In effort to protect children, France bans smoking at parks and beaches
Eleanor Beardsley PARIS — A restrictive outdoor smoking ban has come into force in France, a country where café culture, which often includes a glass of wine and a cigarette, is a way of life. As of Sunday, smokers are no longer allowed to light up in public parks, at swimming pools, or at beaches, […]
Kickstarter Tabletop Alert: ‘Deep Regrets’
Can you keep your sanity while fishing up increasingly strange things from the ocean? Deep Regrets is a strategic, horror-themed fishing game for 1-5 players, ages 16 and up, and takes about 30-150 minutes to play. The base game, along with the new expansion, Even Deeper Regrets, is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with a […]
Could the Solar System Lose a Planet to a Passing Star?
The UniverseFridays How a Passing Star Could Oust Planets from the Solar System Close stellar encounters could change the structure of our planetary system, potentially dooming Earth or other worlds to oblivion By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept depicts one of the solar system’s inner planets slamming into Earth after being […]
‘Kisses yes, Bezos No,’ protesters say, as Bezos wedding stirs controversy in Venice
By The Associated Press VENICE, Italy — Hundreds of protesters marched through Venice’s central streets on Saturday to say “No” to billionaire Jeff Bezos, his bride and their much-awaited wedding extravaganza, which reached its third and final day amid celebrity-crowded parties and the outcries of tired residents. On Friday, the world’s fourth-richest man and his […]
A Conversation with Kickstarter and Crowdfunding Tabletop Roundup
Earlier this week I got to chat with Asher McClennahan, the head of games at Kickstarter. I was curious to hear how tariffs had affected things like the number of projects launching or being backed, and also whether some of the “tried-and-true” advice about launching projects is actually true. As far as tariffs go, McClennahan […]
Kylie Jenner Posts Love Island Group Chat Texts With Hailey Bieber
Kylie Jenner gave fans a glimpse at her Love Island group chat, which also appeared to feature Hailey Bieber, as she shared how her friends avoid spoilers for the Peacock series. Kylie Jenner got a text! After all, she’s trying to keep up with the Love Island USA bombshells. The Kardashians star revealed she’s been…
University of Toronto agrees to host Harvard students facing Trump visa restrictions
Pact will help international students finish their studies amid Harvard’s legal battle with Trump administration Harvard University and the University of Toronto and have announced a plan that would see some Harvard students complete their studies in Canada if visa restrictions prevent them from entering the United States. The pact between the two schools reflects…
Review – DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #4: Justice League on Angel Island
Ray: For the last issue, we got to see Sonic and his crew take over the DCU, with each fuzzy hero taking on the turf and style of one of the missing-in-action DCU heroes. Which raises the question of where the Justice League is – and the answer is, on Sonic’s world! That means these…
What is birthright citizenship and what happens after the Supreme Court ruling?
By Bill Chappell After the Supreme Court issued a ruling that limits the ability of federal judges to issue universal injunctions — but didn’t rule on the legality of President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship — immigrant rights groups are trying a new tactic by filing a national class action lawsuit. The lawsuit was…
Weather Forecasters Lose Crucial Hurricane Detection Microwave Satellite Data
Hurricane Forecasters Lose Crucial Satellite Data, with Serious Implications Microwave satellite data are key to capturing major changes in a hurricane’s strength, such as when a storm undergoes rapid intensification. But a main source of those data is being abruptly shut off By Andrea Thompson edited by Dean Visser Satellite image of Hurricane Otis over…
The benefits U-turn raises deeper questions about the credibility of Labour’s long-term plan
About a quarter of the working age population – those aged 16 to 64 – do not currently have a job. Caring responsibilities and ill health are the most common reasons given by those who would like one. With a four-year mandate and a towering majority, Labour might have been expected to have invested in…
Matty Healy Makes Subtle Reference to Ex Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s ex Matty Healy seemingly took a dig at the “Lover” singer during his band The 1975’s performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England June 27. Matty Healy might be embracing his alter ego as a tattooed golden retriever—or at least a tortured poet. While performing at the Glastonbury Festival in England June 27,…
Sinaloa cartel hacked security cameras to track and kill FBI informants, US says
Hacker working for cartel run by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán was also able to access phone records of an FBI legal attaché at the US embassy in Mexico City A hacker working for the Sinaloa drug cartel was able to obtain an FBI official’s phone records and use Mexico City’s surveillance cameras to help track…
What the Kardashians Wore to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s Wedding
Several members of the Kardashian-Jenner family stepped out for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding in Venice on June 27. See how Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and more dress for the big day. It’s time to keep up with the Kardashian-Jenners wedding looks. Several members of the reality TV family stepped out in Venice for…
Backbenchers left feeling bruised after benefit cuts row
