New Jersey sues over New York City's congestion pricing plan
New Jersey is suing to stop New York City's landmark congestion price plan to charge drivers entering downtown Manhattan.
2023-07-22 00:17
Harris heads to Florida ready to forcefully condemn state's new Black history standards
Vice President Kamala Harris will travel Friday to Jacksonville in a last-minute trip to forcefully condemn a newly approved set of standards for teaching Black history by the Florida Board of Education, directly wading into one of the cultural flashpoints that have assumed new prominence ahead of the 2024 election.
2023-07-21 23:15
Taiwan media guide
An overview of the media in Taiwan, including links to broadcasters and newspapers.
2023-07-21 22:22
The Reason Your Converse Sneakers Have Extra Holes on the Side
You may have never noticed the extra holes on the sides of your Chuck Taylor All-Stars, but they serve a clever purpose.
2023-07-21 21:24
Department of Education to host admissions diversity summit after Supreme Court guts affirmative action
The Biden administration later this month will host the National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education as it tries to find ways to support colleges that want to promote diversity after a Supreme Court ruling gutted affirmative action.
2023-07-21 19:18
SPF cocktailing: Why you should steer clear of the buzzy TikTok trend
‘SPF cocktailing’ is the latest beauty trend to make waves on TikTok. It’s all about mixing your favourite SPF with another product – such as concealer or highlighter – and applying that as a ‘cocktail’ onto skin. In theory, the idea sounds good – the aim is to reduce the white cast some SPFs leave, and mean less steps slathering products onto your skin in the morning – but dermatologists and skin experts have started pointing out the potential dangers of this new trend. “SPF cocktailing is a recipe for disaster in so many ways,” says Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics. “By mixing SPF with products such as concealer or highlighter you are leaving the skin entirely exposed to the dangerous UV rays, which will very likely burn the skin and potentially lead to skin cancer down the line, not to mention leaving you more prone to premature ageing.” Dr Paris Acharya, leading aesthetic doctor and face surgeon agrees, saying: “When you mix an SPF with your other make-up products, such as foundation or concealer, you are changing the overall properties of the SPF and diluting the strength of the product. “This will therefore reduce the protection that you will be getting from the SPF. There may also be certain products within your make-up products that may interfere with the way that your SPF is meant to work.” However, Perry understands why people might be looking for ways to make their SPF look better. “Sunscreens are notoriously cosmetically unattractive purely in part to the ingredients. The reason for this is that’s how they prevent the sun’s rays penetrating into the skin. The suncream companies already try to dilute this down as much as possible in order to make it cosmetically acceptable, however I appreciate in some instances this does not quite go far enough.” So for Perry, it is a “balance between having someone wearing something that will protect your skin, versus not wearing it”. He adds: “I don’t advocate mixing the ingredients together, as it may reduce efficacy. I do believe though that if this is the only way people will wear sunscreen, then some sunblock is absolutely better than no sunblock.” But make no mistake: the best option is wearing SPF that hasn’t been mixed with any other products. “It only takes one sunburn in a lifetime to lead to skin cancer. [Skipping sunscreen] isn’t something you should be doing at all, and in no way should be encouraged,” says Perry. If you do want to reduce the white cast of sunscreen, Perry’s advice is to “apply a good moisturising cream prior to using a sunscreen – this will help the sunscreen absorb into the skin and reduce the tint”. While Perry doesn’t recommend mixing your products together, he does suggest that layering is fine: “If you apply them all separately and give them a chance to absorb first.” Acharya has some other recommendations for best practice when it comes to sunscreen. “My ultimate top tip is to always use a broad spectrum SPF. Broad spectrum protects you from both UVA and UVB rays which helps the skin to stay youthful and will help to reduce premature ageing and sunspots,” she advises. “Another important tip for using an SPF is to always apply it to the face and neck to ensure full coverage and protection of all exposed areas. The skin on your face and neck is some of the first to age on your body so it’s vital that we care for these areas properly.” Acharya recommends an SPF30 or above for your face, and adds: “It is always recommended to reapply your SPF throughout the day at least twice to maintain maximum protection.” 5 of our favourite SPFs… These sunscreens are so good, you’ll want to apply them solo. 1. Collistar Protective Sun Cream SPF 50+, £35, LookFantastic 2. Caudalie Vinosun Protect Very High Protection Lightweight Cream SPF50+, £23 3. Paula’s Choice Advanced Sun Protection Daily Moisturiser SPF 50, £33.15 (was £39) 4. Biore UV Aqua Water Essence Sunscreen SPF50, £15.99, Superdrug 5. PCA Skin Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50+, £42
