Trump says he disagrees with Starmer’s decision to recognize Palestinian state
By NPR Washington Desk President Trump said he disagrees with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state sometime this month unless Israel commits to peace in Gaza. Trump, speaking at a press conference with Starmer on Thursday, said he wants the immediate release of hostages. The disagreement with Starmer’s approach, Trump […]
JWST Sees Hints of an Atmosphere on a Potentially Habitable Exoplanet
Hints of Atmosphere on Earth-Sized Exoplanet Raise Hopes for Life A monumental sign of an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e could be the precursor to finally finding a living world around another star By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept shows the volatile red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 and its four most closely orbiting planets, […]
How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion
The UniverseFridays How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion Superluminal velocities are common but illusory By Phil Plait edited by Clara Moskowitz The light echo around the star V838 Monocerotis as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope in November 2005. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait When I […]
How Many Planets Orbit Our Nearest Neighboring Star?
New Instrument Checks on Proxima Centauri’s Planets Fresh results from near-infrared instruments foretell a bright future for finding life elsewhere in the Milky Way By Ivan Farkas edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of the Proxima Centauri system, with the planets Proxima b and Proxima d—the latter confirmed by the NIRPS planet-hunting instrument. Some […]
Starship’s 10th flight breaks streak of bad luck
Nell Greenfieldboyce SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket racked up some much-needed successes on its 10th test flight, hitting key test objectives and breaking a streak of failures that bedeviled the spaceship this year. The silver and black two-stage rocket, which stands about 400 feet tall, blasted off from the SpaceX facility in south Texas near Boca […]
John M. Chu Teases Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo in Wicked: For Good
Wicked director Jon M. Chu teased what is in store for Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba in the 2026 sequel, Wicked: For Good. Jon M. Chu has some proper ploys in store for Wicked: For Good. Indeed, the director recently shared what fans of the first film, which premiered in November, can expect…
Amazon aims to branch into UK internet market with satellite broadband plan
Proposed space launches within next two years could ultimately deliver mobile phone signal even to most remote areas Amazon is hoping to offer a satellite broadband service in the UK within the next two years as it prepares to launch a constellation of spacecraft that could ultimately deliver a mobile signal even to the most…
Costas Simitis, 2-Time Prime Minister of Greece, Dies at 88
Mr. Simitis imposed financial measures to prepare for Greece’s entry into the eurozone and laid the groundwork for the Olympic Games’ return to Athens. By Alan Cowell Costas Simitis, a former prime minister of Greece who oversaw his country’s entry into the euro single currency and its uneven preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games, died…
Helpless Orphan or Dangerous Adult: The Strange Tale of Natalia Grace
Michael Barnett accused Natalia Grace, the child he and now ex-wife Kristine adopted in 2010, of actually being a 20-year-old sociopath—but she’s always insisted she was just a kid. Critics had a good laugh when Orphan came out in 2009. A Bad Seed-style story about a family that adopts a Russian child with murderous tendencies, the big twist…
UK-EU youth mobility scheme key to better EU relations, says top diplomat
Germany’s ambassador to UK suggests Starmer will have to agree to concessions like youth mobility in order to secure economic benefits Keir Starmer’s efforts to reset Britain’s relations with its European allies is contingent upon a UK-EU youth mobility scheme, a top diplomat has indicated. Miguel Berger, Germany’s ambassador to the UK, said stability across…
Hugh Jackman Supports Sutton Foster at Once Upon a Mattress Show
Hugh Jackman was spotted attending one of Sutton Foster’s performances in the musical Once Upon a Mattress in Los Angeles, two years after they starred together in a Broadway show. Hugh Jackman traded claws for applause as he supported Sutton Foster at her latest show. In a photo, Jackman is seen sitting next to Carol…
Ukraine Attacks Kursk Region of Russia Anew
Russia-Ukraine War Ukrainian forces’ assault was in the Russian region where they made a surprise incursion last summer. By Marc Santora Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine Ukrainian forces went on the offensive in the Kursk region of Russia, Ukrainian and Russian officials said Sunday, in what appeared to be an effort to regain the initiative there…
Social order in Gaza will collapse if Israel ends cooperation with UN aid agency, official says
Unrwa senior officer describes 60,000 people sheltering in school buildings sharing 12 bathrooms, but says without aid things will get worse Social order in Gaza is likely to collapse further if Israel goes ahead with its threat this month to end all cooperation with the UN refugee agency for Palestinians, Louise Wateridge, its senior emergency…
