Entertainment

Cher’s ‘f--- you’ Oscars look, Angelina Jolie's sky-high slit: iconic Academy Awards dresses

Feb. 28, 2025

Hollywood's biggest night for movie accolades is also a night to remember for fashion. Every year, Hollywood's brightest stars gather at the Dolby Theater for the Academy Awards to honor the best performances and movies of the year. Fashion enthusiasts look forward to the event each year to see what their favorite stars will wear to the big night. Some looks have stood the test of time, and continue to be talked about many years after they were first seen on the red carpet, whether they were worn by Cher or Nicole Kidman.

Sports

A lucky bounce off some bamboo helped earn golfer Brian Campbell the biggest paycheck of his career – and changed his life

Feb. 28, 2025

When you’ve played 186 tournaments in your career without a win, perhaps you’re due a lucky break. That’s precisely what happened to American golfer Brian Campbell at the Mexico Open on Sunday, leading to what he calls a “completely life-altering” victory. Going up against South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter in a sudden death playoff to win the tournament, Campbell skewed his tee shot on the par-five 18th into the trees, instantly causing his heart to sink. But then fate intervened. Rather than landing out of bounds, his ball miraculously bounced off the trees and back onto the rough – an astonishing lifeline for his hopes of winning of the tournament.

Business

A Russian state media reporter gained entry to the Oval Office for Trump-Zelensky sit-down

Feb. 28, 2025

A member of Russia’s state-owned news agency gained access to the Oval Office on Friday to cover President Trump’s sit-down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – even as the AP and Reuters were barred from the high-level meeting. The White House said the journalist was not authorized to be in the press pool. A correspondent for TASS, a Russian state media organization, was among a group of hand-picked pool reporters present in the Oval Office for the leaders’ meeting, which is part of the US’ efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The testy Trump-Zelensky sit-down may yield a signed deal that would exchange US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources for security guarantees.

Business

Skype is shutting down after two decades

Feb. 28, 2025

Microsoft is shutting down Skype, the internet-based phone and video service that was once the dominant way of staying connected in the mid 2000s. Skype will “no longer be available” to use starting in May, the company confirmed on X, telling users that their log-in information can be used on Microsoft Teams’ free tier in the “coming days.”

Business

Inflation is easing, but another alarm bell is ringing about the US economy

Feb. 28, 2025

The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge cooled as expected in January; however, the good news came with another potential red flag for the US economic engine: Consumers pulled back their spending by the most in nearly four years. The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index rose 2.5% in January from the year before, slowing from December’s 2.6% annual rate, according to Commerce Department data released Friday.

Business

MAGA media’s Epstein conspiracy theory enters a dangerous new phase

Feb. 28, 2025

What happens when irresponsible media personalities hype a conspiracy theory, only to see it unravel before their eyes? We’re finding out right now. Myriad right-wing media figures have, for years, suggested that the government is hiding secrets relating to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted pedophile who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.

Business

Facebook enables gender discrimination in job ads, European human rights body rules

Feb. 28, 2025

A European human rights body has ruled that Facebook’s algorithm shows gender bias when promoting job advertisements, marking what activists say is a crucial step in holding big tech companies accountable for the design of their platforms. The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights said in a February 18 decision that Facebook’s algorithm reinforced gender stereotypes by mainly showing “typically female professions” to female Facebook users in the Netherlands and that Meta (META), the social platform’s owner, should have monitored and adjusted its algorithm to prevent that.

Business

Trump is already trying to put his stamp on AI

Feb. 28, 2025

In one of his first actions as president, Donald Trump revoked a sweeping executive order from the Biden era that sought to implement safeguards on artificial intelligence. It was a sign that Trump wants to put his own stamp on how the United States should adopt and develop the fast-moving, critical technology – and perhaps an indication that AI would be a big theme in Trump’s second term. So far, that’s materialized in public displays of US computing power such as Stargate, the new $500 billion AI company helmed by a supergroup of Silicon Valley bigwigs. But it’s also resulted in controversies that raise questions about the ethics of how AI should be used and regulated.

Business

Today’s ‘economic blackout’ began from an unlikely source. But it’s tapped into Americans’ anger

Feb. 28, 2025

In early February, John Schwarz, a self-described “mindfulness and meditation facilitator,” proposed a 24-hour nationwide “economic blackout” of major chains on the last day of the month. Schwarz urged people to forgo spending at Amazon, Walmart, and all other major retailers and fast-food companies for a day. He called on them to spend money only at small businesses and on essential needs.

Business

Your fear of flying can be explained by a 1970s toilet paper shortage

Feb. 28, 2025

Sometimes perception becomes people’s reality. That certainly feels like the case after last month’s deadly crash near Reagan National Airport, as every accident or close call seems to get magnified, raising questions about America’s airline safety. The long-term and preliminary short-term statistics suggest that airline travel is about as safe as ever. But talk to any of your friends who are remotely afraid of flying, and I bet they will tell you that recent events have shaken them up.