Life

By Vivian Song Historic heat waves are putting French dairy cows that normally graze outdoors in summer under heat-related stress. Prolonged periods of drought are scorching French pastures, leeching them of their usual lush green vitality and leaving behind parched, lifeless yellow fields. And French farmers bound by strict cheesemaking regulations are having to buy

By Arimeta Diop, CNN. Photographs by Emmalee Reed, CNN. When actor Charity Bedu-Addo first read the script for “Shifters” — an intimate, Black romance conceptualized by playwright Benedict Lombe and director Lynette Linton — she knew something significant had landed in her hands. “I couldn’t put it down,” Bedu-Addo said of her initial encounter with

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — In our roundup of travel stories this week: Top food destinations in Asia, America’s best town to visit in 2026, and the special dishes that have for centuries powered London’s oldest restaurant. English elegance During its 228 years of existence, the London restaurant Rules – established by Thomas Rule

By Jacqui Palumbo, Dan Heching, CNN Los Angeles (CNN) — In the gardens of the long-awaited Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a 19th-century cast of Antonin Mercié’s sculpture of David conquering Goliath neighbors a bronze statue of Princess Leia strangling Jabba the Hutt with a chain. Rosie the Riveter stands by, her gaze averted. A

By Bianca Betancourt, CNN Britney Spears was ready to drop a new single. But how? It was 2001, and Spears was the biggest pop star in the world, with her 10-time-platinum sophomore album, “Oops! I Did It Again” behind her. The public would be expecting something suitably huge. They got something even bigger than that.

By Francesca Street, CNN (CNN) — Chuck Pappas almost didn’t show at the archaeological museum in Athens that day. It was a busy, hot morning in the Greek capital. Chuck weaved around fellow tourists on the cobbled streets. Every so often, he’d glance up at incredible ancient ruins, then look down at his watch. It

By Tanya Fevzi, CNN The Venice Film Festival, which typically sees Hollywood A-listers travel by boat to the little island of Lido every September, will draw to a close tomorrow. So far, much of the fashion at the 10-day event has been muted, elegant and pared-back. Black gowns have been abundant on the red carpet

By Jeanne Bonner, CNN (CNN) — On a work trip to Mississippi last year, Jason GaNun wound up trying three different hotel rooms to get some peace and quiet before a busy day — and none of them did the trick. In the first one, he said the “ancient” air conditioning unit was one of

By Chris Lau, Christine Miyawaki, CNN Tokyo (CNN) — Zen gardens, futuristic cityscapes and a vibrant food scene, combined with a favorable exchange rate against the yen, have turned Japan into a tourist magnet that has been drawing in record numbers of visitors in recent years. The number of people settling down for longer-term stays,

By Alexandra Skores, CNN (CNN) — For the first time in Southwest Airlines’ history, the air carrier will have its own lounges for passengers. Expected to open in late 2027, the first four new lounges will be located in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Daniel K. Inouye (Honolulu) International Airport and Nashville

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN (CNN) — For the past week, Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Maisie Williams and Joey King have ushered in the season of the witch as their coven has assembled for the “Practical Magic 2” press tour. Each have had their standout looks, from King’s sheer Miu Miu florals to Williams’ crimson throwback

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN (CNN) — If Courtney Love was the unpredictable fire of Hole, bassist Melissa Auf der Maur was her cool counterpart, the frontwoman’s right-hand woman both on and off the stage. For five years, the Montreal-born Auf der Maur joined the grunge-rock act just as they crested toward a vertiginous, yet precarious

By Lilit Marcus, CNN Riau Islands, Indonesia (CNN) — An urgent message lit up phones around the island: it was baby sea turtle o’clock. Bawah, a resort island in a remote stretch of Indonesia, has a sea turtle protection program. Three resident marine biologists travel around the archipelago, collecting sea turtle eggs before monitor lizards

By Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — John Galliano, the controversial British designer, will no longer be the subject of an exhibit linked to the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the museum said in a statement Monday. The move comes after a growing outcry over the decision by the museum and Anna Wintour,

By Oscar Holland, CNN (CNN) — Unmasked thieves smashed open a glass display case with a hammer before stealing a diamond-encrusted necklace worth more than $4 million during a brazen daylight museum heist in Vienna, Austria on Thursday. Austrian police say a manhunt is now underway for the two men, who posed as visitors to

