Latest news with #July4
CBC
10 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Your special summer solstice 2025 horoscope is here
Happy summer solstice! On June 20, the longest day of the year for those in the Northern Hemisphere, a blissful new season of radical honesty and love is set to arrive. The spirit-driving sun will also enter empathetic Cancer on this day, urging us to focus on nurturing our closest connections. Domestic pleasures are sure to attract our interest during this period, as well, giving us the chance to explore our inner worlds and reclaim our creativity as we cosy up to those who make us feel most secure. Just try to be mindful of moodiness cropping up in yourself and others, as this transit can sometimes make us more sensitive in our interactions with the ones we love. Starting July 4, when dreamy Neptune stations retrograde in spontaneous Aries, we'll be called to take off our rose-coloured glasses and see ourselves — and our circumstances — for what they truly are. As the planet of illusion and delusion moves in reverse over the next six months, it's best to avoid taking big swings. Instead, seek to plant your feet firmly on the ground and pay attention to the facts that come to light under this helpful influence — they can help guide your decisions with sobering clarity. Exciting changes could be on the horizon when visionary Uranus enters clever Gemini on July 7. The planet of rebellion will spend the next four months travelling through the mutable air sign, which could heighten our collective brainpower and make us yearn to express ourselves without limits. It's important to stay alert under this energy, as monumental developments can happen quickly, and you might even stumble upon an innovation that could propel society forward. Be ready to move your life in a new direction. You'll be wise to mind your manners and watch out for miscommunications as messenger Mercury stations retrograde in proud Leo on July 17/18, depending on your time zone. Under this influence, it's easy to get caught up in unnecessary conflict if you don't pay attention to crucial details, so do your best to avoid showboating, triple-check your facts and choose your words carefully until Mercury stations direct on Aug. 11. Doing so could help save you from major embarrassment and confusion. Then, prepare for a collective confidence boost as the ego-ruling sun enters expressive Leo on July 22. Over the next four weeks of this transit, our inner performers will be eager to come out to play, and we may feel driven to pour more of our attention into our passion projects and image as a result. Use this energy to celebrate what makes you unique and explore activities that let you shine from within. Just be mindful that the shadow side of Leo season can sometimes make us act a bit narcissistic; resist falling in love with your own reflection and remember to turn your gaze outward every once in a while. On Aug. 22, the sun will move into meticulous Virgo, inviting us to reorganize our lives from top to bottom. Under the influence of the mutable earth sign, we're often able to see the world in more straightforward terms, making it easier to declutter our minds and homes by separating what's useful from what's not. This is also a beautiful time to organize your schedule so you can make the most of the last stretch of summer — or get a headstart on planning for the season ahead. You could be tempted to delve into all kinds of enticing mysteries when unpredictable Uranus in curious Gemini sextiles otherworldly Neptune in passionate Aries on Aug. 28. These planets haven't created a sextile since 1968, making this a rare and remarkable aspect. Seize this chance to really think about how you fit into the bigger picture and recognize the importance of collective awareness. Positive changes can happen when we make an effort to clear the fog and take meaningful steps toward creating a more harmonious future. Finally, be sure to listen to your instincts when revolutionary Uranus stations retrograde in inquisitive Gemini on Sept. 5/6. Uranus will spend the next five months moving in reverse, helping us to stand up for ourselves and take ownership of the stories that we want to tell. This is an ideal moment to focus on self-evolution and experiment with new ideas for your future. Start thinking about what you'd like to leave behind in order to truly grow. Here is your 2025 summer solstice horoscope. Aries There's no going back, Aries. Starting July 4, Neptune — your spirituality-driving planet — will station retrograde in your first house of appearances and the self, which could open your eyes to a whole new perception of reality. This will be a brilliant time to explore new ways of thinking and experiment with creative practices that allow your best qualities to shine through. Use this transit's energy to conquer your fears — you might even find yourself adopting a quiet confidence in the process. Then, you may feel driven to undergo a professional metamorphosis when Saturn, your career-ruler, stations retrograde in your first house on July 13. This transit could help to relieve some pressure, too, especially if you've been working extra hard to get a leg up on the competition as of late, but it's important that you still set aside time to meditate on who you're truly meant to become. Enjoy being still, gathering your thoughts and imagining a clear path forward. Taurus Get ready to reclaim your worth this summer, Taurus. When Uranus, your career-ruling planet, enters your second house of value and security on July 