Author: Isabella Sorvani

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,…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will travel to China next week for his first visit in six years, where he will attend a military parade in Beijing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The event, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, highlights growing alignment among Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang at a time of heightened tensions with the United States, South Korea, and Japan. A Rare Multilateral Appearance Since taking power in 2011, Kim has participated only in bilateral summits, meeting figures such as Xi, Putin, and former U.S. President Donald…

Best Buy reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results on Thursday, with revenue and earnings both surpassing Wall Street forecasts. However, the electronics retailer maintained its full-year guidance, citing ongoing tariff-related uncertainty and consumer caution around big-ticket purchases. Shares fell nearly 5% in early trading as investors weighed the outlook. Quarterly Performance For the three months ending August 2, Best Buy posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.28, beating analyst expectations of $1.21. Revenue came in at $9.44 billion versus $9.24 billion expected, marking growth from $9.29 billion a year earlier. Net income fell to $186 million, or 87 cents per share, from…

Americans’ confidence in the U.S. economy weakened slightly in August as concerns over the job market continued to rise. The Conference Board reported that its consumer confidence index fell to 97.4, down from 98.7 in July, reflecting persistent unease about employment prospects and inflationary pressures linked to tariffs. The decline marked the eighth consecutive month of growing anxiety over labor conditions. Confidence and Expectations The index measuring short-term expectations for income, business conditions, and the job market slipped by 1.2 points to 74.8, well below the threshold of 80 that can signal a looming recession. Consumers’ assessments of the current…