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 […]
The U.S. Drone Panic Mirrors UFO Overreactions
Opinion The U.S. Drone Panic Mirrors UFO Overreactions We need less uproar over everyday drones and more critical attention about ones near airports and other restricted airspace By Sean Kirkpatrick edited by Daniel Vergano December’s spate of drone sightings seen in New Jersey and spreading nationwide, sure looks familiar. As does its associated media frenzy—culminating…
Olivia Hussey, Star of Romeo and Juliet, Dead at 73
Olivia Hussey, the female lead of the 1968 movie Romeo and Juliet and also known for roles in Jesus of Nazareth and Black Christmas, has died. The actress was 73. Hollywood is mourning one of their own. Olivia Hussey Eisley, star of the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, has died. She was 73. “It is…
Behati Prinsloo Shares Rare Photos of Her and Adam Levine’s Kids
Behati Prinsloo posted rare photos from her and Adam Levine’s holiday break with their kids in December 2024. Adam Levine and wife Behati Prinsloo are making and sharing festive family memories. The Victoria’s Secret model posted several photos of the pair and their kids over their holiday break Dec. 27. The 36-year-old—who shares with Adam…
How to Tactfully Ask Your Child’s Friend’s Parents if They Have Guns at Home
How to Tactfully Ask Your Child’s Friend’s Parents if They Have Guns at Home A gun safety check of where your child is going for a playdate or sleepover may save lives By Sara Novak edited by Gary Stix A child opens a gun safe. It’s a conversation that Marian Betz admits can feel awkward…
How the Duck Stamp Became One of the Most Successful Conservation Tools in U.S. History
How the Duck Stamp Became One of the Most Successful Conservation Tools in U.S. History Inside the fiercely competitive Federal Duck Stamp Contest, part of the wildly successful conservation program that has preserved millions of acres of waterfowl habitat By Daniel T. Ksepka edited by Kate Wong The 1997 Duck Stamp featured a painting of…
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce Go Out With Jack Antonoff, Margaret Qualley
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were photographed out on a double date with her longtime friend and collaborator Jack Antonoff and his wife, actress Margaret Qualley. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are having an enchanted holiday break with good friends. The pair was spotted out on a double date at BondST restaurant in New York…
People Living in Las Vegas’s Tunnels Urged to Get Medical Treatment
People Living in Las Vegas’s Tunnels Urged to Get Medical Treatment Street medicine providers and homeless outreach workers who travel into Las Vegas’s drainage tunnels have noticed an uptick in the number of people living underground, and it can be difficult to persuade them to come aboveground for medicine and treatment By Angela Hart &…
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says U.S. could hit debt limit in weeks
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling, as early as Jan. 14, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. “Treasury expects to hit the statutory debt…
The FDA is Changing What Foods can be Called “Healthy”
December 26, 2024 6 min read The FDA Is Changing What Foods Can Be Called ‘Healthy’ Whole grains and fruits are in, and added sugar is out. That’s going to change what’s on a lot of cereal boxes and other things By Reyna Gobel edited by Josh Fischman Fruit without added sugar will be classified…
Tina Knowles Reacts to Trolls Who Criticized Beyoncé’s Halftime Show
Tina Knowles is speaking out in defense of daughter Beyoncé after the Grammy winner faced some criticism over her NFL halftime show during the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans’ Christmas Day game. When it comes to the trolls, Tina Knowles has Beyoncé‘s back. After the Grammy winner faced some criticism over her NFL halftime show during…
Y2K seems like a joke now, but in 1999 people were really freaking out
By Jack Mitchell Mike Cupo, a systems operator for Public Service Electric and Gas Company, uses a special red phone to talk via radio to PSE&G staffers in the field, during a simulated Y2K drill at company headquarters in Newark, N.J., on April 9, 1999. Power plant operators across the country held drills to make…
WHO chief ‘escaped death narrowly’ in Yemen airport attack