Body of missing Indian journalist found in septic tank
The body of an Indian journalist who had reported on alleged corruption in the country has been found in a septic tank in Chhattisgarh state. Mukesh Chandrakar, 32, went missing on New Year’s Day and his family registered a complaint with the police. His body was found on Friday in the compound of a road…
Musk says Farage ‘doesn’t have what it takes’ to be Reform UK leader
Elon Musk has called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as leader of Reform UK, just weeks after reports the multi-billionaire was in talks to donate to the party. In a post on his social media site X, Musk said Farage “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead the party – but did not explain…
Ripe for the picking? Irish wine on the up – but ‘nobody will retire rich’
Global heating has made conditions more favourable for growing grapes – and finding the right variety is key Heard the one about Irish wine? Like its English counterpart, it is no longer a joke, with more than a dozen vineyards now producing bottles to emulate those of the terroirs of France, Spain and Italy. At…
You’ll Die for This Glimpse Into the Love Lives of Only Murders Stars
The Only Murders in the Building stars may catch killers onscreen, but they catch feelings in real life. Read on to learn more about Selena Gomez, Martin Short and more of the cast’s real love lives. You don’t need to be a detective to see all the love in this building. It’s been a killer…
Former Greek prime minister Costas Simitis dies aged 88
Four days of mourning decreed after death of Pasok party co-founder Simitis, architect of country’s entry into euro Costas Simitis, the former socialist prime minister of Greece who was the architect of the country’s entry into the euro, has died aged 88. Simitis was taken to a hospital in the city of Corinth early on…
Nikki Glaser Will Host the 2025 Golden Globes: All About the Comedian
Comedian Nikki Glaser will host the 82nd annual Golden Globes on January 5. To learn all about the “Someday You’ll Die” comic, keep reading. Nikki Glaser is laughing all the way to the 2025 Golden Globes. The comedian, known for her role as host on HBO Max’s FBoy Island and her latest Emmy-nominated stand-up comedy special, Someday…
Congestion pricing begins in NYC in a high stakes test for the model’s U.S. viability
By Robbie Griffiths Congestion pricing was introduced in the center of New York City on Sunday, after a late attempt by officials in neighboring New Jersey to stop it in court failed. The measure — which charges many drivers $9 dollars to enter Manhattan during peak hours — is intended to bring relief to the…
‘Humans are all they know’ – Fate of whales uncertain as marine zoo shuts
The fate of two killer whales is uncertain following the closure of a marine zoo on Sunday. Campaigners and the zoo’s managers have been locked in disagreement about what should happen to the orca whales with the French government already blocking one proposal to rehome them. Last month Marineland Antibes, located near Cannes in the…
Anthony Albanese switches to election footing with blitz of three campaign battlegrounds
PM frames federal poll as choice between ‘building Australia’s future’ under Labor or ‘taking Australia backwards’ under Coalition Anthony Albanese will frame this year’s federal election as a choice between “building Australia’s future” under Labor or “taking Australia backwards” under the Coalition as the prime minister opens 2025 with a blitz of three campaign battlegrounds.…
Golden Globes: Ariana Grande, Adam Brody & More First-Time Nominees
At the 2025 Golden Globes, stars like Wicked’s Ariana Grande, Nobody Wants This‘ Adam Brody, Hit Man‘s Glen Powell, Emilia Pérez‘s Zoe Saldaña and more will be first-time nominees. Today is going to be pure gold. Back in December, the 2025 Golden Globes nominees were revealed, and the the annual celebration of film and television…
Antibiotic emergency ‘could claim 40 million lives in next 25 years’
As superbugs spread across the globe, death rates from antimicrobial resistance are set to double, says England’s former chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies has a straightforward message about the coming year. We face a growing antibiotic emergency that could have devastating impacts on men, women and children across the globe, she says. Davies, a…
Everything to Know About Nobody Wants This Season 2
After the success of Nobody Wants This, Netflix renewed the series, starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, for season two, with creator Erin Foster teasing updates on the Golden Globe-nominated show. Everybody wants this update. Erin Foster‘s hit Netflix series Nobody Wants This—starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell—is coming back for a second season, thanks…
CNN goes on trial over its report alleging ‘black market’ for Afghan rescues
David Folkenflik After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, many people were desperate to flee the country. CNN reported that a security consultant was among those offering to evacuate them — for a price — as part of an investigation into claims of “black market” rescue operations. CNN’s story, which aired on…
Gauff beats Swiatek as US win United Cup
