Latest news with #Medium
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida's ‘Fallen Tree Act' postponed just as hurricane season begins — here's what to know about this bill
As the National Hurricane Center eyes a potential storm off the southeast coast this week, Florida's hurricane season has kicked off — along with the inevitable damage it will bring. That leaves many homeowners anxious to know the fate of Florida's proposed Fallen Tree Act. Looks like they'll have to wait till the 2026 hurricane season. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The bill was originally slated to take effect this July — in time for peak hurricane season between mid-August and late October. But as the Talahassee Democrat reports, Florida lawmakers indefinitely postponed debate on the bill in order to discuss the state budget. The Fallen Tree Act may or may not be reintroduced in 2026. If it is reintroduced and passes, it will shift liability for fallen trees onto the property owners whose trees fall. For now, Floridians are still stuck paying for any damage on their own property caused by their neighbor's tree — unless they can prove clear negligence on the part of their neighbor. Proponents of the bill believe it's unfair for people to have to pay for property damage caused by their neighbor's tree. Even if insurance covers the costs, each claim means higher premiums and paying a deductible. Advocates of the Fallen Tree Act also liked the fact that it would grant homeowners the right to remove a neighbor's tree if it was growing partially on their property without permission. But as Medium reports, not everyone was in favor of the bill. Some argued that extreme weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes are beyond a homeowner's control. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it The Florida Insurance Council expressed concern that the bill would lead to an uptick in litigation between neighbors that would, in turn, lead to more lawsuits against insurance companies. Others warned that the Fallen Tree Act would trigger higher homeowners insurance premiums due to the aforementioned potential increase in lawsuits. Finally, some critics worried the bill would discourage people from planting trees, leading to environmental impacts. One way or another, Florida homeowners need to prepare for property damage due to hurricanes this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations predicts "above-normal hurricane activity" in the Atlantic, with 13 to 19 named storms. The cheapest home insurance policy may not offer the best coverage in the event of damage. Read your policy carefully to know what's covered and what your deductibles look like. Make sure you have enough saved up to cover your deductible in the event of fallen tree damage. Even better, save up an emergency fund that can cover at least three months of essential bills. Most policies don't cover tree removal until a tree actually causes damage. Even when tree removal is covered, there's usually a limit of about $1,000 per tree, which doesn't necessarily cover the entire cost of the job. This Old House puts the average cost of professional tree removal at $200 to $2,000. The cost hinges on a number of factors including the size, type and location of the tree. Get estimates. While you can proactively remove trees on your own property to prevent damage, you can't necessarily force a neighbor to do the same. If there's a tree on a neighbor's property that's threatening yours — say, because it's dead or the branches have not been trimmed in ages — you should put something in writing to that neighbor expressing concern and asking them to handle the problem. Keep copies of that communication in case you need to prove negligence in the course of an insurance claim. An alternative is to offer to split the cost of tree removal with a neighbor if you're worried their tree will cause harm to your property. Let's say it costs $800 to remove the tree and you split it evenly. If your homeowners insurance deductible is $750, you come out ahead by spending $400 to address the problem. Not only does that save you money, but it spares you a potential headache. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Scotsman
11 hours ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Double win for Cruden at the Homes for Scotland Awards 2025
Cruden was honoured with two awards at Homes for Scotland Awards in Edinburgh on Friday for two east coast developments. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Five-star Scottish homebuilder Cruden is celebrating a double win at the prestigious Homes for Scotland Awards 2025, held on May 30 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. This year's ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the annual awards, which recognise excellence across Scotland's homebuilding sector. Cruden was honoured with two awards, highlighting the group's long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality homes across both the private and affordable sectors. Cruden won Private Development of the Year – Medium for The Avenue at Barnton. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This retirement development includes 48 energy-efficient apartments, penthouses, and executive villas built to a high specification. Designed with shared spaces such as a club lounge, guest suite, and a forthcoming concierge service, The Avenue offers residents a comfortable, well-considered living environment that balances sustainability with quality design. The Avenue at Barnton named Private Development of the Year – Medium Cruden also received a Commendation Award for Affordable Development of the Year – Small for its St Cuthbert's development in Bonnyrigg, delivered in partnership with Midlothian Council. This project saw the completion of 20 new flats for social rent, designed by award-winning architects AHR and built to the stringent Passivhaus standard. The development includes assisted living apartments and homes for residents aged 55 and over. With bright, spacious interiors, Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems, and exteriors designed to complement Bonnyrigg's historic character, the project sets a strong example for sustainable social housing. Fraser Lynes, Managing Director of Cruden Homes, said: 'We are thrilled to be recognised with two awards at this year's Homes for Scotland Awards, particularly in such a landmark year for the event. These wins are a testament to the hard work, innovation, and dedication of our entire team, as well as our partners, in delivering homes that truly enhance people's lives, whether through cutting-edge sustainability in affordable housing or by setting new standards in private residential design. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "This really is a fitting finish to a fantastic year that has seen us achieve five star customer satisfaction, as well as making some key strategic appointments to our senior management team and securing a number of exciting new opportunities in new locations'. Double Win for Cruden at the Homes for Scotland Awards 2025 The Homes for Scotland Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in the homebuilding industry and are widely regarded as a mark of excellence and quality. Cruden's double win reflects the group's ongoing leadership and innovation across Scotland's housing landscape.
Metro
4 days ago
- Health
- Metro
How a viral 'all glass phone' can 'cure your phone addiction'
A viral video showing a woman appearing to scroll on a completely transparent phone has baffled millions – could it really help curb our need to scroll? The 'clear phone' is a piece of acrylic dubbed the 'methaphone', created in a bid to 'replace the feeling' of having a phone. The woman at the centre of the viral video, Cat, came forward to explain how the $20 product claims to curb cell phone addictions. She said: 'This little piece of acrylic feels like a physical artefact that directly responds to this collective tension we all feel about how our devices, which are meant to make us more connected, are actually having the exact opposite effect.' The 'methaphone' could be a unique solution to modern-day technology addiction, but TikTokers were quick to point out the absurdity of the product. 'So this is not a real phone, it's just glass and they're trying to make it sound deeper than what it is,' one wrote. Another pointed out: 'Nobody's addicted to holding phones, they're addicted to the apps.' Cat later shared that the 'methaphone' didn't even help her kick her addiction – she said she was still reaching for her device. But she is offering a select few people the chance to try the 'phone', writing on Instagram: 'I'm sending out a batch of methaphones to people who have ideas for (safe) social experiments they'd like to run with them— break it out on the subway? More Trending 'Show it to a 5-year-old? Replace your phone for a week? The only catch is that you have to write or document your experience in a post online (e.g. blog post, Medium, Substack, YouTube, TikTok, etc).' Phone addiction is becoming more and more common, especially for young people. Clinical psychologist Dr Marianne Trent previously told Metro that she is concerned about children's use of the tech while their brains and impulse control are still developing. With the number of children and teens being treated for mental health conditions increasing, a University of Oxford study is looking at whether phones could be contributing to this epidemic. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Actress Rosamund Pike 'punched in the face' and robbed after being targeted by thief MORE: Six simple tips that can save you £60 on your phone bill MORE: People would ditch a friend for breaking this unspoken voice note rule
Arabian Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Post
Areal Chain Announces Launch of Layer 1 Blockchain at Crypto Expo Dubai 2025