The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said he and his colleagues “escaped death narrowly” while being caught up in an Israeli air strike on an airport in Yemen. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recounted feeling “completely exposed” during the attack, which killed at least six, in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today…
UN authorises new mission against al-Shabaab in Somalia
Resolution allows deployment of 12,626 personnel – but it is unclear if Ethiopia will stay part of peacekeeping force amid territory dispute The UN has authorised a new African peacekeeping mission to continue its fight against Somalia’s al-Shabaab, the insurgent group affiliated with al-Qaida, but there are doubts about whether troops from neighbouring Ethiopia will…
Elon Musk Doubles Down on Support for German Far-Right AfD
Supported by The world’s richest man, a key adviser to President-elect Donald J. Trump, ridicules critics over his backing of the German extremist party AfD, as Germany prepares for elections. By Christopher F. Schuetze Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a close adviser to President-elect Donald J. Trump, shocked many in Germany last week…
S Korean president accused of ordering use of guns to stop martial law vote
Prosecutors allege that South Korea’s suspended president told the military to use guns while attempting to remove lawmakers from parliament as they were voting down his martial law decree. On 3 December, Yoon Suk Yeol authorised soldiers to “break down the doors and drag them [politicians] out, even if it means firing the guns”, according…
Ukrainian Aid Workers Risk Life and Limb to Get Civilians to Safety
Russia-Ukraine War The danger and hardship gets worse by the day for civilians in eastern Ukraine. Still, they resist leaving the places that have become their homes. The danger and hardship gets worse by the day for civilians in eastern Ukraine. Still, they resist leaving the places that have become their homes. Vasyl Pipa speeding…
Magnus Carlsen quits chess championship after refusing to change out of jeans
By Scott Neuman Magnus Carlsen of Norway competes against Daniil Dubov of Russia during the 82nd Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Eindhoven, Netherlands, on Jan. 16, 2020. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top chess player, has quit the World Rapid Chess Championship being held in New York after refusing to change out of…
Beaches, beer and a rare suspended lake … why can’t Nigeria attract more tourists?
Visitor numbers to the African country lag far behind its neighbours due to lack of infrastructure and national planning. Now some are starting to demand changes At the top of the Ado-Awaye hills lies a lake suspended 433 metres above sea level. Local people say the lake is named Iyake (Yoruba for “crying woman”) after…
UK flights continue to face disruption due to fog
Heavy fog has continued to cause delays and cancellations at some of the UK’s busiest airports, with the majority of flights at Gatwick and Stansted affected on Saturday afternoon and delays predicted into the evening. A number of other delays were reported at Manchester airport on Saturday afternoon, with dozens of flights delayed at Heathrow…
Putin apologises over plane crash, without saying Russia at fault
In his first comments on the Christmas Day crash, Putin said the “tragic incident” had occurred when Russian air defence systems were repelling Ukrainian drones. Ukraine’s President Volodymr Zelensky said Russia must “stop spreading disinformation” about the strike. The plane is believed to have come under fire from Russian air defence as it tried to…
Kazakhstan plane crash survivors say they heard bangs before aircraft went down, Putin issues statement
Fox News correspondent Stephanie Bennett has the latest on the aftermath of the Kazakhstan plane crash on ‘Special Report.’ Crew members and survivors of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day say they heard at least one loud bang before the aircraft crashed in a ball of fire, heightening speculation that a Russian…
Putin apologizes to Azerbaijani leader for ‘tragic incident’ involving crashed plane
By The Associated Press An official Kremlin statement issued on Saturday said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny airport as the airliner “repeatedly” attempted to land there on Wednesday. It did not explicitly say one of these hit the plane. The readout said Russia has launched a criminal probe into the incident, and…
In Bomb-Scarred Cities, Risking Life and Limb to Get Civilians to Safety
