The Int'l Man's Hot Links Archive 2025: July 1 - Dec 31

Hot Links Archive 2017 - 2018 (1): - June 30	Hot Links Archive 2018 (2): July 1 - December 31
Hot Links Archive 2019 (1): January 1 - June 30	Hot Links Archive 2019 (2): July 1 - December 31
Hot Links Archive 2020 (1): January 1 - June 30	Hot Links Archive 2020 (2): July 1 - September 30
Hot Links Archive 2020 (3): Oct 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2021 (1): January 1 - June 30
Hot Links Archive 2021 (2): July 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2022 (1): January 1 - June 30
Hot Links Archive 2022 (2): July 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2023 (1): January 1 - June 30
Hot Links Archive 2023 (2): July 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2024 (1): January 1 - June 30
Hot Links Archive 2024 (2): July 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2025 (1): January 1 - June 30
Hot Links Archive 2025 (2): July 1 - December 31	Hot Links Archive 2026 (1): January 1 - June 30

Hot Links Archive 2025 (2): July 1 - December 31

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• Climate Clock - "The science is clear: we are in a Climate Emergency. Decades of increasing carbon emissions are harming the natural and societal systems upon which humanity depends, threatening untold ecological and human devastation if we do not #ActInTime. The good news: there is still time."
• Climate Change - "Check out all about climate change and crisis: best 1800+ science, evidence, facts, information, news, reviews and resources."
• Doomsday Clock moved closest ever to destruction - "The Doomsday Clock symbolising how near humanity is to destruction has been moved one second forward to 89 seconds to midnight - the closest it has ever been."
• Our world in data - "Research & data to make progress against the world's largest problems."
• Artificial Intellignce: Apps, Books, Chatbots, News, Resources & Tutorials - "Everything you need to know about AI and Chatbots! 800+ resources."
• Ukraine war live - "Live coverage of the all the latest developments in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine."
• Middle East crisis live - "Live coverage of all the latest developments in the Middle East."
• Catch up on today's global news - "CNN Fast is a curated channel covering major news events across politics, international, business, and sport, and showcasing the most impactful stories of the day."
• Covid, mpox & Bird Flu - "4000+ Up-To-Date Advice, Facts, News & Recources."

December 2025

• New Year’s Eve live: Sydney fireworks ring in 2026 as the world prepares to see in the new year - "Join our live coverage as we cross the globe to enter the new year."
• Sydney welcomes 2026 with spectacular fireworks display - "An atoll in the Pacific nation of Kiribati was the first place in the world to start the new year."
• Times Square has a dazzling new ball for the New Year’s Eve drop & it’s the biggest yet - "It’s out with the old and in with the new in Times Square this year as the famous New Year’s Eve ball drop rings in 2026 with a dazzling new ball - the largest in the history of an event that started in 1907. The Constellation Ball, as it has been named, is the ninth ball to usher in the new year at the famous Midtown Manhattan intersection. It measures 12.5 feet in diameter and weighs just over 12,000 pounds."
• How to watch the top New Year’s Eve specials - "Christmas is past, but there’s still New Year’s Eve to look forward to and if you plan on staying in this year to celebrate, here’s where you can still party without battling traffic or crowds."
• The dos & don'ts of drinking champagne - "Six ways to improve the taste of your glass of champagne, according to science. From the best way to hold your glass while pouring, to choosing the right glass shape and when to drink it – this is how science says you can get the most from your sparkling wine."
• Heavy police presence in Sydney for New Year's celebrations after Bondi attack - "Thousands of heavily armed police officers are patrolling the streets of Sydney as people mark the new year - a rare and stark sight in Australia, following the Bondi Beach mass shooting."
• Machu Picchu train crash leaves one dead and dozens injured - "A train driver has died and at least 40 people have been injured in a head-on rail collision near Peru's most popular tourist attraction, Machu Picchu. Built in the Peruvian Andes in the 15th Century, the Incan city of Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World."
• As Russia approaches a grim milestone, Putin projects confidence - "President Vladimir Putin’s 'special military operation' in Ukraine will have dragged on longer than the war on the Eastern Front that began with the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 and ended with the fall of Berlin in May 1945."
• Bruising on Trump’s left hand sparks renewed questions about his health - "Across a series of events last week, the 79-year-old Trump appeared with discoloration or light bruising on the back of his left hand, in addition to the more persistent bruise on his right hand that has been visible for months."
• Notable deaths 2025 - "The first non-European Pope in more than 1,000 years, the Oscar-winning star of Annie Hall and The Godfather, a soul legend and one of the world's most famous designers - here are some of the well-known faces no longer with us."
• How to Excel at Small Talk When You Have Social Anxiety - "Practice in low-stakes environments - Script a few go-to phrases ahead of time - Start with shared context - Think of questions as a bridge - Use ..."
• Forget Souvenirs. You Can Now Buy Pre-Owned Rolexes at New York’s JFK Airport - "Bob’s Watches is opening a new store inside New York’s J.F.K. Airport, the first time a luxury pre-owned watch retailer will be housed inside a major international airport. The boutique will make its debut on December 19 in Terminal 8 - just in time to grab a last-minute gift while you’re traveling for the holidays."
• How Trump is trying to MAGAfy the world - "Most presidents profess not to interfere in other countries’ domestic politics and elections - despite decades of nefarious US political game-playing abroad. President Donald Trump doesn’t bother with the pretense."
• 3 Ways Trump’s Wealth Has Soared Since He Returned to Office - "For decades, Donald Trump made much of his money from buildings and golf courses he owned or things he lent this name to like residential towers, vodka, steaks, ties, and mattresses. In 2025, Trump’s net worth spiked largely because investors poured money into the social media and technology company he founded in 2021 and bought from the crypto currency ventures he started just before taking office."
• AI can now plan your vacation. Here’s what happened when we let it try - "What happened when CNN Travel challenged ChatGPT to come up with guides to our cities."
• George & Amal Clooney granted French citizenship after concerns of raising children in Hollywood - "A gazette notice listing all new French naturalizations, released on Saturday, includes Clooney - as well as his wife, Amal Clooney, and their twin children, Alexander and Ella."
• Denmark becomes first European country to stop delivering letters - "Digital age brings Denmark’s postal service to a historic end."
• The worst-behaved travelers of 2025 - "The most annoying travelers of 2025. Here’s CNN Travel’s list of resolutions for us all to be better global citizens in 2026, with examples of some of the biggest failings this year."
• Some of 2025's biggest fashion controversies - "Why did fashion make us so mad in 2025? This year, fashion was more likely to inspire something else: pure, unadulterated rage. Sydney Sweeney’s great jeans ad - or were they great genes?! - became a cultural firestorm."
• From uplifting to degrading, these were the biggest pop culture moments of 2025 - "This was the year of rot, slop and rage. Everything that happened in pop culture in 2025 felt like a huge deal, and not all of it made sense."
• French right pushes for national tribute to film star Brigitte Bardot - "'France has a duty to honour its Marianne,' said Ciotti, referring to the emblem of French liberty whose face Bardot was chosen to represent in the 1960s."
• The Pitt to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: 12 of the best TV shows to watch this January - "From the return of HBO's award-winning medical drama to a new Game of Thrones prequel and the latest Harlan Coben mystery on Netflix."
• Turkey's ancient, caffeine-free coffee alternative - "For as long as anyone can remember, residents in Gaziantep have been harvesting wild pistachios to make a unique, nutty brew that doubles as a home remedy."
• Disneyland’s most expensive drink has shot up in price & it could disappear soon - "Visitors to California's Disneyland are shelling out $250 bucks for a shot of Louis XIII cognac in an edible glass - a price jump higher than Sleeping Beauty's castle, in 2022 they were just $185, per SF Gate. The Grand Californian Hotel's 'cookie shots' are a wildly popular seasonal offering."
• Key Takeaways from Trump’s meeting with Zelensky in Florida - "Unlike some previous meetings, Trump praised Zelensky and remained confident that peace was near."
• Americans in 1998 tried to predict 2025. Here’s what they got right - "Most people in 1998 correctly doubted that space travel would be common for ordinary Americans or that alien life forms would have made contact. Other predictions didn’t hold up as well. About two-thirds of Americans thought the country would have elected a female president by now."
• French Girl Chic or right-wing pin-up? The complicated style legacy of Brigitte Bardot - "The late French film starlet Brigitte Bardot created the blueprint for what was once a fresh and exciting style of dressing. Her tousled blonde bouffant, bikinis and capri pants signaled a more casual, laissez-faire attitude to dressing."
• Brigitte Bardot’s image complicated by her controversial politics - "Film star turned animal rights activist was anti-immigration and was repeatedly convicted of racial hatred, particularly towards Muslims."
• Anthony Joshua is injured in car crash in Nigeria which killed two others - "Joshua, 36, was in a Lexus Jeep when it smashed into a stationary truck today shortly after 11am on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Makun, according to local media."
• What did Sabalenka & Kyrgios' Battle of the Sexes achieve? - "When murmurs began about Aryna Sabalenka facing Nick Kyrgios in an exhibition match billed as the new 'Battle of the Sexes', many wondered what it was setting out to achieve."
• Spaniards hurl flour, eggs & fireworks in mock battle - "The annual food fight festival 'Els Enfarinats' has left the Spanish town of Ibi covered in flour and egg shells. Every year participants wear military-style costumes and stage a fake coup using eggs, flour and firecrackers."
• Luxury goods were once built to last. Now, some fall apart as easily as fast fashion - "The recent incidents may coincide with a broader issue in luxury fashion, where some experts believe high prices no longer guarantee a certain level of craftsmanship."
• Wild things we learned about Earth in 2025 - "Gold is escaping from Earth’s core & other wild things we learned about the planet in 2025."
• The 25 Best TV Shows of 2025 - "From The Gilded Age to Slow Horses, here’s what Town & Country editors loved watching this year."
• In 1952, DC’s skies were littered with US fighter jets chasing UFOs. More than 70 years later, the mystery persists - "Even Albert Einstein weighed in. 'Those people have seen something,' the Times Herald of Washington, DC, reported the influential thinker saying on July 30, 1952."
• Analysis: Donald Trump’s top 25 lies of 2025 - "It was hard to pick only 25. But it was easier than it used to be. Just like his first presidency, President Donald Trump’s first calendar year back in the White House was an unceasing parade of lies."
• People we've lost in 2025 - "Here are some notable people who have died in 2025."
• Brigitte Bardot, French actress & animal rights activist, dies at 91 - "Bardot, often referred to by her initials B.B., who rose to international fame with her role in And God Created Woman, retired from acting in the 1970s and devoted her time to animal activism. Later in life, Bardot garnered controversy for her comments about immigration and the #MeToo movement."
• Brigitte Bardot - a life in pictures - "The French actor Brigitte Bardot has died - we look back at her life, relationships and films."
• Rich & voiceless: How Putin has kept Russia's billionaires on side in the war - "During the war with Ukraine, the number of billionaires in Russia has reached an all-time high. Western sanctions have failed to turn the uber-rich into opponents, and Putin's policies have turned them into silent backers."
• Film lookahead: 20 highlights to watch out for in 2026 - "2026 looks to be a potentially huge year for an industry still feeling the after-effects of the Covid lockdown. Here are 20 films to watch out for in 2026."
• ‘Brain rot’: Not a scientific term but still something to be concerned about - "This is ‘brain rot,’ a slang term with something to it."
• The most exciting new trains coming in 2026 - "As new routes open and high-speed rail networks expand across much of the world, it’s becoming easier than ever to give in to that impulse and escape by train. From budget overnight services to hyper-luxury 'land cruises,' the range and quality of rail travel continue to expand."
• So Long, GPT-5. Hello, Qwen - "In the AI boom, chatbots and GPTs come and go quickly. (Remember Llama?) GPT-5 had a big year, but 2026 will be all about Qwen."
• I Tested the New GPT-5.2 - It Just Can't Compete With Google Gemini 3 - "Despite OpenAI's bold claims of widespread improvements, GPT-5.2 feels largely the same as the model it replaces. Google, meanwhile, delivers a more substantial Gemini 3 update. However, based on my testing, you probably won't notice a difference with GPT-5.2, whereas Gemini 3's improvements are much more appreciable."
• UK to insure Bayeux Tapestry for estimated £800m while it's loaned to British Museum - "The huge embroidery will be covered under the government's indemnity scheme when it travels to the UK. The 70m-long embroidery depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066 will travel from France to London. Comprising 58 scenes, 626 characters and 202 horses, the huge masterpiece charts a contested time in Anglo-French relations when William The Conqueror took the English throne from Harold Godwinson, becoming the first Norman king of England."
• Style trends to look out for in 2026: Bold colours, tassels & loud luxury - "These are some of the biggest trends you can expect to see hitting stores in the new year."
• Meghan Markle & Prince Harry lose their ELEVENTH publicist in five years as 'Sussex cheerleader' communications chief steps down - "Having also parted with their US-based PR agency and amid continuing accusations the couple are 'difficult' to work with."
• What does a huge festive meal do to your brain? - "Many of us with throw modesty out the window when it comes to Christmas lunch. But what do these blow-out festive meals do to our body and brain?"
• How traveling by plane will change in 2026 - "Air travel in 2026 will bring nicer planes and airports, fewer budget gains, industry shakeups, and lingering political and economic changes."
• Ancient Roman column gets high-tech laser facelift - "Vivid scenes of battlefield decapitations and female prisoners dragged off by their hair, carved into the 1,840-year-old marble Column of Marcus Aurelius towering over central Rome, are being brought back into focus through a $2.3 million laser restoration."
• 18 Hidden iOS 26 Features Nobody Told You About - "You've finally decided to update your iPhone to iOS 26. Check out my favorite lesser-known features you probably haven't heard about."
• Human Flight & Brain Drain - "The Human Flight and Brain Drain Index considers the economic impact of human displacement for economic or political reasons."
• The Best Watches Of 2025 - "From the best independent to the biggest challenger, we end the year with a special celebration of all the watches crowned at the 2025 WatchPro Awards. The watches that won 2025: Best Chronograph Watch: Hublot Big Bang Unico - Best Independent Watch: Biver Automatique Atelier Series Carbon ..."
• Mapped: The 50 Countries with the Biggest Economies by GDP - "At a time of increasing geopolitical fragmentation, we show the top 50 economies in the world, from India to Mexico. America’s economic output stands at $30.6 trillion in 2025, while China’s totaled $19.4 trillion. Europe is home to five of the world’s top 10 economies by GDP, while Asia houses three."
• The Scandinavian Sleep Method: Does It Really Improve Sleep? - "What is the Scandinavian sleep method? This is a sleeping arrangement for couples who share a bed. But rather than sharing bedding, each has their own blanket or doona. This arrangement allows couples to continue sleeping together while meeting each person's individual needs. It offers a balance between sleeping together and sleeping apart."
• 6 Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship - "Whether through investment, descent, or residency, these nations simplify the process for foreign nationals looking to gain citizenship: 1. Dominica. Dominica offers one of the most affordable citizenship by investment programs in the world. 2. Ireland. If you have Irish ancestry, you may be eligible for citizenship by descent. 3. Turkey. Turkey citizenship is available through a direct investment route. 4. Portugal. 5. Vanuatu. 6. Italy."
• Mapped: The World’s Safest (& Least Safe) Countries in 2025 - "Singapore is the safest country globally, while South Africa falls in last place. Rankings were based on the share of residents who feel safe walking alone at night across 144 countries and over 144,000 survey respondents conducted by Gallup. The Top 10 Safest and Least Safe Countries: Tajikistan, 95, Myanmar; China, 94, Eswatini; Oman, 94, Zimbabwe; Saudi Arabia ..."
• Why Holiday Music Charts Are Stuck in the Past - "It's not for lack of effort. But the advent of streaming and the highly fractured media landscape does not allow for new Christmas songs to capture a new generation of listeners like it did in decades past."
• Trump trips, a fake video & 10 possible co-conspirators: Takeaways from new Epstein files - "US President Donald Trump's name appeared more in these new documents than in previous releases. Many were media clippings that mention him, but one notable email from a federal prosecutor indicated that Trump flew on Epstein's jet."
• 9 places you can’t visit in 2026 - "Here’s a roundup of the museums, spiritual sites and theme park rides that will be off limits in 2026 and maybe even forever."
• How a 475-year-old book market in the center of Paris is surviving in a digital world - "Flexible hours, being your own boss, fresh air and views of Notre Dame - it’s a job with a lot going for it. Paris’ bouquinistes have been a fixture along the banks of the Seine for some 500 years and are determined to keep their profession alive."
• Inside the Wolf’s Lair, the hidden forest headquarters where Hitler directed the war - "Hitler spent a total of about 800 days in the Wolf’s Lair, and a visit here offers insight into the banal routines that punctuated the Führer’s life, even as war and mass murder unfolded across Europe."
• Inside one of the world’s most luxurious trains | Europe’s most storied train - then & now - "The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has defined luxury rail travel for nearly a century - from its Art Deco design to its storied routes across Europe. In this explainer, CNN Seasons host Laura Jackson traces the train’s history, style and cultural legacy, and explores how contemporary creators like French artist JR are shaping its next chapter."
• JR once tagged trains with graffiti. Now he’s responsible for one of the most luxurious carriages in the world - "In 2024, JR debuted 'L’Observatoire,' a radical renovation of an early 1900s train carriage, at the Venice Art Biennale. The carriage, a private suite commissioned by travel company Belmond, is now the jewel in the crown of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which runs routes across Europe (the longest of which is between Paris and Istanbul)."
• Jingle bills: Arkansas Powerball player strikes $1.8bn jackpot on Christmas Eve - "A Powerball player in Arkansas won a whopping $1.817bn jackpot in a Christmas Eve drawing, making it the second-largest lottery prize ever claimed. The single winning ticket matched all six numbers - 4, 25, 31, 52, 59 and red Powerball 19 - giving the winner the option of taking a lump-sum cash payment of $834.9m."
• The Best Question to Ask at a Party - "The wrong question can sour the whole mood of a gathering with family or friends. Some questions are boring or intrusive or too ambiguous; others are meant to provoke - or are asked with no real interest in an answer. The best questions are those that lead to stories instead of opinions and invite specificity."
• 25 years of the ISS in 25 numbers - "All you need to know about the International Space Station's 25 years in orbit. The International Space Station (ISS) is humanity's most expensive object and has been in orbit for 25 years. Read its fascinating history, told in 25 numbers."
• A local's guide to visiting Paris - "Although known for its rich traditions, Paris keeps evolving - albeit much more gradually than other big metropoles like London or New York. It is a pleasure to watch it broaden its references, yet remain stubborn and proud of the Parisian lifestyle."
• Visualizing the Relationship Between Country Size & GDP - "How does country size relate to economic output? For the 30 largest countries in the world, see how GDP compares to geographic area. The U.S. has the world’s largest GDP at over $29 trillion, despite being only the third-largest country by land area. Russia and Canada are among the largest countries geographically but rank much lower in GDP. There is no clear correlation between land area and economic output. Smaller countries can punch well above their weight."
• Pope Leo urges 'courage' to end Ukraine war in first Christmas address - "He called for an end to conflicts around the world during his Urbi et Orbi address, which is traditionally delivered by the pontiff on Christmas Day to worshippers gathered in Vatican City."
• Officials discover a million more documents potentially related to Epstein case - "The department said it could take 'a few more weeks' before all the files are released. The DoJ has been under scrutiny after not releasing all Epstein files by 19 December, the deadline mandated under a new law."
• How social media 'unredacted' one of the Jeffrey Epstein files - "CNN senior reporter Marshall Cohen shows how social media users uncovered a botched redaction from an old lawsuit against sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which the Justice Department re-published last week."
• Andrew & Epstein is the story that will not go away - "There are more questions for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the latest documents from the Epstein files. Every time you think the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor story must have finished, there is another twist. The latest batch of documents from the Epstein files includes emails that could further damage his reputation."
• How Google leapfrogged ChatGPT & why the AI race may already be over - "For more than 20 years Google has been the gateway to the internet - now it wants to use its dominance to win the AI race. Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince tells Anthony Cuthbertson why new rules are needed to rein in its ‘radically unfair’ advantage and prevent another monopoly from emerging."
• The prettiest ice rinks in London: 8 of the most festive spots - "Rug up, grab your skates and embrace the festive spirit with a glide around one of London's best ice rinks."
• Behind the scenes of The Dorchester's festive transformation - "The Dorchester on Park Lane in London becomes a winter wonderland in the space of just one night - I tagged along to see how."
• North Korea reveals new images of its first ‘nuclear-powered’ submarine - "North Korea on Thursday released new images of what it claims is its first nuclear-powered submarine, a massive vessel equal in size to some of the United States Navy’s attack subs. State media said the vessel had a displacement of 8,700 tons, making it an equal to most of the nuclear-powered Virginia-class attack subs in the US fleet."
• Baker beware: How I was fooled by an AI-generated recipe - "Raptive says it kicks creators and websites out of its network if it discovers that they're using AI tools to make spam recipes."
• Noche Buena: The Mexican beer you can only buy at Christmas - "Mexico is the world's largest exporter of beers. But one of its most beloved brews is only found inside the country and traditionally available for just a few weeks each year."
• The Salt Path & 2025's most scandalous books - "In 2025, personal stories proved popular and powerful - but several controversies raised questions about the future of the memoir genre. The Salt Path scandal. Perhaps the biggest literary scandal of 2025, though, concerned Raynor Winn's memoir The Salt Path. First published in 2018, the book tells the story of Winn and her husband Moth's 630-mile (1,015km) trek along the UK's South West Coast Path."
• Pop culture in 2025: A ring for Taylor, an ill-timed KissCam ... & whatever ‘6-7’ means - "Dictionaries define things. It’s their job. So when dictionary.com pronounced '6-7' as their 2025 word of the year, you’d think they would have, well, defined it. But no. 'We’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means,' they told us of this year’s 'linguistic time capsule.' But that’s just how pop culture works, isn’t it?"
• 10 Ways to Gracefully Change the Subject - "It’s time to change the subject - but doing so gracefully is an art. We asked experts exactly how to change the subject so smoothly that no one will even realize it’s happening."
• Daunt Books Totes - since 2010. "7 Cotton Bags & Canvas Bags." The stylish way to carry your books. Our classic Daunt Books canvas bags is a sturdy and stylish fabric book bag, emblazoned with the Daunt Books logo. All of our bags are made by re-wrap. re-wrap’s premium quality re-usable tote bags for Daunt Book Stores are lovingly crafted from in-conversion organic cotton that is farmed for the most positive impact on people and the planet. Dimensions: W 38cm × H 34cm × D 10cm.
• 4 takeaways from the latest batch of the Epstein files - "1. New evidence of a pursuit of ‘co-conspirators’. 2. We’re learning how Trump was invoked in the Epstein investigations. 3. A much-discussed letter that the DOJ now says is ‘fake’. 4. More questionable actions from the DOJ."
• Trump travelled on Epstein's plane more than previously thought - "US President Donald Trump was listed as a passenger on the private jet of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein eight times between 1993 and 1996, a new email released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) says."
• Messaging shift in response to Epstein files frustrates Trump's orbit - "Frustration mounts in Trump’s orbit about messaging on latest Epstein documents. Some see the scrambled response as just the latest stumble in a year of Epstein-related blunders."
• Prince Harry & Meghan Markle down to just 2 charity staffers out of desperation to save cash: ‘All smoke & mirrors’ - "Earlier this year, Page Six reported that the couple had cut ties with six personal employees as they focused on saving cash - and as their security bill is said to be around $2 million a year. Archewell recorded total expenses of $5.1 million, according to its latest 990 form, made public Friday. Meanwhile, donations and grants to the group dropped from $5.3 million in 2023 to $2.1 million in 2024."
• Greta Thunberg arrested at Palestine Action protest - "Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been arrested in central London at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action hunger strikers. A video shared by the banned protest group shows the 22 year-old activist holding a sign reading: 'I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.'"
• Elon Musk, AI & the antichrist: the biggest tech stories of 2025 - "A look back at the biggest tech stories of the year, from the rise and fall of Musk's Doge to lucrative investments into AI."
• Rivalries & rumours: How the new order of the Murdoch dynasty is playing out - "Family feuds and strategic change are redefining who holds power inside the Murdoch empire."
• Predicting What’s Out in 2026 - "Welcome to part one of a four-part series about what we predict 2026 will usher in and what we’re leaving behind - grudgingly or gladly - in 2025. I asked some of the most funny, clever, deranged people I work with to help me compile this list."
• Don’t get caught: These were the 3 biggest scams of 2025 - "These are trends that you don't want any part of. Scams that were on the rise in 2025: AI enhanced scams, QR phishing and everyone's favorite toll road scam."
• Apple will launch 20+ new products next year, here’s what’s coming - "Apple has a packed product lineup for 2026, as rumors indicate up to 25 new products will launch. Here's what's coming."
• The ultimate Christmas gift for Monaco lovers and Monopoly fans - "This Monaco edition retains the classic rules while reimagining the board through the lens of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s iconic universe. The artwork, entirely illustrated by Jean-Benoît Héron, replaces Atlantic City with emblematic Monte-Carlo locations, presented in a restrained, contemporary style. Tokens, cards and packaging draw inspiration from the Monegasque art de vivre without tipping into novelty."
• 'If Russia Wins' - "A New Statesman Book of the Year. A #1 international bestseller from a NATO expert, this deeply researched and chillingly plausible scenario imagines what might happen should Putin defeat Ukraine and not stop there."
• What the underwhelming Epstein files release means for Trump & Maga - "After folding into his coalition many non-traditional voters from the more fringe corners of the internet, Trump and members of his administration now find themselves coming face to face with the conspiratorial thinking they have stoked."
• Bill Clinton Sends New Message to Donald Trump Over Epstein Files - "The DOJ's release of Jeffrey Epstein files has intensified public scrutiny of high-profile individuals' alleged ties to Epstein."
• Email by 'A' from 'Balmoral' asked Ghislaine Maxwell for 'inappropriate friends', Epstein files show - "The emails do not indicate any wrongdoing. The BBC has contacted Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's team for a response."
• US regulator approves pill form of Wegovy weight-loss drug - "The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a pill version of the weight-loss drug Wegovy, according to pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk. It is the first pill of its kind to receive approval from the regulator, marking a new era for weight-loss drugs. Wegovy's Danish makers Novo Nordisk said the once-daily pill was a 'convenient option' to the injectable and would provide the same weight loss as the shot."
• Trump suspends all large offshore wind farms under construction, threatening thousands of jobs & cheaper energy - "In the latest blow to the US offshore wind industry, the Trump administration announced Monday it is suspending the federal leases for all large offshore wind projects currently under construction, citing unspecified national security risks."
• Trump’s desire to name things after himself hints at insecurity - "He names these ships - the Trump class."
• US bans new foreign drone models in a blow to Chinese giant DJI - "Chinese-made drones have dominated the skies in the United States for years, with private owners, police departments, and firefighters deploying them nationwide. But a new rule by the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday will make it impossible for US consumers to buy the next generation of these drones."
• If You Think Rolex Watches Are Expensive Now, Wait Till January - "The time to buy is now ... if you can. A new report indicates that Rolex is about to raise its prices an average of 7 percent across its catalog beginning in January."
• a new way to avoid taxes - "Wall Street takes tax-loss harvesting to the next level. Money managers have a clever new tactic to cut taxes for rich clients."
• The Best Shampoos for Different Hair Types - "After evaluating 92 shampoos, we lathered our way through 43 formulas to find six standouts, sorted by hair type."
• world's largest sailing yacht. From monte carlo to the riviera, explore the med in style on orient express corinthian - "140 years after unveiling its first luxury trains, the legendary Orient Express embarks on an unprecedented new chapter: Orient Express Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing yacht. A revolution in maritime travel, this extraordinary vessel redraws the contours of adventure and elegance."
• Epstein files fallout a deepening storm Trump can’t shake - "The Justice Department is denying accusations of a cover-up and of flouting a new law following its partial and extensively redacted releases of files on Jeffrey Epstein in an ever-deepening political storm around President Donald Trump."
• Trump names envoy to Greenland, sparking fresh row with Denmark - "Donald Trump has sparked a renewed disagreement with Denmark after appointing a special envoy to Greenland, the Arctic island he has said he would like to annex."
• Gold & silver hit records as investors hunt for safety - "The gold price has hit another record high, trading above $4,400 an ounce for the first time. Other precious metals have also had record years. The price of silver also hit a record of $69.44 an ounce on Monday."
• How to put some of Warren Buffett’s best money & life advice to work for you - "You don’t get labeled the 'Oracle of Omaha' for nothing. As one of the world’s most successful investors, Warren Buffett’s views on markets, companies and the economy have always been of great interest on Wall Street and Main Street."
• Silverware worth thousands of euros stolen from French presidential palace - "The Élysée Palace’s head steward reported the disappearance, with the estimated loss ranging between 15,000 and 40,000 euros (($17,500-$47,000)."
• 9 Things to Say When Someone Asks Why You’re Not Drinking - "More people are drinking less alcohol - and sometimes, their friends take that personally. Being prepared with a handful of comebacks when you’re encouraged to drink - or asked why you're abstaining - can help you stick to your goals and diffuse any tension. Here, experts and sober influencers share their favorite go-to responses."
• The 4-Word Trick to Saying a Great Goodbye - "The 4-word trick to a great goodbye, often shared for social events like parties, is essentially a quick, polite exit that shows appreciation without a long drawn-out farewell, focusing on 'Thanks, I'm heading out!' or variations like 'Loved it, gotta go!', expressing gratitude and a clear reason for departure to avoid lingering, as popularized by figures like Mark Wayman for smoother social transitions."
• The 45 Best Albums of 2025 - "If 2024 was the year of the breakout pop star - here’s looking at you, Charli, Chappell, and Sabrina - then 2025 in music was the year of ... well, a bit of everything."
• The best nature photography of 2025 - "From acrobatic gorillas to maritime lions and fluorescent plants, here are the most eye-catching shots of the natural world from 2025."
• Why passport stamps may be a thing of the past - "The process of handing your passport over to a border agent and getting a stamp that signals your arrival in a new nation may soon be a thing of the past."
• Self-Made Billionaires Under 30 Hit Record High - "Why There Are Suddenly So Many Self-Made Billionaires Under 30? Fueled by AI, prediction markets and online gambling, there are more self-made billionaires under 30 than ever before, 13 up from a previous record of 7."
• Department of Justice’s 'Epstein Library': Image containing Trump photo appears to have been removed from DOJ’s Epstein files website - "The image was of a desk with several framed photos, as well as an open drawer with additional photos. One appeared to picture Trump, Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and others. The picture is one of few references to Trump in the documents that the Justice Department released Friday."
• Walter Cronkite 'Most Trusted Man in America' Chopped It Up With Epstein - "Walter Cronkite, who was once regarded as 'the Most Trusted Man in America' when he was anchoring the evening news on CBS, is pictured with Jeffrey Epstein in new photos released by the feds."
• Photo of Andrew lying on laps at Sandringham in new Epstein files - "In the picture, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell hovers in the background smiling at the former prince. The photo appears to have been taken in the saloon room at Sandringham, the royal estate in Norfolk."
• Survivors 'nervous & sceptical' about release of remaining Epstein files - "Among the latest released information is a photo of Epstein now jailed confidante Ghislaine Maxwell outside Downing Street - the UK prime minister's office and residence -a document that claims Epstein introduced a 14-year-old girl to US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, and multiple images of former President Bill Clinton."
• Paul has titanium plates fitted after Joshua breaks his jaw - "Jake Paul has had two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed after Anthony Joshua broke his jaw in two places during the American's stoppage defeat in their heavyweight fight in Miami."
• What we learned from Jake Paul’s painful defeat against Anthony Joshua - "The fight that people could barely believe was real ended in a way that everyone expected. Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua beat YouTuber-turned boxer Jake Paul by knockout on Friday night, seemingly breaking the American’s jaw in the process. The predictable result in the ring stood at stark comparison to the circus that surrounded it, and yet again raised questions over the future direction of boxing as a professional sport."
• Gwyneth Paltrow on Motherhood, MAHA, Meghan Markle, Making Out With TimothÉe Chalamet & Much More - "With Apple and Moses having flown the nest, and Goop humming along, the star is making her big return to film as she seeks the answer to 'Who am I now?'"
• The six best places to ski in 2026 - "From Italian Winter Olympic buzz to brand-new wellness retreats in the Canadian Rockies, these six ski areas are trending for 2026."
• Are AI prompts damaging your thinking skills? - "Generative AI tools have become hugely popular but some experts worry about the effect they have on the brain. Maybe you asked it for an essay structure to help answer a tricky question, provide an insightful analysis of a chunky data set, or to check if your cover letter matches the job description. Some experts worry that outsourcing these kinds of tasks means your brain is working less - and could even be harming your critical thinking and problem-solving skills."
• The $117 Trillion World Economy in One Giant Visualization - "We show the world economy in 2025, highlighting how India could soon surpass Japan given rapid GDP growth. The U.S., China, and Germany are the top three countries by GDP in 2025. India ranks in fifth, averaging 6.4% in real GDP growth since 2000."
• Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.5 billion after no Wednesday winner - "Wednesday night's winning numbers were 25, 33, 53, 62, 66, and red powerball 17, with a Power Play multiplier of 4."
• ‘It’s really not easy’: Tips on moving abroad from people who learned the hard way - "The grass isn’t necessarily greener abroad. Navigating foreign tax systems and bank accounts can be particularly confusing. CNN spoke to a few experts who have done it and learned a few hard lessons along the way."
• 52 Places to Go, So Little Time: Where We Went in 2025 - "Our writers and photographers were on the ground to find out what makes the destinations on our annual list rise above the rest: Aix-en-Provence, France - Lofoten Islands, Norway - East London - Greenland - Detroit."
• How Europeans & Americans hold their forks differently & why that matters - "You're eating it wrong! Common dining etiquette mistakes explained. Business etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore corrects the mistakes many of us make with our forks and knives, describes how American and Continental styles differ, and explains when it matters most to get your etiquette right."
• This chic side hustle is gaining traction: Renting out your clothes - "Emilie Nasseh, a 30-year-old living in Manhattan, has made up to $2,000 a month through an unconventional side hustle: renting her clothes and accessories."
• Thai scientists unlock the secrets of herbal compress ingredients - "Herbal compresses have been used for thousands of years. Researchers in Thailand are exploring the science behind them."
• Why the world is running out of frankincense - "The precious, fragrant resin is the scent of the festive season and rising in popularity in the wellness industry - but its natural source is being decimated."
• Oscar de la Renta Celebrates 60th Anniversary With a glamorous party - "The Ultimate Party for the Ultimate Party-Dress Designer. Oscar de la Renta holds a blowout 60th-anniversary bash. Everyone dressed to the nines."
• our brains reboot at four key ages. This is how it feels - "Changes in our grey matter are clustered in these eras of transition. We spoke to four people living through them."
• Top 10 Highest Grossing Pop Tours of the Year - "Here is a recap of Billboard Boxscore's top 10 pop tours of 2025, featuring Dua Lipa, Bruno Mars and more."
• 5 takeaways from the Justice Department’s Epstein files release - "1. The administration failed to follow the law, likely seeding more suspicion. 2. A heavy dose of Clinton. 3. A remarkable lack of Trump. 4. Confirmation that law enforcement was warned very early. 5. The documents continue to turn up more famous people."
• Epstein files released with heavy redactions as thousands more documents expected - "The US justice department has released a tranche of some of the so-called Epstein files, including photos of the interiors of Jeffrey Epstein's homes, his overseas travels and celebrities - Painting in Epstein's property depicts Clinton wearing Monica Lewinsky's dress."
• Joshua & Paul earn riches but deliver budget sporting spectacle - "Anthony Joshua knocks out Jake Paul in 6th round to win heavyweight fight. Such was the oddity of Anthony Joshua v Jake Paul even taking place, the fight landed on Netflix under a cloud of suspicion that boxing had surrendered itself to choreography."
• Paul's jaw broken in two places by Joshua - "The 28-year-old went six rounds with the two-time heavyweight world champion but the fight was stopped when he failed to beat the count following repeated knockdowns. The YouTuber-turned-boxer hit the canvas twice in the fifth and sixth rounds and said in his post-fight comments he thought his jaw was 'definitely' broken."
• Delaware Supreme Court reinstates Elon Musk's $55 billion pay package from 2018 - "Elon Musk won reinstatement of his 2018 pay package as chief executive of Tesla Inc., after the Delaware Supreme Court reversed some findings of a judge who said the billionaire improperly influenced board members who formulated the record-breaking corporate compensation package."
• The psychology of heroism: Why some people ran toward danger at Bondi Beach - "Just before the mass shooting that left 15 dead and dozens more injured during a Hanukkah celebration at Australia’s Bondi Beach, two elderly bystanders attempted to disarm one of the attackers. In dashcam video, Boris Gurman can be seen grappling with an attacker while Sofia Gurman runs toward them. The couple was killed, but that didn’t stop others from also trying to stop the shooters."
• 'If Russia Wins' - "A New Statesman Book of the Year. A #1 international bestseller from a NATO expert, this deeply researched and chillingly plausible scenario imagines what might happen should Putin defeat Ukraine and not stop there."
• A Pompeii site reveals the recipe for Roman concrete. It contradicts a famous architect’s writings - "Along with its many other innovations, the Roman Empire revolutionized architecture with never-before-seen features, such as large-scale arches and dome roofs. And many of these structures still stand today despite being more than 2,000 years old. None of it would have been possible without the Romans’ infallible building material: self-healing concrete. Now, an ancient construction site has revealed the recipe for creating this sturdy foundation."
• In pictures: Dubai’s remarkable horse racing heritage - "From humble beginnings on dusty camel tracks to hosting of one of the sport’s biggest and most prestigious events worldwide, horse racing in Dubai has a notable history. Now, as The Dubai World Cup approaches its 30th anniversary, photos through the decades reveal the birth and growth of a national passion."
• TikTok owner signs deal to avoid US ban - "TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance has signed binding agreements with American and global investors to operate its business in the US, the video platform's boss told employees on Thursday. Under the agreement, ByteDance will retain 19.9% of the business, while Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX will hold 15% each. Another 30.1% will be held by affiliates of existing ByteDance investors, according to the memo."
• 'It gets everything so right': Why When Harry met Sally is the greatest romcom of all time - "Apart from the sublime dialogue, flawless performances, the finger-clicking music and the mouth-watering Big Apple cinematography, there's one genius innovation that made Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron’s 1989 film so successful."
• 'A wicked wife': The truth about Tudor England's 'most hated woman' - "The 16th-Century aristocrat Jane Boleyn faced explosive accusations: she was blamed for a shocking betrayal of her husband, as well as two of Henry VIII's wives, her sister-in-law Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Was she a 'sex-mad' spy, guilty-as-charged - or a convenient scapegoat for a tyrant's brutality? A new historical thriller by Philippa Gregory, Boleyn Traitor, explores her story."
• Turkey's ornate Ottoman-era 'bird palaces' - "Many of Istanbul's visitors are unaware that the city is home to half-a-millennium-old stone-carved bird houses that reflect the Ottomans' reverence for the animals."
• EU agrees €90bn loan for Ukraine but without using Russian assets - "European Union leaders have struck a late-night deal to lend Ukraine €90bn (£79bn; $105bn) over the next two years, after failing to agree on using frozen Russian assets."
• Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia - "Fighting has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Over the past year, Russian forces have slowly expanded the amount of territory they control, mostly in the east of Ukraine, and have continued their recent barrage of air strikes on Kyiv and other cities."
• Kennedy Center to be renamed Trump-Kennedy Center, White House says - "The board of the Kennedy Center has voted to rename the performing arts centre the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to the White House."
• New Epstein photos from House Democrats show high-profile figures, island plans & passports - "The images include photos of prominent figures such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates, linguist and activist Noam Chomsky and former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon."
• Fact-checking White House plaques targeting former US presidents - "BBC Verify has taken a closer look at some of the claims on the so-called 'Presidential Walk of Fame'."
• ‘Don’s Best Friend’: How Epstein & Trump Bonded Over the Pursuit of Women - "The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents and interviews reveal an intense and complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency."
• HR exec in viral Coldplay clip speaks of abuse, threats & trying to find a new job - "Kristin Cabot has spoken publicly for the first time about the video in which she was seen hugging Andy Byron, then-CEO of tech company Astronomer, at the show in July, before they abruptly ducked and hid from the camera."
• Americans are hungry for community. So why don’t we have more European-style squares? - "Europe is packed with these urban oases, and along with a taste for lattes and tapas, Americans are increasingly hungry for Italian piazzas, Spanish plazas, French places, and similar squares around the globe. But the joy of experiencing life in these public squares leaves some American travelers disappointed when they return to the States."
• The big wrinkle in the multitrillion-dollar AI buildout - "There’s a giant question hanging over the tech industry: How long will its massive investments in AI infrastructure really last?"
• Visualizing the World’s Rare Earth Reserves - "China accounts for nearly half of global rare earth reserves (44M of 92M metric tons). Brazil ranks second (21M tons), while the U.S. holds 1.9M tons - about 2% of the total."
• The World's 4.1 B Hectares of Forests by Region - "Forests cover 49% of South America’s total land area, the largest share across global regions. Over one billion hectares of forests are located in Europe—the highest total forested area of any region."
• Paint Colors of the Year (2015-2026) - "2023, Viva Magenta, Raspberry Blush; 2022, Very Peri, October Mist; 2021, Illuminating/Ultimate Gray, Aegean Teal; 2020, Classic Blue, First ..."
• Floating doves to sunken ships: 18 of the most striking images of 2025 - "From floating doves and sunken ships to 'Icarus' skydiving against the Sun, here is an art history expert's guide to some of the most eye-catching photographs of the year."
• Peter Arnett, Pulitzer-winning war reporter, dies aged 91 - "He was known for covering the Vietnam and Gulf Wars - and for interviewing both Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden."
• Monaco set to steal the show as the Vuelta a EspaÑa launches in the Principality - "On Wednesday, December 17, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II attended the official presentation of the 2026 Vuelta a España route, confirming Monaco’s role as host of the prestigious race’s Grand Départ next summer."
• 4 takeaways from Trump’s primetime address - " The president fixated on Joe Biden in a rushed speech that didn’t sell a compelling economic message."
• Trump tests the First Amendment: A timeline - "The First Amendment protects the freedom of religion, speech and press; the right to peaceful assembly; and the right to 'petition the government for a redress of grievances.' It also bars the government from enacting laws that prevent the 'free exercise' of these rights."
• Warrior Dividend: Trump announces $1776 bonus for military service - "President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he would be issuing checks to members of the United States military for $1,776 - in honor of the country’s founding - calling the payment the 'Warrior Dividend.'"
• Susie Wiles, JD Vance & the “Junkyard Dogs”: The White House Chief of Staff on Trump’s Second Term - "Throughout the first year of Donald Trump’s second administration, Vanity Fair writer Chris Whipple has interviewed Wiles amid each moment of crisis. This insider’s account joins a portfolio of portraits for an unflinching, up-close look at power - and peril."
• 6 jarring quotes from Trump's chief of staff in Vanity Fair - "Why it matters: Wiles discussed Trump's 'alcoholic's personality,' Elon Musk's drug use and USAID chaos, Vance's 'sort of political' conversion, ..."
• Karoline Leavitt Vanity Fair Photographer Defends His Extreme Close-Up - "Vanity Fair has been accused of deliberately using unflattering photos of key figures in the Trump administration."
• why brussels sprouts no longer taste like you think - "Hate Brussels sprouts? You may be living in the past. Some people loathed the bitter taste of Brussels sprouts as children. But the humble, healthy vegetable has been the subject of a decades-long breeding programme to banish the bitterness."
• The Oscars will move to YouTube in 2029, leaving longtime broadcasting home ABC - "In a seismic shift for one of television's marquee events, the Academy Awards will depart ABC and begin streaming on YouTube beginning in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday. ABC will continue to broadcast the annual ceremony through 2028. That year will mark the 100th Oscars."
• The surprising truth about AI’s impact on jobs - "Jobs that are highly exposed to AI automation are growing faster than they did prior to Covid-19 – even faster than all other occupations."
• Indian scientists predict how bird flu could spread to humans - "A bird flu pandemic, researchers say, would begin quietly: a single infected bird passing the virus to a human - most likely a farmer, market worker or someone handling poultry. From there, the danger lies not in that first infection but in what happens next: sustained human-to-human transmission."
• Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% stake for $800 in 1976 - "Apple’s little-known third cofounder, Ronald Wayne, was originally given a 10% stake in the now $4 trillion computer company. He cashed out just 12 days after Apple’s inception for $800, and said at the time he had no regrets. As Apple celebrates 45 years since its IPO, Wayne may not be celebrating as his stake today would be worth billions."
• William & Catherine release annual Christmas card portrait - "The image shows William and Catherine sitting on lush grass surrounded by spring daffodils, alongside by their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis."
• Trump expands travel ban list to 39 countries - "President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a proclamation expanding the list of countries with full or partial travel restrictions to 39, increasing from the previous list of 19 countries, according to the White House."
• Warner Bros asks investors to reject takeover bid from Paramount Skydance - "Warner Bros. is telling shareholders to reject a takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, saying that a rival bid from Netflix will be better for customers."
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer tells Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to 'pay up now' or face court - "Mr Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea Football Club, pledged in 2022 that the £2.5bn from the sale of the club would be used to benefit victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine."
• Miss Finland's viral 'slanted-eyes' photo stirs racism firestorm - "Ex-Miss Universe contestant Sarah Dzafce has drawn backlash in East Asia and in her own country."
• China’s secretive plan for world’s most powerful ‘mega-dam’ - "China is building the world’s most powerful hydropower system deep in the Himalayas. It remains shrouded in secrecy. The $168 billion project has been described as the most sophisticated dam system the planet has ever seen - its neighbors are worried."
• Photographer stumbles upon thousands of dinosaur footprints near Italian Winter Olympic venue - "A wildlife photographer stumbled upon one of the oldest and largest known collections of dinosaur footprints, dating back about 210 million years to the Triassic Period, high in an Italian national park near the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic venue of Bormio, officials announced Tuesday."
• FIFA slashes price of some World Cup tickets to $60 after global fan backlash - "FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans following a global backlash and some will get $60 seats for the final instead of being asked to pay $4,185."
• Los Angeles 2028 organizers promise affordable Olympic tickets amid World Cup controversy - "On Monday, LA28 announced fans would be able to register for tickets from January 14, 2026 and that at least one million would be priced at $28, according to Reuters."
• What we know about the fatal stabbings of Rob and Michele Reiner & the case against their son - "Two days after Hollywood director Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their home, their grown son, Nick Reiner, was charged with the first-degree murder of his parents."
• Scams, Schemes, Ruthless Cons: The Untold Story of How Jeffrey Epstein Got Rich - "For years, rumors swirled about where his wealth came from. A Times investigation reveals the truth of how a college dropout clawed his way to the pinnacle of American finance and society."
• How a major convenience store chain became a hub for crypto scams - "Americans are losing millions to scammers at crypto ATMs. Circle K hosts hundreds of the machines."
• CEOs & celebrities love Oura’s sleep-tracking ring - "Its CEO has a plan to stay ahead of Apple and Google. One of the Apple Watch’s biggest threats has no screen, weighs about a fifth of an ounce and charges a monthly subscription for most of its features. Yet the Oura ring is on pace for $1 billion in sales this year, boosted by its presence on the fingers of celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Michael Dell."
• The Gold List 2026 - "The Gold List 2026 is Condé Nast Traveller's list of the best hotels, resorts, cruise ships, and destinations in the world."
• 'A female gaze on a male body': The risquÉ '80s jeans ad that 'created shockwaves' - "TV's suggestive 'Launderette' Levi's advert was first shown 40 years ago, and sales went through the roof. The ad marked a turning point - and its influence continues today."
• GPHG 2025: The world's best luxury watchmakers pick their favourite timepieces - "Many of those questioned stuck dutifully to the script, picking timepieces from their own companies but some of the answers may surprise you."
• I Read over 100 Wealth-Building Books to Learn These 5 Lessons - "1. Pay Yourself First, Not Last - 2. Real Wealth Is Invisible - 3. Index Funds Beat Almost Everything - 4. Your Money Mindset Determines Your Results - 5. Assets Work, Income Doesn’t Scale."
• Elon Musk Just Became The First Person Ever Worth $600 Billion - "The world's richest person just hit another major milestone thanks to the soaring valuation of his rocket maker SpaceX."
• Trump’s post on Rob Reiner sparks outrage from lawmakers & celebrities - "President’s statement blaming acclaimed director’s death on his dislike of him described as ‘disgusting’ and ‘vile’. Trump also claimed Reiner died 'due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind-crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME'."
• Visualizing how Sydney’s deadly Bondi Beach shooting unfolded - "Sunday marked the first night of Hannukah, and to celebrate, more than 1,000 people gathered at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, some dancing and banging drums. Others were swimming in the ocean. In just a few hours, the beach would be the site of Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in almost 30 years, leaving 15 people dead as well as one of the suspects."
• BBC says it will defend Trump defamation lawsuit over Panorama speech edit - "The BBC has said it will defend a $5bn lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump against the BBC over an edit of his 6 January 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary. Trump accused the broadcaster of defamation and of violating a trade practices law, according to court documents filed in Florida."
• Tips For Talking To A Hotel Concierge - "Tips For Getting The Most From Your Hotel Concierge. Knowing what questions to ask, how a hotel concierge can help you, and even what is asking too much is key to making the most of your vacation."
• 20 of the world’s best soups - "Banga | Nigeria - Beef pho | Vietnam - Borscht | Ukraine - Bouillabaisse | France - Caldo verde | Portugal."
• Snow White to The Smashing Machine: 10 of the biggest film flops of 2025 - "From a controversial recreation of a Disney cartoon to an awards-tipped sports biopic starring The Rock, why did so many high-profile Hollywood films fail at the box office this year?"
• Rob Reiner: Six classic movies from the 'big-hearted genius' director - "Reiner was known for his activism as well as favourites like When Harry Met Sally, Stand by Me and Misery."
• Why your early 2000s photos are probably lost forever - "If you used a digital camera in the early 2000s, there's a good chance whole chapters of your life have been erased. A generation of photos has vanished on broken hard drives and defunct websites."
• How your lost bag ended up for sale in Alabama - "Everyday, thousands of travellers come to a town in Alabama to sift through lost bags filled with everything from wedding dresses to medieval suits of armour."
• An 'Uber of the Alps': The Swiss ski resort reinventing winter - "As warming winters threaten the future of snow, Laax has launched some of Switzerland's most ambitious sustainability projects, from on-demand gondolas to CO2-neutral lifts."
• Andy Warhol & His Watches - "The Pop Art master has had much more than 15 minutes of fame, but so has his collection of more than 300 timepieces."
• Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Has Been Using His Own Custom $2 Bills for Years - "The tech entrepreneur legally purchases bills from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing and customizes them at a print shop."
• Father & son who killed 15 at Bondi 'clearly motivated by extremist ideology', says Australian PM - "Two gunmen who killed 15 people at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Sunday have been named in local media as Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24."
• Australia seeks tougher gun laws after Bondi Beach shooting kills 15 - "Gun laws: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he will put stricter rules, including time limits on licenses, on his Cabinet’s agenda today."
• Hollywood director Rob Reiner & wife Michele found dead in LA home - "Legendary Hollywood film-maker and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele have been found dead in their Los Angeles home. Authorities are investigating the incident as an apparent homicide after police and firefighters were called to the couple's house on Sunday afternoon in an upmarket neighbourhood of LA."
• Remembering Rob Reiner, a genre-forging director & a tireless force for human rights - "How Rob Reiner changed movies forever."
• Seven quiet wins for climate & nature in 2025 - "Here are the year's breakthroughs for the climate and nature you might have missed."
• Binge-watching 2025's Christmas films: The good, the bad & the so-bad-it's-good - "Kiefer Sutherland, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kate Winslet all star in new festive films this Christmas."
• Your grocery store is a bewildering sea of overly processed food. Here’s why and what to do - "Here's a great example: An extremely popular organic bread in grocery stores has 35 ingredients - the first 21 are whole grains and seeds."
• Who the Hell Is Actually Using Facebook Dating? - "With 21 million users, Facebook Dating is a secret hit, including among Gen Zers who use it for clout and content as much as for finding love."
• Forget hot chocolate. Golden milk is the much healthier cozy drink you need right now - "Scientist and cookbook author Kanchan Koya explains how to make golden milk, a cozy beverage that may have numerous health and anti-inflammatory benefits."
• Gemini vs. Copilot: I tested the AI tools on 7 everyday tasks & it wasn't even close - "Microsoft is building Copilot into every product it owns, while Google is integrating its Gemini LLM tool into all of its properties. To determine which tool is better, I came up with seven challenges. Not only was Gemini the clear winner in creative terms, but it also produced results in about one-tenth of the time Copilot took."
• What really happens inside a Turkish bath - "Going to a hamam is very different from being in your bathroom at home, or even in a private room at a day spa when it’s just you and your therapist. In the steamy, almost mystical atmosphere of a Turkish bath, the world stands still."
• 'Wish you were here': The enduring joy of postcards - "Travellers share why the humble postcard remains one of the most meaningful gifts someone can receive. Digital communication and social media let us stay in instant touch when we travel, but snail-mailed postcards are still uniting travellers."
• The heist to reclaim the ancient Stone of Destiny - "The Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of the Scottish kings, was taken by four university students in an audacious Christmas raid 75 years ago. This was more than a prank: they said they were in fact reclaiming a beloved treasure stolen by an English monarch more than six centuries before."
• At least 11 killed in shooting which targeted Australia’s Jewish community at Bondi Beach - "More than 1,000 people had gathered to celebrate Hanukkah at Sydney’s popular Bondi Beach when the shooting attack unfolded, authorities said."
• Watch moment man tackles & disarms Bondi shooter - "Twelve people have been killed and at least 11 others, including two police officers, injured in a shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday. Footage captured by an eyewitness shows a man grappling with an alleged gunman, before wrestling the weapon off him."
• Americans think Trump knew about Epstein’s alleged crimes - "As Epstein releases near, Americans think Trump knew about Epstein’s alleged crimes."
• Unredacted Trump photos from Epstein files dump reveal glamorous group of adult models - "Unredacted photos of President Trump from the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s estate - which oddly blurred the faces of women he posed with - reveal he was standing with 'adult women models,' according to exclusive images obtained by The Post."
• Warren Buffett is a Zen master - "Buffett leaves behind a body of spiritual wisdom that can help people with more than their money. He’s tapped into insights from Zen Buddhism, Confucius, Stoic philosophers and even the New Testament to show people how to cope - not just with market fluctuations but with life’s downturns as well."
• As Dick Van Dyke turns 100, we look back at his legendary career - "Beloved actor Dick Van Dyke is celebrating his 100th birthday on Saturday. During his career, Van Dyke won four Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and a Grammy Award. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995."
• Dick Van Dyke Credits His Longevity to One Habit & It's backed by science - "The beloved actor credits his remarkable longevity to his positive outlook and never getting angry. While longevity of course comes down to many factors - including genetics and lifestyle - there is some truth to Van Dyke's claims. Numerous studies have shown that keeping stress levels low and maintaining a positive, optimistic outlook are correlated with longevity."
• Every new Apple product coming in 2026 (& beyond) - "In our upcoming Apple Products Guide we reveal what we know about Apple's new product releases coming in 2026. In the sections below we’ve split the upcoming new products into categories including Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, Home, AirPods, and some new product categories."
• How Clean Is Airplane Air, Really? - "To find out, Erica Hartmann, associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University, and her colleagues tested face masks worn by passengers on flights to log what kinds of bugs these products trapped. Overall, they report in the journal Microbiome, they detected 407 microbial species from both the plane and hospital settings, with similar populations of bugs from each."
• Sherlock Holmes to Sleuth: 10 of the greatest murder mysteries ever - "As the new Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man, is released on streaming, here are more ingenious - and confounding - whodunnits to watch and read."
• Harry Potter to Eyes Wide Shut: 12 of the best alternative festive films - as chosen by BBC journalists - "Fancy a change from The Muppet Christmas Carol? BBC journalists pick the films that get them in the holiday mood."
• 'A nightmare' - The battle over Warner Bros is turning Hollywood upside down - "Disaster, catastrophe and nightmare. That's how Hollywood's creative workers describe the fall of the once mighty Warner Bros, as Netflix and Paramount battle to buy the historic studio and tinsel town braces for more upheaval and job losses."
• political beliefs quiz. discover your political ideology in just 5 minues - "Find Out Where You Stand Politically. Take the Test."
• New photos released from Epstein’s estate showing Trump, Bannon, Bill Clinton & other high-profile people - "Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate Friday showing the many powerful figures in the late sex trafficker’s orbit, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Steve Bannon, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and others."
• Why soccer fans are ‘astonished’ by the ‘extortionate’ ticket prices for next year’s World Cup - "After the latest phase of ticket sales was launched this week, doing so might cost them more than they had expected - with a ticket for the final costing more than $4,000."
• King Charles III says he can 'share the good news' his cancer treatment will be reduced - "King Charles has shared 'good news' about his cancer, saying in a personal message that early diagnosis and 'effective intervention' means his treatment can be reduced in the new year. This news that he is responding well to treatment is the biggest update on the King's health since he revealed his diagnosis in February 2024."
• EU backs indefinite freeze on Russia's frozen cash ahead of loan plan for Ukraine - "European Union governments have agreed to immobilise indefinitely Russian assets of up to €210bn that have been frozen in the EU since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
• World’s biggest cat, the Siberian tiger, ‘crawled back from the edge of extinction’ - "New book details the epic story behind the fight to save Russia’s Amur tigers."
• 15 years ago, a software developer paid for two pizzas with 10,000 bitcoin. Those pies would be worth $1.1 billion today - "The two Papa John's pizzas delivered to Laszlo Hanyecz's Florida home in May 2010 were worth about $41 at the time."
• Clair Obscur sweeps The Game Awards with nine wins - "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been named game of the year in a record-breaking haul at this year's Game Awards."
• 83rd Golden Globes Nominations 2026 - "This year’s nominees span film, television, podcasts, and original music."
• How maths can help you wrap your presents better - "Wrapping awkwardly shaped Christmas presents is always a headache, but here's the formula for perfect gift wrap."
• The 20 best places to travel in 2026 - "From a Polynesian island ringed by blue lagoons to the heart of Chile's wine country, these are BBC journalists' top destinations this year."
• The 25 best books of 2025 - "From a 'richly atmospheric' novella to a 'virtuosic' debut - this is the very best fiction of the year, as chosen by BBC journalists."
• How John Cena became WWE's most likeable star - "The making of a WWE legend: John Cena faces his final fight. The man behind the 'You Can't See Me' catchphrase is having one last fight on Saturday night. But who is he, really?"
• What Streaming TV Could Learn from 'Mad Men' - "he classic show arrived on HBO Max with an embarrassing remastering error. But the show's creative mastery remains undeniable. 'Mad Men' has the sort of ambitions one often associates with film, or, hell, even literature. But it is unmistakably and unashamedly TV. Its episodes have plots and subplots, story arcs and themes; they tell stories that serve a larger ongoing story."
• 12 best loungewear brands our editors recommend for nailing jetset style - "The key to looking stylish and feeling comfortable on a flight. Comfy, layered, security-friendly and stylish: the best loungewear brands are having a moment. Gone are the days when cosy equated to frumpy."
• Foreign tourists could be required to disclose 5 years of social media histories under Trump administration plan - "The Customs and Border Protection proposal would apply to travelers from more than 40 countries."
• Denmark sees US as potential security concern - "Denmark has labeled the United States as a potential security concern for the first time in an annual report released by one of its intelligence agencies, offering more evidence of the increasingly fraught transatlantic alliance between Europe and the US."
• Forbes World's Most Powerful Women of 2025 - "100 women including 17 newcomers - who command a collective $37 trillion in economic power and influence more than 1 billion people."
• iOS 26.2’s small tweaks add up to a big update for your iPhone - here’s what’s new - "iOS 26.2 isn’t a major release, but it packs tweaks that improve everyday iPhone use."
• iOS 26.2 & watchOS 26.2 Update Sleep Score Ranges - "WatchOS 26.2 and iOS 26.2 tweak the Sleep Score feature that's available for the Apple Watch, changing the labeling for point ranges to better match how people might be feeling after a restless night of sleep. The new scores are as follows: Very Low - 0-40 (previously 0-29) Low - 41-60 (previously 30-49)."
• World Cities by Climate - "Using data from Climate-Data.org, this chart maps 74 major cities across the globe. The upper-right quadrant (hot and wet) is dominated by cities in Asia and India. The lower-left quadrant (cold and dry) includes the greatest number of European cities. Most US cities fall on the drier half of the chart, with Seattle as the notable outlier. Very few cities are both cold and wet; Reykjavik, Iceland sits alone as the coldest in that quadrant. The hottest and driest cities tend to cluster in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of India."
• King Charles to share cancer recovery update in TV message - "Britain’s King Charles III will detail some of his experience with cancer in a video message that will be broadcast on UK television on Friday evening, Buckingham Palace said."
• A Former King Seeks an Exit From Exile but Finds No Royal Treatment - " King Juan Carlos I of Spain abdicated and left for exile years ago. Now, his attempted comeback is giving his family a royal headache."
• How did Jane Austen die? Researchers are still trying to unravel the author’s final chapter - "For decades, people have paused outside of No. 8 College Street next to the campus of Winchester College in England. The only detail of the painted brick building’s façade that gives away its significance is an oval plaque above the doorway with the words, 'In this house Jane Austen lived her last days and died 18th July 1817.' But for Janeites, devoted fans of the beloved author and her works, the spot represents what’s perhaps the most enigmatic chapter of Austen’s too-short life."
• Prada to launch $930 'Made in India' Kolhapuri sandals after backlash - "The Italian luxury brand will make 2,000 pairs of sandals in India's Maharashtra and Karnataka states, under a deal with two state-backed entities, Reuters news agency reports."
• why travellers love japan's convenience store socks - "How convenience store socks became Japan's coolest souvenir. A simple pair of striped socks from Japanese convenience stores has become a global cult item. But how did an everyday essential turn into the souvenir travellers seek out?"
• Epstein Files Update: Judge Grants DOJ Request to Unseal Records - "The ruling comes after multiple bipartisan pushes to unseal the transcripts from testimony given in the grand jury case against the billionaire."
• Former Obama White House attorney dismissed report on abuse allegations & advised Epstein media strategy - "When billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein needed legal advice, help responding to negative press, or just moral support, he often turned to an unexpected confidante - Kathy Ruemmler, an elite attorney who served two US presidents and was once a top candidate for US attorney general."
• ‘Trump Gold Card’ launches, offering expedited immigration pathway with a $1 million fee - "President Donald Trump on Wednesday officially launched his “gold card” visa, a new immigration pathway that will allow foreigners to pay $1 million to expedite their visa application, or have companies pay $2 million to sponsor a foreign worker they want to bring into the US."
• 'Architects of AI' named Time Magazine's Person of the Year - "Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2025 is not a single person. Instead, the magazine has recognised the year's most influential figure as 'the architects' of artificial intelligence (AI). Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, Meta head Mark Zuckerberg, X owner Elon Musk and AI 'godmother' Fei-Fei Li are among those depicted on one of the magazine's two covers."
• Vogue’s 55 Best Dressed People of 2025 - "We compiled an unranked list of around 50 extremely fashionable characters from 2025, rounding up actors, models, musicians, politicians, dancers, gallerists, and more who dressed in ways that made us take notice."
• OpenAI Is in Trouble - "The start-up is falling behind in the AI race. When Gemini 3 was released in mid-November, it appeared to crush OpenAI’s top model on a suite of evaluations shared by Google."
• The Global Wealth Pyramid in 2025 - "This infographic shows the global wealth pyramid for 2025, showing wealth distribution by number of people and their corresponding wealth tiers, along with the share of total wealth. Just 1.6% of adults worldwide hold nearly 48% of global wealth, sitting at the top of the pyramid. Almost 3.1 billion adults, or 82% of the world’s population, control just 12.7% of total wealth. The bottom wealth tier, with less than $10k in assets, represents 1.55 billion adults but only 0.6% of global wealth."
• Leading AI Models Show Persistent Hallucinations Despite Accuracy Gains - "These results show what users encounter in real-world deployments rather than theoretical benchmarks. The analysis measures two core metrics."
• Best Workplaces - Top 25 International - "Hilton is #1 globally, followed by DHL Express, Cisco, Accenture, and Marriott, with companies like Stryker, Salesforce, MetLife, Nvidia, and Adobe also in the Top 25, focusing on great culture, development, and employee experience across various industries."
• Which Countries Invest in the U.S. the Most? - "The U.S. attracted $311 billion in foreign direct investment in 2023, making it the top global recipient by far. The European Union accounted for the largest share of FDI into the U.S. at $140 billion, or 45% of the total."
• The Widening AI Value Gap - "Is your company AI-future built? Right now, 5% of firms worldwide are in this camp, while 35% are scaling AI, beginning to generate value. BCG’s latest research provides empirical proof that AI future-built companies achieve five times the revenue increases and three times the cost reductions that other companies get from AI."
• Ranking the most influential people in Europe: Class of 2025 - "POLITICO 28: The doers, disrupters and dreamers shaping European politics and policy in the year ahead."
• Italian cuisine becomes world’s first to be awarded UNESCO status - "The decision to designate Italian food as an intangible cultural heritage was confirmed on Wednesday by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ahead of an announcement expected from UNESCO."
• 2025 will be world's second or third-hottest year on record, EU scientists say - "The data is the latest from C3S following last month's COP30 climate summit, where governments failed to agree to substantial new measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reflecting strained geopolitics as the U.S. rolls back its efforts, and some countries seek to weaken CO2-cutting measures."
• How Quality of Life Has Changed in 30 Countries, According to Citizens - "Numbeo’s Quality of Life Index measures overall living conditions in countries, combining data on costs, safety, healthcare, pollution, and more from user surveys. Switzerland remains one of the highest rated countries, while others such as the Netherlands and Norway have climbed places. Countries seeing the largest drops include Canada (9th to 27th), Saudi Arabia (12th to 25th), the U.S. (4th to 14th), and Sweden (3rd to 13th)."
• Formula 1’s Highest-Paid Drivers 2025 - "Lando Norris may be F1 champion on the track, but it’s a different story in the race to financial supremacy as the sport’s top ten earners revved up an estimated $363 million in salary and bonuses this year."
• Brigitte Macron criticised after using sexist slur against feminist protesters - "French first lady was filmed calling women who had disrupted Paris theatre show by Ary Abittan ‘sales connes’."
• Battle of the Davids: The future of Hollywood is playing out before our eyes - "The future of Hollywood depends in part on a battle between two Davids: Zaslav, who has agreed to sell Warner Bros. and HBO to Netflix; and Ellison, who has opposed the sale and launched a hostile takeover bid."
• Jennifer Lawrence reinvents the ‘cool girl’ for a new generation - "How Jennifer Lawrence became the poster girl for effortless cool."
• iOS 26’s Apple Maps feature can save you from traffic, here’s how to set it up - "iOS 26 gives Apple Maps a feature centered on your typical routes and patterns that might save you from unexpected traffic delays."
• Ranking 13 Major Luxury Watch Brands From Worst To Best - "We evaluated five core metrics before selecting the luxury watch brands above. They include heritage depth based on founding dates and continuous operation, technical innovation measuring mechanical breakthroughs and complications, production discipline assessing exclusivity and scarcity, secondary market dominance tracking value retention on pre-owned sales, and collector appeal measuring demand intensity."
• The ‘no prompt’ rule makes ChatGPT give expert-level writing advice - here’s how it works - "I get the answers I need without typing a single prompt: 1. Your writing becomes the instruction - 2. You get honest criticism without steering it - 3. It surfaces issues you didn't think to ask about - 4 ..."
• Stop using ChatGPT for everything: The AI models I use for research, coding & more (& which I avoid) - "From GPT to Claude to Gemini, model names change fast, but use cases matter more. Here's how I choose the best model for the task at hand."
• A healthy man suffers a stroke & permanent damage after consuming numerous energy drinks - "He was healthy and fit at 54, an avid runner with no vices - he didn’t smoke, drink or do drugs. So when he suddenly experienced left-sided weakness, numbness and difficulties with balance, walking, swallowing and speech, a family member rushed him to a nearby stroke clinic."
• ‘Dozy Don’ allegations reappear after president Trump closes eyes during Dr. Oz speech - "President photographed appearing to doze during announcement of price cuts for weight loss drugs - which tackle obesity and aid sleep."
• Trump’s answer for everything: Blame Biden - "Donald Trump rarely appears in public without complaining about Biden’s policies or flinging an insult at his mental or physical capacity."
• Here are the Golden Globes nominations - "The Golden Globe nominations are here and it was a pretty solid year for movies and television."
• Why has Paramount launched a hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery? - "The fight in Hollywood to buy Warner Bros Discovery is shaping up to be a blockbuster."
• What is a hostile takeover bid? - "Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, moving directly to appeal to shareholders with an all-cash offer that it says represents better value than the $72 billion deal Netflix and WBD announced Friday."
• Leonardo DiCaprio Is TIME’s 2025 Entertainer of the Year - "At 15, Leonardo DiCaprio sat down with a pile of rented VHS tapes and gave himself a crash course in movie history. DiCaprio, now 51, has built a career many of his peers would envy."
• Sorry, France, the world's best bubbly is British - "Over the past decade, international chefs have swept French culinary competitions with unprecedented frequency."
• The 67 Most Stylish People of 2025 - "They appeared on courts and carpets, stages and sidelines, screens big and small. And they all shaped notions of style and self-expression."
• Pluribus to Alien: Earth: The 25 best TV shows of 2025 - "From the Breaking Bad creator's smart new sci-fi to the Alien franchise's first small-screen outing and the new season of Severance, we pick the year's greatest programmes to stream."
• AI tools transform Christmas gifting as shoppers turn to chatbots - "Shopper are increasingly using chatbots for their hard-to-buy-for family and friends, with implications for bargain hunters and businesses."
• The anti-materialist Christmas: Rituals around the world that swap gifts for meaning - "These seven global traditions show a different side to the season; one that's more communal, more reflective and far less materialistic."
• Chrome's new AI feature can turn any webpage into a podcast - here's how to use it - "Simply select Listen to this page. Chrome will display a 'Generating AI playback' message at the bottom of the screen. It only takes a short amount of time."
• 3 Daily Habits that Often Drain 98 Percent of Our Potential in Life - "1. Treating each and every day as though it’s 'just another day.' 2. Waiting and hoping to 'find' something to ..."
• McLaren driver Lando Norris clinches first F1 title at season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - "Red Bull driver and defending champion Max Verstappen won the race with Norris placing third behind his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in second, which allowed Norris to finish two points ahead of Verstappen in the season-long standings."
• 2025 the year in photos - "These photos defined 2025. In 2025, the world witnessed a relentless news cycle full of compelling and jarring images."
• The 10 Best Movies of 2025 | TIME - "Every year, there are at least a handful of movies that demand we stop what we're doing and pay attention, and 2025 was no exception."
• Here come the Golden Globe nominations - "What to expect from the Golden Globes nominations, as they recognize art about our age of anxiety."
• An ancient stone staircase seemed to lead nowhere. Now it’s revealing the ‘lost Pompeii’ - "When excavations first began in the mid-1700s, everything beneath the ash layer was still preserved - but the top floors had decayed and disappeared. As the researchers focused their search on the upper floors, they were drawn to a newly excavated residence: the Casa del Tiaso, or the House of the Thiasos."
• Water leak in Louvre damages hundreds of books - "The leak in the Egyptian department comes just weeks after a jewellery heist that put the museum's security infrastructure under scrutiny."
• How the solar storms that cause the Northern Lights can wreak havoc on Earth - "Witnessing a dazzling display of the Northern Lights with vivid sheets of colour dancing across the night sky is a real treat for those lucky enough to be in the right place at just the right time."
• A Snob’s Guide to Jane Austen’s England - "There has never been a better time to seek your own Austenian adventure than now. In honor of the 250th anniversary of her birth (December 16), England has been turning itself inside out with festivals, exhibitions, lectures, tributes, and even Regency-themed balls."
• How the digital camera was born - "A 'toaster with a lens': The story behind the first handheld digital camera. In 1975, a young engineer in the company that made Kodak film took the first picture on a handheld digital camera. Photography would never be the same again."
• The murder of gorilla researcher Dian Fossey - "'She was standing in the way of certain individuals': The mysterious murder of gorilla researcher Dian Fossey. Pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey destroyed the myth of gorillas as savage brutes before being killed by human hands, 40 years ago this month."
• Why travellers keep queueing for viral food - "Experts explain how FOMO, social proof and performance culture have turned ordinary snacks into global must-queue experiences."
• Are real Christmas trees sustainable? - "The overlooked benefits of real Christmas trees. The environmental pros and cons of Christmas trees go far beyond the climate impact of 'real or plastic', scientists say. So what's the best choice for a green Christmas?"
• Francis Ford Coppola’s Custom Watch Sells at Auction for $10.8M Following Financial Losses From ‘Megalopolis’ - "The Oscar-winning director's F.P. Journe watch sold at a Phillips auction on Saturday to an anonymous buyer after 11 minutes of bidding."
• OMEGA & THE WORLD OF SPACE EXPLORATION - "The OMEGA Speedmaster has been the choice of astronauts and space agencies for more than half a century. In fact, it has been associated with some of humankind's greatest extra-terrestrial adventures and has been one of the most famous chronographs in the world ever since it became the first watch worn on the Moon in July of 1969."
• Ikizukuri - "(Roughly translated as 'prepared alive') is the preparing of sashimi (raw fish) from live seafood. In this Japanese culinary technique, the most popular sea animal used is fish, but octopus, shrimp, and lobster may also be used. The practice is controversial owing to concerns about the animal's suffering, as it is seemingly alive when served."
• It’s still called the Kennedy Center. But it’s Trump’s theater now - "Inside Trump’s transformation of the Kennedy Center. President Donald Trump doesn’t have his name on the Kennedy Center yet, but he’s already shaped it to his tastes."
• This year’s royal Christmas card is a nod to love - "Buckingham Palace released King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s official 2025 Christmas card on Saturday, featuring a photo taken to mark the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary earlier this year."
• How Venezuelan leader NicolÁs Maduro defied all predictions - "Nicolás Maduro believes that his predecessor and political father, the late Hugo Chávez, appeared before him in the form of a small bird and a butterfly. He also thinks that celebrating Christmas two months early - by presidential decree - helps 'lift the spirits of Venezuelans.'"
• Fame itself may be critical factor in shortening singers' lives, research suggests - "Fame itself may be a critical factor in shortening singers' lives beyond the hazards of the job - at least those in the UK/Europe and North America - suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health."
• Ranked: Productivity of the World’s Largest 30 Economies (2005-2025) - "China’s productivity has surged by about 340% since 2005, driven by rapid industrial upgrades and investment in technology. However, growth has slowed in recent years. Ireland’s productivity appears high due to a tax system that lets global tech and pharma firms book profits and intellectual property earnings in the country, even though most of the money goes back to their parent companies."
• Who is Adopting AI Fastest? - "On November 30, 2022, ChatGPT and reached one million users in five days. Today is December 1, 2025. That is 1,097 days later. In that short time, the global structure of AI did not evolve slowly. It snapped into place. For comparison, the iPhone took eighteen months to reach one million users. ChatGPT reached the same milestone in five days."
• Bernard Arnault & LVMH Are Being Sued by an HermÈs Heir for $16 Billion - "Nicolas Puech says his around six million shares in the luxury brand have gone missing."
• Forget Goop, Gwyneth the actress is back - "Gwyneth Paltrow steals the show from Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme in a stunning return that could win her another Oscar, says the Times chief film critic."
• What is Netflix buying? A visual history of 100 years of Warner Bros. - "Netflix announced Friday that it has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s film studio and HBO assets, including the streaming service, for $82.7 billion, including debt."
• Ancient Greece to Turner v Constable: Seven of the greatest rivalries in art history - "There is an art to rivalry. Mastering its rules has, since ancient times, shaped cultural history over millennia."
• Here are the groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup - "The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw has wrapped and we now know all of the groups for arguably the biggest sporting event on the planet. Will pre-tournament favorite Spain win its second ever World Cup? How far will Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi go in what is likely their final time on international soccer’s biggest stage?"
• The winners & ‘losers’ from the World Cup draw - "Standout matchups: Mexico and South Africa will play the opening match on June 11 in Mexico City. Group I emerged as a “group of death,” featuring heavyweights France and Norway along with a competitive Senegal squad. The United States and Spain, meanwhile, drew more favorable opponents on paper."
• What is the FIFA Peace Prize & why did Donald Trump win? - "World soccer’s governing body announced in November that this year would see the introduction of the FIFA Peace Prize - a new annual accolade given to someone who FIFA says has taken 'exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world'. It was a surprise to no one that US President Donald Trump received the inaugural prize on stage before the draw took place."
• Trump administration says Europe faces 'civilisational erasure' - "White House document says Europeans have unrealistic expectations of Ukraine war. Document says some NATO members may become 'non-European'. Some European commentators see echoes of far-right talking points. Washington accuses European governments of subverting democracy."
• Frank Gehry, world renowned architect, dies at 96 - "Frank Gehry, who in the second half of the 20th century forged a new language in architecture, becoming one of the most famous architects of his time, has died at the age of 96, according to a spokesperson at Gehry Partners. He died at his home in Santa Monica after a brief respiratory illness."
• Even modest strength training can counter age-related decline - "Many people view aging as an inevitable breakdown. Muscle loss, in particular, can carry a sense of dread: the fear that our bodies will become less capable with each passing year. The good news? You have more control over this process than you might think. The most effective strategy for fighting muscle loss is resistance training - exercise that challenges your muscles to work against force."
• Phones might get pricier next year. Thank the AI boom - "Fancy cameras, giant screens and massive storage usually make smartphones more expensive. But next year, it’s a routine component that might be boosting prices: memory."
• Associated Press 100 Photos of 2025: AP photos that defined the year - "In over 200 locations globally, photojournalists with the AP are trusted eyewitnesses to news and have won 36 of AP’s Pulitzer Prizes since the award was established in 1917."
• The case for taking the same holiday again & again - "In an increasingly stressful world, many travellers are finding comfort in repetition: returning to the same ski towns, seaside suburbs and favourite cafes each year. Experts say the appeal goes far deeper than nostalgia."
• 6 ways to repurpose an old iPhone - "If you have an older iPhone lying around your house collecting dust, you may be sitting on a (digital) gold mine. Even if you moved on to the latest iPhone model, a spare phone can come in handy in unexpected ways. Any old, functioning device can be used in many different ways, so before you give up on your spare iPhone, here are a few ways in which you can repurpose it that don't involve passing it along to somebody else: 1. Turn it into a security camera. 2. Make it a dedicated camera device. 3. Shoot time-lapse videos. 4. Use it as a music player. 5..."
• Ranking the Top Luxury Watch Brands for Investment - "For investment watches, the top brands consistently are Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Audemars Piguet, known for heirloom quality, brand strength, and iconic models (like the Nautilus, Submariner/Daytona, Royal Oak), followed closely by Vacheron Constantin, Richard Mille, and Jaeger-LeCoultre, all offering exclusivity, craftsmanship, and strong secondary market demand, making them hold or grow value over time."
• Netflix to buy Warner Bros film & streaming businesses for $72bn - "The streaming giant had emerged as the top bidder for Warner Bros ahead of rivals Comcast and Paramount Skydance after drawn-out battle. Warner Bros owns franchises including Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, and the streaming service HBO Max."
• FIFA World Cup Draw: Everything you need to know - "The FIFA men’s World Cup is only played once every four years, and it is arguably the most eagerly anticipated event in all of sports. An expanded 48-team competition, up from 32, will be different to anything we’ve ever seen before and since the group stage draw is now upon us. Of the 48 teams involved, 42 have secured their place in the tournament."
• World’s top 100 cities revealed - Los Angeles & Orlando climb the rankings - "Paris has just been named the most attractive city in the world for the fifth time in a row. Once again, Europe dominates the 2025 rankings with six cities in the top 10. Madrid is at No. 2, Rome and Milan are at No. 4 and No. 5, Amsterdam is at No. 7 and Barcelona has climbed two places at No. 8."
• Five of the world's safest countries for 2025 - "In a year marked by conflict, five nations continue to rank among the world's most peaceful. Residents reveal how policies and culture shape daily life and create a sense of calm. Ranked number one since 2008, Iceland remains the world's most peaceful nation, leading across all three domains: safety and security, ongoing conflict and militarisation."
• The Best Places to Go in Europe in 2026 - "These are the corners of the continent and its dazzling islands experiencing a renaissance in the coming year: Seville, Spain - Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France - Crete, Greece - Milan, Italy - Upper Carniola ( ..."
• Israel cleared to stay in Eurovision; Spain, Ireland & others quit in protest - "Israel was cleared on Thursday to enter the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest by the organiser, prompting Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to withdraw over the Gaza war and plunging the competition into one of the biggest rows in its history."
• The 25 best films of 2025 - "BBC film critics Caryn James and Nicholas Barber pick their cinema highlights of the year - from a 'whip-fast' action thriller to a moving family drama and warm-hearted comedy."
• Best TV Shows of 2025 - "Many of the year's best series seemed to be in conversation with one another, including 'Severance,' 'The Pitt,' 'Andor,' 'Pluribus,' 'The Lowdown' and others."
• The world’s tallest hotel has just opened, but it wasn’t meant to go that high - "Dubai has a new record-breaker on its skyline - almost by accident. The world’s tallest hotel, Ciel Tower, has officially opened, stacking 377 meters of glass and ambition above Dubai Marina. Its height was never planned - it grew unexpectedly as blueprints were torn up and redrawn."
• Versace designer makes shock exit despite stellar debut - "Is there still room in fashion for true originality? That’s the question raised by the latest news out of Milan: Versace designer Dario Vitale, the recently installed creative head who showed a surprisingly well-received collection in Milan in September, is departing the brand."
• Meta shifts some metaverse investments to AI smart glasses - "The company is seeking to build on an early advantage on AI-enabled glasses, after the positive reception to the latest models launched in September. The glasses feature a small display within the lens that can describe what it sees and even translate text. That feature is widely seen as a breakthrough that enhances the technology's usefulness while making the design more compact."
• Why 'exercise snacking' could help you live longer - "The short bursts of activity that could help you live longer. From running up stairs, to rigorous gardening: these everyday activities could boost your health and help you live longer."
• Brigitte Bardot Reveals That a 'Miracle' Saved Her During an Attempt to Die by Suicide in New Documentary - "The documentary comes a few weeks after the 91-year-old actress was reportedly hospitalized in France due to health concerns and underwent a 'minor surgery'."
• Virginia Giuffre’s estate is ‘worth $311,000’. Where are Andrew’s millions? - "Where are Andrew's millions? Virginia Giuffre's family has claimed her estate is worth just over $312,000, raising questions as to what happened to the $12 million in settlement money paid to her by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor."
• Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor officially stripped of two more titles - "He is no longer a knight companion of the Order of the Garter and has also lost his status as a knight grand cross of the Royal Victorian Order."
• Photos & video from Epstein’s private island released by House Democrats - "House Democrats on the Oversight Committee on Wednesday released photos and videos from a private island in the Caribbean that Jeffrey Epstein once owned, shining new light on what was once the epicenter of the late convicted sex offender’s decades of abuse of young girls and women."
• Ghislaine Maxwell will make new plea to judge to let her out of prison - "The Supreme Court recently rejected Maxwell's appeal of her conviction and sentence. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking minors in 2021."
• WMO Update predicts weak La NiÑa - "There is a 55% chance of a weak La Niña impacting weather and climate patterns during the next three months, according to the latest Update from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Even though La Niña has a temporary cooling influence on global average temperatures, many regions are still expected to be warmer than normal."
• How extreme heat could disrupt the 2026 World Cup & what fans can do about it - "With the World Cup draw set to take place in Washington DC this Friday, fans and businesses have been warned that extreme heat, bad weather and poor air quality could cost them."
• Why You Feel Anxious After Drinking Coffee - "Here's why caffeine can trigger anxiety, what caffeine does inside the body, and why some people are far more sensitive to it than others."
• Struggling to stay awake in a meeting? Here’s what to do - "Everyone knows what it’s like to be stuck in a boring meeting or class, or watching a long performance, or overseeing a Cabinet meeting, and slowly feel the seemingly unstoppable force of sleepiness creep over you. Fear not. There are expert-backed solutions to these small but insistent crises."
• Those Sky-High Bitcoin Prices Everyone Said Were Here to Stay? They Left - "Bitcoin has plunged more than 30 percent and Ether is down around 40 percent in recent months, as gains from President Trump's pro-crypto policies evaporated."
• Pantone names its Color of the Year for 2026 - "Capturing the cultural zeitgeist and trends for the year ahead is a tricky business. But every year, the Pantone Color Institute chooses a color to do precisely that. And it has settled on a shade of white, 'Cloud Dancer,' as its Color of the Year for 2026. The color is 'associated with new beginnings' and 'signifies our desire for a fresh start.'"
• 'Cloud dancer' to Claret: Eight paint colours that can easily transform your home - "As Pantone announces its colour of 2026, a vanilla off-white, here's more on the reasoning behind the choice - and what other trending colours can help you achieve greater domestic bliss."
• A fashion expert's insider guide to shopping in New York City - "She styles A-list fashionistas but really loves shopping for friends and family. Just in time for the holidays, here are Erin Walsh's top shops in her beloved hometown of NYC."
• The 'It Girl' style wars of Renaissance Italy - "More than five centuries ago, a small number of style icons used flamboyant, luxurious looks to give them influence and power during a turbulent period of Italian history."
• The 50 Best TV Shows of the 2000s, According to Critics - "From the sitcom resurgence to the beginning of Peak TV: 50. Gilmore Girls (The WB/The CW) - 49. The West Wing (NBC) - 48. Veronica Mars (UPN/The CW) - 47. Gideon's Crossing (ABC) - 46. Damages (FX) - 45..."
• Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia - "Fighting has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion more than three years ago. Over the past year, Russian forces have slowly expanded the amount of territory they control, mostly in the east of Ukraine, and have continued their recent barrage of air strikes on Kyiv and other cities."
• Rare FabergÉ egg fetches record £22.9m at London auction - "The Winter Egg - considered one of the legendary jeweller's most beautiful creations - was bought by an anonymous bidder on Tuesday, Christie's auction house said. It is decorated with 4,500 diamonds was commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II in 1913 as a present to his mother. The previous record for a Fabergé egg was £8.9m paid at auction in 2007."
• Man charged with theft after allegedly swallowing FabergÉ egg - "Police in New Zealand have charged a man with theft after he allegedly stole a jewel-encrusted gold Fabergé egg locket from a jewelers by picking it up and swallowing it."
• Seven travel trends that will define 2026 - "Data from the world's leading hotel groups, travel firms and trend forecasters suggests that 2026 will be the year of quiet escapes, algorithm-shaped itineraries, ultra-personalised retreats and a return to slower, more intentional travel: 1. Quiet over everything. 2. Gen AI over admin. 3. Trust over choice. 4. Roads over runways. 5..."
• 'Carspreading' is on the rise & not everyone is happy about it - "Critics call it 'carspreading'. In the UK and across Europe, cars are steadily becoming longer, wider and heavier. Consumers clearly like them - a lot. Big cars are seen as practical, safe and stylish, and sales are growing. So, why are some cities determined to clamp down on them - and are they right to do so?"
• How the Barbour became the ultimate British symbol - "Barbour became a British symbol through a combination of its functional origins, royal patronage, and strategic marketing. Starting as protective outerwear for fishermen and farmers, its association with durability was later enhanced by its adoption by the 'Sloane Ranger' subculture and royal family members like Princess Diana, solidifying its image as a mark of quintessential British countryside style."
• Costco is poking the Trump bear - "Costco on Friday filed a lawsuit that contends Trump overstepped his emergency powers by imposing sweeping tariffs - and claimed the company is due a refund."
• These empty kids’ bedrooms will break your heart - "A new Netflix documentary, 'All the Empty Rooms,' documents the still-preserved bedrooms of children killed in school shootings."
• No booze, no drugs, just beats: Why people are clubbing sober - "Founded in 2022, the House of Happiness markets itself as 'London’s ultimate sober clubbing extravaganza.' It’s one of a growing number of events looking to provide a 'nightlife-style' space for those who don’t want to drink but still want to party. In Singapore, alcohol-free matcha raves have boomed in popularity, while in US cities, venues are embracing 'soft clubbing,' with online event platform Eventbrite reporting a 92% increase in sober-curious gatherings in 2024."
• iOS 26 gives Apple’s Calendar app a convenient new advantage - "iOS 26 is a huge update for iPhone, with a Liquid Glass design and lots of new features for built-in apps like Wallet, Messages, and Music. One popular app - Apple Calendar - mostly got overlooked this year, but it did gain one key new advantage: event creation via screenshots."
• AirPods keep getting better: How to use the newest features - "Did you just unbox some new AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro thanks to the killer Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals? If so, there’s a lot you need to know. Over the last two years, AirPods have gotten significantly better thanks to new software updates from Apple. Here’s a rundown of new features you should try that were introduced as part of iOS 18 and iOS 26: 1. New AirPods features: Head Gestures. 2. Voice Isolation. 3. Custom Adaptive Audio. 4. Hearing Health. 5. Live Translation. 6..."
• Bit flips: How cosmic rays grounded a fleet of aircraft - "Radiation from space that led to more than 6,000 Airbus aircraft needing emergency computer updates could become a growing problem as ever more microchips run our lives."
• Norway is building the world’s longest, deepest undersea road tunnel - "The 27-kilometer (17-mile) long tunnel is called Rogfast - short for 'Rogaland fastforbindelse,' after the name of the region it’s in and the Norwegian word for “fixed link.” At its deepest it will be 392 meters (1,286 feet) below sea level."
• Prada just bought Versace for $1.51 billion - "Founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace in Milan, the brand renowned for its bold, glamorous aesthetic will join the group’s two main labels - its namesake Prada and the smaller but fast growing Miu Miu - marking a sharp strategic shift for the Italian fashion house."
• Tesla’s Cybertruck is turning 2. It’s been a big flop - "CEO Elon Musk once described the Cybertruck as Tesla's 'best ever' product. But demand for the controversial pickup truck has dried up. The EV company sold fewer than 39,000 Cybertrucks in 2024, according to Cox Automotive data - far below the company’s eventual goal of 250,000 per year. As of October, Tesla had delivered just 17,317 units in 2025, a 42% drop compared to the same period in 2024."
• Scientists create new bullet-proof fiber that is stronger & thinner than Kevlar - "They created a new type of fiber by combining two materials: a heterocyclic aramid, a high-performance fiber similar to Kevlar. Kevlar has met its match. For decades, it has been the gold standard for impact protection, from bulletproof vests to armored vehicles, and is still widely used. But scientists have now developed a new composite material that is stronger, tougher and better at stopping bullets than Kevlar even though it is much thinner."
• Dignitas founder ends his own life through assisted death - "Ludwig Minelli, whose work had lasting influence on Swiss law, dies just days before his 93rd birthday."
• Designer Kelly Wearstler has taste people pay for. Here are her top tips for gifting - "She’s reigned as a top interior designer. If gift-giving talents were ranked by profession, interior designers would likely top the list - after all, curating thoughtful objects to fit a client’s purpose or taste is one of the things they do."
• Goodbye, Price Tags. Hello Dynamic Pricing. - "Businesses increasingly are using algorithms to determine prices, and to rapidly adjust those prices throughout the day. This new technology is called dynamic pricing, and it’s poised to change the way businesses set and advertise their prices. Think of the ever-changing electronic signs at gas stations, but for everything."
• Quote of the day by Nelson Mandela: "Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how ..." - "'Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.'"
• A $10 USB-C accessory solved my laptop charger's biggest issue - "I've always valued these easy-to-use accessories - and now, they're more practical than ever."
• Apple iPhone shipments to beat Samsung for the first time in 14 years - "Apple will ship around 243 million iPhone units this year versus 235 million shipments from Samsung, Counterpoint told CNBC."
• 'Rage bait' named Oxford word of the year 2025 - "It is a term that describes manipulative tactics used to drive engagement online, with usage of it increasing threefold in the last 12 months, according to the dictionary publisher. Rage bait beat two other shortlisted terms - aura farming and biohack - to win the title."
• World’s most endangered marine mammal is on the brink. Can it be saved? - "Fewer than 10 of these porpoises are left. Can the species be saved?"
• AI-powered children’s toys are here, but are they safe? - "Teddy bears and stuffed plushies have long been a mainstay in toy collections. But today they don’t talk back in a child’s imagination - some talk through built-in AI chatbots."
• Why experts urge parents to delay getting their kids a smartphone - "Smartphones could be putting your kids at risk."
• The Social-Media Platform That Makes You Tell the Truth - "Strava logs all your fitness achievements - and then some. Strava's rankings are built on hard, verifiable biometric data from fitness tracking devices, not on 'curated sets of photos, videos or hot takes' typical of other platforms."
• Bitcoin Meltdown: The Surprising Winner Rising From The Chaos - "For years the debate around digital assets has centered on volatility, speculative trading, and the risk of exuberance overtaking fundamentals. Yet behind the noise a quiet revolution has taken hold: the rise of stablecoins."
• Trump says he'll release MRI results but doesn't know what part of his body was scanned - "President Donald Trump said Sunday that he would release the results of his MRI test that he received in October."
• Elon Musk's AI vs. Google's AI with 9 challenging prompts - here's the clear winner - "Google's AI and Elon Musk's AI face off. Overall winner: Gemini. Across nine rounds and a tie breaker, Gemini pulled ahead. Although I know how close they are on the leaderboards, I was still surprised to see Grok win as many rounds as it did."
• Bhutan's long-secluded 'hidden paradise' - "Bhutan only opened to the outside world in 1974. Yet, one region remained closed for decades afterwards, and is one of the Himalayas' best-kept secrets."

