Life

By Jessica Salter, CNN (CNN) — A huge and teeming Mediterranean port with a gritty reputation, Marseille isn’t typically seen as one France’s classic destinations, yet the country’s second biggest city by population has recently found itself in the spotlight. First it was couture house Chanel putting Marseille on the fashion map when it brought

By Rosa Rahimi, CNN London (CNN) — A perfectly twirled bite of spaghetti hangs off a fork mid-air. Next to it, a bowl of ramen and a katsudon — freshly cooked eggs and pork cutlet – fall fresh out of the pan. Plates are stacked high with colorful sashimi and elaborate parfaits. It’s a feast for

By Thomas Page, CNN London, UK (CNN) — In the depths of Covid, Aamir Khan tried walking away from it all. Acting, filmmaking; the business that made him a household name to millions in India and beyond. No more. The Bollywood megastar, one of India’s highest paid actors, was locked down in 2020 and feeling

By David G. Allan, CNN (CNN) — Fifty years ago, parishioners from Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple in San Francisco began to settle a rural commune in the South American country of Guyana. The Jonestown experiment ended four years later in one of the most tragic and bizarre murder-suicide incidents in American history. More than 900

By Francesca Street, CNN (CNN) — When frazzled twentysomething traveler Jennea arrived at London’s King’s Cross railway station on December 15, 2013, the station was absolutely packed. Carol singers in one corner were singing with gusto, collecting money for charity in brightly colored buckets. Gathered in the middle of the Victorian concourse, crowds of travelers

By Lianne Kolirin, Rosanne Roobeek and Mick Krever, CNN (CNN) — The Miss Netherlands beauty pageant has been scrapped, after the competition’s organizers said it was time for change. The contest will no longer run, and in its place those behind it have introduced a new initiative aimed at “inspiring” young people in many different

By Amarachi Orie, CNN London (CNN) — Famed British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who became a household name after performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has said he had to cancel a concert in Canada after the country’s largest airline denied his pre-booked seat for his cello. Kanneh-Mason is currently on a

By Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — In an age ruled by neatly slicked buns, it’s easy to forget there was a time before extra-hold gel — when hair was encouraged to expand rather than contract. At the LA premiere for “A Complete Unknown” Tuesday night, Elle Fanning took it upon herself to remind us of

By Kate Springer, CNN (CNN) — Wilfried Gebhardt still remembers his first dive at Apo Reef over 30 years ago. The now-retired German geographer had just moved to Sablayan, a municipality on Mindoro island, southwest of Manila, to assist victims of the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. While stationed there, he heard about a magical underwater

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN (CNN) — It may be an archaeologist’s job to unearth astounding discoveries, but every year some people just have an extraordinarily lucky — or strange — day. That was no different in 2024, with a construction worker turning up a nude marble deity hidden some 1,600 years ago, an art historian

Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — After months of speculation, Chanel has named its new artistic director. On Thursday, Matthieu Blazy — most recently, the creative director of luxury Italian label Bottega Veneta — was appointed to one of the most high-profile jobs in fashion. Blazy is only the fourth head designer of the French fashion

By Alexandra Skores, CNN (CNN) — As they were coming in for a landing, a “plume” of bad weather suddenly appeared in front of Hawaiian Airlines pilots who hit severe turbulence just seconds later. Dozens of passengers were injured. Passengers experienced a “hard jolt” and then a “free fall” sensation. One passenger crawled back to

By Alexandra Skores, CNN (CNN) — United Airlines travelers with lost luggage have a new tool to track their bags. If the lost bag has an Apple AirTag in it, that information can now be passed directly to United, the airline announced Thursday. The new feature, called Share Item Location, allows travelers with an AirTag

By Jon Jensen, CNN Alice Springs, Australia (CNN) — The Australian outback is one of the wildest places on Earth. A vast void of deserts and semi-arid wilderness, it stretches across about 80% of the country’s interior — an area roughly equivalent to seven times the size of Texas. Temperatures are extreme day and night,

By Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — “I feel you like a serpent crawling inside my body,” whimpers Ellen, played by Lily-Rose Depp — the tortured object of Count Orlok’s affection. In director Robert Eggers’ latest film, “Nosferatu,” the year is 1838, and the ancient Translyvanian vampire has been tainting Ellen’s dreams with psychosexual nightmares since

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN Kaçkar Mountains, Turkey (CNN) — “Every day you can make a different cheese. It’s all in your hands,” says Sevda İyem, her fingers working nimbly as she prepares a fresh block in the kitchen of her family guesthouse overlooking the Macahel Valley, close to the Turkish border with Georgia. Today, like

By Jack Guy, CNN (CNN) — An image of a squirrel stuck in a tree has been named the overall winner of this year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, with a frog in a bubble and a bream chasing a bald eagle among the category winners. “Stuck Squirrel” by Milko Marchetti was chosen as the

CNN By Christy Choi, CNN (CNN) — Bianca Tse is among a growing number of artists embracing AI. “It’s shortened the path between my ideas and my visions,” said the 43-year-old, sitting in front of “Breathing Room,” a photo recently showcased at the Blue Lotus Gallery in Hong Kong. In it, three Chinese men appear

By Leah Dolan, CNN London (CNN) — For those unable to visit the Tokyo National Museum, where Iwasa Matabei’s famous 17th-century epic gold leaf painting “Rakuchu Rakugai Zu Byobu” currently hangs, the Gagosian gallery in London is displaying a large-scale replica this December. Look closer, however, and not all is quite as it seems. In

By Antonia Mortensen, Christopher Lamb and Alessandro Gentile, CNN Rome (CNN) — Anyone visiting Rome in 2024 could be forgiven for being disappointed. While the city has no shortage of ancient treasures to explore, many of them have been buried under scaffolding amid extensive renovations. The city’s historic center has resembled a building site, with

By Lianne Kolirin, CNN When World War II ended and the horrors of the Holocaust began to emerge, the focus was on the human cost, and seeking justice, retribution and answers for the survivors and bereaved families. Then came the drive for reparations and restitution, which not only sought to compensate for the unimaginable suffering

By Lilit Marcus, CNN (CNN) — Japan Airlines is now offering to drop travelers’ suitcases off at their hotels for them, for a fee. But the new program isn’t just about providing good customer service — it’s aimed at alleviating the burden on Tokyo’s overcrowded mass transit system. Passengers at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport can pay

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN (CNN) — South Korean sharpshooter Kim Ye-ji, whose seemingly effortless shooting style and “aura” enthralled the internet this summer, is one of the stars of the latest Balenciaga campaign. The 32-year-old Olympic silver medalist joins Romeo Beckham and singer Kim Petras in a series of photographs taken around Paris, in which

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN (CNN) — In their Upper East Side townhouse, TV power couple Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have recreated a slice of Paris in New York. The glamorous five-story home has seen their three children grow up, but has largely remained unchanged since interior designers William Sofield and Emma O’Neill of Studio

By Lilit Marcus, CNN (CNN) — A Canadian woman has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into New Zealand — by disguising them as Christmas presents. New Zealand Customs officials said 10.2 kilograms (22 pounds) of methamphetamine worth up to $2.2 million was discovered in the woman’s carry-on luggage when she arrived at

By Fred He, CNN (CNN) — Wendy Chen decided to challenge herself by climbing Mount Tai, a well-known mountain in eastern China. But there was one obstacle in her way: she couldn’t find a friend to join her for the five-hour trek. Rather than forgo her plans, the 25-year-old hired a “climbing buddy,” a young

By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — Once famed for carrying wealthy passengers across Europe in opulent train carriages, the Orient Express brand has resurfaced once again — this time jumping off the rails in Italy for a luxury hotel venture. Orient Express La Minerva, set to open in central Rome in spring 2025, is the

By Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — Russian-born American photographer Anastasia Samoylova loves “Barbie.” Not only did she wear a hot pink suit to the opening of her own photography exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in October, she also insisted on taking her teenage son to see Greta Gerwig’s 2023 film — considering it

