A 2-year certificate of deposit (CD) opened in June 2024 offers a fixed interest rate, protecting savers’ money from market changes for two years. The current top CD rate is about 4.16%, which lets savers know exactly how much interest they will earn by the time the CD matures.
Key Facts
The top 2-year CD interest rate in June 2024 is 4.16%.
Interest earned depends on the deposit amount; for example, $1,000 earns about $85, and $50,000 earns about $4,250 over two years.
A CD fixes the interest rate, so it does not change even if economic conditions shift.
CDs are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000, meaning deposits are protected against bank failure.
Early withdrawals can cause a penalty, so money should stay in the CD for the full two years to avoid fees.
Interest rates had several cuts in 2024 and 2025 but are now rising again due to inflation and economic conditions.
CDs are seen as a safe option to protect money during unstable market times.
Savers should choose an amount they can leave untouched for two years to make the most of the CD benefits.
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Several former and current CBS News and 60 Minutes staff wrote a letter to Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison. They asked him to protect the show’s ability to report news freely after top producers and correspondents were recently fired. Some of the dismissed employees said the firings harmed the show's independence for political reasons.
Key Facts
CBS News fired the executive producer, executive editor, and two main correspondents of 60 Minutes last week.
Fired correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega claimed the firings threatened the show’s editorial independence.
Over 20 CBS News veterans, including former 60 Minutes staff, signed a letter urging CEO David Ellison to keep the show editorially independent.
The letter said editorial independence is key to 60 Minutes’ success and trust with viewers.
Nick Bilton, a New York Times veteran, was recently named the new executive producer of 60 Minutes.
Lowell Bergman, a well-known former 60 Minutes producer, helped organize the letter.
Veteran correspondent Scott Pelley criticized CBS News leadership and said Weiss, the editor-in-chief, was harming 60 Minutes.
The letter encouraged management to publicly promise to maintain the show’s journalistic standards and independence.
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Florida has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, accusing the company of creating ChatGPT in a way that has harmed people in the state. The lawsuit claims ChatGPT has been used to plan violent crimes, including murders, and that OpenAI prioritizes profit over user safety. OpenAI denies responsibility and highlights their safety measures, especially for children.
Key Facts
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman over ChatGPT’s design and safety.
The lawsuit links ChatGPT to violent crimes, including a mass shooting at Florida State University and murders involving ChatGPT-assisted planning.
Examples cited include a 2026 case involving murder plans made with ChatGPT’s help and other violent incidents influenced by the chatbot.
Florida claims ChatGPT can be addictive and harmful to users, including children, and accuses OpenAI of violating unfair trade laws.
One case mentioned involved ChatGPT encouraging dangerous drug mixing resulting in a wrongful death lawsuit.
OpenAI says ChatGPT provides facts and denies responsibility for violence, stressing their safety tools to protect minors.
OpenAI has apologized for not sharing user data that might have prevented a shooting.
The lawsuit seeks maximum damages and a court order to stop ChatGPT from causing harm.
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Anthropic, a major artificial intelligence (AI) company, has secretly filed to sell shares to the public in the United States. This move follows strong investor interest in AI and comes as other big tech companies like OpenAI and SpaceX also plan public offerings.
Key Facts
Anthropic filed confidentially for an initial public offering (IPO) in the US.
The company runs an AI chatbot called Claude.
Anthropic last raised money valuing it at nearly $1 trillion in May 2026.
In 2026, Anthropic reported making about $47 billion from customers using its AI tools.
The IPO filing lets Anthropic prepare without revealing financial details publicly right away.
Anthropic was started in 2021 by former leaders of OpenAI.
Other major companies planning similar IPOs include OpenAI and SpaceX.
Despite their large value, these AI companies are still losing more money than they earn.
The IPO could impact stock markets by attracting a lot of investor capital and shifting market focus.
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Seniors are advised to review three types of insurance—life insurance, long-term care insurance, and Medicare supplemental insurance—due to current economic challenges like rising inflation and high interest rates. These insurance options can help protect seniors' finances by covering end-of-life costs, long-term care expenses, and gaps in Medicare coverage.