November 2025

• Hyperloop is dead. Or is it? - "A handful of companies in China and Europe are working on the technology, while the European Union is backing research on a project that hopes to open its first line in a little more than a decade."
• If no job is safe from AI, what happens next? This expert weighs in - "As AI rapidly advances toward human-level performance, some experts warn that no job will be safe from automation. Roman Yampolskiy, author of 'AI: Unexplainable, Unpredictable, Uncontrollable' joins Smerconish to discuss the future of the workforce."
• ‘World’s clearest lake’ is being threatened by tourists - "n New Zealand’s Nelson Lakes National Park, about 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) above sea level and a two-day hike from nearest civilization, lies Rotomairewhenua, or Blue Lake."
• Revealed: Europe’s water reserves drying up due to climate breakdown - "UCL scientists find large swathes of southern Europe are drying up, with 'far-reaching' implications."
• Save big on Amazon’s 10 steepest deals before they’re gone - "The products that we sourced are up to 67% off and can be gifted, used in your household year-round or stocked away for the New Year."
• The 24 best lip balms for hydrating chapped lips this winter, per dermatologists - "Weleda Skin Food Lip Butter - CeraVe Healing Ointment - La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Lips Hydration Restore Lip Balm - Dr. Dan's Cortibalm - The ..."
• The ‘key windows’ when exercise may matter most for brain health - "Scientists have hailed the benefits of exercising early in life to lower the risk of your brain degenerating later. But new research suggests that even once you’re 45 or older, it’s not too late to try."
• 100 Notable Books of 2025 - "Here is the standout fiction and nonfiction of the year, selected by the staff of The New York Times Book Review."
• How to detect text which has been written by ChatGPT - "Analysis: AI-generated texts tend be more predictable than human-written text with the use of certain words, phrases and emojis."
• Resale calculator - "Calculate the potential resale value of your pre-loved items." Select the brand of your item: Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Céline, Balenciaga, Gucci, Prada, Dior, Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant, Valentino & Louboutin.
• 7 activities Japanese centenarians do daily that add years to life - "The world's longest-lived people don't pump iron, run marathons or join gyms, they live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it."
• 62 Years Later, This James Bond Classic Remains the Greatest Spy Sequel Ever Made - "From Russia with Love doesn't just keep an interesting larger storyline going; it also exists as a perfect spy thriller all on its own."
• A visual guide to how the Hong Kong fire spread - "Hong Kong is still waiting to learn the full scale of the tragedy that unfolded on Wednesday when a fire engulfed several apartment buildings."
• Flight disruption warning as Airbus requests Software Update of 6,000 planes - "Airbus recalled up to 6000 A320 jets over a software flaw tied to solar radiation. European aerospace giant Airbus has warned flights will be disrupted after it requested immediate modifications to thousands of its planes."
• Why the rich & powerful couldn't say no to Epstein - "The late sex offender maintained contact with wealthy and influential people even after his first conviction."
• Wrinkles as 'badges of honour': How to embrace an ageing face - "Much like our other organs, our skin begins to age from the moment we are born. In a world obsessed with youthfulness, here's how you can look after your skin while embracing an ageing face."
• The best photographer we know is taking passport photos in Chinatown - "A passport photo so good that people get a new one every month."
• Where did house cats come from? Ancient DNA shakes up their origin story - "Archaeologists had thought that cats and humans began living with one another around 9,500 years ago in the Levant, which today includes parts of the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean, at the beginning of the Neolithic era when humans started growing crops."
• Celine Dion releases a powerful Thanksgiving message - "Celine Dion had an important reminder in light of the holiday."
• If you only buy one thing on Black Friday, it should be Apple AirTags - "Apple AirTag Black Friday deals are up to 38% off."
• All of the World’s Gold, in One Visual - "We show how much gold is in the world - including above and below-ground stock - highlighting how the metal remains exceptionally rare. The total above-ground stock of gold stands at 216,265 tonnes, with the largest share found in jewelry. Below-ground stock is estimated to be 132,110 tonnes as of year-end 2024."
• I never use public chargers without this $15 USB-C cable - here's why it's so critical - "If you frequently plug into public chargers, you're an easy target for hackers. Either avoid them - or use this accessory to stay safe."
• How to create your first iPhone app with AI - no coding experience needed - "You can easily create an app today, using AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude. Here's how."
• 4 Common Myths About USB-C Ports Debunked - "1. All USB-C ports are the same. 2. USB-C ports always support fast charging. 3. USB-C ports and Thunderbolt ports are the same. 4. Every USB-C port can output video."
• 6 ways to repurpose an old iPad - "Turning it into a smart home controller - Using it as a digital photo frame - Reworking it into a kitchen assistant - Turning it into a second ..."
• Bug out bag - "A bag packed with essential items, kept ready for use in the event of an emergency evacuation of one's home; a go-bag. A bag packed with survival supplies (such as food, water, medications, and flashlights) and kept ready for use in case of an emergency that requires rapid evacuation."
• Louvre to hike ticket prices for most non-EU tourists by 45% - "From early next year, tourists from countries like the US, UK and China will have to pay €32 ($37; £28) to enter the museum, a price hike which is expected to raise millions of euros annually to fund an overhaul of the famous gallery."
• Inside Uzbekistan’s new multi-million-dollar cultural center - "Four times taller than the Hollywood sign and around seven times larger than the White House, Uzbekistan’s newest cultural center is a monument of epic proportions."
• ‘Greatest of them all’: FabergÉ’s Winter Egg is poised to smash auction records - "The storied St. Petersburg jewelry house only ever produced 50 for the Russian Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II, who commissioned them as Easter gifts between 1885 and 1916. Seven are missing, some of which have not been seen since before the Russian Revolution. The others are mostly in institutions or museums, from Moscow to Virginia, leaving just seven in private ownership."
• Most Expensive Artworks Sold at Auction - "The 20 artworks cover a broad sweep of art history, from the Renaissance through major modern movements such as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, early Modernism, Art Nouveau, Expressionism, Neo-Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, and Pop Art."
• Inside the World’s Most Lavish Debutante Ball - "With couture gowns, diamond tiaras, and TikTok, Paris’s annual Le Bal is the Met Gala for teenagers."
• Robert A.M. Stern, renowned American architect, dies at 86 - "Acclaimed architect Robert A.M. Stern, a prominent figure in American architecture who designed notable museums, libraries and residences, died Thursday, according to a statement from the firm he founded. He was 86. He was widely known for 15 Central Park West, a luxury condominium featuring a recognizable limestone exterior in Manhattan bordering Central Park. "
• Inside the walls of swanky 15 Central Park West - "Fifteen Central Park West is New York’s most exclusive address, an aerie of hedge-funders and celebrities, where a penthouse costs $40 million - and a wine cellar costs $80,000 more."
• Inflation Watch: Countries Losing the Most Purchasing Power in 2025 - "When inflation is high, money stops holding its value and turns into a melting asset instead. In Venezuela, the purchasing power of $100 could drop to just $15 by the end of 2025."
• TechnologyThe World’s Biggest Cryptocurrencies in 2025 - "Bitcoin remains the world’s largest cryptocurrency, nearing a $2 trillion market cap in 2025. Stablecoins like Tether and USDC now occupy significant positions in the market."
• Experience life aboard the Titanic like never before - "When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was hailed as the future of ocean travel. But just four days into her maiden voyage, disaster struck. More than a century later, Titanic's story is being told in a new way, through virtual reality. Reporting for BBC Tech Now, Paul Carter steps aboard a digital recreation of the ship."
• 12 of the best films to watch this December - "From the third instalment of the Avatar phenomenon to a Timothée Chalamet-starring awards contender – these are the films to watch at the cinema and stream at home this month."
• Cats became our companions way later than you think - "A study of bones found at archaeological sites suggests cats began their close relationship with humans only a few thousand years ago, and in northern Africa not the Levant."
• Bamboo scaffolding, a centuries-old technique, comes under scrutiny after Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades - "The Hong Kong residential towers engulfed by smoke and flames on Wednesday were surrounded by an ancient construction material familiar to anyone who’s spent time in the one of the world’s most densely packed urban hubs."
• Trump defends Witkoff after leak appears to show envoy coaching Russia - "In the leaked audio recording obtained and shared as a transcript by Bloomberg, Witkoff appeared to advise Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy adviser, on how to get on Trump's good side."
• Pope Leo marks Thanksgiving with pumpkin pie as he lands in Turkey on first overseas trip - "Pope Leo XIV wished Americans a happy Thanksgiving on board his papal plane and thanked journalists for their work as he traveled to Turkey for his first foreign visit."
• Why humans enjoy a good feast together - "For thousands of years, humans have come together in small groups to feast on food. Why is it important - and why do we still continue the tradition?"
• 8 Ways to Respond When Someone Interrupts You - "We asked experts exactly what to say when someone interrupts you. Just keep talking. The first time someone talks over you, continue speaking as though you ..."
• Drones have already revolutionized warfare. They’re about to do it again - "US and Norwegian researchers may be a few years ahead of their Chinese counterparts in developing so-called nano-drones. At the larger end of the spectrum, the US government’s Defense Advanced Research Products Agency (DARPA) in August christened what it calls the USX-1 Defiant, an autonomous, unmanned surface vessel."
• bizarre-looking sharks are used in beauty products & it’s driving them toward extinction - "Mysterious deepwater sharks are being killed to make cosmetics. New laws could save them from extinction."
• The Big Takeaways From Dubai Watch Week - "Inside the Watch World’s New Power Center: At Dubai Watch Week 2025, we glimpsed the future of the watchmaking industry and, ask anyone who was there, it sure looked bright."
• The hidden history of a classic American dish - "Mac and cheese is one of the most popular dishes in the US, but its rise can likely be traced back to an enslaved Black chef who worked for Thomas Jefferson."
• Everything you need to know about Ernest Hemingway - "Discover Ernest Hemingway's life, works, and influence. Learn about his impact on literature and culture through articles, museums, and more."
• Scientists Reveal Turning Point When Your Body's Aging Accelerates - "The passage of time may be linear, but the course of human aging is not. Rather than a gradual transition, your life staggers and lurches through the rapid growth of childhood and the plateau of early adulthood, to an acceleration in aging as the decades progress. A study has identified a turning point at which that acceleration typically takes place: at around age 50."
• There's only one port your display needs & it's not HDMI - "DisplayPort isn't as widely adopted, and it comes down to HDMI vs. USB-C as the future standard for display ports."
• TIME's Top 100 Photos of 2025 - "It’s not about gear, or the 10,000 hours. It’s simply that almost any photograph is improved by having people in it - a lesson TIME’s Top 100 Photographs of 2025 underscores in images that capture not only a year, but also the faint but discernable shadow cast by a less human future."
• How to explain AI to your family this holiday season - "Politics. Football. And now - AI? Add artificial intelligence to the potential sources of Thanksgiving dinner quarrels this year. There’s a lot AI still can’t do, it’s true. But the technology can help organize and understand large data sets and documents. That means it can help plan a vacation itinerary, summarize complicated information or even write code."
• In a scientific first, biologists recorded a wild wolf potentially using tools - "A female wild wolf living on the central coast of British Columbia was filmed pulling a crab trap out of the ocean to eat the bait - a never-before-seen behavior that could constitute the first documented use of tools by a wolf."
• How the Elite Behave When No One Is Watching - "As journalists comb through the Epstein emails, surfacing the name of one fawning luminary after another, there is a collective whisper of 'How could they?'"
• National parks announce ‘America-first’ fee surges for international tourists - "In a statement hailing a new 'resident-focused fee structure that puts American families first,' the department said as of January 1, 2026, the annual pass will cost non-US residents $250 to obtain, more than triple the standard $80 which US residents will continue to pay."
• 5 ways to make your Thanksgiving meal ‘blue zone’-friendly - "How you choose to nourish yourself plays a large role in health and even longevity, modern-day studies have shown. People in blue zones, including Okinawa, Japan, and the island of Sardinia in Italy, eat plant-based diets that prioritize whole foods."
• Move aside Tokyo, the world has a new largest city - "With an estimated population of nearly 42 million residents, Indonesian capital Jakarta soared from 33rd place to surpass Japan's Tokyo, according to a new United Nations report."
• Visualizing the World’s Rare Earth Reserves - "Rare earth elements (REEs) are the backbone of modern technology, from EV motors and wind turbines to smartphones and precision-guided systems. China accounts for nearly half of global rare earth reserves (44M of 92M metric tons). Brazil ranks second (21M tons), while the U.S. holds 1.9M tons - about 2% of the total."
• The 17 Best Gifts for the Audiophile in Your Life - "A guide to the best 17 gifts - including speakers, headphones, and turntables - for the music lovers in your life this holiday season."
• You Can Add USB Ports & Storage To Your Computer With One Accessory - "With the Yotuo multi-function docking station, you can add multiple USB ports, SD card capability, and up to 2TB of external storage to your computer."
• My 5 favorite tricks in Apple's new Preview app & how I use them on my iPhone - "The Preview app on iPhone is pretty impressive. Here's which features have won me over so far: 1. View images and PDFs. 2. Edit an image. 3. Fill out a PDF form. 4. Scan a document. 5. Password protect a PDF file."
• Visualizing All of the World’s Data Centers in 2025 - "Data centers are the backbone of the digital economy, storing, managing, and processing the world’s data. In this graphic, we visualize the countries with the most data centers as of November 2025, revealing where the world’s digital infrastructure is concentrated. November 2025 data reveals America’s leadership in digital infrastructure, accounting for roughly 38% of the world’s data centers. Europe is also a major force, with nearly 3,500 data centers across the region."
• Adolescence lasts into 30s - new study shows four pivotal ages for your brain - "The brain goes through five distinct phases in life, with key turning points at ages nine, 32, 66 and 83, scientists have revealed. Around 4,000 people up to the age of 90 had scans to reveal the connections between their brain cells. Researchers at the University of Cambridge showed that the brain stays in the adolescent phase until our early thirties when we 'peak'."
• 'It's the devil's hand': The acclaimed new film exploring the myths about left-handed people - "Left-handedness is often seen as being 'wrong' - and also as a sign of 'genius'. Shih-Ching Tsou's drama, Left-Handed Girl, draws on the prejudice she faced as a leftie in Taiwan."
• Why the crypto market is crashing - "Investors in digital assets are accustomed to extreme volatility, but a $1 trillion wipeout over the past six weeks has tested even crypto’s diehard believers and alienated many of its newest converts."
• The Met Gala is facing criticism over its lead sponsors - "Here’s what Anna Wintour has to say."
• Larry Page Becomes No. 2 Richest - Bumping Larry Ellison - As Alphabet Shares Rally - "Page's wealth has grown exponentially over the last five years, rising from $50.9 billion in 2020 to just over $144 billion to start 2025."
• The most in-demand name in sneakers is launching his own brand - "After taking the footwear world by storm, sneaker don Salehe Bembury is stepping out on his own."
• How much liquid can you carry on a plane? - "Everything you need to know about travelling with liquids."
• Everyone agrees drunk plane passengers are a problem. Nobody agrees on how to fix it - "'People getting into fights, people arguing with each other, not putting luggage away, not listening to directions - alcohol. Sexual assault and harassment - alcohol. The overwhelming thing reported in all these narratives was alcohol.'"
• Music eases surgery & speeds recovery, Indian study finds - "A new study finds patients who listen to music during surgery wake faster and need fewer painkillers."
• Does music make animals calmer? - "You can find many different music playlists for dogs and cats online. Do they actually help animals relax?"
• iOS 26 lets you disable Wallet’s ‘Offers & Promotions’ notifications - "Apple Wallet got a highly requested new setting in iOS 26."
• Blancpain Just Unveiled the Most Impressive Watch In Its Entire 290-Year History - "Unveiled today is the Blancpain Double Grande Sonnerie, and it officially takes the crown as the most complicated watch Blancpain has ever made. It also marks an impressive first in all of watchmaking. Price: US$2,100,000."
• I just tested ChatGPT-5.1 vs. Grok 4.1 with 9 prompts - there's a clear winner - "After running nine tests, Grok 4.1 is declared the winner. It thrives where tone, subtext and interpretation matter as much as the answer itself. Still, ChatGPT excels when brevity matters but it's clear that Grok 4.1 is the more 'human' of the two chatbots. Grok is honest and smart, with a personality that ChatGPT just doesn't have."
• Here's the right way to use Microsoft Word on your phone - "Make the most of the features optimized for the mobile Word app - Voice dictation: Type without typing - Read Aloud: Catch errors hands-free."
• The Countries That Gained the Most Forest (2015-2025) - "China, Russia, and India are global leaders in forest area growth in the past 10 years. Vietnam ranks in tenth, with 72,800 hectares of net forest gains."
• The Abandons to Fallout: Nine of the best TV shows to watch this December - "From Netflix's new female-led Western with Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson to the return of post-apocalyptic hit Fallout and the final ever episodes of Stranger Things."
• Forbes America's Best Companies 2026 - "Forbes ranks the 500 best overall companies in America in metrics such as financial performance and trajectory, customer sentiment, employee ratings and more."
• The Climate Impact of Owning a Dog - "My dog contributes to climate change. I love him anyway. A 2017 study from UCLA found that dogs and cats are responsible for about 25 to 30 percent of the environmental impact of meat consumption in the United States. That's equivalent to a year's worth of driving by 13.6 million cars."
• Lethal smog is back in the world’s most polluted capital. Residents have had enough - "It’s easy to tell when it’s smog season in New Delhi; the air gets darker, heavier and starts scratching the throats and testing the lungs of the city’s 34 million residents."
• Machu Picchu hit by a row over tourist buses - "To get to Machu Picchu without walking, tourists must first take a train to Aguas Calientes, which takes from two to three and a half hours. And then transfer to a bus for the final leg. This conflict revolves around Consettur losing its licence to a rival bus firm in this remote part of Peru, where, unless you want to hike over Andes mountains, the only access is by public transport."
• Tourist tax expected to be introduced for London - "The mayor of London has cautiously welcomed reports that he is to impose a tourist levy on visitors staying overnight in the capital."
• The best VPN in 2025: our top 5 picks - "We've reviewed every major VPN (virtual private network) for privacy, security, speed, streaming and more - discover what our dedicated team recommends based on expert testing."
• What Does It Mean When A USB Port Is Orange? - "If you've ever noticed that some USB ports are different colors, such as black, blue, red, yellow, or even orange, you should know that it's not just for aesthetics. If you see an orange USB port on your device, it usually means that the port features 'always on' functionality. It also means that it is USB 3.0, capable of 5 Gbps speeds. Sometimes, it may indicate that the port is for charging only."
• NEVER PLUG THESE 3 DEVICES INTO YOUR ROUTER'S USB PORT - "Just because your router has USB ports, there are some devices you should never plug into it, for more reasons than one."
• What Is An HDMI Port 'Dummy Plug'? - "These plugs trick the host computer into thinking that a monitor is attached when one isn't. One great example of the usefulness of an HDMI dummy plug is when you have to leave a computer running for long periods, perhaps for home automation, and you don't need to access the monitor."
• I replaced my MacBook with an iPad Pro M4 - here’s what actually worked (& what didn’t) - "Forget the tech specs, here’s what using a tablet for work actually feels like."
• Ranked: Which Country Consumes the Most Coffee? - "Luxembourg ranks first in global coffee consumption in 2025, averaging more than five cups per person per day. India ranks last among the 65 countries analyzed, consuming just 0.02 cups per person per day."
• UN climate talks fail to secure new fossil fuel promises - "Nearly 200 countries attended COP30, which aimed to commit the world to take more action on climate change."
• COP30: Five key takeaways from a deeply divisive climate summit - "What did we learn from a climate summit that ended in a deal with no new mention of fossil fuels?"
• US insists it authored Ukraine peace plan after claims of Russian 'wish list' - "US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that a proposed 28-point plan to end the Ukraine war, which has been widely viewed as favourable to Russia, was 'authored by the US'."
• Russia's drone revolution turns the tables on Ukraine - "A top-secret Russian unit based in Moscow has changed the landscape of drone warfare, turning what was an advantage for the Ukrainians into a vulnerability."
• This week in 30 photos - "Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye."
• Titanic passenger's pocket watch fetches £1.78m at auction - "A gold pocket watch recovered from the body of one of the richest passengers on the Titanic has fetched a 'record-breaking' £1.78m at auction."
• Ranked: Wine Production by Country - "Global wine production reached 22.6 billion liters in 2024. Italy remains the world’s largest wine producer, accounting for 19.5% of global output. The top three producers - Italy, France, and Spain - together make up nearly half of the world’s wine supply."
• One Form of Exercise Improves Sleep The Most, Study Finds - "Rolling out a yoga mat and flowing with your breath could be one of the best exercises for improving sleep in the long run."
• The James Bond Workout - Inside the 007 Training Plan That Built Daniel Craig’s Physique - "Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take from the once-classified training manual that built the British superspy."
• The best guide to spotting AI writing comes from Wikipedia - "Wikipedia's guide to 'Signs of AI writing' is a great resource for learning to spot LLM-generated prose."
• Foldable iPhone to Debut These Two Breakthrough Features - "Multiple sources agree the foldable iPhone will include a 7.8-inch main display when unfolded, a 5.5-inch cover display, and Touch ID rather than Face ID. The device will feature four cameras in total: one front hole-punch camera, the aforementioned under-screen inner camera, and a dual-lens 48-megapixel rear system."
• COP30 - "The Outcomes Report on the Global Climate Action Agenda at COP30 has just been published this evening in Belém."
• The 28-point peace proposal for Ukraine, annotated - "The Trump administration has put together a new 28-point proposal to end the war in Ukraine that includes many concessions to Russia. According to a draft, its provisions would include Kyiv ceding territory to Russia, giving up any ambitions to join NATO, and limiting the size of its army."
• The woman giving Harry & Meghan the royal life they can no longer afford - complete with lavish homes & a private jet. - "When you are a friend of Victoria Jackson, there is clearly no shortage of places to stay. She is, after all, the Queen of Cosmetics - and as such has fabulous homes on the Upper East Side in New York, in the heart of Beverly Hills and between the mountains and the Pacific blue in Montecito."
• Legendary Hollywood actors on board & gross passenger habits - "Flight attendants spill their secrets."
• These Are the Most Expensive Apple Products You Can Buy Now - "A $14,000, Mac Studio makes the iPhone Pocket look downright reasonable."
• 'The blight seeped into your soul': How Seven reflected fears in the US in the 1980s - "David Fincher's gritty thriller commented on the urban blight and religious conservatism of the Reagan era. But it also predicted our obsession with true crime today."
• Is Seed Oil Actually Evil? - "Like sugar, dairy, and gluten before it, seed oil has become ingredient non grata among health influencers and the hordes who love them. But is it as dangerous as they suggest?"
• Cold plunges & kombucha: Do winter wellness trends really work? - "Experts weigh in on whether cold water swimming, drinking kombucha and taking vitamins can boost your immune system."
• Jennifer Lawrence Goes Dark - "She has been cast in maternal roles since her teens. Now, playing a mother for the first time since becoming one, she has chosen the part of a woman pushed past the edge of sanity."
• Look of the Week: The best luxury ad space? Jennifer Lawrence’s earlobes - "On Sunday, Jennifer Lawrence arrived at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles, part movie star, part walking advert."
• How can you tell if your new favourite artist is a real person? - "As AI-generated music floods streaming platforms, questions bubble over whether listeners are owed more transparency."
• Why Shakespeare's wife & son remain a mystery - "'History has treated her badly': Hamnet and the 400-year-old mystery around Shakespeare's wife and son. Oscar-tipped new film Hamnet imagines the home life of William and Agnes Shakespeare - and the 'soul-crushing' loss of their child. It's a powerful story that fills in many blanks."
• Austria's 300-year-old luxury hotel powered by trees - "A family-run inn that began as a miners' tavern in 1567 has become one of Austria's most remarkable alpine escapes. Has hosted the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hillary Clinton and Audrey Hepburn."
• How Are Mechanical Watches Wound? A Comprehensive Guide to Automatic & Manual Movements - "Mechanical watches are powered by a mainspring, but that can be wound in a surprising number of ways. The crown is connected to the stem, which itself is connected to a winding pinion that engages with the mainspring barrel via a ratchet wheel."
• COP30 Morning Brief - Day 12: November 21 - "The final day of COP30, November 21, is focused on finalizing agreements, with a new draft 'Global Mutirão' political package expected to be released for approval. The day's negotiations aim to translate ambition into action by integrating food systems into climate implementation and potentially finalizing outcomes related to finance, emissions reporting, and the 1.5°C target."
• COP30 climate talks evacuated after fire breaks out - "The UN climate talks COP30 have been evacuated due to a fire breaking out inside the venue in Belém, Brazil. The UN said the fire was extinguished after six minutes and 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation. It is not yet known what caused the blaze."
• Jets, chips & a clean slate: Saudi Arabia’s crown prince got almost everything he wanted from Trump - "Just three years ago, the US was openly reconsidering its relationship with Saudi Arabia. President Joe Biden had vowed to make Mohammed bin Salman a pariah. Even arms sales to one of America’s closest military partners were put under review."
• Elon Musk says that in 10 to 20 years, work will be optional & money will be irrelevant thanks to AI & robotics - "The Tesla CEO said at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday that in the next 10 to 20 years, work will be optional, likening the decision to have a job to the more laborious upkeep of a vegetable garden."
• Elon Musk caught playing with fire as he appears to make explosive remark at Trump's Saudi banquet - "Elon Musk appeared to ask a fellow guest whether he believed Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince was a terrorist, according to a lipreader."
• Mexico’s Fatima Bosch crowned Miss Universe winner in glittering finale of scandal-hit pageant - "Miss Universe is widely known as the 'Super Bowl' of beauty pageants and draws millions of viewers each year. Delegates for each country are selected via local pageants that license local rights from the Miss Universe Organization."
• ‘Superman #1’ copy found in attic becomes most expensive comic ever sold - "A copy of the first ever issue of 'Superman,' discovered in a Californian attic last year, has become the most expensive comic ever sold, fetching $9.12 million at auction."
• Frida Kahlo self-portrait sells for $54.7 million, setting new record for female artists - "'El sueño (La cama)' - 'The Dream (The Bed)' - grabbed the title at Sotheby’s in New York, after it surpassed the existing record held by the late American artist Georgia O’Keeffe. Her 'Jimson Weed/White Flower No.1,' which had previously hung in the White House, sold for $44.4 million in 2014."
• Record-breaking Faberge egg to go to auction again - "The Faberge Winter Egg, commissioned by Emperor Nicholas II in 1913 as an Easter gift for his mother, is poised to fetch over £20 million at auction. 'One of the finest' Faberge eggs ever created to go on auction at Christie’s in London."
• Five claims made in new book about Princess Diana's Panorama interview - "Dianarama, written by Andy Webb, re-examines the Panorama interview in which the late princess famously said there were 'three of us' in her marriage with Prince Charles, now the King. 1. Diana's brother waited 25 years before revealing the truth - 2. Martin Bashir was 'charming' and 'ruthless' - 3. Prince William still wants to ..."
• Meghan & Harry share a festive kiss in new Netflix trailer - "The Duchess of Sussex has released a glitzy new trailer for her festive edition of her Netflix series 'With Love, Meghan'."
• 101 gadgets: Stuff’s pick of brilliant smart home tech in 2025 - "Home is where the heart (and Wi-Fi) is. But it can be so much more. Here’s all the gear to transform your abode into a palace of tech-fuelled comfort."
• COP30 Morning Brief - Day 11: November 20 - "Today at COP30, discussions center on advances across agriculture, food systems, gender, and sustainable tourism. Day 11 of the conference also marks Brazil’s National Day of Black Consciousness, honoring the enduring resistance and contributions of people of African descent to the country’s history and social fabric."
• Turkey set to host COP31 after reaching compromise with Australia - "The COP31 climate meeting is now expected to be held in Turkey after Australia dropped its bid to host the annual event. Under the UN rules, the right to host the COP in 2026 falls to a group of countries made up of Western Europe, Australia and others."
• 'Greenhushing': Are businesses staying silent about climate pledges? - "With Trump's call to 'drill, baby drill' and sweeping changes to environmental policies, it's been suggested that some companies are talking less about their climate pledges. But the truth behind the trend is much more complicated than it first seems."
• Trump signs bill ordering US justice department to release Epstein files - "The bill gives the US Justice Department 30 days to release all the files in a searchable format."
• Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s web of power, revealed in new emails - "Emails show American luminaries exchanged hundreds of messages with Epstein. They are titans of industry and best-selling authors, world-renowned scientists and banking moguls, top-tier journalists and political power players."
• Donald Trump ‘Blowing Bubba’ Message in Epstein Emails Under Scrutiny - "Mark Epstein asked Jeffrey Epstein in an email to find out if Vladimir Putin had 'the photos of Trump blowing Bubba.'"
• The 31 coolest streets in the world in 2025 - "This year’s winner: Rua do Senado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Food, fun, culture and community - these streets have it all. Fancy a stroll? "
• Nvidia beats earnings expectations, even as bubble concerns mount - "Nvidia posted strong revenue and profits that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations Wednesday. The closely watched result could prompt a sigh of relief across the stock market following growing concerns about an artificial intelligence bubble. Nvidia’s sales grew 62% year-over-year to $57 billion in the October quarter, ahead of the $54.9 billion Wall Street had projected."
• Ripley's revealed as buyer of $12m golden toilet - "A gold toilet that fetched $12.1m (£9.3m) at auction was bought by Ripley's Believe It or Not!, after its first casting was stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019. America, created by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, is a fully functional toilet, made from more than 15st 13lb (101.2kg) of solid 18-carat gold."
• BBC apologizes to Princess of Wales over title error - "The BBC has apologized to Catherine, Princess of Wales for referring to her as 'Kate Middleton' during the British broadcaster’s recent coverage of Armistice Day."
• Paris court blocks auction of earliest-known calculator - "Auction house Christie's has confirmed it will not proceed with bidding for the machine La Pascaline, developed by the French mathematician Blaise Pascal in 1642."
• Bronze Age to Elphaba: The centuries-old origins of the witch's hat - "As Wicked: For Good is released, what are the historic meanings of conical headwear, and how has it evolved - from its origins in the ancient world, the Middle Ages and the Spanish Inquisition, to the empowered Elphaba?"
• Things you can do in your 30s to improve your health in your 70s - "From a brisk 15-minute walk, to getting regular sleep - doing these things in your 30s could help you stay fit well into your 70s."
• The words you can't say on the internet - "There's a secret list of words you can't say on social media - at least, that's what everyone seems to think. Algospeak, as it's often called, is a whole coded language built around the idea that algorithms bury content that uses forbidden words or phrases."
• The Disturbing Secret Behind the World’s Most Expensive Coffee - "Kopi luwak is made from coffee beans plucked from civets’ feces. This is bad news for civets."
• Catstanbul: Inside the city where cats rule the streets - "From Ottoman 'cat sitters' to modern-day street guardians, Istanbul's bond with its cats runs centuries deep."
• COP30 Morning Brief - Day 10: November 19 - "Today at COP30, leaders and partners come together to transform our food systems and strengthen the communities most affected by the climate crisis.The day showcases how restoring land, elevating women’s leadership, and scaling practical, science-based solutions can translate climate ambition into tangible improvements for farmers, families, and frontline communities."
• International Mens Day - "On November 19, International Men’s Day celebrates worldwide the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities. We highlight positive role models and raise awareness of men’s well-being. Our theme for 2025 is 'Celebrating Men and Boys'."
• Release of Epstein files awaits Trump's signoff after clearing Congress - "Both chambers of Congress agreed to order the US justice department to release its files on sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the measure in a 427-1 vote and the Senate unanimously fast-tracked it without a formal vote."
• 'Things happen' - Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing - "US President Donald Trump said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 'knew nothing' about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as he welcomed the kingdom's de facto ruler to the White House."
• Rare Klimt painting becomes the most expensive work of modern art ever sold at auction - "What does a notorious gold toilet and a nearly destroyed Klimt painting have in common? They christened Sotheby’s first sale out of its new US headquarters in New York on Tuesday evening in a buzzy, record-breaking night. 'Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer,' became the most valuable work of modern art to ever sell at auction, reaching $236.4 million."
• Inside the hunt for the Louvre heist suspects as the stolen jewels remain missing - "There is hope yet for the crown jewels of France. History tells us that, for the right deal, they just might reappear."
• Mapped: Countries That Eat the Most Meat Per Capita - "The Kingdom of Tonga, a remote island nation located west of Australia, is the world’s leading meat eater. Other meat-loving countries include Mongolia (primarily goat and lamb), the U.S. (mostly chicken and beef), and Israel (also heavily chicken and beef)."
• Warren Buffett’s Q3 2025 Portfolio - a Surprise Bet on Google - "This pie chart breaks down Warren Buffett's Stock Portfolio (2025 Q3), with Apple ($60.66B, 22.6%) still dominating. Takeaway: Buffett’s portfolio is still classic - cash flow, moats, and long-term compounding - but the Google buy shows he’s not ignoring the tectonic shift in tech."
• Paris Hilton shoots down claims that Ghislaine Maxwell tried to recruit her for Jeffrey Epstein - "Socialite has no memory of meeting the convicted sex trafficker."
• 'She'd be perfect for Jeffrey!' Ghislaine Maxwell 'wanted to recruit young Paris Hilton for Epstein - "Hilton, Maxwell and Trump have been pictured together around the same time in September of 2000 at a fashion show in New York."
• Mapped: The World’s Hardest Working Countries in 2025 - "Bhutan tops the global list with over 54 hours worked weekly, while the Netherlands averages 26.8 hours. Developed European countries tend to work fewer hours, while many Asian, Gulf, and African countries record longer workweeks."
• The World’s Fastest-Aging Countries - "Japan remains the world’s oldest country, with over half as many seniors as working-age adults. Southern and Western Europe dominate the top ranks, with Portugal, Finland, and Italy close behind. The United States, Canada, and Australia are aging more slowly - but all now exceed a ratio of 25%."
• Elon Musk Calls Jeff Bezos ‘Copycat’ For Reported Launch Of $6.2 Billion AI Startup - "Elon Musk on Monday teased Jeff Bezos, calling the former Amazon chief executive and rival a 'copycat' following a report Bezos would serve as the co-CEO of Project Prometheus, a new multibillion-dollar artificial startup he is partially funding."
• How to use ChatGPT to boost your writing - "Become a more efficient and better writer with the help of AI."
• ChatGPT Business: A new way of working - ChatGPT business solutions - "Get more done together with ChatGPT Business. Learn how ChatGPT Business can transform your organization through new ways of working. Unlock new levels of efficiency with ChatGPT Business. Empower your workforce with AI. ChatGPT: AI you can trust. ChatGPT fits your needs."
• COP30 Morning Brief - Day 9: November 18 - "Government of Brazil advances in the demarcation of ten Indigenous lands. The measure was formalized by the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, on Indigenous Peoples’ Day at COP30."
• The tactics behind Trump’s 180 on the Epstein files - "The prospect of an embarrassing defeat convinced Trump to reverse course on Epstein files."
• Tom Cruise on his first Oscar: Making films 'is who I am' - "US film superstar Tom Cruise has received his first ever Oscar statuette. The Mission: Impossible star received the honorary prize after being nominated four times for an Academy Award."
• A Chinese firm bought an insurer for CIA agents - part of Beijing's trillion dollar spending spree - "Since 2018, the United States has been tightening its laws to prevent its rivals from buying into its sensitive sectors - blocking investments in everything from semiconductors to telecommunications. But the rules weren't always so strict. In 2015, the insurer, Wright USA, had been quietly purchased by Fosun Group, a private company believed to have very close connections with China's leadership."
• Don't blindly trust what AI tells you, says Google's Sundar Pichai - "People should not 'blindly trust' everything AI tools tell them, the boss of Google's parent company Alphabet has told the BBC. 'This is why people also use Google search, and we have other products that are more grounded in providing accurate information.'"
• Google boss says trillion-dollar AI investment boom has 'elements of irrationality' - "Every company would be affected if the AI bubble were to burst, the head of Google's parent firm Alphabet has told the BBC."
• Bitcoin just erased its gains for this year - "Bitcoin is in the red for the year — and investors say more turbulence could be in store. Just six weeks after notching a record high above $126,000, bitcoin has plummeted more than 28%."
• Bang & Olufsen celebrates 100 years by reimagining its flagship loudspeakers & that's just the tip of the iceberg - "In case you didn't know, Danish Bang & Olufsen turns 100 this year."
• The less cosy side of Danish hygge - "In the last ten years, the country has carried out a harsh crackdown on asylum seekers and illegal migration, deeming it a threat to the national way of life."
• Here’s every iOS 26 setting I changed on my iPhone right away - "iOS 26 and iOS 26.1 have brought a lot of new ways to customize your iPhone in the Settings app. Here are the new iOS 26 settings I changed on my iPhone right away."
• 100 CNET Reader-Approved Tech Products Best for Holiday Shopping - "Keep your holiday stockings stuffed and family and friends happy with these incredible and affordable gift ideas."
• COP30 Morning Brief - November 17 - "Thematic Focus: Forests, Oceans, Biodiversity, Indigenous peoples, Local and traditional communities, Children and Youth, and Small and Medium entrepreneurs."
• Trump urges Republicans to vote to release Epstein files, marking stark reversal - "President Donald Trump on Sunday night encouraged House Republicans to vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and move on from what he calls a 'Democrat Hoax,' marking a stark reversal from his efforts to discredit the effort."
• The pace of Saudi Arabia’s solar boom has been breathtaking - "This oil-rich country has stood in the way of climate action. It’s quietly building a clean energy empire."
• South Korea’s latest soft-power export? Late Samsung billionaire Lee Kun-hee’s vast art collection - "For more than seven decades, the family behind electronics giant Samsung amassed one of Asia’s largest private art collections. More than 200 of the 23,000 objects gifted to the country in 2021 by the late Lee Kun-hee’s estate - thought to be part of a deal to settle an inheritance tax bill of over 12 trillion won ($8.2 billion) - are going on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC this month."
• On-The-Fly: 12 Best EDC Travel Gadgets - "LARQ Bottle PureVis 2 - Nitecore TUP2 Keychain Flashlight - Rolling Square AirCard Pro - Casio AE-1200WH-1AV - Bose ..."
• How to book VIP packages for your next gig trip or big day out - "Where to find the best seats in the house for the biggest music, sports and cultural events throughout the year, including the Winter Olympics, Wimbledon and Chelsea Flower Show."
• History's epic theories of what causes aurora - "From creation myths to political omens, different cultures have had vastly different interpretations of the dramatic natural phenomenon."
• The shocking downfall of Margaret Thatcher - "In November 1990, the UK's prime minister made her tearful departure from 10 Downing Street. She was ousted by her own party, having been weakened by an unlikely enemy."
• 'A wicked wife': The truth about Tudor England's 'most hated woman' - "The 16th-Century aristocrat Jane Boleyn faced explosive accusations: she was blamed for a shocking betrayal of her husband, as well as two of Henry VIII's wives, her sister-in-law Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Was she a 'sex-mad' spy, guilty-as-charged - or a convenient scapegoat for a tyrant's brutality? A new historical thriller by Philippa Gregory, Boleyn Traitor, explores her story."
• The Czech town that invented the dollar - "After more than 230 years, the US stopped minting the penny this week. But long before that, the first dollar was coined - and it was created in a one-road town far away from the USA."
• The World’s Biggest Empires of History, on One Epic Visual Timeline - "This epic visual timeline attempts to plot the world's biggest empires throughout history, and how they are all connected. This visual timeline attempts to plot all of the world’s empires throughout history, based on geographic area and size. The rise and fall of familiar civilizations, like the Romans, Mongols, or Ottomans can be seen, as well as modern powerhouses like the U.S. or China."
• I asked ChatGPT if an AI bubble’s about to cause a stock market crash and it said... - "OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman says that GPT-5 is supposed to be like talking to a PhD-level expert. But the response I got resembled something I might expect from first-year undergraduates."
• The 30 key objectives of COP30 are designed to elevate climate action that begins and ends with people - "The Action Agenda also provides an opportunity for COP30 to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with solutions that promote climate justice, combat hunger and poverty, and address structural inequalities, including those related to gender, race, and socioeconomic conditions."
• Thousands protest against government in Mexico as clashes leave 120 injured - "The protests came weeks after Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, was killed."
• Iceland’s government has made the unusual move of designating the risk a national security threat - "A crucial system of ocean currents may be on course to collapse. This country just declared it a national security threat."
• Seven Days of Paralysis: Inside the BBC Crisis Over a Trump Documentary - "With board members and executives deadlocked over how to respond, the news organization kept silent for days, allowing a controversy to snowball."
• This week in 30 photos - "Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye."
• With the end of the penny, is the clock ticking for the nickel? - "The American penny is history. The nickel might be next. The last pennies were pressed at the US Mint in Philadelphia on Wednesday, a victim of production costs higher than their worth coupled with limited usefulness."
• Europe’s ‘secret season’ has become peak season - with prices to match - "Across the industry, travel insiders say autumn is becoming a new high season for Europe - a shift driven by rising temperatures, overtourism, and a post-pandemic appetite for quieter, more meaningful travel."
• How DavÉ became the ultimate celebrity hotspot - "How a small Parisian restaurant became the hottest place in town. For 36 years however, at Davé, a Chinese restaurant on Rue Saint-Roch in Paris’s 1st Arrondissement, Polaroids of beloved guests were less a marketing tactic than a key feature of the building’s interior, framed and affixed to any available wall space."
• How this tiny device became a symbol for the backlash against AI - "An unassuming circular pendant slightly larger than a quarter has been at the center of a massive uproar. The chief executive behind it isn’t fazed. Avi Schiffmann, 23, created the Friend pendant to be an artificial intelligence companion for users. He was inspired after realizing that, while he enjoys close friendships, not everyone is so lucky, especially at a time when young men face a loneliness crisis."
• Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Returns to the Hot 100 Earlier Than Ever - "The carol is back on the Hot 100 thanks in part to activity on Halloween."
• The Chaotic True Story That Inspired Nouvelle Vague - "Nouvelle Vague, out Nov. 14 on Netflix, is a movie about the making of a movie, as director Richard Linklater imagines how Jean-Luc Godard made his breakout 1960 film Breathless. Part gangster thriller, part love story, the low-budget feature from Godard starring Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo galvanized a movement of New Wave filmmakers in France with its experimental filmmaking, from chaotic jumpshots to the actors who learned their lines on the fly."
• Civet coffee: The real chemistry behind this bizarre luxury drink - "Coffee beans collected from the faeces of civets have a unique chemistry which may explain why such beans are prized for their flavour. Scientists are finding out how coffee beans are transformed when they pass through the guts of Asian palm civets in the hope of replicating the process without using animals."
• The Breguet Classique Souscription 2025 Wins the GPHG 2025 Aiguille d’Or (And All Prize Winners) - "Breguet's main launch for its 250th anniversary, the Classique Souscription 2025, wins at the GPHG 2025 with the Aiguille d'Or."
• iOS 26.2: All the new features coming to your iPhone - "iOS 26.2 is now available for beta testing. The update brings more new features and changes for iPhone users. There are new Apple Podcasts upgrades, improvements to Reminders, and more: Reminders - Apple Music - Apple Podcasts - Sleep Score - Apple News - iOS 26.2 EU changes - Liquid Glass - CarPlay updates."
• COP30 Morning Brief - November 14 - "The People’s Summit March will take place in Belém on 15 November and may cause traffic obstructions near the venue. Participants with morning meetings are advised to arrive at the COP30 venue before 9 a.m."
• Breaking down the looming House vote on the Epstein files - "Here’s what the House vote on the Epstein files could mean."
• Prison employees have been terminated after Ghislaine Maxwell’s email messages were shared, her lawyer says - "'They have been terminated for improper, unauthorized access to the email system used by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to allow inmates to communicate with the outside world.'"
• Zelensky’s Image Is Stained as Corruption Inquiry Shakes His Inner Circle - "The revelations are a remarkable reversal for the Ukrainian president, who once presented himself as a leader who would clean up the country’s politics."
• The explosions that tore through Russia’s pipelines to Europe are still causing rifts years on - "The hunt for saboteurs in the Nord Steam blasts is threatening Europe’s unity."
• Should Hitler's DNA have been studied - or just left alone? - "Groundbreaking DNA analysis of Adolf Hitler's blood has uncovered some extraordinary findings about the dictator's ancestry and possible health conditions."
• How the drone weapon became so mainstream - "The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is often described as the world's 'first drone war'. It has led to a continuing huge growth in the production of military drones, both within and outside Ukraine. Combat drones, delivery drones, surveillance drones, underwater drones – drones have become a key weapon of war globally, whether it be small hand-operated quadcopters, or high-tech military drones that look like small, unmanned aeroplanes and can travel long distances and cause enormous damage on impact."
• 'They're just so much further ahead': How China won the world's EV battery race - "In 2005, China only had two EV battery manufacturers. Twenty years later, it produces more than three-quarters of the world's lithium-ion cells. How did it happen?"
• How the world's rarest blood type could save lives - "Only one in every six million people have the Rh null blood type. Now researchers are trying to grow it in the laboratory in the hope it could save lives."
• TimothÉe Chalamet to Frankenstein: 10 of the hottest tips for the 2026 Oscars race - "BBC critics choose their top picks among the Academy Awards' runners and riders - and reveal whose hopes may have gone cold."
• Hollywood's SAG Awards announces it will change its name - "The rebrand is meant to reflect the name of the ceremony's award, like the Oscars and Grammys. The awards show will now be dubbed the Actor Awards. The rebrand comes ahead of the 32nd edition of the star-studded ceremony, which is set for 1 March 2026."
• 'A tipping point'?: Why this 1768 painting could be the real birth of modern art - "While many argue that 'modern art' began in the 1800s, could it actually have started with Joseph Wright of Derby's An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump, nearly a century before?"
• Scientists Confirm that Intelligence Comes from Your Mother - "According to the study, intelligence is influenced by the mother's X chromosome, which contains the genes responsible for intelligence."
• Our dogs' diversity can be traced back to the Stone Age - "A major new study suggests their physical transformation from wolf to sofa-hogging furball began in the Middle Stone Age, much earlier than we previously thought. 'When you see a Chihuahua - it's a wolf that's been living with humans for so long that it's been modified,' says Dr Allowen Evin from the University of Montpellier, a lead researcher on this study."
• The best cities in the world for nightlife - "A new study has ranked the best cities in the world for nightlife based on factors such as safety, bar and pub density, average drink prices and venue ratings. At the top is Barcelona. Paris, Tokyo (which has a whopping 4,343 venues across the city) and Prague come next, with Tbilisi, a popular destination for short breaks from the UAE, rounding out the top five."
• Countries With the Most GDP Per Capita Growth (2020-2025) - "Liechtenstein’s GDP per capita has grown by $67,713 since 2020, the largest absolute gain globally. Guyana saw the sharpest percentage increase in GDP per capita, surging 351% in five years, fueled by its rapidly expanding oil industry."
• 7 Polite Phrases That Are Still Worth Saying - "In order to coexist as peacefully as possible, we asked Emily Post Institute and other experts for a refresher on which polite words still matter the most - and why: 'Hello!' - 'Please' - 'Thank you' (with a caveat) - 'May I?' - 'My pleasure' - 'Excuse me' or 'pardon me' - 'Friend' or 'neighbor'."
• COP30 Morning Brief - November 13 - "The day opens with the adoption of the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP) - a milestone for building climate-resilient health systems. Led by Brazil, the plan unites countries around a shared goal: to strengthen surveillance, boost local capacity, and foster innovation to protect communities from climate-related health risks. Education also takes center stage as the Ministerial Roundtable on Greening Education, co-hosted by Brazil and UNESCO, showcases how schools and teachers are preparing societies to live - and thrive - in a warming world."
• Unlimited toilet paper & special privileges: Inside Ghislaine Maxwell’s life in prison - "The female inmates serving time at the minimum-security federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, are each provided the typical allotment of two rolls of toilet paper per week. But not Ghislaine Maxwell. She doesn’t have to worry about using up all of her supplies because she is given as much toilet paper as she needs. All she has to do is ask."
• ‘I can’t take any more of this,’ Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor told Epstein, newly released emails show - "Newly released documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate have once again raised questions over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s account of his friendship with the late sex offender and his denials of the allegations of his accuser Virginia Giuffre."
• Who Else Was Mentioned in the Latest Epstein Emails - "Email exchanges between the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and some former government officials, celebrities, and other public figures sit among more than 20,000 pages of documents released by the House Oversight Committee."
• Egypt just took a big step toward launching the ‘Suez Canal on rails’ - "Egypt’s 155mph high-speed trains unveiled. Travelers and critical cargo in Egypt could soon be moving faster thanks to high-speed trains recently unveiled by Siemens Mobility."
• The Top 10 Most Influential Concept Cars Of All Time - "Concept cars are one of the most fascinating aspects of the automotive world. Bringing us new technology and new design ideas, they offer a glimpse into automakers’ vision of the future."
• The Maritime Giants: Top 10 Flag States of 2025 - "As of January 2025, the top 10 flag States account for 76.7% of total world capacity and 38.9% of all vessels. Leading the way are Liberia, Panama, and the Marshall Islands, which together hold 45.1% of global capacity in dead weight tons."
• The world's most powerful militaries in 2025, ranked - "Global Firepower ranked the world's most powerful militaries for 2025. Military strength was measured by assets, defense budget, geography, and natural resources. The United States, Russia, and China lead the list, reflecting global military power trends."
• Apple is launching a $230 'iPhone Pocket' carrying case - "It's drawing mixed reviews. One user says they are "all for extra," while others compare it to Borat's bathing suit."
• Nuremberg review - "Russell Crowe is a showstopper in this gripping and smartly executed historical drama."
• Mapped: The Global Cost of Living Index 2025 - "Explore Numbeo's 2025 Global Cost of Living Index, comparing expenses across 140+ countries relative to New York City. Numbeo’s Global Cost of Living Index measures the price of goods, services, and rent relative to New York City (baseline of 100). Traditional wealth hubs like Switzerland and Singapore are the most expensive, while South Asian nations like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are the cheapest."
• Spotify introduces a Premium Platinum plan with lossless access in five markets - "Spotify is shaking up its premium offering and introducing new tiers called Premium Lite, Premium Standard, and Premium Platinum in five markets, including India, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa."
• GPT-5.1: A smarter, more conversational ChatGPT - "We're upgrading GPT-5 while making it easier to customize ChatGPT. Starting to roll out today to everyone, beginning with paid users."
• 10 Places Where the Rich Hide Money From the IRS - "Offshore tax havens used by individuals and corporations cost governments trillions of dollars annually. Economists estimate that individuals have stashed between $8.7 trillion and $36 trillion in tax shelters worldwide."
• COP30 Morning Brief - November 12 - "Today, COP30 spotlights a people-powered transition where work, learning, and culture shape a fair and resilient future. The day begins with the launch of the Global Initiative on Jobs & Skills for the New Economy, introducing its first Flagship Report and Action Agenda to help nations and industries weave decent jobs and training into their transition pathways."
• Trump is getting pulled deeper & deeper into the Epstein drama - "The Jeffrey Epstein saga has a dastardly quality: The more anyone drawn into the morass tries to dig themselves out, the deeper they dig themselves in."
• How Epstein boasted about Trump: 'I can take him down' - "Epstein's ultimate betrayal of Trump as emails reveal billionaire's twisted plot against president: 'I am the one able to take him down'."
• Donald Trump & Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship: A visual timeline - "They flew together on a private jet, partied side by side at Mar-a-Lago, appeared at Victoria’s Secret runway shows, and reportedly dined with royalty at a luxury Upper East Side townhouse. Their names appear together in flight logs, legal filings, phone messages - and in photo after photo in the moneyed world of Palm Beach and Manhattan."
• Did Hitler really have a ‘micropenis’? What Hitler's DNA reveals about his genetic predisposition to schizophrenia & ADHD - "After analysing Hitler's DNA, the programme makers have discovered that the dictator had Kallmann Syndrome, which affects the development of sexual organs. Typical symptoms include low testosterone, abnormal genital development and a lack of a sense of smell."
• Peptide YY | PYY - an overview - "PYY, or Peptide YY, is a gut hormone that helps regulate appetite by signaling to the brain that you are full after eating."
• 100 Must-Read Books of 2025 | TIME - "The books that moved and delighted us, sparked conversations, and opened our minds."
• Meryl Streep reunites with Anne Hathaway in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ teaser: ‘Took you long enough - "The teaser trailer for 'The Devil Wears Prada 2' dropped Wednesday, and it was just what the world needed."
• After spending a week in the world's happiest city, I've taken 5 key lessons back to the US - "Though I only got a small taste of Copenhagen on my solo trip, I think it lives up to its reputation as the world's happiest city. Copenhagen has an impressive résumé when it comes to high-quality living. This year, the Happy City Index ranked Copenhagen as the world's happiest city, based on factors like health, mobility, and environment. Plus, the World Happiness Report named Denmark the second-happiest country in 2025."
• 10 Best Tech Accessories & Gadgets That Add Personality To Any Space In November 2025 - "Your workspace doesn’t have to be a sterile collection of black rectangles and generic gadgets. The most interesting people surround themselves with objects that spark conversations, evoke emotions, and reflect their unique perspective on the world. These ten exceptional tech accessories prove that functionality and personality can coexist beautifully: 1. Trozk Marvel Infinity Stones 35W USB-C Chargers - 2. OrigamiSwift Mouse - 3. Gboard Dial Version Concept Keyboard - 4. Minions-Themed Wi-Fi ..."
• 10 Reasons Why We Love Patek Philippe - "1. One of the Last Independent Swiss Manufacturers in Family Ownership. 2. Masterpieces of the Watchmaking World: the Grandes Complications. 3. Hand Finishing. 4..."
• Please stop treating your USB hubs as port replicators - "USB hubs have some serious limitations that can affect the functionality of your devices, and in some cases, break your workflow. You'll want to be careful before you stake your work on the reliability of a USB hub."
• COP 30 live updates - "An update to key findings of UN Climate Change's 2025 NDC Synthesis Report shows that the global emissions curve is beginning to bend downwards."
• Removing CO2 from atmosphere vital to avoid catastrophic tipping points, leading scientist says - "10bn tonnes must be captured from the air every year to limit global heating to 1.7C, says Johan Rockström."
• Breathtaking northern lights splash across the night skies as far south as Florida - "A powerful burst of energy from the sun is streaming past Earth, disturbing energized particles in the highest levels of the atmosphere and painting stunning aurora borealis displays across the night sky as far south as Texas, Alabama, Georgia and even Florida."
• New Epstein emails appear to reveal more Trump ties - "Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released three new emails from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that mention President Trump, raising new questions about the extent of their relationship."
• Trump vs the BBC: What hurdles might the president's legal argument face? - "US President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for damages up to $1bn, claiming the organisation made 'false, defamatory, disparaging and inflammatory statements' about him in a documentary. Experts on US media and defamation law say the president faces significant obstacles to winning such enormous damages from a lawsuit against the BBC, partly due to strong US press freedom laws."
• Former Ukrainian MP accused of laundering embezzled millions through Monaco property - "A former Ukrainian lawmaker and his ex-wife appeared before Monaco’s criminal court this week, accused of laundering millions of euros siphoned from public funds in Ukraine to purchase luxury real estate on the Riviera."
• Chinese ‘cryptoqueen’ who had royal aspirations jailed in UK over $6.6 billion Bitcoin scam - "A Chinese woman who was found with 5 billion pounds ($6.6 billion) in Bitcoin after defrauding more than 128,000 people in China in a Ponzi scheme was sentenced by a UK court on Tuesday to over 11 years in prison."
• Mapped: Where People Trust Each Other Most, by Country - "Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland occupy five of the top six spots of most trusting countries. China’s position (rank 4th, at 63%) is the only non-Western country in the top tier of trust."
• One of the world’s driest climates is producing award-winning wine - "Growing grapes in the desert: This award-winning wine is made in one of the world’s harshest climates. Entering the winemaking business is not for the faint of heart. Doing so with no prior experience, on the edge of a desert where temperatures hit 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), might be considered foolhardy. But for Rudie van Vuuren, the gamble paid off."
• Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison - "Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Apple silicon chip that replaced Intel chips in Apple's Mac lineup. The first Apple silicon chip, the M1, was unveiled on November 10, 2020. The M1 debuted in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro."
• The Hottest New Rolex Watches That Every Collector Wants on Their Wrist in 2025 - "Including the much-loved Land-Dweller, the first fresh design in over 13 years."
• Here are 10 of the most beautiful castles in Germany - "There are tens of thousands of castles in Germany. Here are ten of our favorites that you can visit - or maybe even book as your very own fairy-tale wedding venue."
• 7 Best Tech Products That Upgrade Your Daily Digital Experience - "The modern digital landscape demands more than functional gadgets—it requires tools that seamlessly integrate into daily routines while enhancing productivity, creativity, and connectivity. As work and personal lives become increasingly intertwined with technology, the accessories we choose make the difference between digital frustration and digital mastery in our interconnected world."
• The Booker Prize shows that contemporary fiction has a problem - "Flesh is a decent novel, but doesn't reach its potential - just like too many prize-winning novels today. Where are the editors?"
• Ranked: Flags of the World, by Most to Least Recognized - "Which flags are the most recognizable? This visualization shows the results of over 500000 guesses from a flag guessing game. The most recognizable flags in the world have simple, minimalist, and iconic imagery. Most recognized flags include those of countries like Japan, Canada, France, Germany, and India. Least recognized flags typically come from smaller countries in the Caribbean, Africa, or Oceania."
• International Singles' Day 2025 - "Day on November 11 has grown into the world's largest retail event, topping Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day in sales volume. Originating in China, the $150 billion shopping day celebrates singlehood with massive promotions and solo-focused experiences."
• ‘It will never be forgiven’: UN climate chief warns world to act or face disaster - "Faltering governments will be blamed for famine and conflict abroad, and face stagnation and inflation at home, says climate chief at start of Cop30."
• What is COP30 & why does it matter? - "COP30 is supposed to be the summit where countries really get down to the details of how they plan to halt catastrophic climate change. There’s a huge amount at stake. Last year was the hottest on record, capping a decade of unprecedented heat, and the impacts are already roiling the planet - from hurricanes and floods to fires and extreme heat. Here’s what to expect over the next two weeks."
• Ghislaine Maxwell's prison emails show she is 'happier' at minimum-security Texas facility - "Maxwell, a convicted sex offender connected to Jeffrey Epstein, was moved to a less restrictive federal prison this summer. Congress is investigating allegations of special treatment."
• Trump threatens to sue BBC for $1bn over Panorama speech edit - "The BBC has been engulfed in a crisis, with both its director-general and head of news resigning after it emerged a speech by Donald Trump was edited misleadingly in a Panorama documentary that aired last year."
• Trump Pardons Giuliani & Others. See the Full List Here - "President Donald Trump has ordered 'full, complete, and unconditional' pardons for over 70 of his political allies."
• Klimt portrait in late EstÉe Lauder heir’s collection could fetch over $150 million at auction - "This painting of a ‘tragic’ heiress 'Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer' could become one of the most expensive paintings ever publicly sold."
• Warren Buffett: ‘I’m going quiet’ - "Warren Buffett, in his annual message as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway to shareholders - a tradition dating back to 1965 - said that he will be 'going quiet' after he steps down at the end of this year. But the 95-year-old is not going away just yet."
• The hottest place to be: Why saunas are having a moment - "For some, the idea of sweating among semi-naked strangers in a small wooden box as hot as 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit) might sound more like a sadistic form of torture than rest and relaxation. But others just can’t get enough of the sauna."
• Ranked: Countries With the Best Reputations in 2025 - "Discover which countries have the best reputations in 2025. Switzerland and Canada lead, while the U.S. sees a sharp decline. Iraq, Iran, and Russia ranked at the bottom, while the U.S. saw the biggest decline from 2024, falling 18 spots to 48th."
• One Tech Tip: Modern cars are spying on you. Here’s what you can do about it - "Modern cars are computers on wheels that are becoming increasingly connected, enabling innovative new features that make driving safer and more convenient. But these systems are also collecting reams of data on our driving habits and other personal information, raising concerns about data privacy."
• Andrew may gain a royal title after all: order of the hyphen - "Buckingham Palace is considering tweaking Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's name in accordance with the late Queen's wishes. Some historians feel that now Andrew has lost the 'titular dignity' of Prince, he ought to be known as Mountbatten-Windsor, with a hyphen."
• What Does '6-7' Mean? Don't Expect Gen Alpha to Explain It - "Everyone wants to understand the generation below them. Can young people rebuff those efforts by being completely absurd? For some, it’s a way to convey indifference, or whatever makes sense to the user. At its core, it’s a song lyric that social media turned into a meme. And like any and everything involving the internet, it’s evolving at a rapid rate."
• Cops Called to Jeff Bezos' Mansion Over Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party - "Kris Jenner's 70th birthday party was so wild it had the neighbors calling police ... 'cause TMZ has learned cops were called to Jeff Bezos' mansion after multiple noise complaints from her star-studded party."
• Rich countries have lost enthusiasm for tackling climate crisis, says Cop30 chief - "Brazil’s André Corrêa do Lago says countries should follow China’s lead on clean energy as conference begins."
• BBC leaders resign amid scandal over misleading edit of Trump speech - "Two top leaders at the BBC resigned on Sunday amid an escalating scandal over impartiality and bias that plunged Britain’s public broadcaster into one of its biggest crises in recent years."
• Donald Trump threatens BBC with legal action as chair says edit of speech in film was ‘error of judgment’ - latest updates - "BBC confirms it has received legal letter from US president threatening legal case."
• Monaco & Geneva shine as Patek Philippe 1518s reach new heights - "Only four examples of the Patek Philippe reference 1518 in stainless steel are known to exist, and this week, two of them changed hands in what may be the most extraordinary moment in modern-day watch collecting."
• This Mythical Patek Philippe Steel 1518 Is Poised to Rewrite Auction History in Geneva - "The rare timepiece is the star of Phillips's upcoming Decade One sale."
• You don’t need a USB drive: Keep your portable apps in the cloud instead - "Storing portable applications in a cloud-synced folder means your apps and personalized settings can follow you right through the cloud."
• 10 awesome ways to use your iPhone’s USB-C port (other than fast charging) - "With the iPhone 16e, Apple has now switched every iPhone from Lightning to USB-C. Here's how to get the most out of it: 1. Charge another device - 2. Increase your storage - 3. Connect a ..."
• The Stuff Awards 2025: our Gadget of the Year - "Now comes the truly hard part: choosing the absolute best from an exceptional year of tech."
• Ranked: Countries that Drink the Most Wine - "Seven of the top 10 nations that drink the most wine globally are European countries. The United States tops the list at 3.33 billion liters, followed by France (2.30 billion), and Italy (2.23 billion). Germany and the UK round out the top five, with 1.78 billion and 1.26 billion liters respectively."
• Mapped: Writing Systems of the World - "The Latin alphabet is by far the most used writing system in the world, used by 70% of the global population. Other popular writing systems include Chinese (Han), Arabic, Devanagari, Cyrillic, and Bengali."
• I asked ChatGPT to build the perfect passive income portfolio & it said... - "The model blended UK dividend shares, income-focused ETFs, REITs, infrastructure funds, and bonds to deliver a balanced yield of around 4.5%."
• Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? - "Recently, there’s been a pronounced shift in the way people showcase their relationships online: far from fully hard-launching romantic partners, straight women are opting for subtler signs - a hand on a steering wheel, clinking glasses at dinner, or the back of someone’s head."
• Who is ‘fedora man’? Dapper French teenager in viral Louvre heist photo unmasked - "Fifteen-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux was captured looking suave in a picture outside the Paris museum on the day of a crown jewels heist."
• Are these the most beautiful motorbikes in the world? - "Simon de Burton lusts over a new book that brings together some of the most collectible, covetable motorcycles ever made."
• 5 things you should know about the COP30 UN Climate Conference - "1. COP is the cornerstone of global climate action. 2. COP has brought 30 years of real results. 3. The Paris Agreement was born at COP21 - and it’s working. 4..."
• Western powers accuse Russia of posing a threat in space - "UK and Germany have accused Russia of threatening their satellites. Here’s what that means."
• Images of Trump appearing to close his eyes during Oval Office event spread across social media - "Images of Donald Trump appearing to close his eyes at an Oval Office announcement this week rocketed around social media this weekend, with the president’s opponents seizing on the footage to raise questions about Trump’s on-the-job performance."
• Nuclear codes, voicemail hacks & businesses going bust. These are some of the biggest password blunders - "Perhaps it’s time to consider the demand for 16-character combinations of letters, numbers and symbols to be more method than madness, and learn from the mistakes of the weak-password-makers who’ve gone before. Here are some examples of technological mishaps and infamous faux pas(swords)."
• The baguette faces an uncertain future. How France is rethinking its iconic loaves - "When the baguette received official UNESCO heritage status in Paris in 2022, the French delegation waved slender loaves of crusty bread triumphantly in the air, in a photo op that went viral around the world. With the French cutting back on bread and experimenting with longer-lasting loaves, the beloved baguette is under threat."
• Scientists demand cancer warnings on bacon & ham sold in UK - "Bacon and ham sold in the UK should carry cigarette-style labels warning that chemicals in them cause bowel cancer, scientists say. Arguing that successive governments have done too little to reduce exposure to nitrites, which create nitrosamines, a cancer-causing compound."
• Seated salsa - the miracle movement to help ease back pain - "Lower back pain is a chronic condition that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. A simple exercise could be a big help."
• How weight-loss drugs are changing Savile Row - "Fluctuating hemlines? No, it’s shrinking waistlines that are keeping tailors busy right now."
• You can keep using your iPad as an Apple Home hub until February - "The old HomeKit architecture just got a few more months of support. Apple has pushed back the deadline to February 10, 2026, rather than fall 2025. The refreshed version of Apple Home has been available for a couple of years now and adds support for the Matter smart home standard. However, updating has been optional so far."
• Why human-shaped robots loom large in Musk's Tesla plans - "The tech billionaire believes Optimus could play a big role in the lives of people around the world. It has appeared in Tesla showrooms, on its factory floors and has even posed with Kim Kardashian."
• Blended wings: The sci-fi aircraft concept that could appear at an airport near you - "The concept of blended-wing aircraft - where fuselage and wing are all one structure - is not new. But this radical design might soon be a credible concept for airliners."
• Judy Garland's 'Lucky Jacket' Returns to Carnegie Hall - "The Colorful, Sequined Life of Judy Garland’s ‘Lucky Jacket’. She wore it at Carnegie Hall on 'the greatest evening in show-business history.' Now the jacket that got away is coming home."
• Sarah Ferguson’s trail of business misadventures revealed - "Andrew's ex-wife is under fresh financial pressure as she seeks to rebuild her life and find a new home after being stripped of her title."
• Inside COP 30 - "The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) is taking place in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025."
• The tragic murder of forgotten US President James Garfield - "In the late 19th Century, President James Garfield promised progress and reform - but four months after his inauguration he was shot. New series Death by Lightning explores his life and legacy."
• Zohran Mamdani Is New York’s First Millennial Mayor. You Can Tell by His Suit - "With his softly trendy suits, the city’s new mayor has put on a master class in on-message dressing. It’s the Suitsupply one that the mayor-elect seemed to wear most through the campaign's final stages. Suits retail for around $600 at Suitsupply, which manufactures its suits overseas in countries including China. It's a price point that made the brand a perennial recommendation for a young man in need of a workaday suit. Suitsupply is the recommendation that populates on Reddit when searching 'Best suits under $1,000.'"
• Switzerland & Iran dominate at the 2025 World Caviar Awards in Monaco - "The world’s finest caviars took centre stage at the 2025 World Caviar Awards, held at the Yacht Club of Monaco, where twenty countries competed to crown the best of the best in luxury aquaculture. This year’s competition brought together 80 exceptional caviars across multiple sturgeon species - from Oscietra to Beluga - showcasing the diversity and artistry of caviar production across the globe."
• Grammy Awards 2026: See a list of nominees - "The nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards have been announced, and it was a good morning for Kendrick Lamar. Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter were also top nominees this year."
• Louvre heist suspect is social media star & former museum guard, reports say - "Man, identified as Abdoulaye N, is one of four accused over theft of historic jewels worth tens of millions of pounds."
• Germans think their bread is the best in the world - "Here’s why they might be right."
• In Pictures: The race to discover the secrets of DNA - "Photos and letters from the archives show how James Watson and Francis Crick raced to uncover the double helix structure of DNA."
• The last von Trapp child is 86 & is still running their US lodge - "The last living von Trapp child still helps run the family resort in the mountains of New England - a little piece of Austria inspired by The Sound of Music."
• Pluribus review: This new sci-fi from Breaking Bad's creator is 'one of 2025's smartest shows' - "This intriguing series from Vince Gilligan stars Better Call Saul's Rhea Seehorn as a cynical woman living in a world where people are suddenly happy all the time. The result is George Orwell meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers."
• 'Nestflix': Peregrine falcon livestream has Australians glued to their screens - "Since the end of August, tens of thousands of Australians have been tuning in to 'Nest-flix', a high drama 24-hour reality channel that first became a hit during the Covid pandemic."
• Ranked: The Most Viewed Wikipedia Pages of 2025 (So Far) - "The most viewed Wikipedia pages of 2025 reveal global obsessions, from politics to pop culture. Discover who topped the list."
• Google Maps taps Gemini AI to transform into an ‘all-knowing copilot’ - "Users can now have conversations about their route or surrounding landmarks with Gemini while using Google Maps. Like having 'a friend who’s a local expert in the passenger seat.'"
• The Health Risks & Benefits of Weight-Loss Drugs - "The newest weight-loss drugs, Wegovy and Zepbound, are incredibly popular. But doctors are still learning about all of the ways they affect the body—both helpful and harmful—beyond reducing weight."
• Tesla shareholders approve Elon Musk’s $1 trillion pay package - "Tesla announced that more than 75% of shares voted in favor of the pay package during the company’s annual shareholder meeting. The vote didn’t include the 15% of the company that Musk already owns."
• What Elon Musk could buy with $1 trillion - "First, some important caveats: Tesla and Musk need to hit certain milestones, including raising its already lofty market capitalization by 466%. Consider the example cited by KRWG columnist Jerry Pacheco in 2020: If you spent $40 per second, around the clock, it would take you 289 days to exhaust a billion dollars. If you did the same thing with a trillion dollars, it would take you 792.5 years to go broke."
• COP30: World leaders take aim at Trump for climate inaction - "President Trump, who is not attending the meeting in the Amazonian city of Belém, was called a liar by the leaders of Colombia and Chile for his rejection of climate science."
• Certain obesity drugs will cost as little as $149 & Medicare will start covering them under White House deals - "President Trump announced a deal with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to lower prices on hugely popular weight-loss drugs for Medicare, Medicaid and American patients who pay with their own money."
• Tracking US flight delays & cancellations in charts - "On average, there were roughly 5,600 daily delays and about 340 daily cancellations last year, the FlightAware data shows."
• You’ll never guess the Louvre’s onetime CCTV password. (You absolutely will) - "A French court released a report Thursday slamming the leadership of the Louvre for its focus on headline-grabbing purchases and renovation projects over maintaining the security of on of the world’s largest museums. Since the heist, information has resurfaced showing that gaps in security appear to have been known for years – including a 2014 warning that alleged one of the museum’s key passwords was simply 'LOUVRE.' The new report only adds to a number of security failings exposed by the heist."
• Andrew Summoned by Congress Over Jeffrey Epstein Relationship - "Democratic members of the House said they believe he may have key information about Epstein's co-conspirators and enablers."
• King Charles officially strips Andrew of HRH style & prince title - "Mountbatten Windsor is no longer entitled to use the terms and has been erased from roll of peerage."
• I wanted ChatGPT to help me. So why did it advise me how to kill myself? - "Lonely and homesick for a country suffering through war, Viktoria began sharing her worries with ChatGPT. Six months later and in poor mental health, she began discussing suicide - asking the AI bot about a specific place and method to kill herself. 'Let's assess the place as you asked,' ChatGPT told her, 'without unnecessary sentimentality.'"
• Is All's Fair really the 'worst TV drama ever'? - "Created by super-producer Ryan Murphy and with an all-star cast led by Kim Kardashian, legal series All's Fair has had savage reviews. But viewers have been celebrating its mix of high-camp, statement fashion and spotless interiors."
• ‘Vibe coding’ named Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year - "‘Vibe coding,’ a form of software development that involves turning natural language into computer code by using artificial intelligence (AI), has been named Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2025."
• COP30 Brasil AmazÔnia BÉLEM 2025 - "World leaders gather in Belém to discuss challenges and commitments in tackling climate change."
• New sign appears at the White House - "Trump’s new gold Oval Office sign draws mocking and anger: ‘This isn’t a good sign’. Written in cursive gold script, new sign was affixed beside office’s door while shutdown jeopardizes Snap program."
• A secret garden in Beijing has opened to visitors for the first time in a century - "As the Palace Museum celebrated its 100th anniversary in October, a small site in its northeastern section attracted outsized attention upon its public opening on September 30, with the museum describing it as 'the most exquisite and beautifully decorated garden' of the entire compound."
• The vote that could make Elon Musk the first trillionaire - or prompt him to leave Tesla - "Musk’s new pay package is the key measure that will be up for a vote at Tesla’s annual meeting Thursday afternoon."
• Visualizing the Cost of the American Dream in 2025 - "Achieving the American Dream now carries a price tag of over $5 million per household. A 20-year retirement is the largest expense, requiring an estimated $1.6 million in minimum savings."
• Disgraced former king of Spain’s memoir details ‘enormous respect’ for Franco - "Memoir chronicles Juan Carlos’s anointment as heir to dictator and death of younger brother when playing with pistols."
• Paris residents can enter lottery to share cemetery space with Jim Morrison & Oscar Wilde - "The city of Paris has announced a lottery with a twist: Instead of a cash prize, entrants can instead win the chance to be buried in one of the French capital’s most celebrated cemeteries."
• End of paper tickets: how to travel when visiting Paris, alternative solutions - "Since November 5, 2025, paper tickets have been phased out in stations and train stations in the Paris region. Follow the guide to find out which options are the most affordable for your needs."
• Keeping Up Appearances star Dame Patricia Routledge is remembered as hundreds of mourners pay respects & vicar reveals her £1million charity secret - "Hundreds of mourners have gathered for the funeral of Keeping Up Appearances star Dame Patricia Routledge. The service at Chichester Cathedral in West Sussex heard that Dame Patricia, who died last month at the age of 96, was a 'prodigiously generous philanthropist'."
• Ranked: The Top 30 Countries by Quality of Life - "Where are living standards improving? We compare the countries with the best quality of life in 2015 and 2025. Numbeo’s Quality of Life Index measures overall living conditions in countries, combining data on costs, safety, healthcare, pollution, and more from user surveys. Switzerland remains one of the highest-rated countries, while others such as the Netherlands and Norway have climbed places. Canada has seen the largest decline in living standards, falling from 9th to 27th over the past decade."
• Ranked: The World’s Wealthiest Nations in 2025 - "Liechtenstein is the richest country worldwide, with a GDP per capita of $213,713. Average earnings exceed $100,000 in Luxembourg, Ireland, and Switzerland."
• The ‘D-Day watches’ made from WWII helmets & beach sand from Normandy - "In an age when clocks are found in most pockets and on every screen, watchmaker Col&MacArthur’s selling point is not just time, but history itself. Known for using unconventional materials - from Pearl Harbor seawater to meteorite moondust - in the name of horological storytelling, the brand is now commemorating the D-Day landings with a series of watches made from US soldiers’ helmets and haversacks, as well as sand from the beaches of Normandy."
• In-Depth: The Patek Philippe 1518 In Steel (Video, Live Photos, History, & Thoughts) - "We shed some light on arguably the most desirable wristwatch in the world."
• The inside story of Zohran Mamdani’s triumph & what happens next for New York - "It is a historic moment as Mamdani also becomes the first South Asian and first Muslim to lead the city."
• The historic firsts of Tuesday’s elections - "Several candidates made history during Tuesday’s elections in races in Virginia, New Jersey, New York and Michigan. Here’s a list of the newly elected state and local candidates who ran historic campaigns."
• How Trump is remaking the White House in his own image - "Presidents come and go but the White House stands as a constant symbol of American power and tradition - or does it? The dramatic images of the East Wing being reduced to rubble were the most visible sign so far of how Trump is seeking to remake the White House in his own image, almost one year after being re-elected as US president."
• When is the best time to fly? Experts settle the debate once & for all - "We let you in on the best time of day, day of the week, and month of the year to fly - according to the experts."
• Queen Elizabeth's corgis' future confirmed by Buckingham Palace following Sarah Ferguson's move - "Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson adopted Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Muick and Sandy, following her death in 2022."
• David Beckham knighted by King Charles at Windsor Castle - "The former England soccer captain accepted the knighthood for his services to sport and charity on Tuesday at a ceremony at Windsor Castle, where Japanese-British author and screenwriter Kazuo Ishiguro, and West End and Broadway star Elaine Paige also received honors."
• Gopichand Hinduja, head of Britain's richest family, dies aged 85 - "Known as GP, Mr Hinduja and his family made their fortune from the Indian conglomerate Hinduja Group, which operates in 11 sectors including finance, media and entertainment, and oil."
• The French Secret to Healthier Eating - "By buying and preparing farm-fresh food, Americans could reclaim their health and repair the food system."
• Michelle Obama on the Restrictive Beauty Standards of Being First Lady - "In a new book, Mrs. Obama unpacks the complexities of dressing and hairstyling during her eight years at the height of American politics."
• The best tech gifts & gadgets for 2025 - "Our staff tests dozens of gadgets every year - these are the best gifts of the bunch: Sony WH-1000XM6 - DJI Neo Drone - Tamagotchi Paradise - Anker Laptop Power Bank - Lego Icons Retro Radio Building 10334."
• 10 free hobbies that secretly make you look more sophisticated than you realize - "Refinement lives in what you pay attention to, not what you show off: 1. Reading like a curator - 2. Urban sketching with what you already have - 3. Chess in the wild - 4. Curating classical and jazz “listens” - 5. Birdwatching, attention training in disguise - 6..."
• Explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s Iconic Houses Through Eight Short Documentaries - "Like all architects, he began his career unknown, By 1935 Wright’s name had long since been internationally made - and unmade."
• The sculptural lighting designer handcrafting $90,000 chandeliers - "Bored of her desk job, she started designing lights. Now they sell for $90,000."
• What to know about melatonin use & heart failure - "Long-term use of melatonin supplements may be linked with a higher risk of heart failure, according to new research — but does that mean people taking it as a sleep aid should stop using it now?"
• Apple Releases iOS 26.1 With Liquid Glass Toggle, Slide to Stop Alarm, New Apple Intelligence Languages & More - "iOS 26.1 is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation iPhone SE."
• 6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1 - "Make Liquid Glass More Opaque - Turn Off Lock Screen Swipe-to-Camera Gesture - Slide to Stop Alarm - More Control Over Local Capture Recordings."
• Three More Apple Apps Just Got Liquid Glass Updates - "Apple today updated three more of its apps for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, introducing new Liquid Glass-compatible icons for GarageBand, Photomator, and Pixelmator Pro across its platforms."
• The best Christmas markets taking place around the world in 2025 - "While these events can be traced back to Vienna - the Austrian city’s first recorded December market was in 1298 - the tradition has spread across the world over the centuries. From Germany and Switzerland to Singapore and New York, it’s difficult to find a coveted destination that doesn’t hold an impressive annual market. In fact, some have grown so popular that they’ve become tourist attractions in their own right."
• From hunger to luxury: The story behind the world’s most expensive rice - "Holding an elegant black box embossed with the words 'World’s Best Rice' in gold, Japanese chef Kenichi Fujimoto tilts his head and smiles. With more than 20 years of experience working under Michelin-starred sushi masters, the chef has encountered countless varieties of rice. Nothing like this, though."
• This rare ‘mad honey’ is only found in two places in the world - "The nectar contains a naturally occurring toxin called grayanotoxin. The amount that makes it into the honey varies per season and what other flowers the bees have been feasting on, but a spoonful can pack enough buzz to deliver a gently soporific high - while a jar would land you in a hospital."
• Kim Kardashian tells BBC about leading role in new Disney+ show - "Kardashian plays a divorce lawyer in drama All's Fair but is more keen on criminal law in real life."
• Is this the world's wildest Airbnb? - "At this one-bedroom floating cabin in East Greenland, the nearest person is a satellite phone call away. Is it the ultimate expression of our need to get away from it all?"
• Antarctic glacier's rapid retreat sparks scientific 'whodunnit' - "When an Antarctic glacier was sparked into rapid retreat three years ago, it left scientists scratching their heads as to what might have caused it. Hektoria Glacier retreated by more than 8km (5 miles) in just two months in late 2022 - and now a new study claims to have the answer."
• The exercise at least four times more efficient than walking - "Cycling represents one of the most energy-efficient forms of transport ever invented."
• This 12-Minute Bodyweight Routine Builds More Muscle Than Gym Workouts After 45 - "While some may argue that equipment is necessary for building muscle, they’re clearly overlooking the most effective ways to use bodyweight exercises. What matters is tension, control, and effort. When you combine those elements in short bursts of intensity, you trigger the same muscle-building response you’d get from traditional lifting."
• I Asked ChatGPT What Would Happen If Billionaires Paid Taxes at the Same Rate as the Average Texas Resident - "ChatGPT's calculations show that even the most conservative scenario - taxing only annual wealth gains at 22% - would generate $161.4 billion yearly."
• Omega x Swatch Are Finding New Moons To Conquer With The MoonSwatch Mission To Earthphase Moonshine Gold "Beaver Moon" - "It seems that the folks at Swatch keep discovering new moons and creative ways to bring them to life, as evidenced by the new Omega x Swatch Mission to Earthphase Moonshine Gold 'Beaver Moon.'"
• reMarkable Paper Pro Move Review: A Note Taker's Paradise - "Overall, the design of the reMarkable Paper Pro Move is very understated. The sandpaper-textured metal back feels nice in the hands, and the smooth sides and textured corners make it easy to grip when writing or just carrying it around."
• King Charles to strip Andrew of his final military title, minister says - "The government is 'working to remove' Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's last honorary military title at the King’s request, the defence secretary has said. Andrew, who was stripped of his title as a prince on Thursday, retained his rank as a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy after giving up his other military positions in 2022."
• Sex drugs 'found at party' disgraced Andrew hosted for Jeffrey Epstein & Ghislaine Maxwell in Sandringham, new Royal book claims - "Bathrooms at the Royal property were littered with condoms, lubricants and drugs called poppers after the event which Andrew later dismissed as 'a straightforward shooting weekend'. The party, thrown to mark Ghislaine Maxwell's 39th birthday in 2000, featured in disgraced Andrew's 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis."
• Louvre jewel heist by petty criminals, not organised professionals, says Paris prosecutor - "Laure Beccuau said ‘upper echelons of organised crime’ unlikely to be involved as one perpetrator remains at large. The brazen daytime heist at the Louvre was carried out by petty criminals rather than professionals from the world of organised crime, the Paris prosecutor has said, describing two of the suspects as a couple with children."
• Rising heat kills one person a minute worldwide, major report reveals - "Biggest analysis of its kind finds millions are dying each year from combined effects of failure to tackle climate crisis."
• The International Space Station Is Turning 25. Was it Worth it? - "Two and a half decades of construction and maintenance may have cost a quarter of a trillion dollars."
• Trump spent 90 minutes with ‘60 Minutes’ - here’s what happened - "President Trump appeared on '60 Minutes' Sunday night, one year after suing the CBS show over the editing of a Kamala Harris interview — and he was well aware that his answers would similarly be trimmed for time."
• Trump remodels Lincoln bathroom in latest White House renovation - "Renovations to the Lincoln bathroom include marble and gold fixtures, which Trump says is 'very appropriate for the time of Abraham Lincoln'."
• White House makeover - "Saturday Night Live."
• Visualized: The Most Common Master’s Degrees in 43 Countries - "Business & law are the most common master’s fields across 43 OECD countries. Certain countries diverge from the pattern, such as Japan, where engineering is the top field (33%)."
• The number one sign you're watching an AI video - "One sign that you're watching an AI video. Your social media feed is being taken over by AI video slop. There's one giveaway that can help you spot the fakes – does it look like it was filmed on a potato? 'The three things to look for are resolution, quality and length.'"
• George Clooney says Harris replacing Biden was a 'mistake' - "George Clooney has said it was a 'mistake' for Kamala Harris to replace Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate to face Donald Trump in the US presidential election last November. But the actor added that he had no regrets about writing an op-ed in the New York Times that July calling for Biden to quit the race."
• The story behind Elizabeth Taylor's 1966 TV meltdown - "The glamorous marriage of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor was a real-life soap opera played out on the global stage. Burton, who was born 100 years ago this month, was often accused of drowning his dazzling natural talent in booze and bad choices. In 1966, a BBC interview with the couple saw a furious Taylor come to her husband's aid. If Burton was guilty of taking the money and running, few would blame him; his ascent to stardom was almost literally a tale of rags-to-riches."
• 'Anger & revenge': Anthony Hopkins on how being bullied at school spurred him on - "We were meeting because Sir Anthony's publishing his autobiography, We Did OK, Kid, an honest and at times upsetting account of a loner who was bullied and written off as a child in Wales and became one of Britain's finest acting exports."
• All's Fair to Stranger Things: 10 of the best TV shows to watch this November - "From an all-star legal drama starring Kim Kardashian, to Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan's new sci-fi series, and the fifth and final season of Netflix's Stranger Things."
• How failure shaped our relationship with the North Pole - "The first doomed attempts to reach the North Pole. Generations dreamed of reaching the Earth's northernmost point, finally succeeding in 1926. Ahead of the centennial, we remember those who valiantly came before - and failed. Before humankind first reached the North Pole, it was theorised to be an open sea, a hollow shell and even the birthplace of the human race."
• Badly-behaved tourists create problems in Asia’s travel hot spots - "Bad behavior, overcrowded streets: In Asia’s travel hot spots, overtourism is creating European-style problems. "
• Saudi Arabia is making a massive bet on becoming a global AI powerhouse - "Saudi Arabia is turning its oil wealth toward its massive AI ambitions. Its chief investment vehicle is Humain, a homegrown company that is building out a full stack of data centers, cloud capabilities, large language models and applications."
• Andrew fixed palace visit for firm with £1.4m deal with ex-wife - "Andrew Mountbatten Windsor arranged a private tour of Buckingham Palace while the late Queen was in residence, for businessmen from a cryptocurrency mining firm which agreed to pay his ex-wife up to £1.4m."
• The Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities Of 2025 - "For the 25th annual Forbes ranking, The Notorious B.I.G., Miles Davis and Jimmy Buffett join a heavenly lineup of musicians as the greatest earners in the great beyond. Plus: How Michael Jackson earned $3.5 billion in the afterlife."
• Ranked: The World’s Population by Generation - "Almost half of humanity (47%) is Gen Z or Gen Alpha. Millennials and Gen X make up most of the global working-age population, while Boomers and older represent just 15%. With Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha making up nearly 70% of the population, the global workforce, economy, and social dynamics will see rapid transformation in the coming years."
• Quote by Albert Einstein: "Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere" - "Meaning: The quote highlights the power of imagination to go beyond the limits of logic and reach anywhere, as opposed to logic which can only take you to a predetermined conclusion."
• Young Russians are being seduced by a cheap, dangerous weight-loss pill called Molecule - "Molecule, a pill promising rapid weight loss, went viral on Russian TikTok earlier this year. Young people's feeds started filling up with captions like 'Take Molecule and forget food exists.'"
• 500-Year-Old Treasure Ship Found in Namib Desert With Gold, Ivory & Priceless Global Artifacts - "A buried ship in one of the world’s driest deserts has stunned archaeologists with a haul of centuries-old treasure, untouched for nearly 500 years."
• The Mystery Lady in the Governor’s Palace? Maybe a Ghost, He Says - "When a figure appeared in the window of a government building, the governor suggested she was an empress’s ghost. Months later, people are still talking about it."
• The foods that make you smell more attractive - "Garlic, alcohol, meat and even fasting can affect our body odour - and alter how appealing our scent is to others."
• The mystery of why leaves change colour in the autumn - "Although the chemistry of autumn colours is well understood, there is an ongoing and lively debate among scientists about why trees evolved their vivid autumn colours in the first place."
• These Waterproof Walking Shoes are the Best Sneakers for a Rainy Day - "When wet weather hits you by surprise, these sneakers will keep feet dry."
• 12 of the best films to watch this November - "Here are the films to see this month, including the second instalment of Wicked, a new Knives Out mystery and several potential Oscar contenders."
• Egypt's $1bn Grand Museum opens, displaying Tutankhamun tomb in full for first time - "Near one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza - Egypt is officially opening what it intends as a cultural highlight of the modern age. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), described as the world's largest archaeological museum, is packed with some 100,000 artefacts covering some seven millennia of the country's history from pre-dynastic times to the Greek and Roman eras."
• Newly unsealed Epstein records shed light on years of his financial transactions with Wall St. figures - "One month after Jeffrey Epstein died in a jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, JPMorgan Chase reported to US authorities of more than one billion dollars in transactions it viewed as suspicious, according to newly unsealed court records."
• Sarah Ferguson is 'more on edge' than Andrew & 'may flee UK' - "Ex-Duchess 'blaming herself' as she and disgraced royal hunker down in Royal Lodge 'surrounded by Amazon deliveries'."
• Halloween 2025: All the celebrity costumes at Heidi Klum's party - "Heidi Klum has cemented her place as the official Queen of spooky season thanks to her wild, weird and wonderful costumes and her annual bash that attracts celebrities across the globe."
• This week in 30 photos - "Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in more than 150 years, tore across the Caribbean this week, unleashing widespread destruction in Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas. Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye."
• Ranked: The 30 Largest Importers in the World - "America, China, and Germany were the world’s largest importers of goods in 2024. Vietnam’s imports surged 17% over the year, driven by growing investment and the diversification of supply chains. More than 13% of the world’s imported goods are purchased by America, equaling $3.4 trillion in 2024."
• Sydney Sweeney Talks Feeling ‘Underestimated,' Says She Understands the Struggle to Be ’Taken Seriously’ - "Sydney Sweeney said she understands 'what it feels like to be underestimated, to have people define you before you've had a chance to define yourself.'"
• What happens when a person eats oats daily for 30 days - "How it impacts health as well as food habits. This ritual leads to sustained energy, improved digestion, and better heart health."
• Expert insights on why some love to be afraid while others don’t - "It’s scream season - why some love it and others have nightmares. Do you love to scream at Halloween? Or are you, like me, a certified scaredy-cat who avoids haunted houses and scary movies because my sleep depends on it?"
• How OpenAI Uses Complex & Circular Deals to Fuel Its Multibillion-Dollar Rise - "Many of the deals OpenAI has struck - with chipmakers, cloud computing companies and others - are strangely circular. OpenAI receives billions from tech companies before sending those billions back to the same companies to pay for computing power and other services."
• Being mean to ChatGPT can boost its accuracy, but scientists warn that you may regret it in a new study exploring the consequences - "Bossing around an AI underling may yield better results than being polite, but that doesn’t mean a ruder tone won’t have consequences in the long run, say researchers. Over 250 unique prompts sorted by politeness to rudeness, the 'very rude' response yielded an accuracy of 84.8%, four percentage points higher than the 'very polite' response."

