France’s parliament votes to repeal slavery-era Black Code, with tears and history in the chamber
PARIS | For nearly two centuries after France abolished slavery, the colonial-era law that classified humans as property has remained quietly on its books. On Thursday, the lower house of Parliament voted to wipe it from French law. The National Assembly voted 254-0 — a rare show of unanimity — to adopt a bill repealing […]
Gamification and memes lure young people to sports wagering apps, prediction markets
When Rory McIlroy won the Masters for the second year in a row, Kalshi shared a photo of him on Instagram with the words, “Wait he’s goated.” When a video of NBA player Damian Lillard recovering from an injury circulated online, Kalshi’s main competitor Polymarket posted, “The league is cooked.” If you don’t know what […]
Independent bookstores are multiplying, although many people still think they’re dying out
NEW YORK | Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, is used to strangers expressing sympathy when they learn what she does for a living. “It’s all so funny,” she says. “When I tell them I run the trade association for independent stores, they’ll say, ‘It’s just so sad that they’re disappearing.’ I don’t […]
Israeli army captures strategic castle in Lebanon in historically deep incursion
BEIRUT | Israeli troops have captured a strategic mountain topped with a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon in the deepest incursion into the country in more than a quarter-century, the military said Sunday, while U.S. Secretary of State spoke to Lebanese and Israeli leaders to an effort keep negotiations going. The taking of Beaufort castle, […]
Trump to headline ‘Great American State Fair’ for nation’s 250th anniversary after artists drop out
WASHINGTON | An upcoming celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, “The Great American State Fair,” recently had several musical guests back out partly over the event’s ties to President Donald Trump. Now, Trump himself is slated to headline the festivities, the organizers said Saturday. “I understand Artists are getting ‘the yips’ having to do with their […]
Willy Adames hits grand slam and Giants get 25 hits in 19-6 win over Rockies at Coors Field
DENVER | Willy Adames hit a grand slam to cap a seven-run fifth inning, and the San Francisco Giants avoided a series sweep with a 19-6 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Jung Hoo Lee had two of his career-high five hits in the fifth, when San Francisco broke it open to end a […]
Colorado elections clerk set to be released from prison Monday based on her sentence commutation
DENVER | Former Colorado elections clerk and conspiracy theorist Tina Peters is scheduled to be released from prison Monday after serving less than a quarter of a nine-year sentence for her role in a scheme to copy her county’s election system. Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, commuted Peters’ sentence last month following pressure from President […]
As the Pentagon pushes for battlefield AI, some military leaders urge caution
TAMPA, Fla. | The Trump administration is pushing to unleash the power of artificial intelligence for the U.S. military while facing calls to put up guardrails around the rapidly developing technology from some companies — and even notes of caution from top leaders in uniform. Adm. Frank Bradley, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, told […]
US strike on an alleged drug boat kills 3 in the eastern Pacific Ocean in fourth attack this week
WASHINGTON | The U.S. military said it carried out another strike Saturday on a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three men in the fourth attack this week and putting the total death toll at 205. U.S. Southern Command announced the strike with its usual language that the vessel was […]
Experimental pill promises new hope for deadly pancreatic cancer
WASHINGTON | A novel pill helped people with advanced pancreatic cancer live longer, researchers reported Sunday, raising hopes of long-needed better treatments for one of the deadliest types of cancer. “While not curing the cancer, it is a very large step forward,” said Dr. Zev Wainberg, of the University of California, Los Angeles, who helped […]