By Koh Gui Qing SEATTLE Some insurers operating in the United States stand to reap a windfall worth

By Michael Erman NEW YORK A new COVID vaccine is due out next month, but health experts and

It’s been out for more than three weeks, and yet Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is still painting the movie industry pink after smashing several fresh box office records. The new movie, starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll, has become the highest-grossing movie at the US box office by a female director, solo or otherwise - much to the chagrin of Ben Shapiro. The previous record was held by Jennifer Lee, the director of Frozen 2, after the Disney film banked $477.4m at US box offices. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter But this Barbie just keeps breaking records. The movie hit $492.6m on Thursday 10 August, and it now stands at $526.3m in the US. Barbie also became the highest-grossing live-action movie by a female director after the fourth weekend in cinemas. The pink sensation overtook Captain Marvel, which earned $1.13bn globally in 2019 and was co-directed by Anna Boden. Gerwig's movie has now taken $1.18bn to date. The records keep tumbling despite the fact that Robbie was not even first choice for the role, which she revealed last week. The actor, who was also a producer on the movie, recently told Vogue that both her and director Greta Gerwig initially wanted Gal Gadot for the role but scheduling conflicts got in the way. “Gal Gadot is Barbie energy. Gal Gadot is so impossibly beautiful, but you don’t hate her for being that beautiful because she’s so genuinely sincere, and she’s so enthusiastically kind, that it’s almost dorky. It’s like right before being a dork,” she said. Barbie was also banned in Kuwait recently, and now faces calls for a ban in Lebanon amid complaints in the Arab nations about the film’s social values. There are currently no plans in the works for a sequel. “At this moment it’s all I’ve got. I feel like that at the end of every movie, like I’ll never have another idea and everything I’ve ever wanted to do, I did," Gerwig said in a recent interview. “I wouldn't want to squash anybody else’s dream, but for me, at this moment, I’m at totally zero." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

After her split from Gerard Pique in 2022, Shakira has not confirmed dating rumors with any of the man she has been linked with

Tiffany Gomas, the woman behind the "not real" American Airlines plane rant, has taken to social media to address her viral "crazy plane lady" moment. Last week, the 38-year-old marketing executive from Texas, broke her silence with a brief chat with the Daily Mail outside her home. She told the outlet that her life had become "frightening" since the footage "blown up". "Things go viral and everything changes," she said. "No one knows anyone else’s story, and no one should judge. No one knows what it’s like." "So much of what's out there is inaccurate," she continued, telling the publication she is consulting a lawyer. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Now, Gomas has turned to her X (formerly known as Twitter) account with a candid video addressing the 2 July incident. "My use of profanity was completely unnecessary, and I want to apologise to everyone on that plane, especially those that had children aboard," she said. "We all have our bad moments, um, some are far worse than others, and mine happened to be caught on camera for the whole world to see multiple times." She continued: "Sorry y’all. I hope that I can use this experience and do a little good in the world, and that is what I intend to do, I hope that you guys can accept my apology and I can begin to move on with my life." Gomas also shared a link to her new website where she plans on promoting "mental health and standing up against cyberbullying". Her video was soon flooded with messages of support, with one writing: "Nobody is mad at you - we all thought the plane video was epic and iconic. You have nothing to apologize for." Another added: "On behalf of everyone on that plane and on the internet: I forgive you Tiffany." Meanwhile, a third curious user wrote: "No need to apologize you did everything right by trying to alert other passengers of a perceived threat. I would just like to know what you saw/meant when you said the person was not real." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Bayern Munich landed the Bundesliga’s record signing in England captain Harry Kane but there’s still a big hole in the squad

Barcelona manager Xavi was left furious at the refereeing in his side's 0-0 draw with Getafe.

By Sarah Wu and Faith Hung TAIPEI (Reuters) -Apple supplier Foxconn beat estimates for second-quarter earnings on Monday thanks to

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings is set for knee surgery after suffering a "significant" injury during his side's Premier...

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has completed a season-long loan move to Real Madrid. The 28-year-old Spain international, who joined the Blues in a £71.6million switch from Athletic Bilbao in August 2018, is contracted at the Bernabeu until June next year. Real needed a new keeper after Thibaut Courtois was ruled out for the majority of the season with an ACL injury. A statement on Real’s official website said: “Real Madrid CF and Chelsea FC have agreed on the loan of the player Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is linked to the club this season, until June 30, 2024. “In his five seasons at Chelsea, he has won one Champions League, one Club World Cup, one European Super Cup and one Europa League. “This year, he has received the award for the best save in the Premier League for the 2022-2023 season. “Kepa is an international with the Spanish team, with which he has been proclaimed champion of the 2023 Nations League. With Spain, he also won the U19 European Championship in 2012.” Kepa will be formally presented as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday afternoon. His return to Spain follows the arrival of 25-year-old compatriot Robert Sanchez at Stamford Bridge. Sanchez made a £25million switch from Brighton earlier this month and started Sunday’s 1-1 home draw with Liverpool as youngster Lucas Bergstrom provided the back-up on the bench. Kepa has 163 Chelsea appearances under his belt and was handed the captaincy last season. However, he has become surplus to requirements under new boss Mauricio Pochettino and will now work for a season under former Chelsea head coach Carlo Ancelotti. A statement on the club’s official website said: “Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has completed a season-long loan move to LaLiga side Real Madrid. “The club wish him well for the season ahead in Madrid, where he will work with former Chelsea head coach Carlo Ancelotti.”

Nick Huzior was apparently exposed to fentanyl after he tested a white powder discovered in the car of George Clemons during a traffic stop

Shares in Chinese property giant Country Garden plunged on Monday after it missed bond payments and warned of billions of dollars in losses, deepening fears about the...