Russia-Ukraine War The danger and hardship gets worse by the day for civilians in eastern Ukraine. Still, they resist leaving the places that have become their homes. The danger and hardship gets worse by the day for civilians in eastern Ukraine. Still, they resist leaving the places that have become their homes. Vasyl Pipa speeding…
Still haven’t filed your taxes? Here’s what you need to know
So far this tax season, the IRS has received more than 100 million income tax returns for 2022. That means tens of millions of households have yet to file their returns. If yours is among them, here are some last-minute tax-filing tips to keep in mind as the Tuesday, April 18 deadline approaches. Not everyone…
Putin apologises for plane crash, without saying Russia at fault
In his first comments on the Christmas Day crash, Putin said the “tragic incident” had occurred when Russian air defence systems were actively repelling Ukrainian drones. Ukraine’s President Volodymr Zelensky said Russia must “stop spreading disinformation” about the strike. The plane reportedly came under fire from Russian air defence systems as it tried to land…
SEE IT: China stuns with maiden flight of sixth-generation aircraft
China appears to have conducted the maiden flight of its new sixth-generation fighter aircraft, marking a significant milestone in the ever-evolving landscape of fighter jets. Video and photos from social media showed the previously unseen aircraft conducting a daytime test flight, alongside a two-seat Chengdu J-20S fighter, which served as a chase plane. The planes…
Delta apologizes — again — after another stowaway boards a flight without ticket
By Rebecca Rosman Delta Air Lines is investigating how an unticketed passenger boarded a flight from Seattle to Honolulu on Christmas Eve — it’s the airline’s second stowaway incident in less than a month. The passenger, whose identity has not been released, was discovered as Delta Air Lines flight 487 taxied from the gate. They…
More than 150,000 people arrived in UK in small boats in last seven years
Labour blames ‘appalling legacy’ left by Tories after milestone for number of arrivals was reached on Boxing Day Labour has blamed the Tories for leaving an “appalling legacy of border security” after figures showed more than 150,000 people have arrived in the UK in small boats since 2018. The milestone was reached after Home Office…
Cyclone on French Archipelago Exposes Resentments Over Immigrants
In the ruins left by Cyclone Chido, people from Mayotte, off the eastern coast of Africa, are calling to deport the undocumented immigrants who had settled there from neighboring islands. By John Eligon and Julie Bourdin Photographs by Sergey Ponomarev Reporting from Mamoudzou, Mayotte After a vicious cyclone this month razed slums housing many undocumented…
Squid Game 2 reviews range from sensational to letdown
Season two of Squid Game has received reviews as mixed as a Christmas selection box, with TV critics calling it everything from “sensational” to “a letdown”. The Guardian said that after a pretty slow start, the returning series eventually turns into “TV that will make you uncomfortably bloodthirsty indeed”. While the Times described it as…
Syria’s U.S.-backed Kurdish coalition faces an uncertain future after Assad’s ouster
By Fatma Tanis ISTANBUL – In the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, Syria remains territorially fractured as the rebels who defeated Assad work to consolidate power. The country’s uncertain future has raised questions about the fate of the U.S.-backed Kurdish coalition known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This week, Syria’s new leadership took steps…
Sydney to Hobart yacht race: LawConnect wins back-to-back line honours in event marred by two deaths
A “sombre” LawConnect has delayed celebrations after claiming back-to-back line honour wins in a Sydney to Hobart race marred by the death of two sailors. The Christian Beck-skippered supermaxi was first across the River Derwent finish line at 2.35am on Saturday in a time of one day, 13 hours, 35 minutes and 13 seconds. The…
Trucks Carrying Aid Finally Reach Sudan’s War-Torn Capital Region
Sudan’s Civil War After 20 months of war, and three months of negotiations with the warring sides, a bit of relief arrives for some of the hundreds of thousands of people facing famine. By Eve Sampson and Abdalrahman Altayeb Abdalrahman Altayeb reported from Port Sudan, Sudan. The largest convoy of food and medical aid to…
What we know about the Azerbaijan Airlines crash
