• Jenn Tran gets another shot at love on season 21 of "The Bachelorette."
• Tran described her season of the reality TV show as adventurous, emotional, and surprising. 
• She said the season 21 ending is shocking and one she never saw coming. 

"The Bachelorette" star Jenn Tran promises that fans are in for plenty of shocking moments during her season of the long-running reality franchise, particularly at the end of her journey.

"It's adventurous, emotional, and very surprising," Tran told Business Insider ahead of the season 21 premiere.

"Of course, there's going to be some crying, some dramatic moments. And it's adventurous because I was really pushed outside my comfort zone," she added.

Bachelor Nation was first introduced to Tran earlier this year on season 28 of "The Bachelor," where she was eliminated just before hometowns. Now, Tran gets another shot at love as the leading lady of "The Bachelorette."

In addition to making history as the first Asian-American Bachelorette, Tran's season has other changes — like ditching the Bachelor Mansion for a brand new residence and immediately traveling abroad after night one.

Being the star of her own show was an adjustment for Tran, who had never been in a serious relationship that was headed toward a commitment. Figuring out what a serious relationship could look like on "The Bachelorette" was a learning experience.

"There were a few instances in which I think I had a lot of fun and good banter with the guy, but I wasn't sure if there was more there," Tran explained. "And as we got to have more and more conversations with each other, I realized that there was so much depth there and that we had so much more in common than just our ability to laugh with each other."

Given that the franchise has been around for more than 20 seasons, it's hard to imagine anything happening this season that could break the mold. But Tran recently teased in an interview with former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe that the ending of her season is "something that has never happened before."

When BI asked her to elaborate, she offered a few more details. "I came into the journey kind of thinking that it would end in a certain way or a different way," Tran told BI.

"The ending of it all, I just never really saw coming," she added. "So it was a shocker for me, and it's going to be a shocker to my family, and I think it's going to be a shocker to a lot of people watching as well."

"The Bachelorette" season 21 premieres on Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Episodes stream the next day on Hulu.

• I went to Québec City, Canada, in August 2022. It's a historic French city with a European feel. 
• Then, I visited four European countries for the first time: Germany, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland.
• After visiting Europe, I thought Québec City felt much like it, with similar streets and buildings. 

With narrow, cobblestone streets, European-inspired architecture, and a primarily French-speaking population, Québec City, Canada, feels like a European paradise. 

I spent 24 hours in the 400-year-old French-Canadian city in August 2022. Back then, I hadn't explored enough of Europe to decide if Québec City felt like other countries across the Atlantic.

But after visiting Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany in October 2022, I understood the comparison.

Perched on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is 400 years old, making it the oldest city in Canada.

The city was founded by French explorer Samuel de Champlain, according to the city's website.

Québec City is on the eastern edge of the Canadian province of Québec.

I traveled by train from Montreal to Quebéc City, but a flight from my home in NYC would take less than two hours — a lot shorter than a trip to Europe. My direct flight from NYC to Berlin was nearly eight hours long when I visited in October 2022.

I spent most of my time there in Old Québec, a neighborhood with preserved French and British colonial architecture, according to the city's website.

I spotted many of these simple, rectangular buildings with decorative shutters during my visit.

I wandered down old Québec's photogenic streets and spotted rows of colorful colonial-style buildings.

A few months later, in Zurich, I saw blocks I thought looked similar to those in Québec City.

Many of the streets in Old Québec were made of cobblestone.

They looked like the roads I saw in all four European countries I visited.

During my walk through Old Québec, I also noticed most signs were written in French.

That's because 85% of the population of Québec speaks French, according to the Government of Canada.

English wasn't the primary language spoken in any of the European countries I visited, either.

Most of the signs I saw abroad were written in German or Italian.

While some streets in Québec City were wide, others were quite narrow.

Later in Rome and Venice, Italy, I stumbled upon alleys that reminded me of the narrow streets in Québec.

After my trip to Europe, I also realized my hotel in Québec City, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, was similar to those I saw abroad.

I thought it was the most stunning building, which makes sense as it's known as the most photographed hotel in the world, according to World Atlas.

It was a dramatic castle-like structure.

The hotel opened in 1893 and was inspired by romantic architecture and French castles, according to the Québec City's website and the Canadian Encyclopedia.

I thought the hotel looked like a fairy tale with elaborate landscaping and old-world architecture.

I had a similar feeling while strolling through gardens next to historic buildings in Vienna, Austria.

Inside, I thought my hotel room was small, but the view out the window was grand.

I perched on the windowsill and marveled at the European architecture surrounding me.

I also saw Québec City Hall, which was inspired by the Second Empire.

It was built in a European style with prominent rooftops, according to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

I spotted the same style of architecture in Viennese buildings like Schönbrunn Palace.

This architectural style is known as Second Empire Baroque, according to Britannica.

Additionally, old-world cathedrals in Québec City, like Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, reminded me of those I later saw in Europe.

Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral has a Neoclassical style, with towers and stained-glass detailing, according to Québec City's website.

I saw a lot of Neoclassical architecture all around Rome, too, like at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

After visiting both Québec City and Europe, I found that they're not exactly the same, but they're pretty close.

