January sales at U. S. stores dipped more than many had predicted, marking the sharpest decline since May. The Commerce Department’s latest data showed a 0. 2 percent drop from December, falling short of the flat trend economists had forecast. Seasonal adjustments were applied, but inflation was not
A new device made from two layers of aluminum can change the way light twists, working well across a wide range of colors from green to near‑infrared. The designers did not use an idealized flat coating; instead they measured the real, uneven shape of a silica (SiO₂) layer that sits on top of the
The United States has spent about $3. 7 billion in the first 100 hours of its attack on Iran, a study says. That averages nearly $900 million each day. Most of the money goes to buying weapons, not to running the war itself. The research was done by a Washington think‑tank that looks at defense issu
The European Union still faces a major health challenge with tobacco use. Even after many years of progress, smoking rates have stopped falling and new laws to curb the habit are few. Researchers used data from the 2019 European Health Interview Survey to calculate how much smoking hurts hospitals f
The timber boom that once kept Alaskan towns alive has slipped into history, a slow decline driven by layers of rules and dwindling money. That story shows how easy it is for a vital industry to disappear when policy turns heavy and investment dries up. Oil, however, is the engine that keeps Alas
Manuel Locatelli had to prove himself when Luciano Spalletti became Juventus’ boss. The coach, who once left the Italian squad with few chances for him, stayed honest about why Locatelli wasn’t a regular. When they met again in Turin, Spalletti kept the same clear line: show you can meet the demands
People who lose a loved one often turn to the funeral industry for help. In Italy, studies show that families face many choices about how to honor their dead. Some of these decisions feel emotional, while others feel commercial. The first step is to decide what kind of service to buy. Families weig
P. G. Sittenfeld became the youngest member of Cincinnati City Council in 2012 when he was just 27. Eight years later, the city’s top mayoral hopeful found himself in federal custody after an FBI sting that filmed him accepting $40, 000 from undercover agents posing as developers. The operation clai
Denmark’s election on March 24 faces a new hurdle: voters overseas may not get their ballots in time. The country’s government warned that fighting in the Middle East is disrupting flights and mail routes, making it hard for postal votes to reach Denmark before the count. Key airports such as
The Paisley Pig, which had been part of Grand Haven’s dining scene for nine years, will close its doors on March 29. The owners, Josh and Katie Sandberg, posted the news on Facebook after a brief attempt to revive the restaurant. They explained that rising wages and food prices have made it im
