Anil Kochhar hopes textile graduates of North Carolina State can leave with greater freedom to pursue goals'Anil Kochhar, a North Carolina State University donor, gave graduates of the school's Wilson College of Textiles a lot more than just words of wisdom when he delivered their keynote commencement address recently.The Indian American entrepreneur also announced that he would pay off any student loans taken out by the college's graduating pupils during their senior year. Continue reading...
The meme stock' company is remembered for Reddit traders sending its share price into orbit but its move on the auction site looks less likely to take off
No wonder they are upset by the slogan tax the rich'. Despite their wealth increasing 81% since 2020, they need our emotional support now more than everWon't anyone think of the poor, poor, billionaires? Their endless money can buy them political power, but it can't buy them love. Instead of being worshipped by the hoi polloi, titans of industry are denounced! Despised! Disrespected! Insert another D-word of your own!Thankfully, class solidarity is strong among the super-rich. Steve Roth bravely brought attention to the plight of his fellow billionaires during a recent earnings call. I consider the phrase tax the rich' ... spit out with anger and contempt by politicians ... to be just as hateful as some disgusting racial slurs," the Vornado Realty Trust CEO said. Continue reading...
Tim Miller's teen daughter disappeared in 1984, tied to a series of deaths in the Texas killing fields'. After decades, he received a tip that unlocked everythingTim Miller is good at finding missing people - or rather, their bodies. Four years ago, a stranger called him and left a rambling message claiming that he had important information about an unsolved murder case.Miller, who lives in Texas and runs a non-profit search-and-recovery organization called EquuSearch, did not treat the message as a high priority. The caller sounded as if he might have been drunk or on drugs. Although tips are vital to EquuSearch's work, the tip line brings a certain number of hoaxes, cranks and innuendo. Some of the people who leave messages, Miller told me, probably ought to get their medication checked". Continue reading...
South Florida fires that burnt through 45 sq km (11,000 acres) of land over the weekend spread on Monday as emergency crews worked to contain them.Florida Forest Service said 'the growing fires were producing smoky conditions with reduced visibility'. No serious injuries or property damage have been reported.Dry conditions have led to wildfires in other parts the country, including fires that destroyed dozens of homes in southern Georgia last month Continue reading...
Ceasefire on life support', Trump says as he considers restarting US navy military escorts of ships through the strait of Hormuz - key US politics stories from 11 May 2026 at a glanceDonald Trump has dismissed Iran's latest peace proposals as stupid and denied he was under any domestic pressure to reach a deal.Referring to the ceasefire in force since 7 April, Trump said: I would call it the weakest, right now, after reading that piece of garbage they sent us - I didn't even finish reading it. Continue reading...
The trial has exposed even more details about OpenAI's fractious corporate past than previously documentedOpenAI, despite its name, is usually extremely secretive about its operations. It promotes a carefully crafted image to the world. Over the course of Elon Musk's case against the startup and its CEO Sam Altman, however, the artificial intelligence firm has been forced to publicly contend with some of the messiest parts of its rise to power in public.The Musk v OpenAI trial, which on Monday entered its third week, has featured a who's who of Silicon Valley testifying about OpenAI's past and its CEO's contentious leadership. Musk's attorneys have used former executives, private text messages, diary entries and internal email exchanges to portray Altman as untrustworthy. Altman, who denies Musk's allegations, will take the stand in the coming days. OpenAI has likewise issued denials. Continue reading...
Hamilton was fired as acting administrator last year after he opposed plans to abolish the agency at a House hearingDonald Trump has once again nominated Cameron Hamilton to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) after Hamilton was previously fired for publicly opposing plans to abolish the agency.Hamilton was dismissed last year from his role as acting administrator of the disaster relief agency after testifying before a House appropriations subcommittee. During the hearing, he said: I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency." Continue reading...
New voting maps flipped four Republican-held seats to give Democrats an edge in redistricting race sparked by TrumpVirginia Democrats asked the US supreme court on Monday to revive a congressional map designed to boost their party's chances in November's midterm elections, turning to the court as Republicans - including allies of Donald Trump - seek to preserve narrow control of Congress.The case thrusts Virginia into an unusual, mid-decade redistricting showdown, as courts weigh whether lawmakers can remake House districts outside the normal post-census cycle - with control of a narrowly divided Congress potentially hanging in the balance. Continue reading...
Recent consumer alert on ebike safety laws says some vehicles should be classified as mopeds or motorcyclesAmazon said it plans to stop selling certain high-speed electric bicycles in California after a string of high-profile incidents and a consumer alert that the state attorney general issued last month.In April an 81-year-old man in Orange county died after a teenager illegally riding an e-motorcycle struck him. The teen's mother, Tommi Jo Mejer, has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Ed Ashman's death as officials say she was warned it was illegal for her son to operate the vehicle. Continue reading...