“What an absolute bloody shambles!” When we tell you that this is the unvarnished view of a Labour MP now willing to back the Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s benefits plans, you get a sense of how much anger this row has provoked and is still provoking. And there are still plenty who are not happy…
Rising poverty in conflict zones ‘causes a billion people to go hungry’
In first assessment since pandemic in 2020, World Bank urges other countries to step up support Extreme poverty is accelerating in 39 countries affected by war and conflict, leaving more than a billion people to go hungry, according to the World Bank. Civil wars and confrontations between nations, mostly in Africa, have set back economic…
Five academics and former diplomats on U.S. strikes, Iran and stability
By Majd Al-Waheidi The U.S. military strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites have reignited long-standing debates over Washington’s strategy in the Middle East. While President Trump hailed the attacks as a decisive blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, reactions from regional and international experts reveal a far more divided picture. Shortly before the Hamas-led Oct. 7…
Supreme Court sides with Texas’ age verification law for porn sites
Nina Totenberg The Supreme Court The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday upheld a Texas law requiring consumers to provide age verification in order to gain access to commercial websites that provide sexually explicit material. It was the first time that the court has imposed requirements on adult consumers in order to protect minors from having…
Meditation’s Benefits Stretch Beyond the Person Who Meditates
Meditation’s Benefits Stretch Beyond the Person Who Meditates Often framed as a boon for personal wellness, meditation helps us connect with and support others, too By Mariah G. Schug edited by Daisy Yuhas Listening to the daily news, with stories of war and conflict, can be disheartening. Unsurprisingly, data suggest that a majority of Americans…
We’ve got the right balance, says PM after benefits U-turn
Sir Keir Starmer has said his welfare reforms strike “the right balance” after making concessions to his own backbench MPs. The government’s initial plans, aimed at bringing down the welfare bill, would have made it harder for people to claim personal independence payment (Pip), a benefit paid to 3.7 million people with long-term physical or…
Questions over terms as Rwanda and DRC prepare to sign peace deal in US
Agreement draws scrutiny for its vagueness, with Trump administration eyeing mineral wealth in eastern DRC Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are expected to sign a peace deal in Washington later on Friday to end fighting in eastern DRC, amid uncertainty over what the agreement means and who stands to benefit. On Wednesday,…
Lauren Sánchez Reacts to Katy Perry Missing Her Wedding
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez sent a special note to Katy Perry who is noticeably absent from her wedding festivities in Venice—where ex Orlando Bloom is among the guests—as she continues tour. Katy Perry is the wedding guest that got away. After all, as Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos prepare to the knot in a star-studded ceremony…
Solar manufacturing is booming. Advocates say it could go bust without incentives
By Michael Copley A couple of years ago, Mick McDaniel started a company in Indianapolis to make solar panels in the United States. Then-President Joe Biden had just signed the Inflation Reduction Act, a law packed with tax incentives for clean energy. America’s solar market was about to take off. Since then, tens of billions…
Kelly Stafford Details “Miserable” Attempt at Waxing Her Own Vagina
Kelly Stafford detailed how a recent attempt at waxing her own vagina quickly took a painful turn, calling the ordeal “the worst choice I’ve made in a really long time.” Kelly Stafford is detailing a painful ordeal. The wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford revealed how a recent attempt at self-care quickly took…
Chris Mason: A hat-trick of U-turns – and this is the most awkward of the lot
Three U-turns in a month. First, there was the slow-motion change of mind on the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners. Then there was the decision to hold a statutory inquiry into grooming gangs, having previously said one wasn’t necessary. And now this on benefits. Ministers argue their decision on setting up an investigation…
Review – Green Lantern Dark #5: Castle of the Bat
Ray: This continues to be one of the most intriguing new Elseworlds in a while, not just for its characters and worldbuilding but for its stunning art style. “Something Is Killing the Children” artist Werther Dell’Edera is very comfortable with working with cosmic horrors, so it’s not a surprise that he manages to bring some…
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Son Justin Accused of Orchestrating Gang Rape
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son Justin Combs has been accused of luring a woman to Los Angeles, where she was allegedly drugged and raped by three masked men—one of which she believes was the rapper. Warning: This article contains allegations of sexual assault. Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son Justin Combs has been accused of facilitating a woman’s…
Prosecution says Combs used ‘violence, power and fear’ to control victims
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento A federal prosecutor delivered the closing arguments of the government’s case against Sean Combs on Thursday (June 26) in a lower Manhattan courtroom, explaining to the jury how testimony and evidence presented over the last month and a half adds up to charges that include sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. For more…
Does Using ChatGPT Really Change Your Brain Activity?
