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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 […]
When Sue Tilley met Lucian Freud, it changed her life. Now a painting of her could fetch $47 million
LONDON | Sue Tilley was working in an unemployment office when she met the artist Lucian Freud. The paintings he made of her in the 1990s are now among the most famous in modern art — and the most valuable. “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” regarded as one of Freud’s masterpieces, is going up for […]
As the United States turns 250, Americans still can’t get enough of French luxury
NEW YORK | At the pinnacle of the American cultural pyramid, one particular inspiration has echoed across the centuries through friendship and tension alike: France. The American love affair with French luxury goods and their cultural cachet and craftsmanship has spanned the younger country’s history, and a new exhibit explores the story of how these […]
Martina McBride, Morris Day among wave of cancellations at Trump-linked Freedom 250 concerts
NEW YORK | A day after the President Donald Trump -affiliated Freedom 250 announced the “first wave” of performers for “The Great American State Fair” shows on Washington’s National Mall in June and July, the lineup has been hit with a wave of cancellations. Young MC, Morris Day, the Commodores and Martina McBride are among […]
Clothing rental services promise a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. Experts say it depends
For weddings, vacations or other special occasions, more consumers are turning to clothing rental services instead of buying something new. These subscription-based services, often marketed as a sustainable alternative to fast fashion, ship straight to customers everything from everyday and workwear to dresses, handbags and formalwear. Then, the items are returned for someone else to […]
Questions dog tentative US-Iran deal as Iranian official says concessions come ‘through missiles’
WASHINGTON | Uncertainty swirled Friday around what the U.S. called a tentative deal to extend the ceasefire in its war with Iran. It wasn’t clear whether U.S. President Donald Trump supports it, and a top Iranian official said his country wins concessions “through missiles,” not talks. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday the adversaries […]
Bus hits cars in Virginia, killing 5 people and injuring 34, state police say
STAFFORD, Va. | A bus struck six vehicles on Interstate 95 in Virginia as traffic slowed for a work zone, killing five people and sending 34 to hospitals, state police said Friday. The crash happened at about 2:35 a.m. on southbound I-95 in Stafford County. All five of the people who died were in vehicles […]
Rescuers unite in Laos to free 5 villagers trapped in a flooded cave and find 2 still missing
BANGKOK | Rescuers working at a flooded cave in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos face two daunting tasks: extricating five villagers who were located inside after being trapped for more than a week, and finding two more who are still missing. Rescue teams were pumping water out of the flooded cave’s passages on Friday, […]