2023-07-21 18:56
Barbie’s here: 7 other fashionable films to watch
After months of hype, Barbie is now in cinemas. It’s had arguably one of the best press tours of recent years – with star Margot Robbie dressed as a string of real-life Barbie dolls – and has sparked a craze for all things pink. From the hottest pink hues to saturated shades of red, rose and magenta, the latest style trend — coined ‘Barbiecore’ — is here to stay. Barbie is the latest example of a film influencing how we dress. Whether it’s glittering costumes or Nineties minimalism, film often uses fashion to dazzle – or even give inspiration for your own wardrobe. When it comes to fashion, some films are a cut above the rest — where the style or certain characters have become iconic for a reason. Here are some of the most fashionable movies to watch… 1. Breakfast At Tiffany’s, 1961 No discussion of fashionable films would be complete without a mention of Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Hubert de Givenchy created the iconic black dress for Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, which she wore with strings of pearls and chic black sunglasses. With Hepburn’s sleek bouffant and a long cigarette holder perpetually in hand, Breakfast at Tiffany’s shows that fashion doesn’t have to be OTT to make a statement. Golightly’s style has truly stood the test of time, and is still being copied today. 2. Pretty Woman, 1990 Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts as Vivian, a prostitute who falls in love with rich entrepreneur Edward. With Edward’s money, Vivian gets a whole new wardrobe, serving some of the most memorable fashion moments in movie history. The most stand-out look is when Vivian goes to the opera, wearing an off-the-shoulder red gown which played off Roberts’s auburn hair. While this is certainly the knock-out look, the rest of the film is full of incredible outfits; whether it’s the brown polka dot dress Roberts wears to the polo, or the chic white sun dress paired with matching gloves and a black hat. 3. Pulp Fiction, 1994 There isn’t much to say about the menswear in Quentin Tarantino crime thriller Pulp Fiction. John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson stick to suits which aren’t perfectly fitted (this was the Nineties, after all), with the occasional trench coat worn on top. However, it’s the women’s clothes which really shine. Uma Thurman plays Mia Wallace, who stood out for her androgynous tailoring and an interpretation of Nineties minimalism which still resonates today. With black cigarette pants and white shirts, there wasn’t anything not to love about Thurman’s outfits. 4. Clueless, 1995 Few leading ladies have a style as covetable as Cher from Clueless, played by Alicia Silverstone. Her fashion was the epitome of Nineties cool – we bet you can already picture Cher’s yellow plaid skirt and jacket set, or the Calvin Klein slip dress. It wasn’t just Cher, but the whole cast serving up some iconic looks – whether it was Dionne’s black and white top hat or Amber in a fluffy headband. This was a preppy take on Nineties style, with plenty of over-the-knee socks and perfectly matching ensembles. The film provided a fashion education to a whole generation; when Cher is robbed at gunpoint, she argues about getting on the ground by saying: “You don’t understand, this is an Alaïa!” who she calls a “totally important designer”. The movie might have been made in 1995, but thanks to the current obsession with Nineties fashion, we’re still seeing Cher-inspired looks everywhere. 5. The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001 In terms of fashion, Gwyneth Paltrow as Margot is the real star of Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, with her fur coats, tennis dresses and heavy eye make-up. The film’s style is as eclectic as can be expected from Anderson – the quirky director loves to play with bright colours. Special shout-out has to go to Ben Stiller’s character and his children, who wear matching red Adidas tracksuits throughout. 6. Atonement, 2007 You might not expect a film of love and betrayal in WWII to make this list, but Atonement – an adaptation of an Ian McEwan novel – isn’t an ordinary war film. In a particularly pivotal scene, Keira Knightley wears an unforgettable green silk dress with a low back and sweeping hemline. There have been countless replicas of the dress made, some of which have sold for hefty amounts of money. Even though the green dress overshadows the rest of the film’s fashion, the other outfits are just as beautiful – as Cecilia, Knightley wears everything from a white bathing suit with matching cap to more androgynous tailoring when the film moves into wartime. 