After California’s vote to counter Trump, here’s where redistricting stands
Larry Kaplow Loading… California voters this week made the biggest Democratic move yet against President Trump’s effort to reshape voting maps in favor of Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. They overwhelmingly approved a map for congressional districts that could help Democrats win five more seats in the U.S. House. The ballot language itself referred […]
How Supermassive Black Holes Can Become Cosmic Nightmares
The UniverseFridays Do We Live in a Haunted Galaxy? Huge eruptions from the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole in the distant past may have sterilized much of the inner galaxy By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait Galaxies are spooky […]
Why an interstellar comet has scientists excited
Jaclyn Diaz An ancient comet that entered our solar system this summer is offering a rare opportunity to learn more about distant planetary systems far beyond the reach of any spacecraft, researchers say. The comet is special both because it is interstellar — meaning it came from outside our solar system — and also because […]
Did Astronomers Photograph UFOs Orbiting Earth in the 1950s?
UFOs Are Just One Explanation for Mysterious Patterns in Old Telescope Data New peer-reviewed research reporting strange lights in the pre-space-age sky is sparking curiosity and controversy By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings For generations, UFO enthusiasts have longed for claims of aliens visiting Earth to be seriously investigated by scientists. Now they are […]
Dungeons & Dragons – Starter Set: Heroes of The Borderlands
For many, Dungeons & Dragons may seem like a insurmountable entry point to the world of RPGs, and, in many ways, especially without at least one seasoned veteran in your group, it isn’t necessarily an incorrect assumption. The all new Dungeons & Dragons – Starter Set: Heroes of The Borderlands aims to eliminate that hurdle […]
More than half a million students were out of school because of LA fires this week
Jonaki Mehta More than 600,000 students in and around Los Angeles have had their schooling disrupted by the historic fires this week. School districts across the region started announcing school closures on Tuesday and Wednesday. That includes the second-largest school district in the nation, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), which serves more than 500,000…
Grooming gang rhetoric risks inciting mass violence, says Wes Streeting
Exclusive: Health secretary points to New Zealand mosque massacre and says entire communities must not be tarred with the same brush The use of inflammatory language over grooming gangs risks vilifying entire communities and could lead to atrocities such as the mosque massacre in New Zealand that killed more than 50 people, the health secretary…
Temperature drops to -17.3C in Scottish hamlet
Temperatures in a hamlet in northern Scotland dropped to -17.3C on Friday – the UK’s coldest January night in 15 years. The mercury in Altnaharra, which is in the most northern region of the Highlands, plummeted shortly before 20:00, the Met Office said. It is the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010, when temperatures dropped…
‘It’s like a ton of bricks fell on me’ – Victims’ loved ones share stories
At least 10 people have died as wildfires rage in Los Angeles – and there are fears that number will rise. Officials say it may take several weeks to identify victims as traditional methods – such as fingerprinting and visual identification – may not be possible. Here is what we know about those who are…
How Gossip Girl’s Samantha Rose Baldwin Rescued Her Cat From Fire
Gossip Girl actress Samantha Rose Baldwin detailed her heroic efforts to save her 10-year-old cat from the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. Samantha Rose Baldwin is leaving no feline behind. Amid the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, the actress—who appeared on season two of the Gossip Girl reboot—braved the flames to rescue her 10-year-old tortoiseshell cat,…
A small seafood restaurant turns into a national donation hub for LA fire victims
Emma Bowman HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Lauren and Andrew Gruel, the husband-and-wife owners of a seafood restaurant in a Southern California surf town, are used to thinking local. Most of the seafood served up in their Huntington Beach restaurant Calico Fish House is sourced from fishers in the area. This week, that local ethos has…
Pressure on Nigel Farage as Reform UK councillors resign over his leadership
Exclusive: Departures will add to scrutiny of party leader after Elon Musk said he was ‘not up to the job’ A group of 10 councillors who had been elected for Reform UK have given notice of their intention to resign en masse in protest at Nigel Farage’s leadership. The resignations will add to pressure on…
Biden extends temporary protections for more than 800,000 immigrants
