of garbage collapses at Philippine landfill, burying and trapping 38 people and killing 1A mountain of garbage and debris collapsed at a landfill in Cebu city, Philippines, killing one person, injuring a dozen, and leaving 38 others missing. Rescuers retrieved 13 people alive and continued search and rescue efforts for the missing. The incident highlighted ongoing safety and health concerns with landfills in the Philippines.
/offbeat6dScientists Stunned by Fossils Found at the Peak of Mount Everest, Here’s Why!This article explores the discovery of marine fossils at the summit of Mount Everest and explains how they got there. The fossils, found in sedimentary rocks, indicate that the area was once underwater. The presence of these fossils is attributed to plate tectonics, which caused the uplift of the Himalayas, including Everest, around 40 to 50 million years ago. This discovery provides insight into the Earth's geological history and the movement of its crust.
/technology6dYouTube will let you exclude Shorts from search resultsYouTube has introduced new filters to its advanced search tools, allowing users to exclude Shorts from search results. This update is particularly useful for those seeking long-form content and helps avoid sifting through numerous short clips. Additionally, the 'Sort By' menu has been renamed to 'Prioritize', and 'View Count' is now 'Popularity', reflecting a broader range of engagement metrics.
/science6dJapan Science and Technology Agency Develops NVIDIA-Powered Moonshot Robot for Elderly CareThe Japan Science and Technology Agency is developing an AI-powered humanoid robot, AIREC, with the help of NVIDIA technologies to automate caregiving tasks for the elderly, including cooking, cleaning, and repositioning. The robots are being trained using NVIDIA Isaac Sim and RTX GPUs, and the project aims to integrate such robots into everyday life by 2050.
/news6dLG slips into first quarterly loss since 2016 despite record annual salesLG Electronics reported record-high revenue for 2025 but slipped into its first quarterly operating loss in nine years due to price competition in the premium TV market, increased marketing spend, and delayed recovery in TV demand. The company's OLED-focused display business lost ground to Chinese competitors, leading to a 27.5 percent year-on-year drop in operating profit. Despite the challenges, LG is repositioning itself with a focus on qualitative growth areas such as vehicle electronics, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and platform-based services, which now account for over 90 percent of operating profit.
/science7dNew battery idea gets lots of power out of unusual sulfur chemistryThis article discusses a new battery design that utilizes sulfur chemistry to achieve high energy density and low cost. The battery uses sulfur tetrachloride at the cathode and sodium at the anode, separated by a glass fiber material. It demonstrated high capacity, stability over 1,400 cycles, and a cost of $5 per kilowatt-hour, significantly lower than current sodium batteries.
/offbeat8d68 Laughably Bad AI Fails That Made Me Go "Uh, Are We Sure This Is The Technology Of The Future?"This BuzzFeed article showcases a collection of laughably bad AI fails, highlighting the technology's current limitations and humorous errors in various applications.
/news9dFrench ban on produce with banned chemical residues threatens reefer tradeFrance has announced a suspension of imports from South America of food products containing residues of several substances banned in Europe, which threatens the reefer trade.
/news9dIran offers citizens $7 monthly payments as protests spiral over economic crisisIran has announced a shift from import subsidies to direct monthly payments of approximately $7 to citizens, in response to the economic crisis and intensifying protests, according to reports.
/news9dJunk food advert ban comes into effect with soft drinks, porridge and chocolate includedA new online and TV ban on the advertising of unhealthy food comes into full effect today, targeting products high in saturated fat, salt, and sugar. The ban, which applies to 13 categories including soft drinks, chocolates, cereals, and sandwiches, aims to prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity, according to government estimates. The restrictions will be policed by the Advertising Standards Authority.
/news9d6.2 magnitude earthquake detected in Japan, no tsunami warning issuedThis news article reports on a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck western Japan on January 5, 2026, centered in Shimane Prefecture and Tottori Prefecture. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued no tsunami warning but warned of potential aftershocks and increased landslide risks.
/news9dNorway Just Reached 96% Electric Car Sales and Gas Is Basically Over Norway reached a historic milestone in 2025, with 96% of new car sales being fully electric vehicles. The surge was driven by policy incentives and impending EV taxes, with Tesla leading the market. The shift to electric vehicles has effectively ended fossil fuel-based new car sales in Norway, positioning the country to explore vehicle-to-grid projects.
/lifestyle10dGray Hair Is An Evolutionary Adaptation Designed To Help Your Body Protect ItselfThis article explores the evolutionary adaptation of gray hair, explaining how it helps protect the body from melanoma by deactivating pigment-inducing cells that could lead to cancer.
/technology10dBoston Dynamics' AI-powered humanoid robot is learning to work in a factoryBoston Dynamics' AI-powered humanoid robot, Atlas, is undergoing real-world testing at a Hyundai factory, showcasing its ability to perform tasks autonomously. Engineers at Boston Dynamics are using machine learning and advanced AI to teach Atlas various skills, from sorting roof racks to performing complex maneuvers. The development of Atlas highlights the rapid advancements in robotics and AI, with global competitors also investing heavily in humanoid technology. While Atlas is not yet ready for full-time factory work, its progress suggests a future where robots could perform many human jobs, though they will still require human oversight and management.
/technology10dLG says its CLOiD home robot will be folding laundry and making breakfast at CESWe need this robot ASAP
/news10dAmerican tourists stranded across the Caribbean after airspace closed for Maduro captureDespite the Federal Aviation Administration reopening the Eastern Caribbean airspace following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, some American tourists remain stranded across the region. Airlines have canceled hundreds of flights and are scrambling to add additional flights to accommodate affected customers.
/news15dTatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of John F Kennedy, dies aged 35 Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of former US President John F Kennedy, has died aged 35 after a battle with acute myeloid leukaemia. She shared her diagnosis and prognosis in an essay last month, expressing her concerns for her family and her work as a climate journalist.
/news16dThe New Year Will Kick Off With a Supermoon. Here's When to See ItThis article from CNET explains when to see the Wolf Moon, the final supermoon of 2025, which will appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual. The Wolf Moon, named for increased wolf activity in January, will be visible from December 31 to January 5, with peak illumination on January 3 at 5:03 a.m. ET.
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