7. The Great Gatsby, 2013 It’s hard not to be blown away by the costumes in Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book. Set in the flapper era, the outfits are a feast for the eyes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, costume and production designer Catherine Martin was in charge of 1,700 vintage costumes, and she enlisted the help of Miuccia Prada to do so. With sparkles, geometric shapes, headbands and plenty of feathers, the ensembles were a modern take on Twenties dressing, adding a glamorous and almost otherworldly note to the film. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live The qualities to teach your kids that are more important than exam results 6 hacks for handling the heatwave at a festival How to make your clothes last longer, as research shows expensive doesn’t always mean durable
2023-07-21 15:30
8 sensational summer scents for men
The final step in your grooming routine, a spritz of cologne means you’re styled, smelling fine and ready to head out the door. And if you’re looking for a fresh scent you’re in luck, because this season there’s a wave of fragrance launches perfect for complementing summer outfits. Here’s our pick of the best new colognes for summer… 1. Barbour Coastal For Him Eau De Parfum, £76 for 100ml, The Fragrance Shop Inspired by the craggy clifftops of the British coastline, this cologne opens like a blast of sea air, with lingering citrus and spice notes giving it a summery lightness. 2. Molton Brown Wild Mint & Lavandin Eau de Parfum, £120 for 100ml (available August 30) Evoking a dawn stroll through a misty forest in Provence, this unisex scent brings together mint, basil, lavandin (the more potent cousin of lavender) and nutmeg to create a heavenly herbaceous blend. 3. Montblanc Explorer Platinum Eau de Parfum, £79 for 100ml, The Perfume Shop The latest addition to the Montblanc fragrance family, Explorer Platinum takes the original woody scent to icy new heights, with cedarwood, violet leaf and amber notes lending an air of alpine sophistication. 4. L’Occitane Verbena Carrot Flower Eau de Toilette, £56 for 100ml Fans of L’Occitane’s bestselling Verbena shower gel will love this new juice, a sensationally citrusy melange that dries down to reveal a green, woody heart. 5. Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Toilette, £85 for 100ml, The Perfume Shop A manly, marine-inspired cologne, Luna Rossa Ocean swells with zesty bergamot and vetiver, balanced out with tonka bean, resulting in an alluring aquatic fusion. 6. Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb Infrared Eau de Toilette, currently £68 for 90ml (was £85), Boots For the man who wants to stand out with his seasonal scent, Spicebomb Infrared is the obvious choice. An intoxicating explosion of saffron, red pepper, cinnamon and tobacco, the rich, long-lasting juice is made for summer nights. 7. Valentino Born In Roma Uomo Intense For Him Eau de Parfum, £96 for 100ml, The Perfume Shop Make like Ryan Gosling in the long-awaited Barbie movie and unleash your ‘Kenergy’ with this fuchsia-tinged fragrance. Born in Roma Uomo Intense takes the original scent in an oriental direction, adding nutmeg, amber and lavandin, inspired by balmy nights in the iconic Italian city. 8. Courreges Seconde Peau Eau De Parfum, £115 for 100ml, The Fragrance Shop Part of a six-piece collection from Courreges, Seconde Peau (meaning ‘second skin’) is inspired by the French fashion brand’s signature knits. The subtle yet sexy eau de parfum combines notes of pine, tea leaf and vetiver to create a delicately woody composition. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Barbie’s here: 7 other fashionable films to watch The qualities to teach your kids that are more important than exam results 6 hacks for handling the heatwave at a festival
2023-07-21 15:25
Doctor emotionally describes terminating pregnancy out of state during hearing over Texas abortion bans
On the second day of hearings addressing the emergency medical exception for abortion restrictions in Texas, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist gave emotional testimony about getting an abortion out of state last year after learning her fetus had a life-threatening condition.
2023-07-21 08:18
Nebraska woman charged with disposing of fetus following illegal abortion sentenced to 90 days in jail
A woman accused of having an illegal abortion in Nebraska when she was 17 and disposing of the fetus was sentenced Thursday to 90 days in jail following a plea agreement.
2023-07-21 07:50
Florida introduces new guidelines on teaching Black history, critics give poor grade
Florida's board of education has approved new guidelines for teachers on how Black American history should be taught
2023-07-21 05:59
U.S. court tosses challenge to EPA's greenhouse gas 'endangerment finding'
By Clark Mindock A U.S. appeals court on Thursday declined to reconsider lawsuits challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s
2023-07-21 05:53