US president moves to shield roughly 230,000 Salvadorans and 600,000 Venezuelans against Trump administration The Biden administration on Friday extended temporary humanitarian protections for about 230,000 Salvadorans and 600,000 Venezuelans living in the US, in an effort to shield those groups from an incoming Trump administration that has promised to deport them. The decision in…
Identical Twins Marry Identical Twins—and Now Their Kids Are Siblings
Identical twins Brittany Deane Salyers and Briana Deane Salyers married identical twins Josh Salyers and Jeremy Salyers in 2017 and are now raising their 3-year-old sons as siblings, not just cousins. These folks are giving a new meaning to the term “twin flame.” Why? Well, identical twin sisters Brittany Deane Salyers and Briana Deane Salyers, both 39, married identical twin…
Venezuela’s Maduro begins new term as US increases bounty for his arrest
By Manuel Rueda BOGOTA, Colombia—Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was sworn into office for a third consecutive term on Friday, as the United States, European Union and United Kingdom announced a new round of sanctions on the increasingly authoritarian government. The US, EU and many neighboring countries have recognised the opposition candidate – Edmundo González– as…
Meta axes diversity programmes joining US corporate rollback
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is axing its diversity programmes, joining firms across corporate America that are rolling back initiatives criticised by conservatives, citing legal and political risks. The move comes just days after the tech giant, owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it was ending a fact-checking programme criticised by President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans…
Fears of ‘rogue rewilding’ in Scottish Highlands after further lynx sightings
Environmentalists condemn unauthorised releases as ‘reckless’ and ‘highly irresponsible’ For a brief moment this week, lynx have been roaming the Scottish Highlands once again. But this was not the way conservationists had hoped to end their 1,000-year absence. On Wednesday, Police Scotland received reports of two lynx in a forest in the Cairngorms national park,…
Bill Hader Surprises News Crew During Palisades Fire
Saturday Night Live alum Bill Hader caught a Los Angeles news crew by surprise when he offered to take part in their coverage of the ongoing wildfires affecting Southern California. Bill Hader briefly took on a different kind of TV role. Amid the wildfires impacting the Los Angeles area, the Saturday Night Live alum surprised…
10,000 brave -3C at Bradford’s magical City of Culture launch
Thousands of people braved sub-zero temperatures to watch an open-air spectacle starring magician Steven Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, a 10-year-old rapper and a dozen aerial dancers to launch Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture. Frayne told the audience he started his career performing street magic in City Park, where the opening ceremony was…
Is smoke in your home? Here’s how to make an air purifier from a box fan
By Bill Chappell This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. Interest in air filters and purifiers is spiking in Southern California, including questions about how to build a homemade air purifier. Getting clean air is the latest challenge for residents who evacuated to safe areas,…
Fact-checking criticism of California officials over fires
The wildfires raging in Los Angeles have led to claims that officials there have mismanaged the city’s preparation for such events. President-elect Donald Trump has pointed the finger of blame at California Governor Gavin Newsom, who he says is responsible for LA’s struggling water supply. Others have blamed LA Mayor Karen Bass for cutting the…
Almost 900 weapons seized in a year at Yorkshire young offender institution
Weapons such as sharpened objects and rocks taken from children aged 15-18 at YOI Wetherby Almost 900 weapons were seized in one year from children detained in a young offender institution in the north of England, a prisons watchdog has found. In its annual report published on Friday into HM young offender institution Wetherby in…
ISIS Says It Inspired New Orleans Attack, but Doesn’t Claim Responsibility
New Orleans Attack The attacker who killed 14 pedestrians on Bourbon Street was “influenced by the discourse and messaging of the Islamic State,” the terrorist group said in a bulletin dated Thursday. By Eve Sampson The group said the attacker who ran over pedestrians walking on Bourbon Street was “influenced by the discourse and messaging…
Former NFL WAG Shares What Her Husband’s Salary Was Really Like
Bryce Watts Hansen—who is married to retired NFL player Chad Hansen—revealed the harsh reality of sharing finances with a professional football player, saying, “These contracts aren’t guaranteed.” Bryce Watts Hansen is setting the record straight. The NFLadies podcast host—who is married to former NFL player Chad Hansen—shared that the life of a professional football player…
Cancelled flights, stranded cars, no power: Winter storm slams swath of U.S.
