South Korea to ban free disposable plastic cups at cafes, restaurants
Under the plan, the use of disposable paper cups will first be phased out at large-scale restaurants.
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Funeral for youngest Bondi Beach shooting victim, Matilda, to be held on Thursday
SYDNEY, Dec 18 - The funeral of 10-year-old Bondi Beach shooting victim Matilda will be held in Sydney on Thursday as her parents criticised the government for failing to respond to a rising tide of antisemitism.
Holiday Gifting: Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone, Valentino and More Celeb-Loved Bags Available for Under $300
Buying a bag for someone this holiday season doesn’t have to be a stress-inducing experience. While the search for the perfect holiday gift can often lead to mad scrambles at the mall (or worse, fruitless clicks online), we’re making it simple by rounding up ten designer bags
Zooey Deschanel Originally Lost ‘Elf’ Role Because ‘We Just Offered It to Katie Holmes’
Zooey Deschanel revealed during an interview on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that she was offered the female lead in Jon Favreau’s 2003 Christmas movie classic “Elf” only after Katie Holmes dropped out of the film due to scheduling conflicts (via The Daily Beast). Deschanel was
Why this purple-district Republican broke with Mike Johnson on Obamacare
Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick staked out an aisle-crossing persona without impeding leadership prerogatives. Until Wednesday.
House defeats resolutions to reel in Trump on Venezuela, Caribbean boat strikes
The House on Wednesday shot down a pair of Democratic-led resolutions designed to curtail President Trump’s strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and the administration’s “hostilities within or against Venezuela.” The first resolution, brought by House Foreign
‘Boots’ EP Brent Miller Shares Season 2 Story Plans and Hopes Norman Lear’s Final Show Finds a New Home After Netflix Cancelation
The recent cancellation of Netflix‘s “Boots” after just one season struck a blow for representation, as a ground breaking coming-of-age queer drama series set in the Marine Corps. But it was also notable for another reason: “Boots” was the final show to be executive produced by
YouTube to Stop Sharing Data With ‘Billboard’ Over ‘Outdated’ Chart Formula
The internet giant expressed its frustration with the way subscription-supported streams are still weighted more than ad-supported streams
Trump’s Venezuela blockade targets dozens of vessels under sanctions
More than 30 tankers in the Caribbean designated by the Treasury Department as sanctioned could be immediately affected by Trump’s move, according to ship tracking monitors.
Jake, Romy Reiner release statement on parents' deaths
Two children of actor-director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner on Wednesday thanked people for "the outpouring of condolences, kindness and support" they have received since their parents were found killed in an apparent stabbing on Sunday. "Words cannot even
Isaacman ready for launch at NASA
{beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Senate confirms Musk ally Isaacman to lead NASA The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Jason Isaacman to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) after a contentious and winding road. © AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Energy Department inspector general to probe billions in canceled climate grants mostly impacting blue states
An internal government watchdog says it will probe a Trump administration move to cancel nearly $8 billion in climate and energy funding that primarily impacted blue states. The Energy Department’s inspector general’s office will probe the cancellations, acting Inspector
Pokécology, the Pokémon ecology book, is getting localized in North America
Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology is coming to the U.S. and Canada in 2026, with a full English translation.
What happens when managers don't act? New research reveals the consequences can be severe
Most people recognize that we shouldn't actively harm others at work. Yet people tend to assume that failing to act is relatively benign or inconsequential.
Wafer-scale solid-state nanopores fabricated using extreme ultraviolet lithography
At this year's IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM 2025), imec, a research and innovation hub in advanced semiconductor technologies, presents the first successful wafer-scale fabrication of solid-state nanopores using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography.
