Author: Isabella Sorvani

Contentious Testimony in Senate Hearing Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. clashed with senators on Wednesday over his sweeping changes to U.S. immunization policy. During testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, Kennedy repeated false claims about mRNA vaccines and defended his controversial appointments to federal vaccine panels. Kennedy expressed agreement with a statement from Dr. Retsef Levi, a newly appointed member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, who has claimed that mRNA vaccines cause “serious harm, including death.” Extensive studies, however, have shown that Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are safe and effective, with serious…

Openings Slip Below Expectations Job openings in the U.S. dropped in July to 7.18 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The figure marks one of the lowest readings since the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the labor market, falling short of economists’ expectations of 7.4 million. The last time job openings were this scarce was in September 2024, when they briefly dipped to just above 7.1 million. Before that, such levels were last seen during the economic turmoil of 2020. Signs of a Cooling Labor Market The drop highlights a growing sense that…

Record Run Despite Injuries Novak Djokovic has reached all four Grand Slam semifinals this year, a milestone he has now achieved a record seven times. Yet injuries have stopped the 38-year-old from going further in his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title. At the Australian Open he retired with a muscle tear, at Roland Garros he needed treatment mid-match, and at Wimbledon he was undone by a hip and groin issue. Hard-Fought Win Against Fritz On Tuesday night, Djokovic battled through a 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Taylor Fritz in three hours and 24 minutes. By his own…

PartyBox 720: JBL’s Biggest Battery Speaker JBL has announced the PartyBox 720, its largest battery-powered party speaker to date. The massive unit delivers 800W of power with two 9-inch woofers and a pair of 30mm dome tweeters, promising deep bass and crisp highs. Thanks to its replaceable battery, it can run for up to 15 hours per charge. The PartyBox 720 also debuts JBL’s AI Sound Boost technology, designed to increase loudness while minimizing distortion. For gatherings, the speaker includes Auracast multi-speaker connectivity and USB-C support for direct audio streaming. A built-in light show system syncs with music for a…

Reshaping an Iconic Food Giant Kraft Heinz announced Tuesday it will split into two independent, publicly traded companies, undoing a merger once hailed as a packaged food powerhouse. One company will focus on faster-growing brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese, while the other will manage slower-growth grocery staples and food-service products including Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. Executive chair Miguel Patricio said the current structure made it difficult to allocate resources effectively. “By separating into two companies, we can unlock the potential of each brand to drive better performance and long-term shareholder value,” he explained.…

Massive Destruction and Ongoing Rescues The death toll from Sunday’s 6.0 magnitude earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has risen to at least 1,411 people, with another 3,124 injured, according to government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Entire villages in Kunar Province were reduced to rubble, and officials warn the toll could climb further as rescuers continue to reach remote areas. “Rescue operations are still underway in all the affected areas today,” said Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy government spokesperson. Dozens of commandos have been airlifted into inaccessible regions to pull survivors from the debris. Officials estimate that 8,000 houses were destroyed in Kunar alone. Second…

Tourism in the United States faced a sharp downturn this summer, with international arrivals falling across major destinations from Buffalo to Los Angeles. Analysts and local officials point to President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, where tariffs, immigration crackdowns, and rhetoric targeting foreign nations have fueled perceptions of hostility toward visitors. The decline is particularly evident along the northern border, where Canadian tourism — once a reliable lifeline for towns like Buffalo — has dropped significantly. Buffalo’s Struggle and Broader Declines In Buffalo, a campaign featuring the slogan “Buffalo Loves Canada” and a $500 gift card giveaway failed…

President Donald Trump is preparing for a high-stakes showdown with congressional Democrats as funding negotiations loom ahead of the September 30 deadline. The White House has signaled it will reject any effort to roll back GOP domestic policy provisions or limit Trump’s authority to cancel federal spending, setting the stage for a potential government shutdown. Democrats, meanwhile, are determined to push back against what they call an unprecedented expansion of executive power. White House Red Lines Senior White House officials have made clear that Trump will not agree to reverse cuts to Medicaid or rural hospital funding included in his…

The Dallas Cowboys have traded four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in a blockbuster deal. In return, the Cowboys receive three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark along with two first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027. Parsons, 26, signed a historic four-year, $188 million contract with Green Bay, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Historic Contract and Statement Parsons’ new deal includes $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and $136 million in total guarantees. Following the announcement, Parsons shared an emotional message on social media, stating he never wanted his time…

Rakuten has announced a new integration between Instapaper and Kobo ereaders, allowing users to access saved articles directly on their devices. The move comes after Mozilla shut down Pocket in May 2025, forcing Rakuten to find a replacement for its popular read-it-later feature. With Instapaper now onboard, Kobo readers regain a streamlined way to manage and enjoy their saved content. How It Works The Instapaper integration on Kobo devices mirrors the functionality previously available through Pocket. Once users link their Instapaper account, their saved articles appear in their Kobo library. From there, articles can be downloaded for offline access, liked,…