By Nate Perez A winter storm has slammed into several states, leaving a blanket of snow, sleet and freezing rain across the South. One of the hardest-hit places was Atlanta, where more than 220 vehicles were stranded on the side of the road and spun out on Friday. The region’s biggest snowstorm in years has…
Biden Officials Say the Truth About Havana Syndrome Is Still Unknown
The White House contradicts a new intelligence assessment on the mysterious ailments that diplomats and spies have reported for years. By Julian E. Barnes Reporting from Washington White House officials said on Friday that the truth behind the mysterious ailments known as Havana Syndrome was still unknown, contradicting a new intelligence assessment about what had…
Gaza death toll 40% higher than official number, Lancet study finds
Analysis estimates death toll by end of June was 64,260, with 59% being women, children and people over 65 Research published in the Lancet medical journal estimates that the death toll in Gaza during the first nine months of the Israel-Hamas war was about 40% higher than numbers recorded by the Palestinian territory’s health ministry.…
Gaza war death toll could be significantly higher, researchers say
The Palestinian death toll from the war in Gaza could be substantially higher than official figures reported by the Hamas-run health ministry, research published in The Lancet medical journal suggests. The UK-led study covered the first nine months of the war, which began when Hamas gunmen attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. It used data…
Rachel Lindsay Slams Take She Chose Career Over Bryan Abasolo Marriage
Rachel Lindsay broke her silence on divorce from Bryan Abasolo after reaching a $500,000 settlement and slammed the notion she chose a career over a family. Rachel Lindsay is telling her side of the story. After the Bachelorette alum finalized her divorce from Bryan Abasolo—which includes her paying him $500,000 as part of the settlement…
Ukraine’s highest profile combat unit to recruit English-speaking soldiers
Ukraine’s highest profile combat unit is seeking English-speaking recruits at a time when the impending presidency of Donald Trump means that Kyiv is expected to come under intense pressure on the battlefield. Azov, a volunteer brigade whose decade-old nationalist origins have made it a target of Russian propaganda, plans to form an international battalion to…
Second pair of lynx captured in Cairngorms
A second pair of lynx have been captured after being found near Kingussie in the Cairngorms National Park. Two other lynx, released illegally, were caught in the same area on Thursday. The RZSS confirmed that the latest pair had been captured at about 18:30 near the Dell of Killiehuntly, where the two other lynx were…
Slender Man Case: Morgan Geyser to Be Released 11 Years After Stabbing
Morgan Geyser, who stabbed Payton Leutner in 2014 in an effort to please the fictional character Slender Man, is set to be released from a Wisconsin psychiatric hospital, a judge ruled Jan. 9. A new update has emerged in the Slender Man case, over a decade after the terrifying ordeal. Nearly 11 years ago, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured…
Dave Coulier Details “Roller Coaster” Chemotherapy Cancer Treatment
Full House’s Dave Coulier shared how he’s been adjusting to the side effects of chemotherapy treatment amid his battle with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Dave Coulier is not taking anything for granted. Nearly two months after the Full House star shared his diagnosis with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of blood cancer involving the…
Firefighters battling LA fires make some progress, but harsh winds threaten gains
By Juliana Kim , Ayana Archie This is a developing story. For the latest local updates head to LAist.com and sign up for breaking news alerts. California firefighters have begun to see some progress against the wildfires that are raging for a fourth day. At the same time, those gains continue to be threatened as powerful, dry winds…
Warwick Davis to receive prestigious Bafta Fellowship
Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis will receive this year’s Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy’s highest honour. The Surrey-born actor is known for appearing in the Harry Potter and Star Wars film series and has presented the ITV game show Tenable since 2016. In a statement, Davis described the Fellowship as an “incredible honour” and…
Gay men can train as priests but must be celibate, say Italian bishops
Move marks shift in views but sexually active gay men will not be admitted to Roman Catholic seminaries Gay men will be allowed to train as priests in Roman Catholic seminaries, so long as they observe celibacy, according to new guidelines announced by the Italian Bishops Conference (CIE). The decision marks a shift from the…
The Secret to Zoe Saldaña’s Award-Winning Red Carpet Glow
When it comes to beauty secrets, Zoe Saldaña is not gatekeeping. In fact, the Golden Globe award-winning celebrity shared that her red carpet glow from last Sunday came from a bespoke facial and application of products, called The Method. According to Zoe’s celebrity facialist Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine, the actress’ treatment involved a variety of luxury…
World’s ugliest lawn winner says she leaves watering to Mother Nature
New Zealand garden takes first prize in global competition designed to promote water conservation A sun-scorched patch of lawn near Christchurch, in New Zealand, has been crowned the ugliest lawn in the world. Now in its second year, the World’s Ugliest Lawn competition rewards lawn owners for not watering their parched yellow grass and patchy…
‘My mum died after four days on an A&E trolley’
Mary Lamerton was a joyous person who always saw the funny side of life. She was the type of person who made sure her family remembered each other’s birthdays. Daughter Sue described her 86-year-old mother as the “lynchpin” of the family. She recounted how Mary spent the last four days of her life on a…