By Blane Bachelor, CNN (CNN) — Since the US presidential election, there’s been a spike in Americans’ interest in moving abroad. “It’s been such a gut reaction of, ‘I want to move, but I don’t know where, and I don’t know how,’ ” says Arielle Tucker, a Switzerland-based certified financial planner who specializes in assisting

By Joshua Berlinger, CNN Paris (CNN) — Five years after it was nearly destroyed in a devastating fire, Notre Dame de Paris formally reopened on Saturday with a two-hour ceremony inside the famed cathedral’s gleaming, newly renovated interior. Global leaders and dignitaries including US President-elect Donald Trump, current US first lady Jill Biden, Elon Musk

CNN By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — In travel news this week: railway ambitions in Greece, Vietnam, Britain and the United States, exciting new maritime adventures from Virgin Voyages and the Orient Express, plus the world’s top cities for 2024. Life at sea Spending $120,000 for a vacation sure does sound expensive. However, if it

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — In travel news this week: railway ambitions in Greece, Vietnam, Britain and the United States, exciting new maritime adventures from Virgin Voyages and the Orient Express, plus the world’s top cities for 2024. Life at sea Spending $120,000 for a vacation sure does sound expensive. However, if it means

By Lilit Marcus, CNN (CNN) — It’s a go-to question at bar trivia: what is the only national flag in the world that isn’t rectangular or square shaped? The answer is Nepal. But beyond the simple fact of its uncommon shape, Nepal’s flag is a bit of a mystery. Depending who you ask, the flag

By Caroline Baum and Sérène Nourrison, CNN Paris (CNN) — France’s largest musical instrument is ready to sound again. It has taken months of painstaking cleaning and decontaminating of 8,000 pipes, 115 organ stops and numerous other musical components, but on Saturday the majestic tones of the Grand Organ of Notre Dame will ring out

By Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN (CNN) — Growing up in a very small town in the Alentejo region of Portugal during the 1970s, Leonor Drago recalls watching planes fly over her home, convinced she’d never get to ride on one. She dreamed of visiting destinations like the United States or even France, but the prospect of

By Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — At the annual Gotham Awards on Tuesday night, Pamela Anderson arrived on the red carpet in a strapless champagne-hued Oscar de la Renta satin gown. As the “Baywatch” star turned to pose for the wall of photographers, a larger-than-life bow peeped out from the back of her dress. Yet

By Barry Neild, CNN (CNN) — The ancient Lycians knew a thing or two about democracy. Two thousand years ago, the one-time rulers of modern-day Turkey’s southwestern corner had a fully functioning democratic federation that centuries later inspired America’s political structure. While democracies everywhere might be facing turbulent times, another Lycian legacy remains steadfastly present

By Oscar Holland, CNN (CNN) — In watchmaking, heritage matters. But while rival European horologists vaunt the traditions of their centuries-old workshops, design duo Toledano & Chan’s new creation has a longer history altogether: It was carved from a meteorite that slammed into Earth around 1 million years ago. The Brutalist-inspired watch, dubbed the B/1M,

By Gustavo Valdes, CNN (CNN) — Having fun in the sun south of the border could get a little more expensive next year for visitors who stop in Mexico via cruise ships. The Mexican government plans to impose a $42 immigration fee for each passenger on a cruise ship that docks in the country. Passengers

By Jack Guy, CNN (CNN) — Pantone has named an “evocative soft brown” its color of the year for 2025, continuing a tradition that has now run for more than a quarter of a century. In a statement published Thursday, the global color specialist said Mocha Mousse was “a mellow brown infused with a sensorial

CNN By Jack Guy, CNN (CNN) — Pantone has named an “evocative soft brown” its color of the year for 2025, continuing a tradition that has now run for more than a quarter of a century. In a statement published Thursday, the global color specialist said Mocha Mousse was “a mellow brown infused with a

