Author: Emily Harper

Falcon 9 Lifts Off with Secretive Spaceplane A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying the U.S. Space Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle into orbit. The liftoff took place just before midnight, marking the eighth mission for the experimental Boeing-built spaceplane since its first operational flight in 2010. The mission, designated USSF-36, is part of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, which SpaceX supports under a multi-mission contract valued at nearly $180 million for this series of launches. Reusable Booster Success Approximately eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first…

Push for National Precedence over State Rules Major U.S. banks are pressing the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to introduce national standards that would curtail the authority of state-level banking laws. The initiative is aimed at establishing uniform federal guidelines governing areas such as lending, bond issuance, investment banking, and anti-money laundering procedures. Banks assert that such uniformity would shield them from state laws that can complicate operations. This effort builds on a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming that national banking activities take precedence over state regulations, under the principle of federal preemption. Banks appear intent…

Tariffs Rolled Back Under USMCA Framework Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will remove most retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, restoring near full free trade between the two countries under the USMCA agreement. The rollback excludes U.S. autos, steel, and aluminum, which remain under Canadian tariffs. Carney emphasized that this move matches Washington’s recent decision not to impose duties on Canadian exports compliant with the trilateral trade pact. Talks Toward a New Trade and Security Relationship Carney confirmed that Canada is intensifying discussions with the United States to shape a new trade and security arrangement. While negotiations have been…

Appeal for Peace Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics worldwide to dedicate a day of fasting and prayer for peace and justice, focusing on the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. His appeal came as he returned to the Vatican after spending time at the papal summer retreat. The pontiff emphasized the importance of collective prayer, asking the faithful to unite spiritually to support those suffering the consequences of war. Spiritual Significance The pope’s call coincides with a feast day dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a moment he described as especially fitting for prayer and reflection. By tying his…

Impressive Earnings and Rising Sales Walmart Inc. delivered a robust performance in the second quarter, with both sales and profits rising year-over-year. The retailer reported a net income of $7.03 billion, or 88 cents per share, for the three months ending July 31, a significant increase compared to $4.50 billion, or 56 cents per share, during the same period a year earlier. Total revenue grew by nearly 5 percent, reaching $177.4 billion, underscoring strong demand across several product categories. The results exceeded many Wall Street expectations, strengthening Walmart’s reputation as a bellwether for U.S. consumer spending. The company also raised…

Incident and Employment Outcome A Yosemite National Park ranger, Shannon “SJ” Joslin, who identifies as nonbinary and serves as a wildlife biologist, hung a transgender pride flag, measuring approximately 66 feet wide, from El Capitan for about two hours before voluntarily removing it. In August 2025, park leadership terminated Joslin’s employment, citing “failure to demonstrate acceptable conduct” in their capacity as a federal biologist working under the National Park Service (NPS). At the time, Joslin remained in a two-year probationary period, a status that grants the agency broader discretion to dismiss employees. Joslin contends the act was a personal expression of…

A Surprising Comeback Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori arrived in New York with uncertainty about their place in the revamped U.S. Open mixed doubles tournament. Organizers had reshaped the competition to attract singles stars rather than traditional doubles specialists, leaving the Italians unsure if they would even be given the chance to defend their crown. Against the odds, they secured a wildcard entry and turned it into a storybook ending by lifting the trophy once more. Defying the New Format The 16-team field was selected mainly through combined singles rankings, sidelining many established doubles pairs. Despite initial doubts, Errani and…

The Disappearing Heart of a Community The historic district of Montmartre in Paris, once celebrated for its bohemian spirit and artistic heritage, has become the focal point of a significant community protest against overtourism. For long-time residents, the neighborhood’s unique identity is being systematically eroded, replaced by an environment that caters almost exclusively to a ceaseless flow of visitors. This sentiment is encapsulated by a black banner strung between two balconies, a tangible sign of resistance, which reads in English: “Behind the postcard: locals mistreated by the Mayor.” The protest group, Vivre à Montmartre (Living in Montmartre), highlights the profound…

The United States government, under the Trump administration, has embarked on an unconventional strategy to deepen its ties with the domestic semiconductor industry, with a focus on Intel Corp. In a recent development, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that the government is seeking a 10% stake in the Silicon Valley company. This move is part of a broader effort to bolster American technological leadership and ensure a resilient domestic supply chain for critical technologies. The proposed investment would be realized by converting federal grants, previously allocated to Intel under the CHIPS and Science Act during the Biden administration, into…

A Submarine Volcano on a Schedule Deep in the Pacific Ocean, about 300 miles west of Oregon, sits the Axial Seamount, one of Earth’s most closely observed submarine volcanoes. Located nearly a mile beneath the ocean surface, this massive structure has erupted on a fairly regular timeline—1998, 2011, and 2015—approximately once every decade. Scientists now believe mounting pressure beneath the seafloor suggests another eruption could occur within the coming months. Volcanologists monitoring the site have detected steady inflation of the seafloor, caused by magma pooling beneath the crust. Thousands of small earthquakes have also been recorded in recent weeks, signaling…