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 […]
Child mental health crisis: Better resilience is the solution, say experts
She has seen a surge in schoolchildren struggling. “It really impacts pupils at secondary school, but some are as young as seven,” she explains. “We’re seeing children with depression, anxiety and stress – and that’s leading to panic attacks, self-harm and eating disorders. They’re not making it to school or are so anxious they cannot…
Adam Brody Reveals Bathroom Secret That Helps Leighton Meester Romance
Adam Brody admitted that having separate bathrooms might be the secret to his decade-long marriage with Leighton Meester, joking that “it’s nice.” Adam Brody and Leighton Meester are flush with ideas for a successful relationship. The Nobody Wants This star shared what he thinks has helped his 10-year long marriage to the Gossip Girl alum: using different bathrooms. “We have de facto separate…
Rural internet deserts in England and Wales to finally get fast broadband
Government announces new contracts to install gigabit level fibre coverage for 131,000 households and businesses The last corners of England and Wales yet to be covered by a £5bn push to widen fast broadband could finally get access to rapid downloads, streaming and video calls after the government announced £289m in new taxpayer-funded contracts enabling…
Justin Bieber Shares How Baby Jack Is Following in His Footsteps
Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber’s son, Jack Blues Bieber, is already primed for hockey fandom as the 4-month-old received an autographed jersey from Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. Justin Bieber’s only intention? Passing on his love of hockey. The “What Do You Mean?” singer is making sure his 4-month-old son, Jack Blues Bieber—whom he…
Labour to make taking intimate images without consent a criminal offence
Ministers say predators could face two years in jail, and plan to include creating sexually explicit deepfakes in bill Predators who take intimate images of unwitting victims or install cameras to do so could face up to two years’ in jail under plans drawn up by Labour. Ministers have also confirmed that they plan to…
American Driver Is Fatally Shot by Police Officer in Mexico
The shooting in Ciudad Juárez was being investigated. A prosecutor said the driver, from Texas, had accelerated in the officer’s direction and nearly hit him. By Annie Correal Reporting from Mexico City An American man was killed when a Mexican police officer opened fire on the car he was driving in Ciudad Juárez, across the…
“Stop shooting! My daughter is dead”: Woman killed as West Bank power struggle rages
Warning: This story contains distressing details. Just before New Year, 21-year-old Shatha al-Sabbagh was out buying chocolate for her family’s children from a shop in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. The “fearless” journalism student – who wanted to shed light on the suffering of the Palestinians – was with her mother, two young nephews…
UK retailers may have to cut thousands of jobs after bleak Christmas
British Retail Consortium figures show sales growth close to flatlining, as card spending fails to rise Britain’s largest retailers are warning they could be forced to cut thousands of jobs this year as the industry braces for higher taxes and employment costs after a bleak Christmas shopping season. In the latest sign of tough trading…
The Math Mystery That Connects Sudoku, Flight Schedules and Protein Folding
Opinion The Math Mystery That Connects Sudoku, Flight Schedules and Protein Folding Thousands of notoriously difficult problems in computer science are actually the same problem in disguise By Jack Murtagh edited by Jeanna Bryner With NP-complete problems you could discover a fast algorithm to solve Sudoku puzzles that could also break the encryption schemes that…
McDonald’s workers make fresh harassment claims
McDonald’s workers have said they are still facing sexual abuse and harassment, a year after the boss promised to clean up behaviour at the fast-food chain. One 19-year-old worker, Matt, told the BBC some of his colleagues were scared of going into work, and that managers would “touch up” other members of staff. Since the…
US transfers 11 Yemeni prisoners from Guantánamo to Oman
Major resettlement reduces population in US detention facility in south-eastern Cuba to just 15 people The United States has sent 11 Yemeni detainees at the Guantánamo Bay detention center to Oman, the Pentagon said on Monday, in a major resettlement that nearly halves the detention facility’s remaining number of prisoners. The released men include Tawfiq…
‘Peace within pain’ – Jones on playing through grief
Jones (left) was a tryscorer in Leicester’s defeat by Harlequins at Allianz Stadium before crossing for a hat-trick in last weekend’s win over Sale Sharks England centre Meg Jones says she is finding “peace in the pain” after suffering the loss of both parents in quick succession. Jones’ father passed away from lung cancer last…
CFPB sues Berkshire Hathaway-owned mortgage lender for alleged predatory practices
By Scott Neuman The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Monday that it is suing a Tennessee-based mortgage lender owned by Berkshire Hathaway, accusing the company of predatory practices aimed at steering borrowers into manufactured homes they could not afford. The CFPB said that Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance often disregarded evidence that borrowers could not…
Hailey Bieber Step Outs for Girls’ Night With Kendall Jenner
Hailey Bieber enjoyed a dinner date with BFF Kendall Jenner just days after husband Justin Bieber proved the couple—who welcomed baby Jack in August 2024—is still going strong. While Kylie Jenner had a night to remember at the 2025 Golden Globes, sister Kendall Jenner also hit the town with Hailey Bieber. The Rhode Beauty founder and Kardashians star were the epitome of glam…
What Is Human Metapneumovirus, and Why Are Cases Rising in China?