Biden Issues Sweeping Deportation Protections Before Trump Takes Office
The move allows hundreds of thousands of people from Sudan, Ukraine and Venezuela to stay in the country temporarily. By Hamed Aleaziz and Miriam Jordan Hamed Aleaziz reported from Washington and Miriam Jordan from Los Angeles. The Biden administration on Friday issued sweeping extensions of deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people from Sudan,…
Trump’s Erroneous Claims about the Los Angeles Fire Response, Debunked
Trump’s Erroneous Claims about the Los Angeles Fire Response, Debunked President-elect Trump has incorrectly blamed California water management for the destruction from the recent fires in the Los Angeles area By Camille von Kaenel & E&E News Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire in strong winds as many homes burn on January 7, 2025 in Pasadena,…
2024 was the hottest year on record. The reason remains a science mystery
By Alejandra Borunda The numbers vary slightly. NOAA reports 1.46 degrees C of warming, NASA, 1.47; and the EU’s Copernicus, 1.6. “The real punchline is, it was another really warm year,” says Russell Vose, a climate scientist at NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information, the group that produces the temperature estimates. The 1.5C number gained…
Starmer’s top aide made low-key Brussels trip as No 10’s EU reset efforts continue
Morgan McSweeney met EU counterparts before Christmas as Downing Street poised to hire new foreign adviser Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, made a below-the-radar trip to Brussels last month, as No 10 prepares to appoint its own foreign affairs adviser to help bolster the Downing Street policy operation. As the UK’s attempts at…
Oldham abuse survivors criticise government over inquiry decision
The BBC has changed the names of the women in this article in order to protect their identity. Three women who were left devastated by historical child sexual exploitation in Oldham have told the BBC ministers should have spoken to survivors before deciding not to conduct a government-led inquiry into grooming gangs in the town.…
There is one major gift Trump is inheriting from Biden: A good job market
Scott Horsley There is major thing that president-elect Donald Trump will be getting as President Biden prepares to hand over the reins: a strong labor market. U.S. employers added more than a quarter-million jobs in December — well above expectations — while the unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%, according to a report from the Labor…
Trump avoids prison or fine in hush-money case sentencing
A judge has sentenced US President-elect Donald Trump to an “unconditional discharge,” bringing to an end the first criminal trial of a former US president. The sentence in the hush-money payment case means the incoming president has been spared any penalty, including jail time or a fine, but he will still take office as the…
Tom Holland’s Dad Shares Insight Into Zendaya Engagement
After Zendaya hinted at her engagement to Tom Holland at the 2025 Golden Globes with her stunning ring, the Spider-Man star’s dad Dominic Holland confirmed he popped the question. Tom Holland became the greatest showman for his proposal to Zendaya. Just days after the Spider-Man actress turned heads at the 2025 Golden Globes with a…
Cold weather health alert extended for England with -20C possible
Officials say impact of freezing temperatures likely to be felt across health service and amber alert to stay until Tuesday An England-wide amber health alert has been extended to Tuesday as temperatures are expected to continue to fall over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency extended the alert, which was previously in place until…
Paris Hilton Shares Heartbreak After Home Was Destroyed by L.A. Fires
Paris Hilton detailed the emotional return to her Malibu home after it was burned to the ground in the devastating Los Angeles fires. Paris Hilton is sharing insight into the devastation caused by the Los Angeles fires. The heiress—who shares kids Phoenix, 2, and London, 14 months, with husband Carter Reum—reflected on the loss of…
Mauro Morandi, Italy’s Robinson Crusoe, Dies at 85
He was the sole resident of Budelli, an undeveloped sliver of paradise off the northern coast of Sardinia. He embraced the solitude, until he was evicted. By Elisabetta Povoledo reporting from Rome Mauro Morandi, whose 32-year sojourn on an uninhabited Mediterranean island led to his being known as Italy’s Robinson Crusoe, died on Jan. 3…
Fears over UK borrowing costs as US jobs figures prompt stock market volatility
Pound falls against the dollar and bond yields rise amid concerns over high UK inflation and interest rates Concerns over the UK government’s borrowing costs were revived on Friday after stronger-than expected US jobs figures triggered volatile conditions in global financial markets. In an accelerating global bond market sell-off, investors warned that the UK was…
Faisal Islam: Mortgage rates are not rising yet but Reeves has to act
It has not been a good week for Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Government borrowing costs have hit their highest level in 16 years and the pound has fallen to a 14-month low against the dollar. She has gone on a planned trip to China amid accusations from opposition parties that she is leaving at a moment…
‘I have nothing to go back to’ – BBC reporter tells of LA fires heartbreak
It’s been four days since Los Angeles became an inferno – and my home became a pile of smouldering embers. I’m now staying at a friend’s house in La Crescenta, north of the city, after evacuating my condo in the Palisades, 30 miles (48km) away from where the fires first started on Tuesday morning. I…
What is the flame retardant that planes are dropping on the LA fires?