By Silvia Marchetti, CNN Rome (CNN) — In the classic movie “Roman Holiday,” Gregory Peck’s American reporter encounters Audrey Hepburn’s incognito European princess without initially realizing her royal identity. With Rome as the backdrop to entertaining scenes of 1950s Italian life — Vespa rides past the Colosseum, shopping near the Spanish Steps, cafes and wild

By Jeanne Bonner, CNN (CNN) — This week in travel news: A frenzy erupts over Italian pastries, a college town serves up serious pizza, plus younger Brits are shunning the traditional night at the pub. Buon appetito! Known for its sumptuous cuisine and delicious desserts, Italy has tourists lining up for gelato all over the

By Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — Yayoi Kusama was an artist of many mediums — sculpture, painting, performance art and film — but many people will remember her for one body of work in particular: her “Infinity Mirror Rooms.” The artist, whose death at age 97 was announced this Wednesday, helped to establish a new

By Elina Baudier Kim, CNN Paris (CNN) — Secluded under the rooftops of Paris’s renowned Haussmannian buildings — home to some of the city’s wealthiest residents— are also hidden the most affordable apartments available: the notorious chambres de bonnes, or maids’ rooms. Originally designed over two centuries ago to house the servants working in these

By Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Taranto, Italy (CNN) — Greek legend tells the story of Taras, son of Poseidon, whose ship was wrecked while sailing between Italy and Greece. The sailor’s sea-god father dispatched a dolphin to rescue him, which he rode to the shores of the Ionian Peninsula. Safely on dry land, Taras established a

By Oscar Holland, CNN (CNN) — Yayoi Kusama, one of the world’s most celebrated and best-selling artists, has died age 97, according to a statement on the artist’s official website. “It is with profound sorrow that (we announce) the passing of Yayoi Kusama at a hospital in Tokyo on August 14,” read the statement, posted

By Jacqui Palumbo, Zoe Sottile, CNN (CNN) — Adorned in rhinestones and elevating her 5-foot stature with sky-high heels and voluminous blonde wigs, Dolly Parton often joked, “it costs a lot of money to look this cheap!” Parton’s looks on stage and off reflected both her Tennessee roots and her embodiment of over-the-top feminine glamour,

By Diego Mendoza, CNN (CNN) — A jersey worn by Michael Jordan during one of the most famous seasons of his career sold at auction for $12.26 million on Tuesday to become the most expensive basketball jersey to ever cross the block. The white mesh top emblazoned with Jordan’s iconic number “23” was worn by

By Julia Buckley, CNN (CNN) — Of the eight TripAdvisor reviews of the amphitheater near Arcugnano, in Italy’s northern Veneto region, all give fulsome, five-star praise. “An enchanting place,” reads one review. “A world beyond space and time,” enthuses another. “Definitely one of the best places I have ever been to,” raves another. “Unique on

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — In our roundup of travel stories this week: A collapsing sandcastle that trapped a teenager, the Vatican Observatory where science meets religion, plus “invisible architecture” in the African desert. Sleeper trains Few transport options capture romantic imaginations as completely as sleeper trains, those legendary locomotives that allow us to

By Stephy Chung, CNN Hong Kong (CNN) — There’s a plucky little Qing Dynasty artifact that at first glance looks out of place among China’s many Forbidden City treasures. Instead of the ornate porcelain and cloisonné enameling often associated with imperial vases, this one is made of blown glass. With its swirling red, white and

By Bianca Betancourt, CNN In a world of manufactured pop princesses, how does a young artist achieve timeless, on-stage style? Olivia Dean’s answer is to look to the greats. Since the official kickoff of the Grammy winner’s “The Art of Loving Live” world tour earlier this year, the singer and songwriter has dazzled her fans

By Stephen Lioy, CNN Saimaluu Tash Valley, Kyrgyzstan (CNN) — Under the dark canopy of night, the starry sky is reflected by the stones. Ten thousand rocks, carved with nearly 90,000 petroglyphs, catch the beam of a headlamp, telling stories as ancient and vast as the constellations above. Near the top of the Saimaluu Tash

By Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN (CNN) — A normally peaceful Alpine refuge — “rifugio” — high in the Italian Dolomites has been overrun with hundreds of tourists who aren’t there simply for the panoramic views, but rather a sweet treat. The huge queues in northern Italy’s Val di Fassa valley is all because of a