HMPV Cases Are Rising Across Asia, but Experts Say Not to Panic A common respiratory virus called human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, has been spreading in some countries in Asia, including China, India, Malaysia and Kazakhstan. Here’s what we know By Lauren J. Young edited by Dean Visser Human metapneumovirus particles. Cases of a common respiratory…
Golden Globes: See Leighton Meester React to Ex Sebastian Stan’s Win
Leighton Meester cheered on ex-boyfriend Sebastian Stan as he picked up the award for Best Actor, Musical or Comedy at the 2025 Golden Globes Jan. 5. The Gossip Girl costars dated from 2008 to 2010. Hey, Upper East Siders, Sebastian Stan and Leighton Meester are serving you with some relationship nostalgia. The Gossip Girl costars, who dated from 2008 to 2010, were one of the many former couples to reunite at…
‘Forever Chemicals’ Reach Tap Water via Treated Sewage, Study Finds
Wastewater, even after treatment to make it drinkable, contains high levels of PFAS, according to researchers. By Hiroko Tabuchi As the world grapples with climate change, population growth and dwindling supplies of fresh water, more people are set to rely on treated wastewater to sustain their daily lives. But wastewater, even after treatment, contains high…
Caulfield Racecourse fire: suspicious blaze engulfs grandstand in Melbourne’s south-east
Victoria police say nobody has been injured and a crime scene has been established Major parts of a Caulfield Racecourse grandstand have been destroyed in a suspicious early morning fire. Fire Rescue Victoria responded to the blaze at Station Street in Caulfield East in Melbourne’s south-east at 6.20am on Tuesday. “Firefighters arrived on scene to…
First bird flu death reported in the U.S., according to the CDC
By Will Stone The U.S. has recorded its first death in a person infected with bird flu. The patient was a resident of southwest Louisiana who was hospitalized last month with the first known severe case of bird flu in the country. On Monday, the Louisiana Department of Health said the person had died from…
Cooper promises law to tackle child abuse cover ups
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said those who cover up or fail to report child sexual abuse could face professional or criminal sanctions under a new offence to be introduced this year. The proposal was one of 20 recommendations made by Professor Alexis Jay following her seven year inquiry into child sexual abuse, which concluded…
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Settle Divorce After 4 Months
Less than five months after Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck following two years of marriage, the former couple have reached a divorce settlement. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are moving on. Less than five months after the Hustlers star filed for divorce from the two-time Oscar winner, the pair reached a divorce…
‘Beat Liverpool and Forest are in the title race’
Nuno Espirito Santo has guided Nottingham Forest to third in the Premier League When Nottingham Forest face Liverpool at the City Ground next week it will be a top-of-the-table match that barely anyone could have predicted back in August. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are six points behind the leaders after Monday’s 3-0 win at Wolves…
Meta taps Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White to join its board
Shannon Bond Dana White, the Ultimate Fighting Championship president and supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, is joining the board of Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta. White’s election as a Meta director two weeks before Trump takes office comes as Silicon Valley is courting the incoming administration, following what has been a frosty relationship with…
A Timeline of Justin Trudeau’s Rise and Fall
Canada’s Political Turmoil The Canadian prime minister, who said on Monday he would step down, has spent a quarter-century in the political spotlight. By Matina Stevis-GridneffIan Austen and Ephrat Livni Justin Trudeau’s announcement that he would step down as Canada’s prime minister was expected after he faced political struggles in recent months, but it nonetheless…
Hadi Nazari’s camera and campfire found as search continues for hiker missing in Kosciuszko national park
NSW police ‘hopeful’ of finding 23-year-old Hadi Nazari alive in remote national park as they track movements since he was last seen on Boxing Day Police are hopeful a 23-year-old hiker missing since Boxing Day could still be alive in the remote Kosciuszko national park after a camera and campfire were found. The extensive search…
We asked global thinkers how to improve life on earth in 2025. Here are their wishes
