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☆ Only Iceland, Finland, and 5 other countries had clean enough air to meet a global safety standard: data
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The 2023 World Air Quality Report showed that only a few countries have acceptable air quality. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementHardly any countries have clean enough air to hit a global safety benchmark, according to new research. The only seven countries deemed acceptable were Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, Australia, and New Zealand. Advertisement"The science is pretty clear about the impacts of air pollution and yet we are so accustomed to having a background level of pollution that's too high to be healthy.

Persons: —, IQAir, Marco Bottigelli, Hammes, David Dee Delgado Organizations: Service, World Health Organization, Guardian, Chrysler, Getty, Las Locations: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Canada, North America, Swiss, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, French Polynesia, Southern Iceland, Northern America, West, New York City, Helinski, Tallinn, Hamilton, Bermuda, Reykjavik, Canberra, Wellington, San Juan ( Puerto Rico, Columbus , Ohio, Las Vegas

☆ Kraft’s newest Oscar Mayer hot dog is missing meat
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In the past year, the company rolled out a vegan boxed Mac & Cheese, mayonnaise and vegan cheese slices. Sinking sales have sparked troubles for pioneers, like Beyond Meat (BYND), which also has sausage products. The once-trendy plant-based meat company has faced falling demand and ballooning costs in recent years. Frey said that recent innovations in plant-based meat products, such as improving taste, texture and expanding options (i.e. Besides taste, plant-based meat “faces challenges like price competitiveness, distribution issues and consumer skepticism,” Frey said.

Persons: New York CNN — Oscar Mayer, Kraft Heinz, Oscar Mayer “ NotHotDogs, NotSausage, there’s, Sherry Frey, Frey, “, Oscar Mayer, ’, ”, ” Frey, Kraft, NIQ’s Frey Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Kraft The Kraft Heinz Company, Kraft, Kraft Mac Locations: New York, Kraft’s, ”

☆ I made frozen pizza in 4 different appliances. Surprisingly, the oven didn't yield the best slice.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Carolina Gazal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I made frozen pizzas using the oven, stovetop, microwave, and grill. Making pizza in the microwave was an easy and quick process but produced a sad, soggy slice. AdvertisementAs a native New Yorker, pizza is one of my all-time favorite meals, whether I'm enjoying a slice at a sit-down restaurant or heating up a frozen pizza. But after trying so many slices, I began to wonder which appliance was the best for making a frozen pizza at home. I cooked my favorite pizza in the oven, over the stovetop, in a microwave, and on the grill to see which appliance could yield the crispiest, melty slice.

Persons: —, I'm Organizations: Service, Business Locations: New Yorker

☆ Second largest wildfire in Texas history has scorched 850,000 acres
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Joe Sutton | Steve Almasy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A satellite image shows Fritch, Texas in August 2023. Maxar Technologies Satellite images show homes in Fritch, Texas, before the wildfire (in August 2023), and after (on Wednesday). Maxar Technologies Satellite images show homes in Fritch, Texas, before the fire (in August 2023), and after (on Wednesday). A sudden shift of wind direction in the Texas panhandle this week contributed to the explosion in size of the Smokehouse Creek wildfire. Latest developments* The Smokehouse Creek Fire grew from 500,000 acres to 850,000 on Wednesday, according to fire officials.

Persons: Joyce Blankenship, Fritch, ” Frank Probst, ”, “, Adam Turner, Snow, Andy Holloway, Greg Abbott, Kevin Stitt, ” Hutchinson, Tyler McCain, Fritch’s, McCain, Addison, Addison can’t, ” McCain, Windy Deuce, Probst, CNN’s Caroll Alvarado, Amanada Jackson, Monica Garrett, Sharif Paget, Sara Tonks, Lucy Kafanov, Andi Babineau Organizations: CNN, Maxar, M Forest Service, AgriLife, Texas, Oklahoma Gov, Amarillo National Bank, Panhandle Disaster Relief Locations: Texas, Rhode, state’s, Oklahoma, Stinnett ., , Texas, Fritch , Texas, Hemphill, Hemphill County, Canadian, Amarillo, Amarillo ., Hutchinson County, Stinnett, Borger, Fritch

☆ When Hot Bacon Meets Sliced Brussels Sprouts, Salad Happens
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Melissa Clark | More About Melissa Clark | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The first time I heard a friend praising “wilted salad,” the memories came flooding back. I could picture that half-full bowl of droopy, oil-slicked greens sitting in the fridge, leftover from the night before. When I was growing up, my mother hated the idea of wasting food so much that she saved uneaten salad for breakfast the next day, often topping it with a fried egg. My sister and I thought my mother’s breakfast salad looked unappetizing, to say the least. Except my friend was extolling a completely different wilted salad.