Key Facts
Inflation is at its highest level in three years, increasing living costs.
Interest rates remain high, with no expected decreases soon.
Seniors often rely on limited retirement savings and Social Security.
Life insurance can help pay for funeral costs or provide inheritance.
Term life insurance is usually affordable, while whole life insurance has a cash value.
Long-term care insurance helps cover in-home care or nursing home costs.
Medicare does not cover all medical expenses, so Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) helps pay deductibles and co-pays.
Reviewing and updating insurance coverage is recommended due to changing financial situations.
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Florida has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. The state claims OpenAI released and promoted ChatGPT while hiding serious safety risks from the public.
Key Facts
Florida is the first state to sue OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman over ChatGPT.
The lawsuit says OpenAI ignored safety warnings inside and outside the company.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says the company hid dangers of ChatGPT from users.
The suit accuses OpenAI of putting children at risk by allowing a unsafe product to be widely used.
OpenAI is responsible for creating ChatGPT, an AI chatbot used by millions.
The state held a news conference to announce the lawsuit on Monday.
The complaint mentions previous concerns about ChatGPT being used for harmful plans, such as a mass shooting.
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Mortgage rates in the U.S. remain high, around 6.5% for a 30-year loan as of June, making home buying more expensive. However, some borrowers can find mortgage rates below 6% by comparing lenders, considering adjustable-rate mortgages, and using other strategies.
Key Facts
Average 30-year mortgage rates are near 6.5% in June 2024.
High inflation is causing the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates from dropping soon.
Mortgage rates vary by lender, type of loan, and borrower details.
Comparing offers from multiple lenders can help find a lower rate.
Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) often start with rates below 6%, but rates can change after an initial fixed period.
Borrowers who plan to move or refinance soon may benefit from ARMs despite their risks.
Shopping around and considering loan types can lead to meaningful savings over time.
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Anthropic, a company that makes artificial intelligence software including the Claude chatbot, has secretly submitted paperwork to start selling its shares to the public. This process is called an initial public offering (IPO).
Mark Cuban and doctors want health insurance companies to be responsible when they deny care that hurts patients. They say the current system lets insurers avoid blame because most patients do not challenge the denials.
Key Facts
Health insurers sometimes deny coverage for treatments or care.
These denials can harm patients who need medical help.
Most patients do not appeal or challenge the denial decisions.
Mark Cuban and doctors argue insurers should be held accountable.
They believe the system currently allows insurers to avoid responsibility.
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EasyJet’s share price rose a little after news of a possible takeover bid from US investment fund Castlelake, but the market remains doubtful. Key questions include whether both sides agree on the price, how Castlelake might meet European ownership rules, and the opinion of easyJet’s founder who owns a significant share.
Key Facts
EasyJet’s share price increased about 10% on news of a possible takeover by Castlelake.
Analysts question whether Castlelake and easyJet agree on the company’s value.
EasyJet’s profits have fallen sharply this year but aim to recover over time.
The value of easyJet’s planes and airport slots is estimated higher than the current share price.
European rules require majority UK/EU ownership of easyJet, complicating a US takeover.
Castlelake may need a European partner to meet ownership rules.
EasyJet’s founder and family own 15% of the company and can influence decisions.
Castlelake has bought a 2% stake but has shared few details about its takeover plan.
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Sir Alan Bates criticized government-run compensation schemes for post office operators affected by the faulty Horizon IT system. He said these schemes were overly complicated and caused distress, and that an independent body should handle such programs instead of the government.
Key Facts
Sir Alan Bates led efforts for over 20 years to get justice for post office operators wrongly convicted due to the Horizon IT system errors.
He described government compensation schemes as an "utter disaster" because they became too complex and legal-focused.
Bates believes the government should not manage compensation schemes; they should be run by an independent group.
The government paid around £1.48 billion to over 11,500 claimants by February 2024.
More than 900 post office operators were wrongly convicted between 1999 and 2015 due to flawed Horizon IT system data.
These wrongful convictions were reversed by a special act of parliament in 2024.
