Emma Ayers

Gen Z wants to smell like a cupcake — and perfume brands are cashing in

Gen Z's fragrance obsession with smelling like desserts -- from vanilla frosting to pistachio cream -- is driving a booming market for so-called gourmand perfumes, fueled by TikTok trends and sweet-toothed influencers.

April 30, 2025

TikTok users gamble on the next pope as Vatican sets May 7 conclave

TikTokers are drafting Catholic cardinals like NFL quarterbacks in a new Fantasy Pope League, turning the May 7 conclave to elect a new pope into a social media spectacle.

April 29, 2025

The style that launched a backlash: Media sounds alarm on MAGA women’s looks

How some Republican women look is now facing backlash, as media outlets seize on the rise of the "GOP aesthetic" as a symbol of deeper political tensions.

April 28, 2025

Toxin made by an E. coli strain may be fueling surge in colon cancer among young adults, study finds

A toxin produced by a strain of E. coli found in the human gut may be contributing to the sharp rise in colon cancer among young adults, according to a new study out of the University of California, San Diego.

April 24, 2025

Abuse survivors sound alarm as cardinals prepare to pick next pope

As cardinals prepare to gather in Rome to elect the next pope, survivors of clergy sex abuse are issuing a clear warning: Don't repeat the past.

April 24, 2025

China signals more diplomacy with Vatican after Pope Francis’ death

China said Tuesday it is willing to keep working with the Holy See to improve relations, a day after Pope Francis -- the architect of a contentious Vatican deal with Beijing -- died at age 88.

April 22, 2025

‘Bigotry rots the wit’: Harry Potter actor Sean Biggerstaff blasts J.K. Rowling over trans stance

Actor Sean Biggerstaff, known for his role as Oliver Wood in the "Harry Potter" films, has denounced author J.K. Rowling as "bigoted" and an "obsessed billionaire" for her continued comments on transgender rights.

April 22, 2025

‘Evil is being defeated,’ Marjorie Taylor Greene says of pope’s death

Following the death of Pope Francis, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested on Monday that global power dynamics were shifting under divine influence.

April 21, 2025

Vatican releases Pope Francis’ cause of death

The Vatican has confirmed the Pope's official cause of death, saying Monday afternoon that the late pontiff had suffered a cerebral stroke and subsequent irreversible heart failure.

April 21, 2025

Vatican holds first public remembrance for Pope Francis

The Vatican began its first official remembrance of Pope Francis on Monday evening, gathering in St. Peter's Square, where the late pontiff had just offered his final blessing the day before.

April 21, 2025

Trump orders flags to fly at half-staff for Pope Francis: ‘A mark of respect for the memory’

As children darted across the South Lawn for the White House Easter Egg Roll, the American flag above them hung at half-staff -- a quiet signal of mourning for Pope Francis amid celebration.

April 21, 2025

Catholic Church faces ideological crossroad after Pope Francis’ death

The Catholic Church enters a solemn but decisive chapter after Pope Francis' death at age 88 on Easter Monday, which could reshape the direction of its global mission and doctrinal tone.

April 21, 2025

Global outpouring follows death of Pope Francis: ‘A rare voice of moral clarity’ or ‘a politician’?

The world is mourning Pope Francis, the 88-year-old pontiff whose death on Easter Monday has brought an outpouring of grief and reflection from religious leaders, world activists and laypeople alike.

April 21, 2025

Pope Francis, who died after a cerebral stroke led to heart failure, is mourned worldwide

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday after a cerebral stroke led to heart failure, a seismic and emotional development for the Catholic Church, political leaders and culture writ large.

April 21, 2025

Katy Perry’s space ride draws ire — and eye rolls

Pop star Katy Perry's brief voyage to outer space has landed her back in the cultural crosshairs.

April 18, 2025

Gen Z on a ‘dopamine diet’ — they’re bringing back the flip phone

A growing number of young people are ditching their smartphones for "dumb phones" in search of quiet, focus and a little bit of their lives back, recent studies indicate.

April 18, 2025

George Clooney defends Biden exit call: ‘It was a civic duty’

George Clooney says he has no regrets about urging then-President Biden to bow out of the 2024 race -- and he's not losing sleep over any lingering backlash.

April 17, 2025

Pope Francis delegates Holy Week liturgies while recovering from double pneumonia

Pope Francis has delegated three cardinals to preside over this year's Holy Week liturgies as he continues recovering from respiratory illness, the Holy See has announced.

April 16, 2025

Hackers target Silicon Valley crosswalks with fake audio of Musk, Zuckerberg and Trump

Hackers infiltrated several Silicon Valley crosswalks over the weekend, replacing standard pedestrian prompts with AI-generated audio mimicking Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and President Trump.

April 15, 2025

France sees a record surge in conversions to Catholicism

More than 10,000 adults will become members of the Roman Catholic Church in France this Easter.

April 14, 2025