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May 09 2026TECHNOLOGY

Amazon changes its TV brand name but keeps the same software

Amazon is giving its smart TVs a new name. Instead of Fire TV, they will now be called Ember TVs. The change mostly affects the physical TVs Amazon makes itself. Other brands that use Amazon’s software will still sell their devices under the Fire TV name. This could make it easier for shoppers to te

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May 09 2026TECHNOLOGY

How AI Can Help Us Understand Well-Being Better

Technology today can track almost everything about our daily lives—from sleep patterns to step counts. Artificial intelligence could soon use this data to guess how we're feeling. But if the AI works like a mystery box, spitting out results without any reasoning, people won't trust it. Imagine an ap

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May 09 2026BUSINESS

GE's Smart Move: Staying Flexible in the Energy Game

GE Vernova isn’t putting all its energy eggs in one basket. Instead of betting big on one energy source, the company is playing it smart by staying flexible. While gas turbines get most of the attention—orders are stacked through 2030—the real story is how GE is quietly building a future-proof busin

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May 09 2026POLITICS

Healdsburg's Future Train Station Gets a Head Start on Celebrations

Before a single track is laid or a shovel hits the dirt, Healdsburg is already throwing a party for a train station that won’t open for years. Over 1, 000 people gathered at a local hall to mark the planned SMART rail extension, even though construction won’t begin until 2027. The excitement isn’t j

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May 09 2026TECHNOLOGY

Apple tightens education discounts with new rules

Apple just made it harder to get discounts on its devices. The tech giant used to trust customers to say they were students, teachers, or parents when buying from its education store. Now, you have to prove it. This change started in 2022 but has spread to more countries, including the U. S. , Austr

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May 09 2026EDUCATION

Mexico’s Schools Close Early for World Cup — But Is It Worth It?

The Mexican government just moved up the end of the school year by over a month because of the 2026 World Cup. Schools now finish classes on June 5 instead of June 15, giving students an extra 40 days of summer break. The government says a recent heat wave helped justify the change, but the World Cu

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May 09 2026HEALTH

How a Cruise Ship Became Linked to a Hantavirus Outbreak

A recent health alert shows how quickly travel can turn risky when viruses jump between people in close spaces like cruise ships. Six passengers and crew members have tested positive for Andes virus—a serious hantavirus—after falling ill on a cruise traveling from Cabo Verde to Spain’s Canary Island

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May 08 2026POLITICS

Korea Investigates Fire on Ship Near Hormuz Strait

South Korean authorities have begun looking into an explosion and blaze that hit a Korean‑run vessel in the waters near the Strait of Hormuz. The incident happened on Monday while the ship was anchored close to the United Arab Emirates, and it caused damage in the engine room. The crew of 24, which

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May 08 2026POLITICS

US Pushes UN Move on Iran, China and Russia Likely to Block

The United States is pushing a new United Nations resolution that would require Iran to stop attacks and remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz. The plan was drafted by Washington, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar. The resolution calls for Iran to halt its military a

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May 08 2026OPINION

Violence in the Culture: A Quiet Shift

The U. S. has long carried out acts that cause severe harm, yet they rarely receive the label of cruelty in public discourse. An example is a missile strike that killed over a hundred children and adults in an Iranian school; initially the incident was downplayed, later dismissed as accidental. Such

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