Does Using ChatGPT Change Your Brain Activity? Study Sparks Debate Scientists warn against reading too much into a small experiment about ChatGPT and brain activity that is receiving a lot of buzz By Nicola Jones & Nature magazine The brains of people writing an essay with ChatGPT are less engaged than those of people blocked…
Misogyny is an epidemic fuelled by social media, Amy Hunt tells BBC in first interview
Amy Hunt, whose mother and two sisters were murdered in their own home last year, has told the BBC there is an “epidemic” of misogyny in society that has “the most horrific, devastating consequences”. In her first interview since the murders of her mum, Carol, and sisters, Hannah and Louise, Amy says the UK “should…
Lalo Schifrin, composer of Mission: Impossible theme and more than 100 film and TV scores, dies aged 93
The Argentinian composer also wrote the scores for Cool Hand Luke and Dirty Harry, and wrote one of the biggest-selling works in the history of classical music Lalo Schifrin, the composer who wrote the endlessly catchy theme for Mission: Impossible and more than 100 other arrangements for film and television, has died aged 93. Schifrin’s…
Review – The Flash #22: Sins of the Fathers
Ray: “Bad Moon Rising” has been a compelling crossover so far, with Wally West combating Eclipso’s takeover of the moon by splitting himself into hundreds of alternate selves – at the growing cost of his mental stability. But this issue throws a new wrinkle into things, as his kids start helping him – but not…
Starmer set to announce welfare climbdown in deal with Labour rebels
The government is expected to announce a deal with Labour rebels on its planned benefits changes. Ministers are expected to fast-track a £1bn support plan originally scheduled for 2029. The concessions amount to a massive climbdown from the government, which was staring at the prospect of defeat if it failed to accommodate the demands of…
As Anna Wintour shifts her focus, ‘Vogue’ is looking for a new U.S. editor
Elizabeth Blair Vogue is looking to fill some elegant, expensive shoes: The U.S. magazine will search for a new editor-in-chief to give Anna Wintour more time to focus on her work as Vogue‘s global editorial director and parent company Condé Nast’s chief content officer. According to Vogue, Wintour told her staff on Thursday that a…
These Actions Could Make Vaccines Safer. But RFK, Jr., Isn’t Pursuing Them
These Actions Could Make Vaccines Safer. But RFK, Jr., Isn’t Pursuing Them Vaccines are safe, but they could always be safer—here’s what would make a difference By Arthur Allen & KFF Health News Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in May…
Sephora’s Major Summer Deals Event Is on Now: Save up to 50% off
It’s time to stock up on beauty for the summer at Sephora. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. Summer is heating up at Sephora, with the Major Summer Deals event on now. It’s time to stock up on…
Jamaica to ask King Charles to refer issue of reparations for slavery to UK’s privy council
Hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans were shipped to the Caribbean island when it was a colony of the UK Jamaica will ask King Charles to request legal advice on the issue of slavery reparations from the judicial committee of the privy council, the final court of appeal for UK overseas territories and some Commonwealth…
Click That Brick! The LEGO Icons Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook
LEGO has recently introduced a new line of sets: Book Nooks, which unfold to present scenes from the novels they are based on. The first of these is based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books, and gives us a scene from Baker Street. The LEGO Icons Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook, set #10351, is a 1,359-piece…
Kim Jong-un hails new North Korean beach resort as one of country’s ‘greatest feats’ this year
North Korean leader was accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae, widely presumed to be his heir, at opening of Wonsan Kalma tourist zone Kim Jong-un is more accustomed to overseeing ballistic missile launches and political purges, but this week the North Korean leader opted for a change of pace with a family visit to a…
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Slams Ex Nicholas Godejohn After Mom’s Murder
Over a decade after Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Nicholas Godejohn murdered her mom Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, the 33-year-old is taking back life: “Justice was served and so was my time.” Gypsy Rose Blanchard is sharing her truth. As the 33-year-old navigates life since being released from prison for her role in the 2015 murder…
The next James Bond film will have Dune’s Denis Villeneuve as its director
By Bill Chappell Dune director Denis Villeneuve views the world of James Bond as “sacred territory.” Now he’ll have a chance to shape that world: the Quebecois filmmaker is directing the next installment of the venerable spy’s adventures. “I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery,”…
Can a new paper defuse climate infighting?