On 25 December, 38 people died when an Azerbaijan Airlines flight, which had been due to land in Russia, crash-landed in Kazakhstan. The circumstances around the crash remain unclear, but limited evidence so far suggests it may have been damaged by missiles fired by a Russian air-defence system as it tried to land in Chechnya.…
U.S. homelessness jumps to another record high, amid affordable housing shortage
Jennifer Ludden More than 770,000 people were living in shelters or outside in January, according to an annual federal report on homelessness by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The number is up 18% from last year’s count — which had also jumped from the year before — and is the largest number since…
Man charged with two counts of murder after deaths of Milton Keynes women
Jazwell Brown, 49, is also charged with two counts of attempted murder following Christmas Day incident A man has been charged with two counts of murder following the deaths of two women on Christmas Day in Milton Keynes. Jazwell Brown, 49, has also been charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count each…
E.P.A. Promotes Fertilizer Carrying PFAS, Long After 3M Shared Risks
The agency obtained research from 3M in 2003 revealing that sewage sludge, the raw material for the fertilizer, carried toxic “forever chemicals.” The agency obtained research from 3M in 2003 revealing that sewage sludge, the raw material for the fertilizer, carried toxic “forever chemicals.” Tim Gruber for The New York Times By Hiroko Tabuchi Hiroko…
Flights cancelled around UK as fog disrupts travel
Passengers at some of the country’s busiest airports, including Gatwick and Manchester, are facing widespread disruption due to fog. The UK’s main air traffic control provider, Nats, said the flow of flights had been reduced for safety reasons. “Due to widespread fog, temporary air traffic restrictions are in place at several airports across the UK…
NATO boosting Baltic Sea patrols as Finland investigates broken undersea power, internet cables
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Friday that the military alliance will step up patrols in the Baltic Sea region as Finnish investigators work to establish whether a ship linked to Russia sabotaged undersea cables there this week. Finnish authorities seized control of the ship, the Eagle S, on Thursday as they tried to establish…
Venezuela accuses an Argentine officer of terrorism as relations deteriorate
Venezuela’s attorney general said on Friday that an Argentine military officer who was arrested in Venezuela earlier this month has been charged with terrorism BOGOTA, Colombia — An Argentine military officer who was arrested in Venezuela earlier this month has been charged with terrorism, Venezuela’s attorney general said Friday. In a statement published on Instagram,…
Costco egg recall for salmonella receives FDA’s most severe designation
By Bill Chappell The Food and Drug Administration has classified its recall of eggs sold under Costco’s Kirkland brand as a Class I recall, a designation reserved for instances of the highest potential health risk — including death. A Class I recall signals that “there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure…
LawConnect leads Sydney to Hobart yacht race after two deaths in wild weather leave fleet rocked
The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been left reeling after the deaths of two sailors in wild weather that has forced a fifth of the fleet to retire. Supermaxi LawConnect was in the box seat on Friday evening to take out line honours for a second year running after rival Master Lock Comanche pulled…
Kazakhstan Plane Crash Survivors Describe Chaos on Azerbaijan Airlines Flight
Plane Crash in Kazakhstan Flight attendants and a passenger described the moments before an Azerbaijan Airlines flight went down in Kazakhstan, killing dozens. By Milana Mazaeva and Ivan Nechepurenko Reporting from Tbilisi, Georgia At first, there was a strange banging noise outside the plane. Then, while one flight attendant was standing in the cabin, something…
Russia may be responsible for downed Azerbaijani plane, says US
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby has said that the US has seen “early indications” that Russia was responsible for the downing of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed on 25 December. Mr Kirby did not elaborate further, but said the US had offered assistance to the investigation into the crash. The plane is…
¿Por qué algunas serpientes se comen las unas a las otras?