Transit advocates laud first stations to open in city in more than 25 years, with World Cup and Olympics coming to townThe roughly 12-mile (19km) drive along Wilshire Boulevard from Los Angeles's downtown core to its Westside region can be a soul-crushing experience. The road is among the busiest in Los Angeles, winding through Westlake, Koreatown, the famed Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood and Santa Monica before ending at the bluffs overlooking the Pacific coast highway, a journey that can take an hour or even two at rush hour.For decades, Angelenos accepted this time-eating crawl as fate. But this week, traversing this bustling corridor reached another level - about 50-70ft underground to be precise. How about Union Station to Beverly Hills in 21 minutes? Continue reading...
Brain trauma and football have become inexorably linked. But a recent Harvard study suggests there are other dangers for football playersWhen an NFL player takes his own life, there is often speculation about why. Injuries and unemployment - a common occurrence in a violent sport where players are frequently traded and cut - have been linked with increased risks of suicidal ideation. In parallel to those factors, however, exists chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A degenerative brain condition caused by repeated trauma to the head, CTE's links with football are established and almost impossible to ignore. Players ranging from widely admired Pro Bowlers such as Junior Seau and Dave Duerson, to those infamous for more notorious reasons, such as Aaron Hernandez and Phillip Adams, were all confirmed to have CTE by autopsies. (The condition can only be diagnosed posthumously.) All four players killed themselves.Such anecdotal observations imply a certain, coherent logic that connects playing football with suicide. Tackle football, by its nature, increases participants' risk of head injury. Head injuries increase the likelihood of an affected individual attempting suicide. CTE is often the cumulative consequence of years of head injuries and, indeed, many high-profile NFL players who have taken their own lives have been confirmed to suffer from CTE. So it's easy to reason that football and/or CTE, by their very nature, lead to an increased risk of suicide.In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
Defense secretary accuses senator of disclosing classified info but Kelly says that's not classified, it's a quote from you'Pete Hegseth said he has referred Senator Mark Kelly to Pentagon lawyers for allegedly disclosing classified information about depleted US weapons stockpiles - information Kelly says he heard from the defense secretary, in public, under oath.Speaking on CBS News's Face the Nation on Sunday, Kelly said American inventories of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Army Tactical Missile Systems, SM-3 interceptors, Thaad rounds and Patriot missiles had been severely drawn down during the Iran conflict, warning that replenishment could take years and leave the US exposed in any future confrontation with China. Continue reading...
Cole Tomas Allen, accused of attempting to assassinate Trump last month, did not speak as plea was enteredThe suspect accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last month at a gala in Washington DC has pleaded not guilty to all charges.Cole Tomas Allen did not speak in court on Monday as his attorney entered the plea on his behalf. Continue reading...
Nine groups in the Sioux Nation say an exploratory graphite drilling project endangers a recognized ceremonial siteAlmost exactly a decade since the start of the Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access pipeline gained national and international attention, new disputes are simmering over tribal rights in the Black Hills of South Dakota.Earlier this month, an environmental organization and a Native American advocacy group sued the US Forest Service, claiming that an exploratory graphite drilling project on national forest land threatened a recognized ceremonial site on mountain meadows known as Pe' Sla, or Reynolds Prairie. Continue reading...
Business owners may have to wade through paperwork, but the US government is now actually processing refundsWhen the supreme court struck down Donald Trump's tariffs, many small importers assumed any refunds would be tied up in bureaucracy for years. Surprisingly, that's not what's happening.It's estimated that roughly 330,000 importers paid more than $166bn in tariff fees imposed by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). If your business was affected, here's good news: you can get your tariffs refunded. You just need to be a little patient. Continue reading...
The economic warnings are bleak, but full extent of shortages are still not felt for many European countriesThe biggest energy shock in modern history, jet fuel shortages within weeks", a global recession - since Iran throttled shipping flows through the strait of Hormuz at the end of February the economic warnings have become increasingly dire.Yet 10 weeks on from the first US-Israeli attacks, share indices, companies and governments have been surprisingly sanguine. Every day the divergence grows between the eerie quiet on markets and alarming warnings of an imminent supply chain crunch. Continue reading...