If you're looking for a European adventure that's closer to home without the jet lag, I think Québec City is a good alternative.

• President Biden leaned on his deep ties to Black voters during a Sunday appearance in Philadelphia.
• So far, no Black lawmakers in Washington have publicly asked Biden to forgo his reelection bid.
• It's a show of support that is helping Biden as he works to reassure Democrats that he can win in the fall.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden once again found himself in Philadelphia, a city that has played a crucial role in his political life.

As Biden spoke onstage at the Mount Airy Church of God in Christ, one of the most influential Black churches in Philadelphia, he was received warmly by the congregants.

It's a reception that Biden hasn't always gotten recently, as he continues his personal campaign to reassure Democrats that his reelection bid against former President Donald Trump remains viable following his disastrous June debate performance.

For over a week, Biden has been under pressure by Washington lawmakers and many rank-and-file Democrats to make the case that he can handle the rigors of the general election campaign, part of long-running concerns over the 81-year-old Biden's acuity and fitness for office in a second term.

But so far, no Black lawmaker on Capitol Hill has called on Biden to step aside as the Democratic presidential nominee, a show of support that may not hold but at the moment is appearing to give him some breathing room as he works to shore up jittery Democrats.

Why is this development so significant?

Pulse of the Hill

Since last week, at least five House Democrats have called on Biden to forgo his reelection bid and allow the party to select a new nominee.

But no member of the Congressional Black Caucus has made such a plea, and there is seemingly little appetite to do so.

On Sunday, Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio told CNN's Eva McKend that Democratic lawmakers shouldn't turn against Biden.

"I don't think for Democrats so close to the majority, so close and being so united under Hakeem Jeffries, we shouldn't be going public, we shouldn't be going rogue against our own President," she said after an appearance at the Essence Festival in New Orleans.

During a Monday appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Beatty — a former CBC chair — said the group was firmly behind both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

"We are 100% with the president," she reiterated. "We are standing with the Biden-Harris team because they have delivered."

And the current CBC chair, Rep. Steven Horsford of Nevada, said in a statement: "President Joe Biden is the nominee and has been selected by millions of voters across this country, including voters in Nevada."

While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York — the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress — held a Sunday virtual meeting with his caucus regarding Biden's candidacy, he has so far not publicly weighed in on how the Democratic nominee's campaign should proceed.

A huge "what if" for Biden is if a high-ranking Black lawmaker calls on him to exit the race. Such a move would be a huge blow for a campaign that relies on influential Black surrogates to engage with voters across the country.

Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, one of Biden's top Black allies in Washington, has voiced his continued support for the president. But Clyburn also said last week that should Biden step aside, he'd endorse a "mini-primary," arguing that it would be a fair process but also one that would likely give Harris a prime opportunity to prove her mettle.

Right now, Biden's most reliable legislative allies are giving him considerable political cover. But will it help him with Black voters in the coming weeks and months?

All eyes on the base

In 2020, Black voters buoyed Biden in the South Carolina Democratic primary, which paved the way for his robust Super Tuesday performance en route to him winning the party's presidential nomination.

That November, Biden won 92% of the Black vote, compared to Trump's 8% support, according to the Pew Research Center.

It was a dominant performance that contributed heavily to Biden's wins in states like Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

But over the past year, Biden has stumbled with his support among Black voters — namely those aged 18 to 29 — as Trump is aiming to siphon minority votes away from the Democratic ticket.

While Black voters are still largely behind Biden, his weaker numbers have contributed to some of his swing-state polling struggles, which have a direct impact on his ability to win against Trump in the fall.

Biden's increased visibility is undoubtedly bringing a sigh a relief to allies who have been privately worried about the president's post-debate electoral prospects.

As Biden leans on his most reliable base of supporters during the most turbulent period of his campaign, it'll be a huge test of his strategy for wooing Black voters as issues like the economy and health care continue to dominate the 2024 race.

• Tesla's rumored upcoming software update may introduce parental controls, including a "Night Curfew."
• The feature apparently notifies the Tesla app when the car is driven past a set curfew.
• Parents will be able to set maximum speed limits and limit acceleration, according to sites tracking Tesla software changes.

It sounds like Tesla parents are going to love an upcoming software update — although their teenagers may resent it.

The rumored update, version 2024.26, was released to employees on July 3, according to Not a Tesla App and Tessie, two websites that track Tesla software changes. The update includes new parental controls, with a range of features that can be enabled with a vehicle PIN, according to the reports.

That reportedly includes something called "Night Curfew," which could make it easier for Tesla parents to enforce their teenagers' bedtimes. The new feature apparently sends notifications to the Tesla mobile app when a vehicle is driven past a set curfew time.

For parents who worry their kid could be taking advantage of the extra zip and high top speed possible with a Tesla, there are also said to be new controls that give parents the ability to set a maximum speed limit and reduce acceleration.

If that sounds a bit familiar, you might remember that Tesla already has a similar option with "Valet Mode" — but the latest update will allow parents to set limitations for other drivers, according to the reports. Parents will also be able to limit the acceleration to "Chill," which restricts the EV's horsepower and torque, the reports said.

