International News

Chinese travelers cancel Lunar New Year trips to Thailand over safety concerns

Jan. 29, 2025

Chinese travelers are canceling plans to visit Thailand during the Lunar New Year holiday, as concerns over the kidnapping of actor Wang Xing continue to reverberate through the country. Net booking volume for trips to Thailand fell 15.6% from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20 from the previous week, after news of the rescue of Wang from a scamming compound along the Thai-Myanmar border this month, according to the marketing agency China Trading Desk.

Business

Why this China made BYD Shark pickup is drawing attention in the global truck market

Jan. 28, 2025

BYD has not announced plans to sell the Shark in the U.S., but it has entered countries where General Motors, Ford and Toyota Motor sell pickup trucks.

Entertainment

Entertainment 'Jeopardy' contestant misses question about Celine Dion, walks off stage after name-checking singer

Jan. 28, 2025

"That’s the way it is." A "Jeopardy" contestant last Friday walked off the stage after he missed a clue about Céline Dion, moments after he had name-checked her on the show when host Ken Jennings asked who he'd like to thank. After thanking his fellow contestants while speaking to Jennings, Drew Goins, who was participating in the Champions Wildcard Tournament, said that one of the producers had suggested he thank the Canadian singer. "So, thank you, Céline Dion," he said to the camera.

Business

Senate Republicans cast a wary eye on Trump's nominee for labor secretary

Jan. 28, 2025

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said he predicts Lori Chavez-DeRemer will “lose 15 Republicans" due to her union-aligned views. Some business lobbyists are unhappy and mystified by the pick.

Business

Starbucks shakes up its leadership again, adding two former Taco Bell executives

Jan. 28, 2025

The newest changes include splitting the role of North American president into two jobs. Starbucks announced another stage in its leadership shake-up on Tuesday, as CEO Brian Niccol will bring in two more executives who spent time at his former employer Taco Bell while dividing key leadership roles. “As we focus on our ‘Back to Starbucks’ plan, we need a new operating model for our retail team, with clear ownership and accountability and an appropriate scope for each role,” Niccol said in a letter to employees shared on the company’s website. Before spending six years at Chipotle, Niccol served as CEO of Yum Brands’ Taco Bell. Since starting at Starbucks in September, he has already poached some of his former colleagues to help with his transformation of the coffee giant. For example, he tapped Chipotle and Yum Brands alum Tressie Lieberman as Starbucks’ global chief brand officer in the fall.

Entertainment

FireAid, the massive benefit concert to help LA fire victims, came together quickly. Here’s how

Jan. 28, 2025

As the Los Angeles area continues its recovery from a series of debilitating wildfires, the benefit concert FireAid this week will raise millions for relief efforts. FireAid will take place in two Los Angeles venues and feature performers like Billie Eilish, Jelly Roll, Peso Pluma, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joni Mitchell, Sting and Anderson .Paak. It all came together in a matter of days.

Sports

Neymar and Al-Hilal agree to terminate player’s contract by mutual consent

Jan. 28, 2025

The 32-year-old joined the Saudi club in a high-profile move in August 2023 for a reported €90 million ($98.5M), but injuries have limited him to just seven appearances since. Just months after joining, Neymar ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in October 2023 and was out of action until October 2024. However, he played just two games after returning and had been sitting out again since November. “The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career,” a club statement read.

Entertainment

Sterling K. Brown finds ‘Paradise’ after a few years of focusing on film and an Oscar nomination

Jan. 28, 2025

As an executive producer and star of the new Hulu series “Paradise,” Sterling K. Brown put the hours of TV he watches to good use and cast actors he admires. “I got a chance to hire people that I am a fan of,” said Brown in a recent interview. “I remember meeting Julianne Nicholson at the Emmys the year that she won for ‘Mare of Easttown.’ I was so geeked out that I got a chance to be in the s

Weather

Power line had increase in current on day of Eaton Fire, California utility says

Jan. 28, 2025

High-voltage power lines saw a temporary surge in electrical current in the area where the deadly Eaton Fire is believed to have started following a "fault" on a line elsewhere in the region's transmission network, Southern California Edison said Monday. While the fault, or disturbance, occurred several miles away on a power line that does not traverse Eaton Canyon, it was detected at 6:11 p.m. on Jan. 7, the utility said in a filing with state public utilities regulators. That was only minutes before authorities received initial reports of a wind-fueled fire originating in the canyon at 6:18 p.m.

Travel

A food fight with chopsticks? How the ‘prosperity toss’ became one of Lunar New Year’s most fun culinary traditions

Jan. 28, 2025

Anyone not familiar with the “prosperity toss,” a beloved Lunar New Year culinary tradition, could be forgiven for thinking they’ve just walked in on the world’s strangest food fight. As each ingredient is added to a plate, auspicious words are chanted — first come the vegetables, then the slices of raw fish, followed by the dressing and, finally, garnishes such as nuts or wonton crisps. Everyone then digs into the salad at once, tossing the ingredients higher and higher while shouting louder and louder — all in the hopes of bringing good fortune for the coming year.