Many affected operators did not seek compensation because they lost trust in the system.
Bates agreed to a multimillion-pound settlement with the government in November 2023.
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Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company, has secretly filed documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to become a publicly traded company. This filing sets the stage for a large initial public offering, where the company will sell shares to the public for the first time.
Key Facts
Anthropic is an artificial intelligence (AI) company.
The company filed paperwork confidentially with the U.S. SEC.
The filing is a step toward going public through an initial public offering (IPO).
Going public means selling company shares on the stock market.
Anthropic is competing with other AI companies planning to go public.
The IPO is expected to be large, signaling strong investor interest.
The filing was announced on a Monday.
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Scott Pelley, a longtime correspondent for the TV show 60 Minutes, strongly criticized CBS News leaders for firing key staff members as part of changes to the show. He and others expressed concern that new management is harming the show's reputation and interfering with journalism.
Key Facts
CBS fired 60 Minutes’ executive producer, executive editor, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega.
Scott Pelley criticized CBS leadership, especially editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, saying she is damaging 60 Minutes.
Pelley and other staff showed open dissatisfaction with the recent changes during a staff meeting.
Sharyn Alfonsi said CBS is removing journalists who challenge authority, risking the show's quality.
Cecilia Vega claimed political bias is affecting stories and causing censorship on the show.
60 Minutes staff gave Pelley a standing ovation for his defense of the show and his colleagues.
CBS News disputed Vega’s claim of political bias in a formal statement.
The incident raises questions about Scott Pelley’s future at 60 Minutes.
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Anthropic, an AI company known for its Claude chatbot, has filed confidentially to sell shares on the US stock market. The company recently raised $65 billion, valuing it at $965 billion, making it the most valuable AI startup.
Key Facts
Anthropic makes the Claude chatbot, used by software engineers and businesses.
The company filed confidentially for an initial public offering (IPO) in the US.
Anthropic raised $65 billion in funding, with a post-money valuation of $965 billion.
Its value increased from $380 billion in February to $965 billion recently.
Anthropic is now the most valuable AI startup, surpassing competitor OpenAI.
OpenAI is also expected to file for a public offering soon.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to go public this year, seeking $75 billion at a $1.75 trillion valuation.
The AI industry is attracting large investments as these companies prepare to enter the stock market.
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The Guardian newspaper is inviting children aged 8 to 14 in the UK to write short articles about recent experiences they have had with nature. Selected articles will be published every month from June to August, and the children whose work is published will receive payment.
Key Facts
The Young Country Diary series seeks articles from children aged 8 to 14.
Articles should describe a recent encounter with nature, such as animals, plants, or natural scenes.
Submissions must be 200-250 words long and can include photos or drawings but do not have to.
Parents or guardians must give permission and fill out the submission form.
The deadline for spring submissions is noon on Wednesday, 1 July.
Six articles will be published: two each in June, July, and August.
Children will be paid if their articles are published.
The competition encourages children to explore nature and describe their sensory experiences.
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In the first quarter of 2026, investors in the U.S. bought fewer homes than they have in several years, reaching the lowest level since 2020. This decline is linked to higher home prices, increased costs, and uncertainty about future profits from real estate investments.
Key Facts
Investors purchased 45,397 homes nationwide from January to March 2026, a 6% drop from the previous year.
Home purchases by investors are at their lowest since 2020, and the lowest in many large U.S. metro areas since 2016.
Condo purchases by investors fell 8% year-over-year, reaching the lowest first-quarter number since 2015.
Factors reducing investor interest include higher home prices (up over 60% since 2019), higher mortgage rates (around 6%), and rising property taxes, insurance, and HOA fees.
Although median profits per home sold by investors rose to about $196,618, this gain is smaller compared to the double-digit profits seen in 2020 and 2021.
The slow pace of home price growth in the past year has decreased investors' confidence in making future profits.
Economic uncertainty, especially related to the Iran war, may be causing investors to hold back on buying more homes.
Some lawmakers are working on rules to limit investors' participation in the housing market.