Gauff will be hoping to win her second Grand Slam title in Australia Taylor Fritz got the better of Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in a third-set tie-break to clinch victory for the United States in the United Cup final in Sydney. The 6-4 5-7 7-6 (7-4) success for the world number four followed a straight-set win…
Giorgia Meloni meets Donald Trump in flying visit to Mar-a-Lago
US president-elect praises Italian prime minister at Florida resort for ‘really taking Europe by storm’ Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, made a flying visit to Donald Trump’s Florida golf club on Saturday, during which the US president-elect praised the far-right leader for “really taking Europe by storm”. The pair were photographed in the grand ballroom…
Britain’s first supermarket petrol station – when fuel cost just 15p a litre
It is 50 years since a supermarket chain opened its first petrol station – proudly describing the pumps as “space-age”. On the new Sainsbury’s forecourt in Coldham’s Lane , Cambridge, the unbranded four-star petrol was 68p a gallon, or 15p a litre. That equates to £1.14 a litre now. Sainsbury’s had planned to open it…
As Trump rewrites history, victims of the Jan. 6 riot say they feel ‘betrayed’
Tom Dreisbach For the millions of Americans who watch the presidential inauguration every four years, the Lower West Terrace Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol is a familiar site. The incoming president walks through that tunnel and on to the inaugural platform, before taking the oath of office. On Jan. 6, 2021, it was a crime…
Unpacking the Many Twists in the Menendez Brothers’ 1989 Murder Case
When Lyle and Erik Menendez went on trial for the 1989 murder of their parents, the definition of a media circus ensued. Netflix’s Monster, nominated for three 2025 Golden Globes, brought it all back. What Erik Menendez and Lyle Menendez did on the night of Aug. 20, 1989, was never the real question. It’s why…
Ukraine launches surprise operation in Kursk region, according to reports
Footage purports to show Ukrainian armoured columns advancing towards village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe Video showed Ukrainian armoured columns advancing across snowy fields towards the village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe, north-east of the Ukrainian-held Russian town of Sudzha. The scale of the Sunday morning operation was not immediately clear. There were unconfirmed reports Ukrainian troops had captured…
‘Don’t feed the troll’: German chancellor responds to Elon Musk comments
World’s richest man has been voicing support for Germany’s far-right AfD party while insulting its current leaders When the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, was asked in an interview about the barrage of insults being directed at him and other German leaders by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, his reply was: “Don’t feed the troll.”…
Musk’s grooming gangs attack on Phillips ‘disgraceful smear’
Elon Musk’s attack on Jess Phillips’ handling of grooming gangs is a “disgraceful smear,” Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said. It came after Phillips rejected a request for the government to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham – which sparked calls from the Conservatives and Reform UK for a national inquiry…
Uniqlo, Gymshark and Lush stop hiring UK workers via gig economy apps
TUC criticise retailers for endangering workers’ rights by using apps such as YoungOnes and Temper Lush, Uniqlo and Gymshark have stopped using freelance retail workers hired through apps such as YoungOnes and Temper, after unions criticised the gig economy companies. The TUC wrote to the retailers urging them to stop using freelance retail workers amid…
Ukraine launches new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region
Ukraine has launched a fresh offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, the Russian Defence Ministry says. In a statement, the military said efforts to destroy the Ukrainian attack groups are ongoing. Officials in Ukraine have also suggested an operation is under way. Ukraine first launched its incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August last year, seizing…
Revisit Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet’s Golden Globes Hard Launch
After months of dating speculation, Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet had the most cinematic hard launch possible at the 2024 Golden Globes—see every moment from their iconic night out. Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet are publicly very private about their nearly two-year romance. That’s why their joint outing at the 2024 Golden Globes was such…
Race to replace Justin Welby begins as archbishop formally steps down
Appointing new archbishop of Canterbury likely to take months after Welby’s resignation over abuse scandal Justin Welby will relinquish his role as archbishop of Canterbury at midnight on Monday, formally starting the firing gun in the search for a new de facto leader of the Church of England and the global Anglican church. The process…
Filth and frolics – how pointy shoes once caused moral outrage in London