Other features within the parental controls reportedly include the ability to prevent a driver from disabling the speed limit and collision warnings, or automatic emergency braking.

While the rumored update could be helpful for parents trying to catch their teens sneaking out, it could also be useful for Tesla owners who rent out their vehicles or lend them to others.

If and when "Night Curfew" and the other parental controls are released publicly, they'll add to the other features that help Teslas stand out from other cars. Other Tesla-specific features include Sentry mode, which starts streaming a recording on the app if anything hits the vehicle.

While the new features may soothe some parents' concerns about their teen's driving, Tesla has made headlines in the past with incidents involving children. In 2018, two teens were killed after a Tesla Model S burst into flames following a crash. Most recently, a toddler had to be rescued from a locked Tesla after the car's battery died right after her grandmother stepped out of the vehicle to get her out of the seat.

Young drivers as a group are also particularly at risk for crashes in general. Accidents were the leading cause of unintentional deaths in 2020 for people ages 15 to 24, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA Data also indicated that 2,116 drivers ages 15 to 20 years old were killed in 2021, and about 203,256 were injured in car crashes that year.

• Holiday travel broke records in July as severe weather forced disruptions at many airports. 
• Airlines oversell flights on normal days, and they're more likely to bump passengers during disruptions.
• Here's what you should do if you're bumped from a flight and how to lower the odds of it happening.

The Transportation Security Administration screened a record number of passengers over the July 4th holiday weekend as airlines continue to see booming demand for travel. Sunday alone saw over 3 million people — the most ever in a single day.

According to the aircraft tracking website FlightAware, there were about 900 cancellations and about 20,000 delays between Thursday and Saturday for flights flying to, from, or within the US. Hurricane Beryl forced thousands more on Sunday and Monday as it made landfall in Texas.

Airlines overbook flights on a good day to ensure planes are full, but it's even more likely during times of weather and operational chaos. Depending on the traveler, getting bumped from a flight can either be an easy way to make some cash ($10,000 in one rare case) or a nightmare scenario that ruins your vacation.  

Either way, there are a few things you should know if you're bumped from an oversold flight.

Voluntary and involuntary bumping

Denied boarding, or "bumping," happens when airlines overbook a flight. This means there are more passengers than available seats, and it's a perfectly legal strategy airlines use to optimize revenue.

According to the US Department of Transportation, when a plane is overbooked, airlines must first seek out passengers willing to volunteer to take a different flight in exchange for compensation.

This is considered a "voluntary" bump, where a passenger can essentially sell their seat back to the airline for anything from cash to a free ticket, per the DOT. There is no limit to the amount of money or vouchers that airlines can offer as compensation, and passengers can negotiate with the carriers.

If you accept the airline's compensation to give up your seat and take a later flight, the DOT recommends asking these questions to make sure you're aware of any restrictions: 

• When is the next flight on which the airline can confirm your seat? Will you be put on standby? The DOT warns that standby comes with risks because you could be left stranded if the later flights are also full.
• Will the airline provide other amenities such as free meals, a hotel room, transfers between the hotel and the airport, and a phone card?
• If you accept a free ticket or voucher, how long is it good for? Is the ticket or voucher unusable during holiday periods? Can it be used for international flights?

If not enough people volunteer, the airline will involuntarily bump customers. Most of the time, this occurs before the plane is boarded, and passengers cannot be removed from an aircraft after boarding unless for safety, security, or health reasons or if they're being disorderly.

According to the DOT, airlines must provide compensation for bumped passengers, as well as a written statement of their rights and how airlines select who and who doesn't get involuntarily bumped.

There are a few conditions and exceptions outlined by the DOT, including:

• Aircraft change to a smaller plane due to operational or safety reasons
• The aircraft holds fewer than 30 people
• Weight and balance concerns for planes with 30-60 seats
• The flight is departing from a foreign country and headed to the US

If none of these apply and you have a confirmed ticket, you met the check-in deadline, you were at the gate on time, and the airline could not get you to your final destination within an hour of your original arrival time, the DOT says you are entitled to denied boarding compensation, or DBC.

When you're entitled to compensation — and how much

According to the DOT, the DBC is based on the value of your ticket, the length of your delay due to the involuntarily denied boarding, and whether your flight was domestic or international. The agency said the airline might try to offer you a free flight or cash-equivalent voucher first, but you are entitled to cash or check if you prefer.

For domestic flights that arrive one to two hours later than scheduled, passengers receive 200% of their one-way fare, capped at $775. Arriving over two hours later entitles customers to 400%, capped at $1,550.

For international flights that arrive one to four hours later than scheduled, passengers receive 200% of their one-way fare, and anything over four hours is 400%. The same regulated minimum monetary caps apply, but the airline can decide at its discretion to offer more.

The DOT said compensation for non-fare tickets, like those paid for with points, is based on the lowest-priced ticket sold in the same class of the service on the same flight.

Passengers who booked a higher-fare class, like first or business, but were downgraded to a cheaper cabin must be refunded the difference in price, per the DOT. Customers can also receive a refund for extras they paid for but did not receive on their substitute flight, like a reserved seat.