The supreme court has gutted one of the strongest federal tools we had against the most effective weapon in US politicsMaps can guide us home. They show us where we are, where we have been and where we might go. Electoral maps can do something even more sinister, though. They often tell us what and who is allowed to matter. They can decide, before a single ballot is cast, whether an entire voting bloc will become powerful or be buried by the design of a party that is indifferent - at best - to their needs and wants.Memphis is the latest warning. Tennessee's largest majority-Black city can vote, organize, turn out, remember and resist - and still be cut into pieces by politicians who fear what that city might do with power. This week, Republicans carved up the Memphis-centered congressional district, dividing its only majority-Black district into three Republican-leaning seats while weakening voter-notice requirements in the process. Continue reading...
Independent scientists who reviewed the results said most samples were contaminated with Pfas or phthalatesThe Trump administration announced earlier this month that hundreds of baby formula samples it tested for toxic chemicals meet a high safety standard", but public health advocates warn this claim contradicts data showing a majority were contaminated with dangerous substances, such as Pfas or phthalates.Independent scientists who reviewed the results say the data gaps and the contamination raise concerns, though they added the testing shows some bright spots, and praised the US Food and Drug Administration for expanding the testing program, then making the results public. Continue reading...
President and his party celebrate as Democrats vow to fight Virginia court ruling barring state from enacting new voter-approved congressional maps - key US politics stories from 8 May 2026 at a glanceVirginia's supreme court on Friday ruled that the state cannot use new congressional maps approved by voters to help Democrats gain as many as four new seats in the US House of Representatives, handing Republicans a major win before November's midterm elections.In a 4-3 decision, the court found that the state's general assembly did not follow the appropriate constitutional procedure in approving the map, which voters then passed in a referendum last month. Continue reading...
US judge says halt of $100m in funds allotted by Congress for scholars, writers and research illegal and discriminatoryA federal judge ruled on Thursday that the terminations of hundreds of humanities grants last year by the Trump administration's so-called department of government efficiency" (Doge) were unconstitutional and involved blatant" discrimination. In April last year, Donald Trump's administration terminated more than 1,400 grants, representing more than $100m in congressionally appropriated funds awarded to scholars, writers, research institutions and other humanities organizations.The terminations were part of a cost-cutting drive that billionaire Elon Musk was leading at Doge. Continue reading...
Thomas Shaknovsky botched the surgery of William Bryan, 70, who died on the operating tableA Florida surgeon who is facing criminal charges after allegedly removing a patient's liver instead of his spleen has said he is forever traumatized" by that person's death.In a deposition from November that was recently obtained by NBC, 44-year-old Thomas Shaknovsky described the death of 70-year-old William Bryan as an incredibly unfortunate event that I regret deeply". Continue reading...
Trump administration urges US Postal Service to scrap 100-year-old rule as Democratic state attorneys general protestHandguns could be mailed through the United States Postal Service (USPS) for the first time in nearly 100 years if a proposed Trump administration rule takes effect.Democratic attorneys general in two dozen states have sent a letter in opposition. Continue reading...
The gentle French garment is now as cursed as the infamous megacorp, which has accumulated $80m in government contracts in Australia aloneIt's taken me years to find a chore coat with a cut that flatters my big tits but, now that I finally own one, I want to incinerate it.Such is the power of brand contamination; infamous data surveillance megacorp Palantir, has decided to bang a logo on a chore coat to sell as corporate merch. Continue reading...
Claims of nimbyism are a misunderstanding: the movement is about whether regular people have a say in fundamental decisionsSince the surreal scene at the 2024 presidential inauguration, when a row of big tech titans took their VIP seats and signaled their new alliance with Maga, the Trump administration has rolled out the red carpet for Silicon Valley's AI ambitions and shareholder priorities.Washington has doled out billions in lucrative federal subsidies and contracts to the cash-rich sector, bloating an AI bubble that experts warn may imperil the entire economy while prohibiting any guardrails on the fast-moving technology. Continue reading...
Vibe Check, a free and anonymous alternative to AI, talks teens through consent, boundaries and apologiesVal Odiembo volunteers at her former high school a few times a month, teaching teens about consent and healthy relationships. Now a sophomore at Rhode Island College, 19-year-old Odiembo isn't much older than the students she's teaching - which she thinks makes it easier for the high schoolers to come to her with their questions. But she knows she isn't the only source they're consulting.A lot of them confide in AI," she said. A recent UK study found that one in 10 young adults has consulted AI for sexual health information, and a 2025 Pew Research Center report showed that one in five teens have had a romantic relationship with a chatbot. Continue reading...
