While tennis fans savor the last matches of the U.S. Open, a subset of spectators and TV viewers have watched the year's final Grand Slam tournament as a source of fashion inspiration they can use to serve looks off the court. It may have escaped people who don't pay attention to clothing trends, but cities from Australia to America are awash in short pleated skirts, tennis dresses, polo collars, and other garments that can make everyone look like they possess a country club membership and a...

The U.S. government has temporarily halted a plan to remove iconic stray cats that live in a historic district in Puerto Rico’s capital until a lawsuit opposing the project is resolved, a nonprofit announced in September. The ruling was cheered by those fighting a decision by the U.S. National Park Service to remove an estimated 200 cats that meander a seaside fortress that Spain built in colonial times. The cats, which have long been a tourist attraction, are both beloved and reviled by...

The U.K.'s competition watchdog has launched an investigation into the way more than one million tickets were sold for next year's reunion concerts by iconic 1990s Britpop band Oasis. In a statement, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said its investigation into Live Nation Entertainment's unit Ticketmaster will look specifically at "dynamic pricing," whereby prices can vary rapidly in light of changing market conditions. It is a pricing strategy used for in-flight sales and home...

“Clean beauty,” the idea of promoting healthy and environmentally friendly beauty products, is all the rage online and in big-box stores. But knowing exactly what’s in most of the soaps, creams and perfumes on shelves today can be nearly impossible, supply chain experts say, because even products that tout natural, sustainable ingredients are so far removed from the fields where they’re grown. While the origins of many raw ingredients are obscured, some small beauty brand owners go the extra...

An Australian app is setting out to help diners tired of battling background noise when they visit restaurants. The app allows users to search and review restaurants based on noise levels. Open-plan kitchens and sparse furnishing are the modern hallmarks of a trendy restaurant. However, some restauranteurs fail to consider the auditory implications of these design features. Diners tired of shouting across their starters now have a solution to the problem of overwhelming background...

While many costs have come down for small businesses, rents remain high and, in some cases are still rising, forcing many owners into some uncomfortable decisions. “Every time the rent goes up, we have to raise prices to keep up with the cost,” said Adelita Valentine, owner of HairFreek Barbers in Los Angeles. “But with the cost of living, it makes it difficult on our customers.” Other owners are choosing to be late on payments or seeking out new locations where the rent is lower. A few are...

Japan, a nation so hardworking its language has a term for literally working oneself to death, is trying to address a worrisome labor shortage by coaxing more people and companies to adopt four-day workweeks. The Japanese government first expressed support for a shorter working week in 2021, after lawmakers endorsed the idea. The concept has been slow to catch on, however. About 8% of companies in Japan allow employees to take three or more days off per week, while 7% give their workers the...

The Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning people to immediately dispose of a magnetic game because it poses serious ingestion risks for children. The CPSC posted a warning that "Magnetic Chess Games" sold by JOMO contain magnets that do not comply with U.S. federal safety regulations. As a result, the "loose, hazardous magnets pose a risk of serious injury or death," according to the warning. The CPSC said it issued a violation notice to JOMO, but that the company has not...

A private college in the U.K. is about to start its first class taught using artificial intelligence instead of human teachers. David Game College in London is offering an alternative program of study for 20 GCSE students starting September. GCSEs are the general examinations that all students in the UK take at the age of 16. The platforms learn the strengths and weaknesses of each student and then adapt their lessons accordingly. Strong topics are moved to the end of the term so they can...

Online reviews and testimonials are key ways that small businesses can attract new customers and boost sales of products. But fake reviews and testimonials have been a persistent problem for small businesses, many of whom rely on recommendations for business. Fake reviews can make it harder for people to trust what they read online and ultimately hurt businesses. In addition, small businesses can find themselves targeted by bad actors who leave negative reviews. Avi Israeli, a dentist and...

A new law means that all Swedes are now legally required to recycle their food waste. Many cities across the country have been doing so for decades, but it means change in the capital, Stockholm. So, the question is: Has this new law made any difference? Stockholm resident Fabian Säll takes care to recycle his potato peel when he’s preparing a meal. He’s a fan of a new Swedish law that requires everyone to recycle their food waste. “I think it’s a good thing, actually, for keeping people...

Cheap motorcycles in Uganda are both a blessing and a curse for the capital Kampala—they provide employment for the country’s young population but are also seen as an urban menace in the congested streets. It can look like a game of Russian roulette on these roads in the Ugandan capital Kampala. Motorcycles weave between traffic, jump red lights, and carry precariously balanced loads they were never designed to haul. Locally, the bikes are known as boda bodas, a derivation from “Border...