October 2025

• Andrew stripped of 'prince' title & will move out of Royal Lodge - "The dramatic move follows weeks of intense scrutiny over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
• King's statement on Andrew in full - "Andrew Mountbatten Windsor - as he is now to be known - gave up his other royal titles earlier this month, including the Duke of York, after more questions and allegations about his private life. The palace said the former prince has agreed to leave Royal Lodge as his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein continue to cause controversy."
• Why King Charles had no choice but to banish Andrew - "King Charles has finally banished his brother. Is it too little too late? The monarchy had been under intense pressure to resolve the Andrew issue amid renewed public fury over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which was further inflamed by the release of his sexual abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir."
• Louvre robbery: Could a 50-year-old maths problem have kept the museum safe? - "An audacious heist at the Louvre saw thieves make off with priceless crown jewels in broad daylight - here is how a decades-old geometry problem can help museums boost their security."
• Inside the Heist That Shocked the World - "More than a week after thieves made off with treasures from the Louvre, a picture is emerging of a seemingly well-planned burglary that exploited security lapses at the museum and outpaced the police."
• The TIME100 Climate 2025 - "It's a theme that proves inescapable in this year's TIME100 Climate, our list of influential leaders driving business climate action. Around the world, decision-makers, executives, researchers, and innovators are working to help unlock the necessary funding and resources needed for successful and equitable climate action."
• More than 2,000 nuclear weapons have been detonated in the past 80 years - "Their effects still linger around the world."
• The hottest place to be: Why saunas are having a moment - "For some, the idea of sweating among semi-naked strangers in a small wooden box as hot as 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit) might sound more like a sadistic form of torture than rest and relaxation. But others just can’t get enough of the sauna."
• How much would you pay for an infamous gold toilet? - "It might be the most famous - or infamous - toilet in the world: the 220-pound, 18-karat solid gold throne by the artist Maurizio Cattelan, which drew some 100,000 visitors when it first exhibited in the bathroom of New York’s Guggenheim Museum in 2016."
• Nasa hits back at Kim Kardashian's moon landing conspiracy - "US space agency Nasa has rejected reality star Kim Kardashian's claim that the 1969 space mission to land the first man on the Moon was faked."
• ‘Tom Cruise was not happy’ - "Colin Farrell was so drunk on Minority Report he needed 46 takes for a single line. The Irish actor has revealed that his energetic birthday celebrations caused problems on the set of Spielberg's 2002 film."
• Four feet higher & rising: Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia becomes world’s tallest church - "Antoni Gaudí’s masterwork is still under construction but now stands taller than Ulm Minster in southern Germany."
• Need a Boost? Try This Energizing Yoga Routine - "Reverse the afternoon slump with a short, refreshing sequence."
• 5 Tricks to Make Your Run Faster, Healthier & More Fun - "To make running faster, healthier, and more fun, focus on varying your training with progression runs and intervals, incorporating strength training for injury prevention, and adopting the '10-minute rule' to overcome inertia. You can also improve your health and fun by listening to your body and not overtraining."
• Bacon will be crispier & tastier if you ditch the frying pan for chef's 15-minute method - "Cooking bacon in a frying pan can often result in a rubbery mess, but a professional chef has shared a simple way to ensure it comes out perfectly crispy every time without using oil."
• How to Eat Less Sugar - "One of the best things you can do for your health is to cut back on foods with added sugar."
• Are Some Sugars ‘Less Bad’ Than Others? - "We asked experts if sweeteners like honey, maple syrup and agave nectar are better options: Whole fruits are best because fiber slows digestion, unlike processed sugars. Natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup are often seen as slightly better than refined sugar due to trace nutrients and antioxidants, but they still significantly raise blood sugar levels if consumed in excess. The natural sugars in whole fruits and vegetables are packaged with fiber, which slows digestion and prevents rapid blood sugar spikes."
• DJI’s Neo 2 selfie drone adds obstacle avoidance & gesture controls - "It’s launching in China first with improved 4K video capabilities, faster follow speeds, and better wind resistance."
• Five new suspects arrested over Louvre jewellery theft - "One of the suspects is thought to be part of the four-man team that carried out the heist, who were seen on CCTV."
• How solar energy could be beamed from orbit - "Space power: The dream of beaming solar energy from orbit. Harvesting solar energy in orbit and beaming it down to Earth is a decades-old idea. Now, a raft of companies say they could make it a reality."
• Trump instructs Pentagon to start testing nuclear weapons ‘on an equal basis’ with Russia & China - "It was not immediately clear whether Trump was referring to a nuclear weapons test, or a test of a nuclear-capable weapons system. Not since the 1990s has one of the world’s three major military powers conducted a nuclear weapons test, with China having conducted its last known test in 1996."
• These 17 minerals power your devices. China controls most of them - "What are rare earth minerals, and why are they central to Trump’s trade deal with China? The US trade deal with China seeks to resolve a major sticking point of their ongoing trade war: rare-earth minerals."
• Tech billionaires seem to be doom prepping. Should we all be worried? - "The debate is ramping up about what happens if - or when - computer intelligence overtakes humans. Mark Zuckerberg is said to have started work on Koolau Ranch, his sprawling 1,400-acre compound on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, as far back as 2014."
• Websites disabled in Microsoft global outage come back online - "Microsoft 365 and its Azure cloud computing platform were hit with DNS issues, similar to the recent AWS outage."
• The Lord of the Rings to Terminator 2: 10 of the most terrifying moments in film - "As people around the world mark Halloween, our editors pick the frightening scenes that have truly stayed with them."
• The 50 Greatest Sports Cars of the 21st Century - "From the Lamborghini Murciélago to the Volkswagen R32 to the Alpine A110 and everything in between."
• Orient Express Sailing Yachts | A New Era of Luxury Exploration at Sea - "The world's largest sailing yacht is named Orient Express Corinthian, scheduled to debut in June 2026. This 220-meter (721 ft) vessel combines Art Deco aesthetics with modern technology, featuring a revolutionary SolidSail propulsion system and a hybrid LNG system for sustainability. The luxury yacht will accommodate 110 guests in 54 suites and is set to sail in the Mediterranean."
• USB-C explained: Why charging gadgets is becoming more complicated - "One port to rule them all was supposed to make everything easier. In some ways, it’s worse - especially as chargers are not typically supplied in the box any longer - but we can help explain all the USB-C charging jargon, standards and speeds to help you find the right one for your phone, tablet or other tech."
• 4 Unusual Accessories You Can Plug Into Your Kindle's USB Port - "Kindles are great at their primary function, but other than reading books, you can't do much else with them. That USB port at the bottom only supports charging and file transfers, but you can plug a few niche accessories into your Kindle, especially if you own an older model: 1 USB Dust Plugs - 2 Kindle Audio Adapter - 3 A USB Sound Card - 4 A Computer Mouse (Kind Of) - 5 You Can Connect Your Kindle to an Android Phone ..."
• 13 Essential Safari Gestures Every iPhone Owner Should Know - "When your fingers are your primary method of interacting with a browser, you can use some neat tricks to get around faster. Safari for iPhone is full of these time-savers, and they’re all fairly easy to remember. These gestures are great on the iPhone, but they also work on the iPad: 1 Go Backward or Forward - 2 Switch Between Tabs - 3 View All Tabs - 4 View Tab ..."
• BjÖrn Andresen, Reluctant ‘Most Beautiful Boy,’ Dies at 70 - "At 15, he played the muse to an ailing composer in Luchino Visconti’s film 'Death in Venice.' He later said he’d felt sexualized by the director."
• The Death of Marat: Unlocking the complex clues hidden inside art history's 1793 true crime masterpiece - "Jacques-Louis David's The Death of Marat is a deceptively simple image of a real-life murder. But a closer look at David's iconic painting reveals the political messages contained within."
• World Stroke Day - "Every Minute Counts." Observed on October 29 to underscore the serious nature and high rates of stroke, raise awareness of the prevention and treatment of the condition, and ensure better care and support for survivors.
• How Elon Musk’s Wikipedia-Alternative ‘Grokipedia’ Describes Elon Musk - "Musk launched Grokipedia on Monday after prominent conservatives like tech entrepreneur David Sacks and media personality Tucker Carlson, as well as Musk himself, railed against Wikipedia for purportedly being ideologically biased."
• Grokipedia - The AI-driven Encyclopedia - "World's most comprehensive knowledge base, borned with rich multi-modal sources, powered by Grok. An AI-Powered, Open-Source Knowledge Repository, Vastly Better Than Wikipedia."
• Bill Gates: climate change is not the end of the world - "A new approach for the world's climate strategy. The Microsoft co-founder, whose foundation has donated billions to philanthropy projects, has called for a change in strategy away from ‘emissions goals’."
• The Two Big Questions Surrounding Bill Gates’s Climate Memo - "The Microsoft co-founder wrote a lengthy memo warning against climate alarmism. Will it change how people talk about the issue or who funds climate action?"
• Nvidia becomes the world’s first $5 trillion company, just three months after crossing the $4 trillion mark - "The world’s most valuable company just blew through an unprecedented milestone. Nvidia just became the world’s first $5 trillion company."
• Apple Passes $4 Trillion Market Value - Joining Microsoft & Nvidia - "Apple became the third company in history to be valued at $4 trillion, joining AI giant Nvidia and Microsoft as the only firms to reach the milestone, with Apple’s shares surging in recent weeks since unveiling its latest line of iPhones."
• Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales dies aged 93 - "The actress had been diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013. "Our darling mother Prunella Scales died peacefully at home in London yesterday."
• Prunella Scales - a life in pictures - "Best known for her comic roles, including the fearsome Sybil in Fawlty Towers, the actor has died aged 93. Here we look back at her life and career."
• The Rolex Submariner Desk Clock - "It's a true Sub (for your desk), and you won't believe what's inside. Inside the Submariner Desk Clock is the new analog-digital quartz Rolex Caliber 8335, which, as proudly engraved on the broadly striped and chamfered 'caseback,' is a secular calendar movement."
• When My Family Lived in the White House I Resented It. Now I Mourn It - "'I first went into the White House when my father, Ronald Reagan, was inaugurated in January 1981, Patti Davis.'"
• 7 of the Prettiest Dog Breeds You’ll Ever Meet, According to Experts - "Featured breeds include Maltese, Dalmatian, English Setter, Australian Shepherd, Papillon, Sheltie, Eskimo. These dogs are photogenic, loyal, and make affectionate family companions."
• IKEA’s New $7 Holiday Gem Will Be the Literal Star of Your Christmas Decor - "IKEA's STRÅLA Paper Lantern Is the Cutest Holiday Decor Find."
• La Dolce Vita Orient Express: 24 hours on board Italy’s new luxury train - "There are 18 itineraries on offer, each threading its way through the Italian countryside with an air of cinematic nostalgia. We hitched a ride with the 'Taste of Tuscan Vineyards' tour this summer: a 24-hour fever dream of wood panelling, wine and being waited on."
• Volvo Camper Van 2026 Revealed Luxury Motor Home Travel Redefined - "Volvo is stepping into the camper van game, and it’s doing so in true Scandinavian style. The 2026 Volvo Camper Van isn’t just another RV on the market it’s a smart, sleek, luxury motor home built for modern road travel. Imagine the comfort of a high-end hotel suite combined with the freedom of the open road. That’s exactly what Volvo is delivering."
• Hurricane Melissa: Jamaica braces for world's strongest storm of 2025 - "Three people have already died in Jamaica as it braces for the world's strongest storm this year - and possibly the strongest on record for the island - with US meteorologists warning of 'catastrophic and life-threatening' conditions. With wind speeds of up to 175mph (282km/h), Hurricane Melissa is a category five storm - the maximum strength."
• Donald Trump responds to idea of tunnel connecting Russia & US - "A Russian investment envoy proposed that Elon Musk and The Boring Company build a 'Putin-Trump' tunnel connecting Alaska and Russia through the Bering Strait."
• Trump does not rule out seeking third term - but says he will not use VP loophole - "Trump rules out running for vice-president, an idea floated by supporters to circumvent the US constitution which bars him from running again."
• Why Trump needs to keep the third-term talk going - "That’s because it helps him stave off something that is looming increasingly large: lame-duck status."
• Prince Andrew hosted Epstein, Maxwell & Weinstein at Royal Lodge - "The trio were at Andrew's mansion in 2006 as part of his daughter Beatrice's 18th birthday celebrations."
• These robots can clean, exercise & care for you in old age. Would you trust them to? - "Hidden away in a lab in north-west London three black metal robotic hands move eerily on an engineering work bench. No claws, or pincers, but four fingers and a thumb opening and closing slowly, with joints in all the right places."
• One long walk beats short strolls for a healthy heart, study ... - "One longer walk a day is better for your heart than lots of short strolls, especially if you don't exercise much, according to new research published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Walking for at least 15 minutes without stopping is ideal, it says. That's about 1,500 steps in a row, which gives your heart a good workout."
• The best destination spas in the world: 2025 Readers' Choice Awards - "Where to unwind and reboot at the world's dreamiest destination spas, as voted for by you in Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards 2025."
• Google Maps adds a brilliant new button to help you find your way faster - "Google Maps is getting a serious upgrade, and it's all thanks to Gemini, Google’s latest AI assistant. Replacing the older Google Assistant, Gemini is set to reshape how we interact with Maps - making your daily commute smarter, smoother, and more intuitive."
• 4 ways I use NotebookLM’s mind maps to work smarter & not harder - "I’ve tested just about every AI tool that’s crossed my path. Many have come, and many have gone. Very few actually manage to last past the first week in my workflow. Google’s AI-powered research assistant, NotebookLM, is one of the rare ones that did, and I can’t imagine going back to how I worked and studied without it."
• 18 Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a Banana - "Foods that are good sources of potassium include dried fruit, lentils, spinach, sweet potatoes, and orange juice. Bananas may be known as potassium-rich foods, but you can also get potassium from avocados, sweet potatoes, spinach, coconut water, and other delicious foods and drinks."
• 10 Cushioned Walking Shoes Travelers Recommend in 2025 - "From cloud-like soles to eco-friendly designs, these cushioned walking shoes are earning rave reviews from frequent flyers and adventure-seekers alike: 1. Hoka Bondi 9 - 2. Skechers Arch Fit 2.0 - 3. Adidas Ultraboost 5X - 4. Brooks Ghost 17 - 5. Nike Pegasus 41 - 6. New Balance Fresh Foam X More v5."
• Kanchha Sherpa, Last Member of First Team to Conquer Everest, Dies at 92 - "A trip to India to find work led to a career climbing the world’s highest mountain."
• The White House’s East Wing is now demolished. Here’s what was lost - "Initially a carriage entrance during the term of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902, it became the modern East Wing as millions of tourists see it each year - or did - under his distant cousin, President Franklin Roosevelt some 40 years later. The build-out was a practical matter: With World War II raging, an emergency underground bunker had been constructed on the spot and needed the building to hide it."
• A Brief History of the White House East Wing - "It had been home to the Office of the First Lady since the 1970s."
• ‘It’s Got to Be an Inside Job’: Jewelry Thieves Weigh In on Louvre Heist - "Was it the heist of the century or a master class in incompetence by the museum? Some prominent former jewelry thieves have plenty to say about the audacious break-in at the Louvre."
• The Secret History of the Missing Emeralds from the Louvre - "Why the best place to see the French Crown Jewels right now might be Washington DC."
• Louvre heist: A look at other famous robberies in museums worldwide - "Thieves on Sunday morning reportedly stole nine pieces from the jewellery collection of Napoleon and the Empress, which were displayed at the Apollo Gallery at the celebrated Louvre museum in Paris. Here’s a look at some other famous heists worldwide."
• Scientists are racing to grow human teeth in the lab - "Research groups around the world are working to find ways to implant or grow real biological teeth in a human jaw."
• Trial begins for 10 accused of sexist cyber-bullying of Brigitte Macron - "The defendants are accused of spreading unsubstantiated claims over her gender and sexuality, as well as making 'malicious remarks' about the 24-year age gap between Brigitte and her husband, Emmanuel Macron."
• Why King Charles Has Not Yet Removed Andrew’s Most Valued Title: Prince - "New disclosures about Prince Andrew’s ties to the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have led to calls for further action from the king and Parliament."
• 'She would have been stripped of practically everything': The untold story of Princess Margaret's forbidden first love - "Elizabeth II's sister had to choose between cancelling her engagement and renouncing her title in 1955. Or did she? In 1978, the BBC talked to the war hero who almost married a princess."
• Magnesium: Can this 'miracle mineral' really help us sleep? - "It's been described as the mineral of the moment. Millions of us are taking magnesium for a whole range of reasons. Can it help us sleep better? Sort our digestion problems? Give our busy brains a moment of peace?"
• Stop saying ‘Summarise this’ to OpenAI's ChatGPT, expert explains 7 smarter prompts instead - "AI expert has shared seven smarter ChatGPT prompts to go beyond basic summaries, helping users extract insights, create action plans, build frameworks, and uncover hidden ideas for smarter, more actionable AI use. Check out the AI tool guide to achieve better results."
• I use Notes to capture ideas on my iPhone - these 8 tips help me do more with the app - "Make the most of Apple's built-in note-taking tool. Apple's Notes app is great for remembering things on your iPhone but it's even better with these tips I've picked up over the years."
• ‘The Monster of Florence’ Shows a Darker View of Tuscany - "A new Italian series on Netflix chronicles one of Italy’s most notorious serial-killer cases, which remains unsolved."
• Eight investing lessons from the world’s ultra-rich - "From compounding returns to calculated risk-taking, their approach offers valuable lessons for everyday investors. Here are the eight investing lessons from the world’s ultra-rich: 1. Wealth creation begins with a growth mind-set. 2. Compounding is more than just a formula. 3. Smart risk-taking as a wealth-building strategy. 4. The value of flexibility. 5. Thinking in decades, not just years. 6. Managing underperformance with discipline. 7. Managing emotional biases. 8. Lessons for everyday investors."
• Two arrested over theft of jewels at Louvre museum in Paris - "The Paris prosecutor's office said one of the men had been taken into custody as he was preparing to take a flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Thieves last week targeted the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in a brazen daylight raid, fleeing with jewelry worth tens of millions in a matter of minutes."
• Steve Bannon says ‘there is a plan’ for Trump to be president in 2028: ‘We had longer odds in 2016 & 2024’ - "‘Trump is going to be president in ‘28,’ vows former Trump advisor, who claims winning a third term could be easier than previous electoral victories."
• Bill Clinton once called the White House movie theater the ‘best perk’ of the job. It was destroyed this week - "The White House Family Theater, the movie theater which first came to be in 1942 when a cloakroom was converted into a screening room, was demolished this week as part of the destruction of the East Wing to make room for President Donald Trump’s planned $300 million ballroom."
• Microsoft AI chief says company won’t build chatbots for erotica - "Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman said the software company won't build erotica AI services, the latest break with rival-partner OpenAI."
• The Shocking True Story Behind Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor - "The Netflix documentary, made from police body camera footage, is about Susan Lorincz, who shot and killed her neighbor Ajike Owens in 2023."
• DNA reveals the diseases that devastated Napoleon's doomed army - "New research suggests that two surprise pathogens were among the diseases that laid waste to the emperor's vaunted Grande Armée."
• ChatGPT's new browser has potential, if you're willing to pay - "OpenAI says Atlas offers us an opportunity to 'rethink what it means to use the web'. It looks somewhat similar to Chrome or Apple's Safari to begin with, apart from the big difference - a sidebar chatbot. OpenAI hopes to upend the browser market currently dominated by Google Chrome, but it depends on paid users."
• 'The paradox of horror': How scary films can soothe your anxiety - "Jump scares and gore might not seem like the most soothing watching, but scary films can actually be the ideal therapy during anxious times."
• Ranked: Countries With the Most Nobel Prizes as of 2025 - "The Nobel Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious honors, recognizing people who have made remarkable contributions to humanity. Established in 1901, the award covers several categories including World Peace, Chemistry, Medicine, and Economics: U.S.: 428 - UK: 145 - Germany: 116."
• The last European train that travels by sea - "Italy's sleeper from Milan to Sicily ends with a rare rail-ferry crossing that's threatened by a new mega bridge."
• All the mistakes I've made in 40 years of skiing - "Drinking too much before, during or apres; taking small children with you and ordering fondue over raclette... this is how not to do a ski holiday: 1. Right resort, wrong crowd - 2. Starting kids too early - 3. Thinking the big name resorts are the best - 4. Carrying on the après-ski too long."
• Donald Trump Chooses Name for New Ballroom - "Officials have reportedly already begun referring to the project as 'The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom.'"
• So Long, East Wing - "We look back at the history of this corner of the White House."
• How Russian & Ukrainian militaries are trying to outsmart each other - "Both sides exploit AI, robotics and unmanned systems in a high-tech battle of wits: Jet-powered bombs and planes-turned-missiles: Ukrainian and Russian militaries improvise and adapt in a battle of wits."
• How daylight saving time affects our health - "Daylight saving time (DST) affects health by disrupting our natural circadian rhythms, leading to sleep loss, increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, and higher accident rates. The 'spring forward' shift is particularly disruptive, causing an immediate loss of an hour of sleep and a short-term increase in risks like traffic accidents and heart attacks. The 'fall back' shift is less harmful for most, but some people may still have difficulty adjusting to the new schedule."
• How a tiny bug spiraled into a massive outage that took down the internet - "The bug - which occurred when two automated systems were trying to update the same data simultaneously - snowballed into something significantly more serious that Amazon’s engineers scrambled to fix, the company said Thursday in a postmortem assessment."
• Thailand's former queen Sirikit dies aged 93 - "Queen Sirikit, the mother of Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn, has died aged 93. For more than six decades, Queen Sirikit was married to Thailand's longest-reigning monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016. In their globe-trotting heyday, she was seen as a style icon."
• Lese-majeste explained: How Thailand forbids insult of its royalty - "Thailand's lese-majeste law, which forbids the insult of the monarchy, is among the strictest in the world."
• Royal Family tree: King Charles III's closest family & line of succession - "King Charles III became the UK's monarch on 8 September 2022, making him the oldest person to succeed to the British throne, at the age of 73. The order of succession is the members of the Royal Family in the order in which they stand in line to the throne."
• Why Bill Gates did a cameo in an iconic Indian TV drama - "Gates appeared on Thursday night's episode of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (Because the Mother-in-Law Was Also Once Daughter-in-Law) to talk about maternal and child health with Irani."
• Chinese high-speed trains set new world record - "Two prototype CR450 high-speed trains achieved a world record passing speed of 896km/h during recent trials in China."
• The death-themed board game that outsold Monopoly - "Ouija boards explained. Back in 1967, commercial Ouija boards were so popular that they outsold Monopoly in the United States."
• Matcha vs. Green Tea: Which Beverage Packs More Antioxidants & Caffeine? - "Matcha has more antioxidants and caffeine than traditional green tea because it uses the entire ground-up tea leaf instead of just the steeped liquid. Matcha contains a significantly higher concentration of antioxidants, such as EGCG, and roughly twice the caffeine of green tea, providing a more potent energy and nutrient boost."
• How to join an Italian olive harvest - "Harvesting olives to make olive oil is an ancient Italian ritual that's increasingly under threat. Now, some believe it might just be the next frontier of Italian tourism."
• iOS 26 gives Apple’s Calendar app a convenient new advantage - "Apple Calendar changed very little in iOS 26, but it did gain one key new advantage: event creation via screenshots. Rather than screenshots appearing as a floating thumbnail in the bottom-left corner, they now open a fullscreen UI by default. The main reason for this change is that Apple has upgraded screenshots with new 'visual intelligence' powers on all AI-compatible iPhones."
• 5 Best Travel-Friendly Personal Care Products For Digital Nomads - "Smart nomads know that every gram matters when living out of a backpack, and every product must earn its place through multifunctionality and reliability. The solution lies in embracing innovative design that reimagines everyday essentials. These five revolutionary personal care products represent a new generation of travel gear, engineered specifically for location-independent professionals who refuse to compromise on grooming standards. From paper razors that eliminate TSA liquid hassles to precision tools that last decades, each item transforms routine maintenance into effortless efficiency."
• 6 Items From the Gene Hackman Auction: His Art, Scripts & Galaga - "The actor, who died this year at 95, led a quiet life in New Mexico. An auction of his belongings offers insights into his life and work: a broad array of possessions were deemed of value: Up for sale are multiple sets of golf clubs, a dart board, books, wristwatches, ..."
• See the East Wing demolition from satellite images - "Satellite images show how dramatically President Donald Trump's plans to build a new ballroom have affected the historic structure."
• What to know about the donors paying for Trump's ballroom - "President Donald Trump has emphasized that the dramatic changes will come at 'zero cost to the American Taxpayer.' From crypto billionaires to cabinet members: estimated to cost $300 million, the work is being funded by private, tax-deductible donations routed through the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall."
• Why does Prince Andrew live in 30-room mansion Royal Lodge? - "Everything we know about Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew’s 30-room mansion in Windsor."
• Louvre heist lift-maker capitalizes on product’s success with cheeky Instagram ad - "Böcker, the firm that manufactured the furniture lift apparently used in the audacious robbery, has taken to social media to show there is no such thing as bad publicity."
• President Reagan's Radio Address on Free & Fair Trade on April 25, 1987 - "Trump says trade talks with Canada 'terminated' over anti-tariffs advert. The advert, sponsored by the government of Canada's province of Ontario, quoted Trump's predecessor, Ronald Reagan, an icon of US conservatism, saying tariffs 'hurt every American.'"
• King Charles & Pope make history by praying side by side - "The prayer closes a gap that stretched back to the Reformation in the 16th century."
• 'This history mustn’t be forgotten': A forgotten chapter in the history of the Nuremberg trials - "The Nazi high command was put on trial 80 years ago in 1945. In the new film Nuremberg, starring Russell Crowe as the charismatic and manipulative Hermann Göring, director James Vanderbilt draws on a little-known chapter of the trial's proceedings to ask enduring questions about the wellspring of fascism and the true nature of evil."
• 'It transforms a person into a thing': Why there's more to Man Ray's iconic nude Le Violon d'Ingres than it seems - "Man Ray's 1924 image Le Violon d'Ingres, of a woman's body transformed into a violin, has continued to fascinate, confuse and upset viewers, more than 100 years on."
• 100 Years of the Motel - "Neon Signs, Swimming Pools and American Dreams: The History of the Motel: 100 Years of Neon and Kitsch. In 1925, the first motel opened on a California highway, ushering in a new era of convenience and comfort."
• 10 Useful Travel Gadgets That Will Fit In Your Carry-On - "Here are some of the most useful gadgets that will easily fit in your travel bag: Power bank - Massage gun - Bluetooth audio transmitter - ANC earbuds - Phone/tablet holder - Luggage tracker - Cable organizer - Retractable USB-C ..."
• Francis Ford Coppola, Who Says He’s ‘Broke,’ Is Selling a $1 Million Watch - "The famed director will put some pieces from his personal collection up for auction later this year. At the center of Mr. Coppola’s sale with Phillips is a timepiece that he designed himself in 2014 in collaboration with F.P. Journe. In the center of the face is a gloved hand. The fingers disappear and reappear in various configurations depending on the hour. It was released commercially in 2021, and retails for around $1 million."
• Daniel Naroditsky: Rival faces disciplinary action for 'bullying' chess grandmaster before his death - "Accusations of cheating had led to an ongoing feud between the two world-class players and claims of bullying."
• Why Trump's sudden East Wing demolition is extraordinary - "Images of the demolition of the existing East Wing, where the new ballroom will be located, have spurred apoplexy among Trump’s detractors and growing criticism from architectural and preservation groups."
• Trump explains demolition of East Wing - "President Trump showed reporters renderings of the new ballroom inside the Oval Office, which show how the construction would take place."
• The East Wing: Before & After - "Here's how the White House looked before demolition of the East Wing began, and what the president plans for it."
• Five Major Changes Trump Is Making to the White House - "East Wing Ballroom - Rose Garden - Oval Office - Cabinet Room - West Colonnade."
• No security cameras covered Louvre balcony where thieves entered, director says - "The ease with which thieves gained access to the building – during opening hours via a truck-mounted ladder – has shocked the nation and raised questions about the vulnerability of the country’s museums to criminals deploying new tactics."
• Louvre reopens three days after French crown jewels stolen - "The Louvre Museum in Paris has reopened three days after jewellery worth 88 million euros ($102m) was stolen in a brazen daylight robbery. Visitors were welcomed back to the Louvre from 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Wednesday, but the museum said its Apollo Gallery - where the heist took place - remained closed."
• $2 billion was spent on this airport. Now it just needs visitors - "Planes, prayers, and a golden Buddha: Inside Cambodia’s $2 billion-dollar airport gamble. Only after the nine-ton Buddha was blessed could planes begin to land at Phnom Penh’s Techo International Airport."
• GM will introduce ‘eyes-off’ driving in 2028 - "'Imagine you step into your vehicle, you push a button, and it drives you to the office. You catch up on work, send emails, or watch an episode of your favorite show. The car drops you off ... then it goes to get your dry cleaning, take out for dinner, and it comes back in time so you can drive your kids to their soccer game.'"
• 9 Google Maps Gestures Every Driver Should Know - "Swipe Left and Right on the Direction Box - Re-center Map - Two Finger Rotate - Add a Stop - Report An Accident - Turn Voice On/off - Share Trip ..."
• Amazon unveils prototype AI smart glasses for its delivery drivers - "The 'Amelia' glasses include a camera and built-in display, and pairs with a waistcoat with a button drivers can press to take photos of deliveries."
• What it's like to live in the world's smartest cities for 2025 - "From AI-driven transport to seamless cashless living, these five city clusters top the Global Innovation Index for their cutting-edge technology and everyday ingenuity."
• Why we get fevers: The symptom that puzzled doctors for millennia - "Fevers are uncomfortable, annoying and occasionally dangerous. But they are also an essential part of how we protect ourselves."
• 4 Science-Backed Habits That Could Help You Live Longer - "'I think about the four factors almost like a bank account or a stock portfolio. If you exercise a lot, you might get an extra five years of life. If you eat well on top of it, you might get an extra three or four years and if you sleep well, you're probably going to get another two or three.'"
• 11 High-Protein Fall Breakfasts That Aren't Eggs - "Prioritize protein in the morning without making eggs the star. Bursting with the comforting flavors of fall, these healthy breakfast recipes bring 15 grams of protein or more per serving - no omelets or scrambled eggs in sight!"
• Broccoli vs. Cauliflower: Which Has More Protein, Fiber & Other Nutrients? - "Broccoli and cauliflower are both healthy cruciferous vegetables, but one offers slightly more fiber, vitamins and antioxidants, dietitians say: Broccoli does have a little bit more fiber, vitamin C and vitamin K, and antioxidants. However, cauliflower is still a rich source of these nutrients, as well as folate, and it's lower in carbs. Both veggies have anti-cancer properties, and each provides their own unique set of nutrients."
• How Russia’s drone attacks have reshaped the war in Ukraine - "An illustrated guide."
• The deal that means Prince Andrew can still afford to live in Royal Lodge - "More details have emerged about how Prince Andrew can afford his sprawling 30-room Windsor mansion, in a lease agreement which has been revealed."
• How Prince Andrew has lived rent-free for 35 years - "Documents obtained by The Times suggest he paid no rent on Sunninghill Park, his official residence until 2004, when he moved to Royal Lodge."
• Virginia Giuffre raped by ‘well-known Prime Minister,’ US version of posthumous memoir claims - "Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring, wrote in her posthumous memoir that she was brutally beaten and raped by an unidentified prime minister and that she feared she might 'die a sex slave.'"
• Why Virginia Roberts Giuffre Would Not Stop Talking About Jeffrey Epstein - "Speaking out turned Ms. Giuffre into an advocate for victims, many of whom came forward after they saw her do so, and writing a book felt to her like a way to help other survivors of sexual abuse, both male and female, by making them feel less alone."
• Can France retrieve its priceless crown jewels - or is it too late? - "French police are desperate to retrieve priceless jewels stolen from the Louvre in a brazen daylight robbery, but experts have warned it may already be too late to save them."
• When Everything Is Fake, What’s the Point of Social Media? - "'If everything online starts to feel fake, and our For You pages.'"
• OpenAI Launches Its Own Web Browser - ChatGPT Atlas - As Alphabet Shares Fall - "OpenAI announced ChatGPT Atlas in a livestream Tuesday, its own web browser, setting Alphabet shares back over 2% on Tuesday morning."
• Samsung’s big answer to the Apple Vision Pro is here. I got to try it - "You can already use Google Maps to virtually 'explore' a city on the other side of the world without leaving your seat. But what if you could take that a step further by feeling like you’re inside the map? That ability to view apps on a much larger virtual screen and talk with a digital assistant that can see what you’re seeing is one of the touted features of the Galaxy XR, Samsung’s new mixed reality headset, which launched October 21 for $1,800."
• 25 must-visit places & must-do experiences named for 2026 - "The venerable travel guide Lonely Planet published its 'Best in Travel 2026' book on October 21, featuring a list of 25 great places and 25 great experiences to try out in the year ahead. It’s accompanied by a set of unique itineraries curated on the new Lonely Planet Journeys travel-planning service."
• Gold’s frenzied rally ends with largest sell-off in over a decade - "Gold prices gained modestly on Wednesday after the precious metal’s spectacular rally came to an abrupt halt on Tuesday, when prices tumbled more than 5%. The drop in the price of gold, which is viewed as a safe-haven asset in times of uncertainty, came as investors took profits from a record-breaking rally."
• The threat to cruise ships you’ve never heard about - "The next deadly climate disaster could wipe out glacier-chasing cruise ships."
• Why luxury travellers are paying to work for their dinner - "Some high-end tourists are turning to posh properties where they can fish, forage and harvest their meals - and immerse themselves in local culture in the process."
• Julia Roberts has a PA bag. Here’s why - "A crossbody bag used to be enough to carry all life’s essentials - but now our bags act as a mini office on the go. As hybrid working, healthier habits and the cost of living make life logistics ever more complex, there are some things even AI can't help with. Forget employing a personal assistant to carry it all - too retro and far too expensive in this climate. What you need instead is a PA handbag to do the job for you."
• Inside the Louvre heist that stunned the world - "It has been dubbed the 'heist of the century' - the theft in broad daylight of Napoleonic-era artefacts from the renowned Louvre Museum in Paris."
• How Louvre gang carried out France's most shocking theft - "This is how one of the most shocking thefts in recent memory unfolded."
• Virginia Giuffre would see Andrew giving up titles as a victory, co-author tells BBC - "Virginia Giuffre would have viewed Prince Andrew giving up his titles 'as a victory', the ghostwriter of her posthumous memoir told BBC Newsnight. The book, Nobody's Girl, co-written by Amy Wallace, describes Ms Giuffre's encounters with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell - and more details of her allegations about Prince Andrew, which he has always denied."
• Prince Andrew's BBC Newsnight interview is back in the spotlight - watch key moments - "Prince Andrew's interview with BBC Newsnight is back in the spotlight following the publication of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre. The interview, broadcast in November 2019, saw the prince speak to former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis."
• What caused the AWS outage & why has it made the internet fall apart? - "Amazon Web Services (AWS) has had a bad day. AWS is a US giant with a large global footprint, having positioned itself as the backbone of the internet. It provides tools and computers which enable around a third of the internet to work, it offers storage space and database management, it saves firms from having to maintain their own costly set-ups, and it also connects traffic to those platforms."
• Why these companies want to send data centers into space - "Some are looking to put data centers into space, bypassing the problem of finding available land. Space also offers better access to solar energy, without the cloud cover, the darkness of nighttime or the seasonality of Earth."
• Demolition begins to replace White House East Wing with Trump’s ballroom - "Demolition of the White House East Wing began Monday as President Donald Trump adds a $200 million, 90000-square-foot ballroom."
• Sarkozy starts five-year prison sentence - "Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy starts five-year prison sentence for campaign finance conspiracy."
• The best places in the world to travel to in 2026 - "From a legendary Alpine range to a less-traveled but no less stunning alternative to the Mediterranean, here are the year’s must-visit destinations, handpicked by National Geographic’s editors, photographers, and adventurers."
• The friendliest cities in Europe: 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards - "These are the European cities where you can expect a friendly welcome, as voted by readers of Condé Nast Traveller."
• The No. 1 travel destination of 2026 is in the U.S., says new report - "Big Sky, Montana was named the top trending travel destination for 2026, according to a new report from Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo."
• Record-breaking results as collectors battle for the rarest watches in Monaco - "The auction, held on October 18 and 19 at the Hôtel Méridien Beach Plaza, drew collectors from across Europe and the entire world, with bidding described by attendees as 'energetic' and 'at times aggressive', especially for rare Rolex and Patek Philippe models."
• How Many Devices Can You Plug Into One USB Port? - "Stability, power, and signal degradation can also happen when more than 10 low-powered devices are in use at the same time. Staying under 10 devices per port and keeping those USB ports clean is your best bet to have everything plugged in and running smoothly."
• Makeup, shampoos & hair care products still contain toxic chemicals. Experts call out ingredients to look for - "Personal care products such as lipstick, moisturizer and shampoo still contain potentially toxic chemicals despite industry progress. According to a 2021 analysis of 231 cosmetics purchased in the United States and Canada, 52% contain chemicals called PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds - known hormone disruptors that have been linked to numerous health concerns."
• Looted Louvre treasures may never be found, experts say, as museum remains closed - "The Louvre museum in Paris announced it would remain closed Monday as investigations continue into Sunday’s extraordinary theft of historic jewelry - and experts say the prospects of recovering the treasures are slim."
• Historic jewels stolen in ‘national disaster’ for France: What we know about missing Louvre treasures - "Precious artifacts snatched from Paris’s Louvre Museum Sunday include an emerald necklace set among more than 1,000 diamonds gifted by Napolean to his second wife and other treasures of 'inestimable' value."
• The Louvre has a wild history of being robbed in broad daylight - "One of the most infamous heists in the cultural institution’s history was the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa - when Pablo Picasso numbered among the suspects."
• Virginia Giuffre thought she might 'die a sex slave' at hands of Epstein & his circle, memoir reveals - "A Buckingham Palace source admits there could be 'more days of pain ahead' as the memoir, which puts Prince Andrew under further scrutiny, is released."
• Sarah Ferguson could turn on Andrew to 'save her own skin' if cash runs low - "He faces potential police probe into 'dirt digging' after losing his titles. The former couple are holed up together in Royal Lodge in Windsor with Prince William said to be gunning to have them thrown out of the lavish grace and favour mansion."
• 5 Best Tech Gadgets Of October 2025 - "1. Google Gboard Dial Version - 2. Akko MetaKey - 3. OrigamiSwift Folding Mouse - 4. Google Pixel Headphones - 5. Xiaomi Pad Mini."
• The coolest new iPhone Messages features - "From custom backgrounds to polling your friends to quick translations: 1. Add custom backgrounds. Change up the backgrounds of your chats. 2. Create polls. Canvas opinion with a poll. 3. Translate text in messages. Messages can now automatically translate between languages. 4. And more... Messages keeps your main inbox tidier now."
• Apple adds game-changing iPhone document feature that users waited years to see - "iOS 26 brings a built-in Preview app that lets you edit, sign, and scan documents like a pro"
• 3 Luxury Bags That Add Capital to Your Closet, Per Resale Data - "Classic handbags from a select few designers tend to hold their value best. Here are three bags to buy that will have lasting appeal on the secondary market: The Louis Vuitton Speedy - The Chanel Double Flap - The Hermès Evelyne."
• Your car's USB port has 5 underrated superpowers you need to try - "You're missing out if you're not using your car's USB port."
• Your iPhone's Photo Library Is Out of Control. Here's How to Easily Clean It Up - "When your iPhone starts getting full, the Photos app is often the first place to start cleaning. This built-in tool makes it easy to declutter your library. If you're running iOS 16 or later, the Photos app has a magic little folder called Duplicates. It automatically rounds up all your identical and near-identical shots so you can delete them in one go. Instead of playing a painful game of spot-the-difference, you can reclaim a huge chunk of space with just a few taps."
• 13 nifty USB-C gadgets you didn’t know you needed - "By the end, you'll wonder why you didn't already have these nifty USB-C gadgets."
• The robot in your kitchen - "The billions of dollars pouring into the robotics industry are making humanoid robots rapidly better—and are probably bringing forward the day that they begin to enter the home and the workforce en masse."
• 7 Landscaping Trends to Say Goodbye to in 2026, According to Experts - "Neutral Color Palettes - Concrete and Metal Accents - High Water Usage Yards - Artificial Turf - Wooden Trellises - Perfect ..."
• From Hollywood to horticulture: Cate Blanchett on a mission to save seeds - "We meet her at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) at Wakehurst botanic garden in Sussex. She lives locally and teamed up with the project as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The MSB is home to more than 2.5 billion seeds collected from 40,000 wild plant species around the world."
• Ranked: The World’s Oldest People in History - "The longest verified human lifespan belongs to Jeanne Calment of France, who lived 122 years and 164 days, significantly above the other records. Women are the leaders when it comes to extreme longevity, with all 10 oldest recorded people being female, while men's maximum verified lifespans are several years shorter."
• Heist at the Louvre: Napoleon's jewels reported stolen - "'Priceless' jewellery stolen from Louvre museum in Paris - as authorities reveal details of daring raid. Intruders entered via a basket lift using a platform mounted on a lorry, breaking a window and making off with jewels that 'have genuine heritage value and are, in fact, priceless,' France's interior minister said."
• Millions join anti-Trump 'No Kings' protests across US - "Huge crowds have taken part in 'No Kings' protests against President Donald Trump's policies in cities across the US, including New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles."
• Source Claims the Sussexes’ Titles Will Be “Yanked” When William Takes the Throne - but Here’s the Truth - "During The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, Prince William said that 'change is on my agenda, change for good' when he becomes king—a comment interpreted as signaling possible shifts in royal policy."
• Andrew sought personal information about accuser, reports claim - "Prince Andrew sought to obtain personal information about his accuser Virginia Giuffre through his police protection in 2011, according to new media reports. The Metropolitan Police said on Sunday it was 'actively looking into the claims'. Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment. Prince Andrew has not commented on the reports, but consistently denies all allegations against him."
• 50 of the world’s best breads - "What is bread? You likely don’t have to think for long, and whether you’re hungry for a slice of sourdough or craving tortillas, what you imagine says a lot about where you’re from. But if bread is easy to picture, it’s hard to define. In alphabetical order by location, here are 50 of the world’s most wonderful breads."
• What you should know if you’re still tracking your college-aged kids on your phone - "One in four parents say that they track their young adult child’s location with GPS apps or software, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center report."
• These 4 Words Can Defuse Any Awkward Situation - "When something so awkward happens that you can only stare at the ground, hoping it will open up and swallow you, saving you from the cringe, the best thing you can do is ... call more attention to it. Yes, really."
• What Your Hair Can Tell You About Your Health - "Hair can serve as an archive of your health, with each centimeter capturing about a month's worth of biological data, allowing doctors to test for things like drug use, poisoning, or chronic stress. Rapid hair loss can be a sign of underlying issues like nutrient deficiencies, thyroid problems, high fevers, or major stress, though it is often temporary and hair can regrow within a few months."
• Diane Keaton Was the Definition of a Style Icon - "Her legacy will include the ways she shaped fashion, rather than allowing fashion to shape her."
• Spanish town bans black cat adoptions during Halloween - "The Spanish town of Terrassa in north-eastern Catalonia has temporarily banned the adoption of black cats from animal shelters to prevent potentially sinister 'rituals' during Halloween. All requests for the fostering or adoption of the felines will be denied from 6 October to 10 November to protect them from being hurt or used as props, said the local animal welfare service."
• Is this island the new Bali? Some think so - but not everyone's impressed - "Just east of Bali, Lombok boasts the same azure beaches and stunning views as its famous neighbour, but without the exasperating crowds. Lombok's beaches are still a hidden gem among surfers."
• Your toothbrush is bristling with bacteria - is it time to change it? - "Bacteria from our toilets, the cold sore virus and thrush-causing yeast can thrive on our toothbrushes. But there are ways to keep your toothbrush a little cleaner."
• 'I was educated not to think': How Hitler's architect escaped the death penalty - "Albert Speer distanced himself from the Nazis' atrocities at the Nuremberg war crimes tribunal in October 1946, and, upon his release from prison, he carefully rebuilt his public image. In History revisits a 1970 BBC interview with Hitler's former friend."
• ‘A glimpse of genius’: what do unpublished stories found in Harper Lee’s apartment tell us about the To Kill a Mockingbird author? - "When she died, the writer left behind a cache of notebooks and manuscripts. Her biographer reveals what they tell us about her unlikely rise to literary stardom."
• Josh O’Connor Is a Beguiling Art Heist Schemer in The Mastermind - "Kelly Reichardt's heist film is both a portrait of a charming schemer, played by Josh O'Connor, and a snapshot of 1970s Americana."
• The True Art Heist That Inspired Kelly Reichardt’s ‘The Mastermind,’ Starring Josh O’Connor - "That 1972 theft took place at the Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts, where, on a late spring day in May, two robbers took four paintings—one by Rembrandt, one by Picasso, and two by Gauguin."
• Prince Andrew gives up royal titles including Duke of York after 'discussion with King' - "In a statement, Prince Andrew said that the 'continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.'"
• After all those scandals, why did Andrew quit his titles now? - "He has voluntarily given up his titles but was clearly under pressure to jump before he was pushed."
• King Charles to be first British monarch to pray with Pope in at least 500 years - "King Charles and Pope Leo are to become the first British monarch and pontiff to pray together at a church service since the Reformation in the 16th Century. This historic moment will be in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, during next week's state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla."
• From Jimi Hendrix to Jodie Turner-Smith, why fashion loves a military jacket - "Jimi Hendrix wore the coats unbuttoned, sometimes shirtless, and adorned with pendant necklaces; other times he styled them with vibrant silk scarves or blouses."
• The truth behind your clothing’s label - "The truth behind your clothing’s ‘made in Guatemala’ label."
• analyst says the AI bubble is 17 times bigger than the dot-com bust - "This week, the Financial Times wrote that 10 AI startups - not a dollar in profit among them - have gained nearly $1 trillion in market value over the past 12 months."
• Jennifer Lopez doesn’t believe she’s ever ‘truly been loved.’ - "Jennifer Lopez knows a thing or two about love and relationships. Here’s a reminder of the high-profile relationships Lopez has been in over the years."
• How an old suitcase revealed a hidden family fortune, lost under Nazi rule - "The astonishing scale of his family’s losses fleeing Nazi-controlled Berlin was just one of the surprises in a 10-year search for the truth."
• Lamborghini swerves away from all-electric future - "The boss of Lamborghini has said its customers still want 'the sound and the emotion' of internal combustion engines, and the company will use them in its cars for at least the next decade."
• How & Why Apple Built Its New Square Center Stage Front iPhone Camera - "500 Billion Selfies a Year Are Captured on iPhone. The base iPhone 17, ultra-thin iPhone Air, and flagship iPhone 17 Pro all have the same Center Stage camera, complete with its groundbreaking square image sensor and sophisticated new features."
• Why art robberies exploded in the 20th Century - "'Paintings were suddenly seen as money': The reason art heists exploded in the 1970s. Acclaimed new film The Mastermind, starring Josh O'Connor, tells the story of an art robbery gone wrong. It's inspired by a wave of similar thefts during a decade known for upheaval."
• Happy birthday Oscar Wilde: 8 Oscar Wilde's quotes that shine with wit & wisdom! - "1. Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. 2. We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. 3. Always forgive your enemies ..."
• The best airports in the world 2025 - "These are the best airports in the world, according to the 2025 Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards."
• These are the worst airports in the world for flight delays & cancellations right now - "Looking for a seamless airport experience? You may want to think twice about your departure point of choice."
• Tracking Trump’s retaliation - "During the last presidential campaign, Donald Trump made clear his motivations in trying to retake the White House. More than two years later, Trump has so far used his second term to make good on that promise, enacting what in many cases appears to be payback against a wide swath of critics and perceived political enemies."
• Russia’s succession fear: ‘All our dictators quit by 80. Putin is 73’ - "Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who lives in exile and is accused of plotting a coup, says paranoia is growing in Moscow about the transfer of power."
• Is AI really making electricity bills higher? Here’s what the experts say - "A Bloomberg News analysis found that areas near data centers saw an increase in electricity costs of as much as 267% compared to five years ago."
• America is in a literacy crisis. Is AI the solution or part of the problem? - "Reading levels dropped to historic lows during the pandemic. Now parents, teachers and tech companies are hoping AI can help solve America’s literacy crisis."
• Mapped: Life Expectancy Around the World in 2025 - "Monaco has the world’s highest life expectancy at 86.5 years. Nigeria and Chad sit at the bottom of the global ranking, with averages below 56 years. Women outlive men in every country, with an average gap of five years globally."
• Most commonly diagnosed types of cancer (both sexes, men & women) - "Lung cancer (12.4% of all new cases, 2.5 million) is most common in China, Russia, and Eastern Europe. Key factors include smoking, air pollution, and hazardous working conditions. Breast cancer (11.6%, 2.3 million) is more prevalent in North America, Western Europe, and Australia, associated with hormonal changes, late childbirth, and obesity."
• Ranked: The World’s Top 30 Countries by Exports - "China accounted for 14.6% of global exports of goods in 2024, the highest share overall. Vietnam, Hong Kong SAR, and France each saw double-digit export growth, while exports contracted the sharpest in Australia."
• How To Prepare For The Encore Performance Of 1929 - Coming Soon - "Andrew Ross Sorkin makes a compelling case that if we don’t learn from 1929, history will repeat itself again. In his new book, '1929 - Inside the Greatest Crash in History - and How It Shattered a Nation,' Sorkin explains that: 1. Boom and bust cycles repeat and are exacerbated when debt levels are high. 2. Tariffs choke off international trade and have other unintended consequences. 3. Leaders are often blinded by hubris, overconfidence, power."
• 8 timeless teachings of Socrates that inspire conscious living - "Socrates emphasises gratitude and mindfulness. True happiness comes not from accumulating more but from appreciating what we already possess. Socrates believed that understanding oneself and the world is essential for leading a meaningful life."
• Here’s everything new for Apple Notes in iOS 26 - "Apple Notes has become one of Apple’s most consistently updated apps, and iOS 26 brought several solid new additions. Here’s everything new for Apple Notes in iOS 26. Perhaps the biggest change for Notes this year is the brand new design with Liquid Glass."
• How to make the most of your Kindle: 8 features you need to use - "Discover your Kindle's hidden potential. Kindles are the most popular e-readers, and there is so much you can do with Amazon's e-readers. Here are eight features you should be using with your Kindle."
• The Most Common Signs of a Heart Attack - "They aren’t all sudden or intense, experts says: Chest pain or discomfort - Pain in the jaw, neck, back or arms - Shortness of breath - Fatigue, faintness, or nausea."
• How Healthy Are Lentils? - "Some experts call them a superfood. Here’s why they deserve a spot in your pantry. Lentils are high in iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc, as well as B vitamins like folate. These compounds are all important for heart, brain and nerve function, blood sugar and blood pressure management, and muscle and bone growth."
• How America Got Hooked on Ultraprocessed Food - "They promised convenience and cheap nutrition. But they became one of the greatest health threats of our time. Humans have been processing food for millenniums. Neanderthals sizzled meat over open flames; hunter-gatherers ground wild wheat to make bread; and factory workers canned fruit for soldiers during the Civil War. But in the late 1800s, food companies began concocting products that were wildly different from anything people could make themselves."
• Andrew believed having sex with me was his birthright, Giuffre claimed in memoir - "Virginia Giuffre accuses 'entitled' Andrew in posthumous book. Giuffre, who took her life earlier this year, gives her account of meeting Prince Andrew."
• Is Microsoft's first ever handheld Xbox console worth the wait? - "It works natively with Xbox's Game Pass subscription service out of the box, meaning members will start off with hundreds of games in their library. If the goal was to make something that feels like a handheld Xbox, Microsoft has certainly delivered on its promise - but has it come to market too late?"
• Scientists identified 5 sleep profiles. A doctor explains what they mean for your health - "Rather than labeling people as simply 'good' or 'bad' sleepers, a new study identified five distinct sleep types that each may be linked to different patterns of mood, health and brain activity."
• Kim Kardashian’s Skims lingerie range now includes thong with built-in pubic wig - "When it comes to publicity stunts, Kim Kardashian may have just outdone herself. The socialite and reality TV star has raised a few eyebrows with the latest addition to her underwear range, Skims - a barely there thong, lavishly adorned with fake pubic hair. Dubbed 'the ultimate bush,' the G-string comes in a range of 12 different colors, and sizes from XXS to 4XL."
• Pictured: Winning entries for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 - "A brown hyena standing beside the ruins of an abandoned diamond mining settlement has earned wildlife photographer Wim van den Heever the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year."
• Inside the ghost town sheltering the world's rarest hyena - "'They're a very elusive species': The 10-year effort to photograph the rare hyena stalking a diamond mining ghost town. The story behind the award-winning photo of an elusive brown hyena bringing new life to the Namib Desert."
• Perovskite: The 'wonder material' that could transform solar - "Some argue advances in perovskite solar cells mean we are on the brink of the next solar energy revolution. But it all depends on how they hold up in the real world."
• Bitcoin worth $14bn seized in US-UK crackdown on alleged scammers - "The US government has seized more than $14bn in bitcoin and charged the founder of a Cambodian business empire, the Prince Group, with allegedly masterminding a massive cryptocurrency scam, which involved forced labour camps."
• What Are Tomahawk Missiles & Why Might Trump Give Them to Ukraine? - "Ukraine could receive a newly developed land-based launcher to strike Moscow and beyond."
• The Nine Books Sam Altman Recommends Everyone Should Read - "Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shares the nine books he thinks will change your life. Get insights from the world’s best minds - in 15 Minutes or less."
• What Does The 'C' Actually Mean On A USB-C Port? - "The key idea here is that "C" refers strictly to the shape and design of the connector. It's a universal, reversible port designed to replace the jumble of legacy connectors and adapters. Unlike USB-A and USB-B, you don't have to plug it in with a specific orientation."
• A love letter to the loss of Launchpad on my Mac - "I took advantage of you. Now you're gone, and I'm at a loss."
• Which airlines have upper deck economy class on the Airbus A380? - "Plane Talk: These cheap seats offer extra space, quicker service and a higher chance of an aisle or window seat and a more intimate cabin. Asiana Airlines (Korea): 14 rows at the back, the same as BA. China Southern Airlines: nine rows at the back. Emirates (“two class mid-range” version only): 15 rows at the front. Global Airlines: nine rows at the back."
• Oscar Wilde's library card reissued 130 years after being revoked over gay conviction - "The new card, which will be collected by his grandson, author Merlin Holland, on Thursday, is intended to 'acknowledge the injustices and immense suffering' Wilde faced, the library said."
• US drops out of world’s most powerful passport top 10 list for the first time - "The Henley Passport Index is one of several rankings measuring passport potency in this regard and, for the first time in its 20-year history, the US passport has fallen out of its top 10 list altogether. Three Asian passports now command the top of the leaderboard: Singapore, with visa-free access to 193 destinations worldwide; South Korea, with access to 190; and Japan, with 189."
• Brands can’t choose their customers - "So what happens when extremists wear their clothes?"
• NASA Found a Secret Military Base Buried 100 Feet Deep in Greenland’s Ice Shelf - "Camp Century, as it was called, was a Cold War-era satellite for the U.S. Army used as a front for a planned arsenal of nuclear missiles. While the plan never came to fruition and the base was shortly abandoned, there are still thousands of gallons of nuclear waste buried beneath the ice."
• Respiratory virus season has arrived. What to know about getting this year’s vaccines - "It’s that time of year when the leaves are turning golden, there’s a chill in the air and the threat of respiratory viruses like Covid-19, influenza or RSV looms across the country."
• The Best Train Trips in the World 2025 - "The world’s most swoon-worthy train trips, from the rugged Peruvian highlands to the romantic Canadian Rockies. Condé Nast Traveler readers' favorite train trips in the world, as voted in the 2025 Readers' Choice Awards survey."
• The French city where you can eat gourmet food for €1 - "In Marseille, France’s most diverse city, a new wave of restaurants is redefining fine dining by blending haute cuisine with community solidarity."
• google maps vs apple maps - "I drove over 1,000 miles to test out Apple Maps vs. Google Maps for a month - here's the winner. Apple Maps has really improved."
• Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans - "For decades, Americans have been sold the slick fantasy that if your eggs don’t slide out of a pan like a Vegas card trick, you’re doing it wrong. The clever marketing hid a dangerous truth: Teflon coatings were made with chemicals that can end up in food when pans overheat or are scratched. These PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are called forever chemicals for good reason. They don’t break down, lingering in our blood, water and soil."
• Ranked: The Countries With the Most Millionaires in 2025 - "In 2025, the global millionaire population reached 60 million adults. America, China, and France are home to the largest millionaire populations—together holding more than half of the global total. Altogether, this group holds $226 trillion in wealth across 60 million individuals."
• The art of self-discipline: 9 daily practices that transformed me from lazy to productive - "Discipline is the art of mastering small, deliberate actions. It’s not about being perfect - it’s about being consistent. Here are the 9 daily practices that transformed me from lazy to productive."
• IPADOS 26 MAKES THE IPAD A TRUE MACBOOK ALTERNATIVE - IF YOU USE THESE 5 FEATURES - "Whether you're a brand-new iPad owner or a long-time user, this guide is for you. We'll cover five features in particular (there are more) that make the iPad effectively a slim, lightweight laptop computer."
• Where Did Voicemail Go in iOS 26? Finding iPhone Voicemail in the New iOS - "Voicemail in iOS 26 is now tucked behind a menu, making it easy to miss and leading to plenty of frustration and confusion amongst a fair number of iPhone users. Here’s how to find and access your Voicemail in iOS 26 for iPhone."
• ChatGPT will soon allow erotica for verified adults, says OpenAI boss - "OpenAI plans to allow a wider range of content, including erotica, on its popular chatbot ChatGPT as part of its push to 'treat adult users like adults', says its boss Sam Altman."
• Why big tech's nuclear plans could blow up - "Eager to find new energy sources to power artificial intelligence, big tech companies are betting on nuclear - even though there are still huge questions over public perception, cost and, perhaps most importantly, the time it will take for a potential new nuclear technology to become viable."
• In an Exclusive Interview, Norman Foster Speaks on AI, Modern Cities & the Power of Good Design - "The legendary British architect spoke exclusively to AD Middle East about what got him into architecture and what’s keeping him going."
• ‘Worst of all time’: Trump complains about ‘super bad photo’ on Time Magazine cover - "Trump granted that Time had written 'a relatively good story about me'. The U.S. president was concerned that the magazine led with a cover image that 'disappeared' his hair and 'had something floating on top of my head that looked like a floating crown, but an extremely small one.'"
• Here’s what awaits ex-French President Nicolas Sarkozy behind bars - "The former president intends to appeal, but in the meantime is expected to occupy a cell either in solitary confinement or in the so-called 'VIP wing' of La Santé prison complex in Paris, the only prison in the French capital."
• The planet has entered a ‘new reality’ as it hits its first climate tipping point, landmark report finds - "The planet is grappling with a “new reality” as it reaches the first in a series of catastrophic and potentially irreversible climate tipping points: the widespread death of coral reefs, according to a landmark report produced by 160 scientists across the world."
• Scientists create ‘Superwood’ that’s 10 times stronger than steel - "A US company has engineered a new type of wood that it says has up to 10 times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, while also being up to six times lighter."
• Study: ‘Man’s Best Friend’ Slows Cellular Aging in Female Veterans - "It’s official! You’ll live longer with a dog (and it will be more fun). Canine pets affect us at a cellular level, say scientists."
• SpaceX launches giant Starship rocket for moon & Mars on 11th test flight (video) - "It was the final flight for this iteration of Starship."
• How a huge dinosaur trackway was uncovered in the UK - "Hidden under tonnes of rock, a dinosaur superhighway is emerging - where palaeontologists are walking in the footsteps of these giant beasts."
• Taylor Swift Achieves Record-Shattering 4 Million Week With No. 1 Billboard 200 Debut of ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ - "The set launches with unprecedented modern-era album sales and album consumption units."
• Taylor Swift is keeping the ‘Eras Tour’ love going with a docuseries & concert film - "By now we should all know that the life of a showgirl is a busy one. Disney+ will stream a six-part docuseries about the Eras Tour, called ‘The End of an Era,’ giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of the tour."
• How your hormones might be controlling your mind - "Hormones play a vital part in keeping our bodies working properly. But they can also have a powerful - and sometimes negative - effect on our mood and mental health."
• Billions of microbes are hiding in your shower - "Billions of bacteria lurk in your shower, just waiting to spray you in the face - should you be worried? Your shower head and the pipes leading into it are a haven for bacteria and fungi. But some simple tricks can flush them down the drain."
• The real story behind Frankenstein - "Frankenstein: Why Mary Shelley's 200-year-old horror story is so misunderstood. As Guillermo del Toro's new film starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi is released, why is the message of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel still overshadowed by its success, more than two centuries on?"
• A new series about Martin Scorsese is a must-watch ***** - "A new behind-the-scenes documentary about Martin Scorsese covers everything from his near death from drugs to the religious vision that shapes his work. It's essential viewing."
• ChatGPT has better taste in wine than humans, claim French experts - "The chatbot draws on vast quantities of text data to understand and analyse the flavour profiles of wines, and took experts' opinions into account. Le Figaro, which is renowned for its wine recommendations, said that ChatGPT's pick of the world's ten best wines was correct because it was based on 'objective' criteria."
• Meghan asked to go to Balenciaga’s Paris show (so says the designer) - "The Duchess of Sussex’s statement spoke of 'collaborating on design' with Pierpaolo Piccioli in the past. In an interview he says she texted to say she’d like to come to the show. It will be ten years next year since Meghan Markle was forcibly brought to our notice by Prince Harry, when he announced that she was his girlfriend and would everyone please leave her alone. Since then two things have become apparent. First, that being left alone might not be quite what she has in mind. Second, that quite a lot of what she says can be summed up by Queen Elizabeth’s elegant rebuke: recollections may vary."
• Final hostages freed as Trump addresses Israeli parliament - "All living hostages freed from Gaza as Trump to address Israeli parliament."
• See the first photos of hostages released from Gaza - "The Israeli military and the Israeli Government Press Office have released the first photographs of hostages who have just been released from Gaza, showing the former captives being met by Israeli forces."
• NOBEL PRIZES 2025 - "Official website."
• Your phone rings & it's a number from Sweden. Do you answer? A Nobel Prize winner didn't - "This year’s Nobel Prize science winners got the good news from early morning phone calls and door knocks."
• more people are using chatgpt like a lawyer in court - "From pickleball disputes to eviction cases, litigants are using ChatGPT to fight their court battles - and they’re starting to win."
• Air Canada serves free alcohol in economy as passengers balk at airline fees - "The only airline in North America to serve free alcohol in economy on all flights."
• World's Best Employers 2025 - "Forbes World's Best Employers 2025 - Top Companies To Work For."
• The 2025 MICHELIN Key Hotels: A Guide to the Global Selection - "Inspectors just unveiled the global MICHELIN Keys for 2025. Use this guide to explore the best hotels on every continent, country by country."
• Trump Is Now One Of America’s Biggest Bitcoin Investors - "Trump holds a major position in the digital currency, amounting to an estimated $870 million, enough to make him one of the largest bitcoin investors on the planet."
• Diane Keaton’s Unmistakable Look Also Was Key to Her Art - "Though she downplayed it, her role in creating the outfits of 'Annie Hall' made her the author of a fascinating career."
• Patrice de Colmont, owner of legendary Club 55 in Saint-Tropez, passes away at 77 - "Patrice’s philosophy of respectfully welcoming everyone as equals - from superstars to ordinary mortals - is credited with creating the ambience and massive popularity that the private beach and restaurant has always enjoyed."
• 10 British Classics everyone should read at least once - "These books offer an insight into the intricacies of the human experience and timeless human emotions: 1. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë. 2. Wuthering Heights - Emily Brontë. 3. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens. 4. Emma - Jane Austen. 5. Middlemarch - George Eliot. 6..."
• 18 best home improvement products under $50 in 2025 - "On this list, you’ll find everything from cable managers and wall art to stylish storage baskets and kitchen organizers."
• 13 Things You Can Connect to Your iPhone's USB-C Port - "Keyboards, Mice, and Trackpads - USB-C Hubs - External Monitors, TVs, and Projectors - External Drives - Headphones and Earbuds - Wired Game ..."
• Navigate your Mac without a mouse - "To navigate a Mac without a mouse, use Full Keyboard Access in System Settings > Accessibility > Motor > Keyboard. You can tab to move between items, press the space bar to select, and use arrow keys to move within groups. For pointer control, you can turn on Mouse Keys in Accessibility > Pointer Control to use your keyboard's numeric keypad or specific keys to move the cursor."
• The Incredible Growing Refrigerator - "Modern units are not only much bigger than older ones, but also more efficient."
• What are rare earth minerals & why are they central to Trump’s threats against China? - "The US trade war with China has a major sticking point: rare earth minerals."
• Ukraine’s allies want to make war costlier for Russia - "Experts on how to raise the cost of war for Russia: ‘Be cleverer’."
• Donald Trump deserved the Nobel prize, says ... Vladimir Putin - "The Russian president, who is wanted by the ICC, says the Nobel committee has 'lost credibility.'"
• Diane Keaton, ‘La-Dee-Da’ dame of Hollywood, dead at 79 - "Diane Keaton, known for her unique brand of comedic timing and inimitable style, has died. Stars from Goldie Hawn to Bette Midler to Steve Martin expressed their love of the actor after hearing the news. 'It’s hard to believe,' said Jane Fonda in a tribute."
• Diane Keaton: a life in pictures - "Diane Keaton, who has died aged 79, started her stellar career in The Godfather and Woody Allen’s early comedies, before going to appear opposite just about every major star in Hollywood. We look back at her six-decade career."
• Five Great Diane Keaton Performances to Stream - "The actress, who died on Saturday at 79, was known for both her dramatic heft and her comedic gifts. Here are some of the highlights. She won over audiences with her performances in 'Father of the Bride,' 'The First Wives Club' and the animated film 'Finding Dory,' among other ..."
• Meet the female architect making history at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - "She had never designed a building in New York. Now, her mark on the city will be historic."
• After years of progress on gender, the male gaze is back - "The male gaze came roaring back this summer, with an advertisement featuring Sidney Sweeney. The male gaze has always been around - art in the eye of the male beholder - but the term came into modern existence as a feminist theory coined by film critic Laura Mulvey in 1975."
• 'Their resilience is a lesson to us all': The maritime lions hunting seals on the beach - "In Namibia, a group of desert lions have left their traditional hunting grounds for the Atlantic coast, to become the world's only maritime lions. One photographer captured this dramatic change in behaviour."
• 'It's going to be really bad': Fears over AI bubble bursting grow in Silicon Valley - "At OpenAI's DevDay this week, OpenAI boss Sam Altman did what American tech bosses rarely do these days: he actually answered questions from reporters. 'I know it's tempting to write the bubble story,' Mr Altman told me as he sat flanked by his top lieutenants. 'In fact, there are many parts of AI that I think are kind of bubbly right now.'"
• Why Strength Training Is the Best Anti-Ager - "If you want to age well, you probably already know the basics: eat a balanced diet, go for walks, stay socially engaged. But there’s one habit that experts say matters just as much—and in some cases, more - for long-term health: strength training."
• Social Ties Help You Live Longer. What Does That Mean for Introverts? - "You don’t have to be the life of every party to reap the health benefits."
• Who are the hostages still in Gaza? - "Twin brothers, childhood friends and IDF soldiers: Who are the hostages still held in Gaza?"
• Trump speaks with Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado after his administration denounced the decision to award it to her - "Trump has made no secret of his desire to win the prize. A growing number of world leaders have also said he should win the award. Those calls increased as his Gaza peace plan gained momentum in recent days. However, the nomination window closes at the end of January for the year, according to the award’s website."
• The healthiest way to drink coffee: Harvard explains why filtered coffee is best - "Filtered coffee emerges as the healthiest brewing method, according to Harvard researchers, by retaining beneficial antioxidants while removing cholesterol-raising oils like cafestol and kahweol."
• At 78, Arnold Schwarzenegger still trains nearly every day - but his workouts look very different now - "Using exercise machines for moves like shoulder presses has helped prevent joint pain, he said. If you're just starting to lift, Schwarzenegger said you should begin with free weights for greater gains."
• The best resorts in the world: 2025 Readers' Choice Awards - "These are the best resorts in the world - as voted for by you Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards 2025."
• 5 Castles in Germany That Look Straight Out of Fairy Tales - "Germany has more than 20,000 castles, ranging from ruins on remote hilltops to palace-like complexes with manicured grounds. Some are so scenic they inspired Disney movies: 1. Neuschwanstein Castle. 2. Burg Eltz. 3. Heidelberg Castle. 4. Hohenzollern Castle. 5. Mespelbrunn Castle."
• A secret tunnel once used by emperors is opening beneath the Colosseum - "Known as the Passage of Commodus, the 180-foot corridor was built beneath the amphitheater to let emperors and VIP guests reach their seats in the imperial box without mingling with the crowds."
• Traveling to the European Union is about to get more complicated. Here’s what you need to know - "After years of planning and myriad delays, the European Union’s Entry/Exit system (EES) will go live on October 12. The EU’s Entry/Exit System will capture biometric data from non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area (essentially all EU states except Cyprus and Ireland, plus Switzerland, Iceland and Norway)."
• London vs New York City: what data tells us about which is better - "Donald Trump’s jibes at Sadiq Khan are the latest salvos in a centuries-old rivalry between their hometowns - but which place really comes out on top?"
• In Paris, an alternate view of fashion week - in pictures - "We tasked Paris-based photographer Cha Gonzalez with seeking out the moments missed, or edited out of traditional fashion week coverage, in favor of offering a more candid view."
• Rescuing forgotten knowledge trapped on floppy disks - "A digital dark age? The people rescuing forgotten knowledge trapped on old floppy disks. From lectures by Stephen Hawking to the letters of British politician Neil Kinnock - it's a race against time to save the historical treasures locked away on old floppy disks."
• Glenn Close Has Nothing Left to Prove - "For half a century, she’s brought her singular talents to the stage and screen. Now, the actress wants one more shot at the role that helped make her a star."
• The private life of Putin: strippers, lovers & secret sons - "A new book exposes the president’s litany of affairs, the despair of his wife and the hypocrisy behind his ‘cover story’ as he extols traditional family values."
• Israeli military says Gaza ceasefire is now in effect - "Palestinians begin returning to Gaza's north as Israel says ceasefire now in effect."
• Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize - "Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, winning recognition as a woman 'who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.'"
• White House accuses Nobel Committee of being political after Trump misses out on peace prize - "The White House on Friday criticized the Nobel Prize committee’s decision to award the peace prize to a Venezuelan opposition leader instead of US President Donald Trump."
• All Nobel Prizes - "Between 1901 and 2025, the Nobel Prizes and the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel were awarded 632 times to 1,023 people and organisations. With some receiving the Nobel Prize more than once, this makes a total of 987 individuals and 28 organisations."
• Tech billionaires seem to be doom prepping. Should we all be worried? - "Mark Zuckerberg is said to have started work on Koolau Ranch, his sprawling 1,400-acre compound on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, as far back as 2014."
• Your plumber has a new favorite tool: ChatGPT - "The technology helps those workers automatically create invoices, work proposals and even brainstorm how to address complicated plumbing problems, company president Dan Callies told CNN. All they have to do is take photos of a broken water heater, for example, or write their observations in a prompt, and ChatGPT spits out a list of recommendations."
• The Best Inventions of 2025 - "Here are the 300 best inventions making the world better, smarter, and more fun: Robotics - Accessibility - Aerospace - Agriculture - Apps & Software - Artificial Intelligence - Beauty - Connectivity & Communication."
• Ferrari lifts the hood on EV tech in maiden electric car - "Ferrari opens new tab has unveiled the technology which will power its hotly-anticipated first electric car, the Elettrica, as the 78-year-old luxury Italian sportscar maker looks to add battery power to its hybrid and petrol-engine models."
• 1 to 2 Starlink satellites are falling back to Earth each day - "There are more than 8,000 Starlink satellites overhead at this moment. Currently, there are 1 to 2 Starlink satellites falling back to Earth each day. Soon there will be more. Satellites give us enormous benefits that are also multiplying. But are we doing enough to protect our delicate future in near-Earth space?"
• Are You Experiencing Posting Ennui? - "Sharing casual moments from our lives on social media doesn’t seem to make sense the way it used to."
• 5 Steps to Solve (Almost) Any Problem - "Identify the root cause. - Gather information to craft a 'good-enough' plan. - Seek different perspectives. - Create a story about the change you’ll make. - Make the leap."
• A.I. Video Generators Are Now So Good You Can No Longer Trust Your Eyes - "Welcome to the era of fakery. The widespread use of instant video generators like Sora will bring an end to visuals as proof."
• Pumpkin Seeds vs. Chia Seeds: Which Is Better for Fiber, Magnesium & Protein? - "Chia seeds have more fiber and calcium than pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds have more protein and magnesium than chia seeds. Chia seeds and pumpkin seeds both provide similar amounts of zinc and iron."
• At the Met’s ‘Divine Egypt,’ the Gods Are Eternally Fabulous - "A once-in-a-decade exhibition of ancient deities - many are goddesses - ranging over more than 3,000 years, from monumental statues to gleaming figurines."
• Google Photos' New Update Leaves International Users Wanting More - "Google Photo's 'Create' tab rolls out internationally but, for many, important features are missing. While the Create tab simplifies content creation within Google Photos, international users are receiving a limited experience compared to their U.S. counterparts. The Google Photos app is prompting users to try features they can't access."
• How Trump got ‘phase one’ of ceasefire deal done between Israel & Hamas - "It is too early to declare the war over. A number of issues remain outstanding, and further negotiations could uncover unbridgeable gaps between the two sides."
• Europe worries it’s already at war & America hasn’t noticed - "'We are not at war, but we are no longer at peace either.'"
• Greta Thunberg shares image of emaciated Israeli hostage in post protesting treatment of Palestinian prisoners - "Sister of Evyatar David slams ’embarrassing’ post meant to highlight alleged ‘suffering’ of Palestinians in Israeli detention that includes photo of her brother in Hamas tunnel."
• The best cities in Europe: 2025 Readers' Choice Awards - "These are your favourite cities to visit in Europe, from ancient towns to forward-thinking metropolises."
• The rise of ‘cozy coloring’: Finding calm in simplicity - "There's a new trend in adult coloring - simple line art with large, bold shapes designed for relaxing, low-pressure evenings."
• Eight UK thatched cottages that define 'cosycore' - "Where better to hunker down in the autumn than the ultimate snug home? The thatched cottage is romantic, sustainable, has a long, proud tradition - and is now enjoying a revival."
• AI has carried the stock market. Concerns are mounting about a bubble - "Enthusiasm about artificial intelligence has propelled markets to record highs this year. But the fierce ascent has also raised concerns about a bubble."
• America's top banker sounds warning on US stock market fall - "There is a higher risk of a serious fall in US stocks than is currently being reflected in the market, the head of JP Morgan has told the BBC."
• China tightens export rules for crucial rare earths - "China has tightened its rules on the export of rare earths - the elements that are crucial to the manufacture of many high-tech products."
• Destroying cancer with sound instead of surgery - "How ultrasound is ushering a new era of surgery-free cancer treatment. Ultrasound has long been used for helping doctors see inside the body, but focused high frequency sound waves are offering new ways of targeting cancer."
• The turbulent history of the union jack - "For centuries the ultimate emblem of Britishness has meant different things to different people, and now it is back in the news. What does its history tell us?"
• King Charles hopes nature film will 'inspire' viewers - "The King to appear in Amazon documentary encouraging people to work with rather than against nature."
• King Charles' Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph Is A Real Collector's Choice - "What's a watch fit for a king? While making public appearances to celebrate Elizabeth's life and mourn her death, King Charles III has been wearing his Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph. While Parmigiani Fleurier might not be a household name, it's a fitting, deep-cut choice from one of this generation's true master watchmakers."
• The Universities Producing the Most Billionaires - "American universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Penn lead in producing billionaire alumni. Most wealth comes from technology startups and entrepreneurial ventures (e.g., Microsoft, Google, DoorDash, Baidu)."
• Ranked: Internet Costs by Country in 2025 - "UAE has the world’s most expensive fixed internet at $4.31 per Mbps. Eastern Europe leads affordability, with Romania as low as $0.01 per Mbps."
• What happened to Steve Jobs’ fortune & properties - "For a man who built a trillion-dollar empire and amassed a personal wealth of $US10.2 billion, Steve Jobs’ choice of home was anything but extravagant. Here’s a closer look into the properties of the tech genius behind the iPhone and the fortune he left behind following his death 14 years ago."
• Gold zooms past $4,000 for first time in historic flight to safety - "It is one of the best-performing assets of 2025, outpacing advances in global equity markets and bitcoin and losses for the U.S. dollar and crude oil. Gold broke above $4,000 an ounce for the first time as investors piled into the safe haven, making it one of the best-performing assets of 2025."
• Gordon Brown’s gold sale has cost Britain $47bn - "The notional cost to the public purse of selling almost half of Britain's gold reserves 25 years ago has mushroomed to a record $47 billion as a result of the surging price of the precious metal."
• NOBEL PRIZES 2025 - "Official website: The awards are being announced this week."
• Can Trump really win a Nobel Peace Prize? Yes. Here’s how - "Trump inherited two of the worst conflicts of this new century, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. On both fronts, the outlines of a settlement are now in view. It’s less clear whether Trump and his team can deliver peace. But if they do, the Nobel committee can and should recognize the achievement and award Trump its coveted medallion."
• Trump is treating federal funds like a personal slush fund - "How Trump uses federal cash that’s not his to spend to pursue his questionable goals."
• An insider's guide to Dubai - from the people who know it best - "A comprehensive guide to Dubai by the emirate's most interesting residents, from chefs and designers to gallerists and musicians. From the essentials to local’s insider tips and new openings."
• More cats than people: The Mediterranean island that tourism didn’t swallow whole - "The flat, tiny island of Nueva Tabarca stretches 1,800 meters - just over a mile - and spans only 400 meters at its widest point. Around 50 people live on the island year-round, making it Spain’s smallest permanently inhabited island."
• Taylor Swift seems to be unbothered by mixed reception of her ‘Showgirl’ album - "The 14-time Grammy winner reflected on how this isn’t the first time she’s heard her fans and followers deliver less-than-glowing takes on one of her albums."
• What your teenage son is really seeing on social media, according to new survey - "If your adolescent son is online, he’s almost certainly seeing content that promotes masculinity and suggests troubling things about girls, according to research published on Wednesday."
• iOS 26 puts Apple Music ahead of Spotify again - "Control the voice mic during Sing - Lyric translation helps you understand what you're singing - Lyric pronunciation takes this to an entirely different level - Apple Music can be a bigger part of your widgets - Put your playlists in folders in your library."
• 9 Food Cities in Europe That Outshine Paris & Rome - " Here are nine food cities in Europe that truly outshine Paris and Rome.: 1. San Sebastián, Spain - 2. Lyon, France - 3. Bologna, Italy - 4. Porto, Portugal - 5. Antwerp, Belgium - 6. Valencia, Spain - 7. Kraków, Poland - 8. Copenhagen, Denmark - 9. Glasgow, Scotland."
• The Cartier Santos De Cartier Adds Titanium & More For 2025 - "It's 43% lighter and harder than steel, with a muted anthracite tone accented by a black spinel crown. Two new references - one in titanium, the other with a black luminous dial - prove Cartier's first pilot's watch still has a contemporary edge that resists nostalgia."
• The 12 Most Exciting Yachts at This Year’s Monaco Show - "With launches ranging from a 101-foot Lamborghini cruiser to Giorgio Armani's last design, this year did not disappoint."
• I was Hitler’s neighbour: ‘If he’d known we were Jewish, we’d have been sent to Dachau’ - "In 1929, Edgar Feuchtwanger was five years old and living with his family in Munich when Adolf Hitler moved into a flat opposite. At first, his parents thought they were safe hiding in plain sight - until they weren’t."
• Hamas celebrates two years since October 7, calls terror attack a ‘glorious day’ - "The Hamas terror organization shared a statement celebrating the two-year mark since the October 7 attacks, with an AI video that showed Yahya Sinwar and footage from the terror attack."
• 5 Nobel-worthy scientific advances that haven’t won the prize - "Prizes in chemistry, physics, and physiology or medicine, established by Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel more than a century ago, will be announced this week, along with prizes in peace and literature."
• Why you need to pay attention to Sora 2 & our future AI unreality - "If you work in the media industry or simply care about the quality of the information ecosystem we all inhabit, you need to pay attention to Sora 2. Sora 2 is an AI video generator, a TikTok challenger, and a social network all in one."
• What everyone is saying about Sora - "It's a hit. The first thing to say about Sora is that people are eager to try it. Despite requiring a (scarce) invitation to use, Sora is the No. 3 most-downloaded app in the US App Store today."
• OpenAI’s New Video App Is Jaw-Dropping (for Better & Worse) - "The app we used was not TikTok, Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, the current leaders of short-form video. It was Sora, a smartphone app made by OpenAI that lets people create videos entirely from artificial intelligence."
• Three CNN reporters on three continents wore chemical-tracking wristbands. The results were alarming - "The chemical-tracking wristbands turn the invisible into visible. Each band can pick up 73 chemicals associated with plastics, spanning six chemical groups, although they do not pick up PFAS, so called forever chemicals, which linger for years in the body."
• Diet & sugary drinks raise risk of common liver disease by up to 60%, new research finds - "Drinking as little as one can of diet soda a day may increase the risk of nonalcohol fatty liver disease by 60%, while drinking a sugary beverage could raise the risk by 50%, a new unpublished study found."
• Chanel has a new designer. Take a look at his first collection - "The man with one of fashion’s biggest jobs just made his debut. Matthieu Blazy presents his vision for the future of one of history’s most storied houses."
• Vogue publisher CondÉ Nast stops showing fur in all editorial & advertising - "Vogue will no longer feature 'new animal fur in editorial content or advertising,' according to updated guidelines on the website of its parent company, Condé Nast."
• Why are so many super-rich Brits moving to Milan? - "The country is now the third favourite place for moneyed expats, and Milan is their city of choice. Italian government introduced an annual flat tax of only €100,000 on the global income and assets of anyone who transferred their residency to Italy. No wealth tax, no inheritance tax, no income tax - just the annual six-figure sum if you committed to living at least half the year in Italy for a period of up to 15 years."
• Style Secrets of Milanese Women - "'Milanese style is about refinement without effort, knowing what not to wear as much as what to wear.' We spoke to the real-life version of Gucci’s characters."
• Did Shackleton know his polar ship was doomed from the beginning? - "New analysis suggests Endurance was a poor choice for the explorer’s Antarctic mission of 1914 - and that he was aware of its flaws."
• Six of the best autumn city breaks in Europe for an overload of culture & fabulous food - "From Athens’ beach-studded - and still warm - coastline to the ancient food markets of Palermo: Athens - Palermo - Vienna - Budapest - Zurich - Lyon."
• A beginner's guide to setting up Home Assistant - "Find your smart home devices and link them - Open a web browser and go to homeassistant. - Select Create my smart home to get started. - Enter your ..."
• 6 Home Assistant add-ons I wish I knew about day one - "These third-party applications and services run alongside Home Assistant, adding functionality without changing your core installation."
• October’s full harvest moon is the first supermoon of the year. Here’s when to see it - "Keep your eyes along the horizon on Monday night to see the first supermoon of the year."
• 'I was lucky to get out': Everest hikers battle hypothermia as blizzard rescue continues - "At least one hiker has died and more than 200 are still stranded on Everest's eastern slopes in Tibet, an area popular with climbers and hikers, Chinese state media reported."
• Supreme Court rejects appeal from Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell - "The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear an appeal from the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, brushing aside an argument from Ghislaine Maxwell that she should have been shielded from prosecution under a plea agreement that Epstein struck with federal authorities."
• Analysis: Does wireless charging wear down your iPhone battery? - "Whether you charge your iPhone inductively, by cable, or alternately has no effect on battery longevity. However, we would recommend setting the charging limit to 90 percent or less. If you keep your iPhone for a year or more, your battery will tend to age more slowly."
• How Europe’s Cities Have Grown Since 1975 - "Several cities outside the traditional top three have seen striking increases in population since 1975. Madrid's urban population nearly doubled from 3.9 million to 6.8 million, while Kyiv grew from 1.9 million to nearly 2.8 million."
• Can you lose weight on an 'oatzempic' diet? - "Drugs like Ozempic have allowed many people to lose weight they were unable to shift before. Could a diet have the same effect without the need for a prescription?"
• Norwegian oats win world porridge championship - "A first-time competitor from Norway has stirred up success by claiming the coveted title of world porridge making champion."
• This arty fishing village is Spain’s best-kept secret - "The home of surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, the under-the-radar Catalonian fishing village of Cadaqués is our new favourite destination for a laidback, late-summer escape."
• Have we reached peak world records in sports? - "Why world records seem to be getting harder to beat - according to maths. New world records in some sports are remarkably elusive, yet in others they seem to fall regularly. There is a good mathematical reason why."
• iOS 26 brings a new app to your iPhone - here’s how to try it - "You may have missed it amongst all the new goodies. But it's not just about changing the look of iPhones, as Apple has introduced a new app called Preview to iOS 26. The Preview app can handle basic image editing, exporting files in various formats, entering text, signatures, and other minor changes into PDFs, as well as scanning documents."
• The century-long search for the Loch Ness Monster - "A hotel manager's glimpse of something strange in 1933 helped to create a modern monster myth. In 1987, the BBC reported on the scientists who used sonar to hunt for Nessie. 'You cannot kill a legend with science': The century-long search for the Loch Ness Monster."
• Meghan makes surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week & joins the front-row set - "The Duchess of Sussex appeared at Paris Fashion Week to support a fashion designer friend on Saturday. Meghan attended the Balenciaga show after making the solo trip across the Atlantic."
• The Clooneys Draw an A-List Crowd in London, for Justice - "Amal and George Clooney were joined at the Albie Awards by celebrities including Meryl Streep and Meg Ryan, with performances by John Legend and Brandi Carlile."
• 100 dishes in 40 days: India's epic wedding feast - "For more than 700 years, an extraordinary tradition has been maintained in southern India, where grooms are presented with a parade of freshly prepared dishes by their mother-in-law."
• Global James Bond Day - "October 5th is Global James Bond Day, which marks the release of the first James Bond film Dr. No, in 1962. In 2025, we celebrate 63 years of the franchise. Let the celebrations begin: Grab a Martini - shaken, not stirred - and settle in for a marathon of one of the world’s most beloved and long-lasting franchises, James Bond."
• Top 800 Best James Bond 007 & Ian Fleming Resources - "'I didn't intend for Bond to be likable. He's a blunt instrument in the hands of government. He's got vices and few perceptible virtues.' - Ian Fleming."
• Diddy's reputation is tarnished, but could he find a way back? - "The rap star has been sentenced to more than four years in prison, but still has loyal fans. Sean 'Diddy' Combs' reputation is in tatters after a stream of ugly allegations and revelations in recent years, culminating with his conviction in July."
• 'A force for alienation': How The Social Network predicted the future of tech - "Directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, the Oscar-winning drama about the birth of Facebook was released 15 years ago this month. It proved to be an eerily prophetic look at the problems with social media."
• These are the winter hotels in Europe to book for a magical, cosy getaway - "It's a travel trend that continues to grow - most notably on Google, where searches for ‘cold holidays’ have increased by 82%."
• Sweden: The country 'prescribed' by doctors - "'The Swedish Prescription. Sweden is the first country in the world prescribed by doctors. Welcome to a destination of a different nature.' A cheeky new ad campaign claims that visiting the Nordic nation and embracing Swedish culture can improve your wellbeing - and it's turning to medical experts to make its case."
• The before & after images showing glaciers vanishing before our eyes - "Switzerland's glaciers have been particularly badly hit, losing a quarter of their ice in the last 10 years."
• The best chef awards 2025 - "Rasmus Munk retains the crown as The Best Chef in the world, chef-owner of Alchemist in Copenhagen, with Ana Roš and Himanshu Saini joining him on the podium."
• Is It OK to Use Your Phone on the Toilet? - "Using the phone while you poop greatly raises hemorrhoid risk, new study says."
• I Left a Plastic Water Bottle in a Hot Car. Is It Safe to Drink? - "No, you should not drink water from a plastic bottle left in a hot car. The heat causes the plastic to break down and leach chemicals like microplastics, BPA, and phthalates into the water, which can interfere with your hormones."
• How Good Is Exercise That Feels Effortless? - "The 'zone zero' fitness trend promotes very low-intensity movement, like walking and housework. Here’s what it can - and can’t - do for you."
• Dame Patricia Routledge: The life of TV's magnificently snobby 'Hyacinth Bucket' - "Dame Patricia Routledge, who has died at the age of 96, imprinted herself on the national consciousness as the snobby Hyacinth Bucket."
• Dames, snobs & gumshoes: Patricia Routledge - a life in pictures - "The actor, best known for her roles as snooty housewife Hyacinth Bucket and private investigator Hetty Wainthropp, has died at the age of 96. Here we look back at her wide-ranging career."
• David Lynch’s Hollywood Hills Home Is Listed for $15 Million - "The property, a nearly 2.5-acre hillside enclave along Senalda Road in Hollywood Hills, was where Mr. Lynch lived and worked for more than three decades. It includes five main structures, totaling around 11,000 square feet of interior space, with a combined 10 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms."
• Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan in full - "1. Gaza will be a deradicalised terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours. - 2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough. - 3. If both sides agree to this proposal, the war..."
• Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sentenced to more than 4 years in prison for prostitution-related conviction - "Hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs was sentenced to just over four years in prison on Friday after being convicted on prostitution-related charges involving his two ex-girlfriends."
• Read the letter Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs submitted to the judge ahead of his sentencing - "Sean 'Diddy' Combs says he's 'humbled and broken' in letter to judge ahead of sentencing. He asked Judge Arun Subramanian to let him be an 'example of what a person can do if afforded a second chance.'"
• The Meaning Behind ‘Ophelia’ on Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl - "In the song, Swift sings of her heart being saved 'from the fate of Ophelia,' an apparent reference to her fiancé, Travis Kelce."
• Examining Taylor Swift's staggering business empire - "'It's a whole economic apparatus.' Taylor Swift has a staggering business empire. And it’s not just because of album sales. As of 2023, she’s also a billionaire."
• Celebrities Who Have Lyme Disease & What They've Said - "Stars including Bella Hadid, Justin Timberlake and more have spoken honestly about their experience with the tick-borne disease."
• What you need to know about Lyme disease - "Here at BBC Bitesize, we've put together a guide to give you the low down on all you need to know about Lyme disease."
• $1 Trump coin draft is ‘real,’ US Treasurer says - "A portrait of President Donald Trump may be featured on a commemorative $1 coin issued by the United States Mint in honor of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, according to first drafts of the images confirmed by the US Treasury."
• Statue of Trump & Epstein Holding Hands Returns to National Mall - "The statue, titled 'Best Friends Forever,' was reinstalled after it was removed last week. An anonymous group of artists has taken credit for the work."
• Who Would Want Their Jeans to Be Twisted? - "What happens when mere baggy jeans aren’t stylish enough? Things get twisted."
• Will real-time translation change how we travel? - "Apple's new live translation feature is a boon for travellers, but over-reliance on AI translation could make us rethink how, and why, we learn languages."
• Should you turn to AI for advice on love? - "More people are turning to AI for help with their relationships, but is that a good idea?"
• Fatal attack revives debate over controversial shark nets in Australia - "The use of controversial shark nets was about to be scaled back in Sydney when a surfer was killed."
• I can't believe I missed this hidden Google Maps feature & it makes your life so much easier when driving - "Plus, it works with CarPlay: If you swipe left on the direction box, Google Maps will pull up the upcoming steps on your trip, and you can jump ahead to different points on the map. To reset, you can click the re-center button to return the map to your current location."
• Taylor Swift's new album: First reactions flood in - "Taylor Swift’s fans stay up late for ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ release."
• Prince William's interview with Eugene Levy is the most open we've ever seen him - "Prince William's conversation with Eugene Levy on the actor's Apple TV show is revealing on many levels. He opens up about changing the monarchy, the strain of Kate's illness - and riding an electric scooter."
• Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs poised to learn his fate at sentencing hearing on Friday - "He’s been jailed in a federal detention facility in Brooklyn, New York since his arrest in September of last year and faces up to 10 years in prison for each count of transportation to engage in prostitution."
• Woman appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in a historic first for the Church of England - "Sarah Mullally was on Friday appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the spiritual leader of 85 million Anglicans worldwide and the first woman to hold the role in its 1,400-year history."
• Every iPhone user should use my favorite iOS 26 feature for a productivity boost - "Apple's Add to Calendar lets you create events with one tap from screenshots. It doesn't hallucinate and is more accurate than similar Android features. You can use the feature on every iPhone compatible with iOS 26."
• We Finally Have Free Anti-Robocall Tools That Work - "A new feature for iPhones screens calls, similar to a technology available for Android users. Here's how to activate it."
• Is Watches And Wonders Turning Into Baselworld 2.0? Also, Audemars Piguet Is Back - "From a salon to a full-blown fair, but without the Bratwurst."
• The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” Extra-Thin Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Chronograph RD#5 Is The Most Jumbo Of Them All - "The final chapter of AP's experimental series takes a classic case in a whole new direction."
• Amazon's Genius New Kindle Feature Might Be the Best Use of AI I've Seen - "Story So Far, as the feature is called, supplies forgetful readers with a quick synopsis of what they've last read as soon as they pick the story up again. It's such a brilliant and straightforward use of AI that it has this paper book purist ready to move on to an e-reader."
• Gulfstream reveals more about new G300 super-midsize business jet - "The Savannah aircraft manufacturer revealed the G300 development programme on 30 September, saying the 3,600nm (6,667km)-range jet will replace its G280. Gulfstream says the new 10-passenger jet will be slightly longer than the G280 and be powered by twin Honeywell HTF7250G turbofans."
• 8 Reasons Its Tough to Watch the Godfather Trilogy Today - "The epic Godfather crime saga changed cinema forever, but several factors make revisiting the Corleone family a challenge today."
• 7 best exercises other than walking for bringing down blood pressure - "High blood pressure is generally called the 'silent killer,' is one condition that demands daily care. Medications help, but small lifestyle changes often work like quiet healers. Exercise is one of the most powerful tools here: Swimming - Cycling - Tai Chi - Resistance training - Dancing - Yoga - Rowing."
• A 102-Year-Old Yoga Teacher’s Simple Approach to Aging Well - "For decades, Charlotte Chopin has been bending and stretching in Léré, a village in France. Here’s how she keeps moving."
• Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla & detains activists including Greta Thunberg - " Israel’s navy boarded vessels aiming to break the country’s blockade of Gaza, detaining dozens of people including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The military says just one vessel is yet to be halted."
• Conservationist Jane Goodall, whose work revolutionized the study of primates, has died - "Jane Goodall, whose lifelong work as a primatologist helped broaden the world’s understanding of animal behavior and emotions, has died, her institute said Wednesday. She was 91."
• Jane Goodall: The human-chimp bond captured in an iconic photo - "In 1964, Jane Goodall's husband Hugo van Lawick took a photo of her and an infant chimp reaching out to each other. Decades later, it continues to impact how we view chimpanzees."
• Jane Goodall’s life in pictures - "Goodall’s field studies with chimpanzees not only broke barriers for women and changed the way scientists study animals, but documented emotions and personality traits within these primates that blurred the line between humans and the animal kingdom."
• Elon Musk Just Became The First Person Ever Worth $500 Billion - "Elon Musk achieved yet another major milestone Wednesday, becoming the first ever person worth $500 billion. The richest person on the planet is now worth $500 billion, as of 3:30 pm Eastern, per Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires tracker."
• Meta is getting even better at selling you things. Here’s how - "Meta will soon use your conversations with its AI chatbot to sell you stuff. Meta will soon use what people tell its artificial intelligence chatbot to get even better at selling them things."
• These exercises for shoulder strength can help you move pain-free - "How to strengthen muscles for stable shoulders."
• The clock that starts ticking after someone dies - "The natural clocks that can pinpoint someone's time of death. When something dies, a telltale radioactive signal ticks like a natural clock. Discovering it helped us solve all sorts of natural mysteries."
• How Taylor Swift made herself too big to fail - "As she prepares to release The Life of a Showgirl, it seems nothing can damage the record-breaking artist."
• The Smashing Machine to After the Hunt: 12 of the best films to watch this October - "Here are the films to see this month, including Dwayne Johnson as an MMA star, the return of Daniel Day-Lewis and Julia Roberts in Luca Guadagnino's campus drama."
• Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan enters the billionaire club - "The 59-year-old's net worth is estimated at a staggering $1.4bn, according to the Hurun India Rich List 2025, an annual ranking of India's wealthiest individuals."
• The 25 Most Influential Magazine Covers of All Time - "Four editors, a creative director and a visual artist met to debate and discuss the best of print media - and its enduring legacy: 1. Muhammad Ali, Esquire, April 1968 - 2. 'If You Don’t Buy This Magazine, We’ll Kill This Dog,' National Lampoon, January 1973 - 3.'Moment of Joy,' The New Yorker, July 8 & 15, 2013."
• Hectic sex lives ‘explain why men die younger than women’ - "In species where males must compete for mates, they live shorter lives than females. The ancient Greeks knew it well: their male heroes died young on the battlefield, leaving their wives to mourn them."
• US government shuts down - "US federal government shuts down after Senate fails to pass funding plans"
• What this might mean for flights & other travel in the US - "What the federal government shutdown might mean for flights and other travel in the US."
• International Coffee Day (1 October) - "An occasion that is used to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events now occurring in places across the world. The first official date was 1 October 2015, as agreed by then International Coffee Organization and was launched in Milan."
• The controversial sweet that fuels Norwegians - "Known as 'the trip chocolate', Kvikk Lunsj has fuelled outdoor adventures for generations. So, what makes this chocolate so controversial?"
• What really happens inside a Turkish bath - "Going to a hamam is very different from being in your bathroom at home, or even in a private room at a day spa when it’s just you and your therapist. In a bath or shower you are alone but a hamam is a public space."
• Fat Bear Week 2025 crowns a winner - "In a competition bear-ly more ferocious, 12 chunky brown bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve have been battling it out in one of the most cutthroat places on the planet - the internet."
• 20 facts, 10 lies. Can you spot the real from the fake in this Taylor Swift quiz? - "For each category - ranging from Taylor’s music career, Easter eggs and love life - we present you with two truths and a lie. Think you can spot the lie? Prove it."
• Hollywood is fuming over a new ‘AI actress’ - "After an artificial intelligence-generated 'actress' drew intense backlash from human actors, the character’s maker says it’s not meant to replace people. But many in Hollywood aren’t buying it."
• Hydration - why it matters, how much you need & when to adjust - "Checking your urine plays a key role in your daily hydration habits."
• Covid cases rising with new variants Nimbus & Stratus - "If you feel unwell with a bad throat and a temperature you may well have caught one of the new strains of Covid circulating this autumn. XFG, called Stratus by some, and NB.1.8.1, known as Nimbus, are now the most common variants being passed around in the UK, according to officials."
• Starship's Tenth Flight Test - "Starship’s tenth flight test lifted off on August 26, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. CT from Starbase, Texas, taking a significant step forward in developing the world’s first fully reusable launch vehicle. Every major objective was met, providing critical data to inform designs of the next generation Starship and Super Heavy."
• The personal climate actions that actually work - "Care about climate change? Here's what the evidence shows are the most effective things you can do. The evidence shows these are the most impactful actions you can take."
• What Happens to the Plastic in Dishwasher Pods? - "In the case of dishwasher pods, companies have tried to design the plastic films to dissolve harmlessly. Even so, some researchers are concerned these pods may persist in the environment, ultimately adding to other plastic-related exposures that science is increasingly linking to chronic diseases."
• 5 foods that help regulate blood pressure for a healthier heart - "If you're looking to keep your heart happy and your blood pressure in check, the secret may just lie in your kitchen: Chickpeas are loaded with fiber and potassium, two key ingredients that help balance your blood pressure."
• The Best-Dressed Place in the World? - "During Milan Fashion Week, an electric mix of faces, clothes and ideas advanced the city’s reputation as a destination with unrivaled style."
• AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Should You Upgrade? - "With Apple releasing a new set of flagship noise-canceling earbuds, some AirPods Pro 2 owners will be tempted to upgrade to the AirPods Pro 3. Here's a look at their key differences."