How to lower the odds of getting bumped from a flight

There's nothing you can do to guarantee you won't get bumped from an overbooked flight, as one traveler who said he was bumped off an American Airlines flight learned the hard way.

However, you can take some steps to decrease your odds of getting bumped, such as buying higher-class seats, checking in on time, and having frequent-flyer status. The DOT said among those in the same fare class, the last to check in are the most likely to be involuntarily bumped.

Some travelers may consider booking on an airline that doesn't have a reputation for involuntary bumping.

According to the DOT's 2023 consumer air travel data, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, and Hawaiian Airlines involuntarily bumped 0, 3, and 5 people, respectively, over the entire year. On the other end of the spectrum, American Airlines and Frontier Airlines involuntarily bumped over 10,000 passengers each in 2023. 

"However, the criteria cannot subject a passenger to any unjust or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage," the agency notes. "For example, an airline could not lawfully use a passenger's race or ethnicity as a criterion." 

• Walmart is offering half off the price of a Walmart+ membership until July 18.
• That timing front-runs Amazon's Prime Day, which happens on July 16 and 17.
• Walmart has been stepping up its effort to woo customers over from the e-commerce giant.

Walmart's members-only sales event is in the rearview, and Amazon's Prime Day isn't for another week, but that doesn't mean the war between the two biggest retailers is on pause.

For a limited time until July 18, Walmart is offering new Walmart+ memberships for $49 per year, or half off the usual $98 fee.

If that date catches your eye, it's because the timing front-runs Amazon's Prime Day, which happens on July 16 and 17.

For 10 years now, Amazon's annual deals event for Prime members has become a fact of American retail life — and one that has helped drive new signups for the company.

Offering a discounted membership in the days leading up to Prime Day is another way that Walmart has been stepping up its effort to woo customers over from the e-commerce giant.

Look no further than remarks from Walmart CFO John David Rainey, who said the company's delivery orders have overtaken in-store orders in recent months.

He also said Walmart+ members are starting to make more frequent orders that have smaller item counts — acting a little more like Amazon shoppers.

Meanwhile, Walmart continues to aggressively expand its Marketplace of third-party sellers, following a strategy that has enabled Amazon to offer the mind-boggling range of products available on its website.

And as it turns out, Walmart's ongoing "store of the future" upgrades are helping too, as the company uses its fleet of 4,700 US locations to fulfill online orders.

"You would expect the in-store benefit," Rainey said last month, referring to a sales increase after a renovation."But we also see that there's an uplift in e-commerce sales in those areas where we've done a remodel."

Walmart is already making a lot of Target-style moves to win customers, and now it's taking even more pages from Amazon.

• Gretchen Whitmer vowed she won't run if Joe Biden exits the race.
• Whitmer has repeatedly backed the president and his 2024 run.
• Leaked polling shows Whitmer is popular among Democrats and outperforms Biden.

Since Joe Biden's awful debate performance, Democrats and voters alike have been speculating who could potentially replace him in the race.

But one of the top options, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, says not to count her in.

The two-term Democratic governor told The Associated Press in an interview ahead of the launch of her new book, "True Gretch," that she would not join the 2024 race if Biden stepped down.

"It's a distraction more than anything," Whitmer told the AP in a story published Monday. "I don't like seeing my name in articles like that because I'm totally focused on governing and campaigning for the ticket."

Whitmer, the national cochair of Biden's reelection campaign, has repeatedly reiterated her support of the president.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Whitmer wrote last week that she is "all in" on Biden and VP Kamala Harris, adding: "Help me elect Democrats up and down the ticket."

"Joe Biden is our nominee," she wrote in a follow-up post. "He is in it to win it and I support him."

Whitmer was also part of a coalition of 24 Democratic governors who met with Biden on Wednesday to discuss the fallout from his debate performance and his path to victory, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Though Whitmer says she will not replace Biden on the ticket, she might have a decent chance if she did, according to an internal Democratic polling memo leaked to Puck News.

The polling memo, conducted by OpenLabs 72 hours after the debate, shows that Whitmer was polling just behind Pete Buttigieg among voters in swing states. Biden was ranked last among the five options, and Harris second-to-last, according to the leaked poll.

While some polls show Biden losing ground since the debate, a new Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll showed Biden still polling ahead of Trump in Michigan — a must-win for the incumbent this November — and narrowing Trump's lead in other key swing states.

As for Whitmer's presidential prospects, she has for years said she doesn't want to ever run for president.

For example, she told the Free Press in 2022, "The lure of Washington, DC has not been something that has ever drawn my interest or attention."

But lately, she's been changing her tune. In a speech to hundreds of fellow politicians at a Washington event in March, Whitmer said, "See you in 2029," hinting at a potential 2028 run, The Washington Post reported.

• Actor Margot Robbie and producer Tom Ackerley met through the 2014 film "Suite Française."
• They started dating in 2014 and got married in Australia in December 2016. 
• People magazine confirmed in July that Robbie is pregnant and expecting her first child with Ackerley.

2013: Robbie and Ackerley meet while working on the film "Suite Française."