The league's new CBA has made some players millionaires. After years of instability, they're now able to take control of their futureThe WNBA is entering its 30th season, a milestone worthy of as big of a celebration as its players could muster - and this year, they mustered up a lot. The Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) negotiated a landmark collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the league that, among other things, introduces a revenue sharing system and an estimated average salary of $583,000.This season, all players will make the minimum of $270,000, up from $66,000; others may make as much as $1.4m. It's money that Alysha Clark, a veteran forward for the Dallas Wings and vice-president of the WNBPA, describes to the Guardian as amazing". One of the most incredible aspects of the new deal, she says, is having the ability to pave the way for future generations of WNBA players. Continue reading...
The Cal State Northridge player has attracted millions of views for his hair flicks and dismissive waves. He says navigating the fallout has been a career of its ownI think people are really enamored with me because you don't often see someone like me - animated, flamboyant - but still able to back it up on the volleyball court," says Jordan Lucas, the outside hitter for Cal State Northridge's men's team.Although college volleyball has a devoted following and can attract big crowds - 92,000 fans went to see Nebraska take on Omaha in 2023 - it doesn't usually attract the same attention as basketball or football. That changed last month though when clips of Lucas's flamboyant" play - he's fond of celebrating with a flick of his hair or a dismissive wave at his opponents - went viral, amassing millions of views on social media. College athletes enjoying social media fame is hardly new: stars such as Paige Bueckers, Harper Murray, Olivia Dunne and Shedeur Sanders all had their viral moments. But Lucas's case is different. It isn't just about the highlights, it's about the conversation surrounding them. Lucas is gay, and that fact has become inseparable from how audiences engage with his game. Continue reading...
Cassian Joubert was partially delivered at 25 weeks for procedure and placed back in mother's womb before birthA Florida infant is said to have been born twice after undergoing what was an innovative, likely life-saving surgery that involved a partial delivery weeks before his mother then gave birth to him.Cassian Joubert's remarkable story was recently first told publicly by his mother and father - Keishera and Greg Joubert - in a 1 May video published on social media by the Orlando Health Women's Institute, which employs the surgeon that led the baby boy's prenatal operation. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: The brief US effort to steer trapped vessels through the waterway put the fragile ceasefire under strainGood morning. Uncertainty once again reigns in the Middle East. The uneasy ceasefire between the US and Iran threatened to disintegrate after Donald Trump launched an initiative - dubbed Project Freedom" - to help thousands of sailors stranded in the Gulf by the war to pass through the strait of Hormuz.To Iran, the announcement was a cynical provocation. Flurries of fighting restarted as Iran sought to maintain its grip on the critical passageway out of the region.UK politics | Zack Polanski falsely claimed to be a spokesperson for the British Red Cross while campaigning for the Green party leadership, the charity has said.Fuel shortages| Two million airline seats have been cut from this month's schedules as airlines redraw their operations because of soaring jet fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict.UK news| A British crew member who became ill after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus on luxury cruise ship the MV Hondius is to be medically evacuated, officials have said.Tax | An increased windfall tax should be imposed on the UK's largest banks, say trade union leaders, after the big four lenders reported almost 14bn in first-quarter profits, partly fuelled by market turbulence amid the Iran war.Society | People from black backgrounds in England are twice as likely to experience strokes as their white counterparts, while also being less likely to receive timely care, according to the largest study of its kind. Continue reading...
Republican and Democratic candidates met again in race shaped by Eric Swalwell's exit and Xavier Becerra's riseSeven of the leading contenders in California's unexpectedly dramatic race for governor faced off on Tuesday night, in a feisty, high-stakes showdown that arrived as voters begin casting ballots in the state's nonpartisan primary.The heightened tenor of the two-hour scrap matchup reflected how important the candidates viewed the debate, which aired on CNN to a national audience. Continue reading...
US launched operation Monday to help hundreds of ships trapped with their crews in Gulf - key US politics stories from Monday 4 May at a glanceDonald Trump has threatened that Iran will be blown off the face of the earth" if it attacks US vessels trying to reopen a route through the strait of Hormuz.The US launched an operation on Monday to help hundreds of ships trapped with their crews in the Gulf, dragging the region back to the brink of full-scale war. Continue reading...
The Callais decision is predicated on the idea that American leaders will act justly on their own. That premise has already been proven hollowSix supreme court justices handed down a ruling built, ostensibly, on the belief that the US has changed so much as to render the protections of the Voting Rights Act unnecessary. No one should be that gullible.In 1901, the same year my great-grandfather was born, George H White rose to address the 56th United States Congress for the last time. He was a Republican congressman from North Carolina - the only Black member of the entire body. He was leaving because the state he represented had passed legislation making his re-election impossible. Reconstruction had already been undone. The powers that be had narrowed, then deferred, then erased the promise of multiracial democracy, written in the blood of Union soldiers and freed people alike. Continue reading...
US news | The Guardian