By Bill Chappell This is a developing story. For the latest local updates, head to LAist.com. Also, sign up for NPR’s breaking news alerts. Air tankers are dropping thousands of gallons of red flame retardant in the hills around Los Angeles as firefighters attempt to limit the devastation from multiple wildfires. Images of vivid red clouds enveloping…
Venezuela’s Maduro sworn in amid outrage over alleged election theft
President, who has led country in an increasingly repressive direction since 2013, has failed to provide proof he won vote Venezuela’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro, has been sworn in for a third term despite domestic outrage and a chorus of international condemnation at his alleged theft of last year’s election. “This is a great victory…
Mandy Moore Slams Critics After Sharing Fundraiser for Relatives
While sharing a fundraiser to support her relatives that have lost their homes in the Los Angeles fires, Mandy Moore responded to critics questioning whether she was giving them support herself. Mandy Moore is doing whatever she can for her family—including clapping back at the haters. After her relatives lost their home in the devastating…
Biden Raises Bounty For Nicolás Maduro to $25 Million
The move is a retaliatory measure meant to punish the Venezuelan autocrat for refusing to give up power By Julie Turkewitz Reporting from Bogotá, Colombia The Biden Administration said on Friday that it was offering $25 million for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela. The announcement is Washington’s retaliatory…
US announces $25m reward for arrest of Venezuela’s Maduro
The US has announced an increased $25m (£20.4m) reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on the day he was sworn in for a third six-year term in office. The inauguration ceremony was overshadowed by recrimination from the international community and Venezuelan opposition leaders. Rewards have also been offered for…
Police search for two sisters reported missing in Aberdeen
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen crossing a bridge in the city centre on Tuesday morning Police are searching for two sisters reported missing in Aberdeen, who were last seen three days ago. Police Scotland has asked for the public’s help to trace Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, who were last…
President-Elect Donald Trump Sentenced, Officially a Convicted Felon
President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced on Jan. 10 to an unconditional discharge in his hush money case in New York, making him the first president to be sentenced on criminal charges. President Donald Trump’s legal journey has come to an end. The 78-year-old’s hush money case in the state of New York—the only one of…
‘The worst way of dying’: scientists urge coordinated effort to stop whales getting tangled
Experts recorded 45 entanglements off Australia’s east coast in 2024 – but believe that’s ‘the tip of the iceberg’ At least 45 whales were entangled by fishing ropes and line on the east coast in 2024, and experts are calling for better management of fishing gear in Australia to prevent marine suffering. Dr Olaf Meynecke,…
Amorim can’t guarantee Mainoo’s Man Utd future
Kobbie Mainoo has made 52 appearances for Manchester United and won 10 England caps Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he wants to keep Kobbie Mainoo at the club – but offered no guarantees it will actually happen. The England midfielder, 19, was linked with Chelsea earlier this week amid a continuing stand-off over…
Israel Strikes Ports and a Power Plant in Houthi-Controlled Parts of Yemen
Middle East Crisis Israel and its allies have escalated strikes against the Houthis to try to force them to stop firing on Israel and Red Sea shipping lanes, but it was not clear whether they would deter the Iran-backed militia. By Aaron Boxerman and Ismaeel Naar Aaron Boxerman reported from Jerusalem and Ismaeel Naar from…
Interstate travellers take to the train as air fares between Melbourne and Sydney soar
Exclusive: Seats on 11-hour Sydney-Melbourne service regularly sold out over holiday period, as one-way flights to Tullamarine average almost $500 The 11-hour Sydney-Melbourne train has become so popular services are selling out – even with extra carriages added – as travellers seek alternatives to an aviation duopoly that is stronger than ever, with carriers charging…
Bride’s fury after Instagram stunt wedding turns out to be real
A woman in Australia has annulled her marriage after realising that a fake wedding ceremony she took part in for a social media stunt was in fact real. The unknowing bride said her partner was a social media influencer who convinced her to take part in the ceremony as a “prank” for his Instagram account.…