By Victoria Barauna, CNN (CNN) — When it comes to holiday destinations, Thailand is one of the most popular countries in the world. It’s already attracted approximately 26 million international tourists this year, according to reports, with 2025 set to be even busier. The Southeast Asian nation is well known for its stunning beaches, gastronomy,

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — It’s been a big old year for Paris: the Olympics this summer, Notre Dame reopening this weekend, and now it’s been named the most attractive city in the world. It’s the fourth time in a row that the French capital has taken the No.1 spot in the Top 100

By Leah Dolan, CNN (CNN) — Each year, a fresh troupe of design industry talents are recognized in Architectural Digest’s AD100 list. Spotlighting studios across the globe, from Australia to Belgium, the curated index involves editors spending “months — even years” tracking “extraordinary projects,” according to the magazine’s global editorial director Amy Astley. For the

By Oscar Holland, CNN (CNN) — Known as a tax haven and playground for the rich, Monaco packs a population of around 39,000 — of whom almost seven in 10 are millionaires, according to property firm Knight Frank — into an area smaller than New York’s Central Park. But the world’s second-smallest sovereign state has

By Lilit Marcus, CNN (CNN) — He has won multiple Grammys and racked up nine Billboard Top 10 Hits, but musician Ed Sheeran will soon add another trophy to his collection – becoming the first-ever Western artist to perform a concert in Bhutan. On January 24, 2025, the British singer-songwriter will perform at Changlimithang Stadium

CNN By Jack Guy, CNN British luxury automaker Jaguar has revealed its Type 00 concept car, the first glimpse of a new electric vehicle following a controversial rebrand that has divided opinion. The manufacturer said it was “introducing an unmistakable, unexpected and dramatic physical manifestation of Jaguar, as the brand continues its transformation,” in a

By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — Amtrak has reached a historic milestone, carrying 32.8 million passengers on the passenger rail system in fiscal year 2024. That’s a 15% increase from the previous fiscal year when it carried nearly 28.6 million riders, according to a news release from Amtrak. “This record ridership shows that travelers throughout

By Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Rome (CNN) — The days of arriving late at an Airbnb in Italy and opening up the key box to let yourself will soon be over after the country issued a ban on self-check-ins under a new law it says is needed to combat potential terrorism. In a move welcomed

By Jack Guy, CNN British luxury automaker Jaguar has revealed its Type 00 concept car, the first glimpse of a new electric vehicle following a controversial rebrand that has divided opinion. The manufacturer said it was “introducing an unmistakable, unexpected and dramatic physical manifestation of Jaguar, as the brand continues its transformation,” in a statement

By Marnie Hunter, CNN (CNN) — Frontier Airlines is the latest no-frills carrier getting into the premium seating game — with what it’s referring to as “first class-style” seats. The “luxurious, spacious seats” will be available in late 2025, Frontier announced on Tuesday. Aircraft will be reconfigured to replace the existing first two rows with

By Jack Guy, CNN London (CNN) — Thieves in northern England might have bitten off more than they can chew after stealing a van carrying 2,500 pies, worth about £25,000 ($31,600). Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks said on Monday that the pies were loaded and ready to be delivered to York Christmas Market when the van

By Joe Minihane, CNN (CNN) — Sydney or Melbourne? It’s the great Australian city debate, one which pits the commerce, business and money of Sydney against cultural, arts-loving, coffee-drinking Melbourne. While picking one can be tricky, there’s no denying that Australia’s second city, home to 5.2 million people, has a charm all of its own.

By Oscar Holland, CNN (CNN) — American model Alex Consani has become the first transgender woman to win Model of the Year, following a string of high-profile runway appearances for labels like Chanel, Stella McCartney and Victoria’s Secret. The in-demand 21-year-old, who is known for her distinctive bleached hair and eyebrows, claimed the title at

By Forrest Brown, CNN (CNN) — Anyplace can throw up a few lights and call it a holiday celebration, but travelers who really adore Christmas want more. They desire a place where Christmas markets beckon, lights dazzle in all directions, holiday feasts offer endless temptations and Yuletide traditions such as Advent are longtime, serious business.

