By Ben Jones, CNN (CNN) — Amazing adventures, extraordinary landscapes and fabulous cuisine — the world’s greatest railway journeys are an unforgettable experience that can immerse you in the culture of a new country. Demand for luxury “land cruise” trains with five-star hotel-style accommodation is booming. 2025 will see several new trains take to the
Continue Reading By Lilit Marcus, CNN (CNN) — It may not come as a surprise to anyone who has gone on vacation this year, but the United Nations has made it official: global tourism returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. Amid stowaway passengers, creative efforts in the field of attempted contraband smuggling, and other aviation drama this
Continue Reading 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 to
Continue Reading By Alli Rosenbloom, CNN (CNN) — MrBeast is now a fiancé. The famed YouTuber, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, announced on Wednesday that he recently proposed to his girlfriend, Thea Booysen. “Ya boy did a thing,” Donaldson wrote on his Instagram page, next to a photo showing him kneeling mid-proposal. Both Booysen and Donaldson
Continue Reading By Scottie Andrew, CNN (CNN) — Jocelyn Wildenstein, the Swiss-born socialite famous for the surgery-enhanced feline features that earned her nicknames in the American press like “Catwoman” and the “Bride of Wildenstein,” has died. Her partner Lloyd Klein told AFP she died of a pulmonary embolism in Paris. Wildenstein, who sometimes spelled her name “Jocelyne,”
Continue Reading By Scottie Andrew, CNN (CNN) — Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who became infamous due to her role in the killing of her abusive mother, has given birth to her first child. Blanchard’s boyfriend Ken Urker shared an image of the new mom and baby with the caption, “Welcoming 2025 with the greatest gift of all.” Her
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By Alli Rosenbloom, CNN (CNN) — Neil Young and his band The Chrome Hearts are no longer playing at this year’s Glastonbury music festival, the rock legend has announced. Young said in a statement posted to his official website that his reason for backing out of his set is because of requests made by the
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By Alli Rosenbloom, CNN (CNN) — Comedian and “Babes” actress Michelle Buteau criticized Dave Chappelle for his previous and controversial jokes about transgender people during her latest comedy special, “A Buteau-ful Mind.” Buteau described Chappelle’s comments as “dangerous” and used part of her historic set at New York’s Radio City Music Hall to demonstrate a
Continue Reading By Oscar Holland, CNN (CNN) — The past year has seen the opening of the world’s second-tallest skyscraper, the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral and the announcement of countless futuristic urban mega-projects. Yet, the architecture world has, increasingly, recognized the value of altogether humbler pursuits. In March, the industry’s most prestigious accolade, the Pritzker Prize,
Continue Reading By Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN (CNN) — Justin Baldoni is firing back after being accused of sexual harassment by his co-star Blake Lively, filing a libel suit against The New York Times on Tuesday, claiming that the newspaper published an article “rife with inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and omissions” that relied on Lively’s “self-serving narrative.” Lively filed a
Continue Reading By Lisa Respers France, CNN (CNN) — Paul Hollywood has some pretty famous admirers. In an interview with UK publication The Times, “The Great British Baking Show” host talked about some of the celebs he knows – and at least one he does not. “Only last week I got a text from someone — ‘Do
Continue Reading By Lisa Respers France, CNN (CNN) — The controversy between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has Kate Beckinsale reflecting on her own professional experiences. Beckinsale took to social media recently and said while she has never met Lively or her “It Ends With Us” director/costar Baldoni, she believes Lively’s civil rights complaint against Baldoni highlights
Continue Reading By Lisa Respers France, CNN (CNN) — Luther Vandross had a huge fan in David Bowie, who also played a key role early in the late soul singer’s start in music. Vandross’s remarkable career is back in the spotlight in the new documentary, “Luther: Never Too Much.” The film has been screening in select theaters
Continue Reading By Amanda Kludt, CNN (CNN) — New Year’s Day is meant for fresh starts. But maybe even more, it’s meant for food. As the new year arrives around the world, special desserts abound, as do long noodles (representing long life), field peas (representing coins), herring (representing abundance) and pigs (representing good luck). The particulars vary,
Continue Reading By Hassan Tayir, CNN Hong Kong (CNN) — China has revealed a prototype of its next generation high-speed train, a vehicle it says is on track to be the world’s fastest. The CR450, which was unveiled in Beijing on December 29, had reached test speeds as high as 450 kilometers (281 miles) per hour and
Continue Reading By Alli Rosenbloom, CNN (CNN) — After a legal battle lasting more than eight years, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have settled their divorce, according to court documents obtained by CNN. The settlement was filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court on December 30, court records show. Financial records were not disclosed, nor were details
Continue Reading By Alli Rosenbloom, CNN (CNN) — Sometimes, the best on-screen stories are ones derived from real life – even if it involves a romantic glass of… milk. Yes, milk. It’s what Harris Dickinson’s character in the new erotic thriller “Babygirl” makes Nicole Kidman’s character drink at a bar amid their spicy romance, an experience the
Continue Reading By Alli Rosenbloom, CNN (CNN) — Looks like Buddy the Elf is trading in maple syrup for an ice cold beer. Will Ferrell attended the Kings-Flyers game at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena Sunday dressed up as his iconic character from the beloved 2003 holiday movie “Elf,” and Buddy was looking a little worse for the
Continue Reading By Lisa Respers France, CNN (CNN) — We now know (quite a bit) more about that whole Kristin Cavallari and Morgan Wallen situationship. During a newly streamed episode of Bunnie XO’s “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Cavallari shared some details about her involvement with the country superstar. “He’s a great f**k buddy,” the former reality star said.
Continue Reading By Leah Asmelash and Scottie Andrew, CNN (CNN) — Whew. That’s the way we feel as we round the bend into the final days of the year. We really had it ALL in 2024: Era-defining albums, the Olympics, the return of the blockbuster movie musical, a devastatingly cute pygmy hippo. You might not remember it
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