The romantic drama, released in 2014, starred Robbie, Michelle Williams, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Matthias Schoenaerts.

Ackerley served as the third assistant director. 

2014: They move in with a bunch of other roommates and keep their relationship a secret at the onset.

Per Vogue, Robbie invited Ackerley, her childhood friend Sophia Kerr, and a few people she worked with on the set of "Suite Française" to the UK premiere of "The Wolf of Wall Street" in January 2014.

After an enjoyable night, Robbie suggested that they should all live together. So, they leased a home in London. Robbie and Ackerley began dating that year. 

"We kept it a secret. Because we weren't really taking it seriously. 'Oh, whatever, we're just mates, we're just mates.' And then… everyone found out," Robbie told The Guardian in 2018. 

The actor said that "shit hit the fan" when the secret came out.

"Our house turned into 'The Jerry Springer Show' for a moment there," she recalled. "But then the dust settled, and it was all good."

Robbie said that their friends were concerned that the relationship would "ruin our group."

"And then it didn't. It was fine," she said.

2014: Robbie and Ackerley cofound the production company LuckyChap Entertainment with producer Josey McNamara and Sophia Kerr, Robbie's friend.

Robbie told Porter magazine that she's "a great advocate of doing business with your partner."

Several of Robbie's films have been produced by LuckyChap, including "I, Tonya," "Birds of Prey," and "Barbie."

When asked about the backstory of the production company's name, Robbie told The Guardian in 2018: "We were just drunk. We were here when we came up with it. And nobody can remember why. I think we were talking about Charlie Chaplin…"

In the months that follow, Robbie and Ackerley continue to give fans glimpses into their relationship.

Ackerley's Instagram account featured photos of the couple and he gave Robbie a shout-out after she landed a Critics Choice Award for best actress in an action movie for her role as Harley Quinn in "Suicide Squad."

They also attended New York Rangers games at Madison Square Garden in November 2014 and February 2015. 

Robbie is actually a big fan of ice hockey and was briefly part of a league when she moved from Australia to New York.

June 2016: Robbie gushes about Ackerley in an interview with Vogue and says that she was "always in love with him."

Robbie called the British producer "the best-looking guy in London" and explained how their dynamic turned romantic.

"I was the ultimate single gal," Robbie told Vogue. "The idea of relationships made me want to vomit. And then this crept up on me."

"We were friends for so long," she continued. "I was always in love with him, but I thought, Oh, he would never love me back. Don't make it weird, Margot. Don't be stupid and tell him that you like him. And then it happened, and I was like, Of course we're together. This makes so much sense, the way nothing has ever made sense before."

December 20, 2016: Robbie confirms their engagement and wedding on Instagram.

Rumors had swirled regarding the couple's relationship status — particularly when Robbie was seen arriving at the Gold Coast Airport while wearing a T-shirt that read, "Say 'I Do' Down Under."

The "Birds of Prey" star reacted to the speculation by posting a caption-less photo on Instagram that spoke for itself (Robbie's Instagram account has since been deleted). 

The photo showed Robbie and Ackerley dressed in white attire and kissing, but the focus of the image was the pear-shaped engagement ring and thin gold wedding band on display on the fourth finger of her left hand. 

The wedding reportedly took place at Coorabell, Byron Bay, Australia. Robbie later revealed to MTV News that she walked down the aisle to music from the 1993 film "True Romance."

Robbie and Ackerley delay their honeymoon because of their work on the biopic "I, Tonya."

Ackerley produced "I, Tonya," which starred Robbie as controversial figure skater Tonya Harding. 

Robbie spoke about their decision to work instead of going on vacation during a 2017 interview with Extra.

"We did this film instead of our honeymoon," she said. "There were times we were sitting in a car parked in Atlanta freezing cold being like, 'We should be on a beach right now. We should be on a honeymoon. What are we doing?!' Following our dream."

After filming "I, Tonya," Robbie and Ackerley went to Tahiti for their honeymoon — where they ran into Ellen DeGeneres, her wife Portia de Rossi, and Barack Obama. 

Robbie recalled their embarrassing encounter on the private island during an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in January 2018. 

The two couples and the former president of the US ended up together at a gym on the island, and the experience was particularly embarrassing for Ackerley because he chose to wear extremely short, baggy shorts with nothing underneath. 

"The whole thing was so absurd," Robbie said, explaining that Ackerley spent the entire stretching class trying not to reveal himself to the other famous people in the small gym. 

October 11, 2017: Robbie speaks about life as a newlywed in an interview with Us Weekly.

"My husband and I were roommates before we were even dating, so I'm kind of living with my roommate and it's awesome," she told the publication at the premiere of the film "Goodbye Christopher Robin" in NYC.

Robbie added that the pair "feel very grown up now" with their new living arrangement. 

January 2018: The couple ring in the new year together.

"Great way to bring in 2018!" Ackerley captioned a selfie of the pair on the slopes in their snow gear. 

March 4, 2018: Robbie and Ackerley attend the Academy Awards with the "I, Tonya" crew.

"I, Tonya" was nominated for three awards: best actress in a leading role (Robbie), best actress in a supporting role (Allison Janney), and best achievement in film editing. 