To fix climate, all the tools need to be on the table, experts say. How much can — or should — humanity rely on nature to help solve the climate crisis? It’s a debate that readers of this news site know well. In 2024, two Conservation International scientists responded to a study that was dismissive…
Math Enthusiasts Unite to Have Rover Calculate Pi on the Moon
Math Enthusiasts Unite to Have Rover Calculate Pi on the Moon Later this year a tiny rover will carry out an unusual lunar task By Emma R. Hasson edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Astrobotic’s CubeRover is slated to land on the moon in late 2025. While traversing the moon’s surface after a planned launch later…
Starmer confirms talks with Labour rebels over welfare cuts concessions
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed the government is in talks with Labour rebels over concessions on its welfare plans. The prime minister said talks would continue in the coming days to “get it right” ahead of a scheduled vote on Tuesday next week on legislation to deliver the proposals. It comes after more than 120…
Review – Mr. Terrific: Year One #2 – Ghost Story
Ray: When we picked up with Michael Holt last issue, he was a man at his wit’s end. After losing his wife and unborn child in a freak car accident, he had spiraled – and not even his best friend Dre was able to pull him out of it. Michael didn’t agree to help when…
The Trump administration says it wants to eliminate FEMA. Here’s what we know
Rebecca Hersher President Trump says the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, should be eliminated, and that states should take on more responsibility for responding to and preparing for extreme weather and other disasters. That would mean big changes for the millions of Americans who rely on FEMA after hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods and other weather…
My wife and daughters left behind a legacy of love, John Hunt tells BBC
BBC racing commentator John Hunt, whose wife and two of his daughters were murdered last July, describes in an emotional first interview the legacy of love they left behind. It was this, John and his daughter Amy tell the BBC, that had helped sustain them through their trauma and grief. Carol, Louise and Hannah remained…
Costa Rican court orders government to free migrants who were deported by US
About 200 people were brought to the country in February under an agreement with the Trump administration A court in Costa Rica has ordered authorities to release foreign migrants who were locked up in a shelter after being deported by the US, according to a resolution issued on the eve of a visit by the…
A Conversation with Kickstarter and Crowdfunding Tabletop Roundup
Earlier this week I got to chat with Asher McClennahan, the head of games at Kickstarter. I was curious to hear how tariffs had affected things like the number of projects launching or being backed, and also whether some of the “tried-and-true” advice about launching projects is actually true. As far as tariffs go, McClennahan…
How to Join Amazon Prime for Free Before Prime Day 2025
Prime Day is exclusively for Prime members, but joining is easy. Learn how to sign up for Amazon Prime today and start shopping early deals right away. Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. Big news: Amazon Prime Day…
RFK Jr. says U.S. will stop funding global vaccine group over ‘vaccine safety’ issues
Fatma Tanis The international vaccine agency, Gavi, has strongly rejected HHS Secretary Kennedy’s accusations that it was not following scientific data on vaccines, after he said the U.S. would halt all contributions unless the body made changes to its practices. Kennedy remarks were made at a Gavi pledging summit in Brussels on Wednesday, where countries…
What Is Thimerosal? Why Most Vaccines Don’t Contain Mercury Anymore
What Is Thimerosal? Why Most Vaccines Don’t Contain Mercury Anymore Thimerosal, which contains an organic compound of mercury, has mostly been phased out as a preservative for vaccines. Here’s how we know it is safe, and why we still use it in some vaccines given to adults By Tara Haelle edited by Andrea Thompson This…
CIA director says Iran’s nuclear sites ‘severely damaged’
The head of the CIA has said US strikes “severely damaged” Iran’s nuclear facilities and set them back years, diverging from a leaked intelligence report that angered President Donald Trump by downplaying the raid’s impact. John Ratcliffe, the US spy agency’s director, said key sites had been destroyed, though he stopped short of declaring that…
At least 16 people killed and 400 injured in Kenyan protests
Police clashed with people marching in Nairobi and other areas to honour those killed in protests last year At least 16 people have been killed and 400 injured in Kenya as a nationwide demonstration to honour those killed during last year’s anti-government protests turned chaotic, with police clashing with protesters in different parts of the…
Use Summer Break to Build Closer Bonds with Your Children
The Science of ParentingMondays Use Summer Break to Build Closer Bonds with Your Children The kids are out of school, and some of the pressures may be off. Here’s how you can further connect with them to make next year a little easier By Nasuh Malas edited by Megha Satyanarayana Cut through the claims: Get…
A political storm is brewing over welfare cuts – can Starmer ride it out?