Perhaps one of the oddest moral panics – a fear that some evil threatens the wellbeing of society – was one that arose in medieval times. Fashionable pointy-toed shoes called poulaines were alleged to promote sexual deviancy and, as a resulting sanction from God, were blamed for bringing about the plague. The long points were…
Israel’s Military Pounds Gaza as Pressure Mounts for Cease-fire
Middle East Crisis Gaza’s health ministry said that 88 people had been killed over the past day. Israeli and Hamas officials have been holding indirect cease-fire talks via mediators in Qatar. By Hiba Yazbek Reporting from Jerusalem Dozens of Israeli strikes pounded the Gaza Strip over the weekend as Israeli and Hamas officials resumed indirect…
Getting your steps in can reduce depression, research finds
By Ronnie Cohen Feeling down? Taking a walk could help, new research shows. The more steps we take, the less likely we are to feel depressed, according to a JAMA Network Open paper published in December. Researchers analyzed 33 studies examining the movements of nearly 100,000 adults using smartphones, pedometers and other fitness trackers. Those…
Prisoner who took MoJ to court says he remains in isolation 20 months later
Kevan Thakrar still awaits judgment after case alleging unlawful solitary confinement was heard in April 2023 A prisoner who brought a legal challenge in April 2023 alleging he had been held in solitary confinement in England for more than two years has said he remains in isolation 20 months later because the judge has not…
Liverpool v Manchester United on ‘at this stage’
There was overnight snow across much of the north-west of England Liverpool say “every effort” is being made to ensure Sunday afternoon’s Premier League match against Manchester United at Anfield goes ahead. A safety meeting was held at the ground on Sunday morning to assess the weather and travel conditions following overnight snow in the…
Rwanda-backed rebels seize key town in DR Congo
Rebel forces backed by Rwanda have captured the town of Masisi in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to various reports. This is the second town seized by the M23 group in as many days in the mineral-rich North Kivu province. The group has taken control of vast swathes of eastern DR…
On the Run, a Hit Man Gives One Last Confession
Edgar Matobato says he killed again and again for former President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. Now he’s trying to stay alive to testify. Edgar Matobato says he killed again and again for former President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines. Now he’s trying to stay alive to testify. Edgar Matobato, a member of a death…
Detectorist unearths warrior’s gold scabbard stud
A tiny Sutton Hoo-era gold and garnet mount for an Anglo-Saxon warrior’s sword belt has been found during a metal detecting event. Treasure expert Helen Geake described the find as one of “probably less than a dozen in the country” and “only the fifth” on the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities database. The late 6th to…
In Damascus, Syrians Reclaim Spaces and Freedoms After al-Assad’s Fall
Syria’s Civil War Residents of Syria’s capital are picnicking on a once-forbidden mountaintop and trading openly in dollars and imported Nescafe. They say the city seems theirs again. Residents of Syria’s capital are picnicking on a once-forbidden mountaintop and trading openly in dollars and imported Nescafe. They say the city seems theirs again. Mount Qasioun,…
Woman had eight organs removed in cancer treatment
A woman who had eight organs removed after being diagnosed with a rare cancer has returned to work. Faye Louise, from Horsham, West Sussex, began planning her own funeral after doctors found a tumour in her appendix in 2023. But after “the mother of all surgeries”, she said she was cancer free and able to…
Heavy snow disrupts travel in England and Wales as airports close runways
Forecast of freezing rain to follow raises fears of treacherous conditions, with road and rail also affected Heavy overnight snow in Wales and northern England is causing travel disruption as the new year gets off to a frosty start. Two amber weather warnings from the Met Office have been put in place in England and…
Hamas releases video of Israeli hostage Liri Albag as ceasefire talks resume
Hamas has released a video showing a 19-year-old Israeli captive, as indirect talks between the group and Israel on a ceasefire and hostage release deal resume in Qatar. The footage shows Liri Albag calling for the Israeli government to reach a deal. She was taken hostage along with six other female conscript soldiers at the…
New York becomes first US city with congestion charge
The first congestion charge scheme for vehicles in the US is being introduced in New York City on Sunday. Car drivers will pay up to $9 (£7) a day, with varying rates for other vehicles. The congestion zone covers an area south of central park, taking in well known sites such as the Empire State…
Curb extremism now or face new terrorist threats, Labour warned
Experts say measures announced so far are not enough to turn the tide Labour must reverse years of political failure on extremism to stop it fuelling more disorder, violence and terrorism in Britain, leading figures have said. Neil Basu, the former head of counter-terrorism policing, and Dame Sara Khan, previously the government’s counter-extremism tsar, warned…
Nigel Farage claims Reform can win power – but how realistic is that?
