Travelers heading out for the July 4 holiday can expect plenty of company this year. Nearly 71 million people will be on the move over July Fourth week, according to AAA — a record that exceeds even pre-pandemic totals. “With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote…
After years of investing in self-checkout machines, some major retailers are starting to reverse course. Dollar General said it has eliminated self-checkout options at about 12,000 locations, a majority of its stores, after it began the process in the first quarter this year. Five Below is working to remove self-checkout…
Bob’s Stores, a longtime Northeast clothing store chain, announced this week that it is shutting down after it failed to secure financing amid a bankruptcy filing. Through July 14, all remaining Bob’s locations will offer liquidation-level discounts on the stores’ trademark work wear, footwear, team wear and everyday family-oriented clothing.…
Iran’s snap presidential election will head to a second vote on Friday, with a reformist and conservative hardliner facing off to replace Ebrahim Raisi amid unprecedented voter apathy. After none of the four initial candidates secured more than 50% of the vote on June 28, reformist lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian and…
Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday urged regional leaders to resist “external interference” at a gathering of a Eurasian security bloc touted by Beijing and Moscow as a counterbalance to Western power. Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s annual leaders’ summit in Kazakhstan, Xi called on member states to “consolidate…
British voters are heading to the polls Thursday for a crucial general election that is being seen as a referendum on 14 years of Conservative rule. The snap vote, called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is being held months earlier than necessary and caught much of his party by surprise.…
France’s most streamed singer Aya Nakamura has joined the chorus of voices calling on the French electorate to vote against the far right in Sunday’s high stakes election. The National Rally party, which is slated to win big in this Sunday’s second round of voting, has drawn criticism and concern…
Israel and Hamas appear to be on the brink of a framework agreement for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, an Israeli source familiar with the negotiations said. Israeli officials believe Hamas’ latest response will enable the two parties to enter detailed negotiations to reach an agreement, the source said.…
The former leader of Northern Ireland’s most prominent pro-union party, Jeffrey Donaldson, will stand trial over allegations of historical sex offenses including one charge of rape. Donaldson stepped down as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in March after he was charged with 11 sexual offenses. The politician has since…
In a landmark decision, Japan’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to pay damages to people who were forcibly sterilized under a now-defunct eugenics law, ruling the practice was unconstitutional and had violated their rights. The Eugenic Protection Law, in place from 1948 to 1996, allowed authorities to forcibly sterilize…