5 mins read

Scripps National Spelling Bee guide: How to watch, who the notable spellers are, rules and prizes

WASHINGTON | The best young spellers in the English language are competing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week, continuing a more than century-old tradition. The three-day competition began Tuesday and concludes Thursday night. The first bee was held in 1925, when the Louisville Courier-Journal invited other newspapers to host spelling bees and send […]

6 mins read

For one Ukrainian war amputee, rebuilding is painful after a Russian strike killed her husband

KRYVYI RIH, Ukraine | After Iryna Nakonechna lost her left leg last year in a Russian missile attack that also killed her husband, the Ukrainian woman decided everything tied to her former self had to go. She cut off her dark wavy hair and removed furniture, clothes, trinkets and photographs from her home. Just one […]

4 mins read

These are the five least expensive new cars you can buy in 2026, according to Edmunds

Buying a car is a major investment, especially when everyday costs keep rising. It can seem especially daunting given that the average price of a new vehicle is close to $50,000 in 2026. This is why the experts at Edmunds have compiled a list of the five least expensive vehicles on sale in 2026. While […]

6 mins read

Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns

MECCA, Saudi Arabia | The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, officially began Monday. More than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the country, Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba, commander of the Hajj passport forces, said Friday. The faithful have been pouring into the country for the Hajj […]

7 mins read

In ‘Pressure,’ the story of the meteorologist who helped save D-Day

D-Day was supposed to happen on June 5, 1944. The story of why it ultimately took place on June 6 is one that has been a bit lost to history, consumed by the larger events surrounding it. One day might not seem like much in the grand scheme, but it was a seismic delay in […]

5 mins read

You should be dancing, yeah. Moving to music offers all kinds of benefits as you age

TUCSON, Ariz. | Carol Ross can’t stop smiling at dance practice as she shouts out the steps of a routine to members of her tap and jazz troupe for women age 50 and older. “I’ve been dancing my whole life, it’s the best,” said Ross, who founded the Rodeo City Wreckettes group 23 years ago […]

4 mins read

What tastes like a Korean pancake and is purple all over? An Oreo inspired by K-pop group BTS

Oreo is teaming up with K-pop supergroup BTS for a bit of marketing dynamite that capitalizes on consumers’ growing interest in global flavors. Mondelez, Oreo’s parent company, said Tuesday that BTS-themed Oreos will go on sale June 1 online and June 8 in stores. The cookies, which feature purple wafers in a nod to the […]

7 mins read

What to Stream: Paul McCartney, John Travolta, Tina Fey, Latto and Nicolas Cage as Spider-Man

Paul McCartney reflecting on the “Days We Left Behind” with his 18th studio album and John Travolta writing, directing and narrating an ode to the glamorous days of 1960s air travel are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time […]

3 mins read

A round of a-paws for ‘La Perra,’ winner of the Palm Dog award at Cannes

CANNES, France | A round of a-paws for “La Perra,” winner of this year’s Palm Dog award at the Cannes Film Festival. The Chilean movie took the top canine prize Friday, a day before the festival’s official awards ceremony. The quirky tradition on the Cannes beachfront was a celebratory affair, packed with journalists, dog lovers […]

2 mins read

Limoncello, coconut oil and tequila combine for a margarita with tropical notes

The classic margarita from my book “Freezer Door Cocktails” calls for four things — tequila, orange liqueur, sugar and lime. This variation, inspired by a cocktail at Bitter & Twisted in Phoenix, keeps the key flavors, but gets to the finish line a little differently. Italian limoncello — a sweet, boldly lemony Italian liqueur — […]