Find yourself in a marquee on a Saturday afternoon where there’s a bar with wine and beer, gags being cracked, and speeches being made and you might think it’s a wedding. But the marquee at Chelmsford City Racecourse on Saturday was packed with more than 1,000 people who had turned up to a Reform UK…
New year, new deal: the buyout boom poised to take over City lawyers’ lives
Around-the-clock work will be commonplace to tackle an M&A surge fuelled by tax changes, activist investors … and the Trump factor Whether they’re on skis or a sunlounger, there is no beach, mountain or fireside that can spare lawyers from the urgent calls of zealous, dealmaking executives and private equity bosses. After a breathless 2024,…
Venezuela opposition leader Edmundo González embarks on international tour
By The Associated Press BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González, who the United States recognized as the winner of last year’s presidential election, kicked off an international tour on Saturday that will take him to Washington just days before President Nicolás Maduro is set to be sworn in for a third term…
Cash incentives for GPs under Labour’s radical plan to cut NHS waiting lists
Doctors will be given £20 each time they consult with a specialist to see if there is an alternative to hospital visits GPs will be offered financial incentives to discuss with specialists whether patients can be treated outside hospital, under radical plans to cut NHS waiting lists. Doctors will be given £20 each time they…
South Korean protesters brave cold to demand Yoon’s ouster as detention deadline looms
By The Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea — Hundreds of South Koreans, bundled up against freezing temperatures and snow, rallied overnight into Sunday near the residence of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, calling for his ouster and arrest, as authorities prepared to renew their efforts to detain him over his short-lived martial law decree. Dozens…
Invasion Day marcher stripped of $800,000 compensation as police duty of care ruling overturned
Laura Cullen was among 5,000 people at a 2017 Sydney protest when she was knocked down and injured as NSW police tried to arrest a man A landmark legal ruling that set out the duty of care New South Wales police owe people attending protests has been overturned on appeal, stripping an Invasion Day marcher…
Australia race to victory and series win over India
This video can not be played Australia beat India to claim series victory Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Fifth Test, day three, Sydney India 185 (Pant 40; Boland 4-31, Starc 3-49) & 157 (Pant 61; Boland 6-45) Australia 181: (Webster 57; Siraj 3-51, Krishna 3-42) & 162-4 (Head 34 not out, Webster 39 not out) Australia win by…
The Golden Globes are Sunday night. Here’s five things to look for
By The Associated Press After a rocky few years and the disbanding of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globes have seemingly stabilized. Now the question is: Can they still put on a good show? The 82nd Golden Globes, beginning Sunday night at 8 p.m. EST, will hope to rekindle some of the frothy…
William’s ‘sorrow over pal’s death’ and ‘bleak midwinter’
The Sunday Telegraph is among the front pages to feature a picture of Edward Pettifer, the British man killed in the attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. He was the stepson of a former nanny to Prince William and Prince Harry. “Wills’ sorrow at Brit terror death,” is the Sunday People’s headline, while…
‘Eyewatering’ £100m spent on repairs in Scotland’s ‘ferry fiasco’ over past decade
Government plans for publicly funded operator CalMac have been mired in controversy, with replacement vessels delayed and costs spiralling Almost £100m has been spent over the past decade on repairs for eight of the largest publicly owned ferries in Scotland. The figure has been described as “eye-watering” by Sue Webber, transport spokesperson for the Scottish…
After bruising election loss, what next for Kamala Harris?
Exactly two months after her election loss to Donald Trump, Vice-President Kamala Harris will preside over the certification of her own defeat. As president of the Senate, on Monday she will stand at the House Speaker’s rostrum to lead the counting of Electoral College votes, officially cementing her rival’s triumph two weeks before he returns…
Tourism agency deletes ‘pristine swimming spot’ post about unpatrolled beach on Mornington Peninsula
Video removed as Life Saving Victoria carries out 145 rescues – ‘We don’t remember when we’ve been that busy’ Victoria’s tourism agency has removed a social media post that described an unpatrolled ocean beach on the Mornington Peninsula as a “pristine swimming spot” amid almost 150 rescues on the state’s beaches on Saturday. Number 16…
Farage defends Musk after grooming gangs posts
Nigel Farage has defended Elon Musk after the billionaire attacked the UK government’s response to grooming gangs on X, the social media platform he owns. In a series of posts over several days, Musk suggested Sir Keir Starmer failed to prosecute gangs and said Home Office minister Jess Phillips “deserves to be in prison”. It…