Ackerley, who produced the movie, shared his enthusiasm for the Oscars by posting a photo of himself and Robbie with several crew members.

At the show, Janney won the award she was nominated for. 

Robbie and Ackerley walked the red carpet of the Academy Awards together, in addition to attending the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party.

October 2018: Robbie and Ackerley adopt a dog named Belle.

They rescued the mixed pitbull from Wags and Walks Rescue, a non-profit.

Belle joined the couple's other dog, Boo Radley, who is named after the character from Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird."

November 30, 2018: Robbie says that marriage is "the most fun ever."

"I always thought, 'Urrgghhhh, being married sounds really boring.' I thought I might bite the bullet in my late 30s and see how it goes," Robbie told Porter magazine. 

Of course, her outlook changed once she met and wed Ackerley. 

"Being married is actually the most fun ever, life got way more fun somehow," Robbie said. "I have a responsibility being someone's wife, I want to be better."

The actor also said that they have a three-week rule whenever they're apart from each other. It involves talking on the phone every day and flying to a country in-between their locations so they can spend time together.

Robbie also said that she wasn't looking to expand their family by having children yet, since two dogs are enough of a responsibility. 

"If I'm looking into my future 30 years from now, I want to see a big Christmas dinner with tons of kids there," she said. "But definitely not at the moment. That's 100% certain."

July 2019: In a cover story for Vogue, Robbie opens up about why she and Ackerley work well as a couple.

Robbie described her husband as a "very loud and friendly person."

She also reiterated that she enjoys working with him professionally. 

"We can talk about work all the time," she said. "And then work feels like fun. And fun stuff can involve work."

 "We just get along," Robbie added. "I think it's crazy that not all couples get along."

January 5, 2020: Robbie and Ackerley attend the Golden Globes together.

That year, Robbie was nominated for best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a motion picture for her work as Kayla Pospisil in "Bombshell."

January 31, 2020: Robbie, a self-proclaimed "massive" fan of "Harry Potter," speaks about Ackerley's involvement as an extra in the film franchise.

"My husband is in the 'Harry Potter' movies," Robbie said during an appearance on "The Graham Norton Show."

"He was an extra when he was a little kid — he was one of the Slytherin extras when Draco pushes some kids out of the way to see Buckbeak in the third book," she explained. "He pushes my husband out of the way."

"I was like, 'Had you told me sooner we would've been married very quickly,'" Robbie joked. 

Summer 2023: Ackerley joins Robbie on the "Barbie" press tour.

Greta Gerwig's "Barbie," which hit theaters on July 21, stars Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie. After a series of weird experiences in the perfect, pink-laden Barbieland, Robbie's character travels to the real world. 

Ackerley has a producer credit on the film and accompanied Robbie to a press junket and photo call for "Barbie," which took place at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on June 25.

He also showed up to a celebration party at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Australia on June 30; the world premiere of "Barbie" in LA on July 9; and the European premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on July 12.

January 14, 2024: Robbie says that she's "lucky" to have a husband who's normal.

In the months that followed the release of "Barbie," Ackerley also joined Robbie during awards show season. He accompanied the actor at the Gotham Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Critics Choice Awards, the BAFTAs, and the SAG Awards.

"I am so lucky," Robbie said when asked about the benefits of having a "normie" husband during an interview with E! News at the Critics Choice Awards. "He likes being behind the camera. He's not fazed by any of this stuff."

"He's just the best, it's so fun," Robbie continued. "I love the word 'normie.' All my friends, everyone's like, 'That's cool what you do but it's more fun just to hang out and talk about other stuff.' And you're like, 'I know.'"

February 10, 2024: Robbie and Ackerley win big at the 2024 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards.

Robbie was honored with the trailblazer award for her achievements as an actor and producer at the awards show, which took place in Gold Coast, Australia.

In her acceptance speech, Robbie thanked her family and friends for their support and spoke about the whirlwind year her production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, had with the success of "Barbie" and "Saltburn."

Robbie also won the award for best lead actress for her performance in "Barbie" and gave her husband a shout-out in her speech. 

"Of course, there is no 'Barbie' movie without its Kenergy, so I would like to thank the biggest Ken of them all — and I know Ryan [Gosling] wouldn't mind me saying this — Tom Ackerley, who, aside from producing this film and running two successful companies with me, also happens to be my husband and he's very good at that as well," she said. 

When "Barbie" won the award for best international film, Ackerley praised Margot's work on the movie.

"Mainly, I want to thank the two most important people in bringing this to life: yes, Greta Gerwig, and my brilliant, sensational, groundbreaking wife, Margot," Ackerley said. "Together, you both entertained the world. You also both changed the world. So thank you."

July 7, 2024: Multiple sources confirm to People magazine that Robbie and Ackerley are expecting their first child together.

People magazine's confirmation came shortly after The Daily Mail published photos of the couple vacationing in Lake Como, Italy. Robbie's baby bump was visible as she wore a white crop top and black blazer. 

• Grace Cheng, a 22-year-old travel blogger based in NYC, has visited Japan 11 times.
• She said travelers going to Japan for the first time consistently make a few mistakes.
• Travelers focus on Tokyo, Cheng added, but don't leave enough time for other cities.  

