As Americans become more polarized, even family dinners can feel fraught, surfacing differences that could spark out-and-out conflict. Tense conversations often end with a familiar refrain: "Let's just drop it." As a communications educator and trainer, I am frequently asked how to handle these conversations, especially when they involve social...
Ukraine Says It’s Poised to Sign a Key Mineral Resources Deal Sought by the US
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine is ready to sign an agreement that would give the U.S. access to its valuable rare minerals in the hopes of ensuring continued American support for Kyiv in its grinding war with Russia, senior Ukrainian officials said Wednesday. Ukraine's economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, was headed to...
California High-Speed Rail Leader Pushes State to Support Private Investment
SACRAMENTO — A long-delayed project promising nonstop rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles in under three hours may be able to secure the private funding it desperately needs if California agrees to pay the investors back, its chief executive told The Associated Press. Ian Choudri, who was appointed...
Israeli Military Intervenes in Syrian Sectarian Violence
BEIRUT — Israel waded into a wave of sectarian violence in Syria, launching airstrikes Wednesday and threatening to strike Syrian government forces if clashes persist with fighters from the country’s Druse minority. The Israeli military said its aircraft had struck a group of “operatives” south of Damascus and accused them...
Wildfires Rage Near Jerusalem, Major Road Closed, Communities Evacuated
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Wildfires raged on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of communities and the closure of a main highway as Israel appealed for international assistance to help fight the blaze. TV footage showed fires burning along the main Route 1 Jerusalem to Tel Aviv highway...
California Sent Investigators to ICE Facilities. They Found More Detainees, and Health Care Gaps
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. A new report from the California Department of Justice finds that immigration detention facilities across the state continue to fall short in providing basic mental health care, with gaps in suicide prevention and treatment, recordkeeping, and use of...
Americans Are Chasing the Castlecore Dream in Europe, and You Should Too
Travelista reports Google searches for castlecore rose nearly 2,000% since the beginning of the year. Driven largely by set jetters, tourist visits and stays at castles, old and new, across Europe continue to be a hot travel trend in 2025. Castlecore is many things. It can be a design aesthetic;...
Wall Street Slides After Economy Contracts in First Quarter
(Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes dropped on Wednesday after data showed the economy contracted for the first time in three years in the first quarter, deepening concerns around the impact of U.S. tariffs and the global trade war. Private payrolls growth also slowed more than expected in April, while...
US Consumer Spending Surges in March, Inflation Cools
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer spending increased solidly in March as households boosted purchases of motor vehicles to avoid higher prices and shortages due to tariffs, but that did little to change economists' views that the economy had shifted into lower gear. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds...
US Pending Home Sales Post Biggest Gain in More Than a Year
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Contracts to buy U.S. previously owned homes surged by the most in more than a year in March, boosted by a decline in mortgage rates. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said on Wednesday its Pending Home Sales Index, based on signed contracts, jumped 6.1% to 76.5...