From Fireworks to History: Celebrating America's Independence Day

Located in the Midwestern United States, Indiana is part of the Great Lakes Region. Indianapolis hosts the annual Indianapolis 500 race. Indiana has several universities affiliated with Protestant denominations. Three former schools are R1 Research Institutions, along with Indiana University Indianapolis from the former Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. Indiana's official partner jurisdictions are Zhejiang, China; Tochigi Prefecture, Japan; and Karnataka, India.

Independence Day is a federal holiday celebrated on July 4th in the United States. It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. The holiday is marked by patriotic displays and celebrations across the country. Federal institutions are closed on this day. The Philippines also celebrates July 4th as Republic Day, commemorating its independence from U.S. rule in 1946. John Adams believed July 2nd was the correct date to celebrate American independence. Interestingly, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence's adoption.

Construction of the Trevi Fountain began during Ancient Rome and was completed in 1762 by a design of Nicola Salvi. Five ancient Roman bridges remain in the city: Ponte Cestio, Ponte Sant'Angelo, Ponte Milvio, Ponte Nomentano (crossing the Aniene). Ancient Roman cuisine was influenced by Ancient Greek culture and expanded through the empire. Common dishes included "fifth quarter" ingredients. During the Industrial Revolution, Rome gained its reputation as the Copper City, producing an estimated 10% of all copper in the United States. Rome is located in New York State near the Adirondacks, New York City, Boston, and Niagara Falls. The Mohawk River Trail connects Rome's waterfront, historical sites, commercial districts, schools, parks, Griffiss Business and Technology Park, and residential neighborhoods. Delta Lake State Park north of the city offers boat launches, beaches, campgrounds, and fishing opportunities year-round.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Arsenal and the Japan national team. He was born on November 5, 1998. During his time with Arsenal, he made 29 appearances in the 2023–24 season, scoring two goals.

Born in Malmö, Sweden to Cameroonian parents, Anthony Elanga joined Manchester United's youth system at age 12. He won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2020 after playing for IF Elfsborg and Malmö FF in Sweden prior to his family relocating to England. Elanga made appearances for Manchester United's Under-21 squad in the EFL Trophy and was once struck on the head by an object thrown by a spectator during a match against Leeds United.

Nigerian footballer Peter Rufai (1963-2025) played for Stationery Stores F.C. He represented Nigeria in two World Cups and as many Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Rufai began his career in Nigeria before moving to S.C. Farense in Portugal in 1994. He was the son of a tribal king from Idimu, Nigeria.

Amelia Earhart was named after her two grandmothers. As a child, she enjoyed exploring with her siblings. For her attempted circumnavigation of the globe, Earhart originally planned to fly with navigator Harry Manning. Fred Noonan ultimately joined as the navigator. Before disappearing, Earhart and her crew were due to land on Howland Island, where the Earhart Light serves as a navigational aid. Earhart and Noonan survived a crash in Hawaii during training for their flight. Paul Mantz, an experienced pilot, joined the team for the Hawaii leg. Instead of focusing on practicing with the Electra aircraft, Earhart spent time giving lectures, making appearances, and securing sponsorships. Despite the setback in Hawaii, Earhart remained determined to complete her circumnavigation. George Putnam was more than just Earhart's husband; he also managed her career, negotiated deals, and acted as her publicist.

A British spin-off series, Junior Taskmaster, premiered on Channel 4 on November 8, 2024. Rose Matafeo hosts the show with Mike Wozniak as the task setter. Both previously competed on Taskmaster. Six participants from the original Edinburgh show have appeared in televised versions of Taskmaster since 2024.

Alma Pak International is voluntarily recalling 12,000 pounds of organic blueberries due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall affects 400 boxes of bulk organic blueberries produced in Atlanta, Georgia. Routine testing revealed positive results for the bacteria. Listeria can cause serious illness, especially in pregnant women, babies, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Those concerned about symptoms should contact a healthcare provider immediately.

