Culture

Canberra — Australia has formally enacted a nationwide ban on social media use for minors under 16, marking one of the strictest measures globally aimed at curbing children’s exposure to online platforms.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Thursday publicly criticized the Pantone Color Institute after it selected “White House Gaudy Gold” as its 2026 Color of the Year—a choice Pantone described as “a reflective, demonstrative metallic hue inspired by the aesthetics of modern power.”

The president, speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One, called the designation “a disgraceful piece of branding” and “an unnecessary jab at the administration’s impeccable design sense.”

NEW YORK — In a sweeping change to one of the nation’s most recognizable holiday traditions, Walmart announced today that it will assume sponsorship and operational control of the long-running Thanksgiving parade formerly hosted by Macy’s. The transition follows Macy’s unexpected bankruptcy filing earlier this month, ending nearly a century of the department store’s association with the event.

Internationally acclaimed actor and martial artist Jackie Chan will serve as the honorary grand marshal of the 2025 Veterans Day Parade in Washington, D.C., event organizers announced Monday.

The annual parade, which honors U.S. military veterans and active service members, will take place along Constitution Avenue on Tuesday, November 11. This year’s event will feature a lineup of marching bands, military units, and community organizations, culminating in a wreath-laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial.

Cincinnati, OH — Vice President JD Vance and Erika Kirk drew friendly attention Friday evening after being spotted holding hands while trick-or-treating in matching Halloween costumes. The pair were seen participating in neighborhood festivities alongside local families.

Washington, DC — In an unusual press conference Thursday afternoon, FBI Director Kash Patel addressed questions related to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk while invoking references to Norse mythology, German opera, and 19th-century philosophy.

New York, July 26, 2025 — In a surprising casting development, Oscar‑winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow is set to portray Kristin Cabot, former Chief People Officer of the data‑operations firm Astronomer, in a forthcoming biographical film chronicling the life—and downfall—of the company’s former CEO, Andy Byron.

Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration announced Thursday its formal withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The decision was accompanied by an unusual complaint: President Donald Trump reportedly cited the organization’s failure to designate any Confederate battlefield as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Washington, D.C. — In a spectacle of flags, marching bands, and armored vehicles, former President Donald J. Trump held a military parade Saturday that drew “more than 100 people,” according to organizers. The event, staged at the National Mall, was meant to showcase American strength and honor the armed forces — though the crowd size sparked as much conversation as the tanks on display.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As anticipation builds for the upcoming military parade on Constitution Avenue, the cost to fill seats at the high-profile Washington event has reached unprecedented levels, with some parade watchers now able to “name their own price.”