By NPR Staff Making a wish is such a basic human instinct. Like when your birthday rolls around and candles are lit on a cake. Blow them out and make a wish. But of course you can’t tell anyone your wish or it won’t come true. But not every wish is kept secret. Over the…
Minneapolis agrees to court-supervised police reform after George Floyd’s killing
Consent decree had been under negotiation since justice department issued a critique of authorities in June 2023 The Minneapolis city council on Monday approved an agreement with the federal government in response to the murder of George Floyd that would require reforms within the city’s police department under longterm court supervision. The agreement was not…
U.S. Envoy Says Israel Will Withdraw From Southern Lebanon
Middle East Crisis With the deadline looming for the terms of a fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah to be met, an American diplomat on Monday said “much progress” had been made recently. By Euan Ward Reporting from Beirut, Lebanon A top U.S. envoy who helped broker the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah issued reassurance…
Kristin Cavallari Shares She’s Debating Having Baby No. 4
The Hills alum Kristin Cavallari, who shares kids Camden, Jaxon and Saylor with ex-husband Jay Cutler, shared a funny TikTok video Jan. 6 where she contemplated if she wanted another child. Kristin Cavallari may have a case of baby fever. The Hills alum—who shares kids Camden, 12, Jaxon, 10, and Saylor, 9, with ex-husband Jay…
ECB responds to calls for Afghanistan fixture boycott
England last played Afghanistan at the 2023 World Cup The England and Wales Cricket Board has called for a unified response to action against Afghanistan amid calls for the England men’s team to boycott next month’s Champions Trophy match between the sides. England are due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on 26 February, but UK…
Aubrey Plaza Breaks Silence on Husband Jeff Baena’s Death
Three days after Aubrey Plaza’s husband, director Jeff Baena, died at the age of 47, the actress spoke out on the loss. Aubrey Plaza is grieving after her husband Jeff Baena‘s death. The Parks and Recreation alum spoke out for the first time since Baena, her frequent collaborator and husband of five years, passed away…
U.S. Sends 11 Guantánamo Prisoners to Oman to Start New Lives
The secret mission left the smallest number of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay since the day the detention center opened in 2002. By Carol Rosenberg Reporting from Guantánamo Bay in Cuba The U.S. military sent 11 Yemeni prisoners at Guantánamo Bay to Oman to restart their lives, the Pentagon said on Monday, leaving just 15 men…
Pentagon agrees to settle historic lawsuit with LGBTQ+ veterans over discharge status
Quil Lawrence Despite that the ban on gay troops ended more than a decade ago, a surprisingly small fraction of the tens of thousands of vets affected have accessed benefits they are due. The Pentagon has now agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that may change that for about 35,000 veterans. “This settlement is…
Canada’s Justin Trudeau resigns, citing ‘internal battles’
Under growing pressure from his own party, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will step down and end his nine-year stretch as leader. Trudeau said he would stay on in office until his Liberal Party can choose a new leader, and that parliament would be prorogued – or suspended – until 24 March.…
32 dolphins have died since an oil spill near southern Russia, experts say
By The Associated Press Thirty-two dolphins have died since fuel oil spilled out of two storm-stricken tankers three weeks ago in the Kerch Strait, which separates the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula from Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, an animal rescue group said Sunday. Russia’s Delfa Dolphin Rescue and Research Center said the deaths are “most likely related…
Jennifer Lopez Reunites With Ex Ben Affleck at His Home
Less than five months after Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from estranged husband Ben Affleck, the Hustlers star reunited with the Oscar winner and his son Samuel at his home in Los Angeles. This is a pair of friendly exes…now. Less than five months after filing for divorce from estranged husband Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez…
Hundreds join huge scrum for medieval game
Hundreds of people have turned out to take part in a centuries-old rugby-style game involving rival villagers. The annual Haxey Hood game between pubs in the North Lincolnshire villages of Haxey and Westwoodside dates back to the 14th Century. It involves large crowds of people facing off in a mass scrum to push a leather…
Who Could Replace Trudeau as Canada’s Prime Minister?