Persons: “

☆ The least-visited national parks in the United States in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The state of Alaska — which covers 665,384 square miles (426 million acres) — is home to five of the 15 least-visited national parks for 2023. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve, Alaska - 78,305 recreation visitsAmerica’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias encompasses 13.2 million acres — or about the size of Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Switzerland combined, the Park Service says. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida - 84,285 recreation visitsThis island park in Florida is among 20 National Park Service sites that broke visitation records in 2023. Channel Islands National Park, California - 328,746 recreation visitsStretching over five islands and the surrounding ocean, Channel Islands National Park offer opportunities to hike, snorkel, kayak, birdwatch and more. While Pinnacles may rank among the 15 least-visited national parks, it gets very busy on weekends, holidays and throughout the spring, according to a notice on the park’s website.

Persons: Alaska’s Gates, “, ” Peter Christian, fa’asamoa, Gates, ”, Katmai, Brooks Camp, Elias, Lumir, Nabesna, McCarthy Organizations: CNN, &, CNN Travel, of, Park Service, National Parks, & Preserve, South Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines, Lake Clark, National Park Service, Getty, Isle Royale, NPS, Wolves, Elias, Park & Preserve, Yosemite National, Voyageurs National, Voyageurs National Park, ” Voyageurs, Voyageurs, Service, Channel Locations: Alaska’s, Fairbanks, Alaska, of American Samoa, South, Samoa, Smoky, Wild Rivers, American Samoa, Honolulu, , Alaska, Isle, Lake Superior, Isle Royale, Park , Michigan, Brooks, , Washington, Wrangell, St, Elias, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Switzerland, , Florida, Florida, Key, Fort Jefferson, , Nevada, Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park , Minnesota, Canada, Guadalupe, Park , Texas, Texas, Salt, , South Carolina, South Carolina, Congaree, There’s, Santa Cruz, , California, Southern California

☆ 11 things you should skip at your reception, according to wedding experts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Sophia Mitrokostas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Business Insider asked wedding professionals what reception trends and traditions couples can skip to save money and stress. A giant wedding cake isn't necessary or cost-effectiveSheet cakes are more cost effective for a big reception. Stakhov Yuriy/Shutterstock"A huge cake isn't necessary, especially since the high price of a large, elaborate wedding cake often catches couples by surprise," Nickel said. AdvertisementYou shouldn't serve more than three courses at the receptionEven if you and your partner are foodies, a wedding reception isn't the best time for a seven-course dining experience. Dance-floor props can look out of place next to carefully chosen decorThe wedding photographer Amy Kolodziej said that dance-floor props can detract from the elegance of a wedding reception.

Persons: —, Artem Lomaz, Champagne, Brent Lewin, Lindsey Nickel, Lomaz, Nickel, Stakhov Yuriy, Shutterstock, Keith Willard, Willard, Amy Kolodziej, Kolodziej Organizations: Service, Business, Getty, Australian Turf

☆ These are the best scenic family road trips for families, from a parent and travel expert who's been to all 50 states.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Taryn White | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Road trips are the ultimate symbol of freedom, discovery, and the boundless beauty of the US. As a travel expert, I believe these three incredible routes are the best if you're looking to go on an amazing road trip experience with your own family. AdvertisementTake a road trip through ArizonaFrom majestic mountains to captivating canyons, Arizona's glorious scenery cannot be fully realized by visiting just one destination. For a rush of adrenaline, set out on a whitewater rafting excursion with companies like Advantage Grand Canyon. Families can also take a boat cruise on Lake Powell and visit the Glen Canyon Dam.