By Lianne Kolirin, CNN Vusanje, Montenegro (CNN) — There are no obvious checkpoints or border crossings to disrupt the beauty of the Peaks of the Balkans trail, and yet it is not uncommon to start a long day of physical exertion with a hearty breakfast in one country, then refuel with a much-appreciated home-cooked dinner

By Sheena McKenzie, CNN. Photographs by Sophie Green for CNN. Ramsgate, England (CNN) — For the past hour, Trudi Jackson has been painting on a chiselled jaw, sponging dragon tattoos to her forearms, taping down her breasts and gluing hair to her chest. “My favorite bit is my chin because I get to do the

By Natasha Chen, CNN Anaheim, California (CNN) — Hunched over small tables, thousands of fans who recently gathered at the D23 convention, the latest in Disney’s biennial expos, wrote down their most cherished memories of Disneyland on index cards. Disney plans to bury those cards at the root of trees planted at the new “Coco”

By T.M. Brown, CNN (CNN) — Unless you have a passionate opinion about your preferred artificial intelligence model, it’s likely the clothes that multi-billion dollar companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, Anthropic and Cohere are suddenly churning out aren’t meant for you. You likely aren’t going to be wearing Perplexity’s padded ecru jacket with a corduroy collar

By Charlotte Reck, CNN (CNN) — A person has been fined for sounding a foghorn that woke a slumbering polar bear in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, the region’s governor said in a statement. The incident occurred earlier in August when someone used the booming, low-pitched horn, usually reserved for maritime warnings, aboard a vessel that had

By Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Rome (CNN) — Scorching temperatures and a long, dry summer have given locals and tourists alike a rare opportunity to see the remains of a 2,000-year-old bridge that once spanned the Tiber river that weaves through the center of Rome. The flow of the Tiber, which is fed from tributaries

Ben Jones, CNN (CNN) — You’ve spent the day exploring Vienna, one of Europe’s great capital cities. You’ve visited its wonderful museums and galleries, taken a spin on the giant Ferris wheel in Prater Park and indulged in a slice of Sacher torte at Café Central, but now it’s time to move on. Vienna’s Hauptbahnhof

By Lianne Kolirin, CNN (CNN) — With almost three quarters of the world covered in water, it’s hardly surprising that the oceans provide such varied opportunities for marine photographers. The huge diversity in artistic opportunity is clearly visible in the finalists for 2026’s Ocean Photographer of the Year award. Finalists, who have just been announced,

By Emma Balleste, CNN New York (CNN) — Passengers may not expect a hot, sunny summer day to be the reason their flight gets delayed or even cancelled. But heat waves can be hazardous for flying. High temperatures affect aircraft performance, resulting in travel delays, weight restrictions, fuel stops and, in some cases, even cancellations.

By Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — In a post-Rihanna world, we all like to talk about how maternity wear — or at least the expectations of how pregnant women should dress — is forever changed. Rihanna, after all, when carrying each of her three children wore exactly what she might have done were she not

By Lilit Marcus, CNN Busan, South Korea (CNN) — In the US, a mall is a place to get a slice of pizza from Sbarro and buy some T-shirts at the Gap. But in South Korea, it’s a place where you can experience a jjimjilbang, an element of the country’s unique spa culture. Premium spas

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Chicago (CNN) — In Chicago, a lone statue of George Washington is now surrounded by “Other Washingtons,” which take the form of blue flags bearing the faces of Black Americans who bear the same last name. They include a range of notable figures and local heroes, such as the inventor George

Text by Lilit Marcus, Video by Justin Robertson, CNN Beijing/Hong Kong (CNN) — In the top corner, there’s a very small Star of David. On the center right side, the number 51. Near the center, a pentagon. Squint and you might notice a teeny-tiny series of music notes amid a busy grid. And, wait, is

By Charlotte Reck, CNN (CNN) — A multimillion-dollar power link between the United Kingdom and Ireland has been diverted after distraught “Harry Potter” fans pointed out that its planned route would cut through a beach memorial dedicated to a beloved character from the series, Dobby the house-elf. The £430 million (around $580 million) Greenlink interconnector

By Sheena McKenzie, CNN (CNN) — On an April evening in 1939, an estimated 150 million listeners from across the globe tuned in to a remarkable BBC radio broadcast that even now evokes wonder. “The trumpets of the pharaoh Tutankhamun!” booms the BBC announcer. A short intake of air and then — the blare of

