India and New Zealand said on Monday they had concluded a free trade agreement aimed at deepening economic ties amid growing trade uncertainty. The announcement followed a conversation between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, with officials describing the pact as a vehicle to expand commerce in goods, services and investment. A formal signing is expected in the first quarter of 2026 after legal review of the text, according to Petal Dhillon, India’s chief negotiator. Negotiations ran for about nine months, and Indian officials said the deal would reduce tariffs and ease regulatory barriers…
Author: Emily Harper
Read More
Beauty inspiration is increasingly coming from screens, not salespeople. Quinn Kelsey, a 38-year-old shopper in Denver, said she watches TikTok for ideas, then uses an AI chatbot to filter options by budget and preview shades before she buys, often through Amazon. “I use ChatGPT as my personal beauty consultant,” she said, arguing that department stores rarely match the at-home research experience. Department stores have been losing beauty influence since the late 1990s, when Sephora and Ulta Beauty made cosmetics shopping more self-directed. Retailers across formats are now competing for the $129 billion U.S. beauty and personal care market, and Euromonitor…
A Quiet Finale to the Meteor Calendar The Ursid meteor shower, the last major celestial event of the year, is set to peak during the longest nights of winter, offering sky-watchers in the Northern Hemisphere a subtle but meaningful display. While the Ursids are far less prolific than more famous meteor showers, they hold a special place on the astronomical calendar because of their timing and viewing conditions. Observers can expect to see roughly five to ten meteors per hour under clear, dark skies. The shower occurs when Earth passes through debris left behind by comet 8P/Tuttle, a periodic comet…
Morgan Stanley is increasingly viewed as the leading candidate to win the coveted “lead-left” role on a potential SpaceX initial public offering, according to people familiar with the discussions. A formal selection process is still in progress, and no final decision has been made, the sources said. A small group of major banks is taking part in the so-called “bake-off,” including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, the people said. They cautioned that the talks are confidential and fluid, and that SpaceX could still change course on the timing or the line-up of advisers. Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan declined to…
The U.S. Interior Department has ordered an immediate pause on construction across all major offshore wind projects currently underway in the country, a decision that significantly escalates federal pressure on an industry already facing regulatory and political headwinds. The directive affects five large-scale developments along the East Coast and represents one of the most sweeping interventions into the offshore wind sector to date. According to the Interior Department, the move is intended to address newly identified national security risks linked to offshore wind infrastructure. Officials said the pause will remain in place while federal agencies work with developers and state…
Attack Unfolds Across Transport and Shopping Hubs A rare mass stabbing has shaken Taiwan’s capital after an assailant carried out a coordinated violent attack across central Taipei, leaving at least four people dead and several others injured. Authorities said the suspect also died after falling from a building during a police pursuit. The incident began inside Taipei Main Station, one of the city’s busiest transport hubs, before spilling into surrounding commercial areas, including the popular Zhongshan district. According to officials, the attacker used smoke grenades to sow panic during peak commuting hours, impairing visibility and triggering evacuations. Witness footage circulating…
Sony Group Corp. has agreed to purchase additional rights to the iconic Peanuts comic strip franchise in a move that significantly expands its control over the beloved characters created by Charles M. Schulz. The Japanese conglomerate announced a definitive agreement to acquire a 41 percent stake in Peanuts Holdings LLC from Canadian entertainment company WildBrain Ltd. for $457 million USD, raising its total ownership to 80 percent. The remaining 20 percent of the company will continue to be held by members of the Schulz family, preserving a direct link to the original creator’s legacy. Sony’s involvement with the Peanuts franchise…
Millions of people in the United Kingdom are beginning their Christmas journeys, with Friday 19 December 2025 anticipated as one of the busiest travel days in the festive season. According to transport analysts and motoring organisations, over 24 million cars are likely to be on UK roads as drivers head home or set off for holiday trips, marking potentially the largest pre‑Christmas road use since records began. Major motorways such as the M25 around London, the M6 near Birmingham, and the M1 through the Midlands are forecast to experience heavy congestion throughout the day. Drivers have been urged to plan…
Postgame Frustration Spills Into Public View Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua found himself under renewed scrutiny after publicly criticizing NFL officials following a dramatic overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 38–37 defeat ended on a controversial sequence, and Nacua’s frustration spilled beyond the field into a livestream and a social media post that he later deleted. After the game, Nacua used a livestream to voice dissatisfaction with officiating, suggesting that penalties are sometimes called to keep referees visible during televised games. He subsequently echoed those sentiments in a tweet, which was removed shortly afterward. The comments came…
A New Cultural Landmark for Las Vegas Las Vegas is set to gain its first major standalone art museum with the Las Vegas Museum of Art, a project led by architect Francis Kéré in collaboration with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as architect of record. Planned for a 1.5 acre site in Symphony Park, north of the Strip, the museum is envisioned as a civic and cultural anchor rather than an extension of the city’s entertainment industry. The institution is being developed in partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which will support exhibitions, loans, and educational programming. New…
