Curiosities

Scroll through TikTok, Instagram Reels, or X on any given evening and you’ll encounter a familiar pattern: a fifteen-second podcast clip where a founder drops a hot take, a streamer highlight reel with a logo tucked in the corner, a meme you’ve seen before but this time with a brand watermark stamped across the bottom. The content looks organic. It shows up alongside posts from your friends. The algorithm served it to you because people like you watched it. But behind each of

President Donald Trump ’s Religious Liberty Commission discussed antisemitism at its hearing in Washington, DC, on Feb. 9, the same day  the commission was sued  for allegedly violating federal law requiring such groups to have viewpoint balance.   The hearing at the Museum of the Bible centered on antisemitism on college campuses and the role of state and local officials in defending religious liberty.   An audience member was removed at one point for outbursts during remark

Kalshi’s Super Bowl trading volume has grown fivefold in a single Eyear. Crypto.com timed the launch of its standalone prediction market app, OG, to land days before Super Bowl kickoff, offering more than 300 markets on everything from the coin toss to the Gatorade color dumped on the winning coach. Polymarket is approaching $700 million in trading volume across championship markets. Robinhood has rolled out hundreds of Super Bowl event contracts of its own. Super Bowl LX,

MILAN — The opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina is happening right now, marking the official start of these Games. This year's main ceremony is at San Siro Stadium in Milan, a 100-year-old venue and the oldest in Italy. Officials previously announced an inclusive theme featuring a show inside the stadium, but the festivities stretch across the clusters of the Milano Cortina Games, including satellite ceremonies in Livigno and Predazzo. The parad

" Melania ," the controversial documentary featuring first lady Melania Trump , surprised at the box office, notching a $7 million opening weekend, according to estimates released Sunday, Feb. 1, by Amazon MGM Studios. Directed by Brett Ratner , who has been in Hollywood exile since denying sexual harassment allegations in 2017, "Melania" had been tracking for a $3 million to $5 million opening. The movie follows the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump 's second in

There are few things more universal than a sweet tooth. Whether it’s a warm cookie after dinner, a popsicle on a summer afternoon or a handful of candy to get you through the work day, most of us find comfort in something sweet. And among America’s most beloved treats, few rival chocolate. But not all chocolate is created equal. While many varieties are loaded with added sugars and other additives, "dark chocolate contains a much higher percentage of cocoa than milk chocol

From ride breakdowns to meltdowns, these simple strategies help you stay calm and keep your family happy when Disney World plans go off track. 0:00 / The Most Magical Place on Earth  may not always feel magical. Sometimes a ride you were looking forward to  breaks down  or an experience you wanted is booked up. You or your kids may get hangry, overstimulated, or just  too hot . In four decades of going to Walt Disney World, I’ve run into just about every hiccup guests may enc

Ninety-five years after its release, Charlie Chaplin's silent comedy, City Lights, is often cited as one of the greatest films ever made – and its final moments are key to its reputation. When Charlie Chaplin was asked by Life Magazine in 1966 which of his films he regarded as his favourite, he gave the honour to City Lights, before downplaying his achievements with, "I think it's solid, well done." Since its premiere at the Los Angeles Theatre on 30 January 1931, cinephiles

Thinking of going to San Francisco for  Super Bowl LX?    Think again.  While San Francisco is absolutely worth visiting, the game is being played about an hour away in Santa Clara.  It can be confusing since  Levi’s Stadium  is home to the  San Francisco 49ers , not the Santa Clara 49ers, but it’s nowhere near what locals have long called “the city.”  Here’s what else first-time visitors should know about the Bay Area. Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with p

Far smaller and closer to the Sun than it should be, Mercury has long baffled astronomers because it defies much of what we know about planet formation. A new space mission arriving in 2026 might solve the mystery. At a cursory glance, Mercury might well be the Solar System's dullest planet. Its barren surface has few notable features, there is no evidence of water in its past and the planet's wispy atmosphere is tenuous at best. The likelihood of life being found amidst its