7, you'll be in a prime position to get your priorities in order at work. So don't hesitate to start conversations about your professional and monetary goals with people you trust; doing so could help you get in tune with your internal compass and perhaps even lead you to promising new opportunities. Seize this time to roll up your sleeves and show your colleagues exactly what you're made of. Then, you may need to take action to protect your mental well-being when Saturn — which oversees your relationship to education and philosophy — stations retrograde in your 12th house of secrets and the subconscious on July 13. Practising mindfulness will be key during this transit, helping you to process any swirling thoughts with ease. And if you find that you need some assistance grounding yourself in reality, spending time with friends might encourage you to put things back into perspective. Gemini Your relationships are bound to shift as you mature, Gemini. Keep that in mind this summer if you start to notice that certain people who once filled a key spot in your life seem less in tune with who you are now. When Neptune, your career-ruler, stations retrograde in your 11th house of friendship and groups on July 4, you may feel particularly called to align yourself with those who share your professional interests. But that doesn't mean that you have to let go of all your old connections. Use this time to observe what changes have taken place, assess how you'd like to continue to invest your energy and consider how new bonds might fuel your ambitions. Then, as progressive Uranus enters your first house of appearances and the self on July 7, you may find yourself bubbling up with fresh excitement for the future. Take advantage of this energy to really get plugged into the collective consciousness, and initiate conversations with the people around you that fill you with hope and inspiration. Cancer Abundance looks good on you, Cancer. And starting on June 20, when your financial-ruling sun enters your first house of self, you may find yourself blessed with a particularly radiant glow as money matters begin to flow more smoothly. The arrival of summer will also encourage you to emerge from your crab shell and enjoy investing in yourself. Prepare to show off your charismatic side over the next four weeks of your astrological season — and ask for what you want with confidence. When it comes to your work life, opportunities that have been falling beneath your radar could begin to make themselves known come July 4, when Neptune — your luck-ruler — stations retrograde in your 10th house of career and influence. During this period, you're invited to take extra care in how you present yourself professionally. Use this time to polish up your image and expand your portfolio; changes made under this influence have the potential to set you up for success moving forward. Leo Itching to expand your social circle, Leo? You could see your popularity skyrocket this summer, particularly as Uranus — your love-ruler — enters your 11th house of friendship and goals on July 7. During this transit, single Leos may find themselves drawn to exciting new partnerships built around shared interests. Not interested in romance? Try surrounding yourself with people who share your enthusiasm for life; you might even find that you're able to channel your collective passion into something productive. Then, you'll have the chance to make some serious changes to your lifestyle when Saturn — your health- and work-ruling planet — stations retrograde in your ninth house of education and belief on July 13. Consider your metaphorical training wheels off during this period; this is a brilliant time to adopt powerful new habits and make bold decisions that will help to elevate your day-to-day routines. As you do, looking to outside sources of wisdom might inspire you to make better choices. Virgo Prepare to share your gifts with the world, Virgo. Starting on July 7, your health- and work-driving planet — Uranus — will enter your 10th house of career and influence, which could magnify your ambitions and usher some significant changes into your professional world. You may even feel called to assume some bigger responsibilities under this energy. Seize this opportunity to take the lead, speak with confidence and be a role model for others when needed. Then, when Saturn, your pleasure-ruling planet, stations retrograde in your eighth house of death and transformation on July 13, you'll be in a prime position to take an honest look at your vices — and accept responsibility for them. Use this moment to really examine your past behaviour and focus on cutting out any bad habits that have been holding you back from achieving your full potential. That way, you can create more room in your schedule for the activities, experiences and relationships that empower and uplift you. Libra Are your needs being met, Libra? You may find yourself mulling over this question as Neptune, your health- and work-ruling planet, stations retrograde in your seventh house of relationships on July 4. Connections of all kinds are known to show their true colours under this influence, which could make you hyper aware of any inconsistencies in affection and service within your bonds. Go ahead and note where your energy is being expended and reciprocated — just remember that you don't need to keep a running scorecard to understand who truly has your back. Meanwhile, if you've got your eyes set on any home improvement projects this season, keep in mind that you'll likely require a helping