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — In our roundup of travel stories this week: The families who were ripped apart by Italy’s new citizenship laws, why some travelers say airport lounges are no longer worth it, plus more woe for the Boeing 737 Max. Old plane, new tricks Airplanes up to 45 years old are

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — Employees at an airline catering facility located next to Los Angeles International Airport have filed a safety complaint alleging exposure to maggots, mold, cockroaches and other vermin while they work to prepare food. The award-winning Flying Food Group has 19 catering facilities across the United States, preparing 120 million

By Lianne Kolirin, CNN London (CNN) — It takes a lot to get British people hot under the collar, but a proposal to curb a venerable pub tradition appears to be doing just that. Westminster Council, which oversees a large part of central London, has set out its intention to cut down on what it

By Marnie Hunter, CNN (CNN) — A new luxury resort in Mexico that costs thousands of dollars a night is off to a rocky start after a reviewer with a reservation alleges he was turned away at the property’s gates. Ryan Walker, a luxury hotel reviewer on YouTube with more than 140K subscribers, posted a

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN (CNN) — For a stop on the final week of “The Odyssey” press tour, actor Charlize Theron wore a head-to-toe Tom Ford look that read more like a nod to “American Psycho” than the Homeric Epic. For the past month, the women of Christopher Nolan’s adaptation have used the red carpet

By Zoe Sottile, CNN (CNN) — “I love Hitler,” the designer John Galliano said to a woman across from him at a Paris bar. “People like you would be dead today.” That was in December 2010. Galliano was a legend at the time, the British genius who had helped reinvent Givenchy and Dior. When the

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN (CNN) — Two years ago, Jeffrey Davidson and Walter Zak hadn’t even set foot in Greece. But the couple, who were previously based in Orlando, Florida, are now happily settled in the Peloponnese region and can’t imagine ever leaving. Now retired, Jeffrey and Walter love being surrounded by Greece’s rich history

By Julia Buckley, CNN (CNN) — On Sunday night, Gustavo Monasterios went to sleep as a Venezuelan citizen. On Monday morning, he awoke to find that he was also an Italian. Monasterios, 47, was at the epicenter of the legal earthquake that took place in Italy last week. After nearly two years of steady restrictions

By Kati Chitrakorn (CNN) — Mihwa Kim loved makeup so much that she became a host on a beauty home shopping show in South Korea — comparing, testing and promoting dozens of products on television. Then in 2013, her career was upended when a devastating car accident left severe wounds on her face and neck

By Bianca Betancourt, CNN. Photographs by Marco Postigo Storel, CNN. New York has a bad habit of inflicting trend culture upon the masses — especially when it comes to food. You can almost immediately identify a year based on the cult confection of its time. Magnolia Bakery cupcakes (created in 1996, but shot to fame

By Jack Guy, CNN (CNN) — Authorities in Malaysia are introducing new rules for hikers, following a spike in search and rescue operations linked to social media trends. The measures include the mandatory use of guides at 189 high-risk locations around the country, as well as pre-climb screening procedures for hikers, state media agency Bernama

By Jacqui Palumbo | Photos: Austin Steele, CNN (CNN) — While browsing for antiques, an eye caught the eyes of David and Nan Skier. The married couple were looking for treasures at the Cyclorama Antiques Show while in Boston for a medical conference. David, a since-retired ophthalmologist, was used to inspecting eyes all day, but

By Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Hong Kong (CNN) — This summer vacation, some of the world’s most influential people will be soaking up the sun in Saint-Tropez before cruising up the coast to Monaco. But you won’t find China’s political elite sipping Champagne on a superyacht. Every summer, they secretly retreat to Beidaihe, a humble seaside

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — In our roundup of travel news this week: Dubai’s $800 incentive scheme to lure back tourists, a “firenado” in Utah, plus some of the wildest filming locations in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” Mount Olympus If you think the 172-minute runtime of Christopher Nolan’s Mediterranean epic “The Odyssey” is long,

By Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN More than 120 years ago, Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, National Geographic magazine’s first female writer, photographer and board member, chronicled her travels through colonial Indonesia in her book “Java: The Garden of the East.” She was particularly fascinated by a feast known as the rijsttafel (rice table), a multi-dish banquet that

By Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — It can’t be easy being Zendaya’s co-star — at least in terms of vying for red carpet attention. While promoting “The Odyssey” this summer, she’s worn an Eiffel Tower-shaped headpiece, a pair of earrings dating back to the 1st millennium BC, a life-size pair of feathered angel wings and