California curtails effort to find young wolves whose parents were euthanized
Wildlife managers have significantly pared back their efforts to find three juvenile gray wolves who are the last remaining members of a pack that had established itself in the Sierra Valley ranch lands north of Truckee, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said
Ariana Grande Gets Way Too Hot and Cozy at ‘SNL’ HQ
The star will host Saturday Night Live with Cher as the musical guest
Venezuela's government says Trump's move to block tankers is an 'outrageous threat'
President Trump says he's imposing a ban on all sanctioned oil tankers leaving Venezuela. Venezuela's government is calling this an 'outrageous threat' intended to rob the country of its oil wealth.
“On January 1, 2026, thousands of copyrighted works from 1930 enter the...
“On January 1, 2026, thousands of copyrighted works from 1930 enter the US public domain, along with sound recordings from 1925 .” Includes Betty Boop, Blondie & Dagwood, and works by William Faulkner, Agatha Christie, and the Marx Brothers. 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
YouTube Will Stop Submitting Data to U.S. Billboard Charts in 2026
YouTube will stop submitting its data to the U.S. Billboard charts next month due to a dispute over how streams are counted, according to an announcement Wednesday from the streamer’s global head of music Lyor Cohen. At the center of the issue is the methodology Billboard
‘Godfather Of BioWare Design’ Steps Down At The Studio Making An Ambitious Successor To Mass Effect
Hasbro is shuffling its video game division after making a big splash at the Game Awards The post ‘Godfather Of BioWare Design’ Steps Down At The Studio Making An Ambitious Successor To Mass Effect appeared first on Kotaku .
UN, aid groups warn Gaza operations at risk from Israel impediments
By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Dec 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations and aid groups warned on Wednesday that humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, wereat risk of collapse if Israel does not lift impediments that include a "vague,
Watch: Moment Nick Reiner is arrested after being seen in convenience store
Footage shows a man believed to be the 32-year-old wandering in a convenience store before his arrest in the deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele.
Try to Make Any Sense of What Trump Is Saying About Venezuelan Oil
President Donald Trump gave a nonsensical justification Wednesday for his blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” coming and going from Venezuela. Speaking to reporters, Trump appeared to claim that he was simply stealing back oil that already belonged to the United States.
Art Models Struggle for a Living Wage and Recognition
The workers who pose for artists at historic organizations like the Art Students League say they are overworked and underpaid in a field that rarely values them.
Jackie Earle Haley, Lou Diamond Phillips to Star in Indie Thriller ‘Widow’ (Exclusive)
Abigail Cowen also stars in the feature revolving around a woman on the run with her infant.
Rob and Michele Reiner’s Cause of Death Revealed
The medical examiner's report was released just after their son, Nick Reiner, was charged with first-degree murder in their deaths and made his first court appearance.
Remembering Ceal Floyer, Michele Singer Reiner, and Christine Choy
This week, we honor a conceptualist who made the ordinary human, a wide-ranging photographer, and a filmmaker who made space for others.
Tax-avoiding firms face higher investment costs due to lack of transparency
Companies that engage in aggressive tax avoidance may be saving money in the short term, but they are paying a hidden price in the eyes of investors. According to a new study by the University of Portsmouth, tax transparency is rewarded in capital markets while secrecy raises
The Trump Administration Looks Even Worse Up Close
Photographs by Chris Anderson for Vanity Fair reveal the cost of remaking yourself in Trump’s image.
Federal report says Arctic just had its warmest year ever, heating twice as fast as global average
A federal report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the Arctic region experienced its warmest year ever, heating twice as fast as the national average. Surface air temperatures from October 2024 to September 2025 were the highest on record since at
OpenAI’s new ChatGPT image generator makes faking photos easy
New GPT Image 1.5 allows more detailed conversational image editing, for better or worse.
Africa: India Moves to Consolidate Ties With the Global South
[Nile Post] India has stepped up diplomatic efforts to deepen its engagement with countries across the Global South, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues a multi-nation tour aimed at strengthening political and economic partnerships beyond traditional Western allies.
AI tools are being used to subject women in public life to online violence
The era of AI-assisted online violence is no longer looming. It has arrived. And it is reshaping the threat landscape for women who work in the public sphere around the world.