Periodista especializado en ciencia, sociedad y medio ambiente “Esta serpiente de cascabel debía de estar demasiado ‘poco hecha’ para la culebra, pues sobrevivía cuando volvió a salir a la superficie”, aseguran los responsables del Departamento de Vida Salvaje del Estado de Georgia, en Estados Unidos, en una publicación de la red social Facebook. Se referían…
Mexico tests cellphone app allowing migrants to send alert if they are about to be detained in US
Mexico is developing a cellphone app that will allow migrants to warn relatives and consulates if they think they are about to be detained by U.S. immigration officials MEXICO CITY — Mexico is developing a cellphone app that will allow migrants to warn relatives and local consulates if they think they are about to be…
Claim of dementia could derail former Abercrombie CEO’s sex trafficking case
Manuela López Restrepo A letter from former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries’ legal team, filed this week, claims that he may not be fit to stand trial in his ongoing sex trafficking case due to an alleged diagnosis of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Jeffries was arrested in October as part of a federal…
Azerbaijan Airlines says there was ‘external interference’ before crash
Carrier suspends flights to five Russian airports after early findings of investigation into crash on Christmas Day The aircraft that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, killing 38 people, experienced “external physical and technical interference”, according to preliminary results of an investigation, Azerbaijan Airlines said on Friday. The early findings led the carrier to suspend…
Syria’s New Leaders Try to Unite Rebel Factions Under Defense Ministry
Syria’s Civil War As the fighters who ousted Bashar al-Assad set out to assert control over the country, they pursued former government forces loyal to the Assad regime, resulting in deadly clashes in parts of the country. By Adam Rasgon and Ephrat Livni Adam Rasgon reported from Jerusalem. Syria’s new leadership has taken steps to…
Relatives of Bashar Assad arrested as they tried to fly out of Lebanon, officials say
Lebanese officials say the wife and daughter of one of deposed Syrian president Bashar Assad’s cousins have been arrested at the Beirut airport BEIRUT — The wife and daughter of one of deposed Syrian president Bashar Assad ’s cousins were arrested Friday at the Beirut airport, where they attempted to fly out with allegedly forged…
Hogmanay plans at risk as severe weather warning issued for Scotland
Preparations for new year’s street parties under way as Met Office warns of ‘significant disruption’ due to heavy rain on 30 and 31 December A severe weather warning is threatening to put a dampener on Hogmanay plans across Scotland as the nation braces for 48 hours of heavy rain. The Met Office has issued a…
Canadian Ministers to Meet Trump Aides at Mar-a-Lago to Discuss Border, and Tariffs
Canada’s Political Turmoil President-elect Donald J. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian exports unless the country stops the flow of migrants and fentanyl to the U.S. By Ian Austen and Lisa Friedman Two top Canadian ministers will meet with members of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s circle in Florida on Friday about a border…
Netflix sets streaming record with Christmas Day NFL games
Netflix set records for the most streamed NFL game Source: www.cnbc.com
Italian journalist Cecilia Sala detained by police while reporting in Iran
Italy’s foreign ministry says an Italian journalist who was reporting in Tehran has been detained by the Iranian police ROME — An Italian journalist who was reporting in Tehran has been detained by the Iranian police, Italy’s foreign ministry said in a statement Friday. Cecilia Sala was reporting in the Iranian capital when she was…
Biden administration pledges additional military aid to Ukraine amid Russia war
Security assistance package in works as North Korean troops are deployed in Kursk after Putin-Kim agreement The Biden administration is pledging to approve fresh military aid to Ukraine in the coming days, including crucial air defense systems, as North Korean forces face mounting casualties in their first major deployment to a European conflict. John Kirby,…
What We Know About the Ship Finland Seized Over Fears of Russian Sabotage
Russia-Ukraine War Finland seized an oil tanker that authorities believe might have deliberately cut vital undersea cables. Finnish authorities believe the tanker may be linked to Russia. By Johanna Lemola and Lynsey Chutel Johanna Lemola reported from Helsinki, Finland, and Lynsey Chutel from London. A day after Finnish authorities seized an oil tanker suspected of…
Houthis vow to continue attacking Israel despite strikes on Yemen
A Houthi political official says the group will continue attacking Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians despite the escalating Israeli air strikes in Yemen. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told the BBC that the Houthis would “escalate our military targeting of Israel” until it stopped what he described as “the genocide in Gaza”. On Thursday, Israeli warplanes struck…
Nvidia delivered an encore performance in 2024. What stands in the way of a three-peat
Competitive dynamics around custom AI chips cannot Source: www.cnbc.com
NATO will step up Baltic Sea patrols as Finland probes the possible sabotage of undersea cables
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says the military alliance will step up patrols in the Baltic Sea area as Finnish investigators work to establish whether a ship linked to Russia sabotaged undersea cables there this week BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Friday that the military alliance will step up patrols in the Baltic Sea…
Italian journalist arrested and held in solitary confinement in Iran
Il Foglio war correspondent Cecilia Sala taken in by police while reporting in Tehran, says Italy’s foreign ministry An Italian journalist has been arrested while reporting in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and held in solitary confinement for a week, according to Italy’s foreign ministry. Cecilia Sala, 29, a war correspondent and reporter who works for…