Persons: I've, Dana Point, Battery, Taryn White, Coyote, Lake Powell Organizations: Business, Santa Barbara Zoo, San Luis Obispo, Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, Roanoke Star, Biltmore Estate, River Arts, Asheville Museum of Science, North Carolina Arboretum, Biltmore, Asheville Glamping, Railway Locations: California, Dana, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Ellwood, San Luis, Big, Carmel, Monterey, Golden, Battery Spencer, Virginia, North Carolina, North Carolina ., Shenandoah, Smoky, Crabtree Falls . Roanoke, Mountain, Meadows, Dan ,, Asheville, River Arts District, Bohemian, Arizona, Phoenix, Sedona, Boynton Canyon, Grand, El Tovar, Williams, Bend, Lake Powell

☆ The most visited National Park Service sites 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“From Kaloko Honokōhau National Historic Park in Hawai’i to Congaree National Park in South Carolina, parks are attracting more visitors each year to learn about our shared history,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a news release. 1 spot as the most visited site in the US National Park system and accounts for 5.15% of all visits in the system. Beyond the summer seasonCongaree National Park in South Carolina is starting to grow in popularity, getting more recognition beyond its home state. National Park ServiceVisitation habits to NPS sites are changing with people finding ways to bypass the traditional warm-weather peak. Among the more famous ones were Joshua Tree National Park (3.27 million) and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. (8.09 million).

Persons: Chuck Sams, Lincoln, George Washington, Joshua, Joshua Tree, ”, —, ” Sams, “ Organizations: CNN, National, Service, NPS, Historic, Park Service, Recreation Area, Gulf, Lincoln, George Washington Memorial, Natchez, Glen, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington , D.C, Zion, Yellowstone, Rocky, Yosemite National, Acadia, Teton, Lincoln Memorial Locations: Hawai’i, South Carolina, f11photo, Smoky, Mead, Arizona and Utah, Washington ,, Southern California, California, Olympic, Washington, Cuyahoga Valley, Ohio, Montana, Idaho, United States

☆ I tried 28 of Trader Joe's popular dips, and I'd buy at least half of them again
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Savanna Swain-Wilson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +40 min

I tried 28 dips and spreads from Trader Joe's to see which would be the best for a Super Bowl party. As a regular connoisseur of Trader Joe's salsas and spreads, I decided to try some of the chain's most popular dips. AdvertisementThe pimento cheese dip basically was comfort food in a containerTrader Joe's pimento cheese dip was soft and flavorful. VERDICT: I may not be an expert on Southern dips, but Trader Joe's pimento cheese option tasted like a winner. So it was unsurprising that Trader Joe's upgraded version of this familiar favorite turned out to be one of the standout dips I tried.

Persons: Joe's, —, Wilson, I'm, I'd, could've, Savanna, pico de gallo, Wilson I'm, jalapeño hummus, hummus, it's, Wilson It's, tzatziki, Wilson I've, Joe's tzatziki, Margherita, I've, pico, gallo, It's, Wilson Chunky, you've Organizations: Super Bowl, Service, Wilson, Joe's Locations: Buffalo, Savanna, Southern, dill, Joe's Buffalo, Monterey Jack, cayenne

☆ I've been on nearly 30 cruises. Here are 16 big mistakes passengers make.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Jordana Comiter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Booking a "surprise" cabin is a gamble. It may be easier to let the cruise pick your room, but there are some less-than-ideal locations. Jordana ComiterThere are dozens of categories to choose from when selecting your stateroom on a cruise: suite, indoor, balcony, etc. If you're fatigued after all those decisions, most cruises offer some kind of "surprise me" option when it comes to the actual location of the cabin. And even if a shorter walk to the craps table sounds like a luxury, a room near the casino can come with extra noise and smoky smells.