Cruise’s trouble-ridden robotaxis are joining Uber’s ride-hailing service next year as part of a multiyear partnership bringing together two companies that were once poised to compete for passengers. The alliance is the latest change in direction for Cruise since its California license to provide driverless rides was suspended in October 2023 after one of its robotaxis dragged a jaywalking pedestrian who had been struck by a human-driven vehicle across a darkened San Francisco street. The...

They often cover just a few square meters of urban space, and now they’re growing across Australia to cool neighborhoods down on hot days. “Tiny forests,” as they are called, also mature in 10 to 20 years, rather than the usual 100 years, because of the way they’re generated. And that could be a big benefit for Australia’s suburbs. A school in Perth is busy creating a tiny forest. “I love it the most because I love animals and nature,” says one student. This particular type of forest can...

A pack of four-legged therapists got a break of their own when they were honored at the airport where they dutifully work to ease stress and calm travelers. The event at Philadelphia International Airport marked five years since the 23 members of the Wagging Tails Brigade began greeting people and serving as therapy dogs. Several of them were presented with birthday presents and a customized cake while passersby were invited to eat cupcakes and sign an oversized birthday card. Members of...

Oklahoma City’s police department is one of a handful to experiment with AI chatbots to produce the first drafts of incident reports. Police officers who’ve tried it are enthused about the time-saving technology, while some prosecutors, police watchdogs, and legal scholars have concerns about how it could alter a fundamental document in the criminal justice system that plays a role in who gets prosecuted or imprisoned. “They become police officers because they want to do police work, and...

The notion that online gaming could help players develop charitable habits seemed bold when the anti-poverty nonprofit Comic Relief US tested its own multiverse on the popular world-building app Roblox last year. As philanthropy wrestles with how to authentically engage new generations of digitally savvy donors, Comic Relief US CEO Alison Moore said it was “audacious” to design an experience that still maintained the “twinkle” of the organization that's behind entertainment-driven...

In the 1980s and ’90s, Ron Spitzer played bass and drums in rock bands—Tot Rocket and the Twins, Western Eyes, and Band of Susans. He sang and wrote songs, toured the country, and recorded albums. When the bands broke up, he continued to make music with friends. But a stroke in 2009 put Spitzer in a wheelchair, partially paralyzing his left arm and leg. He gave away his drum kit. His bass sat untouched. His voice was a whisper. Now music is part of his healing. Spitzer sings each week in a...

Trekking through this breathtaking scenery on horseback—this is the experience of Mongolia that the country thinks will tempt Western tourists to pay it a visit. One of the people hoping to show them what’s on offer is tour guide Egjimaa Battsooj. She and her assistant are sorting out saddles and riding gear for a small group of European clients who will travel on horseback across northern Mongolia. They come to see wildlife, steppes, and traditional nomadic lifestyle. Battsooj and her team...

Taxpayers are expected to save billions after the Biden administration inked deals with pharmaceutical companies to knock down the list prices for 10 of Medicare’s costliest drugs. But how much older Americans can expect to save when they fill a prescription at their local pharmacy remains unclear, since the list cost isn’t the final price people pay. After months of negotiations with manufacturers, list prices will be reduced by hundreds—in some cases, thousands—of dollars for 30-day...

Social media influencers got the royal treatment at the White House on August 14 as President Joe Biden gave a nod to their ability to hold sway with millions of loyal followers. The White House played host to a group of more than 100 influencers, also known as content creators, across a range of media platforms—from chefs and makeup artists to fitness gurus and medical students—to talk about issues including mental health, pay equity, and the abuse of artificial intelligence. Biden stopped...

Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will continue to live with less water next year from the Colorado River after the U.S. government announced water cuts that preserve the status quo. Long-term challenges remain for the 40 million people reliant on the imperiled river. The 1,450-mile (2,334-kilometer) river is a lifeline for the U.S. West and supplies water to cities and farms in northern Mexico, too. It supports seven Western states, and more than two dozen Native American tribes and irrigates...

Swedish health officials said they have identified the first case of a person with the more infectious form of mpox first seen in eastern Congo, a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreaks there and elsewhere in Africa to be a global emergency. The Swedish public health agency said in a statement the patient recently sought health care in Stockholm. “In this case, a person has been infected during a stay in the part of Africa where there is a major outbreak of...

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law a bill that would phase out the use of PFAS, a group of toxic industrial compounds, in firefighters' protective gear. The chemicals—associated with health problems including several types of cancer, such as breast, kidney and testicular cancer—are used in gear to repel water and other substances when fighting a fire. Connecticut is the only other state with a similar law regarding firefighters' protective gear. "It's one thing to run into a...