The Cliff

A roundup of the day's top business stories covers prefab housing as a potential affordability solution, a resurgence of return-to-office mandates among employers, reports that China has stopped buying U.S. Treasuries, grocery prices hitting their lowest levels, and a looming mortgage renewal cliff facing homeowners as low pandemic-era rates expire.

California is preparing for flooding and landslides as forecasters expect a super El Niño this year, a warming of equatorial Pacific waters that disrupts weather patterns worldwide. After years of coastal erosion, communities such as Pacifica, south of San Francisco, are already showing strain, and officials worry heavy winter storms could worsen damage to weakened cliffs and hillsides.

The Atlantic reports that parts of California's coastline are literally falling into the ocean, pointing to ongoing coastal erosion along the state's edge. The piece highlights how cliffs and shoreline are collapsing as seas rise and storms wear away the land, raising questions about what this means for the communities and infrastructure built along the Pacific coast.

New research indicates Mercury is contracting more quickly than previously estimated. The smallest planet in the solar system has been cooling and shrinking for billions of years, causing its crust to buckle and form cliffs and ridges. The revised findings suggest this process is still active and accelerating relative to earlier models, prompting scientists to rethink how rocky planets cool over time.

Cliff Curtis, the New Zealand actor known for roles in 'Whale Rider', 'Fear the Walking Dead' and 'Avatar', is drawing a wave of attention as his name climbs search rankings. No specific new event involving him has been confirmed, and the surrounding coverage does not explain the spike. Interest appears concentrated in New Zealand, where Curtis remains one of the country's most prominent screen exports.

David Fincher's Cliff Booth project, starring Brad Pitt, is being described as the end of an era for the director and Netflix. The film, a spin-off of Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, signals a shift in their partnership. Commenters are debating what the split means for Fincher's future projects and Netflix's slate of auteur-driven films.

Italian media are reporting two separate incidents requiring air ambulance response. In Bergeggi, on the Ligurian coast, a person fell more than seven metres from a cliff, prompting a helicopter rescue. Separately, near Rimini, a driver lost control of a car and ended up in a field, and was flown by air ambulance to the Bufalini hospital. Both stories highlight the role of emergency helicopter services.

The Cliff Diving World Series has concluded, with the top titles awarded to this season's winners. The series, which sees athletes leap from platforms as high as 27 meters into open water, wrapped up its circuit with final standings decided at the season's last stop. Details on the individual champions and their winning performances were highlighted in coverage of the event.

Legal and industry analysts say the biosimilars market has reached an inflection point, with regulatory reform, a maturing patent litigation framework and an approaching wave of major biologic patent expirations reshaping merger and acquisition strategy. Commentators expect pharmaceutical companies to pursue deals to capture market share as blockbuster biologics lose exclusivity and cheaper biosimilar competition intensifies.

Henderson, Nevada is backing a $100 million retail development called 'The Cliff' that would convert unused office space into a retail center. The project aims to repurpose vacant commercial buildings as cities nationwide grapple with empty offices. Local coverage highlights the plan's ambition to revitalize the area, though details on tenants and timelines remain limited.

An after-school activity provider in Richmond says it is facing a funding 'cliff' and is asking the city to direct money from the upcoming marijuana tax toward its programs. The group argues that dedicated revenue from cannabis sales should support youth services, as officials prepare to allocate the new tax proceeds.

Unspent healthcare funding is approaching a critical deadline after which the money could be lost, according to The Hill. Reports warn that if Congress does not act, health programs counting on the leftover funds may face cuts or disruption. Lawmakers and health advocates are pressing for a decision on how the remaining money will be spent or reallocated before the deadline hits.