Angela Rayner has declared that the government will go ahead with its controversial legislation, aimed at reforming the welfare system, next week. But a well-placed source told us it could still be pulled: “It’s a live discussion.” Conversations are continuing at the heart of government on the least worst course of action in the face…
Senators question Trump plan to kill federal funds for PBS, NPR and some foreign aid
By Scott Neuman Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee pushed back against the Trump administration’s bid to kill federal funding that Congress already has approved for public broadcasting and international aid programs. In President Trump’s request to Congress, sent last month, he justified the cuts because the targeted foreign aid programs were “antithetical…
Monica Lewinsky Calls Bill Clinton Affair an “Abuse of Power”
Over 25 years after Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton’s global scandal, the former White House intern reflected on how she truly felt during their affair. Monica Lewinsky is getting candid about her affair with Bill Clinton. Nearly three decades after the former White House intern was involved in an office romance with the then-president, she…
How Bird Flu Went from Devastating Poultry Farms to Infecting Dairy Herds
Why Dairy Farmers Were Surprised by Bird Flu Cases in Their Herds The bird flu was long known to poultry farmers. Here’s why the dairy industry was caught off guard by its jump to cattle. By Meghan Bartels, Jeffery DelViscio, Fonda Mwangi, Alex Sugiura & Rachel Feltman Dairy cows inside the Teaching Dairy Barn at…
Israel was once deterred from striking Iran. Now Netanyahu takes a victory lap
Daniel Estrin TEL AVIV, Israel — It is a story spanning more than 30 years of rhetoric, and 20 months of war that remade the Middle East. For decades, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to attack Iran, but the United States and his own security chiefs deterred him. Now, after launching 12 days of…
Man guilty of murdering schoolboy, 14, in Hainault sword attack
A man has been found guilty of murdering 14-year-old schoolboy Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword in Hainault last year. Marcus Monzo, 37, has also been found guilty of three counts of attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. He gave no reaction in court as the verdicts were read out…
Can Mongolia’s oldest traditions survive a changing climate?
They were nomadic herders long before the rise of Genghis Khan. For thousands of years, Mongolian nomads have herded across the country’s vast steppe grassland. It’s a legacy they keep close today: Roughly 40 percent of Mongolians still herd livestock, following traditions their ancestors have honored for millennia. For these communities, adaptability is survival. Nothing…
Mourners left waiting as court orders halt to former Zambian president’s funeral
Halt to burial in Johannesburg is latest chapter in feud Edgar Lungu had with his successor Hakainde Hichilema The funeral of the former Zambian president Edgar Lungu has been stopped while mourners waited in a cathedral in Johannesburg, as an extraordinary feud Lungu had with his successor continues to play out after his death. A…
UK to purchase nuclear-carrying F-35A fighter jets
The UK government is to purchase 12 new fighter jets which can be equipped with nuclear bombs, and join Nato’s airborne nuclear mission. Downing Street says the move is “the biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation”. The new F-35A jets can still carry conventional weapons, but have the option of being…
RFK Jr.’s picks for CDC vaccine advisers meet this week amid controversy
Pien Huang An influential committee that helps craft federal vaccine policy and recommendations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention begins a two-day meeting in Atlanta Wednesday. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, often meets in obscurity, but was thrown into the spotlight two weeks ago when Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy,…