Chris Dwyer A century ago, motorists winding their way through France gained a new option when choosing where to stop for a meal: the Michelin star. The Michelin Guide had first appeared in 1900, the brainchild of tire magnates André and Édouard Michelin, based in the modest French town of Clermont-Ferrand. Their clever marketing ploy

Praachi Raniwala New Delhi (CNN) — For decades, India was relegated to fashion’s backyard, with its embroidery and garment export houses manufacturing everything from ready-to-wear to couture for the world’s biggest luxury brands. But recent years have seen a radical shift, as Indian designers are making their presence felt on the global stage. Rahul Mishra

By Julia Buckley, CNN (CNN) — Nearly 500 days since Italy’s millions-strong diaspora was hit by sweeping changes to the country’s citizenship laws in March 2025, the legal battle for Italian citizenship-by-descent continues. Now, following last week’s surprise referral of the new two-generation limit for scrutiny by the European Court of Justice, the diaspora has

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN (CNN) — Thinking back to her decision to relocate to Portugal on her own five years ago, Paula Dreyfuss jokes that many people questioned her state of mind, as she’d never even visited the European country before. But the mother of two, now based in the coastal city of Porto, famous

By Sonya King (CNN) — China is proud of its history. The only problem? Much of it has been lost to fires, wars, looting and revolutions. Enter fanggu, “historical imitation” attractions. Across the country, entire faux-ancient villages have been built from scratch. From glistening palaces to majestic boulevards, every detail is curated. Vines are transplanted

By Michael-Oliver Harding (CNN) — How do you capture the essence of someone who wishes to remain anonymous? This was one of the challenges French Algerian photographer Camille Farrah Lenain faced as part of her series on queer Muslim life in France. In her cinematic and dreamlike portraits, we see a figure partly obscured in

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN (CNN) — What a difference a few months can make. Earlier this year, Dubai was celebrating another record-breaking 12 months of tourism with a staggering 19.59 million international visitors logged in 2025. But visitor numbers have dropped precipitously as a result of the recent US and Israeli war on Iran, with

By Natasha Chen, CNN (CNN) — Aliera Iheanacho had banked more than 100,000 United Airlines miles, hoping she could one day experience a first class, lie-flat seat experience. But that dream will have to wait. This summer’s high airline ticket prices, driven by the soaring cost of jet fuel, made her airfare to China in

By Silvia Marchetti, CNN (CNN) — For more than a decade, Debra Coltune’s life revolved around the relentless pace and gridlocked traffic of Las Vegas. As a video presenter and food critic, she felt she was constantly hustling just to stay ahead — precariously trying to balance work and family life. Now, her days begin

By Julia Buckley, CNN (CNN) — Italy sent shockwaves through its global diaspora in March 2025 when the government introduced a sweeping new law which placed a strict two-generation cap on citizenship by descent. Overnight, millions of descendants around the world — many of whom had already spent thousands of dollars on family research and

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN (CNN) — Eighty-five years ago today, Emmett Till was born in Chicago and lived only 14 years before he was abducted and lynched while visiting family in Mississippi. His mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, made the decision to leave the casket open at the funeral, to “let the people see.” More than 50,000

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — In travel news this week: the world’s most powerful passports, how edible ants got a chef in trouble, plus a new milestone in ultra-long-haul air travel. Project Sunrise Having a nice relaxing weekend? Spare a thought for the weary new Airbus A350-1000ULR, which is cooling its jets in Melbourne

By Mustafa Qadri, CNN (CNN) — For generations, pubs have served as a place where soccer fans crowd around television screens, colleagues meet after work, families celebrate birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties mark a final hurrah before marriage and regulars find community. But young Britons are increasingly looking elsewhere for social connection and embracing sober

By Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN (CNN) — It’s 5:43 a.m., and the runways at Reagan National Airport are already roaring with activity. Plane engines thunder. Trucks beep as they back up. A shearing sound echoes in the distance. But First Officer Netanel Draiblate has no problem tuning out the noise. He’s laser-focused on the task

By Zoe Sottile, CNN (CNN) — Earlier this month, Charli XCX watched “Point Break,” the 1991 action flick starring Keanu Reeves as a rookie FBI agent. It was, she said, “top to bottom the coolest everrrrr.” How do we know that? Because she logged it on Letterboxd — in an account that has become a