Canada’s Political Turmoil Whoever replaces Mr. Trudeau as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party will become the prime minister. Not long after they’ll face a general election, and the daunting challenge of keeping the job. By Ian AustenVjosa Isai and Matina Stevis-Gridneff After 12 years leading the Liberal Party of Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau…
Permanent contraception surged after Roe v Wade overturned, study finds
Young adults living in states likely to ban abortion obtained tubal sterilizations and vasectomies in months after ruling In the months after the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade, permanent contraception in the form of tubal sterilizations and vasectomies surged among young adults living in states likely to ban abortion, new research released on…
US winter storm leaves four dead as millions hit by snow, ice and bitter cold
Hundreds of thousands left without power and flights canceled as state of emergencies declared in several states Millions of Americans were hit by a major winter storm on Monday that brought heavy snow, ice, strong winds and freezing temperatures as it moved east out of the center of the country and into the mid-Atlantic region,…
Golden Globes: Nikki Glaser Hosting Moments We’re Still Talking About
Nikki Glaser pulled double duty as both a nominee and host of the 2025 Golden Globes. Relive the night by looking back at some of her unforgettable moments as emcee. While many would be nervous to host an award show in front of millions of people (you know, casual), Nikki Glaser was ready to go…
Five dead as huge winter storm grips swathe of US
At least five people have died in a winter storm that has seized a swathe of the US in its icy grip, leading to mass school closures, travel chaos and power cuts. Seven US states declared emergencies: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas. More than 2,000 flights have been cancelled, with about…
Adrien Brody dedicates Golden Globes win for ‘The Brutalist’ to his immigrant family
Manuela López Restrepo Adrien Brody had a strong start to awards season, taking home a Golden Globe Sunday evening for his portrayal of a fictional Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust, and takes on life as an immigrant in the United States after the war. The Brutalist, distributed by A24, was nominated in seven categories,…
Tuesday Briefing: Canada’s Prime Minister Is Stepping Down
Plus, a recap of the Golden Globes. By Emmett Lindner and Justin Porter Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada said yesterday that he would step down as Liberal Party leader and prime minister. The decision by Trudeau, who has led the country for nearly a decade, means that new leadership will take over in Canada…
U.S. transfers 11 Yemeni prisoners from Guantánamo to Oman
Sacha Pfeiffer In the most dramatic step in years to reduce the population at the U.S. military prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, the Biden administration has transferred 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman, which has agreed to help resettle them and provide security monitoring. All of the men, who were captured in the aftermath of the…
Azerbaijani Anger Over Plane Crash Grows, in Deepening Schism With Russia
Plane Crash in Kazakhstan In the crash’s aftermath, Azerbaijan has unleashed rare and stinging criticism of Russia, with the country’s president saying Moscow’s response has caused “surprise, regret and rightful indignation.” By Anton Troianovski President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on Monday excoriated Russia for trying to duck responsibility in the downing of an Azerbaijani passenger…
Revisit Newly Engaged Tom Holland & Zendaya’s Iconic Lip Sync Battle
In honor of Tom Holland and Zendaya’s engagement news, relive another unforgettable moment from their love story: when the couple faced off for a legendary 2017 episode of Lip Sync Battle. Tom Holland and Zendaya‘s engagement news is certainly a challenger for the biggest moment in their relationship so far. But that’s not the only…
What happens next for Canada after Trudeau’s resignation?