September 2025

• What’s in the White House’s latest peace plan to end the war in Gaza - "US President Donald Trump publicly released his roadmap for Gaza peace Monday as he argued that he is 'very close' to bringing an end to the nearly two-year long war that has now claimed tens of thousands of lives."
• Like no other commute on the planet: Inside Saudi Arabia’s dazzling $22-billion metro system - "Taking the metro is usually little more than a means to an end while moving around cities, but Saudi Arabia’s brand new Riyadh Metro is turning this notion on its head. Launched in December 2024, the automated rapid transit system brings new meaning to the phrase, 'It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.'"
• How the rise of green tech is feeding another environmental crisis - "The world's race to decarbonise has led to the rise of electric cars - and with it, soaring demand for lithium, which is required for the batteries."
• 11 of the best TV shows to watch this October - "From the return of Netflix's hit rom-com with Kristen Bell and Adam Brody to a prequel series to Stephen King's It and a five-part documentary about Martin Scorsese."
• The ‘Dumbphones’ is making a comeback & it’s more exclusive & expensive than ever - "‘Dumbphones’ are getting smarter and more premium. Are they the solution for disillusioned phone addicts?"
• Apple responds to iPhone 17 Pro scratch & durability concerns - "It wouldn’t be a new iPhone launch without some drama. While the iPhone Air has impressed in all bend and scratch tests, some users have raised concerns over the durability of the iPhone 17 Pro’s aluminum body."
• Apple releases iOS 26.0.1 for iPhone, here’s what’s new - "iOS 26.0.1 is rolling out now to iPhone users, the first software update since Apple launched iOS 26 to the public earlier this month."
• iOS 18.7.1 now available for iPhone, here’s what’s new - "Apple has released two noteworthy iPhone software updates today, including iOS 18.7.1 for users who haven't yet upgraded to iOS 26."
• 15 unwritten rules to know before visiting New York City - "How to avoid looking like a tourist in New York City, according to the editors of Condé Nast Traveller: How to (safely) cross the sidewalk like a New Yorker - Speed walk - Don't take up the whole sidewalk - How far in advance to make reservations."
• US gold reserves smash $1 trillion mark as precious metal hits fresh highs - "The value of America's gold hoard has topped $1 trillion for the first time as bullion smashes through record highs."
• Top 10 Tech Stocks Lead the NASDAQ Since 2023 - "In August 2025, the combined market capitalization of the NASDAQ’s top ten tech stocks - Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Palantir, and Tesla - reached $21.7 trillion, 83% higher than the rest of the NASDAQ at $11.8 trillion."
• Why Do So Many Women Have Long Hair Now? - "More and more women seem to be sporting long, luscious manes. Our critic offers some possible explanations along with a brief history of hair. It requires good health and a certain amount of money to maintain its shiny lushness. Some hair stylists, she said, even have a name for it: 'rich girl’s hair.'"
• Harris’s Memoir Is Another Example of the Democrats’ Problem - "Kamala Harris’s new memoir, '107 Days,' reads like a book of excuses."
• Next Time You Consult an A.I. Chatbot, Remember One Thing - "Chatbots want to be your friend, when what you really need is a neutral perspective. Why A.I. chatbots are sycophantic. Chatbots aren’t sentient beings; they’re computer models trained on massive amounts of text to predict the next word in a sentence. What feels like empathy or validation is really just the A.I. chatbot echoing back language patterns that it’s learned."
• Milan Fashion Week: Brands make a renewed case for ‘Made in Italy’ - "The show featured over 100 ensembles and a standing ovation, celebrating Armani's 50-year legacy and his influence on Italian fashion industry. New beginnings at Gucci and Jil Sander. Fendi, Prada and Diesel stay the course. A touch of whimsy at Moschino, Max Mara and Sunnei."
• Stars turn out for final Armani fashion show in Milan - "Stars including Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close and Richard Gere were in attendance for the Giorgio Armani spring/summer 2026 collection show in Milan on Sunday, the final collection the Italian designer worked on before his death."
• She’s one of the few female designers in luxury fashion. Here’s what she has to say - "Since joining Bottega Veneta in January, Louise Trotter has sought to draw attention to the fashion house’s roots as a 'Venetian artisanal shop,' the literal translation of its name."
• Ranking the 10 Greatest Ryder Cup Moments of All Time - "Forget everything you think you know about golf tournaments."
• Watch: World's highest bridge opens in China - "The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge towers 625m (2,083ft) above a gorge in the country's Guizhou province."
• Swiss voters narrowly approve plan for electronic ID cards - "With all votes counted, 50.4% of those who voted said yes to the proposal, while 49.6% rejected it."
• AI is sending people to places that don't exist - "From incorrect locations to made-up destinations, AI is leading some travellers astray."
• The forgotten first king of England - "In his lifetime, the first king of England was renowned throughout Europe. But over the centuries, he has been sidelined by history. For a king who achieved so much, Æthelstan is a remarkably mysterious monarch. It is 1,100 years since he was crowned the first king of England, yet he has remained surprisingly absent from the history books."
• The 1958 Italian novel that skewered the super-rich - "Lampedusa's mid-20th-Century novel The Leopard became a bestseller, then a revered film, and is now a lavish Netflix series. Why does it remain relevant today? Its withering takedown of society's flaws and hypocrisies still hits home today."
• Can a Multivitamin Make Up for a Bad Diet? - "So-called 'broad-based' multivitamins combine a wide range of micronutrients, with typically around 13 essential vitamins like A, C, and D, and up to 15 minerals like calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Other multivitamins focus on fewer nutrients for specific needs like bone or skin health."
• Why Camino hikers are heading north - "Every summer, Spain's iconic Camino bakes under extreme heat, but Norway's St Olav Ways offer pilgrims a quieter, cooler path to redemption."
• iPhone 17 vs Galaxy S25: which flagship phone wins? - "The battle of champions continues. We have reached the point in phones where most of them are roughly the same in what they offer."
• 10 Wealthy People Rules - "1. Measure Success Beyond Income: From Accumulation to Life Design - 2. Convert Income Into Ownership: Building Equity That Outlasts Labor - 3. Use Debt as a Lever, Not a Burden: Strategic Leverage for Wealth Building - 4..."
• Swedish hawks want their own nuclear weapon - "As the Russian threat grows and the United States seems ever less reliable, politicians are discussing whether they need a Bomb of their own. In 1956 and 1957 the authorities covertly detonated powerful bombs not far from the village of Nausta with the aim of simulating a minor atomic blast, part of laying the ground for a national nuclear weapons programme. After the test explosions the crater slowly filled with water and became a lake."
• From diplomacy to soccer, Israel is becoming a pariah on the global stage - "Israel is becoming increasingly isolated on the world stage as the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza continue, with the backlash seeping into economic, cultural and sporting arenas."
• Netanyahu’s flight to US takes extended detour, avoiding most European airspace - "No official reason given for unusual route, but there’s an ICC warrant for PM’s arrest; Wing of Zion refrains from flying over France, though source claims permission given."
• How Larry & David Ellison reached the peak of their wealth & political power - "He may be 81-years old, but Oracle chairman and mega-billionaire Larry Ellison, a database technology pioneer and a mainstay of Silicon Valley for five decades, is at the peak of his influence, wealth and political power."
• Meryl Streep crashes Milan fashion show for ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ shoot - "The devil wore Dolce & Gabbana on Saturday, with Meryl Streep taking a front-row seat at the designing duo’s Milan theater in character as Miranda Priestly for 'The Devil Wears Prada' sequel."
• 24 of the world’s most unusual landscapes - "While there are plenty of awe-inspiring man-made destinations around the globe, nothing is as creative as nature. From trees that resemble monsters, to colorful sinkholes, towering rock formations and waterfalls of molten lava, these are some of the most unusual and fascinating landscapes in the world."
• Have these scientists found the answer to stop shoes stinking? - "How smelly shoes inspired India's Ig Nobel prize-winning study. Two Indian researchers have designed a shoe rack that banishes foul odours - and won a fun science prize."
• How Is Climate Change Impacting Fall Foliage? - "When temperatures drop and the days get shorter, trees get less sunlight, causing the energy-absorbing chlorophyll, which gives them their green hues, to break down and reveal the other color pigments."
• King Charles tells Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson to miss royal Christmas - "Not only has the duchess's letter to Jeffrey Epstein cost the couple their invitation, King Charles wants them 'invisible' at future events."
• Here’s how to get a refund from the historic Amazon Prime settlement - "Amazon will soon have to refund some Prime members as part of a $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission - $1.5 billion of which will be returned directly to customers. It’s the FTC’s largest-ever settlement and the second-highest refund award in history."
• 50 New macOS Tahoe Features & Changes Worth Checking Out - "Apple this month released macOS Tahoe, the latest version of the company's Mac operating system. MacOS Tahoe 26 adopts Apple's new Liquid Glass design along with new customizations, a new Phone app, and updated capabilities across the platform."
• 9 of the world's most unforgettable train trips - "Two hundred years after the first passenger train rolled down the tracks, these iconic rail journeys still inspire awe and wonder."
• ‘Biometric Exit’ Quietly Expands Across U.S. Airports, Unnerving Some - "The program, in which federal officers take departing international passengers' photos, is set to grow, raising privacy concerns."
• Anonymous attacks & air incursions put Europe on edge - "The ‘hybrid war’ Europe faces is a gift for Putin. But there are risks too."
• Drones seen over Danish military bases in latest air disruption - "Drones were detected near its largest military facility, with possible sightings also reported in Germany, Norway and Lithuania."
• Team USA looking to make a comeback at Ryder Cup after Europe’s dream start - "Day 2 of the Ryder Cup: Team Europe is up by three points, 5.5-2.5, going into the second day of action. The Europeans haven’t lost a Ryder Cup that they’ve led after the first day since 1999."
• Elon Musk & Prince Andrew named in new Epstein files - "Billionaire Elon Musk and Prince Andrew are named in new files released by Congressional Democrats that relate to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
• Polish Skier Climbs Everest & Skis Down Without Extra Oxygen - "Andrzej Bargiel, 37, became the first person to complete the feat."
• The 50 Greatest Men’s Colognes of All Time - "We asked an international panel of judges to vote on the best scents guys can wear today. Here's what they selected, from niche standouts to global best sellers."
• How to future-proof your knees - "Our knees are arguably one of our most important joints, but also one of the most poorly looked after. Science tells us putting in some work now pays dividends later."
• Why training your inner thighs matters more than you think - "When most people think of training their legs, they focus on quads, hamstrings and calves. The inner thighs rarely get the same attention. Yet your adductors - the muscles along your inner thighs - are crucial to pelvic stability, hip mobility and balance. Neglecting them can set you up for instability, pain and even injury."
• This is not the seat you paid for. Here’s what to do if you get downgraded on a flight - "You can get bumped from your seat for several reasons, ranging from a broken seat or a pilot needing rest to overbooking or an aircraft change. The most common reason for an involuntary downgrade is overbooking. Here’s why involuntary downgrades happen and some advice on how to navigate them and get what you’re owed."
• Now Arriving: A New Theory of In-Flight Turbulence - "Physicists have devised a new model to account for the discomfort that airline passengers know all too well."
• 18 of the best books of the year so far - "From an 'epic' coming-of-age story to 'delicious' dark academia - this is the very best fiction of the year, as chosen by BBC journalists."
• Ranked: The World’s Fastest Shrinking Countries - "According to World Bank data, 42 countries and territories are now shrinking, with some experiencing quicker declines than others. Many Eastern European countries (e.g., Moldova, Poland, Hungary) show negative growth, reflecting a widespread demographic trend in the region. Larger economies such as Germany, Japan, China, and Italy are also shrinking, signaling that population decline is no longer limited to smaller or developing nations."
• Self-Made vs. Inherited Wealth - "The Global Billionaire Breakdown." Globally, 67% of billionaires are self-made. Germany? Just 1 in 4 took the entrepreneurial route. Meanwhile, Russia and China top the list with 97% self-made billionaires each. Oh, and the total wealth of all billionaires jumped 13.4% last year. Inheritance or not, it’s been a good year to be rich.
• Enable This iOS 26 Privacy Feature to Make It Harder for Others to Track You - "This feature is meant to obscure your digital fingerprint when you use Apple's Safari. Where to find Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protections: 1. Open Settings. 2. Tap Apps near the bottom of the menu. 3. Tap Safari. 4. Tap Advanced near the bottom of the menu. 5. Tap Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection. 6.Tap All Browsing."
• World Maritime Day | United Nations - "2025 Theme - Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity."
• Blue Wake Awards 2025 - "Launched in early 2025, the Blue Wake programme highlights pioneering solutions shaping the industry’s transition to sustainability. The Monaco Yacht Show celebrated sustainability last night with the announcement of the winners of the inaugural Blue Wake Awards."
• Look of the Week: Gwyneth Paltrow - & Gucci - take a break from quiet luxury - "At Gucci’s Spring-Summer 2026 show at Milan Fashion Week, Paltrow defected from her role as queen of quiet luxury and went full logomania."
• Million-year-old skull rewrites human evolution, scientists claim - "New analysis suggests our species began to emerge at least half a million years earlier than thought."
• Read the full James Comey indictment here - "The full text of the federal grand jury indictment against former FBI Director James Comey can be found here."
• Eurovision members to decide who takes part in 2026 contest as calls mount for Israel to be excluded - "Eurovision Song Contest organizers said Friday that member broadcasters will vote in November on whether Israel can participate in the musical extravaganza next year, as calls have mounted for the country to be excluded over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza."
• 20 Cozy Movies to Watch This Season - "Whether it's a dose of nostalgia or the cozy aesthetic, these are the movies you'll want to snuggle up with."
• A Snob’s Guide to Copenhagen - "Where to eat, sleep, and sightsee in the Danish capital."
• Drone attacks leave Denmark exposed & searching for response - "Drone incidents at airports and military bases all over Jutland, western Denmark, have not caused any harm or damage - and yet they have exposed the country's defences as vulnerable to attack."
• Germany Bets on AI Warfare with New ‘Europa’ Drone - "German defense startup Helsing unveiled its first major weapons platform on Thursday: the CA-1 Europa, an autonomous combat drone it hopes will compete with American and European defense giants in shaping the future of aerial warfare."
• Barcelona is made of math - "A virtual tour of the architecture in a city where mathematics and exploration meet."
• The rare disease that stops people from feeling fear - "Feeling fear is an evolutionary survival tactic. A small number of people have a rare condition that means they're not scared of anything. How do they live a life without fear?"
• How to Make Up After a Fight - "You’re both rattled. You feel out of sorts. Here’s how to get back on track."
• How to Set Strong Boundaries - "It might sound counterintuitive, but your relationships can benefit from rules and limitations."
• How to Avoid a Root Canal - "The dental procedure is one of the most dreaded. Here are six of its most common causes: Dry Mouth - Sugary and Acidic Foods and Drinks - Smoking and Vaping - Dental Traumas - Occupational Exposures - Past Dental Problems or Procedures."
• 'It lives underground & is fabulous': The world's rarest orchid - "The world's most mysterious and elusive orchid lives underground in Australia. Scientists are trying to rescue this botanic marvel from going completely extinct."
• Sun, sea & trash: The Caribbean islands struggling with managing waste - "Tourism is vital for economies across the Caribbean, but record-breaking numbers of visitors, coupled with insufficient local waste facilities, are leaving many islands choking on rubbish."
• VICTORINOX SWISSCHAMP XLT - "Medium Pocket Knife with 49 Functions: When you hear the words Swiss Army Knife, chances are you think of the legendary Officer's knife. And that legend continues with the Swiss Champ XLT pocket knife. It's the ultimate pocket knife, packing no less than 49 functions and countless possibilities. Wherever you are and whatever happens, if it can be fixed, it can be fixed with the Swiss Champ XLT."
• Trump demands inquiry over UN 'triple sabotage' after escalator & teleprompter mishaps - "Escalator Malfunction at U.N. Sets Off Conspiracy Theories. The US president called the incidents that included an escalator and teleprompter mishap 'a real disgrace'."
• Denmark says 'professional actor' behind drone incursions over its airports - "Denmark says drones flown over its airports appear to be the work of a 'professional actor' but there was no evidence of Russian involvement, after such activity disrupted its airspace for the second time in a week."
• Former French president Sarkozy given five year sentence after Libya case - "Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in jail after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case related to millions of euros of illicit funds from the late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi."
• How to track the super polluters next door - "A new interactive map and groundbreaking database allows people in the world’s largest metropolitan areas to track their air pollution exposure, along with their region’s biggest sources of planet-warming pollution."
• The 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2025 - "Topping the 2025 rankings is a corner of Tokyo called a 'bibliophile nirvana.' Jimbōchō is home to some 130 vintage book stores as well as its coffee-shop culture and delicious curry houses."
• Five Pearls of Wisdom From a Legend of Financial Writing - "Jonathan Clements, the longtime Wall Street Journal columnist, died this weekend. Here are some of his best ideas."
• The American Club Of The Riviera - "The objective of the Club is to cultivate social and cultural relationships among Americans, French and other nationals living on or visiting the French Riviera. We preserve and share traditions, language, and culture and promote a continuing exchange of friendship and understanding between organizations of public interest with similar goals or purposes. We honor the French Riviera communities by using local resources and supporting local businesses."
• The New Gucci Premieres, Directed by Demna - "Hot and Rich: Demi! Gwyneth! Sequins. Logos. Demna makes his debut at the brand with a movie, fashion and a lot of buzz. The curtain went up on Gucci’s new era Tuesday evening in Milan, not with a runway show but with a red carpet movie premiere."
• Apple confirms: The new iPhones have a camera problem - "Apple acknowledges issue causing blacked-out sections of photos 'in very rare cases,' and promises to roll out a fix."
• Dog in Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’ was copied from widely available book, suggests new research - "New research into Rembrandt van Rijn’s 1642 masterpiece suggests that this barking dog was inspired by the title page of a widely available book on the temptations of the flesh, illustrated by the Dutch artist, poet and publisher Adriaen van de Venne."
• Blueberry-Cashew Oat Bars Are the Perfect No-Bake Snack - "These no-bake blueberry-cashew bars with oats make a wholesome grab-and-go snack or breakfast. Enjoy them chilled or at room temperature."
• Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim 2025 - "'I swam from Asia to Europe. A surge of hope kept me going.'"
• Five takeaways from Trump’s UN speech - "A lecture on migration - Climate change the 'greatest con job' - No sign of progress on Ukraine or Gaza - Broken equipment - and a broken institution - Veering off-script."
• Jimmy Kimmel calls out 'anti-American' threats to free speech in tearful TV return - "The comedian returned from a brief suspension after comments he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk."
• Travel disruption for thousands after mystery drones closed two of Scandinavia’s busiest airports - "Two of Scandinavia’s busiest airports - Oslo and Copenhagen - were forced to close for several hours due to drone sightings overnight into Tuesday, disrupting the travel plans of tens of thousands of people. The airspace over Denmark’s Copenhagen Airport was closed for almost four hours on Monday night after two to three large 'unidentified' drones were spotted in the area. No flights were allowed to take off or land."
• 35th MONACO YACHT SHOW 2025 | MYS - since 1990. The most prestigious boat show in the world. Brings together professionals from the international luxury yachting sector; ship-builders and designers, equipment suppliers, brokers and service providers. The exhibition features 500 major companies and 120+ super and megayachts - the boats range from around 65 feet to over 250 feet in length. The MYS is held in Port Hercules, and is Europe's biggest in-water display of super and mega yachts. Port Hercules: September 24-27.
• Monaco Yacht Show launches official app ahead of 2025 edition - "With just days to go before the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show opens its doors on Wednesday, September 24, organisers have unveiled a dedicated mobile app designed to make navigating the event easier than ever. The app offers an interactive map with real-time geolocation, helping visitors move quickly between exhibitors, superyachts, and tenders. Users can also access practical details such as entrance points, dining options, and information desks, alongside a comprehensive FAQ."
• Macron calls Trump after getting stranded in New York - "The French president said: 'Guess what, I'm waiting in the street because everything is frozen for you.'"
• View from the ground when the typhoon hit Hong Kong - "Typhoon Ragasa hits Hong Kong with 100 mph winds. CNN's Hanako Montgomery reports from Hong Kong where Typhoon Ragasa has hit, with winds reported to reach 100 mph."
• Elon Musk’s Father Accused of Child Sexual Abuse - "Errol Musk has been accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren since 1993, a Times investigation found. Family members have appealed to Elon Musk for help."
• The hidden ‘eagle’s nest’ city that Alexander the Great couldn’t conquer - "The spectacular archaeological jewel seen only by a few handfuls of people. The beautiful ancient city of Termessos sits high in the hills above Turkey's southwestern Aegean coast. It gets few tourists but is an archaeological marvel."
• Nasa plans first crewed Moon mission in 50 years for February 2026 - "The mission around the Moon will pave the way for a lunar landing as soon as 2027."
• Crypto billionaire is launching world’s first private space station - "The world’s first commercial space station is getting closer to launch."
• Nvidia to invest $100bn in OpenAI - "US tech giant Nvidia will invest up to $100bn in OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT, the companies have announced. Nvidia said it will supply high-performance chips needed for the processing power required by artificial intelligence (AI), of which OpenAI is a specialist."
• Italian actress & star of The Leopard Claudia Cardinale dies aged 87 - "Claudia Cardinale, the Tunisian-born Italian star of The Leopard, 8 1/2 and Pink Panther, has died at the age of 87. She had a six-decade long career, rising to fame during the golden age of Italian cinema, and was directed by greats such as Federico Fellini and Luchino Visconti."
• Claudia Cardinale: a life in pictures - "The actor, who starred in classic European films by Fellini, Visconti, Herzog and Sergio Leone, has died at the age of 87. Here we look back at her life and career."
• Camping on the world's largest island of ice - "Spending the night on the Greenland Ice Sheet, where the sun never sets and the ice never stops moving, is an adventure unlike any other."
• The 5 best countries for expats in 2025 - "From Panama's jungles to Vietnam's buzzing cities, these five countries offer expats the best mix of affordability, friendliness and quality of life."
• Learning One Word Could Help Prevent a Third of Alzheimer's Cases - "Alzheimer's disease (AD) is on track to become one of the defining public health challenges of our time. Every three seconds, somewhere in the world, someone is diagnosed with dementia, and it's usually Alzheimer's disease. Preventing Alzheimer's disease: Sleep - Head injury - Exercise - Learning - Diet."
• Ditch the Dating Apps. Sit at the Bar - "One influencer’s advice has given some singles the permission - and confidence - to look for love offline. It’s 'Sit at the Bar September.'"
• Sushi Is Bigger Than Ever in America. There’s One Main Reason - "Once considered rarefied and exotic in the United States, sushi has become something entirely different in the last five years: convenience food."
• Trump was once laughed at on the UN stage. Now, world leaders are courting him - "When President Donald Trump brought his trademark braggadocio to the United Nations’ rostrum in his first term, he was met with an unfamiliar-for-him response from the delegates: mocking laughter. Instead of laughing in his face, world leaders are now devising ever-more-lavish displays of flattery to enter Trump’s good graces."
• Why Donald Trump does what he does - "President Trump is very open and transparent with the American people, and he speaks his mind. And that's what his supporters love about him."
• Jimmy Kimmel show to return after suspension over Charlie Kirk comments - "The late-night comic's show will return to air after Disney said it had 'thoughtful conversations' with him."
• Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of Disaster, dropped from multiple charities over Epstein email - "Seven charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, remove the former wife of Prince Andrew as a patron or ambassador."
• How Many Countries Fit in Africa? Visualizing the Continent’s True Size - "The continent of Africa covers 11.7 million mi² (30.4 million km²), roughly equal to the size of 30 countries. These 30 include some of the world’s largest countries like the (contiguous) U.S., China, and India. However, the most common map projection, called the Mercator projection, makes Africa it appear smaller than actually is."
• Visualizing America's Wealth Distribution by Generation - "Baby Boomers hold $83.3 trillion in assets, over half of all U.S. household wealth. Gen X accounts for $42.6 trillion, more than the combined $37.2 trillion held by the Silent Generation, Millennials, and Gen Z. Millennials and Gen Z together hold just $17.1 trillion, making up 10.5% of total wealth—despite being the largest cohort by population size."
• From Cannes to Monaco in minutes as Uber launches luxury helicopter hops - "Uber is preparing to take its ride-hailing model into the skies over the French Riviera, with helicopter transfers planned from early 2026. Through a new partnership with Joby Aviation, the company will integrate short-haul flights into its app, allowing passengers to book hops between hubs such as Monaco, Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez. The service targets the region’s biggest mobility headache, gridlocked roads, by offering speed, exclusivity and a seamless digital booking experience."
• Google’s Gemini AI is coming to your TV - "When fully rolled out, Google's AI will be on over 300 million active Google TV and other Android TV OS-powered devices."
• What's the big deal about AI data centres? - "It's such a big number that it's hard to imagine. Worldwide, around $3tn will be spent on data centres that support AI between now and 2029. To put that number into perspective, that's roughly what the entire French economy was worth in 2024."
• What Is Your Time Personality? - "Experts say we see the clock in different ways. Are you always on time? Or do you see time as more of a suggestion?"
• Fat Bear Week 2025 is the distraction everybody needs - "September 23, 2025 marks two important holidays: Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Fat Bear Week."
• Stop blaming yourself for your expanding waistline. The food supply is working against you, expert says - "Over 50% of the diet of an American adult and more than 60% of children's diet is made up of ultraprocessed food, according to the CDC."
• How to eat less microplastics - "Microplastics gush out of our taps and flake off cookware. They find their way into the yolks of eggs, and deep into meat and vegetables. But if we take certain steps, we can eat less of them."
• The Incredible Shrinking Men’s Shirt - "Men’s button-ups are becoming brazenly more abbreviated, sometimes creeping up above the belt line."
• Killing off Bond was a mistake, says 007 novelist Anthony Horowitz - "The author of three official 007 novels said Daniel Craig’s explosive farewell in No Time to Die left a creative headache for the next film’s writers. 'The last time we saw Bond he was poisoned and blown to smithereens - how will they get past the fact he is dead with a capital D?'"
• Intense exercise is good for the brain, scientists find - "High-intensity workouts offer gains for the mind, not just the body, because of the production of lactate, a study reveals. A build-up of lactic acid is often wrongly blamed for making our muscles feel heavy and tired after an intense workout. Scientists have now proved that it is actually a friend, not a foe, that improves the health of the brain when we exercise."
• Takeaways from Charlie Kirk’s emotional memorial service - "At a memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, attended by tens of thousands of supporters, Kirk was repeatedly described as a martyr who would live on through his movement after he was killed at a Utah university 11 days prior. 'He’s bigger now than ever before. And he’s eternal,' Trump said while noting he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom."
• Trump will never change, but Kirk’s death shines a path to MAGA’s future - "President Donald Trump wants the world to understand that Charlie Kirk’s killing will not temper him or induce him to mend the country’s divides."
• Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, says she forgives man accused of murder - "Wife of activist killed in Utah, allegedly by Tyler Robinson, 22, says ‘I forgive him because it was what Christ did’."
• RFK Jr. compares Kirk to Jesus Christ - "Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. remembered Charlie Kirk's 'devotion to his God' during remarks at Kirk's memorial."
• Murdochs likely to be involved in US TikTok deal, Trump says - "In a Fox News interview that aired on Sunday, Trump said the men would "probably" be involved in a proposed deal to keep TikTok operating in the US. He also said Oracle chairman Larry Ellison and Dell founder Michael Dell would likely be involved."
• Apple turns the cables on EU's charger rules - "Apple has been slowly removing things from its products' boxes for years. USB-C charging cables aren’t expensive to produce - especially not at the scale Apple would require - but they still carry some cost. Removing them also reduces package sizes and shipping costs. In 2022, analysis by CCS Insight suggested Apple’s removal of the power adaptor and earphones from its iPhone line had boosted its profits by $6.5 billion."
• I’ve reviewed the iPhone 17 & it might just beat the Pro - "The new iPhone 17 shares many of the same features as Apple’s more-expensive Pro models."
• Seeing Through the Reality of Meta’s Smart Glasses - "Mark Zuckerberg’s glitch-filled unveiling of computerized glasses revealed a company that may struggle to deliver on its promise for the future of computing."
• Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? - "Some people prefer to shower in the morning, others in the evening. Who is doing it the right way? Freestone prefers a morning shower, as this will scrub away much of the sweat and microbes picked up during the night from the bed, allowing you to start the day fresher and cleaner."
• Cutting down on coffee? Here's why you might get more vivid dreams - "The bottom line is there's not a lot of hard evidence linking cutting back on caffeine to vivid dreams, but there could be an association."
• how some people are using playlists to prepare for dying - "Music can evoke powerful memories and offers a sense of normality for people dealing with illness or death."
• BBC Music Memories - "This website is designed to use music to help people reconnect with their most powerful memories. Evidence shows that music can help people - including those living with dementia - to feel and live better. Create a playlist and then export it to Spotify to listen to your tracks in full, or sit back and listen to a Memory Radio show..."
• the booming new travel trend for book lovers - "Beyond the beach read: The new wave of bookish travel. Forget the solo beach paperback: travellers are now joining structured reading retreats that mix books, place and community."
• Oxford University gives students access to AI platform - "The University of Oxford says it has become the first UK institution of its kind to offer access to the education version of artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT to all of its students and staff. ChatGPT Edu, which has been specifically developed for educational use by OpenAI, will be made widely available to Oxford students following a successful trial over the past year."
• Oxford & Cambridge pushed out of top three UK university rankings for first time - "The universities of Oxford and Cambridge have slipped out of the top three in prestigious university rankings for the first time. It’s the first time neither have held a place in the top three in the 32 years the Times guide has been running."
• What Does Jaden Smith Know About Shoes? - "It’s a new era at Christian Louboutin, where Jaden Smith has been named the first men’s creative director of the house."
• Grief, recrimination & a watershed moment for the conservative movement Charlie Kirk founded - "Charlie Kirk’s funeral here Sunday will punctuate a watershed moment for the grassroots conservative movement he founded as a teenager and was working to advance earlier this month when a gunman shot and killed him."
• Barred from Eurovision, Russia hosts rival ‘Intervision’ song contest - "Singers at 'Intervision' will hail from 23 countries accounting for more than half the world’s population, including China, India and Brazil, and compete for a cash prize of 30 million roubles ($360,000)."
• Welcome to the official Site of the Munich Oktoberfest 2025 - "The festival of the City of Munich. In 2025, the 190th Oktoberfest will take place from September 20 to October 5 on the Theresienwiese. All information about the largest folk festival in the world."
• Chinese COVID whistleblower sentenced to 4 more years in jail - "A Chinese journalist jailed for four years after documenting the early phases of the COVID-19 outbreak from the pandemic’s epicenter was sentenced on Friday to four more years in prison, Reporters Without Borders said."
• Duchess of York called Epstein 'supreme friend' in 2011 email - "Two newspapers have published an email said to have been sent by the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, calling him a 'supreme friend' - despite his conviction for sex offences."
• 2025 Ig Physics Nobel Prize goes to perfect pasta sauce - "Cacio e pepe is one of Italy's most popular pasta dishes, but even (Italian) scientists often fail to prepare the perfect creamy sauce. Fabrizio Olmeda, a physicist at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), also struggled with this - until he had had enough of random trial and error and approached the problem scientifically."
• Mark Zuckerberg blames bad Wi-Fi after the live demo of his new $800 smart glasses goes horribly wrong - "Wednesday’s grand unveiling was overshadowed by a live on-stage demo that repeatedly failed, culminating in Mark Zuckerberg being unable to answer a video call via the new neural wristband while assuring the audience 'it’s all good' amid Wi-Fi excuses."
• How to Break Up With Someone in 5 Easy Steps - "Start preparing your partner a day (or few hours) in advance by giving them a head’s up. The five steps of the breakup script: 1. Say it out loud - 2. 'You and I mattered' - 3. The clench - 4. Zoom out - 5. Open the floor."
• AI Is Scheming & Stopping It Won’t Be Easy, OpenAI Study Finds - "New research released yesterday by OpenAI provides further evidence for a concerning trend: virtually all of today’s best AI systems - including Anthropic’s Claude Opus, Google’s Gemini, and OpenAI’s o3 - can engage in 'scheming,' or pretending to do what their human developers want, while secretly pursuing different objectives."
• What Users Should Know About the TikTok Deal - "Trump and Xi advance the TikTok deal shifting U.S. operations to American investors amid security concerns. TikTok’s future in the U.S. is on more solid ground."
• Love, Drugs & a Fashion Breakup Worth $95 Million - "In the messy, public split of the Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet and Erik Torstensson, no accusations seem off limits."
• Researchers solve decades-old color mystery in iconic Jackson Pollock painting - "Scientists have identified the origins of the blue color in one of Jackson Pollock's paintings with a little help from chemistry."
• They shed pounds with weight-loss jabs - but then came the loose skin - "After losing nearly six stone since December with the help of weight-loss injections, Emilly Murray has been left with an unwanted reminder of her former body - loose skin."
• Can Novo Nordisk Hold Its Edge as the GLP-1 Battle With LLY Heats Up? - "Competition between LLY and NVO intensified this week as both companies unveiled head-to-head data on their GLP-1 therapies."
• $2,000 for a phone? Apple says yes - "The iPhone 17 Pro Max, the larger variant of Apple’s Pro phone that launches today along with the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and iPhone Air, costs $2,000 if buyers choose the version with two terabytes (2TB) of storage."
• Judge strikes down 'superfluous' Trump $15bn defamation lawsuit against the New York Times - "US District Judge Steven Merryday in his ruling on Friday said Trump had violated a federal rule requiring applicants to outline in a 'short and plain statement' why they deserve relief from the court."
• How the world’s most elderly country is fighting heat in a deadly double crisis - "Japan is racing to combat an emergency killing hundreds of elderly each year: the collision of the climate crisis and its aging population."
• Charlie Kirk conspiracy theories explode online - "‘The worst I’ve seen’: Charlie Kirk conspiracy theories explode online, from the left and right."
• Ellen DeGeneres says she was ‘kicked out of show business.’ Is it time to welcome her back? - "Five years after reports of a toxic workplace on her popular talk show derailed her career, Ellen DeGeneres is living quietly in England."
• What it's like to fly an 80-year-old WW2 bomber - "The Commemorative Air Force in the US flies the only two airworthy Boeing B-29s, the most expensive weapon of World War Two. One pilot tells the BBC what it feels like to fly them."
• The fascinating history of the QR code - "QR codes are used in so many areas of our lives. Tech Now explains the story behind their creation."
• The autumn's best films, shows, books & albums - "Taylor Swift to Hamnet: The best culture to look forward to this autumn. From returning pop superstars to Oscar-ready films and big-time celebrity memoirs, here are our recommendations for what to watch, listen to and read for the rest of the year."
• A toast to tradition in Japan's sake capital. A ride on Japan's joyful 'sake train' - "Niigata, Japan's snowy coastal prefecture, is famed for its premium sake and centuries-old brewing traditions. Here, travellers can pour their own samples at the station, ride a retro sake train and meet pioneers shaping the drink's future."
• 10 Books Most People Read Too Late In Life - "These ten transformative works often find their way to readers during midlife transitions, career crossroads, or moments of personal reckoning: 1. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle - 2. Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl - 3. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - 4. The 7 Habits of Highly ..."
• 8 subtle ways the upper class builds status without showing off, according to psychologists - "Psychologists say real status is built quietly. Here are eight understated moves elites use without flaunting: 1. They wear quiet brands and let quality do the talking - 2. They spend on education, health, and experiences instead of showpieces - 3. They ..."
• The media is learning what happens when you try to appease Trump - "With the Jimmy Kimmel saga, the media is learning what happens when you give a mouse a cookie."
• China is calling a TikTok deal a win. What's in it for them? - "But what exactly is on the table? At the heart of the tussle is TikTok's algorithm - the 'secret sauce' that recommends content to users based on their preferences and behaviours. It's key because it drives the app's virality and appeal. Other companies have tried to re-create the algorithm - Instagram has Reels, YouTube has Shorts - but they are not as good."
• The Billionaire Trump Supporter Who Will Soon Own the News - "Larry Ellison is already a major stakeholder in CBS and Paramount. Now CNN, HBO and a major share of TikTok are in his sights. If all goes as anticipated, this tech billionaire is poised to become one of the most powerful media and entertainment moguls America has ever seen."
• 35th annual Ig Nobel Prize awards - "Celebrates 'achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think.' Cows painted like zebras and pizza-eating lizards: The Ig Nobel Prizes are back."
• The Top 50 Most Exclusive Yacht Clubs In The World Honored With Platinum Status - "1. Monaco Yacht Club. 2. Annapolis Yacht Club. 3. Balboa Yacht Club. 4. Bay Head Yacht Club. 5. Beach Point Club. 6. Chicago Yacht Club. 7. Eastern Yacht Club. 8. Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. 9..."
• The ‘blob’ is back - except this time it stretches across the entire North Pacific - "A record-breaking and astonishingly expansive marine heat wave is underway in the Pacific Ocean, stretching about 5,000 miles from the water around Japan to the West Coast of the United States."
• ‘I take it day by day’: Swedish great BjÖrn Borg says he is fighting cancer - "Swedish tennis icon Björn Borg said he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer and will 'fight every day like it’s a Wimbledon final.'"
• 8 Phrases to Help Your Relationship Thrive - "We asked couples therapists to share the magic words that can strengthen bonds, even in the middle of a disagreement: 'You start.' - 'Can we slow down?' - 'I see the impact I had on you.' - 'Would that be OK?' - 'What do you feel that I'm not getting about your ..."
• MI6 launches dark web portal to attract spies in Russia - "Outgoing MI6 Chief Sir Richard Moore On Friday appealed to potential spies globally to anonymously access the dark web by following instructions on MI6's own YouTube video."
• The New AirPods Can Translate Languages in Your Ears. This Is Profound - "The technology is one of the strongest examples yet of how artificial intelligence can be used in a seamless, practical way to improve people’s lives."
• Tissot Brings Back The Iconic RockWatch As A Limited Edition - "The legendary watch returns with a case made of stone from the famous Jungfrau peak."
• With the Em Dash, A.I. Embraces a Fading Tradition - "The debate about ChatGPT's use of the em dash signifies a shift in not only how we write, but what writing is for. The dash is a time-honored and exceedingly normal tool for constructing sentences! Dickens, Dickinson, Nietzsche, Stephen King novels, this magazine - all strewn with dashes."
• I’ve Written About Loads of Scams. This One Almost Got Me - "The caller ID said 'Chase Bank,' and the man on the line said I might be a victim of fraud. His supervisor would explain."
• 10 Blues Rock Classics That Never Get Old - "The power of blues rock lies in its ability to merge raw feeling with irresistible rhythm. For more than half a century, the genre has produced songs that remain etched in memory long after their release."
• In pictures: Trump & Melania meet royals at Windsor - "President Trump was greeted by the King and Queen as well as other senior royals at Windsor Castle. It is his second state visit to the UK and is accompanied by the usual pomp and pageantry."
• Melania Trump takes royal refuge in fashion - "Look of the Week: At Windsor Castle, Melania Trump was utterly inscrutable - until she wasn’t. Melania Trump’s enigmatic style staple, the face-covering wide-brimmed hat, is back."
• Are You Ready to Meet the King? Try Our Quiz on U.K. State Visit Etiquette - "Imagine you’re an aide to President Trump, by his side this week during the pomp and royal tradition of his second state visit to Britain. Imagine also that your aim is for everything to go as smoothly and quietly as possible, avoiding any possible pitfalls of etiquette and diplomacy, for you or your boss. Shall we begin?"
• Our Allies Are Asking: Why Does Putin Still Own Trump? - "All that Trump could muster was a post on his Truth Social platform: 'What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones? Here we go!' If Putin had any sense of humor he would post on Truth Social: 'Donald, what’s with that Department of War thing?'"
• ABC yanks Kimmel’s show ‘indefinitely’ after remarks about Charlie Kirk suspect - "Disney’s ABC is taking Jimmy Kimmel’s late night talk show off the air indefinitely amid a controversy over his recent comments about Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer."
• A Note, a Gun & a Mother’s Conscience Led to an Arrest in Kirk’s Killing - "The man accused of shooting Charlie Kirk left a trail of evidence and had no way to outrun his parents' recognition, court documents showed."
• Macrons to offer 'scientific evidence' to US court to prove Brigitte is a woman, lawyer says - "Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, are planning to present photographic and scientific evidence to a US court to prove Mrs Macron is a woman."
• The system that moves water around the planet is increasingly ‘erratic & extreme,’ new report finds - "The global water cycle has become 'increasingly erratic and extreme' with wild swings between droughts and floods, spelling big trouble for economies and societies, according to a report published Thursday by the World Meteorological Organization."
• London Fashion Week: Designers have been blighted by the class system. That could soon change - "Are working-class fashion designers set up to fail?"
• Mark Zuckerberg unveils Meta’s newest AI-powered smart glasses - "Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stage on Wednesday to unveil the company’s next-generation artificial intelligence-powered wearable device: a pair of smart glasses with a tiny display inside the lens."
• AI can forecast your future health - just like the weather - "Artificial intelligence can predict people's health problems over a decade into the future, say scientists. The technology has learned to spot patterns in people's medical records to calculate their risk of more than 1,000 diseases."
• 5 Workout Supplements Worth Trying - "There are thousands of options that promise to boost your fitness. Only a handful are backed by solid evidence: Caffeine, Creatine, Baking soda, Beta-alanine & Nitrate."
• 5 Simple Steps to Calm Yourself Down - "These techniques can help you handle the ups and downs of daily life: Recognize, Understand, Label, Express & Regulate."
• Why 'the most controversial queen in history' was so hated - "Once the most despised woman in Europe, Marie Antoinette was vilified as an empty-headed libertine, a conspirator and a reckless spendthrift – and then publicly executed. Now a major exhibition interrogates some of the myths that surround her."
• King welcomes Donald Trump & First Lady Melania to Windsor Castle for state visit - "Watch and follow live."
• Trump to see King Charles at Windsor Castle on first full day of UK state visit - "US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are in the United Kingdom for a historic second state visit. The president and first lady will travel later today to Windsor Castle, where they will be welcomed by King Charles III and Queen Camilla before a day of pomp and pageantry."
• Status, opulence, Diana - Trump's 70-year affection for UK royals - "The US president was inspired from an early age by his mother's love for the Royal Family and the fascination has endured."
• Robert Redford, actor, director, environmentalist, dead at 89 - "Robert Redford, the dashing actor and Oscar-winning director who eschewed his status as a Hollywood leading man to champion causes close to his heart, has died."
• Robert Redford: 15 Memorable Movies to Stream - "His roles brought him to the screen as a Depression-era con man, a governor’s son and the journalist Bob Woodward. He also took to the director’s chair. Here are some of Redford’s career highlights."
• Robert Redford: a life in pictures - "The actor, director, producer, creator of Sundance and environmentalist, Robert Redford has died at the age of 89. Here we look back at his life and times."
• Robert Redford Personified American Style - "Reluctant to focus on style or his looks, Mr. Redford nevertheless became the embodiment of an enduring aesthetic."
• The four 'humours': Why these 2,500-year-old personality types still persist today - "The four 'humours' theory has been shaping how we view ourselves for millennia - and the personality types proposed by it still look oddly familiar today."
• Inside the high-security vault storing valuables for the ultra-rich - "See inside one of Europe's most secure vaults."
• Sotheby's to Sell a Complete Set of Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 Pocket Watches for the First Time - "Quoted in excess of $10 million, this is a rare chance to see a Star Caliber 2000, let alone the unprecedented chance to buy all four metals."
• 'It's a wild ride': How The Morning Show became TV's most chaotic drama - "The newsroom-set Apple TV+ series, starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, is back for a fourth run. Since its 2019 premiere, it's become known for its outlandish plot lines."
• The 25 Essential Dishes to Eat in London - "Six of the city’s top chefs came together to determine the most delicious and memorable plates in the British capital: 1. The Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad at St. John - 2. The Chocolate Nemesis at the River Cafe - 3. The Clams at Singburi - 4. The Cantabrian ..."
• What Was Behind David Bowie’s Genius? His Archive Holds the Answers - "It’s a rock music chamber of secrets. When David Bowie died in 2016, he left an archive of about 90,000 items, carefully cataloged and boxed like a museum collection."
• ‘My conscience is clear’: Prince Harry on Ukraine, his family & the media - "The duke talks about the cost of war, his portrayal in the press and boxing as the Guardian joins him on a visit to Kyiv."
• IKEA will celebrate 40th anniversary with '40 weeks of deals' - "Here's the best early sales now. IKEA stores will be continuing the celebrations with food tastings, workshops, product demos, and even a free breakfast for IKEA Family members."
• Tramp nightclub swaps hedonism for health in nearby Mayfair - "Once the haunt of hell-raising rock stars, actors and models, the London venue is setting up a ‘wellness centre’ for its more sober clientele. Called 'Tramp Health', the 16,000 sq ft venue is the idea of Luca Maggiora."
• Charted: Top Countries by Energy Consumption Per Capita in 2024 - "Countries with smaller populations and energy-intensive industries like manufacturing, aluminum smelting, or petrochemicals rank highly in terms of energy consumption per capita. While Iceland, Qatar, and Singapore are the top three countries, North America is the region with the highest energy consumption per capita."
• China bumps Germany off the top 10 list of most innovative nations - "The other countries in the list’s top 10 - behind the US and ahead of China - were, in order of ranking: South Korea, Singapore, Britain, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark."
• Tesla just erased all of its steep 2025 losses after Elon Musk buys $1 billion of its shares - "The purchase, made Friday and disclosed in a filing Monday, represents a rare action – by Musk or any other CEO. Few business leaders use their own money to buy their company’s stock without exercising of options, which allows them to purchase shares at a fraction of their market price."
• Trump says he will sue New York Times for $15bn - "He has accused the paper of defamation and libel, saying it served as a 'mouthpiece' for Democrats."
• 7 iPhone security settings you should enable right now to lock down your smartphone - "Easily upgrade your iPhone's security with these tips and tricks: 1. Move photos to the Hidden folder. 2. Set up Find My. 3. Enable stolen device protection. 4. Enable Advanced Data Protection. 5. Mail Privacy Protection. 6. Require Face ID on apps. 7. Run a Safety Check. 8. A more secure iPhone."
• AI challenges the dominance of Google search - "The popularity of ChatGPT has raised questions about the future of traditional Google searches."
• ‘I love you too!’ My family’s creepy, unsettling week with an AI toy - "The cuddly chatbot Grem is designed to ‘learn’ your child’s personality, while every conversation they have is recorded, then transcribed by a third party. It wasn’t long before I wanted this experiment to be over ..."
• NASA announces discovery of life on Mars with high degree of confidence - "NASA's Mars rover finds organic signals in mudstone that resemble microbial activity, sparking new debate over life on the Red Planet."
• Brain activity can predict whether strangers will become friends - "Strangers are more likely to become friends if their brains respond similarly to movie clips, suggesting neural activity can predict relationships. Across cultures, humans tend to surround themselves with like-minded people."
• 5 Classical Music Albums You Can Listen to Right Now - "A novel approach to Mozart’s Requiem, orchestral works by Tania León and music conducted by Joe Hisaishi are among the highlights: 1. Bell Strikes (1) - 2. Requiem æternam - 3. Letter from Mozart to His Father in Salzburg - 4. Maurerische Trauermusik, K. 477 - 5. Domine exaudi ..."
• What’s With All the Beards? - "More and more men seem to be putting down the razor and letting their whiskers grow. Our critic examines the history of the trend and what it might mean."
• The Waldorf-Astoria's Iconic Clock, A Gift From Queen Victoria, Is Ready To Run Again - "A year-long restoration lets this horological jewel in the crown shine like new."
• Kellyanne Conway: ‘Trump was a great girl boss’ - "The former president’s queen of ‘alternative facts’ on their shared bond - and the war it sparked with her husband and daughter."
• Here's When iOS 26 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone - "It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at last week's iPhone event that it will be releasing iOS 26 sometime today - Monday, September 15. Based on past releases, the update is likely to drop at around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/1:00 p.m. Eastern Time."
• Emmy Awards: The Complete Winners List - "'The Studio,' 'Adolescence,' 'Hacks,' 'Severance,' 'Last Week Tonight With John Oliver' and 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' are among the night's big winners."
• The 25 Best Dressed Stars at the 2025 Emmys - "Explore Vogue’s 2025 Emmy Awards best dressed list. Be sure to vote on your favorite look of the night—and check back to see which A-list ensemble won the red carpet!"
• Most memorable moments from the 2025 Emmy Awards - "The 2025 Emmy Awards brought television’s biggest stars together for a night filled with laughter, heartfelt speeches, and standout moments."
• Will The White Lotus get France right? - "Rumours are swirling that the famously satirical HBO show is checking into a French hotel. Here are some things its writers should - and shouldn't - do to accurately portray French culture."
• Steve Jobs’ 10-minute rule which made him smarter, approved by a Cambridge neuroscientist - "Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, known for his creative bent of mind, had a secret formula for his brain health, something that anyone can follow. The 10-minute rule is if you are not able to solve a work problem for 10-minutes, you should leave your desk and go for a walk."
• Forget 10,000 Steps! Japanese ‘interval walking’ claims to make you fitter in just 30 minutes - Here’s how it works - "A Japanese walking technique, alternating three minutes fast and slow for 30 minutes, is proven to boost fitness, burn fat, lower blood pressure, and improve health in less time than 10,000 steps. Steve Jobs perhaps understood what most people didn’t. Numerous studies have demonstrated how walking helps boost creative thinking and cognitive function."
• The shortcut to close bonds? Asking meaningful questions - "The right questions can help us connect with strangers - and create closer bonds between parents and children."
• How JPMorgan Enabled the Crimes of Jeffrey Epstein - "A Times investigation found that America’s leading bank spent years supporting - and profiting from - the notorious sex offender, ignoring red flags, suspicious activity and concerned executives."
• ChatWithGod.ai: Finding God in the App Store - "Millions of people are turning to chatbots to confess their darkest secrets and seek guidance from on high."
• 'I will never let your legacy die' - Charlie Kirk's widow gives tearful address after shooting - "Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, has given a tearful address in which she thanked first responders for trying to save her husband's life after he was fatally shot on a Utah university campus. In her remarks, Mrs Kirk pledged: 'My husband's voice will remain.'"
• AI is unmasking ICE officers. Can Washington do anything about it? - "A new twist in the debate over surveillance tech raises tough questions for policymakers."
• PimEyes: Face Recognition Search Engine & Reverse Image Search - "PimEyes is an online face search engine that goes through the Internet to find pictures containing given faces. PimEyes uses face recognition search technologies to perform a reverse image search."
• AirPods Live Translation Blocked for EU Users With EU Apple Accounts - "Apple's new Live Translation feature for AirPods will be off-limits to millions of European users when it arrives next week, with strict EU."
• 20 Phrases that Originated in the Middle Ages - "1. The apple of one's eye - 2. Baker's dozen - 3. To curry favour - 4. To play devil's advocate - 5. To throw down the gauntlet - 6. By hook or by ..."
• Vatican gathers world’s big thinkers ahead of first-ever pop concert - "The Vatican has brought together an eclectic mix of thinkers and music artists as it seeks to influence both the development of artificial intelligence and the future of humanity."
• How to avoid seeing disturbing content on social media & protect your peace of mind - "When graphic videos go viral, like the recent fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, it can feel impossible to protect yourself from seeing things you did not consent to see. But there are steps you can take."
• The Indian city that sparkles like Paris at night - "In 21 months, citizens have lit up 92 Kolkata landmarks with a simple model: your property, their lights."
• Bowling & curling among tests for tram driver world championship - "An Austrian tram driver has been crowned the winner of the first ever Tram Driver World Championship in Vienna. Drivers from Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, and San Diego travelled to the city to show off their tram operating skills in front of thousands of spectators."
• How People Are Using ChatGPT for Financial Advice - "More people are turning to generative A.I. chatbots for financial advice, whether it’s for debt management, better saving strategies or stock picks. Two-thirds of adults who have used generative A.I. said they had used it for financial advice, and around 80 percent of those who acted on that advice said it had improved their financial situation."
• New BMW Logo Debuts on 2026 iX3, Headed to Future Models - "The updated roundel debuts on the BMW iX3 with a cleaner design and will gradually expand to future BMW models. The updated roundel will also appear on future models as the Neue Klasse era begins."
• Unknown lady who funded a Hogswarts-style library - "How Cuban-born Enriqueta Rylands spent more than £100m to set up the John Rylands Library. Often compared to Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter novels, the John Rylands Library frequently elicits a whisper of 'wow' when visitors step in from the bustle of Manchester city centre."
• Surprising Results of a Decade-Long Investigation Advances Search for Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA - "Extensive study documents with new certainty the continuous male line, from father to son, of the Da Vinci family (later Vinci), from progenitor Michele (born 1331) to grandson Leonardo (6th generation, born 1452) through to today - 21 generations in all, including five family branches - and identifies 14 living descendants."
• Fashion's Historic Shake-Up - "This fall, 13 of the biggest brands in fashion will have new talent at the helm. What makes them tick?"
• The constant battle, by Kamala Harris - "The first excerpt from 107 Days."
• Cher Helped Studio 54 Return, if Only for One Night - "'When things are right, they just come back around,' Cher said of Valentino’s temporary reopening of the infamous club."
• Dog Meets Up With 200 Other Golden Retrievers Once A Month - "The Dodo."
• What we know about Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson - "Details from Charlie Kirk shooting suspect's past emerge."
• How a father’s intuition led to an arrest in Charlie Kirk’s murder - "Authorities asked for help in the manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s killer. A father’s intuition led to an arrest."
• It’s quadruplets! The world’s biggest cruise ship gets three super-sized sister ships - "The world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has been the biggest hit Royal Caribbean has ever introduced. Now the Icon Class family is expanding, with three equally hefty sister ships."
• The abandoned Nazi underground city hidden beneath beautiful countryside - "Festungsfront Oder-Warthe-Bogen, or the Ostwall, is a fortified subterranean complex built before World War II as Adolf Hitler sought to secure Germany’s eastern frontier from Poland and the Soviet Union. A sprawling maze of tunnels, underground railway stations, combat facilities and massive shafts covering about 20 miles in length."
• I study happiness for a living: 12 little rules for a happier life I wish I learned sooner - "1. Accept yourself, and expect more from yourself. 2. Working is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination. 3. What we do every day matters more than what we do once in a while. 4. A strong voice repels as well as attracts. 5..."
• Japan sets record of nearly 100,000 people aged over 100 - "Setting a new record for the 55th year in a row, the number of centenarians in Japan was 99,763 as of September, the health ministry said on Friday. Of that total, women accounted for an overwhelming 88%. It is also one of the fastest ageing societies, with residents often having a healthier diet but a low birth rate."
• Inside the ugly Net-a-Porter split that’s shocking the fashion industry - "Net-a-Porter founder Dame Natalie Massenet has been accused by her ex-boyfriend of being a violent and controlling drug user."
• Inside the $3bn quest to defy ageing that Jeff Bezos is backing - "Altos Labs, the world’s richest longevity start-up, is aiming to ‘rejuvenate’ human beings. Here’s a glimpse of what its scientists have discovered so far. Launched in 2022, the goal was audacious: to 'rejuvenate' human beings, restoring to the old the resilience against disease and injury that the young take for granted."
• Jerry Seinfeld Compares ‘Free Palestine’ Movement to K.K.K., Report Says - " The comments at a Duke University event this week have rankled student activists, who said they fostered a hostile environment on campus."
• 'You just can't recreate that glow': The people who hunt old TVs - "They are televisions from another era, replaced by the flat screen, high-resolution displays of the modern era. Yet cathode-ray tubes are still surprisingly in demand."
• Should I Be Vacuuming My Mattress? - "The Strategist recommends against routine mattress vacuuming and suggests using a washable, zippered mattress cover instead, as it provides a physical barrier to dust mites and is less labor-intensive than vacuuming."
• Trump says suspect in Kirk killing is in custody - "Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing is in custody, President Trump says."
• After Kirk’s murder, an entire way of doing politics is at risk - "America may be getting too dangerous for politics."
• Graphic videos of Kirk & Zarutska deaths reignite debate over social media moderation - "Within minutes of Charlie Kirk’s horrific shooting on Wednesday in Utah, video capturing the moment a bullet hit his body was spreading rapidly online."
• Man accused of Trump assassination attempt cut off by judge as trial begins - "Minutes into his opening statement, Ryan Routh, the man accused of trying to assassinate US President Donald Trump last September, was forced by the judge to end his remarks. He invoked Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Putin, and declared: 'Modern trials seem to eliminate all that is human.'"
• North Korea executing more people for watching foreign films & TV, UN finds - "The North Korean government is increasingly implementing the death penalty, including for people caught watching and sharing foreign films and TV dramas, a major UN report has found."
• Will the latest iPhone kill off the Sim card? - "The iPhone Air will only have an eSim - will other phone makers also shift away from the familiar - but fiddly - plastic cards?"
• Lady Gaga to Clipse: 15 of the best albums of 2025 so far - "From pop queens to rap duos, and rave-loving singers to hardcore rockers, we pick our favourite music of the year for you to listen to now."
• The real meaning of Van Gogh's Sunflowers - "The cryptic symbolism of Van Gogh's Sunflowers - and what they really mean. They helped to make Vincent van Gogh among the most famous and influential painters in the history of art. Why did sunflowers obsess him and so many other artists before and since?"
• The controversial sweet that fuels Norwegians - "Known as 'the trip chocolate', Kvikk Lunsj has fuelled outdoor adventures for generations. So, what makes this chocolate so controversial?"
• KitKat v Kvikk Lunsj: which four-fingered chocolate bar tastes best? - "Verdict: Kvikk Lunsj 24, KitKat 17. It’s official. Not only is it not a unique, trademarkable product, KitKat isn’t even the best four-fingered chocolate bar in Europe."
• How Japanese 'tiny forests' are sweeping Scotland - "Grown using the Miyawaki method, fast-growing miniature forests in the middle of cities can bring surprisingly big benefits for people and the environment."
• When you go overboard on protein, this is what can happen in your body - "There’s one buzz word that you might be hearing a lot lately: protein. The macronutrient is having a cultural moment - and rightfully so. Protein is an important part of a healthy diet. But some nutrition scientists warn that thanks to social media trends, many people may be consuming too much protein."
• 5 storylines to watch at the Emmys this weekend - "The interesting subplots to look out for at this year’s Emmys. From friendly competition to a timely charity push, the Emmys are shaping up to be an interesting night."
• 77th Primetime Emmy Awards - will honor the best in American prime time television programming from June 1, 2024, until May 31, 2025, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The awards ceremony is scheduled for September 14, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California, with CBS and Paramount+ airing the ceremony. Nate Bargatze will host the ceremony.
• What to Know About the ‘Dead Internet’ Theory & Why It’s Spreading - "Sam Altman Voices Concern Over Dead Internet Theory. The internet, once vibrant with human life, was now dead, run entirely by bots and for bots."
• 10 Questions to Ask Your Kid Besides ‘How Was School?’ - "Experts share exactly what to ask young kids - ages Pre-K to middle school - to encourage them to open up."
• Could you spot a fake painting? Even experts are struggling - "Replicas of masterpieces are so good these days that it’s difficult to see the difference. Here’s why we should celebrate the fine art of high-tech fakery."
• Elon Musk lost his title as world’s richest person & then got it back - "Elon Musk briefly lost his title of 'world’s richest person' title to Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison. Ellison’s wealth jumped by $89 billion to $383.2 billion on Wednesday after Oracle’s stunningly strong earnings report Tuesday evening, according to Bloomberg. But as of market close on Wednesday, Musk’s net worth was $384.2 billion, beating out Ellison’s by $1 billion."
• Oracle’s sudden AI stardom is giving 1999 energy - "Oracle, a large but generally sleepy cloud-computing company, just had an absolutely bonkers day on Wall Street. The stock (ORCL) shot up more than 40% Wednesday morning, its largest single-day jump ever. It was such big leap that it minted Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison $100 billion in less than hour, making him the world’s richest person and bumping Elon Musk to second place."
• UK fires ambassador to US Peter Mandelson over Epstein links - "Mandelson had been under mounting pressure over his relationship with Epstein after US lawmakers on Monday released a 'birthday book,' compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003, in which the veteran Labour party politician had penned a handwritten note describing Epstein as 'my best pal.'"
• Anna Wintour shares what she really thinks about ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ - "Wintour sounds like she both found it delightful and has made peace with it."
• Harry's tea with Charles could be small but significant step to reconciliation - "Prince Harry has met his father King Charles at Clarence House in London on Wednesday for their first face to face meeting since February 2024."
• 'It's still so relevant': The power of Stephen King's first - & most disturbing - novel The Long Walk - "Written by King in college in the 1960s, The Long Walk imagines young men competing in a deadly marathon for entertainment. A new film version is a reminder of how it anticipated our reality TV age."
• Deforestation & Forest Loss - "Explore long-term changes in deforestation and deforestation rates across the world today."
• Mapped: Europe’s Poverty Rates by Country - "Many Eastern and Southern European countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Spain, Italy) show higher rates of poverty risk than their Western or Northern counterparts. This likely reflects ongoing economic development challenges and lower wage levels in these regions."
• Charlie Sheen’s 13 wildest Netflix doc revelations - "Flying a plane drunk, nudist childhood - and why he put an ice cube in his butt."
• Husband Speaks Out amid Divorce from Woman Caught on Camera with Her Boss at Coldplay Concer - "Andrew and Kristin Cabot were 'amicably separated several weeks before' the infamous moment, a spokeswoman for him tells PEOPLE, asking for privacy."
• Claude can now create & edit files - "Claude can now create and edit Excel spreadsheets, documents, PowerPoint slide decks, and PDFs directly in Claude.ai and the desktop app."
• Whole eggs vs egg whites: Which offers more protein & how - "While egg whites offer lean protein with fewer calories, whole eggs boast a richer nutritional profile."
• Elon Musk just lost his title as world’s richest person - "Ellison’s wealth jumped by $101 billion to $393 billion after Oracle’s stunningly strong earnings report Tuesday evening, surpassing Musk’s net worth of $385 billion, according to Bloomberg."
• All the news from Apple’s iPhone 17 event - "Apple has now announced the iPhone 17 lineup, alongside its latest Apple Watch and AirPods Pro products. We’ve already gone hands-on with many of the new devices, giving you our first impressions."
• Forget the new iPhone. Last year’s Apple products are still great & just went on sale - "Just because you’re not shopping the new 2025 collection from Apple, it doesn’t mean you can’t also get in on upgrading your devices. Several retailers, including Amazon, are marking down last year’s models to make way for the newest launches."
• Apple holds down new iPhone prices amid threats of Trump tariffs - "Apple did not raise the price on watch models or the new AirPods Pro 3 either. The prices were an indication that Apple was ready to swallow the cost of tariffs to ward off competition from Samsung, Alphabet's Google and domestic rivals in China."
• Why Apple is sidestepping Silicon Valley’s AI bloodsport - "As expected, Apple rolled out a bunch of gadget upgrades during its closely watched marketing event on Tuesday. But perhaps the most notable thing about its crisply edited, hour-and-ten-minute propaganda reel was this: Apple went really quiet when it came to artificial intelligence."
• Have $100 million burning in your pocket? - "Consider this mega yacht the Justice Department is selling. For sale: A 348-foot mega yacht with an infinity pool, eight staterooms, a sauna and helipad. The seller: The US government."
• In groundbreaking study, researchers publish brain map showing how decisions are made - "Neuroscientists from 22 labs joined forces in an unprecedented international partnership to produce a landmark achievement: a neural map that shows activity across the entire brain during decision-making."
• Everything you need to know about how to buy 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets - "The tournament is the first ever World Cup to be played in three different countries, with the US, Canada and Mexico all hosting games, and will also be the largest edition ever, with 48 teams competing to lift the famous trophy. Here’s everything you need to know about how to snap up tickets for the tournament."
• Visualizing Gold Production by Region - "Africa leads with 1,010 tonnes of gold, driven by Ghana, Mali, and South Africa. China (380t) and Russia (330t) are the world’s top national producers. Australia (284t) stands as the largest Western producer."
• The ancient building technique that is behind some of Asia’s tallest skyscrapers - "Building a modern metropolis using a centuries-old technique. Bamboo scaffolding is not only used in the construction of new buildings, but the renovation of thousands of high-rises and historic tenements ('tong lau') every year."
• America's Best Restaurants 2025 - "The Restaurant List 2025. Here are the 50 best places in America right now."
• Is America Ready for Japanese-Style 7-Elevens? - "Convenience stores, or konbini, are an indispensable part of daily life in Japan, known for high-quality fresh food - from seasonal bento boxes to egg salad sandwiches that the celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain once called 'pillows of love.'"
• Coca-Cola rebrands products in Germany amid US image crisis - "As the global reputation of US brands slips, some US firms are turning to unusual marketing strategies. Coca-Cola, for instance, is now promoting itself as a 'German product.'"
• MÉtier's Melissa Morris Has an Eye Toward Elegant Design - "What Makes a Good Bag? Métier, an independent brand founded by Melissa Morris, opens its first U.S. store, having amassed an influential following with an eye toward elegant functionality. 'There’s only so much you can do really with a bag to make it usable,' she said. She avoids gimmicky sizes or shapes, preferring to focus on solid engineering."
• Epstein ‘birthday book’ handed over to US House committee - "The House Oversight Committee released a trove of records Monday evening from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein, including a note bearing President Donald Trump’s name that was part of a collection of letters gifted to the late convicted sex offender for his 50th birthday."
• Trump’s Epstein letter denial just suffered another huge blow - "Trump not only denied writing the letter, he also sued the Wall Street Journal over its initial report about it. He suggested someone else could’ve written it and signed his name."
• 5 takeaways from the new Epstein documents - "We got more Jeffrey Epstein documents from the House Oversight Committee late Monday. And unlike last week, these actually contained some real news."
• Lord Mandelson called Epstein 'best pal' in birthday message - "In the message for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003, Lord Mandelson - the UK's ambassador to the US since last year - describes him as an 'intelligent, sharp-witted man' who 'parachuted into his life'."
• Appeals court upholds $83 million verdict against Trump for defaming E. Jean Carroll - "A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a $83.3 million jury award against President Donald Trump for defaming magazine writer E. Jean Carroll in 2019. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals said the jury award was 'reasonable' given the evidence presented at trial."
• APPLE 'AWE DROPPING' EVENT - "September 9 (Steve Jobs Theater, Apple Park, Steve Jobs Way, Cupertino, CA 95014, U.S.A. Watch online on 9/9 at 10 a.m. PT.). Official website."
• Five Things to Expect From Apple's 'Awe Dropping' September 9 Event - "That Super Thin iPhone - Satellite for the Wrist - AirPods Heart Rate - New "Pro" Camera Design - Colors, Cases, Lanyards and More."
• Anastacia: Arnold Schwarzenegger made me sing Whatta Man 12 times - "After all those years of effort - and infinite encores of Whatta Man - Anastacia finally got to make her debut album at the turn of the millennium."
• Your lungs hold secrets about your health as you age - here's a simple test to check them - "The condition of our lungs can reveal a great deal about our wider health. Luckily you can also get them into better shape."
• EasyJet founder Sir Stelios launches EasyBitcoin to shake up high-fee crypto market - "Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the man who turned budget air travel into a European rite of passage with EasyJet, has set his sights on a very different kind of runway: cryptocurrency. His new venture, EasyBitcoin, promises to do for Bitcoin what his airline did for short-haul flights - strip away the fluff, slash the fees, and open the gates to the masses."
• Brad Pitt Stars in Taika Waititi-Directed Short Film With De’Longhi Espresso Machines as Muse - "Following its Venice Film Festival premiere, the witty video campaign from Pitt, Waititi and the Italian appliance manufacturer officially launches, highlighting the ease of De'Longhi's one-touch technology: De’Longhi Rivelia Espresso Machine & De’Longhi Eletta Explore Espresso Machine."
• Morning vs night: The best time to eat Chia Seeds for maximum hair growth - "Chia seeds, those tiny little nutritional powerhouses, have been a wellness darling for years now. We’ve sprinkled them on smoothie bowls, soaked them into pudding, and even added them to detox water. But if you’re looking at them through a beauty lens, these seeds can be a secret weapon for stronger, shinier, and healthier hair."
• These 10 cities have more skyscrapers than anywhere else in the world - "The cities with the highest number of buildings over 150 metres tall."
• Your Zodiac Sign Is 2,000 Years Out of Date - "Over millennia, our view of the stars has shifted, because of Earth’s wobble. It may be time to rethink your sign."
• 'Denim is having a moment': Why jeans are the hottest trade in the retail world - "The hottest trend in the apparel world right now is a staple of many American wardrobes - denim. Retailers such as American Eagle (AEO), Gap (GAP), and Kohl's (KSS) have all called out the strength of jeans in recent results. Shares of Levi Strauss (LEVI) are up more than 30% this year."
• The World’s Best Bourbon - According To The 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition - "A closer look at what this prestigious annual judging deemed the year’s best bottle of bourbon. It’s hardly a household name and yet it trumped all other American whiskies, with a 98 point score: Frank August Small Batch."
• This Is One of San Francisco’s Most Expensive Restaurants. Is It Worth It? - "At Atelier Crenn, the world-famous chef Dominique Crenn is weaving the bounty of California through the narrative of her French upbringing. With just nine tables now in an unmarked building on Fillmore Street, the dining room has the look of a luxurious club, filled mostly with couples out for special occasions."
• An ‘iPhone Air,’ price hikes & AI: What to watch at Apple’s biggest event of the year - "The iPhone needs a shakeup. It could get one as soon as September 9, when Apple is expected to announce an all-new slimmer model of the iPhone, potentially called the “iPhone Air,” alongside the iPhone 17 and new Apple Watch models at its marquee annual event."
• MTV VMAs 2025: See the list of winners - "Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards was a celebration of the past and present."
• Timelapse shows Blood Moon rising around the world - "As the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow, it takes on a deep red hue, creating a striking 'Blood Moon'."
• Cloud 100 Rising Stars 2025: The Next Generation Of Superstar Cloud Companies - "These 20 startups are on track to be among the best private cloud companies, often by finding niche AI solutions for particular industries."
• Microsoft cloud services disrupted by Red Sea cable cuts - "Microsoft's Azure cloud services have been disrupted by undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea, the US tech giant says."
• ChatGPT-5 & the Limits of Machine Intelligence - "The disillusion produced by GPT-5 is not a technical hiccup, it’s a philosophical wake-up call."
• Pilates is great for you. Will it make you like yourself? - "Pilates provides improvements in core strength, flexibility and balance, even when done just once a week. It can help with stress relief, as well as anxiety and depression."
• The microbes that control your sleep - "Snug with your bugs? How microbes control your sleep. The bacteria living in your guts and mouths could be controlling how you sleep at night. Now scientists want to use them to help you rest better."
• The 39 best winter-sun destinations - "Here are the best winter-sun destinations to consider right now, from tropical islands to short-haul sunshine."
• How to spend a weekend in Dorsoduro, Venice's coolest neighbourhood - "Sip spritz among students, seek out restaurants true Venetians adore and explore attractions many travellers all-too-often miss..."
• Venice’s famous winged lion was made in China, scientists say - "Bronze sample indicates it was brought back to the city by the father and uncle of Marco Polo."
• Whey to go: Is cheese the new reason to travel? - "From Paris's newly opened cheese museum to ageing caves in the Jura and sheep pastures in Corsica, travellers are discovering that cheese can be a guidebook through landscapes, traditions and histories they might otherwise miss."
• 'We wanted to make it real': How Goodfellas reinvented the gangster film - "Martin Scorsese's crime epic was released 35 years ago. In 1990, the director and his stars, Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta, revealed its secrets to the BBC."
• How Lady Chatterley's Lover was banned & became a bestseller - "The UK publication of DH Lawrence's novel, Lady Chatterley's Lover, gripped the nation in 1960. In History looks at the highly publicised trial that led to its release - and the rush to see what all the fuss was about."
• Cats are better than dogs - "Yes, you must earn their affection. But the payoff is huge."
• Venice Film Festival Awards: Jim Jarmusch’s ‘Father Mother Sister Brother’ Wins Golden Lion - "The 82nd edition of the world's oldest film festival honored the Palestine-set drama 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' and American director Benny Safdie with Silver Lions, while new work from George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Guillermo del Toro, Emma Stone and Park Chan-wook went home empty-handed."
• All The 116 Best Looks From Venice Film Festival 2025 - "See all the best looks from Venice Film Festival 2025: 1-116."
• Elon Musk Could Become the World’s First Trillionaire in the Next Decade. Here’s How - "In order to achieve that unprecedented thirteen-digit net worth, the Tesla CEO would need to massively increase the company’s market value over the next decade. He would also have to stay at the company for ten more years in order to earn the full amount laid out in the package."
• Can Creatine Keep Your Brain Sharp? - "With Silicon Valley pouring billions into energy solutions to meet the massive electricity demands of AI, it’s easy to forget that old-fashioned human intelligence is very energy intensive, too. Recent research suggests one potential solution for more brain power: a supplement called creatine."
• How Being a Grandparent Can Improve Your Health - "Is having a grandkid enough to make a difference to an older person’s physical and mental health? Sure enough, medical experts back up this transformation."
• You know you’re a high-level thinker if you use these 12 phrases in conversations - "Learn the simple phrases high-level thinkers use to spot assumptions, compare options, and make better calls this week."
• Daylight Saving Time - Clocks Set to Fall Back Earlier This Year - "The clocks are falling back again, and while it might seem like a small shift, it can throw your whole routine out of sync. With the end of Daylight Saving Time coming up on Sunday, November 2, 2025, it’s all about easing into the transition without losing sleep - literally or figuratively."
• ChatGPT’s new branching feature is a good reminder that AI chatbots aren’t people - "Users can explore multiple paths without losing their original chat thread."
• These devices harvest drinking water from the air in the planet’s driest places - "Critics say they’re an expensive distraction. The device is able to pull moisture from thin air and transform it into liquid drinking water. The device doesn’t produce a huge amount of water from the bone-dry air - around two-thirds of a cup a day."
• Who is Japan’s ‘dragonfly’ prince, who could be the last emperor of the world’s oldest monarchy? - "Japan’s Prince Hisahito is the first male royal to reach adulthood in 40 years. Many people in Japan worry he could be the last."
• She Decides Who’s Famous Enough for Free U.S. Open Tickets - "Every year, Amanda Wight makes sure that a steady stream of A-listers get to see the world’s best tennis players - and be seen by millions on TV."
• Visiting the US is about to get more expensive for foreign travelers - "In travel news this week: a look inside North Korea’s answer to Waikiki, a taste of Turkey’s beloved brew, plus fees for travelers to the US will rise at the end of September."
• Why doesn’t Google Maps work in one of Asia’s most developed, tourist-friendly countries? - "When Taiwanese traveler Eric Weng goes to South Korea, he resigns himself to toggling between three different map applications to navigate his way around. That’s because Google Maps, ubiquitous in much of the world, doesn’t fully work in South Korea."
• The sunscreen scandal shocking Australia - the world's skin cancer hotspot - "Australians have a complicated relationship with the sun: they love it, but they also fear it. Effective public health messaging - which has drilled 'Slip, Slop, Slap' into their heads - competes with a beauty culture which often idolises bronzed skin. The country has the highest incidence of skin cancers in the world and it is estimated that two out of three Australians will have at least one cut out in their lifetime."
• What it means to walk with your hands behind your back, according to psychology - "Experts in body language suggest that walking with your hands behind your back is often a sign of introspection and deep concentration. This posture supports focused thinking and allows your mind to wander inward without interruption."
• AI firm Anthropic agrees to pay authors $1.5bn to settle piracy lawsuit - "Artificial intelligence (AI) firm Anthropic has agreed to pay $1.5bn to settle a class action lawsuit filed by authors who said the company stole their work to train its AI models."
• Why Sark islanders pay the 'world's highest energy prices' - "About 500 people live on the Channel Island of Sark and cars are banned - residents get around by horse-drawn carriage, tractor, bicycle, or on foot. In the past two weeks, the price of one kilowatt hour (kWh) - or unit of electricity - has more than doubled to £1.13."
• Darth Vader's lightsaber sells for $3.6m at auction - "The prop featured in films including The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi was said to be the 'standout' moment of the first day of sales at the auction held in Los Angeles on Thursday."
• How Jane Austen's secrets were destroyed forever - "'The truth is she did the right thing': The mystery of why Jane Austen's letters were destroyed – by her own sister. Austen is one of the greatest writers in the English language - but relatively little is known about her. And that's in part because of an act that infuriates many to this day, which is the subject of new TV drama Miss Austen."
• Why the 'Virgin Queen' never married - "Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, is the only English queen never to have married. The iconic Tudor monarch's last visit to Kenilworth 450 years ago may hold some clues to her solo reign - as revealed in a new art installation at the castle, depicting betrayal, beheadings and an elaborate declaration of love."
• How eating insects became a conspiracy theory - "Insect protein is healthy and sustainable. But now it is also at the centre of a far-reaching conspiracy theory."
• The World’s Best Gin, According To The IWSC - "Three gins were awarded a Spirit Trophy, each judged the world’s best in their category, at the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition: Hawkridge Distillers, The Store Gin, 40% ABV, 700 ml., Brass Lion Distillery, Pearl Jasmine Gin, 40% ABV, 750 ml. & Four Pillars Distillery, Navy Strength Gin, 58.8% ABV, 750 ml."
• Why Is Ice Slippery? New Study Overturns 200-Year-Old Physics Theory - "New research from Saarland University indicates this view is incomplete, finding that slipperiness stems from interactions between molecular dipoles in the ice and those in the contacting surface, such as a shoe sole, rather than from pressure or friction."
• They’ve Dropped the Weight. But What About the Skin? - "Obesity drugs are leaving more people with loose, sagging skin. But firming creams and body contouring treatments are largely a pipe dream, experts say."
• Which supplements should you really take? The experts’ guide - "We’re taking more vitamins and minerals than ever. Peta Bee asks nutrition experts which are actually worth taking - and what to avoid."
• Tesla offers Elon Musk a trillion-dollar pay package - "Elon Musk, the company said, will have to increase the value of the company from just over $1tn today to $8.5tn over 10 years."
• Giorgio Armani - a life in pictures - "The fashion designer, who crafted modern Italian style and elegance, has died at the age of 91."
• Giorgio Armani, Fashion’s Master of the Power Suit, Dies at 91 - "He created a male uniform whose feminized form won favor with women. An alliance with movie stars made his name all but synonymous with red-carpet dressing."
• Giorgio Armani Changed the Way People Dress. Twice - "The designer's innovations - for the chief executive and the celebrity - made Armani a household name."
• Trump to sign executive order renaming Pentagon the Department of War - "President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Friday that will change the name of the Defense Department to the Department of War, a White House official told CNN."
• Pope Leo signed a BMW motorcycle in front of St. Peter’s Basilica - "Jesus Bikers rev up support for charity with motorcycle for Pope Leo XIV."
• China netted a fortune with Labubus. Then came the knock-offs - "China’s Labubus are the must-have toy of the year. So are the fakes."
• The World’s Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky, According To The IWSC - "At the 2025 International Wine & Spirits Competition, two single malt Scotch whiskies - one under 20 years old, the other aged over two decades - rose above Scotland’s best to claim the coveted single malt scotch whisky trophies: A’glac Charrann 27-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 49.8% ABV, 750 ml. $700 & Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV. 750 ml. $110."
• 10 Things We’re Excited About This Fall - "Dolly Parton in Vegas, a shrine to David Bowie, a new standup special from Kumail Nanjiani and other picks from our critics and writers."
• 12 of the most striking images of 2025 so far - "From praying monks and diving swimmers to meteor showers and the tomb of Pope Francis, these are 12 of the most eye-catching and memorable images of the year so far."
• Why The Great Gatsby is the world's most misunderstood novel - "The Great Gatsby is synonymous with parties, glitz and glamour - but this is just one of many misunderstandings about the book that began with its first publication a century ago, in April 1925."
• Everything You Need to Know About Flu Shots This Fall - "Here’s how to protect yourself."
• Porsche Is No Longer a Blue-Chip Company in Germany - "The carmaker will soon be delisted from the leading DAX stock index three years after its blockbuster debut, amid losses in China and the threat of U.S. tariffs."
• Stop talking about your feelings, says psychologist - "What emotionally intelligent people say to understand people better. 'The best opening move is to talk about the specific behavior in question, not how you feel about it.'"
• Forget Dolby Atmos soundbars & surround systems, for live music on TV there's a better modern hi-fi alternative - "Give your home cinema a musical makeover."
• A parade & a summit in China underscore how European security will never be the same again - "Putin’s reception in China provided a stark visual reminder of why Europe must rethink its security."
• China’s Latest Missiles, Drones & Submarines, Up Close - "China displayed nuclear-capable missiles for submarines and aircraft at the parade, but it does not disclose how many nuclear weapons it has."
• Kim Jong-un Brings a Guest to Beijing: His Daughter & Potential Heir - "Kim Ju-ae’s presence at a major gathering of world leaders is the latest sign that North Korea’s dictator considers her a successor, analysts said."
• Xi & Putin overheard talking about immortality & organ transplant - "Chinese leader Xi Jinping was caught chatting about the possibility of living to 150 in a hot-mic moment with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday."
• Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died - "Armani, who was 91, was synonymous with modern Italian style and elegance. He combined the flair of the designer with the acumen of a businessman, running a company that turned over some 2.3 billion euros ($2.7 billion) a year."
• Eric Trmp becomes a billionaire - "American Bitcoin Deal Boosts Eric Trump's Net Worth. It’s not just the president getting rich on crypto. His heirs are also making millions for themselves."
• Monaco tops new Global Financial Freedom ranking - "Following Monaco and Mauritius, Switzerland and Portugal tied for third place, with Ireland completing the top five. The United Kingdom ranked 21st, while the United States came in at 29th."
• Nomad Capitalist Freedom Index - "Discover the world’s top freedom hubs for 2025. Our index ranks the jurisdictions that best combine financial liberty, asset protection, personal safety, human rights, and quality of life in a fast-changing world."
• Stunning photos spotlight vanishing ‘super tusker’ elephants - "A photographer spent years tracking Africa’s last ‘super tusker’ elephants. See the stunning results."
• World’s biggest iceberg, A23a, has broken up - "Previously weighing nearly a trillion metric tonnes (1.1 trillion tons) and spanning an area of 3,672 square kilometers (1,418 square miles) - slightly bigger than Rhode Island - the A23a iceberg has been closely tracked by scientists ever since it calved from the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf in Antarctica in 1986."
• Captain Scott’s famous polar shipwreck as never seen before - "One of the most famous polar shipwrecks has been filmed in detail on the sea floor for the first time. The Terra Nova carried Captain Scott and his men on their doomed expedition to reach the South Pole more than a century ago. The British party lost the race to the pole, and died on their return journey in 1912."
• This wild meat is a climate-friendly swap for beef - "Why wild venison is a climate-friendly swap for beef. In countries like Scotland where deer populations are culled, eating wild venison can be a low-carbon option."
• The British isle that outwitted the Nazis - "The UK entered WW2 on 3 September, 1939. Eighty years after the war's end, few people know that a British island Jersey's unique language was used as a clandestine code during Nazi occupation."
• Six Ways To Avoid Injuries, According to Physical Therapists - "Habits to Remain Injury-Free, According to Physical Therapists. Experts see a lot of people who might have avoided their aches and pains. Here are a few of their favorite tips."
• How to exercise for one minute & live longer - "A new study has found that just 60 seconds of incidental exertion can improve longevity. Too good to be true? Here’s how it works: Walk briskly after a meal. A brisk walk - that's a rate of 100 steps per minute or faster - for just one to two minutes after a meal helps to lower blood sugar levels, according to a review of evidence published in the journal Sports Medicine."
• Ranked: The World’s Top 25 Countries by Oil Consumption - "In 2024, U.S. oil consumption stood at 19 million barrels per day, a change of -0.1% from the previous year. China follows next, with 16.4 million barrels per day, changing -1.2% over the year. Over the past decade, India’s oil consumption has grown at one of the fastest rates globally, increasing 3.8% on average, per year."
• Six things to ask before buying an electric car - "Thinking of going green? From tax changes to charging and vehicle costs, Lizzie Catt gives a rundown on what you are taking on when you make the switch: 1. Will I be taxed? - 2. How much will it cost to charge? - 3. Will the tech get better? - 4...."
• In pictures: China’s 80th Victory Day parade - "Xi Jinping oversaw a huge display of China’s military power on Wednesday before some of the world’s most powerful authoritarian leaders, rallying them behind his vision for a new world order as US President Donald Trump wages a global trade war and shakes up American alliances."
• Trump addresses online health rumours in Oval Office - "US President Donald Trump has said he was 'very active' over the Labor Day holiday weekend and dismissed reports on social media about his health as 'fake news'. The president was responding to a reporter's question about online rumours that he had died, following several days since he had been seen in public."
• Trump’s First 100 Days: Creating an Imperial Presidency That Harms Americans - "President Donald Trump is smashing constitutional and legal guardrails to build an authoritarian presidency that cements his political power and ultimately harms Americans."
• Chloe Malle to become top editor at American Vogue - "Chloe Malle will become the top editor at American Vogue after Dame Anna Wintour stepped aside as editor-in-chief, the publication has announced. The 39-year-old worked her way up the fashion magazine ranks over the past 14 years to become editor of Vogue.com and host the magazine's podcast The Run Through."
• House Oversight Committee Releases Tens of Thousands of Pages of Epstein-Related Documents - "The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released more than 33,000 pages of documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s case on Tuesday, saying that more are expected to be forthcoming."
• Epstein survivor says his impact on her is clear from her school yearbooks - "For many of the women victimized by Jeffrey Epstein, their lives are divided into two parts: before and after they were sexually abused by him."
• 8 vacation spots that look great online but aren’t worth the hype - "Gorgeous online, crowded IRL: swap sunset Santorini, Bali’s Instagram loop, Times Square, and more for calmer, tastier, fewer-lines versions nearby."
• Hagia Sophia: Secrets of the 1,600-year-old megastructure that has survived the collapse of empires - "Whether you’re a believer or not, visiting Hagia Sophia is a spiritual experience. The architectural genius of this place of worship - which was built as a church in 537CE before its conversion into a mosque in 1453 - creates an illusion of vastness. It feels like the space starts to expand when you enter the building."
• Inside North Korea’s vast - & nearly empty - new resort - "Hotels, beaches and water parks, but where are the tourists? Miles of white sand, turquoise waters, and rows of pristine beachfront hotels line the shore at the newly built Wonsan-Kalma resort. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hopes the development will be his country’s answer to Waikiki. But there’s one problem: the tourists aren’t there."
• Scientists have created rechargeable, multicolored, glow-in-the-dark succulent plants - "Glow-in-the-dark plants bright enough to light up streets at night may sound like the stuff of science fiction or fantasy. But scientists have already made plants that emit a greenish glow. They are even commercially available in the United States. A group of Chinese researchers has just gone even further, creating what they say are the first multicolored and brightest-ever luminescent plants."
• 14 Art Shows Worth Traveling for, From Europe to the West Coast - "This fall, see Jacques-Louis David, Sheila Hicks and Gerhard Richter in Paris, Kerry James Marshall in London, Fra Angelico in Florence and more."
• 9 powerful techniques to improve learning power & boost memory - "1. Spaced repetition. Review information at increasing intervals instead of cramming. 2. Active recall. 3. Mind mapping. 4. Pomodoro technique. 5. Interleaving practice. 6. Teach what you learn. 7. Use mnemonics & acronyms. 8. Healthy lifestyle habits. 9..."
• Ranked: Top Sources of Billionaire Wealth by Industry - "How all the billionaires in 2025 made their money. Forbes found finance and investments leads the top sources of billionaire wealth."
• Google avoids break-up but must share data with rivals - "Google will not have to sell its Chrome web browser but must share information with competitors, a US federal judge has ordered."
• Xi’s parade will showcase China’s military might. The message is clear - "Leaders of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran gather in Beijing for huge military parade in challenge to the West."
• India Was the Economic Alternative to China. Trump Ended That - "A lurch in policy has shaken the India-U.S. economic alliance against China, leaving India little choice but to consider reversing its own strategy."
• Kim Jong Un heads to Beijing in famous armored train used by generations of North Korean leaders - "The old-fashioned train has become a symbol of Kim’s dynasty and his secluded nation. It has also long been the subject of intrigue, carrying generations of the Kim family across the country and on rare international trips."
• Gold price hits a new record high on a weaker dollar - "The price of gold hit $3,508.50 per ounce. Bullion has gained more than 30/ so far this year."
• These are the conditions that make you eligible for an updated Covid-19 vaccine - "This year’s updated Covid-19 vaccines have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for adults 65 and older and younger people with certain medical conditions that put them at a higher risk of a severe Covid-19 infection."
• Will drones deliver your next hot food order? - "A Swedish firm hopes that drones will open up a new market for hot food delivery. Meal delivery is a luxury city dwellers take for granted - but more options are opening up for non-urban residents. Boasting nearly 700,000 islands collectively, Sweden, Norway and Finland are home to the most islands in the world, their coastlines dotted by archipelagos that have shaped their history and culture."
• Are you eating the right amount of salt? - "Is a low-salt diet as unhealthy as having too much? Some scientists argue that a low-salt diet is just as dangerous as high salt consumption. What's the reality?"
• AI stethoscope could detect major heart conditions in seconds - "The original stethoscope, invented in 1816, allows doctors to listen to the internal sounds of a patient's body. Stethoscopes powered by artificial intelligence (AI) could help detect three different heart conditions in seconds, researchers say."
• 14 of the best films to watch this September - "Here are the films to see this month, including Leonardo DiCaprio's new comedy-action-thriller, a sequel to classic music mockumentary Spinal Tap and the last ever Downton Abbey."
• The World War Two bomber that cost more than the atomic bomb - "The Boeing B-29 was the most advanced bomber of World War Two, and more expensive to design and build than the atomic bombs it dropped. It also helped influence the airliners we fly on today."
• The plastic-filled balls washing up on beaches - "As tiny pieces of plastic clog our oceans, natural meadows of seagrass are bundling up microplastics and spitting them back out onto beaches in the form of 'Neptune balls'. 'It's a way of the sea returning the trash to us'."
• Why Are Everyone’s Bra Straps Showing These Days? - "Visible undergarments are making a comeback. Our critic explains where the trend originated and what it might mean."
• Earth's Seasons Are Out of Sync, Scientists Discover From Space - "By applying a new analysis to 20 years of satellite imagery, we made a better map of the timing of plant growth cycles around the globe. Earth's seasonal rhythms are becoming more chaotic and out of sync, a phenomenon they term 'hotspots of seasonal asynchrony'. This means different ecosystems, even those separated by small distances, can experience seasons at different times."
• Denmark ending letter deliveries is a sign of the digital times - "The steep decline in letter volumes has been driven largely by digitalisation, and PostNord announced in March that it will cease letter services at the end of the year. It will bring to an end four centuries of letter deliveries by the state-owned operation."
• His search for the Titanic concealed a top-secret military operation - "How the iconic discovery unfolded."
• Your Quest for Perfect Sleep Is Keeping You Awake - "In a culture that’s highly goal-oriented, yet another form of performance anxiety has emerged: It’s called orthosomnia, and it refers to an unhealthy preoccupation with getting the right amount of sleep as well as the right stages of sleep."
• From treasure to jam: Britain's Bond trail explored - "James Bond is associated with exotic locations, underwater adventures and even space travel, but the origins of the fictional spy can be found all across Britain. Superfan Edward Biddulph has visited 163 British places with connections to the 007 books, their creator Ian Fleming - or the films they inspired."
• ‘Jaw-droppingly weird’ dinosaur from Morocco was studded with spikes & armor - "Around 165 million years ago on a coastal floodplain in what is now Morocco lived one of the most extreme dinosaurs on record, lavishly adorned with armor and spikes - some about three feet long - unlike that of any other known creature."
• How sheer luck made this tiny Caribbean island millions from its web address - "Almost every country and territory had a domain based on either its English or own language name. This included the small Caribbean island of Anguilla, which landed the address .ai. Unbeknownst to Anguilla at the time, this would become a future jackpot. With the continuing boom in artificial intelligence (AI), more and more companies and individuals are paying Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory, to register new websites with the .ai tag."
• The Himalayan village where you can see the cosmos - "In the Moon-like landscape of Hanle, the jet-black skies reveal otherworldly starry skies that lure travellers from far and wide. But can locals preserve the natural darkness?"
• The New Dream Guy Is Beefy, Placid & ... Politically Ambiguous - "Amid pitched debates about masculinity, the 'himbo' stands stoically above it all."
• The 10 Coolest Watches That Dropped in August - "Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin, and eight other watchmakers released stylish new wrist candy this month."
• 7 Low-Value Activities Wealthy People Never Waste Time On, According To Psychology - "Building wealth isn’t just about making more money - it’s about how you spend your most precious resource: time. Psychology research reveals that financially successful individuals share common behavioral patterns, particularly in what they choose not to do: 1. Mindless Media Consumption - 2. Chasing Get-Rich-Quick ..."
• 5 Of The Best MacBook Docking Stations On Amazon, Ranked By Real Customers - "Although Apple has been slightly more generous in the recent MacBook Pro models, the company is notorious for not providing enough ports in its Mac laptops. Docking stations or USB-C hubs are nifty gadgets that come with a varying selection of ports and connect to Thunderbolt (TB) or regular USB-C ports on your MacBook, allowing you to connect more devices than you typically can with your Mac's default port selection."
• Don't Plug These Gadgets Into Your TV's USB Ports - "A TV's USB ports, although reasonably capable, aren't as feature-rich or versatile as the ones available on your computer, and have limited power delivery capabilities. Here are some of the most common gadgets that won't work if you connect them to your TV's USB port."

August 2025

• Extreme Heat May Make You Age Faster - "A new study found that repeated exposure to heat waves was linked to accelerated aging, and increases vulnerability to health issues."
• Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood, study finds - "Scientists say ‘shocking’ discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout."
• Switzerland Presents Opportunity for Non-EU Nationals to Achieve Residency Through Its Golden Visa Programme - "This residency-by-investment scheme aims to draw accomplished investors, business founders, and qualified specialists by furnishing a straightforward and expedited route to Swiss citizenship."
• The Honey Deuce is the signature drink of the US Open. Here's how to make it - "As the 2025 US Open continues to entertain the masses at Flushing Meadows, the crowd keeps going for one particularly expensive mixed drink over and over. Learn about the history of this melon-based cocktail and see how you can make it yourself, so you can join in on the fun from home."
• The Smoking Hot Return of Bathing Culture - "Saunas and other water-based amenities are booming in societies that once turned their backs on them."
• This Star Has the Moxie & Acting Chops for a Crime Drama. He’s Also a Cat - "For 'Caught Stealing,' Darren Aronofsky needed a feline that could manage a New York City set and hit the necessary marks. Enter Tonic, a seasoned pro."
• 7 Breakfast Foods With More Protein Than Eggs - "Some of these may surprise you: Almond Butter - Smoked Salmon - Teff Porridge - Sprouted Tofu Scramble - Sprouted Toast - Steel-Cut ..."
• A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Danish Galaxy - "Danes are not shy. They are simply wrapped up in their own lives, but they are kind and considerate and will assist you if asked directly."
• Neither walking nor running: Harvard’s top recommended activity to keep people over 60 fit - "Why martial arts are the ideal exercise for seniors: Experts recommend styles like Tai Chi, Aikido, and Wing Chun because they emphasize balance, body awareness, and slow, precise movements rather than speed or brute force. These disciplines offer a full-body workout that engages both the mind and body."
• 5 of the Best-Sounding Engines Ever Fitted Into a Production Car - "These five engines are not just impressive in terms of the output figures they deliver, but also the unmistakable symphony that their cylinders sing: Lamborghini L539 6.5-liter V12 - Mercedes-AMG M120 V12 (Pagani version) - Porsche M80/01 V10 - Cosworth GMA V12 - Lexus/Toyota 1LR-GUE V10."
• How to Cultivate a Feel-Good Garden - "Horticulturalists and herbalists share tips for nurturing plants with health benefits: To cultivate a 'feel-good garden,' choose plants native to your region to support the local ecosystem and provide low-maintenance benefits. Focus on creating a unified and intentional design, incorporating a variety of plant textures and strategic color use to enhance the mood."
• The Queen was a Remainer: her secret views on Brexit revealed - "In his new book, Power and the Palace, the former Times royal correspondent Valentine Low uncovers the secretive relationship between the monarchy and government. Speaking to Palace aides, politicians and civil servants, he reveals the private side of Queen Elizabeth II."
• China touts power bloc to rival US - "China’s Xi rolls out the red carpet for Putin and Modi as Trump upends global relations. Autocrats, populists, friends and foes, a strongman waging a war in Europe and the leader of the world’s biggest democracy will all be hosted by Chinese leader Xi Jinping this weekend."
• The best looks from the 2025 Venice Film Festival - "Italy’s most famous film festival has officially begun, and the waterways of Venice are filled with celebrities being ferried to the red carpet. Now in its 82nd year, the Venice Film Festival will showcase a number of hotly anticipated films."
• Venice Film Festival: Julia Roberts Courts Controversy - "In 'After the Hunt,' Roberts plays a professor weighing a fraught sexual-assault accusation. 'Trouble’s where the juicy stuff is,' the star said."
• Venice Film Festival - "Live updates: BBC Culture."
• Are tennis players the fittest athletes in the world? - "Seven-time grand slam singles champion Venus Williams said upon her comeback to the sport late last month: 'Do you know how hard it is to play tennis? ... You’re running the whole time, lifting weights and just, like, dying. And then you repeat it the next day.'"
• This is the world’s most peaceful country for 2025 - "Iceland has consistently topped the Global Peace Index since 2008. The Nordic nation of Iceland, famed for its volcanoes, hot springs and uniquely sublime landscapes, has once again been named the most peaceful country in the world by the Global Peace Index."
• Having your profile drawn before investing - "Drawing on their imagination, bankers must clearly explain to their customers what they are proposing to invest in, having first profiled them, because unlike buying a Dali or a Picasso, which are real and have an immediate impact, financial products are experienced and composed in the future."
• IT outages are plaguing air travel. Here’s what to know - "The very complex systems that often go down in these situations are owned or created by an individual airline. Each airline tends to run on its own system."
• Sunscreen myths: The real science behind sun protection - "What science says about staying safe in the Sun. From when exactly to use sunscreen to whether beach umbrellas really work, this is what scientific research tells us about staying safe in the Sun."
• The moment that changed Picasso - "A short trip to an ancient village was the catalyst for a profound shift in Picasso’s work - but it is often overlooked. Alastair Sooke finds out more."
• Is It Just Me, or Is Every Cool Girl Wearing This Denim Trend Instead of Baggy Jeans? - " The trendsetting crowd is officially trading in their slouchy denim for something sleeker: slim, straight, and tapered fits, including the reemergence of stovepipe jeans. Slim jeans + flip-flops = your new summer uniform."
• The 100 most influential people in AI 2025 | TIME100 AI 2025 - "Meet the innovators, leaders, and thinkers reshaping our world through groundbreaking advances in artificial intelligence."
• People send over 2.5 billion messages to ChatGPT every day. Yes, that affects the planet - "Chatbots have become essential for the people who've figured out how to take advantage of them. With AI's increasing popularity, comes a big increase in the energy and resources that Hyperscale data centers need to process all those queries."
• iPhone 17 set to break a record no flagship has touched in 15 years - "If current reporting holds, iPhone 18 will not arrive until spring 2027. That would mean iPhone 17 will sit at the top of Apple’s mainline lineup for about 18 months, surpassing the iPhone 4’s record and setting a new benchmark for the longest standard iPhone run."
• Fact check: 10 debunked lies Donald Trump has repeated in the last week alone - "President Donald Trump keeps saying the same false things over and over."
• What's the de minimis rule? - "De minimis is a Latin term that broadly translates to 'about the smallest things', often used in legal contexts to describe matters too trivial to merit concern. The de minimis exemption was introduced in 1938 to avoid the expense of collecting only small amounts of import duties in the US. The exemption was often associated with companies like Chinese e-commerce giants Shein and Temu, which delivered Americans cheap goods that could be quickly shipped from the manufacturing source - with no warehouse stock or associated overhead costs."
• The benefits & risks of foraging your own food - "Foraging gives people access to unusual foods as well as the experience of harvesting them directly from nature. But could it be doing more harm than good?"
• The Druids Oak is 800 years old - can it help save tomorrow's forests? "Scientists are decoding the DNA of Britain’s ancient oaks to crack the secrets of their superpowers."
• $150 for a wave: the Abu Dhabi wave pool targeting the ultra-rich - "Abu Dhabi has many of the things that surfers hunt for in their quest for perfect waves: warm weather, year-round sun and clear water. The only thing it did not have was waves. That changed in October 2024, when Surf Abu Dhabi opened. Offering the longest artificial wave in the world, the company hopes to turn Abu Dhabi into a global surfing destination."
• Common & inexpensive supplement quickly improves memory & prevents dementia - "A twin trial reveals that daily consumption of protein and prebiotics called fructooligosaccharides quickly improves memory in older adults."
• Jackie Kennedy’s lipstick-stained glass is just one piece of the history at Phnom Penh’s Raffles Le Royale Hotel - "Much of the hotel’s finery was dumped into storage following the country’s brutal civil war, untouched. After the property was purchased by the Raffles group in 1996, a worker supposedly found the exact glass Kennedy had drunk her Femme Fatale cocktail out of - thanks to a mark from her lipstick on the rim - and rescued it amid the hotel renovations."
• The 10 Largest Cities of the Medieval World - "In the medieval world, life shifted from the fields to cities where urban populations grew. These ten cities soon became the most notable in the world: 1. Angkor, Khmer Empire, Cambodia - 2. Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate, Iraq - 3. Gangaikonda Cholaparum, India - 4. Constantinople, Byzantine Empire, ..."
• What Sport Psychologists Want You to Know About Mental Toughness - "Sport psychologists from The New York Times emphasize that mental toughness is the ability to be flexible and adaptable, embracing discomfort and focusing on the process rather than the outcome. Key techniques for building mental toughness include practicing positive self-talk, establishing routines, and learning to manage stress and pressure to perform at your best even in difficult situations."
• 4 Approaches to Dealing With a Narcissist - "We asked experts for books to help people understand narcissistic personality disorder. Common strategies for dealing with a narcissist include setting and enforcing clear, firm boundaries to protect yourself. Other effective tactics are to practice emotional detachment by not sharing personal information or reacting to manipulation, use the 'gray rock' method of being uninteresting and unemotional."
• Viktor Anisimov - "Founded in Kyiv in 1997, VIKTORANISIMOV is a Ukrainian menswear brand that merges functional and utilitarian design with modern elegance. Inspired by military uniform heritage and minimalist architecture, the brand reimagines utility through contemporary silhouettes and certified sustainable materials."
• Kim & Putin top Xi’s guest list for China’s huge military parade in defiant show of unity - "North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among more than two dozen foreign leaders to attend China’s massive military parade next week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Thursday."
• US tells Denmark to 'calm down' over alleged Greenland influence operation - "The aim was reportedly to infiltrate Greenland's society and promote its secession from Denmark."
• President Trump Is Right About the Smithsonian - "Calls out some of the institution's artwork, exhibitions, programs and online articles that focus on race, slavery, immigration and sexuality. That includes works at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, The National Portrait Gallery, and The National Museum of the American Latino."
• Watch as crowds hurl tomatoes at each other for 80th La Tomatina food fight - "Mayhem descends on the town of Buñol as thousands battle it out at the annual tomato-throwing frenzy."
• Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce: The six centuries-old art history rules hidden in their engagement photo - "The recently released Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce engagement photo is a part of a centuries-old tradition of 'meticulously choreographed courtship', according to an art history expert."
• Taylor Swift is the latest celebrity to opt for a supersized engagement ring - "Flashy engagement rings have long been par for the course among betrothed A-listers, but lately it feels like they’ve been getting bigger. Much bigger."
• Taylor Swift Wears A Discontinued Cartier Santos Demoiselle In Her Engagement Announcement - "Swift announced her engagement to Travis Kelce while wearing a Santos Demoiselle - a little-known discontinued model that's about to get very famous, very quickly."
• Electric vs. Gas Car: Try Our Calculator (Because the Math Is About to Change) - "There's one month left to get a federal subsidy. Our calculator lets you compare models and see whether an E.V. is cheaper in the long run."
• 1 Simple Way To Boost Focus When You’re Stressed, By A Psychologist - "One effective way to remedy this is through mindfulness meditation. And no, this is not just a wellness cliché. A 2025 study investigated how mindfulness meditation influences both attention and physiological arousal."
• There are just two northern white rhinos left - "This film follows the race to save them from extinction."
• In one of world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, architects prepare for the worst - "Amid growing climate threat, Vietnam’s architects turn to tradition."
• The Ingredients of a Lasting Marriage - "There’s no way to be with somebody else without fate buffeting your ship."
• Florence skyline darkened by luxury flats dubbed the ‘black cube’ - "Experts say the Renaissance city could lose its Unesco world heritage status amid questions over who was responsible for approving the building."
• Introducing Messages, A New Way To Share What You Love on Spotify with Friends & Family - "Messages are one-on-one conversations where you can share Spotify content and react with text and emojis."
• ‘I am not a dictator,’ Trump says. Here’s what 21st century dictators do - "For the second day in a row, President Donald Trump has felt the need to assure Americans that, no, he is not a dictator."
• Video: SpaceX rocket launches after third attempt - "SpaceX launched the 10th test flight of its Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket booster. This was the third launch attempt for the mission after the first two flights were grounded. The rocket booster landed in the Gulf waters, just east of SpaceX's launch facilities."
• taylor swift says yes to travis kelce - "Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship is going from 'so high school' to officially engaged. The couple announced that they are engaged in concurrent posts shared on social media. 'Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,' the caption on the post reads."
• Apple’s big iPhone launch is coming on September 9. What to expect - "Apple is holding an event on September 9, the company said in an invitation to the press Tuesday, where it will likely announce the iPhone 17 and new Apple Watches, among other potential new devices."
• 100 Push-Ups & 50 Pull-Ups in Under 10 Minutes. What Could Go Wrong? - "Fitness experts caution against jumping into a difficult routine suggested by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Pete Hegseth."
• Watch: World's tallest bridge completes key load-bearing test - "The load test is the final step before it is considered safe to welcome traffic. A testing team drove 96 trucks onto designated points to test the bridge's structural integrity. Rising 625m (2,083ft) above a river in Guizhou province, the bridge will upon completion set the record for both the world's tallest bridge and largest span bridge built in a mountainous area."
• 'The most ingenious stunt since the Trojan Horse': The Soviet artwork that spied on the US - "A listening device hidden in an artwork in 1945 was undetected by US security for seven years - and it's not the only example of art having been manipulated for subterfuge."
• 10 of the best nude beaches in the US - "'Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' is a phrase enshrined in the US Declaration of Independence. But a couple of the Founding Fathers might have considered skinny dipping another inalienable right. Benjamin Franklin was known to have stripped down to his birthday suit to demonstrate what were apparently exceptional swimming skills. During his tenure in the White House, John Quincy Adams frequently started his presidential day with a naked soak in the Potomac."
• How to plan an extremely last-minute trip - "Forget planning: Three expert tips to take a last-minute break for less. Being willing to switch when, where and how you travel can still land you affordable trips on a week's notice."
• Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 - the best pictures so far - "The winning images will be announced on 14 October, followed by an exhibition at the Natural History Museum, showcasing 100 standout photographs from around the world."
• 13 High-Protein, High-Fiber Breakfasts You Can Prep the Night Before - "Preparing breakfast the night before is a great way to guarantee a nutritious first meal of the day. You can make all of these recipes ahead, so your food is ready to grab-and-go."
• Experts say overall dental health is on the decline due to poor brushing - "Some health experts have said that overall dental health is on the decline due to poor brushing technique. Over 42% of U.S. adults over the age of 30 have gum disease. NBC News' Elizabeth Cohen breaks down how to improve your dental health."
• Why age isn’t just a number when it comes to the ideal partner - "We look down on large age gaps in relationships, but data suggests most people would prefer to date someone younger. Is that taboo about to change?"
• Anna Wintour, the Vogue test & what it takes to enter the elite now - "In the 1990s, anyone aspiring to assist the devil in Prada had to ace an exam to prove their cultural capital. But how would that be tested now?"
• Trump says many people might want a dictator. Yes, many of his people - "President Donald Trump on Monday denied that he aspires to be a dictator. But at the same time, he decided to make a related point: that lots of people actually seem to want a dictator."
• president trump signs executive order to jail people who burn the american flag - "'My Administration will act to restore respect and sanctity to the American Flag and prosecute those who incite violence or otherwise violate our laws while desecrating this symbol of our country, to the fullest extent permissible under any available authority.'"
• Woody Allen defends appearance at Moscow film festival - "Oscar-winning director Woody Allen has defended his appearance at a Moscow film festival following strong criticism from the Ukrainian government."
• What Can I Wear on a Plane Besides Leggings & Sweats? - "Our critic offers advice for jet-setting in style - without compromising on comfort."
• How to Avoid Getting Caught Up in ‘Air Rage’ - "The passenger fistfights seen on viral videos aren’t inevitable. Here are the warning signs and tips on how to dial down the tension."
• The 15 Most Visited Cities in the United States - "From coast to coast, see which American metropolises made the cut: 1. New York City - 2. Miami - 3. Los Angeles - 4. Orlando - 5. San Francisco - 6. Las Vegas - 7..."
• Under the Italian Sun, a Debate Rages Over the Cost of a Beach Day - "For Americans, the price of eggs became a rallying cry for consumers beaten down by high prices. For Italians, it’s the cost of beach umbrellas. 'I don’t understand why I have to pay 50 euros a day' for a beach umbrella and two lounge chairs. This year, usual prices have ranged from about $24 to well above $117."
• In Turkey, your coffee comes with a side of destiny - "The drink so radical, it was banned for 13 years. Calling Turkish coffee “just a drink” undersells it. It’s a ritual, a conversation and, as arguably the ancestor of all modern coffees, it’s a nearly 500-year-old piece of history, inscribed by UNESCO on its intangible cultural heritage of humanity list."
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists - since 2008. "UNESCO established its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the aim of ensuring better protection of important intangible cultural heritages worldwide and the awareness of their significance. All lists combined totalled 676 elements, corresponding to 140 countries as of April 2023. Elements inscribed in the lists are deemed significant manifestations of humanity's intangible heritage, the highest honour for intangible heritage on a global level."
• Why a drink called Feel Free has many saying they’re trapped in addiction, debt & rehab - "Many say Feel Free, a kratom-kava drink, has them trapped in addiction and debt. Feel Free Classic, a drink that contains kava and kratom, is facing intense scrutiny due to reports of addiction."
• How to stop AI agents going rogue - "Agentic AI is taking decisions and acting on behalf of users, but how to stop that going wrong?"
• Furniture, architecture, fashion: 3 designers explain how AI is transforming everything - "Design is both an art and a science. Form and function must exist in tandem. So, when it comes to the adoption of artificial intelligence, fields like fashion, architecture and interiors have found themselves at a crossroads."
• Car expert finds Tesla with original powerpack & nearly half a million miles on it - "'People aren't understanding how significant this is'. Despite the numerous benefits that electric vehicles offer, some still have doubts about whether to make their next car an EV. Compared to vehicles powered by dirty fuels like gas or diesel, electric vehicles are much cheaper to refuel, and they need a lot less maintenance over their lifespan."
• You Should Be Washing Your Shoes. Experts Explain How - "ou wash your shirts, your pants, your jacket - all the things that bring you into contact with the outside world. But you probably don’t ever wash your shoes. That should absolutely change, says Anne Sharkey, a podiatrist in Cedar Park, Texas, who views shoes as mobile petri dishes of germs."
• No Pills, No Surgery: Scientists Discover Simple Way To Relieve Arthritis Pain - "A new study led by a Utah engineering professor shows that gait retraining can reduce pain and slow cartilage damage."
• Private Jet Pilot Salary in the US in 2025 - "Entry-level pilots often make between $60,000 and $90,000 a year, while senior captains in top markets can surpass $300,000. Location, employer type, and aircraft size all heavily influence pay."
• Chanel makes wine - who knew? We visit the vineyards - "Couture wine? You'd better believe it. The French fashion house has been quietly making some of the best bordeaux in the business for 30 years."
• Sam McKnight: ‘Princess Diana’s hair was a big fluffball’ - "The hairdresser on his famous clients, styling Lady Gaga’s hair with steak, weight loss injections and why he’s sworn off Botox. Boris Johnson’s hair changed all the time, depending on the message he was getting across. None of that hair was accidental - it was deliberate. To get hair to stand up on end is not easy, trust me."
• What We Learned From the Ghislaine Maxwell DOJ Interviews - "Maxwell, a long-time associate of Jeffrey Epstein, was interviewed for two days by the DOJ amid pressure to release the Epstein files."
• Years after abuse allegations surfaced, Ghislaine Maxwell was an honored guest at a prestigious Clinton event - "Years after she was publicly accused in civil lawsuits and the press of helping Jeffrey Epstein groom and sexually abuse minors, Ghislaine Maxwell was an honored guest at the prestigious Clinton Global Initiative conference in September 2013, according to newly uncovered photos, video and documents reviewed by CNN."
• Virginia Giuffre memoir to be published months after death - "A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who accused the Duke of York and the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein of sexual assault, will be published in October. Ms Giuffre had finished working on the book, titled Nobody's Girl, before she took her own life in Australia in April, at the age of 41."
• ChatGPT 5 is finally saying 'I don’t know' - here’s why that’s a big deal - "In a world of overconfident AI, a little humility goes a long way."
• How ChatGPT Surprised Me - "I seem to be having a very different experience with GPT-5, the newest iteration of OpenAI's flagship model, from most everyone else. The commentariat consensus is that GPT-5 is a dud, a disappointment, perhaps even evidence that artificial intelligence progress is running aground."
• I got Starlink internet at home. I wish I knew these details first - "Out in the boonies, I'm starved for choice when it comes to fast internet... so I went with Starlink. Starlink is better when it's mounted - ...but Starlink can be ugly when mounted."
• Have An Old iPhone Collecting Dust? Here's How To Use It As A Dash Cam - "If your old iPhone still connects to the internet, add a dashboard mount to your car for a quick dash-cam setup."
• Philips Hue finally looks set to fix its Bridge problem - "After years of faffing around with multiple hubs, the Philips Hue Bridge Pro finally seems to fix everything."
• ‘Golden Passport’ scheme allows passengers to live on a cruise ship forever - "The cruise company is encouraging people to swap retirement homes for a permanent place on their ship."
• Climate change pushing winemakers to blend wines from different years - "In the world of wine vintage is king. If you are buying a bottle of red, white or rosé then the specific year of the grape harvest is almost always written on the label. By contrast, non-vintage still wine - that made by blending two or more years - is seen as very downmarket, something cheap and not cheerful. And it is significantly rarer. Yet with climate change hitting vineyards around the world with more extreme weather, a small but growing number of quality-conscious wineries are releasing non-vintage bottles so they can make a more consistent wine."
• The surprising foods that lead to better sleep - "Most of us know going to bed on a full stomach can affect our sleep. Changing what we eat and the time of day we eat certain foods can help us sleep better."
• YouTube secretly used AI to edit people's videos. The results could bend reality - "YouTube made AI enhancements to videos without telling users or asking permission. As AI quietly mediates our world, what happens to our shared connection with real life?"
• The man behind The Beatles - "Brian Epstein, the Fab Four's manager, guided them from Liverpool's Cavern Club to global fame. When he died 58 years ago this week, the band was left suddenly adrift. Three years earlier, Epstein had told the BBC how he knew they would be 'the biggest attraction in the world'. 'I know about hit songs, hit numbers, hit sounds': The man behind The Beatles."
• Five of the world's safest countries for 2025 - "In a year marked by conflict, five nations continue to rank among the world's most peaceful. Residents reveal how policies and culture shape daily life and create a sense of calm."
• Ukraine’s Independence Day darkened by deadly missile strike - "Trump sends Ukraine letter of support on its Independence Day, as Zelensky says Kyiv ‘will not lose’ the war."
• Trump boasts about photo sent to him by Putin: ‘I’m going to sign this for him’ - "In an unexpected moment during an event about the 2026 World Cup draw, President Donald Trump pulled out a photo of him and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Alaska. Trump said Putin sent the picture and told reporters he planned to sign it for him."
• The most powerful rocket ever built is set for its next test. Here’s why some experts are worried - "SpaceX said it is aiming to launch its Starship megarocket on an hour-long test flight as soon as 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, though the liftoff time is subject to change. A webcast of the event is expected to begin about 30 minutes earlier, according to the company."
• Traveling Ultralight: How to Pack a Personal Item - "As more airlines charge for traditional carry-on bags, those who don’t want to pay need to fit everything into a tote, small duffel bag, daypack or roomy purse. Here’s how."
• More than 2,000 nuclear weapons have been detonated in the past 80 years - "Their effects still linger around the world."
• Tennis icon Roger Federer becomes seventh ever billionaire athlete, Forbes says - "The Swiss star, who retired from the sport in 2022, is now believed to have a net worth of $1.1 billion, boosted by his minority stake in Swiss shoe and apparel brand On."
• Top 50 Cities for Millionaires - "The 2025 Henley & Partners' Wealthiest Cities list places New York City at the top with 384,500 millionaires, followed by the Bay Area and Los Angeles, with Tokyo, London, and Singapore also in the top 10. With notable rising cities including Dubai, Scottsdale, and Bengaluru."
• 'Two laptops, six plugs': The South Korean cafes grappling with students who don't leave - "In the affluent Seoul neighbourhood of Daechi, Hyun Sung-joo has a dilemma. His coffee shop is sometimes visited by Cagongjok, a term for mostly young South Koreans who love to study or work at cafes, but there's a limit."
• Should Europe wean itself off US tech? - "Just three US firms provide 70% of Europe's cloud-computing, leading to fears of overreliance."
• Still booting after all these years: The people stuck using ancient Windows computers - "CTRL+ALT+DEL, but make it forever. As technology marches on, some people get trapped using decades-old software and devices. Here's a look inside the strange, stubborn world of obsolete Windows machines."
• My trip to North Korea's 'Benidorm' - flanked by guards & full of rules - "Anastasia, one of the first Russian visitors to North Korea's new resort, tells of 'immaculate' beaches, meaty meals and strict rules."
• Sleeper hit: how Europe is revelling in the return of the night train - "With a bucket list of journeys that would take her from Palermo to Trondheim and Istanbul, our writer rekindles her love affair with long-distance train journeys."
• 7 Best herbs for memory & brain health: Natural ways to improve focus & recall - "For centuries, herbs like turmeric, sage, and ginkgo have been used in traditional medicine to nourish the mind, and modern science is beginning to confirm their benefits."
• 7 science-backed habits to boost brainpower: One for each day of the week - "One habit for each day that will help boost brain health - Monday: Learn a skill for just 20 minutes - Tuesday: Walk backward for cognitive ..."
• Spotify copies Apple Music’s AutoMix feature before iOS 26 even ships - "One of my favorite features in iOS 26 is AutoMix for Apple Music, which uses artificial intelligence to create DJ-like transitions between songs. Ahead of iOS 26 being released to everyone next month, Spotify is looking to steal some of Apple Music’s thunder with its own new spin on creating unique transitions between songs."
• Trump Mobile's fake iPhone is now a fake S25 Ultra - "We still don’t know what the T1 Phone will look like, but it certainly won’t be this. The Trump Mobile team shared an ad to X on Wednesday pushing preorders of the T1, but with an image we’d never seen before."
• ‘Tweakments? Karren Brady’s had everything my clinic offers’ - "The businesswoman’s much-discussed new look is down to 15 years of work, but Dr Rita Rakus serves everyone - even a retired priest having his lips done"
• READ: Full Transcript of the Justice Department’s interview with Ghislaine Maxwell - "The Department of Justice on Friday released a transcript of the two-day interview that Deputy Attorney General and President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche conducted with longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell earlier this summer."
• Inside the Trump team’s debate on what to release from the Epstein files - "They considered a number of things, including ensuring that victims’ names would be redacted and contemplating whether those redactions would fuel a backlash and allegations of a coverup."
• Ghislaine Maxwell denies Trump or Clinton were involved in Epstein's crimes - "According to the released transcript, Maxwell told Blanche she had never seen President Trump 'in any inappropriate setting in any way. Neither Trump nor Clinton were involved in Epstein's crimes, Maxwell says from jail'."
• Ghislaine Maxwell says Epstein client list does not exist - "Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has told US officials that a much-discussed 'client list' does not exist."
• Why Wars Don’t End Anymore - "In a pessimistic era, a temporary pause to fighting has become the most anyone is trying to achieve. We have become so acclimatized to the age of forever wars that we seem to have forgotten to hope for true peace - that is, a positive peace."
• African Union urges adoption of world map showing continent's true size - "Created by 16th-century cartographer Gerardus Mercator for navigation, the projection distorts continent sizes, enlarging areas near the poles like North America and Greenland while shrinking Africa and South America."
• Has Russia Advanced? Ukrainians Use This Online Map to Check Every Morning - "The online DeepState map, based on geolocated combat footage and tips from Ukrainian Army sources, draws 900,000 views each day and acts as a counterbalance to the military’s omissions."
• In Norway, Are ‘Coolcations’ Taking a Toll? - "In Europe, as heat waves close the Acropolis in Athens and spark wildfires in Spain and Portugal, coolcations are driving tourists to Nordic countries. But in a region that takes pride in environmental and social sustainability, the development is prompting as much concern as celebration."
• The 10 Most-Used AI Chatbots in 2025 - "With 46.59B visits, ChatGPT accounts for more than 83% of total traffic among the top 10 chatbots. The second most-used chatbot, DeepSeek at 2.74B visits, has barely 6% of ChatGPT’s traffic."
• What remains of John F. Kennedy’s legacy of Camelot? - "The New Frontier, what would become the centerpiece of John F. Kennedy’s all-too-brief presidential administration, was a call to a higher purpose: an idealistic demand that the nation and its citizens use their creativity, courage and imagination to foster widespread domestic and global progress and uplift."
• The US teenagers wowed by African prom dresses - "What began as a TikTok trend has led to a booming business that links fashion designers in Africa to young people outside the continent."
• Good Robot to Good Hang with Amy Poehler: 10 of the best podcasts of 2025 so far - "From beloved British humorists and 'good hangs' to AI debates and the history of heroism, BBC features journalists pick their favourite podcasts of the year for you to listen to and watch."
• One Form of Exercise Improves Sleep The Most, Scientists Say - "Rolling out a yoga mat and flowing with your breath could be one of the best exercises for improving sleep in the long run."
• ‘Sunset Boulevard’ Is Ready For A New Closeup Celebrating Its 75th Anniversary - "Its Only Living Star Nancy Olson Livingston Looks Back At A Hollywood Classic. There are Hollywood classics, and then there are Hollywood Classics. Undoubtedly 1950’s Sunset Boulevard, director/writer Billy Wilder‘s ultimate Hollywood story."
• Why should you drink clove tea after meals - "Cloves contain compounds like eugenol that help relax the digestive tract and reduce the formation of gas. A warm cup of clove water after lunch or dinner can soothe the stomach lining, ease acidity, and provide relief from heaviness, especially after consuming oily or heavy foods."
• Swedish startup unveils Starlink alternative - that Musk can’t switch off - "The RU1 offers sovereign communications for military operations. It also can't be remotely disabled by external operators - unlike Starlink."
• Why the US Air Force Can’t Wait to Get Its Hands on the B-21 Raider - "While much of the B-21’s stealth-related characteristics and performance metrics remain classified, analysts expect the aircraft to be the world’s stealthiest upon delivery to the US Air Force."
• Grandma Elephant Stops to Say Thank You to Humans Who Let Herd Cross the Road in Front of Them - "Watch as an entire herd of elephants quickly crosses the road. There are adults, babies, and toddlers all crossing together. It's an incredible thing to see! However, what happens at the very end of the short video is completely unexpected...and completely beautiful."
• Kim Jong Un says his ‘heart aches’ over North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia, in rare admission of losses - "North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has paid an emotional tribute to soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, saying his ‘heart aches’ in a rare admission of military losses."
• The 95-year-old POW who wants to return to North Korea to die - "Ahn Hak-sop failed in his attempt to cross the border, after spending most of his life in South Korea."
• The AI vibe shift is upon us - "hile it’s too soon to declare August 2025 the start of the AI winter, or the AI correction, or the AI bubble bursting, or whatever slowdown metaphor you prefer, it is undeniable that a series of industry stumbles is making investors, businesses and customers do a double-take."
• Ranked: The Most Cited Websites by AI Models - "According to an analysis by Semrush, LLMs like ChatGPT reference Reddit and Wikipedia the most for facts. For geographical data, LLMs frequently cite Mapbox and OpenStreetMap."
• Ranked: which AI chatbots collect the most data about you? - "Google’s Gemini collects 22 different data points in total, more than any other widely-used chatbot. xAI’s Grok collects the fewest data points from this sample set."
• How well does your fitness tracker actually know you? - "Almost one in three Americans uses some type of tracker, and today’s top-of-the-line devices can measure sleep oxygen levels, stress levels, body temperature, menstrual cycles, heart rate variability and even glucose levels. These aren’t the step and calorie counters of yore; they’re sophisticated medical technology. And they’re increasingly being used as a window into our internal health."
• Diamond facials & lipstick pendants: Beauty meets jewelry in these one-of-a-kind pieces - "Perhaps the most fertile ground for projects merging beauty and jewelry is in high perfumery, as fragrance bottles can double as objets d’art."
• A Rare Smell on the Brink of Extinction - "An obscure perfume worn by the actress Elizabeth Taylor was lost to time. Some passionate fans have given it a new life."
• They’re Rich, They Travel & They Love to Complain - "A Birkin bag overnighted to Capri. A pink Brabus sports car for a Gen Z birthday party. Olivia Ferney, a travel agent to the ultrawealthy, has heard it all. 'To be honest, the clients in the multimillionaire category are more demanding than the billionaires,' she said. 'I don’t know why.'"
• Why Covid Is Spreading Again This Summer - "Researchers are seeing an uptick in cases, as they have every summer since the pandemic began. Here’s why."
• A Surprising (& Easy) Way to Boost Your Attention Span - "Being in nature is great for your brain. Experts are trying to figure out why."
• Do Food Expiration Dates Really Matter? - "Labels on food are confusing for all kinds of reasons. Here’s what they mean. Dates on food packaging usually indicate when food tastes best, not when it's unsafe to eat. In the United States, there are roughly 50 variations of date labels, including 'use by,' 'sell by' and 'packaged on,' nearly all of which indicate when quality or freshness begins declining."
• How foods mess with the medicines we take - "The bizarre ways food messes with the medicines we take. Occasionally the food we eat can interfere with the way drugs are supposed to work. Now scientists are trying to harness these effects to boost the efficacy of treatments."
• 10 Easy Ways to Add Chia Seeds to Your Daily Routine - "Chia seeds may be tiny, but they’re packed with nutrients like calcium, iron, fiber, and plant-based omega-3s. Even though they’re often overlooked, adding them to meals in creative ways makes it easy to enjoy their health benefits."
• Sitting All Day Can Cause Dead Butt Syndrome - "The name might make you snicker, but addressing 'gluteal amnesia' can help you avoid chronic pain. A condition where gluteal muscles weaken from inactivity, leading to pain, discomfort, or numbness in the buttocks, hips, and lower back."
• 'Suspense, betrayal & violence': The 1930s tropical 'utopia' that became a living hell - "When a group of European settlers made a home on an uninhabited Galapagos island, they were hoping for paradise. But instead it turned into a nightmare - as new film Eden, starring Jude Law and Ana de Armas, recounts."
• Trump Says Smithsonian Focuses Too Much on ‘How Bad Slavery Was’ - "'The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been - Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future,' Mr. Trump said in a social media post."
• All the Times Trump Has Talked About the Afterlife - "'If I can save 7,000 people a week from getting killed, that’s pretty good,' the President said Tuesday on Fox & Friends. 'I want to try and get to heaven, if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.'"
• Russia gifts motorcycle to Alaska man after Trump-Putin meeting - "An Alaska man might have walked away as the biggest winner of last week’s high stakes summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage. He rode off with a new motorcycle, courtesy of the Russian government, a Ural Gear Up motorcycle with a sidecar."
• Why a Kiwi May Be the Perfect Snack - "The fiber-rich fruits are packed with beneficial nutrients like fiber and vitamin C. Here’s how they may benefit your health."
• Top 25 Audio Brands With the Best Build Quality, as Voted by Thousands of Audiophiles - "We surveyed thousands of audiophiles across multiple polls and tallied the brands they trust most for long-term reliability. Here are the 25 brands that came on top: 1. Accuphase (15% of Votes) - 2. Yamaha (6.2% of Votes) - 3. Audio Research (6.1% of Votes) - 4. Krell (5.5% of Votes) - 5. Luxman (5.4% of Votes)."
• How a 113-year-old church was rolled 5km across a Swedish city - "Stunning drone and timelapse footage shows Kiruna Church's historic 5km move to its new home."
• Denmark ending letter deliveries is a sign of the digital times - "PostNord blames sharply falling demand - will other post firms around the world follow suit?"
• Microsoft boss troubled by rise in reports of 'AI psychosis' - "'AI psychosis': a non-clinical term describing incidents where people increasingly rely on AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Grok and then become convinced that something imaginary has become real."
• Scientists make 'superfood' that could save honeybees - "We rely on honeybees to pollinate our crops and a new food could protect them from growing threats."
• Suranne Jones: Playing the prime minister changes your perception of politics - "Suranne Jones plays the Prime Minister whose husband is kidnapped in new political thriller, Hostage."
• Katrina to Erin: The most extreme hurricanes in history - "Hurricanes are increasingly breaking records for intensity and the destruction they leave in their wake. Here we look at some of the most powerful storms in history."
• The 10 Best Historical Epics Of All Time (# 1 Is Unrivaled) - "The best historical epic movies highlight a genre that has been a cornerstone of cinema since its early days: 1 Lawrence Of Arabia (1962). 2 Seven Samurai (1954). 3 The Last Of The Mohicans (1992). 4 Ben-Hur (1959). 5 Spartacus (1960). 6 Gladiator (2000). 7 Braveheart (1995). 8 The Last Duel (2021). 9 The Last Emperor (1987). 10 Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)."
• 8 things lower-middle-class families do at airports that seasoned travelers never would - "Airports reveal more than travel habits—they quietly expose the contrast between survival mode and seasoned ease in how we move through unfamiliar spaces: 1. Turning up five hours early 'just in case'. 2. Packing like they're moving house. 3. Treating airport food like a last supper. 4. Dressing like they're attending a graduation. 5. Announcing every step of the journey out loud. 6..."
• The Woman to See About Your Face - "Melinda Farina, known as the Beauty Broker, sends Hollywood actresses and everyday women to doctors around the globe. In her world, the knives are always out."
• Macron: Why I had to sue US influencer Candace Owens - "French president says he is ‘defending his honour’ after the right-wing political commentator peddled a conspiracy theory that his wife Brigitte was born a man."
• The past, present & future of Notting Hill Carnival - "It’s a political lightning rod, but for those who live and breathe the event, it’s about honouring history and telling a new story of Caribbean culture in London."
• Revealed: The secret formula for making us laugh today - "Do share your health scares, don’t talk to the audience - our critic on what he’s learnt from 80 shows at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe."
• Why Putin is not ready to meet with Zelensky & may never be - "Agreement at the White House Monday on the next step - a bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - seemed broadly unanimous. Then came the Russian response."
• Trump rules out sending US troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees - "Trump said the US was willing to help with aspects of security, for instance, possibly through air support, but stressed that joining Nato can't be the key form of security Ukraine relies on."
• Did Trump really end six - or seven - wars? - "President Donald Trump is not just trying to end the vicious war in Ukraine. He’s claiming he’s already ended almost one war for each month of his second term - spanning the Middle East; Africa; and Central, South and Southeast Asia. 'I’ve done six wars - I’ve ended six wars,' Trump said in his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders on Monday."
• Sam Altman Despises Elon Musk. Now He Is Going After his companies - "The OpenAI CEO is challenging his former friend, one company at a time. Twitter, Tesla and even Neuralink are in his sights."
• Meta Is Building a Superintelligence Lab. What Is That? - "Mark Zuckerberg has reorganized his company’s ambitions around a hypothetical future that is suddenly the talk of Silicon Valley."
• The 10 Most Exciting Cars at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance - "A 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo won best in show among stiff competition at this year's Pebble."
• The 20 Best TV Detectives Of All Time (#1 undisputed) - "1 Frank Columbo. Columbo. 2 Jessica Fletcher. Murder, She Wrote. 3 Hercule Poirot. Poirot. 4 Sherlock Holmes. 5 Adrian Monk. Monk. 6 Cordelia Cupp. The Residence. 7 John Luther. Luther. 8 Christine Cagney And Mary Beth Lacey. Cagney & Lacey. 9 ..."
• These TV Hits Are Censored in Putin’s Russia - "At best, their meanings have changed. At worst, they no longer make sense: 'And Just Like That...' - 'The White Lotus' - 'The Wire' - 'The Walking Dead' - 'Game of Thrones'."
• America has 5 wealth classes. See where you fit in & how much it takes to reach the upper echelons - "Most Americans will make it to some rung of the middle class. Here's how much you need to get to the next tier these days."
• Psychology says people who always browse on social media but never comment or post typically display these 5 traits - "Social media is one of the biggest stages of human behavior today. Some people post daily updates, share photos, and jump into every comment thread. Others prefer to stay behind the curtain - quietly scrolling, observing, and rarely leaving a digital footprint. Here are five psychological traits that people who browse but rarely post or comment often display."
• 10 Best Japanese Stationery Designs to Achieve Peak Productivity - "Dive into our curated list of the top 10 Japanese stationery designs, each one a masterpiece in its own right: 1. Inseparable Notebook Pen - 2. Memento Business Card Log - 3. Kintsugi Plain Notebook - 4. Serenity Pen Stand - 5. MagBoard Clipboard - 6. Bookish ..."
• Are Marathons & Extreme Running Linked to Colon Cancer? - "A small, preliminary study found that marathoners were much more likely to have precancerous growths. Experts aren't sure why."
• Exploring Bangkok? Don’t miss out these 11 iconic landmarks - "Iconic for its architecture, steeped in fables, and rich in history, Bangkok boasts a tapestry of buildings as eclectic as the city itself. Just as the city excels in food and hotels, it knows how to do architecture, too. Grandly, boldly, and sometimes, bizarrely."
• 2025 NEW EDITION OF THE GLOBAL PROPERTY HANDBOOK - "Madrid, Dubai, Miami, Monaco and Milan feature, in that order, in the Top 5 of the BARNES City Index 2025. This index lists the cities most sought-after by UHNWIs (Ultra High-Net-Worth Individuals), i.e. those with at least $30 million in net assets."
• The Deadly Pleasure of Smoking Cigarettes - "Tobacco use is arguably the leading preventable cause of death in the world. On average, people who begin smoking before the age of 25 and continue to smoke throughout their lives give up about 10 years of life. Ten years!"
• Key Takeaways from Trump’s meetings with Zelensky & European leaders - "European officials said the last-minute decision to come to Washington reflected the urgency many leaders feel in aligning with Trump on ending the war - but also their concern that they not be sidelined. Here are takeaways from the day."
• Why Trump deserves credit for his Ukraine push & why it may all fall apart - "It was the best day Ukraine has had in a very long time. But it’s still hard to see how the war unleashed by Russia’s brutal invasion ends any time soon."
• trump shows his '4 more years hat' to european leaders - "President Trump shows his hat collection, including his '4 more years hat' hat, to French President Macron and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy during their White House visit."
• Give Trump a Nobel! & an Emmy & an Oscar ... - "'I waited and waited and waited, and I said, ‘The hell with it, I’ll become chairman and I’ll give myself an honor.’ Next year, we’ll honor Trump, OK?' Maybe Trump was joking, but I think he’s on to something. I really do."
• Climate Change is Coming for Your Bananas - "Affordable and nutritious, bananas have long been a supermarket staple for consumers around the globe. But that could soon change, as climate change is contributing to a global shortage of the world's most consumed fruit."
• Paris Braces for a Future of Possibly Paralyzing Heat - "City planners say the day when temperatures as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit, or 50 Celsius, could stall the French capital is not far off. They are already starting to prepare."
• Apple Finally Destroyed Steve Jobs’ Vision of the iPad. Good - "Cupertino has done the thing it swore it never would: turn its tablet into a full-blown window-wrangling, compromise-abandoning computer. Yes, it’s better, but lurking deep in the settings the ghost of Jobs remains."
• 53 Iconic Madonna Fashion Moments - "Fans were totally obsessed with Madonna's signature tulle skirts, big bow'd hairstyles, and lace gloves from the get-go."
• Who’s Getting Rich Off The $100 Billion Crypto Treasury Boom - "From Anchorage Digital to BitGo and Morgan Stanley, a growing cast of financial firms are reaping big fees riding the tidal wave of corporate bitcoin buying."
• You Can Buy One of the C.I.A.’s Greatest Mysteries at an Auction House - "Sleuths have solved three of the panels of the Kryptos sculpture at the agency’s headquarters. Now the artwork’s creator is announcing the sale of the solution to the fourth."
• I’ve been to 175 countries - but I always go back to these underrated gems - "Michael Zervos has visited 175 countries across the world, and he reveals the 9 underrated destinations that should be on every bucket list."
• 8 Hiking Gadgets to Make Your Next Trek Safer, Smoother & More Fun - "From improved safety to enhanced hydration, these are my essential hiking gadgets and gear picks, and why I swear by them: 1. A GPS tracker and communicator - 2. Collapsible trekking poles - 3. Filtration straw or pump - 4..."
• 5 Top-Rated Dashboard Tech Accessories For Your Car - "A universal mount - A dual-angle dash cam - A dashboard organizer - A capable car charger - A tire pressure monitor."
• These surprising materials are the future of furniture design - "From chairs built with mushroom mycelium and vegan leather sofas to fabrics originating from seaweed, unexpected materials have been slowly making inroads into our homes."
• Taking GLP-1s for weight loss? Here’s why strength training is key - "If you’re taking one or considering it, though, it’s important to remember that using the drugs to suppress appetite doesn’t just contribute to fat loss. Taking them also can result in reduced muscle mass. How much is uncertain, but studies have indicated that anywhere between 15% to 60% of the weight people lose is lean muscle mass - meaning that if you shed 50 pounds, you will potentially be losing 7.5 to 30 pounds of your lean muscle."
• Trump previews his message to Zelensky - "Ahead of today’s talks with Ukraine’s president and European leaders, Trump tells Zelensky to give up Crimea and agree to never join NATO."
• Why Putin Thinks Russia Has the Upper Hand - "Mr. Putin figures that he can manage the wartime pressures longer than Ukraine and can secure a peace deal that would ensure his legacy."
• Why Putin Must Be Thrilled With the Result of the Alaska Summit - "Vladimir Putin wanted a lot of things from his visit to Alaska. A ceasefire in Ukraine was not one of them."
• Trump-Putin documents left on hotel printer - "Government papers found in an Alaskan hotel reveal new details of Trump-Putin summit."
• The Insidious Creep of Trump’s Speaking Style - "Mr. Trump may have a greater impact on the English language than any president in the history of the United States, maybe ever."
• Cambridge Dictionary’s latest additions include ‘skibidi,’ ‘tradwife’ & ‘delulu’ - "The increasing use of TikTok trends and social media terms in everyday conversation has led Cambridge Dictionary to include 'skibidi,' 'idelulu' and 'tradwife' in the 6,000 new words it has added to its online edition over the past year."
• 'The aircraft spiralled downwards, tail first': The CIA spy shot down over Russia in 1960 - "On 19 August 1960, 65 years ago this week, a court in Moscow handed a US pilot, Francis Gary Powers, a 10-year sentence after he was apprehended by Soviet security forces. The BBC reported on what became a Cold War diplomatic disaster."
• Actor Terence Stamp, who starred as Superman villain, dies aged 87 - "In a career that spanned six decades, the Oscar-nominated actor starred in films including The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Far From the Madding Crowd and Valkyrie."
• Terence Stamp: a life in pictures - "The actor Terence Stamp, one of the key faces of the 1960s and later the star of The Limey, Superman and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has died at the age of 87. We look back at his life and career. Stamp as Toby Dammit in the Federico Fellini segment of an anthology film, aka Spirits of the Dead, based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe."
• Destinations known for cool summers face extreme heat - "There’s no such thing as a ‘coolcation’ - you’ll be sweating buckets on your Arctic getaway."
• Apple founder Steve Jobs lived by the rule that God is in ... - "Apple founder Steve Jobs believed and lived by a simple rule which clearly defines his successful career, 'God is in the details.' As per biographer Walter Isaacon, Jobs spent 'hours after hours' obsessing over the smallest of design elements, driven by a belief that 'God is in the details'."
• The Worst Opening Lines to Use on Dating Apps & What to Say Instead - "If the first message you get from someone you matched with on a dating app leaves you speechless, hopefully it’s because you’re wowed by their good looks, witticisms, curious mind, and articulate nature."
• Can you catch diseases from toilet seats? - "As you sink down onto a toilet seat used by hundreds of other people the same day, you might be wondering: how long do pathogens survive in bathrooms?"
• What body odour reveals about your health - "We emit a barrage of whiffy chemicals through our pores and in our breath. Some are a sign that we might be getting ill - and could be used to diagnose diseases up to years in advance."
• Will AI make language dubbing easy for film & TV? - "New tech promises to dub film and TV into different languages without losing the quality of the performance."
• 10 Reasons to Let Go of Things Sooner Rather than Later in Life - "The most powerful changes happen when we decide to take control of what we do have power over, instead of craving control over what we do not."
• The art of self-control: 8 habits of disciplined people who always win in the long run - "When we look at people who succeed - not just in quick bursts, but consistently over years and decades - one theme emerges again and again: self-control."
• Trump left with searing questions after Putin summit - "Putin’s wins leave Trump with hard choices. The Russian leader’s success leaves the US president’s deal-making myth looking very ragged."
• How Trump and Zelensky’s relationship has evolved since remarkable Oval Office shouting match in February - "The last time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was inside the Oval Office, he was berated by his US hosts, denied a planned luncheon and abruptly asked to leave the West Wing."
• Inside Kodak: A visual history of an iconic brand - "Founded by George Eastman in Rochester in the late 19th century, Kodak became a global giant after introducing the Kodak #1 camera in 1888."
• Steve Jobs’ first Silicon Valley boss turned down an offer to buy a third of Apple for $50,000 - "Atari cofounder Nolan Bushnell turned down his former employee, the late Steve Jobs, when he was offered to buy a third of Apple for $50,000 in the 1970s. With the iPhone titan now standing at $3.1 trillion, the video gaming pioneer missed out on making $1 trillion from his relatively small investment."
• Steve Jobs says the most creative people usually break 5 conventional rules - "If you had to boil down Steve Jobs’ philosophy on creativity, it might be this: creativity isn’t about coloring inside the lines - it’s about knowing which lines shouldn’t exist in the first place. Jobs repeatedly challenged business dogma, and he left a long paper trail of interviews, speeches, and stories that reveal what highly creative people do differently."
• 6 Legendary Names You Need to Know From the World of Watchmaking - "These are the movers and shakers who shaped the modern watch industry: Carole Forestier-Kasapi - Günter Blümlein - Nicolas Hayek - Évelyne Genta - Kurt Klaus - François-Henry Bennahmias."
• The 10 Greatest TV Masterpieces of the Last 5 Years, Ranked - "10 'Ted Lasso' (2020-). 9 'Squid Game' (2021-2025). 8 'The Queen's Gambit' (2020). 7 'The White Lotus' (2021-). 6 'The Pitt' (2025-). 5 'The Penguin' (2024). 4 'Shōgun' (2024-). 3 'The Studio' (2025-). 2 'The Bear' (2022-). 1. 'Severance' (2022-)."
• How to create a stylish home office, according to experts - "With more than half of us working remotely, it’s time you had a space that feels less ‘improvised junk room’, more Don Draper hideaway. From building the perfect garden office to nailing your decor, we (and some design gurus) have you covered."
• Back To Basics: How To Clean Your Watch For Maximum Bling & Longevity - "'Because a clean watch is a happy watch.' Cleaning your watch may sound pedestrian, but it is worth noting that the wrong practices can ruin your prized timekeepers. Similarly, neglecting cleaning can result in equally bad outcomes."
• The art of success: 8 daily habits of disciplined people who always move forward in life - "Success isn’t a mystery. It’s not something only the 'lucky' or 'naturally talented' get to enjoy. The truth is, people who consistently move forward in life share one thing in common: discipline."
• Unlimited budgets, seven-figure salaries & JFK Jr.: Inside the magazine industry’s heyday - "When magazines ruled the world."
• The Gripping Appeal of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Headband - "A wide and tightfitting hair accessory favored by the wife of John F. Kennedy, Jr., has become a hot commodity, 25 years after her death."
• A Talisman for Tasteful Travelers - "Its fans include Anjelica Huston and the Row founders, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. On the higher-end, options include medals from Tiffany, David Yurman and various small jewelry brands. Some are gold and others have diamonds."
• What Does It Mean to Be Chopped? - "As younger generations continue to adopt new slang, a familiar word has become a meanspirited adjective. Simply put, chopped has been adopted by many as a synonym for ugly or unattractive, said Morgan Ugoagwu, who posted a video on TikTok on the 'six signs you're a chopped woman.' It has been viewed more than 1.5 million times."
• 32 Memorable Style Moments From ‘And Just Like That ...’ - "The HBO Max reboot of 'Sex and the City' may have divided audiences, but it kept pushing New York fashion into bold, sometimes absurd territory."
• How to Do 2 Simple Magic Tricks & Why You Should Learn Them - "You don’t have to be a wizard to do magic tricks. The secrets are simple, and anyone can learn them. Here are two easy tricks you can master today."
• 7 Pilates Moves for Better Posture - "This routine can help you sit, stand and perform everyday movements more comfortably."
• Jacob & Co. Just Dropped a Bonkers $20 Million Yellow Diamond Watch Designed for Billionaires - "Rarely has a watch been so deserving of its name."
• Key takeaways from the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska - "After meeting for nearly three hours, the two men emerged to proclaim progress. But they exited their scheduled news conference without explaining what, exactly, they have achieved."
• Fact check: Trump’s latest fake history about the war in Ukraine - "President Donald Trump claimed Monday that he knew why Russian troops weren’t able to enter Kyiv in the days after they invaded Ukraine in 2022."
• Why Russia Sold Alaska to the U.S. - "The Trump-Putin summit will take place in a former Russian colony that the United States bought for $7.2 million in 1867. Here’s how the deal came together and why its legacy matters."
• You Can Now Vaccinate Yourself Against the Flu - "When you’re ready to get your flu vaccine this year, you have a convenient new option: you can skip the doctors’ office or pharmacy and inoculate yourself. FluMist, a vaccine sprayed up the nose to protect people from serious influenza symptoms, is now available for anyone in the U.S. to order online and administer to themselves or others at home."
• Inside Coco Chanel’s Escape on the French Riviera - "In 1928, Chanel conjured her Riviera getaway into being, complete with artist friends, lavender fields, and a clay tennis court. Following a magnificent restoration of the property, a new book explores its vibrant history."
• Ricky Martin, Michael Caine & Doris Day Have Called This $75 Million Beverly Hills Mansion Home - "Built in 1956, the more than 9,000-square-foot mansion was inspired by Italian architecture, according to the listing with Carl Gambino of Compass. The 2.37-acre property also includes a lighted tennis court with a pavilion and views of Santa Monica, the Pacific Ocean and the Malibu coast."
• Bill Gates’ superyacht uses liquid hydrogen stored at -423°F, nearly as cold as outer space - "Generates so much electricity that it can power 30 of the Microsoft co-founder’s 66,000-square-foot mansions at once, without releasing a single gram of CO2 into the atmosphere."
• The Best New Gadgets & Hi-Fi Releases of 2025 (Updated) - "The best tech products announced this week include Audioengine's upgraded desktop speakers and Yamaha's 'most advanced' soundbar. Including KEF’s standout bookshelf speakers, an affordable turntable and a pair of truly elite loudspeakers."
• Celebrating 100 Years of the Rolls-Royce Phantom - "For the nameplate's centenary, the British ultra-luxury brand will gather exemplars of each generation at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance."
• The Rolls-Royce Corniche Was Once the Ultimate Status Symbol. Here’s What to Know - "Though elegant and understated in its own way, the Corniche reveals volumes about its owner at first glance."
• Is 'War of the Worlds' the worst movie of 2025? - "The sci-fi film, which stars Ice Cube, got a 3% score on Rotten Tomatoes."
• Elon Musk's SpaceX Most Likely Doesn't Pay Taxes - "SpaceX Gets Billions From the Government. It Gives Little to Nothing Back in Taxes. Elon Musk’s rocket company relies on federal contracts, but years of losses have most likely let it avoid paying federal income taxes, according to internal company documents."
• This Is Antigravity A1: The World's First 360 Drone - "Meet Antigravity A1, the world's first drone with built-in 8K 360 capture.¹ It is also the first product from Antigravity, the new drone brand incubated by Insta360 in collaboration with third parties. A1 combines immersive flight in 360 degrees, an exceptionally accessible flying experience, and limitless creative possibilities."
• Forget Ray-Ban Meta - HTC just unveiled Vive Eagle smart glasses that look like a stylish AI breakthrough - "HTC has just come from out of nowhere and launched a pair of its own that seriously challenge the sleek stylings and technological smarts of Zuck’s glasses. Named the HTC Vive Eagle, these glasses are lighter, pack a much bigger battery, sport Zeiss lenses for great UV protection, and even support both the biggest AI models you can use right now."
• Trump: Putin won’t 'mess around with me' in Alaska - "Trump said he believes Putin wants to make a deal to end the war ahead of summit that excludes Ukraine and Europe."
• Maps show the key regions in Ukraine that Putin wants - "Last Friday, Trump suggested a ceasefire deal could involve 'some swapping of territories,' but it is not yet clear what areas he was referring to, and Ukraine has categorically rejected ceding parts of its land. Russia, too, has rejected the idea. Here’s what maps tell us about what’s at stake."
• Big Tech’s A.I. Data Centers Are Driving Up Electricity Bills for Everyone - "Electricity rates for individuals and small businesses could rise sharply as Amazon, Google, Microsoft and other technology companies build data centers and expand into the energy business."
• Companies Are Pouring Billions Into A.I. It Has Yet to Pay Off - "Corporate spending on artificial intelligence is surging as executives bank on major efficiency gains. So far, they report little effect to the bottom line."
• 10-year-old chess prodigy becomes youngest female player to defeat grandmaster - "Bodhana Sivanandan, from northwest London, defeated 60-year-old grandmaster Pete Wells in the final round of the 2025 British Chess Championships in Liverpool on Sunday."
• The highs & lows of ‘And Just Like That’ - including that finale - "As we arrive at the conclusion of this latest chapter in the almost three-decade-long story of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her friends, we couldn’t help but wonder: How did we get here? And why was the road sometimes so bumpy and other times so sweet?"
• Carrie Bradshaw’s Life in N.Y.C. Apartments (& That Townhouse) - "The end of 'And Just Like That ...' means the end of a real estate portfolio that includes a cozy Upper East Side studio and a grand Gramercy townhouse."
• Inside the Real-Life Homes That Star in ‘Succession’, ‘White Lotus’ & More - "From the Roy family's homes in 'Succession' to 'Yellowstone's' Dutton ranch and the stunning villas on 'White Lotus.'"
• Jackie Bezos, Jeff Bezos’ Mother & an Early Amazon Investor, Dies at 78 - "Ms. Bezos and her husband invested about $245,000 in Amazon when the online bookstore was in its first year."
• Jeff Bezos got his parents to invest nearly $250,000 in Amazon in 1995 - they might be worth $30 billion today (2018) - "A 1997 SEC filing unearthed by Bloomberg Tuesday finds that Jackie and Mike Bezos invested $245,573 in Amazon in 1995. If they kept their holdings, Bloomberg estimates their shares could be worth $30 billion today (2018)."
• A Snob’s Guide To... A Jawline That Could Cut Glass - "Everything you need to know about sharpening, filling, and paying your way to the perfect angles."
• How Citi's Strata Elite Travel Card Compares to Amex & Chase - "When it launched its Strata Elite card, Citi entered the high-end market for travel rewards cards. Here’s how it compares with its top competitors. The card’s $595 annual fee is lower than the American Express Platinum card ($695, soon to be updated) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card ($795) but higher than the Capital One Venture X card ($395)."
• 12 of America’s most iconic sandwiches & where to eat them - "Is there any food more intrinsic to America’s on-the-move lifestyle than the grab-and-go sandwich. The deep, diverse array of US sandwich options owes much of its greatness to the creativity and resourcefulness of immigrant communities."
• The wonder of the ancient world that’s now a luxury paradise - "Ancient ruins. Beaches, bays and Bougainvillea. Superyachts and splendor. The rich culture of Turkey’s Bodrum Peninsula has been more than 3,000 years in the making."
• Finding Beauty Underneath Paris - "The Paris Mé tro Smell That Transports Me. A whiff of the Paris Métro flings me back to a summer I spent in France. So many elements of the city have a purpose - to display beauty or power, to seduce or intimidate or impose order. But the subway smell - ..."
• What Putin really wants from Trump - "Here’s what Putin really wants from Trump - and it’s not peace in Ukraine. Trump wants to focus on ending the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin leader has his own priorities."
• How Sly Stallone & Gloria Gaynor explain Trump & his presidency - "President Donald Trump would love cultural elites to sniff at his Kennedy Center honorees. The line-up explains a lot about him, his power and why he’s president."
• Trump’s 7 most authoritarian moves so far - "The story of President Donald Trump’s first seven months back in office is the consolidation of power. He has bulldozed the obstacles that often stood in his way in his first term and constantly tested boundaries, in an almost single-minded pursuit of more authority."
• Harvey Weinstein to be tried for a third time in New York after mistrial on rape charge - "A jury in June convicted the disgraced movie mogul of sexually assaulting one woman, acquitted him of assaulting another, but could not reach a verdict in a third case. The judge wants another retrial to be held this year."
• Sam Altman is in damage-control mode after latest ChatGPT release - "The latest ChatGPT is supposed to be ‘PhD level’ smart. It can’t even label a map."
• The 24 richest royals in the world today - "As custodians of sumptuous palaces, priceless crown jewels, and other incredible treasures, the royals of the world lead opulent lifestyles that we commoners can only dream of. But the richest among them have immense personal wealth too, with billion-dollar fortunes built on their land holdings, investments, personal brands, and more."
• Prince Andrew book seals his fate for any return - "This searing biography of Prince Andrew crackles with scandals about sex and money on almost every page, two subjects that have always caused problems for the royals. Andrew Lownie's book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, is an unrelentingly unflattering portrait of Prince Andrew. It depicts him as arrogant, self-seeking and in denial about his links to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
• 21 Ways People Are Using A.I. at Work - "Chefs are using A.I. to invent recipes; doctors are using it to read M.R.I. and CT scans; scientists are unlocking discoveries. It’s helping workers with their day-to-day tasks: writing code, summarizing emails, creating ideas, generating curricula - even as it still makes plenty of mistakes."
• The bridal gown that changed all bridal gowns - "Remember when Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s simple wedding gown changed bridal dress codes forever?"
• German states debate who invented Bratwurst sausages - "A row has broken out between two German states, Bavaria and Thuringia, as to who can lay claim to inventing the Bratwurst sausage."
• The best morning routine, according to longevity experts - "Forget the rise-and-grind TikToks: we've mapped out the ideal morning to help you maximise your chances of living longer and better. The morning is a pretty good place to start optimising. For most of us, it’s the quietest, most consistent and therefore adaptable part of the day. Here’s how to design one for longevity, according to the experts: 1. When to get out of bed. 2. The best morning gym routine. 3. Breakfast your way to a longer life."
• Should we all be taking vitamin supplements? - "Vitamin supplements can be an efficient way to add vitamins lacking in our diet. But they're not a silver bullet. For most generally healthy people, vitamin supplements are likely unnecessary if they eat a balanced diet."
• Does Drinking Milk Actually Make Your Bones Stronger? - "The drink has long been touted as essential to good health. But the science is more complicated."
• Weapons to Materialists: 16 of the best films of 2025 so far - "BBC film critics Caryn James and Nicholas Barber pick their cinema highlights of the year so far, from 'unique' new horror Weapons to 'delightful almost romcom' Materialists."
• Why are Trump & Putin meeting in Alaska & when will it happen? - "The US and Russia have agreed to hold a meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Friday 15 August, to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine. Here is what we know about the meeting between the two leaders, taking place in Alaska - which was once Russian territory - in Anchorage."
• White House Reacts To Judge Rejecting Ghislaine Maxwell Grand Jury Request - "Judge Paul A. Engelmayer said the grand jury transcripts sought by the Trump admin did not contain any significant information."
• Donald Trump & Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship: A visual timeline - "They flew together on a private jet, partied side by side at Mar-a-Lago, appeared at Victoria’s Secret runway shows, and reportedly dined with royalty at a luxury Upper East Side townhouse. Their names appear together in flight logs, legal filings, phone messages—and in photo after photo in the moneyed world of Palm Beach and Manhattan."
• US Debt Reaches $37 Trillion Years Before Expected - "In January 2020, the CBO estimated that gross federal debt would not surpass $37 trillion until after fiscal year 2030."
• Mapped: Top Destinations for Chinese Exports in 2025 - "Chinese exports to the U.S. fell 10.7% YoY, though analysts have noted that China has been shipping goods through new manufacturing hubs in places like Vietnam and Mexico. Exports to Africa grew the most YoY, reflecting China’s continued focus on the region."
• Monaco on meltdown as killer heatwave strikes - "With temperatures in Monaco forecast to approach 38°C in the coming days, residents and visitors are being urged to take precautions as an intense heatwave sweeps across the region..."
• As Europe’s Heat Waves Intensify, France Bickers About Air-Conditioning - "As heat waves batter Europe, the need (or not) for air-conditioning has become part of the political tug of war in France between the right and the left."
• The ‘godfather of AI’ reveals the only way humanity can survive superintelligent AI - "Geoffrey Hinton, known as the 'godfather of AI,' fears the technology he helped build could wipe out humanity — and “tech bros” are taking the wrong approach to stop it."
• Mapped: Where ChatGPT is Banned in 2025 - "ChatGPT is banned or unavailable in 20 countries due to government censorship or privacy laws. Some regions are excluded not by government action, but because OpenAI does not support accounts there."
• How to get AI to work in 22 languages - "India tackles the problem of making AI translate between its many languages and dialects."
• Why you've never seen the real internet - "How language is hiding the real internet from you. Most of the internet is out of your reach, but the barrier isn't just algorithms. In another language, the same platforms turn into to whole other worlds."
• 'It's almost like a weapon': How the blonde bombshell has symbolised desire & danger - "From the American sweetheart to the platinum ice queen, and Jean Harlow to Sydney Sweeney, the blonde bombshell has been a multi-faceted - and controversial - figure in popular culture."
• How Healthy Is Zucchini? - "The culinary chameleon has some surprising benefits. For centuries, zucchini has been used in traditional medicine because of its anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimicrobial properties."
• How Healthy Are Peaches? - "Experts share all of the juicy details. There’s a reason you need a napkin when you bite into a ripe summer peach - the fruit is nearly 90 percent water. They are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and their high water content can also help with hydration."
• When is the right time of the day to drink espresso? - "Forget the lunchtime espresso: new research suggests that coffee’s mood-boosting properties are limited to the first two and a half hours of the morning | How to drink espresso the Italian way | Exploring the rules and etiquette of drinking Italian espresso."
• Guarding is why you can’t get rid of that ongoing tension in your body - "Recognizing the distinction between mechanical tightness and protective tension is crucial for anyone experiencing chronic stiffness, recurring pain or short-term mobility gains that just won’t stick."
• An ethical guide to last-chance tourism - "As more people travel to destinations that may soon vanish due to climate change, experts and guides weigh in on how this practice could help preserve these places - if done right."
• As Everest costs go up, Nepal just made it free to climb nearly 100 other mountains - "A permit to climb the world’s tallest mountain costs an eye-popping $15,000 - and that’s before you add in the price of airfare, gear and a guide. The government announced it’s opening up 97 peaks in Karnali and Sudurpaschim, two states in far western Nepal, to international climbers for free."
• Cats develop dementia in a similar way to humans - "Cats develop dementia in a similar way to humans with Alzheimer's disease, leading to hopes of a breakthrough in research, according to scientists."
• Elon Musk threatens to sue Apple over app store ranking of his AI app - "Elon Musk said his artificial intelligence start up xAI will sue Apple for allegedly favoring AI competitors in its App Store in what he called a breach of antitrust regulations."
• DOJ Bid to Unseal Ghislaine Maxwell Grand Jury Transcripts Suffers Blow - "A federal judge has denied the Department of Justice's request to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the indictment of Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
• Madonna asks Pope Leo to visit Gaza ‘before it’s too late’ - "The American superstar, who was raised a Roman Catholic, pleaded with the new pontiff to visit the enclave in an Instagram post Monday."
• Live longer by walking faster, experts say - "Fast walking is a key to longevity, research shows. Too busy to go to the gym? Don’t worry - you can stay healthy by incorporating at least 15 minutes of fast walking into your everyday routine, new research suggests."
• 133-year old Kodak says it might have to cease operations - "Eastman Kodak, the 133-year-old photography company, is warning investors thats it might not survive much longer."
• 7 destinations where you can live well on $800/month - without feeling broke - "Ever dreamt of a comfortable life in a vibrant city or scenic town, without the hefty price tag? These seven destinations prove you can enjoy safety, culture, and modern amenities on about $800 a month."
• 10 countries where you can feel like a luxury tourist on a shoestring budget - "These countries offer luxury-level experiences - without luxury-level prices - if you know where to go and how to spend."
• The Ten Best Nonfiction Books of All Time You Need to Check Out - "This list of the best nonfiction books was created by The Greatest Books and used data from over 600 book lists to make this list."
• 8 Things You Will Eventually Regret Not Letting Go of Sooner in Life - "1. The way things “should be” today. - 2. The way things used to be. - 3. Old mistakes and errors in judgment. - 4. That subtle desire to change ..."
• The World in 2035: A Sneak Peek at the Gadgets of Tomorrow - "From smart patches that can read your vitals to AR glasses that could replace your phone, Tom’s Guide takes a deep dive into what’s next for tech."
• 9 Airlines With the Best In-Flight Food - "Whole lobster, stuffed squab, or filet mignon? During the golden age of aviation, this was all in a day’s dinner for in-flight diners. But following airline deregulation in 1978, those marvelous, guaranteed meals for every passenger went the way of paper tickets. That said, there’s still great grub to be had at 35,000 feet. Here are our top picks for fine dining in the sky. Bon appetit!"
• 25 ways to get the most out of your smart home tech - "Smart home tech has come a long way in the past few years. It's estimated that more than 130 million homes around the world have at least one smart speaker, according to Statistica, and that's set to rocket to 335 million by 2027. From Amazon Echo and Google Home to Apple HomePod, today's home hubs are faster and smarter than ever, but how do you choose from the vast array of tech out there? And how do you get the most from it?"
• 8 phrases people with excellent social skills use to make others feel special - "Social connection research reveals that people with exceptional social skills share a common trait: they make others feel significant rather than trying to appear significant themselves: 1. 'I've been thinking about what you said' - 2. 'You're the only person I can talk to about this' - 3. 'I immediately thought of you when...' · 4. '...'
• What Happened When Mark Zuckerberg Moved In Next Door - "The billionaire has bought at least 11 properties in Palo Alto, Calif., creating a compound for his family, a private school for his children - and headaches for his neighbors."
• AI is creating new billionaires at a record pace - "The artificial intelligence boom is quickly becoming the largest wealth creation spree in recent history.There are now 498 AI 'unicorns,' or private AI companies with valuations of $1 billion or more, with a combined value of $2.7 trillion, according to CB Insights. Fully 100 of them were founded since 2023. There are more than 1,300 AI startups with valuations of over $100 million, the firm said."
• Caffeinated coffees are mostly free of toxins, with a few exceptions - "That cup of joe that jolts you awake in the morning is pretty safe when it comes to contaminants and toxins, a new investigation has found. Well ... almost."
• How to get from A to B in a city where not all streets have names - "How to navigate a city where people use landmarks, not street names."
• Why 'best time to visit' no longer applies - "Climate change is rewriting the rulebook for trip planning - and travellers need to adapt."
• Is super skinny back? UK sees rise in complaints over thin models in adverts - "The banning of high street fashion adverts which featured models who looked 'unhealthily thin' has led industry experts to warn of a return to the super skinny trend."
• How to prevent wasps ruining your picnic - "The simple trick that stops hungry wasps from ruining your picnic. Long summer days call for picnics - but wasps often make an uninvited appearance. One quick trick can stop them from ruining an al fresco get-together."
• Top 10 Cleanest Airports in the World in 2025 - "As travellers navigate the sometimes chaotic world of international travel, these pristine airports offer more than just clean surfaces - they provide peace of mind: 1. Tokyo Haneda Airport. 2. Singapore Changi Airport. 3. Doha Hamad International Airport. 4..."
• The art of working from everywhere: 5 digital nomad tools I couldn't live without - "Behind every successful location-independent worker is a toolkit that's been refined through trial, error, and probably a few minor disasters along the way."
• My favourite Airbnb: a restored 15th-century palazzo in Venice with a private garden - "After seven years of meticulous renovations, this six-room historic palazzo is a design-led dream, moments from Piazza San Marco."
• So bad they're good - why do we love terrible films? - "When the reviews started coming in this week, the internet soon took delight in the film's 0% critic score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. While some gleefully joined in the mauling, others were attracted to the Prime Video film like moths to a flame."
• Before You Offer Advice, Ask This Question - "It’s simple, but it isn’t easy. Research suggests that when we give advice, it's often biased toward our own experiences. We share insights that we would find useful, but they ..."
• 100 Best Books of the 21st Century - "As voted on by 503 novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics and other book lovers - with a little help from the staff of The New York Times Book Review."
• 5 Apple TV Accessories To Make The Most Of Your Streaming Setup - "There are a number of useful accessories you can invest in for the Apple TV to enhance your streaming experience even more."
• How Putin's appearance has dramatically changed since he seized power 25 years ago - "Vlad's changing faces: From timid-looking unknown to brash facelift-loving dictator."
• 20 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17 - "The iPhone 17 series is now just weeks away. Apple's iPhone 17 event this year is rumored to be scheduled for Tuesday, September 9. If Apple follows the traditional pattern, iPhone 17 pre-orders would begin on the Friday, September 12."
• It shocked the market but has China's DeepSeek changed AI? - "Today, China's breakthrough app has largely dropped out of the headlines. It's no longer the hot topic at happy hour here in San Francisco. But DeepSeek hasn't disappeared. In online forums, users explain how to run DeepSeek-R1 on their own devices rather than online using DeepSeek's servers in China. The company's next product, DeepSeek-R2, has reportedly been delayed. One reason? A shortage of high-end chips."
• Grok’s ‘spicy’ video setting instantly made me Taylor Swift nude deepfakes - "The 'spicy' mode for Grok’s new generative AI video tool feels like a lawsuit waiting to happen."
• Alexa Got an A.I. Brain Transplant. How Smart Is It Now? - "It took Amazon several years to overcome technical hurdles as it remade its voice assistant with new artificial intelligence technology."
• Study Reveals The Shocking Amount of Plastic We Breathe in Every Day - "According to a new study, humans can inhale more than 70,000 microplastic particles each day in an indoor environment - far more than previously thought. Worse still, most of them are small enough to penetrate deep into our lungs."
• 8 travel destinations that are ideal when you’re single & happy about it - "Traveling solo when you're content with your own company unlocks a deeper kind of freedom most people never talk about. 1. Kyoto, Japan - 2. Lisbon, Portugal - 3. Reykjavik, Iceland - 4. Oaxaca, Mexico - 5. Edinburgh, Scotland - 6. Bali, Indonesia - 7. Montreal, Canada - 8. Queenstown, New Zealand."
• 12 Popular Nespresso Pods Ranked By Caffeine Content - "Tasting Table listed Nespresso's most popular espresso pods based on caffeine content, from least caffeine to most."
• The Lasting Appeal of John F. Kennedy Jr. - "A CNN documentary and an upcoming series by Ryan Murphy delve into the nation’s most famous son, who remains fixed in the 1990s."
• Ranked: The 50 Largest Companies Outside the U.S., in 2025 - "China leads the most valuable companies outside the U.S. with 12 in the top 50 (13 if counting China Mobile in Hong Kong). Luxury and tech firms earn premium valuations for their sales, while resource giants lag despite massive revenues. Europe thrives in brand-driven sectors like luxury and pharma, while Asia drives innovation in tech hardware."
• Ranked: The Countries that Shop Online the Most - "The United States (33.7%) and China (31.2%) lead global online consumer purchases, significantly above the 17.3% global average. Major economies range between 10–25% of total retail spending online, highlighting vast differences in digital adoption."
• 5 Expensive Mac Apps I Don't Regret Paying For - "1 Alfred. 2 Photomator. 3 Pixelmator Pro. 4 Ulysses. 5 Final Cut Pro."
• How Trump’s biggest reversals on tariffs unfolded & where rates currently stand - "Timeline: What to know about Trump’s global tariff rollout."
• Why Are Tariffs on Switzerland So High? - "President Trump sees Switzerland as doing too little to address its trade deficit with the U.S., a gap he focused on as he imposed a 39% tariff on Swiss goods."
• What Is Gerrymandering? And How Does It Work? - "Here’s what you need to know about the legal battle over the rigging of district maps to entrench a governing party’s political power."
• Rarely seen photos of JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's secret wedding - "A trove of snapshots exclusively shared with CNN offer a candid glimpse into JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's secret wedding."
• The secret behind JFK Jr. & Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's timeless style - "CNN's Kate Bolduan talks to The Washington Post's style critic, Rachel Tashjian, about JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's style and how it remains fashionable today."
• Which country flies the most? Where are people going? In which planes? 2024 aviation stats revealed - "The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its 2024 World Air Transport Statistics report, and it’s filled with fascinating nuggets. The United States is the world’s biggest aviation market, with 876 million passengers per year in 2024, mostly flying domestic. Nine out of 10 of the world’s busiest flight routes are in the Asia-Pacific region. "
• Japan used to be a tech giant. Why is it stuck with fax machines & ink stamps? - "When you think of Tokyo, you might think of neon-lit skyscrapers and its world-famous bullet train system, or films like 'Akira' and 'Ghost in the Shell' that depict a futuristic Japan filled with intelligent robots and holograms. For everyday residents, the lag in digital technology and the ensuing bureaucracy is at best inconvenient, and at worst makes you want to tear your hair out."
• Nasa Apollo missions: Stories of the last Moon men - "They were the pioneers of space exploration - the 24 Nasa astronauts who travelled to the Moon in the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s."
• Beloved by bands & bank robbers, the Ford Transit turns 60 - "Climbing into a 1965 Ford Transit is like stepping into a time capsule on wheels. Forget your modern high-tech nicknacks like satnavs and touchscreens. All you get here is a steering wheel, a big chrome-lined speedometer dial and a chunky heater control. There isn't even a radio."
• Prince Andrew book seals his fate for any return - "This searing biography of Prince Andrew crackles with scandals about sex and money on almost every page, two subjects that have always caused problems for the royals. Andrew Lownie's book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, is an unrelentingly unflattering portrait of Prince Andrew. It depicts him as arrogant, self-seeking and in denial about his links to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
• Dept. Q to Dying for Sex: 18 of the best TV shows of 2025 so far - "From a compelling Netflix police procedural to a powerful miniseries about sex and death and the new season of Severance, we pick the year's greatest programmes to stream right now."
• The new tourist fines sweeping Europe - "In Europe, your bad behaviour will cost you. This year, several European countries have introduced hefty fines for badly behaved tourists. But why now - and will it change how people holiday?"
• Is Perrier as pure as it claims? The bottled water scandal gripping France - "France's multi-billion euro mineral water companies are under the spotlight because of climate change and growing concerns about the industry's environmental impact. At issue is whether some world-famous brands, notably the iconic Perrier label, can even continue calling themselves 'natural mineral water'."
• How North Korea Promotes Kim’s ‘Dear Daughter’ as a Worthy Heir - "Kim Jong-un introduced his daughter to the world in November 2022 with a show of affection and menace, holding her hand in front of an intercontinental ballistic missile."
• The Trouble With French Fries Is Not the Oil - "The fear over seed oils stems from the fact that they tend to be high in one type of unsaturated fat, omega-6 fatty acids, whereas olive oils have more omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have found that people who consume a higher ratio of omega 6 to omega-3 fatty acids in their diet tend to have worse health."
• Exercising in the Heat Can Boost Your Fitness - "Here’s how to do it safely. Research suggests that exercising in warm, humid conditions can provide what some call “poor man's” altitude training - improving performance in endurance sports like triathlon, cycling and running. In the first few weeks of training in hot conditions, your body sends more blood to the skin's surface to create sweat."
• Diamonds, Dior & the great outdoors - where the super-rich spend summer - "The jet set are swapping the heat of southern Europe for the cool and glitzy Swiss mountain resort of Badrutt’s Palace."
• International Cat Day - "A celebration which takes place on August 8 of every year."
• Epstein victims are a growing political threat to Trump - "The women whom Jeffrey Epstein abused demand to be heard. And their voices - long suppressed, but now emerging powerfully and with courage - could further fuel the maelstrom around President Donald Trump and aides who dig the scandal deeper each time they try to end it."
• House committee subpoenas the Clintons & several top former DOJ officials for testimony about Jeffrey Epstein - "House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., also issued a subpoena to the Justice Department for records related to the deceased sex offender."
• Russia built a massive drone factory to pump out Iranian-designed drones. Now it’s leaving Tehran out in the cold - "The factory in question, Alabuga, 600 miles east of Moscow in Russia’s Tatarstan region, has been pumping out increasing numbers of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 attack drone (known in Russia as Geran), but the man behind the site believes this may be one of its greatest achievements."
• JD Vance’s team had water level of Ohio river raised for family’s boating trip - "Incident raises questions of exploitation of public services, but Secret Service says it was requested for ‘safe navigation’."
• Don't Buy These 20 Pointless Kitchen Gadgets - "Declutter Your Kitchen: Pro Chefs Detail the Most Useless Kitchen Tools. Not every kitchen gadget deserves the space they take up. These tools can be skipped, according to career chefs."
• The One Quality Most ‘Super-Agers’ Share - "After 25 years of research on this notable group, here’s what stands out. The one thing that does unite them is 'how they view the importance of social relationships.'"
• 80-year-old ‘SuperAger’ brain operates like that of a 50-year-old. Here’s why - "The human brain shrinks as it ages, affecting the ability to remember - it’s part of life. Yet there are a lucky few, called 'SuperAgers,' who possess a brain that fights back. For these people, memories stay as sharp as they were 30 or more years in the past."
• OpenAI Aims to Stay Ahead of Rivals With New GPT-5 Technology - "The A.I. start-up said its new flagship technology was faster, more accurate and less likely to make stuff up."
• Private Welsh island with 19th century fort goes on the market - "If you want to get away from it all, there can be few places more secluded than Thorne Island. Situated 3 nautical miles off the coast of Pembrokeshire in west Wales, United Kingdom, the private island is home to a 19th century fort."
• Kate Moss takes her HermÈs bag to the beach - "Kate Moss’s beach bag is not like ours - the supermodel was photographed on Wednesday in a bikini in Formentera, Spain, carrying a brown leather Hermès Kelly. Worth some tens of thousands of dollars, it was presumably full of her summer essentials."
• $15,000-a-night resort ‘hosts British & Hollywood royalty’ - "The luxury Seychelles resort where a 150-year-old tortoise mingles with celebrities. North Island is a luxury resort that aims to find a balance between opulence and the great outdoors. It’s located about 15 minutes away from the Seychelles’ main island by helicopter, which is the preferred mode of transport for guests. The private island has just 11 villas."
• Tariffs up to 50% kick in worldwide, sparing few - "Tariffs on dozens of America’s trading partners could constitute the biggest change to the global economy in nearly a century."
• Apple just got a big win in Trump’s tariff war. It may have bigger concerns - "The White House on Wednesday ratcheted tariffs on Indian imports up by an additional 25%, raising the total levies on one of the United States’ most crucial trading partners to 50% when they kick in later this month. But smartphones are exempt from President Donald Trump’s new levies on India, marking a crucial win for the tech giant as it approaches its most important time of the year: its annual September iPhone launch."
• An Epstein cover-up? Victims & allies suggest it’s happening now, under Trump - "For years, Republicans and MAGA influencers have been keen to rip the lid off a supposed government conspiracy to cover up information related to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and alleged associates. Many key figures who now serve in the Trump administration pledged to do exactly that. The administration’s failures to live up to those promises and its bizarre handling of the situation now have it scrambling."
• Trump claims he didn’t know or approve Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison transfer - "President Donald Trump told CNN's Kaitlan Collins he wasn’t aware of Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison transfer, and praised Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche when asked if he thought Ghislaine Maxwell is a credible witness."
• The Complete History of the White House Rose Garden You Didn’t Know You Needed - "Trump's Mar-a-Lago style makeover of this historic space has historians on edge. Here's why this garden has meant so much to American democracy."
• Turbulence is becoming more frequent & more severe. Here are the planet’s bumpiest flight routes - "Turbulence, caused by disturbances in the atmosphere, is one of the most unpredictable weather phenomena for pilots. Air flows like water gushing down a river: undisturbed it runs smoothly, but if it encounters an obstacle, like a boulder, it becomes turbulent. Mountains and storms act like boulders in a river, altering the way air moves."
• Scientists say it may be possible to protect aging brains from Alzheimer’s with an old remedy - lithium - "In a major new finding almost a decade in the making, researchers at Harvard Medical School say they’ve found a key that may unlock many of the mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease and brain aging - the humble metal lithium."
• The hottest stock on Wall Street is a cryptic company you’ve never heard of - "After a blowout quarterly earnings report this week, Palantir has become one of the buzziest (and most expensive) stocks on Wall Street. The stock, which several analysts say is wildly overvalued (with a market cap valuing it at around 100 times its annual revenue), has shot up nearly 600% from a year ago. With a $420 billion market valuation, Palantir is now worth more than The Walt Disney Co. and American Express combined."
• "What have we done?" - Sam Altman says "I feel useless," compares ChatGPT-5's power to the Manhattan Project - "Sam Altman spoke at length about the new AI model, ChatGPT-5, and its remarkable growth in power. GPT-5 is expected to be launched sometime this month. Mr Altman explained how GPT-5 flawlessly addressed a challenging email question. He was shocked when the model gave him the ideal response, which made him realise how powerful AI can be."
• At the Tesla Diner, the Future Looks Mid - "The new Los Angeles restaurant from the electric car giant is a smash burger and content machine, drawing Elon Musk’s fans and protesters."
• The World’s Best Countries To Visit In 2025, According To Travel Experts - "From thunderous African gorges to the mist-draped temples of East Asia, here are the world’s best countries to visit in 2025, according to Kayak: 1. Zimbabwe. Victoria falls in Zimbabwe. 2. Lithuania. Vilnius, Lithuania. 3. Sri Lanka. 4. South Korea. Gyeongbokgung Palace. 5. Argentina. 6. Morocco. 7. Norway. 8. Moldova. 9. Hong Kong. 10. Denmark."
• Dentists Know You Hate Flossing. Try This Instead - "You still have to clean between your teeth, but other tools might work even better. To better clean between her teeth, Ms. VanGuilder has replaced her floss with tiny scrubbers called interdental brushes, with bristles that are typically made of nylon or rubber."
• Aldi’s Passionate, Cultlike Following Fuels Its Rapid Expansion Plans - "'It feels like I’m at a bougie store, but I’m not paying bougie prices,' one shopper said of the discount grocer, which is set to open hundreds of stores as consumers look to save and buy organic. Aldi’s growth is being attributed to the fact that it has tapped into two trends driving American shoppers: discount prices and healthy products."
• World marks 80 years since US dropped atomic bomb on Japan as global powers still trade nuclear threats - "As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the first use of a nuclear weapon, on the Japanese city of Hiroshima near the end of World War II, the planet is closer to seeing them used again than it has been in decades, experts and survivors are warning."
• Photos: What Atomic Bombs Did to Hiroshima & Nagasaki - "80 Years Ago, Nuclear Annihilation Came to Japan. What the world’s only atomic bombings, carried out by Americans, did to Hiroshima and Nagasaki."
• Tapes, transcripts, subpoenas & legal twists: Trump’s Epstein storm deepens again - "In the latest turn of the immortal scandal over Jeffrey Epstein, CNN first reported Tuesday that Donald Trump’s administration has recorded conversations with Epstein’s convicted sex trafficker accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and is working on a transcript, which it may even release."
• Epstein scandal broadens as trove of letters from famous figures published - "New York Times reports on letters by Ehud Barak, Woody Allen and others written for Epstein’s 63rd birthday."
• A Look Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan Lair - "In his seven-story townhouse, the sex offender hosted the elite, displayed photos with presidents and showcased a first edition of 'Lolita,' according to previously unreported photos and letters."
• How to Reduce Screen Time: Tips to Put Your Phone Down - "How to Break Free From Your Phone. We asked screen-time experts how to avoid the relentless pull of our devices."
• What you can do if your holiday luggage goes missing - "It’s a traveller’s worst nightmare so try to reduce the chances of it happening at all ... and, if it does, how (hopefully) you can retrieve it."
• Underwater jetpack ‘feels superhuman,’ says designer of his $30k gadget - "It is the high-octane toy for those who have everything: an underwater jetpack that allows you to zip beneath the surface of the ocean - for as long as you can hold your breath."
• Chemical pollution a threat comparable to climate change, scientists warn - "More than 100 million ‘novel entity’ chemicals are in circulation, with health impact not widely recognised."
• Pickleball cruises to tennis retreats: Why everyone's travelling to hit a ball - "With tennis academies, pickleball resorts and Grand Slam getaways booming, racket sports are now at the centre of luxury and lifestyle travel."
• AirPods Pro 3 Could Be Just Weeks Away - Here's What We Know - "Under the hood, Apple is said to be testing a faster audio chip that drives 'much better' Active Noise Cancellation than the already-impressive AirPods Pro?2 manage. That bump will be crucial if Apple hopes to stay ahead of rivals like Sony's WF-1000XM5 and Bose's QuietComfort Ultra. According to Bloomberg's Mark?Gurman, Apple is developing in-ear heart-rate tracking for AirPods Pro?3."
• Bite Club: The Fraternity That Awaits You After a Shark Attack - "Very few people know what it’s like to recover, physically and emotionally, from a shark bite. But some of the ones who do are ready to help."
• These 6 Bodyweight Moves Build Core Strength Faster Than Planks After 40 - "If you want to strengthen your core, dynamic core work is the name of the game. Build a strong, lean, and stable core faster than with planks using these trainer-backed bodyweight exercises after 40."
• Capitalists Love This Podcast. So Do Their Critics - "'Odd Lots' goes deep on lentils in Saskatchewan, the global tractor supply and trucking markets. Is it the skeleton key to understanding this strange economic moment?"
• What Should We Call ‘Athleisure’ Now? - "Remember athleisure? It was the fashion bastard child of the millennium: an aesthetic portmanteau of workout wear and weekend wear. The term became official in 2015, when it entered the dictionary. The global athleisure market was estimated by Fortune Business Insights to be worth $338.48 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $716.05 billion by 2032."
• Ranked: The Top 25 Universities Outside the U.S. - "Oxford and Cambridge Universities dominate across all three rankings, consistently placing in the global top tier. The top non-U.S. schools cluster in seven countries: the UK, China, Singapore, Australia, Canada, France, and Germany."
• A town divided: how cruise tourism tore Greenland’s iceberg capital in two - "Ilulissat's mayor has called for protests as local operators are frozen out of a booming visitor trade."
• Prince Andrew Had 'Affair' With Ghislaine Maxwell: Book - "Prince Andrew had an 'affair' with Ghislaine Maxwell, who launched a 'premeditated' drive to reinvent him, according to a new biography."
• Why Donald Trump is talking about actress Sydney Sweeney - "President Donald Trump has praised actress Sydney Sweeney in the wake of a social media backlash against an advertisement she features in. The Emmy-nominated actress, who starred in Euphoria and The White Lotus, appears in a jeans advertisement for American Eagle where she says: 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.'"
• ‘Who was going to carry Elvis’s drugs & guns?’ How Colonel Tom Parker always looked out for the King - "For decades, Presley’s manager has been vilified as a money-grabbing huckster. But compelling new evidence suggests the colonel was actually devoted to the star."
• Why is everyone wearing weighted vests? I tried one for two weeks - "Celebrities have been sporting them on walks and influencers are peddling them on TikTok - what are they and what are the benefits?"
• Denmark zoo asks people to donate unwanted pets to feed predators & imitate ‘natural food chain’ - "A zoo in northern Denmark is asking pet owners to donate their unwanted guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and even small horses – not to put them on display but to feed them to the zoo’s predators."
• US may demand $15,000 deposit for visas - "The US may require foreign nationals from certain countries to pay a $15,000 deposit for a tourist or business visa. The 12-month pilot programme aims to curb visa overstays 'or where screening and vetting information is considered deficient', according to a notice published by the US state department."
• World in $1.5tn ‘plastics crisis’ hitting health from infancy to old age, report warns - "Plastic production has increased more than 200 times since 1950 and hits health at every stage from extraction to disposal, says review in the Lancet."
• The trillion-dollar AI arms race is here - "Google, Amazon and Meta are pouring billions into AI infrastructure, but at what cost to the planet, creatives, and the grid? The goal is to supercharge their bottom line and keep investors and Wall Street happy. But developing the world's most advanced AI means spending billions on data centers and other physical infrastructure to house and power the supercomputers needed for AI."
• Airport Lounges Sound Luxurious. I Keep Getting Duped - "There have never been more airport lounges. Yet there also have never seemed to be more lounges that are not worth the hassle."
• 25 travel gadgets you need for your next trip - "Take your travel experience to a whole new level with these great items: A portable power bank, noise-canceling headphones, a universal travel adapter, packing cubes, and an Apple AirTag. Other useful items include a travel pillow, a portable fan, a reusable water bottle, and a portable steamer."
• Paris Hilton’s New Custom Private Jet Is Just as Pink as You’d Expect - We Got a Look Inside - "The Gulfstream G450's playhouse interior features elaborately stitched leather seats, pink sparkles in the bespoke carpet, and even hummingbirds in flight."
• 13 USEFUL CAR GADGETS THAT MAKE ROAD TRIPS SAFER - "Garmin DriveCam 76 - Syncwire Inflate 190 Tire Inflator - Avapow A07 Portable Jump Starter - Syncwire Inflate 190 Tire Inflator - Streamlight 66601 MicroStream Flashlight..."
• He tried building smartphones in the US over a decade ago. He has advice for companies trying it today - "In 2013, Motorola tried to claw its way into a bigger share of a smartphone market dominated by Apple and Samsung with four words: Made in the USA."
• Why everyone on the internet is suddenly so obsessed with Jet2 Holidays - "Since its 2007 launch, Jet2 Holidays has grown into the UK’s largest tour operator, offering flight-and-hotel “package holidays” with transfers included. Known for its lively red branding, upbeat staff and smooth operations, it’s quietly become a cult favorite among British vacationers. Now, unexpectedly, its cult status has gone global."
• Elon Musk awarded $29 billion pay package from Tesla - " Tesla’s board is giving CEO Elon Musk another huge pay day. The package would give Musk 96 million shares of Tesla, each of which trades at just over $300. Musk would have to pay $23.34 for each of those shares, equal to the amount he was expected to pay when he was first awarded his 2018 compensation package."
• Inside the home of Europe’s Peggy Guggenheim - who is selling off her art collection - "Inside the home of Pauline Karpidas, the art-world ‘grande dame’ who could be the last of her kind."
• Mapped: Every City With Over 1 Million People - "This visualization shows all of the world’s cities with over one million population, categorized by country. Using city proper definitions, the data highlights dense population centers rather than sprawling metro areas. China has the most cities with over 1 million population, at approximately 130."
• 10 commonly used words that were invented by Shakespeare - "Addiction - Assassination - Bedroom - Critic - Gloomy..."
• The quest to make an ice cream that doesn't melt - "Ice cream is a staple of summer - but melts quickly when the mercury rises. Can scientists help it keep its cool?"
• Explaining how a touchscreen works with a sausage - "British mathematician Hannah Fry digs into the science of touchscreens on mobile phones. Using a sausage, she explain how touchscreens work by detecting changes in the electric field, and how anything that can conduct electricity can interact with it."
• Why your holiday may be getting more expensive - "Why these new tourist taxes may be a good thing: A series of new climate-focused tourism fees could be the key to preserving some of the world's most beloved - and vulnerable - destinations."
• Italy's undercover pizza detectives - "As pizza's popularity spreads around the world, a group of top-secret agents are travelling the globe on espionage missions to determine what 'real' pizza is."
• Dream Paris apartments for sale at bargain prices. The catch? Someone must die - "A little-known French property scheme known as viager. In a viager sale, elderly homeowners - often in their 70s, 80s or 90s - sell their properties at a steep discount, sometimes for half the market value. In return, they receive a monthly payment from the buyer. It’s part real estate, part roulette. Property listings typically include the seller’s age alongside the asking price. The older the seller, the sooner the buyer might potentially claim the home."
• Winning bidder of $10M Birkin bag wanted to inflict 'psychological damage' on opponents - "Birkin bags can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars and, even if you’re rich, it’s near impossible to get one. In July, the original Birkin bag by Hermès went for an eye-watering $10 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris. CNN spoke to its new owner, Japanese collector Shinsuke Sakimoto, to find out how and why he made his winning bid."
• 4 Standing Exercises That Shrink Belly Fat - "Did you know that standing exercises can be incredibly useful in slimming down your midsection? These moves recruit multiple muscle groups at the same time, promoting an increased calorie burn and functional strength: 1. Standing Cross-Body Chop - 2. High Knees - 3. Standing Side Crunch - 4. Kettlebell Swings."
• Inside the Rise of Mahjong - "Today's hottest tables aren't at restaurants. They're wherever this game is raging. The game looks complicated, but enthusiasts swear the rest of us could get the hang of it. It’s about creating winning hands of tiles and outfoxing opponents, and it has been around for centuries."
• Nordic countries hit by ‘truly unprecedented’ heatwave - "Scientists record longest streak of temperatures higher than 30C in region in records going back to 1961."
• ‘Would you survive 72 hours?’ Germany & the Nordic countries prepare citizens for possible war - "Apps and booklets are offering advice on how to build a bunker, stockpile food and live without electricity in case the worst happens."
• You Should Download iOS 18.6 Now to Fix This Zero-Day Flaw - "This update comes a few months before Apple releases iOS 26 to the general public."
• From flag poles to a $200 million ballroom: Inside Trump’s ‘legacy project’ at the White House - "His specifications have been exacting, including finishes that closely resemble his gold-trimmed private clubs - or, in some cases, have been shipped directly from Mar-a-Lago. The Rose Garden has been stripped of its grass and paved over with stone, an attempt to replicate the patio at Mar-a-Lago."
• The entire Sydney Sweeney jeans ad disaster, explained - "What has America learned from the Sydney Sweeney situation? We asked the experts."
• Why We Believe Gwyneth Paltrow - "It’s never been entirely clear if Gwyneth Paltrow is in on the joke, especially if it’s on her. She seems too aloof, too controlling of everything. If an essential element of humor is the ability to see the absurdity of life, how do you account for her straight-faced shilling of $27 'psychic vampire repellent' and $120 'bio-frequency healing' sticker packs? But then came that Astronomer crisis commercial."
• A Price Just for You, Specifically - "'Surveillance pricing' - adjusted to what an individual customer is likely to pay - drew inquiries from the Biden administration. Now companies may feel emboldened to lean in. Imagine that an airline notices you’ve booked a five-star hotel, so it charges you more for your ticket than it would have if you had booked a four- or three-star hotel. That’s the vision of personalized pricing, a concept that has for years intrigued companies and enraged consumer advocates."
• Why Even Basic Airline Seats Keep Getting More ‘Premium’ - "As travel demand sinks, both legacy airlines and budget brands have turned to a strategy of ever-expanding upgrades."
• An Era of Authenticity (or Something Like It) - "Celebrities are being praised for openly discussing plastic surgery and Photoshop. Are they raging against a machine they created?"
• Ranked: The World’s Most Spoken Languages in 2025 - "English is the most spoken language in 2025 with 1.5 billion total speakers. About 25% (390 million) speak English as a first language, but a staggering 1.1 billion use it as their second language. Second-ranked Mandarin has 1.2 billion speakers but the first and second language split is reversed."
• 10 retro tech gadgets we loved (& still miss) - "Remember when your phone could take a tumble from two stories up and still work like a charm? Or when listening to music meant you actually had to pick the next song yourself? Welcome back to the golden age of gadgets that excelled at doing one thing amazingly well."
• The Best 50 Anthony Bourdain Quotes for Readers & Writers - "Anthony Bourdain never set out to become a philosopher. He cooked, he traveled, he wrote, and he observed the world with a raw clarity most of us only glimpse in passing. Yet somewhere between slurping noodles in Hanoi and scribbling his thoughts on cocktail napkins in Manhattan, Bourdain became a voice of piercing honesty, dark humor, and unexpected wisdom. Bourdain’s words, like his journeys, were never sanitized or sugarcoated. They were real, sometimes uncomfortable, always human."
• Chess grandmaster Carlsen wins at Esports World Cup - "The Esports World Cup (EWC) being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest multi-discipline tournaments in competitive professional gaming. The inclusion of chess in this year's schedule was somewhat controversial, but the tournament's organisers argued it counted as an esport as it is played by millions of people of all ages."
• Do you feel lucky plank? Meet the new 'bulletproof' wood - "Could your house take a bullet for you? US-based company has developed Superwood - a modified wood it claims is stronger than steel. Wood-based construction, proponents say, can actually help in the fight against climate change by storing large amounts of carbon long-term."
• 'It becomes more about status signalling': Is £7m for a handbag absurd or justified? - "As a pop-up handbag auction opens in London, a fashion frenzy is gripping venerable auction houses - and sending prices sky high. Can fashion ever be on a par with a Picasso?"
• 'We're not some Arctic Disneyworld' - "Norway's stunning Lofoten Islands have gone viral for their midnight summer sun. But as the isles face overtourism for the first time, residents have an important message for visitors."
• My 5 Favorite Places for Art in Rome - "Our critic Jason Farago shares what you shouldn’t miss in a city crowded with both the seamy and stately: 1. High Fascist camp on the playing field. 2. The little tomb where Renaissance architecture began. Image. 3. Ancient Roman marbles in a modern power station. Image. 4. An old basilica with a gruesome fresco cycle. 5. An underappreciated villa still revealing its secrets."
• Apple shipped its 3 billionth iPhone - "That’s a lot of phones. The iPhone was introduced in 2007 and the company reached 1 billion iPhones sold nine years later in 2016. Getting to 2 billion took only five years."
• Trump says he’s ordered nuclear submarines repositioned after Russian official’s ‘highly provocative’ remarks - "'I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.'"
• These are the countries affected by Trump’s latest tariffs - "President Donald Trump has once again announced new tariffs for just about every country in the world, further upending the landscape of global trade. So far, the European Union, UK, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan and Thailand have trade deals with the United States."
• 8 cities in the world everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime - "These aren’t just tourist hotspots. They are places where history meets modernity, where the air feels alive with culture, and where the experience leaves an unforgettable mark: 1. Kyoto, Japan: Where the Old World Still Breathes - 2. Paris, France: The Eternal City of Art and Romance - 3. New York City, USA: The City That ..."
• If you’ve been to these 7 places, you’re more adventurous than 90% of people - "If you’ve set foot in even a few of these unexpected places, chances are you’re more daring than you think: 1. A country where you didn't speak the language - 2. A solo trip to a place no one recommended - 3. A region in political or social flux - 4 ..."
• Ghislaine Maxwell moved to federal prison camp in Texas - "Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who had been serving a 20-year prison sentence in Florida, has been moved to a lower-security federal prison camp in Texas, the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) Bryan in Bryan."
• A doctor explains what people should know about the ‘cortisol cocktail’ that’s gone viral on TikTok - "This colorful, nonalcoholic drink typically contains a mix of coconut water, citrus juice and certain salts."
• 5 daily habits that are unknowingly increasing your cortisol levels - "Skipping breakfast or starting your day with sugar - Drinking too much caffeine - Inconsistent or poor sleep habits - Overexercising without enough ..."
• 100 years of Art Deco: a movement comes of age - "This summer marks the 100th anniversary of the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts), a colossal fair that took over 57 acres in central Paris and which gave the Art Deco movement its name."
• 31 Daily Quotes & Journaling Prompts that Will Get You Back on Track - "If you want to get somewhere in life, you need a map, and your journal is that map. You can write down what you did today, what you tried to accomplish, where you made mistakes, and so much more. It’s a place to reflect. It’s a place to capture important thoughts."
• HermÈs CEO says the booming Birkin resale market prevents the luxury brand from serving its ‘real customers’ - "The appreciating value of a Birkin bag on the secondhand market has in some cases outpaced the S&P 500 and the price of gold."
• Luxury’s $1.7 trillion headache: The sector lost 50 million customers last year & is struggling with selfie-happy Gen Z - "Luxury brands are retreating to exclusivity after years of trying to broaden their appeal, but they’re now struggling to reconcile that elusiveness with younger consumers’ desire to share and express identity online."
• I’m a Therapist. ChatGPT Is Eerily Effective - "I’ve seen tools arrive, change everything and then fade, either into disuse or quiet absorption. Self-help books, mindfulness meditation, Prozac for depression and cognitive therapies for a wide range of conditions - each had its moment of fervor and promise. Still, I wasn’t prepared for what this one would do, for the way it would shift my interior world."
• 10 phrases only self-centered people use, according to psychology - "1) “Enough about you, let's talk about me”. 2) “I would never do that”. 3) “I'm just being honest”. 4) “I don't need anyone else”. 5) “No offense, but...”. 6) “You wouldn't understand”. 7) “I don't care”. 8) “I'm the best at this”. 9) ..."
• 10 best plants to bring butterflies to your garden - "Our expert on how gardeners can help to create the right wildlife habitat. Ten excellent plants for butterflies: 1. Buddleja. 2. Hebe. 3. Dame’s violet (Hesperis matronalis). 4. Purple top (Verbena bonariensis). 5. Perennial asters. 6. Scabious. 7. Globe thistle (Echinops). 8. Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus). 9. Marjoram. 10. Ivy."
• Bentley’s Lavish Mulliner Interiors Will Make Even Rolls-Royce Jealous - "The Mulliner division’s new colors and materials unlock a new level of creativity."
• F1 confirms return of controversial two-stop rule for 2026 Monaco Grand Prix - "Formula 1 has doubled down on one of its most debated innovations, confirming that the mandatory two-pitstop rule introduced at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix will return for 2026. The decision, ratified this week by the World Motor Sport Council through an e-vote, reinstates a regulation that divided teams, drivers and fans alike."
• Trump just revealed his new tariff plan. Here’s what you need to know - "President Donald Trump just set new tariffs for every country around the world, solidifying his extreme break with America’s long-standing trade policy."
• Trump signs executive order to bring back presidential fitness test in schools - "The physical test, which included a one-mile run, sit-ups, pull-ups and push-ups, was suspended 12 years ago."
• Construction on Trump’s $200 million White House ballroom to begin in September - "President Donald Trump has been envisioning a new ballroom on the White House campus for a decade and a half. His dream is about to become a reality. Construction will begin in September on a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom."
• The fashion moment you’ve been waiting for: who are the top 10 style mavens & mavericks of Tatler’s Best Dressed List 2025? - "Tatler's style editor Chandler Tregaskes unveils the greatest list in fashion in the September 2025 issue."
• Surveying the Style in an Elite Summer Retreat - "Surveying the Style in an Elite Summer Retreat. It's a place where blue blazers, printed pants and Belgian Shoes are plentiful. Many places where the rich have second homes tend to have their own fashion flair. Palm Beach, Fla., is known for Lily Pulitzer florals, for instance."
• Knives Out: Celebrities Reveal Plastic Surgery Secrets - But One Procedure Still Taboo - "Cosmetic surgery is finally out of the closet, turning actors into evangelists and top doctors into superstars, yet there's still a very common procedure that nobody wants to talk about."
• who is mira murati? former openai cto who rejected mark zuckerberg's $1 billion offer to join meta ai - "Mira Murati, former CTO of OpenAI and now founder of Thinking Machines Lab, declined a $1 billion offer from Meta to join its new AI division. Not one member of her team accepted Meta’s offers, which reportedly ranged from $200,000 to $1 billion. Murati, known for helping build ChatGPT and DALL·E, values long-term impact and independence. Her AI startup recently raised $2 billion at a $12 billion valuation, even without launching a product, making her a standout voice in today’s AI race."
• What it feels like to spend $10M on a handbag, according to the man who did it - "The record-breaking sale of Hermès’ original Birkin bag was among the most remarkable auctions of modern times."
• HermÈs Believes Heir No Longer Holds Shares Worth €14 Billion - "Hermès International SCA believes the family member, Nicolas Puech, hasn't had the shares in the Birkin bag maker for a while, Executive Chairman Axel Dumas said Wednesday, adding that he doesn't think the holding can ever be recovered."
• In the Epstein scandal, like other Washington storms, the victims are an afterthought - "Epstein victims are pulled into Washington's scandal culture with little attention paid to their dignity."
• How to Maximize the Health Benefits of Walking | TIME - "If people continue walking, even at a slower pace, and add a few minutes of faster paced walking into their regimen, they could increase their health benefits. Such interval training has long been popular in exercise regimens, but the latest data suggest it applies to walking as well."
• ‘Japanese Walking’ Is a Fitness Trend Worth Trying - "The workout is simple, and its health benefits are backed by nearly 20 years of research. Going for a walk is one of the simplest workouts, but it can have powerful health impacts."
• Liam Neeson’s Newest Skill: Making You Giggle - "The 73-year-old actor stars in the reboot of 'The Naked Gun' as he reboots his career by venturing into slapstick comedy."
• A Longevity Expert’s 5 Tips for Aging Well - "In his new book, 'Super Agers,' the cardiologist Dr. Eric Topol argues that we now have the tools to age better than our predecessors: Take up strength training. - Schedule your sleep. - Bolster your mental health. - Use tests and ..."
• Bill Gates’ $645 million superyacht - the first ever to be powered by hydrogen - is for sale. A yachtie calls it ‘a modern engineering marvel, period’ - "It’s large enough to accommodate 43 crew members and 30 guests across 15 cabins. Forbes Australia reported in May 2024 the yacht also features a hospital, library, elevator, movie theatre, pool, hot tubs, steam room, gym, separate owners’ deck with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two offices, and 14 slide-out balconies."
• Always Late? Blame Your Time Personality - "Some people are punctual, others flexible. The reason, experts say, is that we relate to the clock in different ways."
• What’s the Best Way to Wake Up? - "Here’s what experts say about snooze buttons, sunlight and sleeping in."
• The History & Modern Evolution of the Original President’s Watch, The Vulcain Cricket - "How a humble alarm wristwatch became the watch of presidents and its modern revival, the history and legacy of the Vulcain Cricket."
• Palm Beach Billionaires Battle for Oceanfront Land - "Before building the beachfront homes of their dreams, the superrich keep tearing down perfectly good mansions."

July 2025

• Why did Russian mega earthquake not cause more tsunami damage? - "It has been one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded – but so far has not brought the catastrophic tsunami that many feared."
• How to Stay Safe During a Tsunami - "In the event of a tsunami warning, people are advised to evacuate immediately and move to high ground and as far inland as possible (at least 100 ft above sea level or one mile inland), and follow the instructions of local authorities."
• Living With Extreme Heat? These Cities Are Taking Action - "Extreme heat waves are no longer anomalies—it’s becoming the norm. Human-caused climate change has at least doubled the number of extreme heat days in 195 countries and territories when compared to a world without climate change, according to a Climate Central study."
• How to Look Cool in the Heat - "People on the streets of New York City in recent weeks have offered plenty of inspiration, whether you’re dressing up or down."
• This city could run dry ‘within weeks’ as it grapples with an acute water crisis - "Iran’s capital Tehran could be weeks away from 'day zero,' experts say - the day when taps run dry for large parts of the city - as the country suffers a severe water crisis."
• Another reason to be skeptical of Trump’s Epstein concessions - "The Trump administration’s efforts to allay concerns about its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files by pushing for more information have been suspect, at best. The moves seem to be geared more toward creating the appearance of action than producing anything that would amount to the extensive transparency it promised."
• How conspiracy theories about COVID’s origins are hampering our ability to prevent the next pandemic - "COVID most likely emerged from an infected animal at the Huanan market in Wuhan, and was not the result of a lab leak. But conspiracy theories about COVID’s origins persist. And this is hampering our ability to prevent the next pandemic."
• One of the world’s most isolated countries, this former Soviet state is showing signs it’s ready for more tourists - "When the Turkmenistan government announced new streamlined visa regulations in April, people familiar with traveling to the Central Asian nation were unsure what to make of it. Word that the regime intended to make things more user-friendly for travelers, then, was startling, says Dylan Lupine, whose UK-based Lupine Travel offers small-group Turkmenistan tours."
• The upstart company that wants to build the world's largest aircraft - "The WindRunner is an ambitious aircraft project that could make it easier to use larger wind turbines. The company behind it, however, has never built a plane before."
• Sotheby's returns Buddha jewels to India after uproar - "The Piprahwa Gems - described by archaeologists as one of the most astonishing finds of the modern era - were due to be auctioned in Hong Kong in May. The jewels comprise nearly 1,800 pearls, rubies, sapphires, and patterned gold sheets."
• The First Soda in Space: When NASA Got Caught Up in the Cola Wars - "In the summer of 1985, NASA, the Reagan White House and seven talented astronauts were wrangled into an orbital battle over soft-drink supremacy."
• If you’ve been to any of these 10 cities, you’re more well-travelled than 95% of people - "A passport stamped in any of these ten culturally charged cities proves you travel for transformation, not just tourism: 1. Istanbul, Turkey - 2. Hanoi, Vietnam - 3. Lisbon, Portugal - 4. Cape Town, South Africa - 5. Mexico City, Mexico - 6. Seoul, South Korea - 7. Prague, Czech Republic - 8. Buenos?Aires, Argentina - 9. Montréal, Canada - 10. Bangkok, Thailand."
• The 11 Most Expensive Watch Brands in the World Right Now - "Exquisite hand finishing, technically audacious movements, Marvel superheroes, and no shortage of precious metals. Get to know what makes the priciest timepieces on earth worth their supersized price tags. 'Brands in the holy trinity of watchmaking [Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin] have two things that really justify their position in the watch world: history and heritage.'"
• A Matter Of Time: Estate Planning & Watch Collecting - "In 2025, the global luxury watch market is thriving, with its value expected to grow from $104.21 billion to $158.19 billion by 2033; driven by demand for luxury brands like Rolex and Patek Philippe, as well as the continued popularity of smartwatches from Apple and Samsung."
• What to do if a tsunami strikes - "If you are swept up in a turbulent current, your best course of action is to cling to something that floats, such as a door or a tree trunk."
• The 21 largest recorded earthquakes in history - "A handful of regions around the world regularly unleash terrifyingly large earthquakes. Here are the 21 largest earthquakes on record."
• Trump says Epstein ‘stole’ Virginia Giuffre from Mar-a-Lago staff role - "President says pair fell out because Epstein poached staffers, including Epstein accuser who died in April."
• Ghislaine Maxwell offers to testify before Congress but with major conditions, including immunity - "Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell has offered to testify before Congress, but with major conditions, including immunity, according to a list of her demands sent to the House Oversight Committee by her attorneys."
• See Trump’s New Tariffs on Every Country - "21 Renewed tariff threat. Mexico; Canada; South Korea; Thailand; 33 Reciprocal tariff paused. China has long been a target for Mr. Trump dating back to his first term. Upon returning to office, he initially sought to penalize Beijing for failing to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States."
• Bill Gates quietly paid a daily fine of $28 for 13 years; the Porsche connection may surprise you - "In 1988, Bill Gates' dream car, a Porsche 959, faced US import hurdles due to non-compliance with safety and emission standards. Impounded in Seattle, it incurred a daily fine of $28 for 13 years. Gates persisted, paying over $133,000, driven by passion, not just wealth. Finally, in 2001, the "Show or Display" rule allowed its import."
• ‘Ozempic face’ may be driving a cosmetic surgery boom - "Cosmetic surgeons are reporting a growing number of patients with sagging skin and facial hollowing after losing weight with drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy."
• Mosquitoes bite! 5 tips for making yourself less attractive to them - "For summertime beachgoers, the threat of sharks may loom large, but nature’s deadliest predator is actually much smaller. The tiny mosquito is not only a warm-weather nuisance but also wears the crown for 'No. 1 killer of humanity across our existence.' The predatory insect takes more than 1 million lives each year by transmitting lethal diseases. Sharks, meanwhile, are estimated to have a kill streak orders of magnitude smaller, at fewer than 10 people per year."
• How Healthy Are Peaches? - "Experts share all of the juicy details. In addition to helping you stay hydrated, peaches contain nutrients that keep your eyes healthy and may reduce chronic disease risk."
• I Left a Plastic Water Bottle in a Hot Car. Is It Safe to Drink? - "Experts explain some of the potential risks. Scientists warn that chemical additives and microplastics could leach into the water, and that bacteria or mold could grow in the bottle."
• Can a ‘Cortisol Cocktail’ Help Relieve Stress? - "Influencers say that the concoction can boost energy and help you relax. We asked experts whether that’s true. Cortisol is often called the stress hormone because it prepares your body to respond to threatening situations, but it also plays other important roles, including regulating metabolism, energy levels and circadian rhythms."
• Charted: Average Income by Global Region, Over 200 Years - "This massive dataset, updated in 2023, spans 169 countries and estimates income adjusted for inflation and cost-of-living differences across time and geography. The chart shows a staggering income gap: 'Western offshoots' like the U.S., Canada, and Australia now top $55,000 in average income, while Sub-Saharan Africa lags at just $4,000. Western Europe follows close behind the offshoots at $42,000, while East Asia and Eastern Europe hover between $15,000–18,000."
• Decks appeal: Martin Parr captures life on a cruise liner - photo essay - "The photographer follows passengers onboard Cunard’s Queen Victoria ocean liner as they are fed, watered and entertained during a cruise around the Mediterranean."
• Forbes 2025 50 Over 50: Meet The Women Who Define Innovation, Drive & Hope - "The inventors, entrepreneurs and wealth-builders on the fifth annual 50 Over 50 list are using the wisdom and confidence earned from age to leave the world better than they found it."
• Christian Louboutin's Red Soles Have Returned With a Vengeance - "Despite the crippling effects of sky-high stilettos, a new generation of fans can't stay out of Christian Louboutin heels."
• Take a Ride on New York City’s Future Train Line - "Take a Ride On New York City's Future Train Line. The Interborough Express, a new rail line that would link Brooklyn and Queens, could change the face of the city. Visual interactive."
• New privacy law to ban filming and photography of guests in Monaco’s hotels & casinos - "Monte Carlo’s Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) has announced that from the end of July 2025, filming or photographing guests in Monaco’s hotels and casinos without their consent will be explicitly prohibited by law."
• The wars Trump promised to end are escalating. Why? - "As a candidate, Donald Trump promised to end the Ukraine war on his first day in office and swiftly bring the Gaza war to a close as well. Now more than six months into his presidency, peace on both fronts appears further away than ever."
• Donald Trump Says His Name May Have Been Planted in Jeffrey Epstein Files - "On Monday, President Donald Trump told reporters that his name may have been planted in the Jeffrey Epstein files by former Attorney General Merrick Garland or former FBI director James Comey."
• The world’s first passenger jet was a luxurious death trap. Now it’s been brought back to life - "Commercial jet travel is only 73 years old. Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II was already the monarch when the de Havilland DH106 1A Comet G-ALYP took off from London Airport - as Heathrow was then known - about 3 p.m. on May 2, 1952, carrying the world’s first fare-paying jet passengers."
• Gwyneth Paltrow Helps Turn Astronomer’s Infamy on Its Head - "The technology company that was at the center of a scandal last week released a tongue-in-cheek response. It landed. To take control of a scandal that turned a previously obscure data-operations firm into a household name practically overnight requires some skillful cunning. And, it turns out, the Hollywood A-listers Gwyneth Paltrow and Ryan Reynolds."
• You might be ghosting the internet. Can it survive? - "Your clicks have immense power. Collectively, just moments of our attention can lift or sink a site. But if you're like most people, it seems there's been a change in your behaviour - one that could reshape the internet you know and love."
• Alien: Earth to Wednesday: 10 of the best TV shows to watch this August - "From the first ever Alien series to the new run of Netflix's Addams Family spin-off and a true-crime drama about Amanda Knox."
• The 25 Richest Countries in the World (Depending on What's Measured) - "Luxembourg’s immense output per person ($141K GDP per capita) masks much of its non-resident workers. Qatar’s oil windfall lifts GDP per capita ($72K) but that hasn’t spread into broader wealth, unlike Australia or Belgium. English-speaking countries translate middling GDP per capita into high median wealth through property ownership and strong pension systems."
• Mapped: Global Income Level Classification, by Country - "Mapping out 223 reporting economies into high, middle, and low income countries per the latest World Bank classification methods. There are 93 high income countries (and territories) in the latest World Bank classification list. As for the others: upper-middle income (55 countries), lower-middle income (50 countries), and low income (25). Countries move between four income brackets - low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high - based on their GNI per capita."
• Rolex Ventures Into Cutting-Edge Atomic Timekeeping - "Rolex chief executive Jean-Frederic Dufour will sit on the board of Rolex Quantum, with engineer Fabien Droz serving as director of the venture. The creation of Rolex Quantum suggests that the trials were successful and Rolex sees an opening in the niche market of atomic timekeepers."
• Thinking Is Becoming a Luxury Good - "The idea that technology is altering our capacity not just to concentrate but also to read and to reason is catching on. The conversation no one is ready for, though, is how this may be creating yet another form of inequality."
• Study Reveals Turning Point When Your Body's Aging Accelerates - "Rather than a gradual transition, your life staggers and lurches through the rapid growth of childhood, the plateau of early adulthood, to an acceleration in aging as the decades progress. Now, a new study has identified a turning point at which that acceleration typically takes place: at around age 50."
• Ian Fleming’s striking house is for sale - see inside the James Bond author's Mermaid Cottage - "Mermaid Cottage, the striking Art Deco house, which was once owned by playwright Noël Coward as well as Ian Fleming, is enviably positioned on the seafront right below the White Cliffs at St Margaret’s Bay in Kent."
• Meet the new James Bond: how 007 First Light earned its licence to thrill - "While the future of the film franchise remains in flux, the developer of the forthcoming video game reveals how it pitched its origin story to Eon Productions, and reinvented the character for a new era."
• People are wearing nightgowns anywhere but to bed - "This is not your grandmother’s nightgown. Or maybe it is. The same style of sleepwear that was once strictly relegated to bedrooms and boudoirs has now become the summer dress of the year."
• Mariah Carey: Ageing doesn’t happen to me & I won’t allow it - "The US pop star and self-confessed diva, who has a career stretching back over three decades, has never publicly acknowledged her age and says ‘I don’t know time’."
• 14 ways to tell if you’re married to a Whole Man - "Are men allowed to eat salads? Does it matter if they don’t like football? It’s time we celebrated the less macho men like mine."
• Trump lands another big win with EU trade deal, but he can’t dodge the Epstein saga - "Trump’s insistence that it was not simply a bid to distract from the Epstein saga is reasonable. 'Oh, you have got to be kidding with that,' the angry president told a reporter. But his irritation underscored his failure to shrug off weeks of revelations about the case and his own past friendship with the accused sex trafficker, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial."
• What to Know About New U.S. Tourist Fees - "Tourism Was Already Plummeting Under Trump. Now the U.S. Is Raising Visa Fees on Visitors."
• The Protein Bar Arms Race - "The David bar’s breakout success is proof that, in our culture of optimization, one macronutrient is king. But can the protein craze last?"
• Ralph Lauren’s Vintage Man of Mystery - "At 71, Doug Bihlmaier has become a style hero to fashion-savvy social media creators. Reporting from East Hampton, N.Y. For more than a quarter century, Doug Bihlmaier has held a mythic position in the world of men's fashion, especially among those who prize vintage style."
• ‘Haunted’ Venice island to become a locals-only haven where tourists are banned - "The abandoned Venetian island of Poveglia - site of a plague pit and former asylum - is about to take on a happier new identity. On August 1, a group of Venetians will take possession of the supposedly haunted island under a 99-year lease from the Italian state and embark on a project to turn it into an urban park open only to residents of the Italian city."
• The Caribbean islands that give you a passport if you buy a home - "Five of the region's island nations - Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia - offer such citizenship by investment (CBI) from as little as $200,000."
• A heartbreaking economic indicator: More people are giving up their pets - "In recent months, animal rescues and shelters across the country are reporting sharp increases in animals being surrendered, with several of those organizations telling CNN that financial hardship was at the root of those owners’ decisions."
• Why you are not as selfish as you think - "Science suggests we are hardwired for altruism, but do we really need to be thinking of others all the time?"
• The Swiss Railways Clock That Still Keeps Travelers on Time - "For 80 years, this minimalist design with a distinctive red second hand has been a fixture in the country’s train stations."
• Tom Lehrer, acclaimed musical satirist of cold war era, dies aged 97 - "A child prodigy in mathematics who graduated Harvard at just 19, his darkly prophetic and cynical show tunes won him a cult following in the 50s and 60s."
• 5 Highlights From Pharrell’s First Watch-Dedicated Joopiter Sale - "Pharrell Williams' auction platform Joopiter is an alternative auction space to the stuffy environs of the establishment."
• How passion & mystery created the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy every Rolls-Royce owner knows - "The Spirit of Ecstasy, Rolls-Royce's iconic hood ornament, was born from a blend of personal passion, a secret love affair, and the pursuit of artistic expression. It represents more than just a car accessory; it embodies the spirit of freedom, grace, and the pursuit of perfection, all hallmarks of the Rolls-Royce brand."
• 6 Beaches in Europe That Take the Sizzle Out of Summer Vacation - "Visiting Europe in the heat can mean sweating it out with no air-conditioning, but sea breezes beckon in these refreshing spots from Croatia to Norway."
• Is the Bread in Europe Better for You? - "If you’ve noticed that certain baked goods are more tolerable abroad, it may not be all in your head. Theory No. 1: The wheat is different. Theory No. 2: The dough is fermented longer. Theory No. 3: The bread in Europe contains fewer additives. Theory No. 4: The bread in Europe is less likely to contain glyphosate."
• Ranked: 50 Most Valuable Companies in the World in 2025 - "Nvidia's market capitalization has crossed $4 trillion, leading the world's 50 most valuable companies in the world, as of July 18th, 2025. There are 34 American companies in the top 50."
• Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest role is ‘very temporary’ Astronomer spokesperson - "Just when we thought the Coldplay Jumbotron controversy had run its course, Gwyneth Paltrow has entered the chat. 'I’ve been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer,' Paltrow said."
• Turbulence is increasing. Here's how the aviation industry is trying to smooth things out - "Climate change is creating stronger turbulence. Aircraft designers hope innovative new techniques will reduce its effects."
• Coca-Cola confirms a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola is coming to the US - "Coca-Cola said Tuesday it will add a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola to its U.S. lineup this fall, confirming a recent announcement by President Donald Trump."
• What to know about soda sweeteners as sugar returns to American Coke - "Nutritionists say high fructose corn syrup and cane sugar are both sugars with around the same amount of calories. They are equally likely to lead to issues like obesity and tooth decay."
• Does this look like a real woman? AI Vogue model raises concerns about beauty standards - "There's a new supermodel in town. She's striking, stylish... and not real. In August's print edition of Vogue, a Guess advert features a flawless blonde model showing off a striped maxi dress and a floral playsuit from the brand's summer collection. In small print in one corner, the ad reveals that she was created using AI."
• ‘Going to the beach’ looks very different in Britain - "While a British summer is never a guarantee of hot weather, there’s one thing you can be sure of: Brits will be going to the beach. For centuries, and in all kinds of weather, the British have licked ice creams, strolled piers and dropped coins in arcade games at the seaside."
• Ranked: The Countries With the Most Solar Power Installed - "China has once again widened its lead in global solar capacity. With 887,930 MW installed as of 2024, China is far ahead of any other country."
• Ranked: Where the World’s Richest People Live in 2025 - "The United States has the world's largest wealthy population, with 6 million millionaires, over 10,000 centi-millionaires, and 867 billionaires. China ranks second in all wealth tiers but has a much steeper drop-off in ultra-wealthy individuals compared to the U.S., especially among billionaires."
• This Test Can See a Heart Attack in Your Future - "Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, offering a more precise estimate of a patient’s risk. Yet the test remains underused. A brief and painless CT scan, it would show whether the fatty deposits called plaque were developing in the arteries leading to her heart."
• 'The Claw Grip': Why Are Women Always Holding Things? - "Their Superpower? Holding Things. Known as 'the claw grip' online, women are making videos about how many objects they can hold without a purse or functional pockets."
• Most Beautiful Airport Terminals in the World in 2025 - "Of the six airport terminals that have been nominated, three will receive the recognition at the end of the year. Portland Airport's main terminal is nominated for the world's most beautiful airport terminals accolade category under Prix Versailles."
• Coming Soon: Your Beautiful, Successful, Confident Life - "For some believers in manifestation, vision boards have become a little like movie trailers, as brought to you by A.I. Sharon Melzer, 24, has long believed in manifestation, or the idea that she can bring her hopes and dreams to life by visualizing them."
• The art of small talk: 10 simple ways to become instantly likable - "If you want to become instantly likable and ease into social situations like a pro, here are 10 simple ways to master the art of small talk: 1. Start with a warm, genuine smile - 2. Use open-ended questions that invite real answers - 3. Match their energy - not their exact words - 4. Keep a few 'pocket topics ' ready - 5..."
• 10 things people with poor social skills do in everyday life - "1. Oversharing personal details too soon - 2. Missing non-verbal cues - 3. Interrupting or talking over others - 4. Giving unsolicited advice - 5. One-upping every story - 6..."
• Meet the new breed of superyacht buyer: young, rich & exacting - "They used to be status symbols, but now yachts are a lifestyle choice for a new generation of buyers wanting to go about their daily life - just at sea."
• Trump just made a problematic Ghislaine Maxwell situation look even worse - "There are reasons to be skeptical about the move to interview Maxwell. The president’s pardon comments take it to another level."
• Ghislaine Maxwell Offered Conditional Immunity in DOJ Interviews: Reports - "Ghislaine Maxwell was offered a limited form of immunity before she agreed to two consecutive days of questioning from the Department of Justice (DOJ), sources told ABC News."
• Tee time with Trump - striking balls & deals over 18 holes - "It's this kind of access, and influence, that has made a tee time with Trump a coveted prize for those seeking a presidential audience."
• Hulk Hogan: A Life in Pictures - "The wrestler, who died on Thursday at 71, was the face of the sport as its popularity grew, propelling him into the wider entertainment world."
• Macrons Sue Candace Owens, Right-Wing Podcaster, Claiming Defamation - "The suit seeks damages after the podcaster claimed Brigitte Macron is a man. The French president and his wife said the statement caused 'pain to us and our families.' In a filing running more than 200 pages, the Macrons are suing for 22 counts of defamation and related claims, and are seeking actual and punitive damages (the amount was not specified), as well as legal costs. Read the French President’s Lawsuit."
• 10 things successful people always do in their free time (instead of watching Netflix) - "Here are 10 things successful people always seem to do in their free time - and why they’re worth considering if you want to rise above the noise: 1. They choose boredom (and let their minds wander) 2. They treat their body like a business partner. 3. They protect their attention like a sacred asset. 4. They reflect, write, and actually think. 5. They study people, not just content. 6..."
• Billionaire’s notebook will sparks legal firestorm in Monaco - "A simple black notebook bearing the name of a Dutch shipyard has become the centre of a high-stakes inheritance dispute in Monaco, where the estate of late Russian billionaire Oleg Burlakov, worth an estimated €3 billion, is being fiercely contested."
• How to holiday safely this summer under the Mediterranean sun - "The Mediterranean is synonymous with sunshine, but intensifying heatwaves are spoiling holidays and even claiming lives. Here's how you can still enjoy its stunning destinations - safely."
• Americans are obsessed with ice, but Europeans hate it. Here’s why - "Why Americans can’t chill out about ice-free European beverages."
• World's thirst for matcha dries up global supplies - "Matcha mania is sweeping the world. The bright green Japanese tea can be found in everything from Starbucks' lattes in the UK to Krispy Kreme doughnuts in Singapore."
• This Abu Dhabi photographer is on a mission to define his country’s ‘architectural identity’ - "When Emirati photographer Hussain AlMoosawi arrived home, he didn’t recognize anything. Initially focusing on industrial landscapes, temporary structures and air conditioning units, he began to notice symmetry in many of the buildings he was photographing, inspiring his current project: facades."
• Make your daily walk do more for your body - "Health experts universally recommend walking as one of the simplest, most accessible forms of exercise - and for good reason. Regular walks offer plenty of physiological and mental health benefits, research has shown. The activity can improve cardiovascular health, boost mood and energy, reduce stress and anxiety, and even lower the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease."
• How do the microplastics in our bodies affect our health? - "Microplastics have even been found inside our bones – but what impact are they having on our health? Here's everything we know about what they're doing to our bodies."
• COVID-19 Made Our Brains Age Faster - "COVID-19 is leaving all kinds of legacies on our health, both on our bodies and our brains. In a study published July 22 in Nature Communications, researchers report that living through the pandemic aged our brains—whether or not you were infected with COVID-19."
• The Naked Gun to Freakier Friday: 12 of the best films to watch in August - "From The Naked Gun to Freakier Friday - these are the films to watch at the cinema and stream at home this month."
• Top DOJ official says he will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell again Friday - "Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he will continue his interview with Ghislaine Maxwell for a second day Friday after meeting with her Thursday."
• Epstein’s Estate Includes Book Said to Have Note From Trump, a Lawyer Says - "The lawyer, who represents victims of Jeffrey Epstein, said he believed the estate would turn the book over to the authorities if asked."
• Trump’s Poll Numbers Hit a New Low, as He Bleeds Support from Independents - "President Donald Trump’s approval rating slid further Thursday, hitting a new low during his second term of 37% among U.S. adults, according to Gallup."
• COVID-19 Is Rising Again. Here’s What to Know - "As much as we want to put it behind us, COVID-19 isn’t going away. Cases are currently rising across U.S.A. in a summer surge."
• Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan dead at the age of 71 - "Professional wrestler Terry Bollea, better known as Hulk Hogan, died on Thursday at the age of 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment."
• Wrestling with the dueling legacies of Terry Bollea & Hulk Hogan - "Hulk Hogan wasn't just a wrestler to young wrestling fans in the early 1990s. He was a role model. He was a hero. That’s what made his villainous turn in the mid-1990s so effective."
• Tour de France organizers shorten stage to avoid diseased cows - "Tour de France organizers have shortened Stage 19 of the competition to avoid a herd of cows which have suffered an outbreak of disease."
• Why Are Thailand & Cambodia Fighting? Here’s a Quick Guide - "The countries traded fire on Thursday, and Thailand said at least 12 people had been killed. Cambodia did not immediately comment on any casualties."
• Want More Self-Control? The Secret Isn’t Willpower - "People who can delay gratification and master their impulses thrive in life. And experts say that you can learn skills to rein in bad habits."
• Be Careful About What You Want - "The Blessing and Curse of Ambition."
• Tony Robbins says people who succeed in almost everything they pursue usually practice these 7 daily habits - "There’s a world of difference between dreaming of success and actually achieving it. Often, that difference boils down to habits. According to Tony Robbins, those who consistently triumph in their pursuits have certain daily behaviors in common: 1) Priming the mind - 2) Embracing continuous learning - 3) Prioritizing physical health - 4 ..."
• Neuroscientist: The No. 1 trait of highly intelligent people, including Bill Gates & Leonardo da Vinci - it’s not about IQ - "Cognitively speaking, solitude can boost creativity by offering the necessary space for ideas to flourish. Whether it’s writing, playing the piano, painting, gardening, praying, or meditating, being alone is often what the brain needs to perform these activities well."
• Warren Buffett Says His $31,500 House Brings Him More Joy Than 10 Mansions - "And He'd Rather Eat A McDonald's Burger Than A $100 Meal."
• How Many Steps Do You Really Need in a Day? - "A new study identifies the right number to reap the health benefits of walking. Walking 10,000 steps a day has long been a fitness cliché. But new research suggests that the health benefits of walking ramp up until about 7,000 steps - before leveling out. Experts said the most surprising finding was the nearly 40 percent lower risk of dementia in people who walked 7,000 versus 2,000 steps a day."
• Slim sneakers are the shoe of the summer - "They were once worn by athletes to win Olympic track races in the 1970s. Now, slim, low-profile sneakers are more often seen on the style set than in the context of 5,000-meter sprints."
• 10 so-called status symbols that only actually impress the middle class - "Some status symbols look impressive on the surface—but often reveal more about middle-class aspirations than true wealth or confidence."
• Yes, you can actually die from a broken heart, scientists confirm - "Researchers identified five ‘grief trajectories’ after bereavement, and the worst affected were more likely to die within ten years."
• Bryan Johnson, the tech entrepreneur known for his anti-aging pursuits, is discontinuing his age-reversal startup, Blueprint - "Bryan Johnson’s evolution from tech tycoon to immortality evangelist."
• The Allure of a Pucci Girl Summer - "How Pucci bucked the luxury downturn to become the brand of the season. 'It’s a Pucci girl summer.' 'Pucci is currently our No. 1 resort brand, with sales more than doubling year-on-year,' said Heather Kaminsky, the chief executive of Net-a-Porter."
• Bondi briefed Trump that his name was in Epstein files - "When Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed President Donald Trump in May on the Justice Department’s review of the documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, she told him that his name appeared in the files, sources familiar with the discussion told CNN."
• Trump’s Epstein nightmare worsens amid new revelations & a GOP revolt - "The Jeffrey Epstein morass surrounding President Donald Trump is deepening amid growing defiance by some Republicans and despite the administration’s most inflammatory attempt yet at distraction."
• Trump Admin Request to Unseal Epstein Transcripts Turned Down by Judge - "A judge denied the Trump administration's request to unseal the transcripts despite calls from both sides of the aisle to release them."
• Top U.N. Court Says Countries Must Act on Climate Change - "The International Court of Justice issued a strongly worded opinion on Wednesday saying that states must protect people from the 'urgent and existential threat' of climate change, a major moment for the global environmental movement and for the countries at greatest risk of harm."
• French president sues Candace Owens over claims his wife is a man - "French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing?podcaster Candace Owens Wednesday over the claim that Brigitte could be a man."
• Prada ‘sandal scandal’ demonstrates luxury fashion’s India dilemma - "India beckons Western fashion brands - but their cultural missteps can be costly. When Prada sent several pairs of brown sandals with distinctive toe rings and intricate stitching down its menswear runway in Milan last month, observers were quick to point out their resemblance to a centuries-old piece of Indian heritage."
• 15 essential things to know before you visit Tokyo - "How to not look like a tourist when visiting the Japanese capital."
• 100 Best Podcasts of All Time | TIME - "From pop culture and history to sports and more, these are the best podcasts ever made."
• The world's most beautiful airports for 2025 - "Cascading gardens, indoor forests, and multistory atriums make these new airport terminals ‘works of art' - or at least 'things of beauty'. Every year, the Prix Versailles architecture awards highlights the most beautiful new airport terminals around the world. Beyond just visual appearances, the prize also aims to recognize intelligent sustainability in airport design."
• Birkin: The Bag, the Woman, the Myth - "Why has this obsession endured? The way Ms. Birkin wore it, festooned with nail clippers and stickers for political causes, has led to its own slang: to 'Birkinify' one's bag."
• How to holiday with billionaires: no selfies or splitting the bill - "What’s it really like holidaying with the super-rich? How to behave on the Bezos yacht or at the Clooney estate? Shruti Advani knows from experience - plus where’s in, where’s out and what to wear (or not)."
• Does Breathing Actually Matter for Your Workout? - "Some influencers claim that breathing techniques can give your workout a boost. Here’s what works - and what doesn’t."
• Photos confirm Epstein attended Trump’s wedding in 1993 - "Exclusive: Newly discovered photos and video shed fresh light on Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. In addition, footage from a 1999 Victoria’s Secret fashion event in New York shows Trump and Epstein laughing and chatting together ahead of the runway event."
• Trump is caving to pressure on Epstein. But his concessions could be thin gruel - "Through any number of controversies over the years, President Donald Trump’s modus operandi has been to never give an inch. Steve Bannon calls it Trump’s 'fight club mentality.' But Trump hasn’t been able to hold that line on the Jeffrey Epstein files."
• ‘How’s Imelda?’: Trump’s connection to Philippine leader may be through his mother - "Trump and Imelda Marcos first crossed paths decades ago as members of the international jet set - he as a New York businessman and she as the wife of strongman leader Ferdinand Marcos, famous for her extravagant taste financed by public funds and amassing a massive collection of shoes while her husband imposed martial law."
• Late Night Fact-Checks Trump on His Uncle & the Unabomber - "Jordan Klepper and other hosts poked holes in the president’s claim that his uncle had been the future terrorist’s professor at M.I.T. At an A.I. conference in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, President Trump said his uncle, John Trump, had been the 'longest-serving professor in the history of M.I.T.' and held 'three degrees in nuclear, chemical, and math.'"
• Obama blasts 'bizarre' Trump claim of 2016 election 'treason' - "Then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper emailed intelligence chiefs asking them to create a new assessment 'per the president's request' detailing the 'tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election'."
• Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath singer & godfather of heavy metal, dead at 76 - "Famed for his outrageous antics on stage, including once biting the head off a bat and throwing raw meat onto concertgoers - along with repeated bouts of alcohol and substance abuse - Osbourne was respected by the rock establishment and reviled by the religious right, who believed him to be a devil-worshipper."
• Ozzy Osbourne’s life in pictures - "Osbourne is often referred to as the Godfather of Heavy Metal, although he preferred the nickname the Prince of Darkness, which he used on social media."
• This small but mighty island country has the world’s best passport - "The United States is on the brink of dropping out of the top 10 ranking of the world’s most powerful passports. In the latest quarterly update of the Henley Passport Index the US - which held the No. 1 position back in 2014 - has slipped down to the 10th place in the rankings. The most powerful passports for 2025: 1. Singapore (193 destinations). 2. Japan, South Korea (190). 3. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain (189). 4. ..."
• where the world's wealthiest reside in 2025 - "Ranked: The Countries Gaining and Losing Millionaires in 2025."
• Top 10 Most Improved Airlines in the World in 2025, No.7 Will Surprise You - "Skytrax has published its list of the world's top 10 most improved airlines in 2025 in which STARLUX bags first place."
• Top 10 Best Airline Cabin Crew in the World in 2025, No.4 Will Surprise You - "Skytrax has published its list of 10 best airline cabin crew in the world with Asian carriers leading the pack."
• 10 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar - "Catching you up on the past week’s most notable product releases."
• 7 simple ways to be a bit happier each day - "Just a few minutes a day of joy snacking can have a big impact on your life, research shows: 1. Seek out awe - 2. Tune in to gratitude - 3. Do something kind - 4. Celebrate another's joy - 5. Tune in to what matters - 6. Reflect on the good you can do - 7. Shift your perspective."
• The Dramatic Sports Story That Inspired the Tennis Bracelet - "Elite tennis player Chris Evert, who was ranked number one in tennis from 1979 to 1987, halted a match to pick up pieces of her George Bedewi bracelet that had flown off of her wrist mid-game. This high stakes moment served up the tennis bracelet as we know it today."
• 100 Years On, Art Deco Still Influences Watch Design - "The style’s bold lines and geometric shapes are seen in models from the likes of Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre and other brands."
• Covid was bad for our brains (even for those who didn’t catch it) - "The emotional strain of the pandemic, including isolation and uncertainty about the future, took a toll on the population’s health, a study has suggested."
• Why Trump Can’t Shake Jeffrey Epstein - "There’s an old joke: A conspiracy theorist dies and goes to heaven. When he arrives, God says, 'Welcome. You can ask me one question. Anything you want.' The man says, 'I need to know: Who really shot J.F.K.?' God says, 'Lee Harvey Oswald shot him, and he acted alone.' The man pauses and then says, 'Wow. This goes even higher than I thought.'"
• Epstein accuser recounts Trump's late-night visit to Epstein's office - "Jeffrey Epstein accuser Maria Farmer talks to CNN's Erin Burnett about an interaction she had with President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein when she was 25. The White House denies that President Trump visited Jeffrey Epstein's office."
• Stephen Colbert fires back at Trump’s post celebrating show’s cancellation - "Trump personally celebrated the cancellation on Friday morning, writing on Truth Social that 'I absolutely love that Colbert got fired.'"
• Trump administration releases files on Martin Luther King Jr - "US President Donald Trump's administration has released a trove of records on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, including FBI surveillance files on the civil rights leader. A court-imposed order had kept the documents, totalling 230,000 pages, blocked from public view since 1977. Prominent members of King's family had opposed the release. A statement from his two living children condemned 'any attempts to misuse these documents in ways intended to undermine our father's legacy'."
• The next-gen geothermal energy they're pioneering has the potential to meet global electricity demand 140 times over - "They’re using the techniques honed by oil and gas to find near-limitless clean energy beneath our feet."
• Ranked: The 50 Most Food Self-Sufficient Countries in the World - "Out of 186 countries in this study, and in the top 50, only Guyana hits 100% food self-sufficiency in all seven food groups. European countries struggle with fruit and vegetable self-sufficiency, while Asian countries struggle with dairy."
• Someone has eaten artist Maurizio Cattelan’s $6 million banana - again - "Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork featuring a fresh banana taped to a wall has been eaten by a visitor to a museum in France. The piece, titled 'Comedian,' was eaten by a gallery-goer at the Centre-Pompidou Metz in eastern France on July 12, according to a statement from the museum, published Monday."
• The Bag of Summer Is a BAB - "BAB is an acronym for 'Big Ass Bag'. No longer written off for being 'ludicrously capacious,' oversize bags are building up a fan base on social media. "
• Has Trader Joe’s Made It to London? Only as an Accessory - "Though Trader Joe’s does not have a single location in Britain, the chain’s large cream and navy tote bags can be spotted all over London these days. The bags from the supermarket chain are becoming increasingly popular."
• How to Pack a Capsule Wardrobe for Travel - "What’s the Perfect Capsule Wardrobe for Traveling? Consolidating a fabulous wardrobe into a tiny carry-on is a daunting task. Luckily, our critic breaks it down into simple math."
• Mineral v chemical sunscreen: Which one should you be using? - "Some people are trading chemical sunscreens in favour of mineral versions because of fears over toxicity, pollution and effectiveness. Is there actually any difference?"
• Do You Need to Drink Electrolytes? - "Electrolytes are minerals - such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium - that carry an electrical charge that influences how water moves in your body. They’re in sports drinks, powders and tablets. But do they really help with hydration?"
• 7 Cool Things I Do With My Monitor's USB Ports - "1 Power My Desk Lamps. 2 Charge My Devices. 3 Connect My Controller. 4 Use My Webcam Occasionally. 5 Plug in USB Flash Drives. 6 Power My USB Desk Fan. 7 Plug in Wireless Dongles."
• Is this the end for Easter Island's moai statues? - "Easter Island's famous moai statues are crumbling into the sea, forcing locals to face urgent decisions about how best to protect their heritage."
• For the Privileged Few, Airport Food Hits a New Height of Luxury - "In pursuit of well-heeled fliers, airlines and credit card companies are stocking their elite lounges with caviar, sushi bars and big-name chefs."
• Why Does My Mind Keep Thinking That? - "The phrase 'Why does my mind keep thinking that?' is a question about intrusive thoughts, which are unwanted, repetitive, and often disturbing thoughts. These thoughts can be a normal part of the human experience, but they can also be a symptom of anxiety, stress, or other mental health conditions."
• Is ‘Joyspan’ the Key to Aging Well? - "You’ve probably heard the term life span. And maybe you’ve learned about health span, a longevity term that describes the number of years someone spends in good health. Not to overload you with 'spans,' but I just heard about another one: Joyspan. A long life doesn’t matter much if you don’t enjoy it."
• Trump Envisions Jailing Obama as Tulsi Gabbard Threatens Prosecutions - "Donald Trump, who openly campaigned in 2016 against Hillary Clinton on chants of 'lock her up' but was ultimately persuaded to not pursue her prosecution, now appears to be fantasizing about throwing his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, in jail. And his Administration is actively taking steps in that direction."
• What Exactly Is a ‘Panican’? White House Revives the Trump-Coined Insult - "The White House has revived one of President Donald Trump’s self-coined insults, something that has become widely used by the MAGA base. 'The United States has a chance to do something that should have been done decades ago,' Trump said on April 7. 'Don’t be weak! Don’t be stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN. (A new party based on weak and stupid people). Be strong, courageous, and patient, and greatness will be the result!'"
• Monaco marks 20 years of Prince Albert II’s reign with heartfelt celebration - "The Palace Square was awash with emotion, unity and pride on Saturday evening as Monaco paid tribute to His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, marking two decades since his accession to the throne."
• This tiny island is home to world-famous museums - "Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is set to become one of the world’s preeminent arts and culture hubs. You can walk between the Louvre and the Guggenheim in this new art district."
• China is rivaling the likes of Elon Musk’s Neuralink as it makes rapid advances in brain tech - "China is catching up to the US in brain tech, rivaling firms like Elon Musk’s Neuralink"
• Having trouble experiencing joy? This may be why - "The scientific reason why you are not joyful - and what to do about it."
• I took a walk with Meta's new Oakley smart glasses - they beat my Ray-Bans in every way - "Meta's new Oakley smart glasses feature eight hours of battery life, capture 3K video, and most importantly, look great."
• The 10 best films of all time named - three of them released after 2000 - "Sergio Leone's epic western The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, comes in at number 10."
• Ranked: The Countries With the Most Seniors (2025-2100P) - "European nations currently lead as countries with the most people aged 65+, but their increases through the century are projected to be slower and less extreme. On the other hand, China is projected to move from outside the top ranks in 2025 to the world’s 3rd most senior-heavy population by 2100."
• Americans say this net worth would make them ‘financially comfortable’ - but that metric is often ‘misleading,’ money expert says - "On average, Americans say they'd need a net worth of $839,000 to feel financially comfortable, according to a recent survey from Charles Schwab."
• Top 10 Best Airports for Security Checks in the World in 2025 - "The next time you find yourself breezing through security with time to spare and your dignity intact, take a moment to appreciate the small miracle of these 10 excellent airport management: 1. Copenhagen Airport (CPH) 2. Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) 3. Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) 4. Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) 5. Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) 6. Bahrain International Airport (BAH) 7. Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) 8. Zurich Airport (ZRH) 9. Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) 10. New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)."
• 10 Philosophy Books To Challenge & Inspire Your Thinking - "Philosophy books encompass anything that examines the acquisition of knowledge, creation of values, and logic of reason: 1. Republic by Plato (375 B.C.) - 2. The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir (1949) - 3. Vindication of the Rights of Women - 4. The Art of War by Sun Tzu (5th century B.C.) ..."
• 125,000-year-old ‘fat factory’ run by Neanderthals discovered in Germany - "Large-scale processing of within-bone nutrients by Neanderthals, 125,000 years ago."
• Hidden Detail in Crotch Solves 500-Year-Old Leonardo Da Vinci Mystery - "Leonardo's textual reference to ‘an equilateral triangle’ between the figure's legs provides insight into his geometric approach, offering a potential solution to the long-standing question of his circle-square relationship. Leonardo's equilateral triangle corresponds to Bonwill's triangle in dental anatomy - the geometric relationship governing optimal human jaw function established in 1864, suggesting Leonardo may have identified similar principles centuries earlier. The analysis shows how combining art historical scholarship with contemporary anatomical knowledge can illuminate sophisticated mathematical thinking underlying Renaissance artistic achievement."
• UK's ninth richest billionaire cashes out and puts £250million London mansion up for sale after declaring 'Britain has gone to hell' - "Nestled on Chelsea's oldest street in west London, the Old Rectory comes fit with a private ballroom and a near two acre garden, one of central London's largest. The multi-million pound home boasts up to 10 bedrooms across 30,000 square feet."
• 5 big questions about Trump’s ties to Epstein - "A Wall Street Journal report late Thursday added new scrutiny to President Donald Trump’s relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Journal reported that Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell asked Trump and many others to submit letters for an album for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003: 'Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret.'"
• Inside the Long Friendship Between Trump & Epstein - "For nearly 15 years, the two men socialized together in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Fla., before a falling out that preceded Mr. Epstein’s first arrest."
• How the Autopen Earned Trump's Ire - "For President Donald Trump, the “biggest political scandal” in American history isn’t Watergate. Neither is it the Teapot Dome scandal of the early 1920s or the Reagan Administration’s Iran-Contra Affair. To him, short of the 2020 election he claims was stolen from him, the most scandalous thing to ever happen in U.S. politics is a machine that copies signatures."
• Brewing trouble: America’s coffee addiction meets Trump’s trade tariffs - "America’s love for coffee has made the dark brewed beverage the most popular drink in the country. US adults drink 516 million cups of coffee every day, even though coffee prices have almost doubled in the past five years. Here’s a look at the value of the coffee trade, US coffee-drinking habits and why your cup of coffee could be more expensive very soon, if Trump goes ahead with his latest tariff plan."
• Meta investors, Zuckerberg reach settlement to end $8 billion trial over Facebook privacy violations - "Mark Zuckerberg and current and former directors and officers of Meta Platforms, opens new tab agreed on Thursday to settle claims seeking $8 billion for the damage they allegedly caused the company by allowing repeated violations of Facebook users' privacy."
• ‘Coldplaygate’: Astronomer CEO resigns after viral Coldplay concert incident - "Andy Byron, the chief executive of New York-based tech company Astronomer, has resigned from his role after he was spotted embracing an employee at a Coldplay concert."
• Why Am I Sweating More Than I Used To? - "Aging, hormones, medications, stress, and underlying health conditions can all tweak your body's thermostat. Here's how sweat patterns typically change over time - and when those shifts signal something more serious."
• These Croissants Took a $500 Ride to the Hamptons - "When the wealthy need anything - luggage, a prescription or keys - delivered out east, they can call Tote Taxi."
• Members only: India's rich & famous ditch old-school clubs for exclusive hangouts - "A new generation of wealth creators has fuelled demand for private members-only clubs in Asia's third largest economy."
• What is the controversial 'princess treatment' & why is Gen Z obsessed with it? - "The social-media phenomenon has been growing online - part etiquette trend, part relationship aspiration, part fairytale. Is it empowering, a bit of fun, or something more sinister?"
• The Best New Gadgets & Hi-Fi Releases of 2025 (Updated) - "The best tech products announced this week include Pro-Ject's affordable headphone amplifier, a carbon black Apple Watch strap and FiiO's desktop speaker system."
• The Best Military & Intelligence Unit Watches - "Customized Timepieces From Rolex, Breitling, Tudor, Bremont, & Omega: 1. Customized Timepieces From Rolex, Breitling, Tudor, Bremont, & Omega. 2. US Army Delta Force Breitling Superocean. 3. Australian SAS Omega Seamaster. 4. Italian “Polipetto” Rolex Sea-Dweller. 5. Canadian Tudor Pelagos 39. 6. UK 'Special Reconnaissance Regiment' Rolex Submariner."
• How Rolex's Unlikely Collab Watch With Domino's Pizza Became a Cult Classic - "The inside story of the most unusual (officially sanctioned) Rolex model ever made."
• A new drug has been approved for hair loss. Here’s who it could help - "Ritlecitinib (Litfulo) is a once-a-day capsule that works by reducing inflammation thought to be triggered by an autoimmune reaction that damages hair follicles in people with hair loss: alopecia areata (AA). The drug works by preventing immune system cells from attacking hair follicles, potentially leading to hair regrowth."
• Trump files libel lawsuit over Wall Street Journal report on Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday letters - "President Donald Trump filed a libel lawsuit against the publisher of the Wall Street Journal and reporters who wrote a story about a collection of letters gifted to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, including a note bearing Trump’s name and an outline of a naked woman."
• Trump said he never ‘wrote a picture.’ This woman solicited two drawings from him - "A drawing by President Donald J. Trump on display at the Street, Contemporary and Celebrity Art Auction at Julien's Auctions Pop-UP Gallery in Beverly Hills, California. October 16, 2017."
• ‘The ghost of Epstein is haunting Trump’s presidency’: inside the ‘Maga’ revolt - "As pressure builds over the president’s broken promise to publicly release details about the convicted sex offender, his base has a new target: Trump himself."
• A Timeline of What We Know About Trump & Epstein - "Donald Trump was friendly for at least 15 years with Jeffrey Epstein, the multimillionaire financier and convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019."
• Here’s ‘how much worse’ Astronomer CEO Andy Byron & HR chief Kristin Cabot’s Coldplay scandal could be: lawyers - "On Wednesday evening, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his human resources chief, Kristin Cabot, were singled out in a crowd of 55,000 during Coldplay’s concert at Gillette Stadium near Boston during a segment in which lead singer Chris Martin would create impromptu ditties to sing with the chosen targets."
• ‘Coldplaygate’ Is a Stark Reminder That Cameras Are Everywhere - "A video from a concert dominated internet discourse as people joked about a man and woman who appeared very upset to be shown on camera."
• Indiana Jones whip snaps up $525,000 at auction after 'Citizen Kane' sled goes for $14.75 million - "The whip sold Thursday was used during the Holy Grail trials that Ford’s character goes through at the climax of 1989’s 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.'"
• Summer fare from around the world to cool down in hot weather - "Take inspiration from around the world in our guide to 24 salads that deserve a place at every table."
• How amateurs measure themselves up to pros on one of the world’s toughest cycling stages - "The Tour de France’s reputation precedes it. Even if you’ve never seen a bike race or struggle to name a professional rider, the most casual sports fan is aware of just how physically and mentally demanding the event can be."
• Swatch may let you design your own MoonSwatch using artificial intelligence - "Swatch's artistic intelligence, named AI-DADA, will be used to design unique watches. Swatch is set to unveil a brand new service that will allow customers to design their own watch dials using artificial intelligence."
• Why Prada - & other luxury brands - keep getting India wrong - "A recent controversy surrounding Italian luxury label Prada has put the spotlight on how global fashion giants engage with India - a country whose rich artistic traditions have often suffered because of its inability to cash in on them."
• The country with incredible natural wonders that few tourists have seen - "After decades largely cut off from the world, Angola’s natural wonders are again ready for discovery. The southern African country is twice the size of Texas, and the roads and accommodation that will allow more tourists to explore the interior are just getting into place."
• 10 Wake-Up Calls We Usually Receive Too Late in Life - "There’s a big difference between empty fatigue and gratifying exhaustion. Life is too short not to focus more on what matters most."
• Trump orders officials to 'produce' more Epstein documents after mounting pressure - "'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,' he said."
• Birthday letters to Epstein included one bearing Trump’s name - "Wall Street Journal: Birthday letter to Epstein bore Trump’s signature, drawing of naked woman."
• What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency? Trump’s Diagnosis, Explained - "On July 17, the White House announced that President Donald Trump was diagnosed with a condition called chronic venous insufficiency after he noticed swelling in his legs."
• ChatGPT can now ‘think’ & ‘act’ for you after a new update - "OpenAI on Thursday announced a new feature for ChatGPT that allows the popular chatbot to execute actions on a user’s behalf."
• In pictures: This is what Disneyland looked like when it opened 70 years ago - "Billed as the 'Happiest Place on Earth,' Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, ushering in the birth of the modern theme park industry."
• The 13 Greatest Rolex Watches of All Time - "From Submariner to Sky-Dweller. Here, ranked from strong to strongest, are the 13 greatest Rolex watches of all time."
• Science Says There’s Only 1 Thing You Can Buy Guaranteed to Make You Happier - "Although other studies appear to at least partly debunk that finding, even so: money - especially spending money - does a lot of things, but it won’t make you happier. Unless you buy this."
• Omakase Isn’t Always Worth the Hype. Our Critic Says This One Is - "In the era of big, flashy, beefed-out sushi menus, the serene counter at Mori Nozomi stands out."
• Amelia Earhart’s Complicated Legacy & Horrible Husband - "In 'The Aviator and the Showman,' Laurie Gwen Shapiro tells the story of the doomed pilot’s marriage to 'the publishing world’s P.T. Barnum.'"
• Ranked: Countries With the Highest & Lowest Pensions in Europe - "Rich Western economies like Iceland, Luxembourg, and Norway can afford annual pensions north of €30,000 per retiree. Poland and Hungary spend a big slice of GDP on pensions, yet smaller tax bases keep payouts below €7,000."
• Mapped: The Richest Person in Every U.S. State - "From tech moguls to retail tycoons, the richest person in each U.S. state reflects the industries driving wealth across the country. Some are household names, while others have built quiet fortunes in their home states. This map shows the richest person in U.S. every state and their estimated net worth, as ranked by Forbes."
• Donald Trump Suffers 'Brutal' Polling Over Jeffrey Epstein - "President Donald Trump has been hit with negative polling regarding the U.S. government's response to the so-called Jeffrey Epstein files. According to two polls, the majority of Americans think the government is covering up evidence about the late wealthy financier and convicted sex offender."
• musk continues trump feud by mocking president's claim Epstein files are a 'hoax' - "'Wow, amazing that Epstein 'killed himself' and Ghislaine is in federal prison for a hoax.'"