☆ Chita Rivera, Electrifying Star of Broadway and Beyond, Is Dead at 91
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Robert D. Mcfadden | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Chita Rivera, the fire-and-ice dancer, singer and actress who leapt to stardom in the original Broadway production of “West Side Story” and dazzled audiences for nearly seven decades as a Puerto Rican lodestar of the American musical theater, died on Tuesday in New York. To generations of musical aficionados, Ms. Rivera was a whirling, bounding, high-kicking elemental force of the dance; a seductive singer of smoky ballads and sizzling jazz; and a propulsive actress of vaudevillian energy. She appeared in scores of stage productions in New York and London, logged 100,000 miles on cabaret tours and performed in dozens of films and television programs. On Broadway, she created a string of memorably hard-edged women — Anita in “West Side Story” (1957), Rosie in “Bye Bye Birdie” (1960), the murderous floozy Velma Kelly in “Chicago” (1975) and the title role in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (1993). She sang enduring numbers in those roles: “America” in “West Side Story,” “One Boy” and “Spanish Rose” in “Bye Bye Birdie,” and “All That Jazz” in “Chicago.”

Persons: Chita Rivera, Lisa Mordente, Rivera, — Anita, Rosie, “ Bye, Birdie ”, Velma Kelly, “, ”, Rose ” Organizations: Broadway, “ Chicago ” Locations: Puerto Rican, New York, London, “, “ Chicago

☆ My secret to traveling on a budget costs $129 a year. I've used it to stay in waterfront homes and mansions for free.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Courtenay Rudzinski | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I got my gigs with Trusted Housesitters, an international house-sitting platform that's $129 a year. The answer came to me when several avid travelers in my online groups suggested I try Trusted Housesitters, an international house-sitting and pet-sitting platform. Joining seemed like a great travel hack to stay almost anywhere for free. Now that I've done over 20 successful sits, owners often skip this step and book me based on my application alone. AdvertisementI'm thrilled I discovered Trusted Housesitters, and I plan to use it well into my retirement years.

Persons: —, Housesitters Courtenay Rudzinski, I'd, they'd, Courtenay, Courtenay Rudzinski, Jack Russell Terrier, I've, Courtenay Rudzinski I've, I'm Organizations: Service Locations: East Coast, penthouses, Texas, Maine, Houston, Freeport, East, Asheville, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, New York City, Vermont

☆ A couple spent 2 months building a floating tiny home on a lake. They say they'll never go back to living on land.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Sarah Spiro and Brandon Jones live in a floating tiny house on a North Carolina lake. Brandon Jones and Sarah Spiro built a floating home on a lake. Building a new floating homeThere are strict rules about building floating houses on Fontana Lake, which is managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, or TVA. An overview of the bedroom and the living room of the floating house. But now that she's living in a floating house, the sailboat idea no longer seems so far-fetched.

Persons: Sarah Spiro, Brandon Jones, Spiro, —, keepingafloatwiththejoneses, keepingafloatwiththejoneses Spiro, Jones, Fontana, that's, It's, You'll Organizations: Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA, Asheville Citizen, Times, Netflix Locations: North Carolina, Fontana Lake, Fontana, Smoky, Robinsville

These are just a few of the ways that public health has been impacted and compounded by climate change - a focus for the first time ever at the annual U.N. climate summit COP28. Here's how climate change is harming people's health across the world today, and what countries might expect in the future. Floods in Pakistan last year, for example, led to a 400%increase in malaria cases in the country, the report said. MURKY WATERSStorms and flooding wrought by climate change are allowing other infectious water-borne diseases to proliferate as well. Diarrhoea, too, receives a boost from climate change, with increasingly erratic rainfall - resulting in either wet or dry conditions - yielding a higher risk, research has found.

Persons: Alexandros Avramidis, Martin Edlund, Gloria Dickie, Alexander Cornwall, Katy Daigle, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, World Health Organization, WHO, Nature Medicine, American Thoracic Society, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Evros, Greece, West Nile, Brazil, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Africa, United States

☆ Airbnb hosts both love and loathe Christmas as they try to make as much money as possible: 'It's something we count on for the winter months'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Advertisement"It's something we count on for the winter months," Johnson told Business Insider. Hosts like Johnson will charge as much as they need to — so it's no shock your Christmastime Airbnb costs a pretty penny. Courtesy of AirDNAAirDNA data shows the last week of the year is typically the second highest-income week for short-term rentals, surpassed only by the Fourth of July. But for Thanksgiving, it was listed for $1,500 to $1,700 per night; around Christmas, it will go for $2,000 to $2,300 a night.

Persons: —, Melinda Johnson, Johnson, they'd, Jamie Lane, Lane, Austin Weinerman, Weinerman, Ryan Villines Organizations: Service, nab, Business Locations: Tennessee, Smoky, Angeles, South Florida, Warsaw , Missouri, Acapulco

☆ A $16 McDonald's meal shows how the economy will be the battleground for the 2024 presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A $16 McDonald's meal highlights how many Americans feel about the economy and food prices. AdvertisementA McDonald's meal from a viral TikTok has become the poster child for a key issue leading up to the 2024 presidential election . But food prices have been rising since 2020, which is one of the reasons why Americans feel sour about the economy , despite data suggesting it's in a strong position. AdvertisementA vibecession is influencing Americans' sentimentsOverall, McDonald's prices are up about 10% this year, and they plan to raise them another 10% next year. AdvertisementWith prices at restaurants like McDonald's likely to keep rising, that day-to-day pain point is likely not going away before the 2024 election.

Persons: —, McDonald's, Donald Trump, Biden, Big, Joe Raedle, Scott Olson Organizations: Service, The New York Times, Sienna College, Trump, Biden, Consumer, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Big Mac Locations: Idaho, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin

☆ Former staffers of MrBeast explain what it's like to work for the top YouTuber, from crashing trains to go-karting in Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Her manager explained that their next video would entail filming retired trains from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad crashing into brick walls. Insider spoke with 17 current and former employees of top YouTube stars, five of whom had worked for MrBeast. They described days filled with unimaginable stunts, inconsistent work hours, and varying salaries. Many of his employees work on site to participate in video production. The employees Insider spoke with said working at MrBeast meant pushing the boundaries of what a YouTube video could achieve.

Persons: Britt Carter, Carter, Jimmy Donaldson, —, Donaldson, Marc Kaplan Organizations: Business, YouTube, Lamborghini, Research, Oxford Economics, Forbes, MrBeast, Washington Post Locations: Greenville , North Carolina, Smoky, Greenville, Tokyo, Japan

☆ A viral $16 McDonald’s meal won’t go away, and that’s a problem for Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Take the $16 McDonald’s meal that struck a nerve on TikTok late last year. Of course, fast food prices have gone up along with everything else in the past few years, but not by as much as the TikTok video suggests. Because the vast majority of McDonald’s restaurants in the United States are independently owned, prices vary from region to region. The social media megaphoneIn an era before TikTok or YouTube, a $16 burger moment would have lasted a few seconds. The real beefPerhaps the more significant economic takeaway from the viral McDonald’s meal is not that the meal actually cost $16 but that the man paid for it.

Persons: CNN Business ’, ”, …, there’d, Joe Biden’s, , —, Biden, Topher Olive, Olive, pollsters Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, New York Post, Democratic, Mac, CBS News, CNN, White, Office, Digital Strategy, Washington Post, Consumer Locations: New York, Idaho, America, United States, Darien , Connecticut

☆ What's it like to work for MrBeast, the biggest YouTuber in the world, according to 5 former staffers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Insider spoke with 17 current and former employees of top YouTube stars, five of whom had worked for MrBeast. They described days filled with unimaginable stunts, inconsistent work hours, and varying salaries. Many of his employees work on site to participate in video production. But others, like Carter, found themselves staying at work much longer than 40 hours per week. The employees Insider spoke with said working at MrBeast meant pushing the boundaries of what a YouTube video could achieve.

☆ He Lived a Frugal Life. Then He Left Millions to His New Hampshire Town.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Sopan Deb | More About Sopan Deb | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Smith, a 78-year-old lifelong Hinsdale resident, said in an interview that he met Mr. Holt sometime in the 1970s. Eventually, Mr. Holt moved into a mobile home on a tract of land that Mr. Smith owned, and lived there for a time with a widow who owned the home. Mr. Holt did odd jobs for Mr. Smith over the years, like clearing brush, plowing snow and other maintenance tasks. This left Mr. Holt with a small nest egg that he invested in several mutual funds with a broker in Keene, N.H. One was what Mr. Smith described as a communications fund. In 2000 or so, Mr. Holt revealed his wealth to Mr. Smith.