Formula 1 drivers gave a cautiously positive reaction to this year's new cars at the end of the first day of pre-season testing in Spain on Monday. Mercedes driver George Russell said: "The cars looked really cool out on the circuit and that's positive for our sport. "They are quite different for us as drivers but, once you get your head around it, driving them is quite intuitive. "It's enjoyable being behind the wheel and there's a lot for fans to look forward to with these

CAIRNS, Australia — “I just got a whiff,” said Peter Harrison, a marine scientist, as he leaned over the edge of the boat and pointed his flashlight into the dark water. “It’s really coming through now.” It was shortly after 10 pm on a cloudy December night, and Harrison, a coral researcher at Australia’s Southern Cross University, was about 25 miles off the coast of northern Queensland. He was with a group of scientists, tourism operators, and Indigenous Australians who had

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Casemiro will leave Manchester United at the end of the season, the Premier League club said Thursday. The Brazil international’s contract will expire after four years at Old Trafford in which he won the FA Cup and English League Cup. “I will carry Manchester United with me throughout my entire life,” Casemiro said. “From the first day that I walked out at this beautiful stadium, I felt the passion of Old Trafford and the love that I now share with

PARIS (AP) — Dior ’s menswear show arrived with a stripped-back set and a loud signal of confidence: neon-yellow wigs that read like a flag of authority planted in the Paris runway, after a couple of runway wobbles from their new designer. In an annex of the Rodin Museum lined with curtain fabric, Jonathan Anderson — the 41-year-old Northern Irish designer celebrated for turning Loewe into one of luxury’s most admired labels and now serving as Dior’s creative director — p

Universal Orlando Resort will debut a new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida in 2027, while permanently closing the Fast & Furious – Supercharged ride and replacing the former Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit attraction. The new coaster will feature a 170‑foot vertical spike that launches riders nearly 17 stories high over CityWalk and will simulate 360‑degree drifting on an outdoor track. A similarly named coaster is slated for Universal Stu

Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump at a private White House meeting, calling it a recognition of his “unique commitment” to Venezuelan freedom. Mr Trump posted on social media that it was a gesture of mutual respect, and thanked her. The talks come weeks after US forces seized Nicolas Maduro in Caracas and charged him with drug trafficking. Also: President Trump threatens to deploy military personnel to Minn

Disney Adventure, Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, arrived at Port Canaveral on Thursday. The ship made the stop on its way to its homeport in Singapore. The ship, which is the largest one in Disney's fleet, will make its maiden voyage on March 10. BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - Disney Adventure , the newest and largest cruise ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, arrived at Port Canaveral on Thursday on the way to its homeport in Singapore. Watch Now The ship will make its maiden v

Summary Ferrero guided Alcaraz to 24 titles including six Grand Slams Alcaraz and Ferrero began their partnership seven years ago Spaniard aims to complete Grand Slam set at Australian Open Dec 17 (Reuters) - World tennis number one Carlos Alcaraz has split with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, they said on Wednesday, ending a seven-year partnership that delivered 24 titles including six Grand Slam crowns. A former world number one himself and fellow Spaniard, 45-year-old Ferre

Summary Companies ByteDance retains 19.9% stake in new joint venture Oracle, Silver Lake, MGX to own 45% of TikTok USDS Deal addresses national security concerns, ensures US data protection WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, said Thursday it signed binding agreements with three major investors to form a joint venture to operate TikTok's U.S. app led by American and global investors in a bid to avoid a U.S. government ban, a significant step towa

Opening November 14th, 2025 Step into a magical world of fairy tales at Luminosa 2025! This year, the illuminated trail brings your favorite stories to life with over 100 stunning light sculptures crafted by 150 skilled artisans. Experience a captivating blend of creativity and wonder in an enchanting spectacle like never before. Experience a kaleidoscope of photo ops, tasty food, craft cocktails (weekends only), and so much more at this captivating light festival. Ideal for