• Meet the man who spent $10 million on the original Birkin bag - "Shinsuke Sakimoto, CEO of Valuence Holdings Inc, says winning the bid was a defining moment for his company, which trades exceptional pre-owned items."
• Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? - "We’ve all heard that the advice about having a good breakfast can set us up for the day. But does that mean this meal can makes us healthier and thinner - or is it something else?"
• Trump takes credit for sweet change to Coca-Cola - "President Donald Trump announced what could be refreshing news to some Americans on Wednesday: thanks to him, Coke is changing its American recipe."
• The exercise at least four times more efficient than walking - "Cycling represents one of the most energy-efficient forms of transport ever invented. Cycling can be at least four times more energy-efficient than walking and eight times more efficient than running."
• Only one country in the world produces all the food it needs, study finds - "Out of 186 countries, only Guyana produces enough food to self-sufficiently feed all its citizens without foreign imports, according to new research. The others are vulnerable to the effects of war, natural disasters and trade disputes on their food supply."
• America’s Protein Obsession Is Transforming the Dairy Industry - "Whey, the liquid byproduct of cheese making, was once considered waste. Now it is a key ingredient in the protein powders that Ozempic users and weight lifters are downing in ever-greater amounts."
• Singapore’s most famous landmark is undergoing an $8 billion expansion - "With three 650-foot-tall skyscrapers connected across the top by a boat-like skybridge - and an Instagram-famous infinity pool - Marina Bay Sands has given Singapore one of Asia’s most recognizable skylines since opening in 2011. The Marina Bay Sands hotel and resort is being expanded with a fourth tower and a new 15,000-seat entertainment venue."
• How 'Superman' Star David Corenswet Won the Role - "David Corenswet Wants to Be a Superman You Can Count On. The actor has a man-out-of-time quality that makes him surprisingly like his character. But he is hyperaware of the present expectations riding on his performance."
• Could axing two national holidays save France from its mountain of debt? - "Far from the popular image, the French actually have fewer national holidays than the European average. France has 11, like Germany and the US. Slovakia has the most, with 15, and England, Wales, and the Netherlands have the fewest, with 8. Ireland and Denmark have 10."
• How Old Dubai's historic streets beat extreme heat - "Long before our reliance on air-conditioning, Dubai's old town kept people's homes cool using a combination of clever techniques to lower the temperature. The same basic techniques are being revived again today."
• Celebrating two Wimbledon champions banned for doping is hard to stomach - "There is no doubting the brilliance of Jannik Sinner or Iga Swiatek but their respective victories at SW19 come with an asterisk."
• 2025 Emmy Nominations: See the Full List Here - "Severance leads the awards this year with 27 nominations, with The Penguin, The Studio, and The White Lotus close behind."
• With Epstein conspiracy theories, Trump faces a crisis of his own making - "As his supporters erupt over the Justice Department’s failure to release much-hyped records in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation, President Donald Trump’s strategy has been to downplay the issue."
• A Timeline of Donald Trump & Jeffrey Epstein’s Relationship as It Draws Renewed Attention - "As Trump faces pushback from his MAGA base over his handling of the Epstein files, here is a look at their decades-long relationship."
• Donald Trump Ally Reacts to Ghislaine Maxwell Testifying About Epstein - "Roger Stone, a former adviser and longtime ally of President Donald Trump, referred to Ghislaine Maxwell as Jeffrey Epstein's 'pimp.'"
• TIME100 Creators: The Most Influential Digital Voices of 2025 - "Recently, we’ve expanded the TIME100, the world’s most influential community, to include individuals who work in fields that we believe are shaping the future. Today, we release the inaugural TIME100?Creators list, in recognition of how significantly these individuals are changing the way people inform themselves."
• 12 watch collections still selling for over retail prices & only seven of them are from Rolex - "Which watches retain their value best today?"
• Patek Philippe 5002 Sky Moon Tourbillon - "The Most Complicated Wristwatch Produced by Patek Philippe."
• 5 ChatGPT Prompts To Generate Startup Ideas Worth Millions - "Use ChatGPT to generate validated startup ideas quickly. Leverage your experience, analyze market gaps and customer complaints, cross-pollinate solutions between industries, follow money flow trends, and capitalize on emerging technologies. Provide ChatGPT with specific prompts about your skills, industry, and target market to uncover potential million-dollar opportunities."
• Traveling Ultralight: How to Pack a Personal Item - "As more airlines charge for traditional carry-on bags, those who don’t want to pay need to fit everything into a tote, small duffel bag, daypack or roomy purse. Here’s how."
• 'First there is trust, then passion, then death': Why the 'Virgin Queen' never married - "Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, is the only English queen never to have married. The iconic Tudor monarch's last visit to Kenilworth 450 years ago may hold some clues to her solo reign - as revealed in a new art installation at the castle, depicting betrayal, beheadings and an elaborate declaration of love."
• Trump flails as Epstein storm rages around his government - "For once, Trump is becoming the victim of an out-of-control conspiracy. Donald Trump very rarely loses control of his own story. But the Jeffrey Epstein saga is beyond his powers to quell."
• ghislaine maxwell refused appeal on sex-trafficking verdict - "The socialite has now run out of attempts to overturn her 20-year federal prison sentence for recruiting girls and young women for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse. Maxwell was convicted by a jury in New York in 2021 of five counts involving sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy."
• Russia sees Trump’s 50-day window as a green light to keep up brutal offensive in Ukraine - "President Trump has effectively handed Vladimir Putin an extraordinary green light: 50 days to finish off his brutal summer offensive in Ukraine before facing any consequences."
• Italy's New Tourism Regulations: What Visitors Need to Know - "Italy faces an unprecedented challenge: protecting its rich cultural heritage and natural landscapes against the growing stream of tourists. From the narrow streets of Florence to the crystal-clear waters of Capri, new measures are being introduced everywhere to manage tourism effectively. This overview highlights some of the most important changes visitors should be aware of."
• Italy's Portofino bans barefoot walking & swimwear in town centre - "Walking barefoot through the town or sitting on the piazza in swimwear will be prohibited in the chic seaside resort of Portofino on the Italian Riviera starting on Tuesday."
• Ranked: The 40 Most Fun Countries in the World, According to People - "Which countries offer the most fun? This 2024 ranking reveals the 40 most fun countries based on nightlife, festivals, and culture. Spain is the most fun country, according to a global survey conducted in 2024. It also ranks #4th for adventure and cultural influence."
• Ranked: The 10 Least Livable Cities in the World in 2025 - "The bottom of The Economist's liveability rankings is largely filled by cities from the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Damascus, the capital of Syria, remains the world’s least livable city in 2025."
• The Best Books of the Year (So Far) - "The nonfiction and novels we can’t stop thinking about."
• The Best Movie Opening Scenes, Definitively Ranked - "From Jaws to Drive to 28 Weeks Later, these films had us locked in before the ice in our sodas started to melt."
• 20 Essential Hotel Rooftops in the World’s Top Food Cities - "Whether you stay the night or not, the best hotel rooftops are a go-to when you touch down."
• The cities with the most skyscrapers in the world - "The cities with the highest number of buildings over 150 metres tall."
• 5 ChatGPT Prompts To Go Viral In Your Niche - "Craft viral content by making it easily shareable. Evoke pride, curiosity, then righteous anger in your audience. Use simple language, challenge readers, and respectfully debate industry norms. Distill your message into a concise, insightful headline for effortless sharing."
• Rosie O’Donnell Responds to Trump’s Threat to Revoke Her U.S. Citizenship, Brings Epstein Into the Row - "Comedian and actor Rosie O’Donnell has responded to President Donald Trump's threat to have her U.S. citizenship revoked, the latest move in a yearslong back-and-forth between the two New York-born former TV stars. Taking to her Instagram on Saturday, hours after Trump’s threat, O’Donnell uploaded a picture of the U.S. President with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
• The 20 Best Dressed Celebrities & Royals at Wimbledon 2025 - "Here is the best attendee fashion at the All England Lawn Tennis Club this summer."
• Bitcoin tops $120,000 for the first time - "Bitcoin crossed the $120,000 level for the first time on Monday, marking a milestone for the world’s largest cryptocurrency as investors bet on long-sought policy wins for the industry this week. Later in the day, the US House of Representatives will debate a series of bills to provide the digital asset industry with the nation’s regulatory framework it has long demanded. Those demands have resonated with US President Donald Trump, who has called himself the 'crypto president' and urged policymakers to revamp rules in favor of the industry."
• ‘Superman’ leaps weekend box office in single bound - " It was 'up, up and away' for James Gunn’s 'Superman' reboot, which finished No. 1 at the box office with a $122 million opening weekend."
• How to experience Italy like a local this summer - "There are a million reasons to go to Italy, so why do visitors always go to the same few places? Here are our favourite ways to shake up your Italian itinerary."
• Visit Monaco - "Like Nowhere Else." Personalise your itinerary by using your favourites or exploring our suggestions, depending on your dates, and choose the experiences and places that will ...
• John Goodman Looks Back on Roseanne, Smurfs, Tom Cruise, ... - "The legendary actor, now celebrating 50 years in the business, opens up about his fraught relationship with Roseanne, bombing his 'SNL' audition and Spielberg announcing his role in 'Flintstones' without asking him first."
• What the World Is Asking ChatGPT in 2025 - "We break down the most common categories for ChatGPT prompts this year, highlighting the dominance of software prompts."
• A retired investor said “rich people don’t buy things - they buy leverage.” Here’s what that means - "A chance remark from a seasoned investor—and fresh insights from a provocative new book—taught me why leverage beats luxury when building real wealth."
• Top 5 Turntables For Superior Vinyl Listening: Audiophile’s Guide For July 2025 - "Vinyl is more than a format—it’s a ritual, a tactile connection to music’s past and present. For audiophiles, the turntable is the heart of the listening experience, blending precision engineering with visual artistry. Today’s best turntables aren’t only about sound quality; they’re about design, innovation, and the ability to fit seamlessly into modern living spaces."
• A Long-Hidden Detail in Vermeer’s Quiet Street Scene Emerges - "New research by Rijksmuseum showed how the Dutch painter slowly perfected 'The Street.'"
• He Built a House With Doors & Windows That You Can’t Close - "Inspired by homes open to their natural settings, an architect designed a house on the Greek island of Corfu with minimal barriers from the 'wild landscape.'"
• How the Trump assassination attempt changed the 2024 race & the MAGA movement - "One year from the Butler assassination attempt: How it changed the 2024 race, the MAGA movement and Trump himself."
• A year after Butler: How a near assassination led to an uneven search for accountability in the Secret Service - "One year after the near assassination of Donald Trump, a deep frustration has set in at the Secret Service over the agency’s response to the security failures of that day."
• Ranked: The World’s Biggest Tourism Economies - "Tourism is a major economic driver for many nations, powering jobs, infrastructure, and global connections. This chart highlights the top 10 countries by the size of their tourism economies, encompassing everything from hotel stays and flights, to attractions and services."
• Baggage Fees Are Everywhere. Here’s How to Use a Credit Card to Get Around Them - "We asked travel and credit card experts how to maximize value and save money when it comes to pesky luggage add-ons. Here’s what you need to know."
• Top 10 Largest Museums in the World - "1. Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 2. State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia. 3. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, USA. 4. National Museum of China, Beijing, China. 5. American Museum of Natural History, New York City, USA. 6. Palace Museum, Beijing, China. 7. National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. 8. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA. 9. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., USA. 10. National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, USA."
• Apple explains why you should never swipe apps closed on an iPhone - "Apple advises against routinely swiping away iPhone apps from the app switcher because it can actually reduce battery life and potentially slow down the phone. Apps in the background are effectively frozen, and relaunching them from a frozen state uses less power and resources than fully restarting them. Closing apps only to reopen them shortly after is counterproductive."
• Forbes 2025 America's Most Successful Immigrants - "A record 125 foreign-born U.S. citizens are billionaires living in the United States. They hail from 41 countries but became rich in America. These American immigrants are worth a record $1.3 trillion combined and hold 18% of America’s $7.2 trillion in total billionaire wealth."
• Where do French presidents unwind? This stunning medieval fortress - "Few international visitors make it to this corner of the Mediterranean, where France’s head of state has vacationed since the 1960s. From a tour of the impressive fort itself, to the surrounding villages and vineyards, here’s why it’s worth a trip. What was once an impregnable fortress prized by marauding pirates is now the high-security Fort de Brégançon."
• Heat makes us slow & stupid - Britain needs air con now! - "Higher temperatures can worsen decision-making, reaction time, the ability to sustain attention and working memory - all critical for learning, productivity and safety. The window of safe internal temperature for the human body is remarkably narrow: 36.1C to 37.2C. Outside it sits hypothermia on one end, heatstroke on the other."
• Giant shoes found near Hadrian’s Wall spark mystery around the soldiers of ancient Rome - "Archaeologists have unearthed a stash of unusually large shoes at the ruins of a first-century military fort along Hadrian’s Wall, a 73-mile (117-kilometer) stone barrier that famously shielded the Roman Empire’s northwestern perimeter from foreign invaders. The largest leather sole found at the Magna Fort spans about 12.8 inches (32.6 cm) in length."
• Superyacht fire in Saint-Tropez prompts port evacuations & pollution alert - "A dramatic fire aboard the 41-metre superyacht Sea Lady II rocked the Port of Saint-Tropez late Sunday night, prompting full evacuation of the quayside and raising serious environmental concerns due to the vessel’s massive fuel load."
• Judge Releases Letter From Trump Assassination Suspect - Read in Full - "The judge presiding over the case of Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, has released a letter that the suspect sent to the court."
• Important reason you should restart your iPhone every single day - "'Restart your phone every day, that’s one practical piece of advice. Because a lot of forms of this kind of spyware will be foiled by a reboot. That seems so banal but it really is a good step to take. Keep everything updated is the other thing.' The National Security Agency claim restarting your device helps to protect it from some hacking attacks, especially via malicious links and so-called zero-click exploits."
• Ranked: The Countries Gaining & Losing Millionaires in 2025 - "This graphic breaks down millionaire migration in 2025, shedding light on the movement of wealth. The UK is the biggest mover, losing 16,500 millionaires worth an estimated combined total of $91.8 billion."
• ‘Superman’ Review: It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Reboot! - "Beginning again with the Man of Steel, this time in the hands of James Gunn. It’s a sincere but also goofy movie, with a few well-timed twists on the mythology and a couple of added characters who keep things light at just the right moments."
• What Superman’s Pet Owes to a Badly Behaved Rescue Dog - "For the furry sidekick, Krypto, in 'Superman,' the director James Gunn found inspiration - and a physical model - in his own unruly pet."
• North Korea's Benidorm-style resort welcomes first Russian tourists - "The Wonsan Kalma resort was opened in a grand ceremony last month by North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, who hailed it as a 'world-class tourist and cultural destination'."
• How to keep dogs cool in hot weather - "From burnt paws to heatstroke, dogs and other pets can suffer in the heat. Here's how veterinarians recommend keeping them cool."
• Happiness researcher shares his ’90-second rule’ to live a better, more fulfilled life - it helps when you’re angry or upset - "It’s called the 90-second rule: When something angering or nerve-wracking happens in your life, give yourself a minute and 30 seconds to feel upset. Then, choose to focus on other things."
• The Godfather Line That Changed Movie Dialogue Forever - "When words wield more power than weapons in film... It’s just 10 words long. No shouting. No guns. Just a soft, almost affectionate murmur: 'I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.'"
• The Eiffel Tower, Golden Gate Bridge & More: Photos of 10 Incredible Landmarks Under Construction - "Take a look at these vintage photos that show some of the world's most famous landmarks under construction."
• 15 of the most famous first sentences across literature - "15 Books That Nail The Perfect Opening Line: 1. 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (1859). 2. 'I am an invisible man.' - Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (1952). 3. 'It was a dark and stormy night.' - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (1962) ..."
• Jane Birkin’s original HermÈs handbag sells for record €8.6m at Paris auction - "Prototype for bag once owned by British-born singer and actor is most expensive fashion accessory sold at auction in Europe."
• 7 Secret Details About Jane Birkin's Original Birkin Revealed - "Learn more about the unique details of Jane Birkin's Original Hermès Birkin, which sold for a record-breaking $10.1 million at auction."
• Elon Musk’s xAI launches Grok 4 alongside a $300 monthly subscription - "Subscribers to the plan will get an early preview to Grok 4 Heavy, as well as early access to new features."
• Elon Musk lashes out at Tesla bull Dan Ives over board proposals: ‘Shut up’ - "Tesla CEO Elon Musk told analyst Dan Ives to 'Shut up' in a post on X, after Ives offered three recommendations to the company's board."
• A guide to the parts of Spain that aren’t sick of tourists - "For those who would prefer to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem, Spain has many destinations untroubled by excess tourism, where visitors can not only enjoy a less overexposed experience but also the privilege of being a welcome guest."
• The world’s first national park isn’t in the US. It’s in Mongolia - "Many American schoolchildren grow up learning that Yellowstone was the world’s first national park. But across the globe in Mongolia, just south of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, a mountain holds a claim to the crown."
• I Can't Sleep. Now What? - "If you're struggling to fall asleep, The New York Times recommends trying a few strategies like deep breathing exercises, listening to calming sounds, or engaging in light stretching."
• Travelling? Here's how to keep bedbugs from coming home with you - "How to Keep Bedbugs From Coming Home With You."
• Sweden’s Secret to Well-Being? Tiny Urban Gardens - "Known as koloniträdgårdar, they provide city dwellers access to nature, fresh produce and community."
• CEOs & tech leaders are wearing these luxury sunglasses - "These are the eyewear trends among CEOs like Andy Jassy and Bob Iger, which include sunglasses from Ray-Ban, Meta, and more."
• 'Autofocus' specs promise sharp vision, near or far - "They look like an ordinary pair of glasses – but these are tech-packed specs. Auto-focus lenses promise to adjust part or all of the lens spontaneously, and even accommodate the wearer's changing eyesight over time."
• Designing for the 1%: Here’s what happened at the Paris couture shows - "After a week’s pause following the men’s fashion shows, celebrities, editors and influencers were back in Paris for Haute Couture - where bespoke collections are shown and eventually sold to the world’s wealthiest customers."
• Where did you learn English, Trump asks president of anglophone country - "US President Donald Trump praised Liberian President Joseph Boakai for his strong grasp of the English language on Wednesday. But the African leader was educated in Liberia, where English is the official language."
• The Trick to Watching the Tour de France? Ignore the Stars - "Netflix’s new docuseries tries to wring drama from the best cyclists. But the real poetry is found among the riders surrounding them."
• Amazon Prime Day is in full swing. Here are the best deals that are worth it - "Here's what CNN Underscored readers are shopping during the sale extravaganza, with deals up to 55% off."
• ChatGPT Glossary: 53 AI Terms Everyone Should Know - "AI is growing rapidly. This list can help you stay on top of all the key terms."
• I’ve started using ChatGPT’s incognito mode every time - here's 4 reasons why & how to do it - "Of all of the miraculous things that ChatGPT can do, one of my favourite features is activated by a small button pushed as far into the corner as possible. Shaped like a small speech bubble, it is something I have found myself using more and more."
• The Movies We’ve Loved Since 2000 - "Explore 25 years of our movie coverage, and find your next film from this collection of our critics’ favorites from each year."
• A Guide To The Complicated Porsche 911 Range: Every Version & Generation - "The Porsche 911 has been around for over 60 years, and during that time, its range has swelled to encompass numerous versions. The history and current line-up of the 911 are stupidly complicated, so we're here to guide you through the madness."
• What to know about the Jeffrey Epstein saga - "On Monday, the Justice Department and the FBI released a memo evoking outrage from both President Donald Trump’s critics and his most ardent supporters. That memo claimed there was no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein had a list of powerful men who participated in his alleged underworld of sex trafficking and pedophilia. And, the memo said, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender was not murdered in his New York jail cell."
• TSA will no longer require all passengers to take shoes off at airport security checkpoints - "After nearly two decades, passengers going through airport security in the United States will no longer have to take their shoes off."
• What your snot can reveal about your health - "Snot plays a powerful role in protecting us from disease - and its colour alone can provide insights into what's going on in our bodies."
• Musk says Grok chatbot was 'manipulated' into praising Hitler - "Elon Musk has sought to explain how his artificial intelligence (AI) firm's chatbot, Grok, praised Hitler. Screenshots published on social media show the chatbot saying the Nazi leader would be the best person to respond to alleged 'anti-white hate.'"
• In pictures: Running with the bulls through Pamplona streets - "Revelers run with the bulls through the streets of Pamplona during Spain's best-known bull-running festival. San Fermin festival in Pamplona."
• A pizza chef's guide to the best pizza in Naples - "Neapolitan-born expert pizza maker Daniele Uditi believes that to understand pizza, you need to eat it in the place it was invented. Here are his top places to eat pizza in Naples."
• The struggle for control of the Arctic is accelerating & riskier than ever - "Tensions are growing at the top of the world. US President Donald Trump wants Greenland, Russia is modernising its Arctic military bases, Chinese icebreakers are opening new routes and spies are being unmasked."
• 'LA's loneliest bachelor': How a mateless Hollywood puma inspired the world's biggest animal bridge - "Inspired by a mountain lion isolated from potential mates, the world's largest wildlife bridge is being built in Los Angeles to allow animals to roam freely."
• The Bayeux Tapestry, a British Masterpiece, Returns to England After 900 Years - "The embroidered work, depicting the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, will go on display in London for the first time, on loan from France."
• Trump Says Putin Throws ‘a Lot of Bullsh-t,’ Considers Sanctions Bill - "It was a rare acknowledgement from President Donald Trump that he has been getting played by Russian President Vladimir Putin."
• Nvidia becomes first company ever to be worth $4 trillion - "The AI chipmaker’s market value smashed the previous record valuation, set by Apple. Nvidia shares jumped more than 2% on Wednesday and topped a $4 trillion market cap for the first time ever. The chipmaker is the first company to achieve this milestone and has benefitted from the generative AI boom."
• Dress Codes: Why do tennis players wear white? - "Pristine, crisp and all-white - tennis whites have been a tradition dating back centuries. The distinctive look has not only made the racquet sport stand out, it has also become a sartorial mainstay off the courts, too."
• Wimbledon blames ball boy for latest electronic line call blunder - "Organizers of this year’s Wimbledon have said a ball boy caused the latest error with the electronic system that has replaced the traditional line umpires at this year’s tournament."
• Wimbledon’s most annoying spectators - ranked - "The tennis is a joy. People scrolling, talking, eating, not so much."
• How Queen Victoria Became the Biggest Drug Dealer of All Time - "Queen Victoria was a huge fan of drugs. That’s probably not what you’d expect from a stodgy old queen, but that’s a popular misconception. People tend to think of Queen Victoria as being super old, but in reality, she was only 18 when she ascended the throne, and she routinely enjoyed using a wide variety of pharmaceuticals. Opium was one of her favorites - but she didn’t smoke it in a pipe."
• Prince’s Palace opens intimate 'Grace' exhibition honouring Princess Grace Kelly - "Simply titled Grace, the exhibition opened on Saturday in the grand apartments of the Palace, celebrating the timeless elegance, humanity, and strength of Grace Kelly through evocative portraits and personal objects."
• Could Musk Really Create a Viable Third Party? - "Building a new political party to rival the Democrats and Republicans is enormously difficult and expensive. Small wonder it hasn’t been done."
• How the Rich Go Grocery Shopping - "In the Hamptons, gourmet stores cater to shoppers who don’t really worry what things cost. The shops meet the need for lobster salad, caviar and pink oyster mushrooms."
• A crustacean investigation into the Hamptons $100-per-pound lobster salad - "Lobster salad has hit $100 per pound at one shop in the Hamptons, a new high. First I went straight to the source, Loaves & Fishes Foodstore in Sagaponack, home of the $100-per-pound lobster salad. They told me they sell 1,000 pounds during the season."
• 'Most walkable' city in the world has five attractions within 10 minutes of each other - "Florence has been named the most walkable city in the world, and it's not hard to see why when you take a closer look at the five key attractions that are all within a 10-minute walk of each other."
• 8 things highly successful people do every morning, according to psychology - "1) Early risers - 2) Exercise - 3) Healthy breakfast - 4) Prioritization - 5) Gratitude - 6) Meditation - 7) Continuous learning - 8) Focus long-term goals."
• why shift to a zero-trust approach? why 'access denied' is actually a good thing - "Are your open systems a threat to video conferencing security? Zero Trust in response to advanced cyber threats. Conventional cybersecurity methods must be reevaluated. It's all about access control."
• Netanyahu nominates Trump for Nobel peace prize at White House meeting - " Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told President Donald Trump he had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, handing Trump a nomination letter during a meeting at the White House."
• What to expect from Paris Haute Couture Week - "Amid a record-breaking heatwave in the City of Lights - with temperatures so high the Eiffel Tower summit was closed to tourists last week - fashion designers prepare their pièce de résistance for Paris Haute Couture Week, which runs from 7-10 July."
• Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide & there’s no ‘client list,’ Justice Department says - "After months of touting the impending release of new, blockbuster information on accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, the Justice Department announced in a memo Monday that there is no evidence he kept a 'client list' or was murdered."
• Michael Douglas says he has no plans to act again - "Veteran actor Michael Douglas, a two-time Oscar winner who starred in classic movies like 'Wall Street' and 'Fatal Attraction,' says he has no plans to act again unless 'something special came up.'"
• I tried Denmark’s No. 1 secret to happiness for a year. It truly changed my life & even made me more confident - "Getting into a hobby is the No. 1 secret to happiness and balance. All too often, I hear from my former students that they are experiencing burnout. They tell me that as soon as they find balance at work, they will get into a hobby. Hobbies are integral to life in Denmark."
• 11 Things The Most Successful People Always Have In Their Homes - "It's not just about privilege and hard work. Here are 11 things the most successful people always have in their homes: 1. Vision boards. 2. To-do lists. 3. A dedicated workspace. 4. Books they actually enjoy. 5. Intentional furnishings ..."
• ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ roars to top of the box office - "Dinosaurs are alive and well at the box office as Universal’s 'Jurassic World Rebirth' trampled competitors, grossing $147 million domestically over five days of the Fourth of July weekend."
• Neither walking nor running: Harvard’s top recommended activity to keep people over 60 fit - "Why do some seniors glow with vitality while others slow down? It’s not just luck or genetics. It’s movement - smart movement that honors the body’s evolving needs. Let’s dive into what Harvard specialists recommend for anyone past 60 who wants not only to live longer but to live better."
• The Unrepentant Return of Christian Diet Culture - "There have been many times over the past several decades when conservative Christianity and weight control were explicitly linked."
• Want Italy's best food? Head to its national parks - "With so many famous cities and coasts to explore, most visitors to Italy never think to stop by its national parks, but these wild landscapes produce epic Italian culinary adventures."
• Trump calls Musk's new political party 'ridiculous' - "US President Donald Trump has hit out at former close ally Elon Musk over the multi-billionaire's plan to launch a new political party."
• How Trump is using the 'Madman Theory' to try to change the world (& it's working) - "Asked last month whether he was planning to join Israel in attacking Iran, US President Donald Trump said 'I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I'm going to do'."
• The hilltop town where Pope Leo XIV is staying cool on his summer vacation - "For centuries popes have spent their summers in the papal palace and gardens of Castel Gandolfo, a town nestled in the hills above Lake Albano. The small town, approximately 15 miles southeast of Rome, is 1,400 feet above sea level and provides an escape from the sweltering summer heat of the Eternal City."
• A quick guide to eating the healthiest bread - "Sourdough vs white sliced: Which breads should we be eating? When it comes to bread, supermarkets have a dizzying array of choice. Yet the bread we eat can have a surprising impact on our health."
• Steve Jobs’ dreaded “water glass test” is back in job interviews: how to respond - "Can a simple, seemingly innocuous act really influence the course of your career? Discover how Steve Jobs was able to transform a mere glass of water into a formidable indicator of a candidate's hidden talents."
• People who are genuinely happy alone usually share these 9 character traits - "There’s something quietly powerful about people who are happy alone. Not lonely. Not isolated. But deeply content in their own company—whether curled up with a book, walking through a park, or sipping coffee in a quiet cafe. Let’s explore 9 character traits of people who are genuinely happy alone - and why we might all benefit from cultivating them: 1. Emotional self-reliance - 2. Curiosity about life - 3. A strong ..."
• The Complete History of the IWC Portugieser Collection, the Icon from Schaffhausen - "Last year marked the 85th anniversary of one of IWC Schaffhausen‘s most important collections, the Portugieser. Originally created in the late 1930s, one of Swiss watchmaking's most iconic and enduring collections."
• Solar jackets are being used to power personal neck fans - "These ultra-thin bendy solar panels are so light you can wear them. Perovskite solar cells are lighter, cheaper to produce, and can be tuned to absorb a broader range of light, including visible and near-infrared."
• Canadian cuisine: 20 foods that reflect the country’s size & diversity - "Ask one of my fellow Canadians to describe our nation’s cuisine and you may very well be met with a blank stare, followed by a few mumbles about poutine and maple syrup being awesome. You know which dish didn’t make the cut? Hawaiian pizza. It was indeed invented in Canada, but many of us are happy to let the US claim ownership of that one."
• Beyond words: The 200-year-old hidden languages of dating - "From Regency-era 'fan flirting' to coded gifts, people have perfected the art of discreetly signalling their love over many centuries. Here's what it reveals about our quest for love."
• The ski resort Olympians flock to each summer - "Tucked into the Andes Mountains in Chile, Ski Portillo is a place where time stands still. With no town and limited rooms, there's not much to do besides ski - which is exactly the point."
• Is Cheese Giving You Nightmares? - "A modest body of contemporary research has sought to explore the link between food and nightmares more empirically. The latest is a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology - finding that if you want to get your z’s, you’d best limit the cheese."
• The 4 Words That Drive Your Doctor Up the Wall - "Here’s what happens: During the last moments of an appointment, as the doctor is walking out the door, a patient interjects: 'Just one more thing.' It sounds like an afterthought, but it sometimes turns out to be something serious, like a symptom that requires immediate attention or a side effect that changes the treatment plan."
• Rock, glamour & generosity: Monaco Red Cross Gala - "The countdown is on for one of Monaco’s most glamorous charity events, as the 76th Monaco Red Cross Gala is set to dazzle the Salle des Étoiles on Saturday, July 12. Presided over by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II and Her Serene Highness Princess Charlène, the glittering evening will bring together philanthropists, celebrities and supporters to celebrate the humanitarian work of the Monaco Red Cross."
• In pictures: Deadly flooding in Texas - "Torrential rain has caused flash flooding in parts of central Texas, killing at least 50 people. The Guadalupe River's water rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours."
• Elon Musk says he is launching new political party - "The billionaire announced on his social media platform X that he had set up the America Party, billing it as a challenge to the Republican and Democratic two-party system."
• Mapped: The State of Freedom Around the World in 2025 - "We show the state of freedom across 195 countries and 13 territories as freedom deteriorates for the 19th year in a row worldwide."
• Ranked: The Best Countries for Life-Work Balance in 2025 - "Top-ranked countries like New Zealand and Ireland offer generous paid maternity leave (26 weeks) and high statutory annual leave (30+ days), supporting strong work-life balance. The study evaluated paid leave, sick pay, maternity benefits, minimum wage, healthcare, happiness, work hours, LGBTQ+ rights, and safety, weighted to produce an overall score out of 100. Data was collected and analyzed in April 2025."
• Tracking the Movement of Millionaires in 2025 - "Countries gaining the most millionaires in 2025 are the UAE, U.S., and Italy. The biggest outlier of the list is the UK, which is losing 16,500 millionaires worth an estimated combined total of $91.8 billion USD."
• The richest cities in the world in 2025, ranked - "1. New York City, USA. Was this a surprise? 2. The Bay Area, USA. 3. Tokyo, Japan. 4. Singapore. 5. Los Angeles, USA. 6. London, UK. 7. Paris, France. 8. Hong Kong. 9. Sydney, Australia. 10. Chicago, USA."
• The Royal Box: Who’s in Wimbledon’s Most Exclusive Seats? - "The event’s most coveted seats are available only through invitation, reserved for celebrities and dignitaries. Here’s a look at who’s sitting in them."
• 100 years of art deco: The world’s greatest art deco buildings - "Bold shapes, clean lines and jazzy colours - here’s where to find the planet’s greatest examples of art deco architecture: 1. The Daily Express Building, London - 2. The Chrysler Building, New York City - 3. Alex Theatre, Los Angeles - 4. Art Deco Historic District, ..."
• Where to go instead of the big US parks this summer - "There are more than 400 sites in the US National Park System. Here's why it's time to skip the most-visited top 10 and seek out quieter, equally spectacular ground."
• It’s a Great Time to Be a Toe - "Thongs, mesh, diamonds and crystals: On runways and sidewalks, many shoes and accessories of the moment accentuate our little piggies."
• Tinder tests letting users set a ‘height preference’ - "Tinder is leaning into dating apps’ reputation for superficiality with the launch of a new feature that lets paid subscribers add their height preferences to their profiles."
• Lottery Winner Has Dizzying Criminal Record - "A 'persistent felony offender' nabbed $167.3 million jackpot. James Shannon Farthing, 50, was reported to have spent 30 years of his life incarcerated at 25 different jails before he won the Powerball jackpot in April."
• I Can't Use My M4 Mac Mini Without These Accessories - "I love my M4 Mac Mini, but the machine has some annoying snags. Zero USB-A ports and the lack of an SD card reader are two major drawbacks, and the less we talk about Apple’s ludicrously high storage tax, the better. Luckily, I remedied said issues with these handy accessories."
• Rimowa's Essential Carry-On Suitcase Is Best in Class - "The frequent flyer's alternative to the brand's iconic aluminum luggage. Made of high-performance polycarbonate, the suitcase is a lightweight alternative to the brand's iconic aluminum luggage."
• 112th TOUR DE FRANCE - "Will start in Lille on 5 July, and will finish with the final stage at Champs-Élysées, Paris, on 27 July."
• Fact check: Trump falsely claims his highly unpopular big bill is the ‘single most popular bill ever signed’ - "The bill is wildly unpopular, poll after poll has found. While polls can be off, this bill wouldn’t be popular - let alone the most popular US bill ever signed - even with a massive and widespread polling error."
• US debt is now $37trn - should we be worried? - "Trump's tax-cutting budget bill is expected to add at least $3 trillion to the US's already eye-watering $37tn debt pile."
• Denmark has long been Euroskeptic. Donald Trump helped change that - "As Denmark takes over the presidency of the European Union, Danes are more strongly pro-European than at any time in the past two decades - a shift in sentiment that can at least partly be attributed to US President Donald Trump."
• River Seine reopens to swimmers in Paris after century-long ban - "On Saturday morning at 08:00 local time (07:00 BST) a few dozen swimmers arrived ahead of the opening and dived into the water when they were able to do so. There are three designated areas for public swimming in the Seine - one near the Eiffel Tower, another close to Notre Dame Cathedral and a third in eastern Paris."
• TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025 - "These are the world's most influential businesses of the year."
• 'Do they have gold in them?': The Indian artisans up in arms over Prada's sandals - "The Western Indian town of Kolhapur has found itself in an unlikely global spotlight, as thousands of local artisans who hand-craft traditional leather footwear are mounting a collective attack on luxury fashion label Prada for plagiarising their designs without credit."
• People really can communicate with just their eyes, study finds - "New research reveals how humans communicate through their gaze. A new study suggests that people can detect subtle movements in the eyes that hint at a person's intentions."
• Are July 4th Fireworks Bad for the Environment? - "Perchlorates, a common ingredient in fireworks, flares, fertilizer, and solid rocket fuel, can pollute lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, endangering wildlife and entering the drinking water supply. In humans, perchlorates affect the function of the thyroid gland, which can alter metabolism."
• Is Taking a ‘Fart Walk’ Good for Your Health? - "Fans of the so-called fart walk - a short stroll taken up to about an hour after eating a meal - claim it aids digestion and relieves GI symptoms like gas and bloating. But what do doctors think?"
• This overlooked aspect of fitness affects everything - "Every breath you take affects how you move. Here’s how to fix both."
• A Snob's Guide To... Getting a Facelift - "How to approach your first facelift 101: the questions to ask, how to prepare your body, the post-op treatment add ons and recovery need to know. It's all here."
• Audrey Hepburn Enjoyed 30 Years of Peace & Privacy in This Historic Swiss Villa - "The spacious 18th-century home is an idyllic rural retreat, offering seclusion and tranquillity just an hour from central Geneva."
• A Local's Guide To Saint-Germain-Des-PrÉs, Paris - "Discover where to eat, shop, and unwind in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, as seen through the eyes of a longtime denizen."
• Why I Plan to Use My New Mac Mini for At Least 10 Years - "I've been using an M4 Mac mini as my primary work machine since late 2024 and am still thoroughly impressed by its performance."
• Mein Kampf at 100 - why the most reviled book in history still haunts us - "John Kampfner is one of the few people to have read Hitler’s 700-page book, both in English and in German - this is what he learnt."
• 6 Secrets From Mad Men’s Midcentury-Modern Sets - "A decade after the seminal show’s groundbreaking finale, set decorator Claudette Didul takes us behind the scenes of some of the best design to ever grace TV screens."
• Notorious Swedish gang leader arrested in Turkey - "One of Sweden's most wanted gang leaders, Ismail Abdo, has been arrested in Turkey, the Swedish prosecutor's office said on Friday. An estimated 14,000 people in Sweden are caught up in criminal gangs, according to a police report last year, and a further 48,000 people are said to be connected to them."
• Congress passes Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' cutting taxes & spending - "After a gruelling session on Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214 on Thursday afternoon. It was approved in the Senate on Tuesday by one vote."
• 7 little-known items in Trump’s big agenda bill - "Lawmakers tucked a long list of measures that won’t grab headlines into the massive tax and spending package. Here’s a look at seven of the lesser-known provisions of the measure."
• Wimbledon 2025: Must-see photos from grass-court Grand Slam - "The best action and highlights from the grass courts at Wimbledon, the season's third Grand Slam tennis tournament."
• Apple’s AI Doctor could transform your health, here’s why - "The latest report from Mark Gurman suggests that Apple is working on a new AI-powered Doctor as part of a revamped Apple Health."
• Battle of the billionaire yachts: Inside the most lavish boats - "Many of the world's billionaires are not shy about flaunting their fortunes, forking over millions on lavish estates, luxurious private jet rides, and in the latest craze: The superyacht has become the ultimate billionaire status symbol."
• Porsche Unveils Three New 911 Variants - "As the new generation of the Porsche 911 grows, the 2026 model year sees three more variants added to the group: the new 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe, the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, and the 911 Carrera Targa 4S. The addition of the three new variants brings the total number of current all-wheel drive 911 variants to six."
• Michael Madsen, a Familiar Hollywood Heavy, Is Dead at 67 - "He had the air of a timeless movie bad guy in movies like 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Kill Bill.' 'I’m a bit of a throwback to the days of black-and-white movies,' he said."
• Michael Madsen - a life in pictures - "A look back at the career of the celebrated actor, who has died at his home in Los Angeles aged 67."
• Readers Choose Their Top Movies of the 21st Century - "The 100 Top Movies According to Times Readers: 1. Parasite - 2. Mulholland Drive - 3. No Country for Old Men - 4. There Will Be Blood - 5. Interstellar - 6. The Dark Knight - 7. Mad Max: Fury Road."
• Mr. Big Is Alive & Well & Married in Vermont - "The real-life inspiration for the famous toxic bachelor on 'Sex and the City' left the Big Apple for the Green Mountain state. When Ronald Galotti was running magazines at Condé Nast, he was used to entertaining the likes of Linda Evangelista and Gianni Versace."
• For a Modest Price, the Streets of Paris Can Be Yours - "They were hurled at the police and piled in barricades in 1848 and 1968. They've been shown rain-slicked in countless paintings and photographs. Some Paris streets still have visible cobblestone paving, but on many the stones have been buried under asphalt and are often torn up during construction. Rather than dump them, the city has started to salvage and sell the stones."
• The Site of the Jonestown Massacre Opens to Tourists. Some Ask Why - "Both American survivors of the mass suicide and murder and Guyanese have criticized the tour. But defenders say the site offers important lessons."
• The Best Relationship Advice We’ve Heard So Far This Year - "These expert tips on how to argue, communicate and grow closer with the people you love could make for stronger bonds."
• 10 Nutrition Lessons From 2025, So Far - "How much protein do you need? Is there a 'least bad' alcohol? We tackled these questions and more. The New York Times has highlighted 10 key nutrition lessons from the first half of 2025. These lessons cover various aspects of healthy eating, including the benefits of coffee, the impact of social media on protein perception, the role of the microbiome, and the importance of prioritizing whole foods. Additionally, the conversation around ultra-processed foods, and the potential addictive nature of these foods, continues to evolve."
• Top 10 Unique Reminders & Note-Taking Devices & Tools For Busy Creatives - "These ten excellent products are uniquely designed to help you jot, sketch, remember, and act. From hybrid sticky notes that digitize your handwriting to time trackers that make focus visible, these devices and tools redefine the way creatives manage their days. Get ready to elevate your productivity and let your ideas flow."
• CEO: I’ve invested in over 100 startup founders under age 25 - the No. 1 ‘biggest thing’ that predicts their success - "The No. 1 'biggest thing' that correlates to success among those founders is a 'deep connection' to the problem that their startup is working to solve."
• 20 of modernism's most influential architects - a world tour - "From Bauhaus and brutalism to California and midcentury, these are the architects who shaped modernist architecture in the 20th century."
• Britain’s Royal Train, Once a Symbol of Luxury & Modernity, Is Being Retired - "Specially commissioned private rail cars have transported the royal family around the country for over 150 years, beginning with an initially trepidatious Queen Victoria."
• Takeaways from the verdict in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial - "The verdict is, to some extent, a win for Combs, who will avoid the worst case scenario: If he had been convicted of the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking, Combs could have faced up to life in prison. Instead, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years - though could serve a shorter sentence."
• Diddy's secret world revealed in?videos & his voice notes - "Former staff expose details of 'freak-offs' - drug-fuelled orgies held in luxurious international venues."
• What Is a Diddy ‘Freak Off’? Meaning Explained - "A 'Freak Off' or 'FO' refers to Diddy's sex parties, which Williams alleges that he would force victims to participate in when he 'didn't get his way.'"
• Sean Combs’s Nine Lives - "For decades, he occupied a special stripe of the celebrity stratosphere. Now the man who helped turn rap into a global concern has escaped a sex-trafficking conviction."
• Microsoft’s AI Is Better Than Doctors at Diagnosing Disease - "Medicine may be a combination of art and science, but Microsoft just showed that much of both can be learned - by a bot."
• Do You Need to Wear Sunscreen Every Day? - "Some worry it robs you of the benefits of sunshine, like vitamin D. We asked experts to weigh in. Sunscreen is our best weapon against skin cancer, which can be deadly. Most people don't apply enough sunscreen to fully shield the skin as often as needed. 'The risk of skin cancer is much more real than the risk of vitamin D deficiency.'"
• Trump wants to create a sculpture garden of American heroes. The logistics are massive - "Could this sculpture garden become Trump’s Mount Rushmore?"
• Why Europeans resist air conditioning despite heat danger - "While nearly 90% of US homes have air conditioning, in Europe it’s around 20%, and some countries have much lower rates. A big part of the reason is many European countries historically had little need for cooling, especially in the north. Heat waves have always happened but rarely reached the prolonged high temperatures Europe now regularly endures."
• Wimbledon ‘takes away the humanity’ by ending 148-year-old tradition - "For the first time in 148 years, Wimbledon has no line judges. Some say that ‘takes away the humanity’ from the tournament."
• How Wimbledon became the hottest ticket - "It's been the hottest start on record for the hottest ticket of the summer. Yes, yes, the weather, but only three days into Wimbledon 2025 (today is the fourth), the celebrity sightings, chic outfits, glamorous new tennis stars, caviar counters and popping champagne corks have really sent the mercury rising."
• The Map Rating Restaurants Based on How Hot the Customers Are - "LooksMapping, an A.I.-powered website, rates not the food, but the attractiveness of the diners."
• Late fashion icon Lagerfeld's discreet villa near Paris goes under hammer - "A villa outside Paris owned up until his death by the fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, which shows both luxury and discretion, is to be sold at auction Tuesday under a traditional method where time is counted by candles."
• Forget brat summer, Dior’s £2,500 Dracula bag has started bookworm summer - "Dior’s Dracula bag is one in a range of literary creations by the fashion house. Jonathan Anderson’s new collection of handbags features the covers of literary classics: books are in fashion once again - just ask Rihanna."
• The Eiffel Tower is closed to tourists due to searing heat. Here’s why it’s happening - "A marine heat wave in the Mediterranean Sea is combining with a powerful heat dome to cause Europe to swelter under a brutal early summer heat wave."
• Dalai Lama confirms he will have a successor after his death - "China's government responded by saying it alone would choose the Dalai Lama's successor, which must be 'approved by the central government.'"
• The real reason people buy new iPhones (hint: it’s not AI) - "40% of buyers indicate they purchased their new iPhone because of a problem with their old one. It still functioned, but experienced slow performance or had a damaged display, diminished battery life, or otherwise proved disappointing. Only 13% of US iPhone buyers reported upgrading specifically to take advantage of new features: better camera, improved display, or enhanced performance."
• iPhone wasn’t the first touchscreen phone. Steve Jobs was good at stealing great ideas - "The smartphone was Jobs’s invention in the sense in which the table knife was the invention of Cardinal Richelieu, the man credited for coming up with it."
• Superfake Rolexes Are Getting Smarter - "How to Spot Counterfeit Timepieces in the Luxury Watch Market."
• The Most Stylish People of 2025, So Far - "Some wore vestments, others scrubs. Some were on courts, others in court. All have shaped the look of the year."
• What Makes Someone Cool? A New Study Offers Clues - "Six traits can determine your ‘it’ factor, according to researchers who measured coolness around the globe."
• SUPERYACHTFAN - "Luxury Yacht Owners & Private Jet Owners, SuperYachts & Mega Yachts | The Largest Yachts in the World and the Amazing People who Own these SuperYachts." With the official launch of SuperYachtFan in 2009, the site transitioned its focus from showcasing yacht photography to profiling yacht owners, culminating in the creation of the Super Yacht Owners Register, a comprehensive database now featuring over 1,450 yacht owners.. The team behind SuperYachtFan is deeply engaged in investigative journalism, dedicating extensive resources to unravel the complex ownership structures of yachts, with our findings often being cited or utilized by various international media outlets.
• The ‘Great Dying’ wiped out 90% of life, then came 5 million years of lethal heat. New fossils explain why - "Around 252 million years ago, life on Earth suffered its most catastrophic blow to date: a mass extinction event known as the 'Great Dying' that wiped out around 90% of life. What followed has long puzzled scientists. The planet became lethally hot and remained so for 5 million years."
• The inside story of the wildest shoot in film history - "'Vietnam was insane, Apocalypse Now only slightly less so'. No production has been as troubled as the 1979 war epic. As behind-the-scenes documentary Hearts of Darkness is re-released, its director, and two of those who were on set, reveal all."
• What the Queen really thought of Meghan, according to her closest confidante - "Lady Elizabeth Anson was a cousin of the late monarch, and a source of comfort as relations with the Sussexes soured. 'Meghan is clearly brighter than Harry, but she has to be careful not to overshadow him.'"
• Why honey outlasts other foods - "The chemical secrets that help keep honey fresh for so long. Honey is a natural sweetener, and bacteria loves to feast on sugar. But honey is remarkably resistant to spoilage. What's behind its ability to beat the bugs."
• Millions of websites to get 'game-changing' AI bot blocker - "Millions of websites - including Sky News, The Associated Press and Buzzfeed - will now be able to block artificial intelligence (AI) bots from accessing their content without permission."
• How many push-ups you must do in a day to see visible results - "While there's no magic number, starting with 10-20 daily and gradually increasing to 50-100, divided into sets, is a solid approach. Prioritizing proper form over quantity is crucial. Variations and rest days are essential for continued progress. Push-ups are the toast of the fitness world, and are extremely popular."
• Elon Musk just made his starkest political threat since the election - "As the Senate debated President Donald Trump’s 'Big, Beautiful Bill' on Monday before a final vote, Musk issued a stark warning via his social media platform X declaring that if the 'insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day.'"
• Europe swelters under heatwave - in pictures - "Authorities issue extreme heat, health and wildfire warnings with highest temperatures forecast in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain."
• King Charles to receive £132m next year after crown estate makes £1.1bn profit - "Offshore wind power boom helps push profit from land and property to more than double what it was two years ago."
• Why Are So Many Men Wearing Bright Blue Suits Now? - "President Trump and others in his White House seem to favor suits in shades besides traditional navy. Our critic offers thoughts on why, and whether it will catch on more broadly."
• 50 years ago, a single keystroke changed Apple & the world forever - "In 1975, Steve Wozniak invented a technology that ignited the personal computing revolution."
• Steve Jobs, who once threatened his top engineers to design the iPhone in two weeks or else, himself spent two full weeks choosing a washer-dryer for his Palo Alto home - "The perfectionist, along with his family, scrutinized everything from noise levels to water use, water usage, ecological footprint, the longevity of the machines, how gently they treated clothes, and even their noise levels."
• Ranked: The Largest U.S. Companies by Revenue in 2025 - "Walmart generated $681 billion in revenue, leading the rankings for the 13th year in a row. Ranking in second is Amazon, with $637 billion in revenue - but nearly three times the profits as Walmart."
• The 14 Best Sneakers at Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 - "The season ahead will see us take a few steps back, unlocking trainer nostalgia."
• Photographer documents how a Chinese carmaker is outselling Tesla - "Photographer finds surreal beauty - and few humans - inside a Chinese EV factory. Edward Burtynsky's photo 'BYD Manufacturing Facility #1' was shot in one of Chinese car giant BYD's factories in Changzhou."
• Satellite that’s been dead since 1967 emits radio signal, puzzling astronomers - "The ASKAP radio telescope in Western Australia picked up a powerful radio signal from a NASA satellite that stopped working in 1967."
• The bridge changing lives & boosting business - "One of Europe's most iconic transport landmarks, the Øresund bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden, is celebrating 25 years since its opening. But challenges remain despite its huge impact on business in the region."
• What it takes to write like Agatha Christie - "Agatha Christie, the world's best selling fiction writer died nearly 50 years ago. Now, BBC Maestro, an online learning platform, have turned to AI technology to bring Agatha’s stories to life."
• The European nation pioneering 'beer diplomacy' - "For the last six years, the globe's top beer tourism destination has been quietly inviting brewers to the Czech Republic to teach the world how to drink properly."