Persons: Edwin Smith, Holt’s, Smith, Holt, Lee Holt Organizations: Hinsdale, Navy, American International College, Mr, Agway Inc Locations: Smoky, Springfield ,, Hinsdale, English, Brattleboro , Vt, Keene, N.H, West Coast

☆ Opinion: Taking a trip to the firing range was something I’d never do before October 7
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Opinion Amy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

I put my clear plastic goggles back on and reenter the smoky range to learn how to shoot a gun. That’s how I found myself at Gun for Hire, a gun range and club in New Jersey, to learn how to shoot. (“I want you to get the feel for both guns,” Kedem said.) Kedem had told me I’d get used to the noise, and I did. If I came to the range a few more times, I know I could get the hang of shooting — and even excel at it.

Persons: Amy Klein, Amy Klein Mira Zaki I’ve, Maga, ”, “, Woody Allen, we’d, Hillel Norry, Beth David, ” Norry, he’s, —, Klein, Amy Klein Be, Kedem, Walther, ” Kedem, he’d, Yosi, I’ve, Ben Shapiro, Norry Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, FBI, Hire, ”, Factory, Glock, Columbia University Locations: Israel, New York City, New Jersey, Long, Snellville , Georgia, Manhattan, Israeli American, America, Chile

PINNACLE, N.C. (AP) — Heavy rain and lower temperatures helped slow down some wildfires in North Carolina on Tuesday, including blazes that had prompted evacuations of homes and campgrounds, forestry officials said. “Unless we get some more continuous rain, we will probably be back to being active again in a few days,” he said. On Saturday, a fire broke out in North Carolina's Sauratown Mountains and grew to more than 750 acres (303 hectares) by Tuesday, according to Jimmy Holt, a ranger with the North Carolina Forest Service. “For right now, things will slow down,” said Adrianne Rubiaco, a U.S. Forest Service fire spokesperson in North Carolina. Fire officials in Townsend, Tennessee, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Knoxville, announced an emergency evacuation as crews battled a blaze.

Persons: Shardul Raval, ”, Jimmy Holt, Holt, Adrianne Rubiaco Organizations: U.S, North Carolina Forest Service, Forest, U.S . Forest Service, Tennessee -, Fire Locations: North Carolina, U.S . Forest, North Carolina's, North, Pisgah, Tennessee, U.S, Tennessee - North Carolina, Townsend , Tennessee, Knoxville

☆ There's no Christmas tree shortage this year despite Canada's record wildfire season, 2 experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Despite the dry, smoky summer, there isn't a Christmas tree shortage, two experts said. While it caused air traffic delays and air-quality issues, it didn't affect this year's crop of Christmas trees, two experts told Business Insider. Past and future tree shortages"There's quite a bit of talk — again, internet and media and so forth — about a Christmas tree shortage," Cregg said. A report in 2014 blamed less demand during the 2008 and 2009 recession for fewer Christmas trees. Fraser firs are one of the most popular species of Christmas trees in the US and face challenges due to climate change.

Persons: Justin G, Whitehill, Bert Cregg, he's, Steve Reiners, —, Cregg, That's, Fraser, Chris Keane, Greg Hann, you've Organizations: Service, North Carolina State University, of Horticulture, Michigan State University, Cornell University, Association, YouTube, Tree Producers Association, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Locations: Michigan, Wisconsin

☆ Smoky skies in Indian capital on Diwali as revellers defy firecracker ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Neha Arora | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Smoke plumes were visible across the sky as revellers let off firecrackers in the evening to mark the country's biggest festival. Every year government authorities or India's Supreme Court impose bans on firecrackers - but only rarely do those bans appear to be enforced. Globally, air pollution was the worst in India's eastern city of Kolkata, while Delhi was the fifth-most polluted, according to Swiss group IQAir. Doctors say the air quality is likely to worsen on Monday as smoke from firecrackers lingers in the air, potentially causing itchy eyes and irritation in the throat. Some Hindus resent the Diwali firecracker bans, which they see as an attempt to interfere with them observing their religious festivals.

Persons: Health Organization's, Deepak, Dr, Ram Manohar, Gopal Rai, Neha Arora, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Health, Ram Manohar Lohia, Delhi's, Thomson Locations: DELHI, New Delhi, Kolkata, Delhi, Swiss

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