After weeks of mounting pressure to step down, Justin Trudeau has announced he will resign as Canada’s prime minister and as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. The resignation brings a long political chapter to an end. Trudeau has been in power since 2015, when he brought the Liberals back to power from the…
‘Key architect’ of riots after Southport attack jailed for seven and a half years
Andrew McIntyre, who pleaded guilty to encouraging violent disorder, was motivated by racial hatred, says judge A man described as a leading organiser of last summer’s riots has been jailed for seven and a half years for using social media to encourage people to take part in the disorder. Andrew McIntyre, 39, set up a…
What is Starmer’s record on prosecuting grooming gangs?
Multi-billionaire Elon Musk has accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of being “deeply complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes”. Mr Musk has published a series of posts on X suggesting Starmer failed to deal with the grooming gang scandal while head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) between 2008 and 2013. In…
Syria’s New Rebel Government Orders Changes to School Curriculum, Worrying Some Syrians
Syria’s Civil War Syria’s new government has swiftly ordered changes to school curriculums. Some Syrians say the move is a worrying sign of how the former rebels plans to govern a diverse country. By Raja Abdulrahim Reporting from Damascus, Syria References to the ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his father, who ruled Syria before him,…
Prison officer jailed for having sex with inmate at HMP Wandsworth
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, of south-west London was charged after video of activity was shared on social media A prison officer has been sentenced to 15 months after having sex with an inmate at a London jail. Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, of Fulham, south-west London, was charged after a video of the activity…
Biden makes an 11th-hour move to block coastal oil drilling
Camila Domonoske President Biden is using a decades-old law to block drilling for oil in more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean — the largest region a president has ever protected using this authority. It’s a move designed to help cement his climate legacy, and one the incoming Trump administration is expected to challenge.…
Benny Blanco Says Selena Gomez Is the Prize After 2025 Golden Globes
Benny Blanco attended the 2025 Golden Globes in Los Angeles Jan. 5 with fiancée Selena Gomez and, though he was not a nominee, said he took home the “best award of the night.” Who says Benny Blanco didn’t win big at the Golden Globes? The 36-year-old attended the awards show in Los Angeles Jan. 5…
Bus services cut disproportionately in deprived areas of England, study finds
Most deprived areas suffer ten-fold bigger reduction, which in turn exacerbates deprivation People living in deprived areas of England have suffered disproportionately larger cuts to bus services, according research by a leading thinktank. The analysis by IPPR North found that cuts to services in England had been felt the most in “left-behind neighbourhoods”. People living…
Apple says it will update AI feature after BBC complaint
Apple has said it will update, rather than pause, a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature that has generated inaccurate news alerts on its latest iPhones. The company, in its first acknowledgement of the concerns, on Monday said it was working on a software change to “further clarify” when the notifications are summaries that have been…
Justin Trudeau to Resign as Canada’s Prime Minister
Canada’s Political Turmoil Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he was also stepping down as leader of Canada’s Liberal Party. He will remain in both roles until a replacement is chosen. By Matina Stevis-GridneffIan AustenVjosa Isai and Thomas Fuller Matina Stevis-Gridneff and Vjosa Isai reported from Toronto, and Ian Austen from Ottawa. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau…
Nikki Glaser Reveals Diddy, Luigi & More Jokes Cut From Golden Globes
From roasting Sean “Diddy” Combs to quipping about Luigi Mangione’s hotness, Golden Globes 2025 host Nikki Glaser revealed the jokes that were just too naughty to say during the Jan. 5 award show. Nikki Glaser was on her best behavior while hosting the 2025 Golden Globes. Don’t believe it? Well, after putting several stars on…
Hamas and Israel are negotiating the release of 34 hostages from Gaza
By Daniel Estrin , Abu Bakr Bashir TEL AVIV, Israel — Hamas has named 34 Israeli hostages in Gaza — including two dual U.S. citizens — it is willing to release in a ceasefire deal under negotiation with Israel. After more than half a year of sporadic ceasefire talks, the offer is the most serious…
Elon Musk and His Megaphone, X, Rattle British Politics
Trump Transition With 211 million followers on social media, the multibillionaire seems intent on using his global platform to rattle British politics. By Mark Landler and Stephen Castle Reporting from London When Elon Musk asked his 211 million followers on X to vote on whether “America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical…