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 […]
Shein lawyer refuses to tell MPs if fashion firm uses Chinese cotton
A senior lawyer representing Shein has repeatedly refused to say whether the company sells products containing cotton from China, prompting an MP to brand her evidence “ridiculous”. Yinan Zhu, general counsel for the fast-fashion giant, confirmed its suppliers did manufacture products in the country, but declined to say whether they used Chinese cotton. Firms that…
Trump threatens Canada with ‘economic force’ amid turmoil over Trudeau exit
With an outgoing PM, suspended parliament and promised harsh tariffs, Canada scrambles to find a new leader President-elect Donald Trump has said the US will use “economic force” against its close ally Canada, doubling down on threats to impose protectionist tariffs on one of the US’s biggest trading partners. The remarks are likely to further…
A Dutch project publicizes the names of half a million suspected Nazi collaborators
By Rachel Treisman The names of nearly half a million people suspected of collaborating with the Nazis during their occupation of the Netherlands have been published online for the first time, 80 years after the end of the Holocaust. The Central Archives of the Special Jurisdiction (CABR) is the largest World War II archives in…
Trump Raises Using Military or Economic Force to Take Greenland and the Panama Canal
Trump Transition In an hourlong news conference at his Florida club, Mar-a-Lago, the president-elect delivered a hodgepodge of grievances, complaints and false claims. By Michael D. Shear White House correspondent President-elect Donald J. Trump said Tuesday that he would not rule out the use of military or economic coercion to force Panama to give up…
Musk’s ‘disinformation’ endangering me, says Jess Phillips
Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has told BBC’s Newsnight that “disinformation” spread by Elon Musk was “endangering” her but that it was “nothing” compared to the experiences of victims of abuse. Asked if the threat to her own safety had gone up since his social media posts and whether protections were in place, Phillips replied “yes”.…
Austria’s far-right leader to invite centre right for coalition talks
Herbert Kickl’s move could pave way for anti-immigration, pro-Kremlin Freedom party to govern country The leader of Austria’s anti-immigration, pro-Kremlin Freedom party has said he intends to invite the mainstream centre-right party for coalition talks, potentially paving the way for the far right to rule the country for the first time since the second world…
Brazilian Nun Named World’s Oldest Living Person at 116
A soccer-loving nun from Brazil, Inah Canabarro Lucas, has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest living person at the age of 116. This nun is in the habit of living well. Following the recent death of a woman from Japan, Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas—a soccer-loving nun from Brazil—has become the oldest…
Trump in news conference says ‘all hell will break out’ if Gaza hostages not released
By Franco Ordoñez , Lexie Schapitl PALM BEACH, Fla./WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday repeated his threat that “all hell will break out” if Hamas does not agree to release hostages it has held in Gaza by the time he returns to the White House on Jan. 20. The comments came during a press…
Short of Heat and Power, the Breakaway Region of Transnistria Struggles Without Russian Gas
Russia-Ukraine War An energy crisis in Transnistria, a pro-Russian territory between Moldova and Ukraine, erupted on Jan. 1 when Moscow stopped supplying natural gas through a pipeline running across Ukraine. By Andrew Higgins After struggling without heat for six days, a breakaway region in the Eastern European country of Moldova is now short of electricity,…
The U.S. says Sudan’s rebel forces have committed genocide
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said Tuesday that a Sudanese paramilitary group and its proxies are committing genocide in a civil war with the country’s military that has killed tens of thousands of people, leveling sanctions on the group’s leader and affiliated companies. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the conflict,…
SNL50 Trailer Teases Pete Davidson and More Stars’ Cringe Auditions
Saturday Night Live‘s most iconic stars are going back in time and sharing never-before-told stories about their memorable sketches in Peacock’s SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night trailer. Saturday Night Live‘s biggest stars are taking a walk down memory lane. Peacock has released the first trailer for SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, a new documentary celebrating the long-running…
UK long-term borrowing costs at highest since 1998 amid fears over weak growth
Yield rises above peak reached when Liz Truss’s mini-budget in 2022 caused turmoil in markets The UK government’s long-term borrowing costs have reached the highest level since 1998 amid investor concerns over Britain’s sluggish growth prospects and stubbornly high inflation. The yield – in effect the interest rate – on UK 30-year government debt rose…
UK special forces investigated over Libya operation
Members of the Special Boat Service (SBS) are being investigated over a UK special forces operation in Libya two years ago, the BBC has been told. The Daily Mail, which first reported the investigation, said up to five members of the SBS were being investigated over an incident involving a car chase in which shots…
Ketamine could be reclassified as Class A drug
Ketamine could be upgraded to a Class A drug as the government seeks expert advice on its classification, the Home Office has said. Illegal use of the drug reached record levels last year, it said, with an estimated 299,000 people aged 16-59 reporting ketamine use in the year ending March 2023. Increasing ketamine’s classification would…
The Unique World of Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir Carter
Going everywhere with mom Beyoncé has had its perks for 13-year-old Blue Ivy Carter and 7-year-old twins Rumi and Sir, the artist’s three children with husband Jay-Z. Are there three children who’ve collectively than Blue Ivy Carter, Rumi Carter and Sir Carter? “My kids come with me everywhere I go,” Beyoncé told GQ this past summer of the…
Meta says it will end fact checking as Silicon Valley prepares for Trump
By Huo Jingnan , Shannon Bond Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday that the social media company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, would stop working with third-party fact-checking organizations. Repeating talking points long used by President-elect Donald Trump and his allies, in a video Zuckerberg said the company’s content moderation approach resulted too often in…
Party time at Damascus airport as international flights resume
First direct flight from Doha in 13 years touches down amid hopes SyrianAir fleet can be restored after war International flights resumed at Damascus airport for the first time since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, including the first direct flight from Doha in 13 years, to a party atmosphere in the arrivals hall. One woman…
In a workforce transformed by war, Ukrainian women are now working in coal mines
By Joanna Kakissis , Michael Robinson Chávez TERNIVKA, Ukraine — It’s still dark when the busload of miners arrives for the morning shift at this small city in eastern Ukraine’s coal country. Among the workers is 36-year-old Iryna Ostanko, effusive and athletic, smiling at her fellow coal workers in the cold dawn as they walk…
Cockney influences found in Scotland, Australia and New Zealand, says expert
Linguistics professor says dialect is most likely to be spoken in Essex, but aspects of it have also travelled farther afield The cockney dialect, as associated with the late EastEnders icon Dame Barbara Windsor, may not be as prevalent in today’s London, but it remains possibly the most influential English dialect across the world, according…
U.S. Says Sudan’s R.S.F. Committed Genocide and Sanctions Its Leader
Sudan’s Civil War A force fighting Sudan’s army in a brutal civil war committed massacres and rape that amount to genocide, the Secretary of State said. The United States sanctioned its leader and financial network. By Declan Walsh Reporting from Nairobi, Kenya The United States declared on Tuesday that a genocide took place in Sudan,…
See Zendaya Flash 5-Carat Engagement Ring From Tom Holland in New Pics
After Zendaya debuted her engagement to Spiderman costar Tom Holland at the 2025 Golden Globes, she stepped out in West Hollywood with all eyes were on her gorgeous new ring. With great romance comes great responsibility and a stunning diamond ring. Just one day after Zendaya debuted the gorgeous rock on her left ring finger…
Search launched for British hikers missing in Dolomites
A search and rescue operation is under way in the Dolomites in northern Italy for two British men who have gone missing on a hiking trip. Aziz Ziriat, 36, and Samuel Harris, 35, from London, were last heard from on 1 January after sending messages home from the Trentino region. They did not check into…
Spider-Man’s Marisa Tomei Reacts to Tom Holland & Zendaya’s Engagement
After Tom Holland and Zendaya’s engagement was confirmed, Marisa Tomei, who played Aunt May in the Spider-Man franchise, shared a sweet message. Zendaya and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man family is spinning out over their engagement news. After the Disney alum sported her engagement ring at the 2025 Golden Globes Jan. 5, with the couple’s happy news…
2 bodies found in JetBlue plane’s landing gear compartment at a Florida airport
By The Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Two bodies were found in the landing gear compartment of a JetBlue aircraft at a South Florida airport, authorities said. The bodies were located in the wheel well area on Monday night at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the airline said in a statement to The Associated Press.…
McDonald’s boss says 29 people fired over abuse
The boss of McDonald’s in the UK has said 29 people have been dismissed over sexual harassment allegations over the past 12 months. Alistair Macrow also told MPs that the alleged cases published by the BBC on Tuesday were “abhorrent, unacceptable, and there is no place for them in McDonald’s”. It comes after workers at…
Death toll of Haiti gang violence rose to 5,600 in 2024, UN says
UN Human Rights Office adds that 2,200 were injured and nearly 1,500 kidnapped as international mission struggles More than 5,600 people were reported killed in Haiti last year, the UN has said, as an international mission led by Kenya struggles to contain rampant gang violence. The number of killings increased by more than 20% compared…
Campaign group report Prince Andrew to police over ‘false’ business name claim
The Duke of York has been reported to the police by anti-monarchist group Republic, as it claims a “false name” was used in registering Prince Andrew’s business interests. The name “Andrew Inverness” was used in registration details with Companies House – a reference to one of Prince Andrew’s lesser-known titles, the Earl of Inverness. The…
What Denise Richards Learned After Special Forces Boob Implant Injury
If Denise Richards can survive The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she can survive anything. At least that’s what the Wild Things actress now realizes after competing on season three of Fox’s grueling reality competition series Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. “It was an opportunity to do something I’ve never done before, very challenging and…
Australia’s housing market ‘buckling’ under widening gap between income and home values, report finds
Australia’s housing downturn is being driven by a widening gap between income, borrowing capacity and home values, but the dip is likely to be “shallow and short-lived”, a new report has found. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email “After almost two years, the housing market appears to finally be buckling to these pressures,”…
How Allison Holker Discovered Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ Drug Addiction
Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ widow Allison Holker recently opened up about discovering the depth of his drug addiction shortly before he was going to be laid to rest following his death in Dec. 2022. Allison Holker better understood her husband after his death. The 36-year-old recently opened up about how looking into her husband Stephen “tWitch”…
What Is the U.K. ‘Grooming Gang’ Scandal Seized On by Elon Musk?
The billionaire tech mogul has been posting on his social media platform about a decade-old child sex abuse scandal in Britain. Here’s what to know. By Megan Specia Reporting from London Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul, has flung himself into British politics in recent weeks, using his social media platform X to attack and…
Jean-Marie Le Pen, French fiery far-right leader, dies at 96
By The Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France’s far-right National Front who was known for fiery rhetoric against immigration and multiculturalism that earned him both staunch supporters and widespread condemnation, died Tuesday. He was 96. His statements — including Holocaust denial, racist denunciations of Muslims and immigrants, and his…
Facebook and Instagram get rid of fact checkers
Meta is abandoning the use of independent fact-checkers on Facebook and Instagram, replacing them with X-style “community notes” where commenting on the accuracy of posts is left to users. In a video posted alongside by the company on Tuesday, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said third-party moderators were “too politically biased” and it was “time to…
Plants’ Photosynthetic Machinery Functions inside Hamster Cells
Plants’ Photosynthetic Machinery Functions inside Hamster Cells Transplanted chloroplasts endured two days inside animal cells—and got to work By Saugat Bolakhe edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier Researchers transplanted chloroplasts from algae into Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) cells. Join Our Community of Science Lovers! More than a billion years ago a hungry cell devoured a tiny…
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Returns to Wrestling for Netflix WWE Raw
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson jumped back into the ring at Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome to kick off the Netflix premiere of WWE’s Raw—and he wasn’t alone. Dwayne Johnson is, once again, ready to rock. In fact, just hours after attending the 2025 Golden Globes, the Red One actor was the first one in the ring…
Number of children under 14 in adult watch houses in Queensland rises 50% in 12 months
Report to parliament states watch houses are an ‘inadequate place to keep young people overnight’ and are ‘harmful and traumatising’ The number of children aged 13 or under in Queensland’s adult watch houses has increased by 50% in 12 months, according to new statistics. The statistics – which were included in a paper tabled by…
Meredith Vieira’s Husband Richard Cohen Dead at 76 After MS Battle
Richard Cohen, the veteran journalist and husband of Meredith Vieira, has died at the age of 76 after a decades-long battle with multiple sclerosis. Meredith Vieira and her family are mourning the loss of their patriarch. Richard Cohen, the veteran CBS News journalist and husband of Vieira, died on Christmas Eve after a 50-year battle…
They were going to be doctors. Instead, they had to dodge bombs and flee war
By Maria Isabel Barros Guinle Mutwakil Ali was one step away from being able to work as a doctor in his homeland of Sudan. After graduating medical school in 2022, Ali was awaiting a hospital placement to complete his intern year and become a licensed physician — then war erupted. “We woke up from bombs…
Elon Musk’s DOGE Panel Won’t Fix Bureaucracy
Opinion Breaking the Constitution Won’t Fix the Bureaucracy A government efficiency panel threatens U.S. government competence and constitutional underpinnings, warn two administrative science experts By Thomas J. Greitens & M. Ernita Joaquin edited by Dan Vergano Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Co-Chair of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) carries his son “X” on…
Jean-Marie Le Pen – founder of French far right and ‘Devil of the Republic’ – dies at 96
Jean-Marie Le Pen founded France’s far right in the 1970s and mounted a strong challenge for the presidency. But it was only when he handed the reins on to his daughter that his rebranded party caught sight of power. He has died aged 96, his family has said. Le Pen’s supporters saw him as a…
Thailand bans imports of plastic waste to curb toxic pollution
Campaigners welcome move but say success depends on enforcement and global agreement on a treaty Thailand has banned plastic waste imports over concerns about toxic pollution, as experts warn that failure to agree a global treaty to cut plastic waste will harm human health. A law banning imports of plastic waste came into force this…
Head of Met’s Black Police Association accused of sending offensive messages in group chat
Charles Ehikioya was in chat where racist, misogynistic, homophobic and pornographic messages were shared, hearing told The Metropolitan police’s Black Police Association head was part of a group chat where “racist” jokes about east Asian people and a video mocking Katie Price’s disabled son, Harvey, were shared, a misconduct hearing was told. Insp Charles Ehikioya…
Tiny fish on ketamine may show how drug eases depression
Jon Hamilton A single dose of the anesthetic ketamine can provide weeks of relief from severe depression. One reason may be that the drug causes long-term changes to a brain circuit involved in “giving up,” a team reports in the journal Neuron. The team found that in zebrafish, ketamine alters this circuit in a way…
What Netflix deal means for WWE as it makes streaming debut
WWE’s flagship Raw show has aired on Netflix for the first time with the return of multiple big names. The much-anticipated programme saw superstars including The Rock, John Cena and The Undertaker make appearances during the three-hour event in Los Angeles. Pro-wrestling’s most popular weekly show had previously been shown on broadcast TV around the…
24-Hour Flash Deal: Get $153 Worth of Laura Geller Makeup for Just $49
This is not a drill—68% off Laura Geller makeup for one day only! Snag $153 worth of glow-boosting beauty essentials for just $49. Don’t wait—deals like this disappear fast! Our writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more. Today only, you…
Cases of HMPV are on the rise in China – but what is it?
