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Mar 17 2026ENVIRONMENT

Palm Trees at EPCOT Slowly Sprout Back After Freezing

A sudden cold wave hit Orlando a month and a half ago, and it left the park’s green life looking almost skeletal. At EPCOT, the towering palms that frame Spaceship Earth had shed most of their leaves, standing there like bare poles. In the weeks that followed, those palms began to coax new fronds fr

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Mar 17 2026BUSINESS

Grains, Trade Checks and Weather: What Happened on March 17

Corn prices nudged up early in the morning, moving a few cents higher as farmers and traders reacted to fresh market data. May corn saw a small rise, while soybeans also edged up slightly; the byproducts of soy—meal and oil—displayed mixed movements, with meal falling and oil climbing. Wheat showed

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Mar 17 2026WEATHER

Storm Shakes the East as Heat Wave Looms

A huge winter storm is rattling the eastern United States, bringing blizzard‑like conditions across the Midwest and Plains. Meteorologists warned on Monday that this “March megastorm” could affect millions, prompting a flurry of alerts. The National Weather Service says strong winds and sudden drops

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Mar 17 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Story TV and Applause Team Up to Bring Bite‑Sized Drama to India

Story TV, a fast‑growing microdrama app that lets users watch one‑minute episodes on their phones, has signed a deal with Applause Entertainment to create and share new short‑form shows. The partnership will cover a range of genres, including the romantic thriller “Hello Mini, ” which Story TV plans

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Mar 17 2026BUSINESS

Live Nation Faces New State‑Led Antitrust Battle After DOJ Steps Back

Colorado and 30 other states have kicked off a fresh antitrust trial against Live Nation, the music‑event powerhouse that owns Ticketmaster. The move comes after the U. S. Department of Justice pulled out of a $280 million settlement with the company, saying it was “a travesty” and that the deal did

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Cattle Crisis in Siberia: Farmers Protest Forced Culls

The Novosibirsk region in Russia has declared a state of emergency to control an outbreak of cattle disease. Authorities say five cases of pasteurellosis and 42 rabies incidents were found, prompting the removal of many farm animals. Farmers argue that pasteurellosis can be treated with antibiotics

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Belgium Faces Former Diplomat Over Congo Leader’s 1961 Killing

A court in Brussels has decided that a former Belgian diplomat must stand trial for his role in the 1961 murder of Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first prime minister. The case is a final effort to clarify the unclear events that led to Lumumba’s death, which remains controversial decades later. Lumumb

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Mar 17 2026FINANCE

Bitcoin Loans Let Firms Earn While Mining

Maestro has launched a new way for big investors to earn money from their Bitcoin holdings. The company’s “Mezzamine” platform partners with a mining‑as‑service firm called Sazmining to offer loans that are paid back using the profits miners earn from finding new blocks. The goal is to give investor

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Mayor’s Bid to Grab Finance Head Sparks Budget Tension

The mayor is eyeing the council’s finance chief for a new role, stirring friction during budget talks. The move comes as the city’s leaders are already at odds over spending plans. By hiring the finance chief, the mayor could add a new layer of strain to an already tense relationship. The c

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Three Nations Plan to Share Defence Buying Power

Britain, Finland and the Netherlands are thinking about working together to buy weapons and equipment. They want to split costs so each country spends less while getting better gear. The idea is part of a bigger plan that could start by 2027. The three governments are not the only ones involved. Ot

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