Out of the 34 countries travel blogger Grace Cheng has visited, none has left such a lasting impression than Japan. From visiting historical temples during cherry blossom season to the diverse and delicious food scene, Japan stole her heart.

"It's so different than what you see here in the States, and it's so different from any other country," she said.

Cheng, who is 22 and based in NYC, has noticed the country becoming a "hot spot" for tourists.

The International Trade Administration shows that the number of US travelers flying to Japan was already over 900,000 from January to May, a 17.4% increase from the same time period in 2023. One factor driving the surge in tourists from the US is the strongest dollar-to-yen exchange rate in recent history. As of July 8, $1 buys 160.74 yen.

Cheng first visited Japan in 2017, and she's gone 11 times since then. Here, she shares three of the biggest mistakes to avoid when planning a trip to Japan to better your chances of immersing yourself in the culture and exploring off the beaten path.

Mistake 1: They overfill their itineraries

There is so much to explore in Japan, from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo's famous Shibuya crossing (one of the busiest in the world) to the serene tranquility of the gardens and shrines in Kyoto.

But as excited as tourists can be to get a taste of everything, Cheng advises them to make sure their itineraries aren't jam-packed every day.

"The ideal time I would give Japan is probably seven to 10 days," Cheng says, adding that it is a sufficient time to explore a few regions without feeling rushed.

A shorter trip, especially for first-time visitors, could mean that "every day is just back-to-back attractions or moving," which ultimately results in high stress.

"You don't really get to experience Japan for what it's worth because you're just always on the go," she added.

If you are truly pressed for time and only have a few days to spare in Japan, Cheng recommends prioritizing Tokyo, given it is a "major destination everyone has to go to" at least once in their life if they can.

Mistake 2: They don't set foot outside Tokyo

The issue with just visiting Tokyo, according to Cheng, is it doesn't fully represent how broad and versatile Japan or Japanese culture is.

If visitors want to get a real feel for the country's history, cuisine, and local charms, they should venture south and north of Tokyo.

"Tokyo is not Japan," Cheng said. "And you need to explore the other cities to actually have a sense of what Japan is like."

Outside Tokyo, one of her favorite cities is Sapporo, in the Hokkaido prefecture in the north of Japan. Cheng said she found cheaper prices and more friendly locals there.

"They just go out of their way, and you can definitely tell if someone is from Tokyo or the north," she said.

The food scene is also completely different depending on where you visit — Sapporo, for example, is renowned for soup curry, she said.

Osaka is a city near Kyoto so well-known for food that it's sometimes referred to as "Japan's kitchen." There, Cheng said she ate amazing tonkatsu, or fried pork cutlet, made to "perfection" with a side of all-you-can-eat shredded cabbage.

Mistake 3: They never turn off Google Maps

Being told to knowingly lose your way in a foreign country might sound scary, but Cheng insists it's one of the best strategies for discovering a new place.

"The best way to experience the streets and just get to know the country itself is just to get lost," Cheng said. "Don't use your phone. Don't use Google Maps."

She said some of her best interactions with locals and restaurants have come from walks around Japanese cities when she's avoided using her phone.

"If you go to Google and you search 'best restaurants in Tokyo,' for example, you're going to come up with all these restaurants that cater toward tourists," she said. "You're not going to actually experience the local dishes or a local atmosphere," and leave with a false "impression" of Japan.

"The best restaurants that I've found have come from stumbling upon them just walking the streets," she said.

• Global temperatures continue to increase, with 2023 recording the warmest numbers on record.
• In 2021, Oregon, Utah, and Washington broke heat records.
• The hottest temperature recorded in US history was 134 degrees Fahrenheit in California in 1913.

2023 was the hottest year on record, and 2024 is shaping up to be a scorcher too, with temperature records being shattered from Nevada to North Carolina. However, many of the highest recorded temperatures in each state happened decades ago.

According to the official climate government website, Earth's temperature has risen by an average of 0.11 degrees Fahrenheit per decade, and 2023 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850.

But global temperature rise doesn't mean it just gets hotter everywhere at the same rate. In fact, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), some states in the US reached their all-time toastiest temperatures hundreds of years ago.

Here's a list of every state and its hottest day on record, from the high 90s to above 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to NOAA.

ALABAMA: 112 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: September 6, 1925

Location: Centreville

 

ALASKA: 100 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: June 27, 1915

Location: Fort Yukon

ARIZONA: 128 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: June 29, 1994

Location: Lake Havasu City

 

ARKANSAS: 120 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: August 10, 1936

Location: Ozark

 

CALIFORNIA: 134 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 10, 1913

Location: Furnace Creek (formerly Greenland Ranch)

COLORADO: 115 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 10, 2019

Location: John Martin Dam

CONNECTICUT: 106 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 15, 1995

Location: Danbury

Torrington, Connecticut, also reached 106 degrees Fahrenheit on August 23, 1916.