In recent weeks, scenes of hospitals in China overrun with masked people have made their rounds on social media, sparking worries of another pandemic. Beijing has since acknowledged a surge in cases of the flu-like human metapneumovirus (HMPV), especially among children, and it attributed this to a seasonal spike. But HMPV is not like Covid-19,…
Panama Canal’s Expansion Opened Routes for Fish to Relocate
Scientists with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on Lake Gatún in Panama during nighttime field work. By Raymond Zhong Photographs and Video by Charlie Cordero Raymond Zhong and Charlie Cordero spent a rainy night with scientists on a boat in the Panama Canal. Night fell as the two scientists got to work, unfurling long nets…
Mark Carney ‘considering’ run to replace Justin Trudeau as Canada PM
Supporters of former Bank of England and Bank of Canada governor say he has experience to lead in period of instability The former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, a climate-focused economist who became the first non-Briton to run the Bank, is considering entering the race to replace Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister. Trudeau…
Great American Family’s County Rescue Star Keller Fornes Dead at 32
Keller Fornes, who played Griffin in County Rescue on the Great American Family channel has died. He was 32. The Great American Family channel has lost one of their own. Keller Fornes, who starred as Griffin in County Rescue on the family-friendly television network, died Dec. 19, according to an obituary shared by Lacy Funeral…
Jimmy Carter’s funeral services begin in DC. And, photos from the major winter storm
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. The remains of former President Jimmy Carter are set to arrive in Washington, D.C., today. He will be honored with a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, where he will…
Thousands without water in Republic of Ireland
Thousands of customers in the Republic of Ireland are still without water and electricity as snow and icy weather conditions continue to grip much of the country. All non-urgent outpatients appointments in a number of hospitals have been cancelled and thousands of homes are without power. Schools in several counties were closed on the first…
Jean-Marie Le Pen, Rabble-Rousing Leader of French Far Right, Dies at 96
He ran unsuccessfully for the French presidency five times, riding waves of discontent and xenophobia as the leader of the National Front party. By Robert D. McFadden Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founding father of France’s modern political far-right who built a half-century career on rants of barely disguised racism, antisemitism and neo-Nazi propaganda, has died.…
Tibet earthquake: scores dead and hundreds of homes damaged
Quake damaged buildings in Shigatse and could be felt hundreds of kilometres away in Nepal and the Indian state of Bihar A strong earthquake has struck near Shigatse, one of Tibet’s holiest cities, killing scores of people, damaging buildings, and sending people running to the streets in neighbouring Nepal and India. The Chinese president, Xi…
Syria’s Main Airport Handles First International Flights Since Fall of Assad Regime
Syria’s Civil War The country’s new leaders are pushing to restore a sense of normalcy. But Syria remains under a host of international sanctions imposed during the Assad regime. By Aaron Boxerman Reporting from Jerusalem Syria’s main airport handled its first international flights on Tuesday since the fall of the government of former President Bashar…
What America’s top economists are saying about AI and inequality
Greg Rosalsky This past weekend, Planet Money traveled to San Francisco to attend the annual meeting of the American Economic Association (as well as other economic associations). It’s the biggest professional event for American economists. Econ nerds met, networked, tried to get jobs, shared ideas, and presented hundreds of academic papers. By far, the hottest…
Jean-Marie Le Pen, French far-right leader, dies aged 96
Former paratrooper led National Front party for decades and courted controversy, being repeatedly fined for contesting crimes against humanity Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France’s far-right National Rally party, has died aged 96. The former paratrooper, who led the party from 1972 to 2011 when it was called the National Front, had been in a…
Boy, 17, rescued from floodwater in Lincolnshire
A 17-year-old boy has been rescued after he was stuck in flood water as dozens of warnings remain in place across the region. More than 100 properties have been flooded in greater Lincolnshire, where warnings are in place from Brigg in North Lincolnshire to Market Deeping in South Kesteven. A major incident was declared by…
Three missing after private plane crashes off Rottnest Island in WA
Four pulled from the water – three with serious injuries – but the search goes on for three other people on board Four people have been pulled from the water – but three are still missing – after a privately owned plane crashed into the sea off Western Australia’s popular tourist site Rottnest Island. Rescue…
Thandiswa Mazwai Is the Voice of South Africa’s First Post-Apartheid Generation
The Global Profile Thandiswa Mazwai has sung of South Africa’s highs and lows since the country became a multiracial democracy 30 years ago. “My calling is to sing the people’s joy, to sing the people’s sadness.” By Lynsey Chutel At a gala dinner held soon after South Africa’s most contested election since the end of…
Schools closed and flights disrupted in Scotland
Snow and ice disruption is expected to continue to affect Scotland into Wednesday, after a new yellow weather warning was issued for parts of the country. The newest alert will run for 12 hours from midday, covering Grampian, the Highlands, Orkney & Shetland, Dumfries & Galloway and across Ayrshire. Wintry conditions meant dozens of schools…