hand to achieve success. So when Saturn, which oversees your domestic realm, stations retrograde in your seventh house of partnership on July 13, don't miss the chance to discuss your shared responsibilities. Talking about your dreams for your space can also help to put things in perspective with the people you love, so do your best to push through any initial discomfort and speak openly about them. Scorpio Tapping into your adventurous side might help you make some impressive moves this summer, Scorpio. This could prove especially true as your career-driving sun enters your ninth house of travel and education on June 20. Under this energy, you may feel particularly motivated to immerse yourself in different environments and cultural experiences, and notice that it encourages you to think in refreshing new ways. You may even find that taking a break from your usual day-to-day inspires you to hit the ground running on an exciting passion project. When it comes to your home life, having a plan B (or even C) could prove enormously beneficial this summer. Unexpected issues are sure to pop up as Uranus, your domestic-ruler, enters your eighth house of death and transformation on July 7. This transit is known to bring some serious ups and downs, many of which will likely require your full focus and attention. Still, if you find yourself in a pickle without a contingency plan in place, don't fear. You can still use your strategic mind to come up with quick solutions on the spot. Sagittarius Are you ready to quiet your mind, Sagittarius? Starting July 4, Neptune — your domestic-ruling planet — will station retrograde in your fifth house of pleasure and creativity, urging you to block out distractions so you can really connect with your inner artist. You may even feel driven to channel your imagination into your space, and model your home after the mood that you want to capture. Challenge yourself to define your voice and put your ideas into motion. Then, when Saturn — your financial-ruler — stations retrograde in your fifth house on July 13, you could start to become more aware of your spending habits. Use this as an opportunity to really take accountability for how you deal with your cash. It could be a wonderful time to create a budget you can stick to and start saving up for the things you covet most. Saturn will continue to move in reverse, travelling into your fourth house of home and family on Sept. 1, which could motivate you to funnel your resources into improving your surroundings. Capricorn Growth can be uncomfortable, Capricorn. Keep that in mind if you notice the dynamic in your domestic world shifting as Neptune — your communication-driver — stations retrograde in your fourth house of home and family beginning on July 4. Your awareness is sure to sharpen during this transit, allowing you to really tune in to the changes that are taking place. Making time to discuss what's going on with your nearest and dearest will be key in this moment; do your best to clear the air so that you can focus on restoring harmony in your safe space. Then, when Uranus — your financial-driving planet — enters your sixth house of work and routines on July 7, you'll be in a prime position to experiment with fresh ways of making money. Your eye for opportunity will also be extra sharp under this influence, urging you to utilize your skills and talents in all kinds of refreshing ways. As you do, consider how adopting a new schedule might help you make the most of your time. Aquarius Trust your instincts, Aquarius. Certain ideas that you've been toying with have the potential to become lucrative, so don't be shy about voicing them this summer, especially as Neptune — your finance-driver — stations retrograde in your third house of communication on July 4. Under this influence, thinking out loud could pay off in a big way; have fun bouncing concepts off of people you trust as you formulate solutions and concoct new money-making schemes. Beginning July 7, Uranus — your ruling planet — will enter your fifth house of pleasure and creativity, urging you to summon your confidence and start pouring yourself into your passion projects. More interested in romance than exercising your imagination? This transit could also inspire you to spend more time nurturing your love life so you can really heat things up. Single water-bearers may even find that opening themselves up to fresh possibilities proves especially intoxicating. Regardless of your relationship status, enjoy being extra spontaneous over these next few months. Pisces Learning to speak up for your needs will key this summer, Pisces. And you may find that doing so becomes much easier once Neptune — your ruling planet — stations retrograde in your second house of value and security on July 4. During this transit, you'll also be able to sniff out deception quickly but will still need to make a concerted effort to read the fine print. Use this influence to practise discernment when making purchases and investing your hard-earned cash; you might even find that you're able to increase your earning potential in the process. Then, when Mars — your finance-driver — enters your eighth house of transformation and other people's money on Aug. 6, really considering your connections to the people around you can help you navigate delicate conversations around money with tact and kindness. You can also take advantage of this energy to get better clarity on your budget or begin paying off a debt that's been looming over your head. Harness this chance to take control of your financial future.