Crypto Expo Dubai 2025, capturing the attention of global investors, fintech leaders, and institutional players. Built with a clear purpose — to tokenize real-world assets — Areal Chain is introducing a secure and scalable solution that presents a secure and scalable approach to aligning blockchain with the physical economy Tokenizing real, income-producing assets such as real estate, oil, and hospitality infrastructure, Areal Chain's Layer 1 protocol shifts the narrative from hype-driven crypto projects to practical blockchain networks regulated by law and utility-based. The solution enables high-throughput smart contract execution and asset-backed coin issuance as the foundational piece for real-world economic products. ADVERTISEMENT Areal Chain's architecture is designed to link on-chain product innovations to off-chain assets. By utilizing a smart contract framework, developers and institutions are able to create tokenized investment products with a higher level of transparency, compliance, and payment potential. 'Real blockchain impact is only achieved through the intersection of trust and tech,' said Sripriya Kalyanasundaram, CEO of Areal Chain. 'We built something secure enough for the enterprise level and steady enough for the long-term investors.' What differentiates Areal Chain is its unique staking model, where yields are not determined by inflationary tokenomics but instead by actual income coming from the tokenized assets. This introduces an alternative model for on-chain rewards tied to real-world asset performance tied to real business activities involving rental income, energy products, or hospitality earnings. There was a strong interest from venture funds and asset managers at the Dubai Crypto Expo 2025, with partnerships in place and discussions already taking place with institutional partners focused on regulated asset tokenization and enterprise blockchain implementations across the GCC and Singapore. 'Our Layer 1 is more than just a blockchain — it is the bridge to the future of regulated, asset-backed digital finance,' Mohammad Khan, Brand Leader and Board Member, Areal Chain, added. 'We are here to start a change.' The Areal Chain is launching into the market with a working system, integrations with real assets, a forward-thinking regulatory strategy, and global staking programs, token sales, and B2B onboarding planned for Q3 and Q4 2025. Discover how Areal Chain is enabling a compliant, asset-backed blockchain future at Also published on Medium. Notice an issue? Arabian Post strives to deliver the most accurate and reliable information to its readers. If you believe you have identified an error or inconsistency in this article, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at editor[at]thearabianpost[dot]com. We are committed to promptly addressing any concerns and ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Some 380 UK and Ireland writers denounce Gaza 'genocide'
LONDON: Nearly 380 writers from the UK and Ireland, including Zadie Smith and Ian McEwan, penned an open letter Wednesday denouncing what they called Israel's "genocide" in Gaza and urging a ceasefire. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The letter called on "our nations and the peoples of the world to join us in ending our collective silence and inaction in the face of horror," they wrote in a letter published on the Medium website. "The use of the words 'genocide' or 'acts of genocide' to describe what is happening in Gaza is no longer debated by international legal experts or human rights organisations," the letter continued. Israel has repeatedly denied all accusations of genocide in its campaign to crush Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. The letter comes a day after 300 French-language writers, including Nobel Literature prize winners Annie Ernaux and Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio, signed a similar statement condemning "genocide". "Palestinians are not the abstract victims of an abstract war. Too often, words have been used to justify the unjustifiable, deny the undeniable, defend the indefensible," the British and Irish writers said. The writers, including novelist Elif Shafak and playwright Hanif Kureishi as well as the Scottish and Welsh writers PEN clubs, called for a ceasefire, the "immediate distribution of food and medical aid" in Gaza and sanctions on Israel. International condemnation has grown over Israel's humanitarian aid blockade and relentless strikes after it ended a ceasefire in March and intensified military operations this month. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said 53,977, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel's offensive since October 2023, when a Hamas attack on Israel triggered the war. Some 1,218 were killed in the Hamas attack, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 who the Israeli military says are dead. "This is not only about our common humanity and all human rights; this is about our moral fitness as the writers of our time," the writers said. On Monday over 800 UK-based legal experts, including former Supreme Court justices, wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying: "Genocide is being perpetrated in Gaza or, at a minimum, there is a serious risk of genocide occurring. "Serious violations of international law are being committed and are further threatened by Israel," the lawyers said, adding the UK is "legally obliged to take all reasonable steps within their power to prevent and punish genocide."