By Francesca Street, CNN (CNN) — In the photo, four young women walk arm in arm, smiling and laughing, on a beach promenade. They’re dressed in mini skirts and flip flops, and there’s what looks like a 1960s Ford Corsair in the background. This is clearly a snapshot from a bygone era, but there’s something

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN (CNN) — How do you bring to life one of the most beloved Latin American towns — one that has a century of history, but never existed at all? That was the task facing the production team of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” (or “Cien Años de Soledad”), the long-awaited Netflix

By Jacqui Palumbo, CNN (CNN) — A century ago, the scientist and inventor George Washington Carver filed two patents related to his new method for making paints and stains from Alabama’s clay. He had discovered the iron-rich soil could be used in a chemical reaction with a potassium compound and nitric acid to produce a

By Julianna Bragg, CNN (CNN) — What does it take to channel the spirit of Jacques Cousteau and search for secret treasure? For Jon Collins-Black, this question sparked a thrilling journey that led him to hide five treasure chests across the United States. His new book, “There’s Treasure Inside,” offers hints for eager treasure hunters,

By Matt Villano, CNN Las Vegas (CNN) — Dozens of internationally renowned recording artists give concerts in Vegas every year, but the musician who connects best with people might be a local troubadour who improvises on a piano in the back of his pickup. The maestro, Danny Kean, calls his setup The Traveling Piano, and

By Faith Karimi, CNN Scottsboro, Alabama (CNN) — Vee Aronds gazed at her reflection in the mirror as she tried on a satin-and-lace wedding dress. She patted the fitted bodice and twirled to see the length of the train. Surrounded by racks of formal gowns, Aronds was on a mission to uncover hidden treasures at

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN (CNN) — In travel news this week, Disney’s newest cruise ship, ideas for Christmas cheer, plus the top-tier cities most loved around the world. London wows for 2025 The 2025 World’s Best Cities report, compiled by marketing consultancy Resonance in collaboration with market research company Ipsos, ranks cities on what it

By Lianne Kolirin, CNN (CNN) — A flight packed with vacationers had to be aborted in midair because a technical mistake meant the aircraft failed to pressurize. An official report into the incident last year found that the 193 people on board the Tui Airways flight from Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom to Kos

By Marnie Hunter, CNN (CNN) — It’s high time for some holiday cheer. Think hot tea or hot toddies, skiing or snorkeling and loads of twinkling Christmas lights. Luxury hotels serve up a glamorous way to brighten up the Christmas season, whether for an overnight stay or an elegant afternoon tea. These lavish properties are

By Chris Lau and Yoonjung Seo, CNN Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — Coffee lovers with a keen interest to catch a glimpse of life in the world’s most reclusive nation should get ready to travel: Starbucks has the perfect spot for them to hang. The American chain’s latest outpost in South Korea is located on

Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN (CNN) — As the leaves rustle atop the hills in Nantou, Taiwan’s largest tea-producing area, the farm suddenly comes alive, millions of tiny green bugs hopping into the air. While many farmers might frown at the sight of these pests munching on their crops, Lee Ming-cheng, a third-generation tea farmer and

By Francesca Street, CNN (CNN) — It was November 1997 and Dina Honour was hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. The then 27-year-old invited a group of New York City friends who, like her, had decided to stay in the city over the holidays. It had been a tough year for Dina. She’d been

By Rosa Rahimi, CNN London (CNN) — A Banksy mural in Bristol, southwestern England, is set to be sold at auction next year, along with the building it was created on. “Well Hung Lover” was painted on the side of a building on Bristol’s Frogmore Street in 2006, with the city’s residents later voting to

By Lex Harvey and Amanda Jackson, CNN (CNN) — A stowaway evaded multiple airport security checkpoints and flew aboard a Delta Airlines flight from New York to Paris Tuesday evening, authorities said – a shocking breach that raised serious alarm over airport security. The individual, who did not have a boarding pass, completed security screening

