Author: Emily Harper

Travel Spotlights Small-Town Charm Across the u.s. From soaring waterfalls in upstate New York to the birthplace of blues in Mississippi, CNN Travel’s 2025 list of America’s Best Towns to Visit highlights the diversity and character of the country’s most inviting small cities. This year’s selection celebrates destinations that blend cultural heritage, natural beauty, and strong community spirit — all while offering travelers unique experiences that go far beyond major metropolitan hubs. Based on nominations from readers and contributors, CNN Travel evaluated towns on attractions, culinary scenes, local identity, nightlife, accessibility, and proximity to other interesting places. The final list…

Veteran Star Picks up $52M Option as Speculation Swirls LeBron James has exercised his $52 million player option to remain under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-2026 NBA season. Yet despite this decision, his future on the court remains a central topic of discussion this offseason, with questions lingering about whether he will actually wear the purple and gold when the new season begins. The 40-year-old forward, entering his record-breaking 23rd NBA season, continues to defy age with his on-court production. In 70 regular-season games last year, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists. However,…

South Korean activists and defectors from North Korea launched a new wave of balloons into the isolated country this week, carrying not just leaflets critical of the regime, but also essential supplies such as rice, vitamins, and painkillers. This unconventional act of cross-border aid was organized by Fighters for a Free North Korea, a group led by Park Sang-hak, a high-profile defector. According to Park, 20 balloons were sent across the heavily fortified border overnight. Each one was equipped with 1 kilogram of rice, 1 US dollar, and small medical kits. The mission, he said, aimed to support the struggling…

Deal Breakdowns Surge in Tight Housing Market A growing number of homebuyers across the United States are backing out of deals before closing. In May 2025, 14.6% of pending sales agreements were canceled, according to Redfin—marking the highest cancellation rate for that month since 2017. While this figure represents a slight uptick from 14.0% a year earlier, it reflects mounting instability in the housing market. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) also showed a worrying trend: about 6% of contracts failed to close, up from 5% last year. Although this was a modest improvement over April’s 7%, it…

In a move that could dramatically reshape federal consumer protection oversight, the U.S. Senate parliamentarian has ruled that a Republican proposal to slash the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s budget can be included in a broader spending package under special budget rules. The decision, disclosed by several lawmakers on June 27, enables the measure to pass with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the standard 60-vote requirement. The proposal would sever the CFPB’s existing funding link to the Federal Reserve, which currently provides the bureau with an autonomous source of financial support. Instead, the agency would have to rely…

Strengthening UK-US Technology Collaboration In a strategic move to deepen the ties between the United Kingdom and the United States, the UK Ambassador to the US, Lord Mandelson, visited the University of Cambridge. His visit was focused on exploring the university’s cutting-edge advancements and the potential for increased transatlantic collaboration in the fields of science and technology. Cambridge, known as the world’s most intensive science and tech cluster, is playing a pivotal role in breakthrough research. Its capabilities in deep tech areas like quantum computing, life sciences, and biotechnology continue to attract international investment and partnerships. With this momentum, the…

A Critical Shift in the Center of the Electorate Donald Trump is facing a significant decline in support from a key segment of the American electorate: independent voters. Once crucial to his electoral coalition, this group is now moving away from the former president, casting doubt on his strategy and future success. Recent public opinion data highlights a deepening disapproval among independents regarding Trump’s domestic and international policies. This trend marks a turning point, as independents—often swing voters who can tilt the balance in tight races—are voicing concerns on multiple fronts, particularly in response to controversial decisions like the recent…

A Major Step Towards Justice Ukraine and the Council of Europe have formalized the creation of a Special Tribunal dedicated to prosecuting the crime of aggression committed against Ukraine. This development marks a historic move in international law, providing a clear mechanism to hold individuals accountable for initiating armed conflict against a sovereign state. The agreement also includes the full statute governing the tribunal’s structure, procedures, and legal foundations. The decision to establish this tribunal responds directly to Ukraine’s call for international mechanisms capable of addressing the specific crime of aggression—something that current international courts, including the International Criminal Court…

Recent data shows that college graduates in the United States are entering the toughest job market in over a decade. As of March 2025, the unemployment rate for young adults aged 22 to 27 with a bachelor’s degree stood at 5.8%, compared to the national average of 4.2%. Economists are growing increasingly concerned that this gap between recent college grads and the general population could be an early warning sign of broader economic stagnation. Unlike in prior downturns, there is no spike in layoffs. Instead, what analysts are calling a “no-hire, no-fire” market has taken hold. Employers aren’t cutting existing…

Lake Eyre Transforms Into Inland Sea After Rare Weather Event A rare flood event is reshaping Australia’s arid interior, bringing new life to the desert and drawing waves of wildlife and tourists. As floodwaters from northwest Queensland make their way into the Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre basin, the outback is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation that may continue through October. Satellite images show the desert’s usual hues of brown and red turning to patches of green and blue as the massive basin slowly fills. For only the fourth time in 160 years, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is receiving enough water to transform from…