Japan Today
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
The world may be rethinking the American dream
By LAURIE KELLMAN A staff member walks past a message to students that hangs on the wall at Place Bridge Academy in Denver on May 25. For centuries, people in other countries saw the United States as place of welcome and opportunity. Now, President Donald Trump's drive for mass deportations of migrants is riling the streets of Los Angeles, college campuses, even churches — and fueling a global rethinking about the virtues and promise of coming to America. 'The message coming from Washington is that you are not welcome in the United States,' said Edwin van Rest, CEO of Studyportals, which tracks real-time searches by international students considering studying in other countries. Student interest in studying in America has dropped to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, it found. 'The fact is, there are great opportunities elsewhere.' There has long been a romanticized notion about immigration and America. The reality has always been different, with race and ethnicity playing undeniable roles in the tension over who can be an American. The U.S. still beckons to the "huddled masses' from the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. The strong economy has helped draw millions more every year, with the inflow driving the U.S. population over 340 million. Early clues across industries — like tourism, trade, entertainment and education — suggest the American dream is fading for foreigners who have historically flooded to the U.S. Polling by Pew Research Center from January through April found that opinions of the U.S. have worsened over the past year in 15 of the 24 countries it surveyed. Trump and many of his supporters maintain that migrants in the country illegally threaten American safety, jobs and culture. But people in the country legally also have been caught in Trump's dragnet. And that makes prospective visitors to the U.S., even as tourists, leery. Trump's global tariff war and his campaign against international students who have expressed pro-Palestinian sympathies stick especially stubbornly in the minds of people across American borders who for decades clamored to participate in the land of free speech and opportunity. 'The chances of something truly horrific happening are almost certainly tiny,' Duncan Greaves, 62, of Queensland, Australia, advised a Reddit user asking whether to risk a vacation to the land of barbeques, big sky country and July 4 fireworks. 'Basically it's like the Dirty Harry quote: 'Do you feel lucky?'" For much of its history, America had encouraged immigration as the country sought intellectual and economic fuel to spur its growth. But from the beginning, the United States has wrestled with the question of who is allowed to be an American. The new country was built on land brutally swiped from Native Americans. It was later populated by millions of enslaved Africans. The American Civil War ignited in part over the same subject. The federal Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers for a decade. During World War II, the U.S. government incarcerated about 120,000 people of Japanese descent in 10 concentration camps. About two-thirds were U.S. citizens. Still, the United States has always been a nation of immigrants, steered by the 'American Creed' developed by Thomas Jefferson, which posits that the tenets of equality, hard work and freedom are inherently American. Everyone, after all, comes from somewhere — a fact underscored on-camera in the Oval Office this month when German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gave the president the framed birth certificate of Trump's grandfather, also named Friedrich, who emigrated from Germany in 1885. He was one of millions of Germans who fled war and economic strife to move to the United States in the late 19th Century. There's a story there, too, that suggests the Trump family knows both the triumphs of immigration and the struggle and shame of being expelled. After marrying and making a fortune in America, the elder Trump attained U.S. citizenship and tried return to Germany. He was expelled for failing to complete his military service — and wrote about the experience. 'Why should we be deported? This is very, very hard for a family,' Friedrich Trump wrote to Luitpold, prince regent of Bavaria in 1905, according to a translation in Harper's magazine. 'What will our fellow citizens think if honest subjects are faced with such a decree — not to mention the great material losses it would incur.' Trump himself has married two immigrant women: the late Ivana Zelníčková Trump, of what's now the Czech Republic, and his current wife, Melania Knauss Trump of Slovenia. It's hard to overstate the degree to which immigration has changed the face and culture of America — and divided it. Immigration in 2024 drove U.S. population growth to its fastest rate in 23 years as the nation surpassed 340 million residents, the U.S. Census Bureau said in December. Almost 2.8 million more people immigrated to the United States last year than in 2023, partly because of a new method of counting that adds people who were admitted for humanitarian reasons. Net international migration accounted for 84% of the nation's 3.3 million-person increase in the most recent data reported. Immigration accounted for all of the growth in 16 states that otherwise would have lost population, according to the Brookings Institution. But where some Americans see immigration largely as an influx of workers and brain power, Trump sees an 'invasion,' a longstanding view. Since returning to the White House, Trump has initiated an far-reaching campaign of immigration enforcement that has pushed the limits of executive power and clashed with federal judges trying to restrain him over his invocation of special powers to deport people, cancel visas and deposit deportees in third countries. In his second term, unlike his first, he's not retreating from some unpopular positions on immigration. Instead, the subject has emerged as Trump's strongest issue in public polling, reflecting both his grip on the Republican base and a broader