CNN By Milly Chan, CNN (CNN) — To a din of cheering crowds, rhythmic chanting and taiko drums, hundreds of people haul massive wooden floats through the streets of Osaka — while running as fast as they can. This chaotic spectacle is one of the Japanese prefecture’s “danjiri matsuri,” or float festivals. Held over a

By Milly Chan, CNN (CNN) — To a din of cheering crowds, rhythmic chanting and taiko drums, hundreds of people haul massive wooden floats through the streets of Osaka — while running as fast as they can. This chaotic spectacle is one of the Japanese prefecture’s “danjiri matsuri,” or float festivals. Held over a few

By Oscar Holland, CNN (CNN) — For hundreds of years, Notre Dame was the backdrop to some of French history’s defining moments. On Friday, the cathedral itself will play the lead role as France’s President Emmanuel Macron visits the building ahead of its official reopening the following weekend. It will be the first glimpse inside

By Lex Harvey, CNN (CNN) — A California man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after he allegedly tried to check two suitcases containing more than 70 pounds of clothing caked in methamphetamine – including a cow pajama onesie – on a flight to Australia, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. Raj Matharu checked two suitcases,

By Karla Cripps, CNN (CNN) — As millions of Americans take to the skies during what’s shaping out to be another summer of high temperatures, some will likely be searching for easy travel hacks to help make their journeys a little less painful. Among the many flying tips making the rounds in recent years on

By Anne Clifford, CNN (CNN) — When most people think of Greenland, they think of the cold, the snow and how remote it is. Two out of three of those things are unlikely to change any time soon, but as of November 28, it’s about to get a lot less remote. That’s thanks to a

By Maureen O’Hare, CNN Kaçkar Mountains, Turkey (CNN) — In the little wooden hut perched high on metal-wrapped stilts, the drone is high, loud and insistent. With his beekeeping suit on, but hands uncovered, Hasan Kutluata squeezes the bellows on his pine-filled bee smoker. Pale wreaths swirl in the air, mirroring the mist that drifts

By Lilit Marcus, CNN (CNN) — The Maldives, with its sprawling white sand beaches and dazzling coral reefs, is one of the world’s most expensive holiday destinations. Now, though, this Indian Ocean archipelago nation has just increased the price it costs to leave. From December 1, exit fees for those flying out of the country

By Kathleen Magramo, CNN (CNN) — Travelers to the Philippines can now book a room in the world’s largest building shaped like a chicken, located in the country’s remote highlands. No, you’re not expected to bed down on top of a pile of straw in a chicken coop. The towering six-story building stands nearly 35

By Jack Guy, CNN London (CNN) — A prowling puma, a hunting polar bear cub and a ghostly barn owl are among the shortlisted images for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award 2024. The judging panel selected 25 images from a total 59,228 submissions, and the overall winner will be chosen by

By Rosa Rahimi, CNN London (CNN) — A painting by British artist George Stubbs is expected to sell for up to £2 million ($2.5 million) in London next week, as it comes to auction for the first time in more than 50 years. The 18th century artwork of a Spanish pointer dog was last on

By Francesca Street, CNN London, United Kingdom (CNN) — Traveling in a premium cabin on an Airbus A380 — AKA the world’s largest passenger aircraft, known for its low noise levels and super-spacious feel — is usually guaranteed to be a swanky affair. This luxury is set to be taken to new heights on British

By Thomas Page, CNN (CNN) — Ernest Cole was dying. Lying in a hospital bed in Manhattan, New York, thousands of miles from his homeland of South Africa, the photographer and documenter of apartheid was faced with a bitter irony: he was leaving the world just as his nation was being reborn. The date was

By Karina Tsui, CNN (CNN) — “Demure,” a word that went viral over the summer, has been named Dictionary.com’s 2024 word of the year — beating out other contenders like “brainrot,” “brat,” and “weird.” In an announcement Monday, the site said that the word experienced a “meteoric rise in usage” in 2024 — up 1,200%