Kenneth Colley, an English actor with a career spanning over 60 years, has died at the age of 87. He passed away after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia. Colley was best known for his role as Admiral Piett in the Star Wars franchise. He reprised this role in the animated Lego production, Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. His participation in Star Wars led him to attend conventions and fan events worldwide. Colley also played Jesus in Monty Python's Life of Brian.

The Lamborghini Miura Jota was a limited-production, ultimate version developed by chief technical officer Paulo Stanzani and development driver Bob Wallace. The name "Jota" originates from Spanish culture and refers to a race-spec car. While not directly involved in motorsports, the Jota showcased Lamborghini's capabilities. It inspired limited-run SVJ 'replicas,' various one-offs, and a facsimile built by Piet Pulford with Bob Wallace for accuracy. Lamborghini previously applied the "Jota" designation to a Diablo model in 1995 with 28 kits produced. Rumors persist about a potential Aventador Jota, but no official plans exist.

Independence Day is the national day of the United States, celebrated on July 4th. It marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The holiday is observed with patriotic displays and celebrations nationwide. Federal institutions are closed, and many people attend parades, barbecues, and fireworks displays. In the Philippines, July 4th is celebrated as Republic Day, commemorating the day in 1946 when the Philippines gained independence from the United States.

Oasis is an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. They released three more studio albums in the 2000s: Heathen Chemistry (2002), Don't Believe the Truth (2005) and Dig Out Your Soul (2008). In 2024, Oasis announced they would reform in 2025 for worldwide performances as part of the Oasis Live '25 Tour. The band name was inspired by an Inspiral Carpets tour poster that listed the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon. During their rise to fame, there was a widely reported rivalry between Oasis and another Britpop band, Blur.

The Dartford–Thurrock River Crossing, commonly known as the Dartford Crossing, is a major road crossing of the River Thames in England. It carries the A282 road between Dartford in Kent and Thurrock in Essex. The crossing consists of both a tunnel and a bridge. A new bridge was built in 1986 to supplement the existing tunnel. Traffic congestion is a concern, with planning underway for another Thames crossing to alleviate pressure. Drivers using the Dartford Crossing between 6am and 10pm must pay a Dart Charge by midnight the day after crossing. Payment options include setting up a Dart Charge account for automatic payments or paying individually. Discounts are available for local residents and those with disabilities exempt from vehicle tax.

French unions are striking over working conditions, causing flight disruptions at major French airports. Ryanair has canceled over 170 flights due to the strike, impacting over 30,000 passengers. The strikes also affect air traffic control, leading to cancellations across Europe. Disruptions are expected to worsen Friday with a significant reduction in flights from Paris airports.

Marin Čilić has experienced mixed results in recent tournaments. He had a strong October with semifinal runs in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Basel, along with a quarterfinal appearance in the Paris Masters. However, his performance at Grand Slams this year has been less consistent. He lost in the second round of both the US Open and Australian Open. At Wimbledon, he fell to Dan Evans in the second round. He also suffered second-round exits at the French Open and Rome.

Zarah Sultana was born in Birmingham to a Muslim family of Pakistani ancestry on October 31, 1993. She was raised in the Lozells area with her three sisters. Sultana is known as a vocal critic of the government and one of the most left-wing new Labour MPs. In September 2021, she chaired the Fire Brigade Union's Climate Catastrophe: The Case for a Socialist Green New Deal event at the Labour Party conference. She received the MP of the Year Award from the Patchwork Foundation in March 2022 for her work supporting underrepresented and disadvantaged communities. Sultana is a practicing Muslim.

Check your State Pension forecast to find out how much you could get when you reach retirement. Your amount depends on factors like: * **Contracted-out status before 2016:** If you were contracted out, less was paid into your State Pension compared to a standard arrangement. * **National Insurance qualifying years:** The more years you have, the higher your potential pension. If you're receiving less than £230.25 per week, consider increasing your National Insurance contributions. * **Additional State Pension payments before 2016:** If you made these payments and would have received more under the old rules, you'll get a "protected payment." For detailed information about the new State Pension scheme, read "Your New State Pension Explained".