shift in public sentiment. A June survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 46% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of immigration, which is nearly 10 percentage points higher than his approval rating on the economy and trade. The poll was conducted at the beginning of the Los Angeles protests and did not include questions about Trump's military deployment to the city. The U.S. is still viewed as an economic powerhouse, though people in more countries consider China to be the world's top economy, according to the Pew poll, and it's unclear whether Trump's policies could cause a meaningful drain of international students and others who feel under siege in the United States. Netherlands-based Studyportals, which analyzes the searches for international schools by millions of students worldwide, reported that weekly pageviews for degrees in the U.S, collapsed by half between Jan. 5 and the end of April. It predicted that if the trend continues, the demand for programs in the U.S. could plummet further, with U.S. programs losing ground to countries like the United Kingdom and Australia. 'International students and their families seek predictability and security when choosing which country to trust with their future,' said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, which represents international educators. 'The U.S. government's recent actions have naturally shaken their confidence in the United States.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Clean Energy Projects Hinge on Senate Showdown
Democrats and clean energy advocates are ratcheting up pressure on a handful of Republican senators to salvage billions of dollars in projects, ahead of an expected vote next week on President Trump's megabill that targets critical subsidies for elimination. How fast to wind down clean-energy credits is one of several contentious pieces of the tax-and-spending legislation, along with reductions in Medicaid spending, that Republican party leaders need to iron out quickly to hit a July 4 deadline for delivering the bill to Trump's desk. While some Republicans are trying to protect funding for projects in their states, other GOP lawmakers see the subsidies as a ripe target for savings, as the party moves to extend and expand Trump's tax cuts.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Grand Forks downtown bar murder trial begins with full day of jury selection
Jun. 17—GRAND FORKS — Jury selection for a Grand Forks murder trial lasted all day Tuesday, June 17. Nicholas Jon Narveson, 27, is charged with Class AA felony murder, which has a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Narveson is also charged with two Class C felonies involving the use of a dangerous weapon — terrorizing and reckless endangerment showing extreme indifference. He is accused of fatally shooting 53-year-old James Erwin Jorgenson on July 4, 2024, at Sledsters Food And Brew, a downtown Grand Forks bar. The defense plans to make a self defense argument, while the prosecution will attempt to prove that the shooting was not justified and was, instead, murder. Jury selection for Narveson's trial officially began at 9:23 a.m. Tuesday, with 60 people gathered for voir dire, or questioning prior to trial to ensure an impartial jury. Some potential jurors were dismissed early on due to conflicts of interest including personal and professional proximity to witnesses and past experiences with violence. Others said they read or heard about the alleged crimes in the news, or were downtown that evening and saw the commotion; they remained in the jury pool after agreeing what they learned would not affect their ability to remain impartial. After Judge Kristi Venhuizen, who is presiding over this case, asked more basic questions about potential conflicts, Sam Gereszek, defense attorney in this case, spent approximately two hours asking his own prepared questions of the potential jurors. Some lines of inquiry included potential jurors' opinions on firearms and whether they possessed any, what extent people should be able to go to in the interest of self defense and whether it depends on the level of force used against them, whether they need to be struck first for their response to count as self defense, whether they understand that everyone's perception of threat is different and if they would be biased against a defendant who doesn't testify in their own defense. Prosecutor Andrew Eyre's line of questioning lasted approximately one hour. He asked about potential jurors' legal backgrounds and their ability to set their related knowledge aside and only consider the law as the judge presents it to them, whether they have any bias against the criminal justice system due to previous experiences as the accused or a victim and what level of violence is permitted against someone depending on what threat they are facing. After the defense and prosecution finished their questioning periods and dismissed anyone who appeared to have a conflict, dozens of potential jurors still remained. Both parties then went into the process of narrowing down their selections, which took approximately 45 minutes. Around 4 p.m., the jury of 14 people — which includes two alternates — was selected and everyone else was dismissed. It was decided to wait to begin presenting opening instructions and statements from the defense and prosecution until 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 18. The jury was dismissed for the night shortly after. Throughout the trial, evidence expected to be presented includes video footage from a bar; the firearm, bullets and other weapon paraphernalia; witness statements and police testimony.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Tax Bill Lacks Votes as Senate Aims for SALT, Medicaid Deals
Republican leaders are aiming for quick negotiations over needed changes to the newly unveiled Senate tax bill which lacks the votes to secure majorities in both chambers as written. The prospect of prolonged talks with holdouts in both the conservative and moderate wings of the party threaten Senate Majority Leader John Thune's goal of passing President Donald Trump's tax-cut legislation by July 4.