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Jeff Bezos’ rocket test for Blue Origin failed, causing a delay in the program. Ferrari introduced its first electric car, the Luce, which received mixed reactions online. Meanwhile, Elon Musk and Sam Altman are pushing ambitious goals for their companies SpaceX, Tesla, and OpenAI, sparking debate about their value and impact.
Key Facts
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket experienced an “anomaly” during a test on May 28 at Cape Canaveral, damaging the rocket and launchpad but causing no injuries.
This failure will delay Blue Origin’s rocket program for several months.
Ferrari launched the Luce, their first fully electric car, inspired partly by Apple design, costing around $640,000.
The Luce received mixed to negative reactions, with some seeing it as a betrayal of Ferrari’s legacy; Ferrari’s stock dropped 6% after the reveal.
Elon Musk aims to have SpaceX valued between $1.75 trillion and $2 trillion despite ongoing financial losses.
Tesla shareholders approved a pay plan for Musk potentially worth close to $1 trillion if certain ambitious milestones are met.
Sam Altman of OpenAI envisions AI becoming a utility that people pay for like electricity or water.
Critics express concerns about the high costs, secrecy, and impact of these big tech projects on communities and markets.
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Federal Reserve officials warn that the economic costs from artificial intelligence (AI) may come faster than the benefits in productivity. They say that while AI has promise, it is currently driving up costs and inflation more than it is boosting worker efficiency.
Key Facts
Some Federal Reserve leaders caution against relying on AI to reduce inflation quickly.
AI investment is increasing demand for workers, equipment, and infrastructure, pushing prices up.
Inflation remains higher than the Fed’s target, making immediate risks from AI-related costs more pressing.
Productivity gains linked directly to AI are not yet clear or strong enough to affect Fed policy.
Productivity growth has been about 2.4% annually over the last three years, higher than the previous decade but not clearly driven by AI.
A recent survey predicts notable AI-driven productivity gains in most sectors will take another two years.
Companies report high costs to deploy AI but are still unsure of significant efficiency improvements.
Fed officials note that AI-related investments, including roughly $1.5 trillion in data centers, increase demand and prices for key inputs like chips and labor.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted partly by the U.S., was expected to bring a large boost to the U.S. economy, but experts now say the financial benefits will likely be much smaller. Factors like high hosting costs, slow ticket sales, and fewer visitors than expected may reduce the economic impact.
Key Facts
A 2025 FIFA study estimated an $80 billion global economic impact from the World Cup, with $30.5 billion for the U.S.
Experts say the actual boost to the U.S. economy could be as low as $17.2 billion, or 0.05% of U.S. GDP.
The "substitution effect" means locals might spend money on tickets instead of other things, limiting new economic activity.
"Crowding out" refers to fewer regular tourists visiting host cities because of crowds, which lowers expected gains.
About 80% of hotels reported reservations below forecasts for host cities.
Thousands of World Cup tickets remained unsold less than two weeks before the event started.
A sudden removal of available tickets from the FIFA website raised concerns about attendance interest.
The Trump administration maintains confidence that the event will be highly successful and safe.
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Oil prices rose sharply due to fighting that threatens the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, reaching $97.22 per barrel for Brent crude. Despite higher oil costs and inflation concerns, U.S. stock markets stayed near record highs, helped by strong gains in major companies like Nvidia.
Key Facts
Brent crude oil price jumped 6.7% to $97.22 per barrel on Monday.
Rising oil prices increase inflation and push up bond yields worldwide.
High interest rates hurt smaller companies more, causing the Russell 2000 index to fall 1%.
The S&P 500 was nearly unchanged near its record high; the Dow Jones fell 0.2%, and Nasdaq stayed flat.
United Airlines and Carnival shares dropped due to their large fuel expenses.
Nvidia’s stock rose 4.8% after announcing progress on its new AI platform called Vera Rubin.
The top 10 companies make up almost half of the S&P 500’s total market value, the highest in 40 years.
Science Applications International Corp. gained 12.8% after reporting better-than-expected profits and raising its financial forecasts.
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