17+ min ago (328+ words) Irish writer and poet Jessica Traynor is worried about her native land. In a piece for the Dial , Traynor recounts visiting Dublin Port as a teenager in 2001 and seeing cranes at work transforming the once-gritty docks into what are now known as Silicon Docks'where Google, Meta, and Apple... Ireland May Be 'Sleepwalking' Into Big Tech Trouble Irish writer and poet Jessica Traynor is worried about her native land. In a piece for the Dial, Traynor recounts visiting Dublin Port as a teenager in 2001 and seeing cranes at work transforming the once-gritty docks into what are now known as Silicon Docks'where Google, Meta, and Apple would build their European strongholds. She recounts how Ireland became a tech colony for US giants thanks to rock-bottom corporate tax rates and giant tax loopholes. And where do things stand today? "While their contribution to…...

42+ min ago (750+ words) The Food and Drug Administration plans a more skeptical approach to vaccine approval, prompted by an internal memo that claims without providing evidence that at least 10 children died "after and because of receiving" a COVID shot. The memo, written by Dr. Vinay Prasad, head of the FDA's vaccine division,... FDA Plans Changes, Tying Child Deaths to COVID Shot The Food and Drug Administration plans a more skeptical approach to vaccine approval, prompted by an internal memo that claims without providing evidence that at least 10 children died "after and because of receiving" a COVID shot. The memo, written by Dr. Vinay Prasad, head of the FDA's vaccine division, and obtained by NBC News, cites an internal review of deaths reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System between 2021 and 2024. Prasad asserts the real number could be higher and accuses the agency…...

1+ hour, 52+ min ago (372+ words) Thousands of people on Sunday joined protest marches in Croatia against a surging far right following a spate of incidents that have fueled both ethnic and political tensions in the European Union country. Gatherings dubbed "United against fascism" were organized in four major cities, including the capital, Zagreb. The crowd... Thousands Protest Far Right, Use of Pro-Fascist Symbols Thousands of people on Sunday joined protest marches in Croatia against a surging far right following a spate of incidents that have fueled both ethnic and political tensions in the European Union country. Gatherings dubbed "United against fascism" were organized in four major cities, including the capital, Zagreb. The crowd chanted "We are all antifascists!" as they pledged to counter what they described as an attempt by right-wing groups to spread fear and silence opponents, the AP reports. Protesters demanded that the…...

3+ hour ago (656+ words) A long-lost painting by Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, which was hidden for more than four centuries, sold for $2.7 million at an auction Sunday in Versailles. The painting, which depicts the crucifixion of Jesus, was recently found in a private townhouse in Paris. It was part of a... Rubens' Crucifixion Depiction, Lost for Centuries, Brings $2.7M A long-lost painting by Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens, which was hidden for more than four centuries, sold for $2.7 million at an auction Sunday in Versailles. The painting, which depicts the crucifixion of Jesus, was recently found in a private townhouse in Paris. It was part of a French collection and was initially thought to be from one of the many Rubens workshops that existed at the time. The artwork was rarely valued at more than $11,500, the AP reports. "I immediately had a hunch about this…...

3+ hour, 21+ min ago (210+ words) The painting was recently found in a private townhouse in Paris. It depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was part of a French collection and was initially thought to be from one of the many Rubens workshops that existed at the time. The artwork was rarely valued at more than 10,000 euros ($11,500). Nils B'ttner, an expert known for his research on Rubens, explained before the auction that the master often painted crucifictions but rarely depicted "the crucified Christ as a dead body on the cross." "So this is the one and only painting showing blood and water coming out of the side wound of Christ, and this is something that Rubens only painted once." The Osenat auction house said the painting's authenticity and provenance were confirmed after scientific analysis. It said microscopic examination of the paint layers revealed not only…...

3+ hour, 57+ min ago (329+ words) A wave of frog die-offs in Central America may have led to a surge in malaria cases among humans'among other woes. The Washington Post shines a light on the "frog apocalypse" and the culprit behind it: a lethal fungus known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , or Bd, which has decimated frog... Disappearance of Frogs May Be Making Some Humans Sick A wave of frog die-offs in Central America may have led to a surge in malaria cases among humans'among other woes. The Washington Post shines a light on the "frog apocalypse" and the culprit behind it: a lethal fungus known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or Bd, which has decimated frog populations globally since the 1990s. The fungus weakens frogs to the point of death, and some 500 amphibian species have been impacted, with nearly 20% of those "decimated." And as frogs disappeared, so did their tadpoles'key…...

4+ hour, 6+ min ago (262+ words) Thieves have pulled off an unusual heist in France's Champagne region, making off with nearly half a ton of snails. The haul, valued at $100,000, vanished from L'Escargot des Grands, a farm run by Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne, in an overnight caper last week, reports the Independent . Most had been destined... A Very French Heist: $100K Worth of Snails Thieves have pulled off an unusual heist in France's Champagne region, making off with nearly half a ton of snails. The haul, valued at $100,000, vanished from L'Escargot des Grands, a farm run by Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne, in an overnight caper last week, reports the Independent. Most had been destined for the Christmas menus of high-end restaurants. "This is definitely not the kind of post we thought we'd write as the holidays approach," reads a Facebook statement from the farm, per CNN. "We've been robbed and our…...

4+ hour, 17+ min ago (376+ words) The oldest beer brewing school in the United States is pulling up stakes and moving to Canada. After more than 150 years in Chicago, the Siebel Institute of Technology is relocating its classroom operations to Montreal, citing recent US regulatory changes that have made it harder for international students'the... America's Oldest Brewing School Is Moving to Canada The move has left some in Chicago's beer community lamenting the loss of an institution deeply tied to the city's working-class and immigrant history. "If you talk to brewers of the modern era'not just in Chicago, but across the nation'it really is the place where people go and learn the trade," said Liz Garabay of the Beer Culture Center. Still, she acknowledged that Montreal, with its vibrant food and beverage scene, is a fitting new home. The Siebel Institute highlighted Montreal's "vibrant, safe, and…...

4+ hour, 20+ min ago (489+ words) When you're stumped by what to get Aunt Myrtle this holiday season, there's a bot for that. Although AI-powered purchases are in early stages, the shopping assistants and agents rolled out by the likes of Walmart, Amazon, and Google can do more than the chatbots of holidays past, reports the... Holiday Shopping, Now With More AI When you're stumped by what to get Aunt Myrtle this holiday season, there's a bot for that. Although AI-powered purchases are in early stages, the shopping assistants and agents rolled out by the likes of Walmart, Amazon, and Google can do more than the chatbots of holidays past, reports the AP. The latest versions were designed to provide personalized product recommendations, track prices, and to place some orders through unscripted "conversations" with customers. Those features are on top of shopping updates from AI platforms…...

4+ hour, 32+ min ago (327+ words) Former military contractor Nathan Seabrook brought battlefield tactics to Minneapolis in 2021, turning a local mall into a flashpoint for questions about private security, police violence, and the legacy of America's forever wars, as detailed in a piece by Eamon Whalen for Mother Jones . After George Floyd's murder and the... Mall Cops With Assault Rifles: Minneapolis' New Reality Former military contractor Nathan Seabrook brought battlefield tactics to Minneapolis in 2021, turning a local mall into a flashpoint for questions about private security, police violence, and the legacy of America's forever wars, as detailed in a piece by Eamon Whalen for Mother Jones. After George Floyd's murder and the unrest that followed, Seabrook, an Iraq veteran, returned home and founded the Conflict Resolution Group, a private security firm staffed by former soldiers and contractors. CRG was hired to clear protesters from a memorial…...