Author: News Desk

NPR’s Steve Inskeep speaks with Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., about the Senate Judiciary Committee’s anticipated vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general. Transcript STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: We’ve called Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator, good morning.ALEX PADILLA: Good morning, Steve. Thanks for having me.INSKEEP: OK. Ryan Lucas said there that Blanche’s statements are not legally binding. Does that mean he could revive the tax deal and the fund that Trump likes?PADILLA: Well, that’s certainly how a lot of us are reading it, Steve, but let’s remember the bigger picture here. As…

A federal judge has blocked New York’s new law barring ICE officers from wearing masks while on duty in the state, but allowed another law that blocks localities from signing cooperation agreements with the deportation agency. U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino, an Obama appointee, said the masking law was written with the intent to hinder federal immigration enforcement, and that runs afoul of the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. She issued a preliminary injunction blocking it, even as she suggested she sympathized with New York’s goal. “Defendants’ perspective is grounded in unavoidable observations of recent troubling events which loom darkly over the…

Global business travel prices are expected to remain elevated through the remainder of 2026 before beginning to moderate in 2027, with variations expected across regions, according to a new Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) forecast. In its just-released 2027 Global Business Travel Forecast, the GBTA notes that pricing pressures are expected to ease gradually next year, but travel costs are unlikely to return to prior levels, as many of the forces driving higher prices have become long-term features of the industry rather than short-term disruptions. Commenting on the forecast, GBTA’s CEO, Suzanne Neufang observed that: “Business travel remains a powerful…

Kensington has expanded its partnership with Ancestry, announcing the launch of new Personal Heritage Journeys itineraries that offer travellers more ways to explore the towns, regions and historical sites directly connected to their family history. The operator explains that a Personal Heritage Journey is more than a tour, it’s a privately guided trip built entirely around a family’s roots and a powerful way for travelers to connect with their own past. Kensington invites them to Go with Gratitude, stepping into a story that they have only ever read about. Helen Giontsis, President of Kensington, explained that: “The most meaningful journeys are personal,…

Trisha Paytas is reacting to online scrutiny over Ariana Grande’s body. “I do feel the internet is getting so comfortable talking about bodies, but specifically women’s bodies,” Paytas, 38, said in a Sunday, August 3, TikTok video after it was announced that Grande will no longer take part in a West End production of the musical Sunday in the Park With George next year. According to Paytas, “Fat people or even larger or even like midsize-to-larger people have always been getting the body-shaming,” but she said “body-checking” of people with smaller physiques is becoming “more intense.” Grande’s appearance in her…

Pese a que 2026 está siendo un año complicado para cambiar de móvil, aún hay algunos lanzamientos interesantes, tanto en la gama alta como en la de entrada.La gama económica del mercado se prepara para recibir una adición muy relevante en las próximas semanas por parte de Redmi, la filial de Xiaomi enfocada a crear dispositivos de coste ajustado pero prestaciones decentes. El terminal en cuestión es el Redmi 17 5G, que busca asentarse como una alternativa sólida para los usuarios que priorizan la autonomía máxima sobre cualquier otro apartado. Sus características filtradas dejan ver una apuesta clara por componentes…

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is encouraging proactive and holistic destination stewardship as international tourism continues to grow. It is an approach designed ensure that tourism creates lasting value for residents, businesses and visitors alike. And when managed proactively, the WTTC believes that tourism growth provides significant opportunities and with stronger planning, collaboration with residents and evidence-based decision-making, destinations can build a tourism model that supports communities’ day-to-day wellbeing while unlocking the full economic and social benefits of Travel & Tourism. To support this approach, WTTC has published a concise and practical policy brief, Destination Stewardship: Creating Value for…

According to new research from Global Payments, digital wallets — including Apple Pay and Google Pay — now account for nearly one-third of all online spending in Canada. The new report highlights the growing importance of offering travellers greater payment flexibility when booking flights, accommodations, cruises, and vacation packages. While credit cards remain the dominant online payment method in Canada, representing 46% of e-commerce transaction value in 2025, digital wallets have firmly established themselves as the country’s second most-used payment method at 32%. However, by 2030, digital wallets are forecast to make up 37% of Canadian online spending, while credit…

Following recent events in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Italy has chosen to temporarily suspend Schengen rules with Spain – here’s what it means for travellers and how long reimposed border controls will last. Italy recently took the decision to temporarily suspend the Schengen agreement with Spain from August 1st, after tens of thousands of migrants entered Ceuta, Spain’s enclave in north Africa. An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta last week, with over 48,000 returning to Morocco within a day. At least 60 people died trying to reach Ceuta, according to Spanish officials. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni…

Neon has released the first trailer for the Lily James-starring crime thriller, Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo. In this film, our bad lieutenant is a corrupt gambler in the Metropolitan Police Force who finds himself thrown into a tangled case after a mysterious FBI agent arrives in Tokyo to investigate the disappearance of a politician’s daughter. All whilst this is going on, a killer in the yakuza underworld is keeping a close eye on them. The film is directed by the prolific Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, best known for his controversial and violent films such as Audition, Ichi the Killer, and 13…