Even though the Biden administration is running out of time to take any action, the U.S. surgeon general stated on Tuesday that a nationwide ban on menthol cigarettes would be one of the most efficient strategies to reduce tobacco-related illnesses and deaths among Black people. Before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, the long-standing promise of a menthol cigarette ban—which has been years in the making—is unlikely to be fulfilled. By the end of this year, the ban was anticipated. It's probable that the Food and Drug Administration will move forward with its plan to regulate nicotine levels in cigarettes in order to make them less addictive. However, menthol cigarettes are probably going to stay available. As a mother and a Black woman, I am devastated that this regul...

Washington After giving closed-door testimony to the House Ethics Committee earlier this year, a lawyer for two women who have accused former Representative Matt Gaetz of paying them for sex stated in an interview with NBC News that his clients do not wish to appear in public. Joel Leppard, an Orlando-based lawyer, told NBC News in an interview Monday that the two women previously told the House Ethics Committee that Gaetz paid them for sex on several occasions and that one of them saw him have sex with a buddy who was 17 at the time. According to Leppard, his clients now "hope to put pressure on the House to release the contents of the investigation" in order to avoid coming up with the same accusations again in public. "That would be, basically, a worst-case situation for them, is to b...

A visit to HomeGoods is like going on a treasure hunt for Aubrey Gavello and Alex Wood. The couple from San Francisco recently participated in a TikTok fad where customers display the oddball objects they bought from their neighborhood HomeGoods stores. The trend emphasizes furnishings and home décor that are occasionally strange but appear to be exclusive to the store. Since it disappears the following day, you feel compelled to take it with you. Gavello, 27, discussed the allure of HomeGoods merchandise. A Christmas mannequin with a pine needle skirt, a bust of a woman with bubbles on her head, a lanky horse statue, and other items were discovered by Gavello and Wood.Their TikTokis video is one of many that have received millions of views on the chain of home decor stores. Wood, 31, sta...

AVIV TEL One of Benjamin Netanyahu's advisers has been charged by Israeli authorities with unlawfully disclosing confidential intelligence in an effort to quell growing criticism of the prime minister's handling of the hostage situation in Gaza. The aide was arrested and imprisoned as a result of the accusations, which are described in recently made public court documents and are part of a criminal investigation that has shocked Israel's administration. In relation to the matter, four military men have also been taken into custody. According to prosecutors, investigators found that a low-level Israeli soldier had unlawfully taken Hamas papers out of a military database and given them to Netanyahu's communications consultant Eli Feldstein. According to the prosecution' files, which were r...

Washington On Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he will appoint Howard Lutnick, a wealthy financial services executive and a key transition aide, to head the Commerce Department. In a statement announcing the appointment, Trump said, "He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative." The CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald has spearheaded Trump's transition and served as its public face. What his appointment to a Cabinet position would entail for his future participation in the transition is still unknown. Lutnick has been a vocal supporter of Trump's program as co-chair of his transition, outlining the president-elect's intentions to utilize tariffs once in office. Lutnick is the chairman an...

On Tuesday night, a strong atmospheric river is predicted to hit the Pacific Northwest and northern California, bringing with it strong winds, up to 15 inches of precipitation, and a lot of snow in the mountains. Wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph are predicted for the northern California, Oregon, and Washington coastlines, according to the National Weather Service. Gusts might reach hurricane force in some places. "We're expecting the impacts to begin along the coast this afternoon and really peak this evening," stated Connie Clarstrom, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Medford, Oregon. "We are expecting near hurricane force winds near the coast with hurricane force wind gusts over the capes and headlands." Parts of the Cascade mountains, which run down the West Coast's spine, ...

Washington House legislators are questioning Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on Tuesday over the federal government's response to hurricanes Helene and Milton, which devastated the Southeast. Earlier in the day, Criswell went before a House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee before appearing before the House Oversight Committee. House Republicans are questioning her on earlier disclosures that an agency employee said superiors instructed her to avoid Florida homes bearing Trump-supporting placards. Criswell dismissed the employee and stated that she thought her behavior was unacceptable.The employee, Marn i. Washington, has claimed on Fox News and other media that she was told by her bosses not to visit residences bearing Trump s...

In an attempt to maintain the momentum of the construction of the enormous vehicle, SpaceX launched the sixth test flight of its Starship rocket on Tuesday. SpaceX's own Starbase facility, located close to Brownsville, Texas, is where the rocket took off. On the Starship flight, there are no passengers. After reaching space, the starship will circle the planet half a circle before reentering the atmosphere and landing in the Indian Ocean. After the rocket separated from the Starship, SpaceX intended to return the Super Heavy booster and land it on the arms of the launch tower. However, SpaceX stated on its webcast that the booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico because it failed to meet the commit criteria required for the catch. As with every prior test flight, SpaceX hopes to advanc...

In celebration of Rita Moreno's approaching 93rd birthday, Mattel has unveiled a brand-new Barbie doll. The toy company's Barbie Tribute Collection, which highlights the accomplishments and enormous cultural influence of women like Moreno—the first Latina to win an Academy Award—features the doll of the trailblazing actress. As a girl, I made the decision to pursue my goals, and in spite of the obstacles I encountered, I never gave up," Moreno said in a statement. "I hope this doll inspires in each and every girl today: to live their life with courage and resilience so that they can make their dreams a reality." The doll's outfit is modeled after the clothing that Moreno wore on the night she won best supporting actress at the 34th Oscar ceremony in 1962 for her performance as Anita in "We...