Tickle Me Elmo and the ‘Elmo-Mania’ That Consumed America
[In 1996, the giggling stuffed doll turned holiday shopping into chaos, a preview of every sneaker drop, PlayStation launch and Taylor Swift ticket rush to come.
Month: May 2026
Louvre begins ‘New Renaissance’ renovation project amid security concerns
Redevelopment begins with new entrance and Mona Lisa area to ease congestion, with cost projected up to €1b A major redevelopment of the Louvre Museum in Paris has started, led by a team of international architects. The project, announced earlier this week, will introduce a new entrance and a dedicated viewing area for Leonardo da … Read more
Pep Guardiola to leave Man City at end of the season – reports
Pep Guardiola will reportedly leave Manchester City at the end of the season. Photo: AFP LONDON: Pep Guardiola is set to bring his trophy-laden decade in charge of Manchester City to an end this weekend, according to multiple reports on Monday. Guardiola, 55, has won six Premier League titles and City’s first Champions League among … Read more
Milan’s new runway rules signal end of fur
Voluntary new guidance from Italy’s fashion council seeks to push animal skins off catwalk MILAN: The global fashion industry has long been entangled in a fierce debate over animal fur. Despite decades of pressure from activists, the luxury sector has stubbornly clung to the material for its drama, volume, and heritage. However, the anti-fur movement … Read more
Greg Hyman, Co-Creator of Tickle Me Elmo, Dies at 78
[An electronics wizard, he was already a veteran inventor when he collaborated with Ron Dubren on an idea for a toy that giggled. The rest is retail history.
Ebola deaths in eastern Congo rise to 131 as outbreak spreads
‘I’m deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic,’ WHO chief tells World Health Assembly A man is carried from an ambulance as he arrives at Bunia General Referral Hospital following confirmation of an Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain in Bunia, Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 16, 2026. Picture taken … Read more
EAD, AIIB sign $320.16m loan agreement for reconstruction of National Highway N-5
[ The project will upgrade key N-5 highway sections across Sindh, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa The agreement was signed between Muhammad Humair Karim Kidwai Secretary EAD and Konstantin Limitovskiy Chief Investment Officer, Public Sector & Project and Corporate Finance at AIIB. PHOTO: APP The Economic Affairs Division (EAD) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on … Read more
The New ‘Gold Rush’ of Geothermal Energy
A new wave of start-ups are trying to harvest emissions-free energy from inside the Earth, but the industry still faces significant challenges.
Seth Rogen says writers relying on AI ‘shouldn’t be writers’
Seth Rogen spoke about the impact of artificial intelligence on writers during an interview with Brut America at the Cannes Film Festival while promoting his new animated film Tangles alongside his wife Lauren Miller and author Sarah Leavitt. “If your instinct is to use AI and not go through that process, you shouldn’t be a writer, … Read more
Neymar included in Brazil’s WC squad
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti names Santos’ Neymar in his squad during the press conference. Photo: REUTERS BRAZIL: Neymar has been named in Brazil’s squad for next month’s World Cup, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday, handing the forward a chance to return to international soccer’s biggest stage after an injury-disrupted cycle. The 34-year-old, Brazil’s all-time … Read more