Author: Emily Harper

Musk Escalates Criticism Over Trump’s Spending Bill Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has taken a stronger public stance against U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tax and spending proposal, known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” The 940-page bill includes sweeping tax cuts and drastic reductions to essential social programs such as healthcare and food assistance. Once a major campaign donor and ally of Trump, Musk has since turned vocal opponent. He denounced the bill as harmful and reignited his call for the formation of a new political party—one he says would truly prioritize the people’s interests. The backlash has…

‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ takes the actress from city life to scorpion-filled jungles Scarlett Johansson has officially joined the legendary Jurassic Park franchise — a dream nearly three decades in the making. The star of the upcoming Jurassic World Rebirth shared her excitement and behind-the-scenes stories in a recent interview on NBC’s “TODAY.” “It was a childhood dream of mine to be in this movie,” Johansson said. “I’ve been trying to get in the ‘Jurassic’ universe for three decades.” A childhood dream turned reality In Jurassic World Rebirth, Johansson plays Zora Bennett, a tough-as-nails mercenary leading a covert mission to retrieve dinosaur DNA from a remote island…

Kyiv Sees Limited Progress From Moscow, Yet No Sign of Relief Russia’s much-anticipated summer offensive in Ukraine has failed to deliver the decisive blow that many in Kyiv feared, but Ukrainian officials are not celebrating. While Moscow’s forces have made incremental gains, particularly in the east, the broader picture remains one of costly attrition with no clear end in sight. Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to justify his war with territorial ambitions, reiterating last week that “all of Ukraine is ours.” His forces, now numbering over 111,000 troops near Pokrovsk in Donetsk, are pushing forward in several sectors of the…

Young Buyers Adapt to Challenges With Savings, Flexibility and Early Planning Despite soaring home prices, high interest rates and limited inventory, Generation Z is making inroads into the U.S. housing market. Once viewed as a generation priced out of homeownership, Gen Z is now emerging as a growing force in real estate — one that’s leveraging early savings, family support and geographic flexibility to gain a foothold. According to data from Intercontinental Exchange, Gen Z — Americans aged 13 to 28 — now accounts for one in four loans issued to first-time home buyers. A Redfin report from 2024 further…

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…