DELAWARE: 110 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 21, 1930

Location: Millsboro

FLORIDA: 109 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: June 29, 1931

Location: Monticello

GEORGIA: 112 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: August 20, 1983

Location: Greenville

Louisville, Georgia, also reached 112 degrees Fahrenheit on July 24, 1952.

HAWAII: 100 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: April 27, 1931

Location: Pahala

IDAHO: 118 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 28, 1934

Location: Orofino

ILLINOIS: 117 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 14, 1954

Location: East St. Louis

INDIANA: 116 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 14, 1936

Location: Collegeville

IOWA: 118 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 20, 1934

Location: Keokuk

KANSAS: 121 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 24, 1936

Location: Alton

Fredonia, Kansas, also reached 121 degrees Fahrenheit on July 18, 1936.

KENTUCKY: 114 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 28, 1930

Location: Greensburg

LOUISIANA: 114 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: August 10, 1936

Location: Plain Dealing

MAINE: 105 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 10, 1911

Location: North Bridgton

North Bridgton, Maine, also reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit on July 4, 1911.

MARYLAND: 109 degrees Fahrenheit

Dates: July 10, 1936

Location: Cumberland

Frederick, Maryland, also reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit on July 10, 1936. Cumberland, Maryland, reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit on August 7, 1918, and August 6, 1918. Keedysville, Maryland, reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit on August 6, 1918. Boettcherville, Maryland, reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit on July 3, 1898.

 

MASSACHUSETTS: 107 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: August 2, 1975

Location: New Bedford

Chester, Massachusetts, also reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit on August 2, 1975.

MICHIGAN: 112 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 13, 1936

Location: Mio

Stanwood, Michigan, also reached 112 degrees Fahrenheit on July 13, 1936.

MINNESOTA: 115 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 29, 1917

Location: Beardsley

MISSISSIPPI: 115 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 29, 1930

Location: Holly Springs

MISSOURI: 118 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 14, 1954

Location: Union

Warsaw, Missouri, also hit 118 degrees Fahrenheit on July 14, 1954.

MONTANA: 117 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 5, 1937

Location: Medicine Lake

Glendive, Montana, also reached 117 degrees Fahrenheit on July 20, 1893.

NEBRASKA: 118 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 24, 1936

Location: Minden

Hartington, Nebraska, also reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit on July 17, 1936. Geneva, Nebraska, reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit on July 15, 1934.

 

NEVADA: 125 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: June 29, 1994

Location: Laughlin

NEW HAMPSHIRE: 106 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 4, 1911

Location: Nashua

NEW JERSEY: 110 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 10, 1936

Location: Runyon (near Sayreville)

NEW MEXICO: 122 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: June 27, 1994

Location: Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (near Loving)

NEW YORK: 108 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 22, 1926

Location: Troy

NORTH CAROLINA: 110 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: August 21, 1983

Location: Fayetteville

NORTH DAKOTA: 121 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 6, 1936

Location: Steele

OHIO: 113 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 21, 1934

Location: Gallipolis

OKLAHOMA: 120 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: August 12, 1936

Location: Altus

Altus, Oklahoma, first hit the record on July 19, 1936. Poteau, Oklahoma, also reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit on August 10, 1936. Alva, Oklahoma, reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit on July 18, 1936.

OREGON: 119 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: June 29, 2021

Location: Pelton Dam

Moody Farms Agrimet, Oregon, also reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit on June 29, 2021. Pendleton, Oregon, reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit on August 10, 1898.

PENNSYLVANIA: 111 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 10, 1936

Location: Phoenixville

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, also hit 111 degrees Fahrenheit on July 9, 1936.

RHODE ISLAND: 104 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: August 2, 1975

Location: Providence

SOUTH CAROLINA: 113 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: June 29, 2012

Location: Columbia

SOUTH DAKOTA: 120 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 15, 2006

Location: Fort Pierre

Gann Valley, South Dakota, also hit 120 degrees Fahrenheit on July 5, 1936.

TENNESSEE: 113 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: August 9, 1930

Location: Perryville

Perryville, Tennessee, also hit 113 degrees Fahrenheit on July 29, 1930.

TEXAS: 120 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: June 28, 1994

Location: Monahans

Seymour, Texas, also hit 120 degrees Fahrenheit on August 12, 1936.

UTAH: 117 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 10, 2021

Location: St. George

St. George, Utah, also hit 117 degrees Fahrenheit on July 5, 1985.

VERMONT: 107 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 7, 1912

Location: Vernon

VIRGINIA: 110 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 15, 1954

Location: Balcony Falls

Columbia, Virginia, also hit 110 degrees Fahrenheit on July 7, 1900, and July 5, 1900.

WASHINGTON: 118 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: June 29, 2021

Location: Hanford

WEST VIRGINIA: 112 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 10, 1936

Location: Martinsburg

Moorefield, West Virginia, also hit 112 degrees Fahrenheit on August 4, 1930.

WISCONSIN: 114 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 13, 1936

Location: Wisconsin Dells

WYOMING: 115 degrees Fahrenheit

Date: July 15, 1988

Location: Diversion Dam

Basin, Wyoming, also hit 115 degrees Fahrenheit on August 8, 1983.

Sara Kiley Watson contributed to an earlier version of this article.