‘Avatar’ Box Office Preview: ‘Fire and Ash’ Vies to Join Brethren on All-Time Chart
The opening weekend performance of James Cameron's sci-fi epic will be sliced and diced every which way; the real answer will lie in how well the threequel plays out during the year-end holidays and into the new year.
Rob Reiner and Wife’s Cause of Death Revealed: ‘Multiple Sharp Force Injuries’
Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer, died from “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Reiner, who starred in the 1971 sitcom “All in the Family” before directing films like “This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met
FCC Chairman Seems to Say That in Threatening ABC Affiliates Over Jimmy Kimmel, He Was Doing His Job to Uphold the ‘Public Interest’
Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chairman of the FCC, has been accused of improperly exerting pressure on ABC and local broadcasters to cancel Jimmy Kimmel over the late-night host’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s murder — and that Carr’s threats were tantamount to a First
Judge blocks DHS policy limiting lawmaker access to detention facilities
A federal judge has blocked a move by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to limit lawmakers' access to immigration detention facilities. Lawmakers have a right to make unannounced visits to detention centers, but DHS in July sought to curb visits with a new policy
Congressional Democrats' approval lowest since 2009: Survey
Just 18 percent of respondents approve of the job congressional Democrats are doing, according to a Quinnipiac survey released Wednesday, while 73 percent disapprove. That approval rating marks a new low since Quinnipiac began asking the question in 2009, surpassing the 19
Here Are 10 Great RPGs You Can Add To Your Collection For Surprisingly Cheap
Who knows how many more holidays of physical game shopping we have left? The post Here Are 10 Great RPGs You Can Add To Your Collection For Surprisingly Cheap appeared first on Kotaku .
Support for scientific funding doesn't have to be partisan—but scientists must make the case, says new study
When federal science agencies became the focus of sweeping budget cuts earlier this year, the national debate quickly took on a familiar shape: Conservatives approved of the budget cuts while liberals opposed them.
China and Mongolia are battling to control massive dust storms
Dust storms regularly affect northern China, including its capital, Beijing. In recent years, Chinese scientists and officials have traced the source of the dust storms to its neighbor Mongolia.
The Silver Lining in Disappointment
It triggers a reaction in the brains of mice that helps them change their behavior The post The Silver Lining in Disappointment appeared first on Nautilus .
Commentary: IndiGo cancellations highlight weaknesses in India aviation
The low-cost airline, whose tagline is “On Time, Every Time”, was ill-prepared for new regulations, says Endau Analytics’ Shukor Yusof.
Apple TV and Legendary Expand ‘Monsterverse’ Universe With Young Lee Shaw Series Starring Wyatt Russell
Apple TV and Legendary Entertainment are expanding the “Monsterverse” universe, announcing a new show starring Wyatt Russell, who will reprise his role as Colonel Lee Shaw in a prequel series about young Lee Shaw. Writer/producer Joby Harold is set to serve as showrunner on the
Commentary: China has moved ‘Gorpcore’ firmly into the mainstream
The health and wellness boom is a rare bright spot in a struggling retail sector, says Juliana Liu for Bloomberg Opinion.
’90s Alt-Rockers Summercamp Announce Reunion Show
The Santa Barbara-based '90s alt-rockers Summercamp, one word — not to be confused with the London-based 2010s indie pop band Summer Camp , two words — broke up in 2001, and they haven't performed since a hometown reunion show in the summer of 2015. That's about to change. The
Pet Monkeys Were Popular in Ancient Rome, Burials Reveal
The recent archaeological discovery also deepens our understanding of trade networks between India and the Roman Empire.
Machine With Concrete
Arthur Ganson is a kinetic sculptor who builds “Rube Goldberg machines with existential themes”. One of his works is called Machine with Concrete, which demonstrates the magic of gear ratios According to a piece in Make , the input shaft spins at 200 rpm, which is reduced by