Por Kevin Liptak, CNN

El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, presentó este lunes una nueva “clase Trump” de acorazados de la Marina, describiéndolos como naves de combate superiores para reemplazar una flota estadounidense “vieja, cansada y obsoleta”.

“Van a ayudar a mantener la supremacía militar de Estados Unidos, a revivir la industria de construcción naval nacional y a infundir temor en los enemigos de nuestro país en todo el mundo”, dijo Trump al revelar la nueva categoría de nave desde la biblioteca de Mar-a-Lago.

Acompañado por imágenes de los acorazados “clase Trump” en el mar, Trump afirmó que participará activamente en su diseño. El anuncio se realizó este lunes por la tarde en Florida, junto al secretario de Defensa, Pete Hegseth, y el secretario de Estado y asesor de seguridad nacional, Marco Rubio. Trump no utilizó el término “clase Trump” en sus declaraciones.

Los barcos de la “clase Trump” formarán parte de la nueva “Flota Dorada” que el presidente ha ordenado para la Marina, destinada a contrarrestar a China y otros adversarios, y a ajustarse a los estándares estéticos de Trump.

“La Marina de Estados Unidos liderará el diseño de estos barcos junto conmigo porque soy una persona muy estética”, dijo Trump.

Equipados con “cañones y misiles del más alto nivel”, armas hipersónicas, cañones electromagnéticos, misiles de crucero y los “láseres más sofisticados del mundo”, los nuevos acorazados serán los más grandes jamás construidos, según Trump.

Cada uno pesará entre 3.000 y 40.000 toneladas y será construido en Estados Unidos. “Estarán muy controlados por inteligencia artificial”, añadió, sin dar detalles.

“Imaginamos que estos barcos serán los primeros de una clase completamente nueva que se producirá en los próximos años”, afirmó.

Inicialmente, la Marina construirá dos barcos de la “clase Trump”, seguidos rápidamente por ocho más. Trump dijo que prevé entre 20 y 25 de estos navíos, que se convertirían en el “buque insignia de la flota naval estadounidense”.

También señaló que trabajará para modernizar los portaaviones estadounidenses como parte de la actualización de la “Flota Dorada”.

Trump se había quejado previamente sobre la apariencia de algunos barcos estadounidenses.

“No soy fan de algunos de los barcos que hacen. Soy una persona muy estética y no me gustan algunos de los barcos que están haciendo desde el punto de vista estético”, dijo Trump a altos mandos militares reunidos en Quantico a principios de este año.

“Dicen: ‘Oh, es sigiloso’. Yo digo que eso no es sigiloso. No es necesario un barco feo para decir que es sigiloso”, añadió.

Nombrar una clase de barcos con el nombre de Trump podría significar que su nombre también se coloque en un barco real, aunque eso probablemente tomaría años.

Cada clase de barcos representa un nuevo diseño y tradicionalmente lleva el nombre del primer barco de ese diseño producido. Si Trump designara la clase con su propio nombre y la Marina de Estados Unidos siguiera esa convención, el primer barco construido con el diseño anunciado por Trump el lunes sería el USS Trump.

No obstante, los carteles en el evento mostraron el barco con el nombre USS Defiant.

La Marina anunció el viernes que encargará una nueva clase de fragatas, construidas en Estados Unidos, como parte de la nueva flota. Las fragatas están diseñadas para proteger rutas marítimas y resguardar embarcaciones más grandes.

El anuncio se produce en medio de un gran despliegue naval estadounidense en el mar Caribe, mientras Trump aumenta la presión sobre el líder venezolano Nicolás Maduro, incluyendo intentos de cortar sus ingresos petroleros.

La Marina ha participado en una serie de interdicciones de buques petroleros en el Caribe, aunque la Guardia Costera de Estados Unidos ha liderado las operaciones. Estados Unidos ha interceptado do

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Travelers are increasingly turning to the big screen for inspiration, choosing destinations they’ve seen in popular films and TV shows. Expedia was first to spotlight “set-jetting” as a fast-growing global trend in 2022, which has become especially popular among Millennial and Gen Z travelers.

According to third-party research from Expedia Group’s Unpack ’26 Travel Trends Report, interest in set-jetting continues to rise: 53% of travelers say they’re more interested in taking a screen-inspired trip than they were a year ago. Millennials and Gen Z are driving the momentum, with 81% planning a getaway based on a destination they’ve seen on screen. 

So, what are the top pop-culture-inspired vacations to watch for in 2026?

Yorkshire, UK 

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The dales and moors of Yorkshire are a well-established muse for writers and visual artists. Most recently, the region has served as the romantic location for “Wuthering Heights” and “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.” The North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the Yorkshire Dales make appearances in both and are a must-see when visiting. Make sure to squeeze in a visit to the Brontë Parsonage Museum, where the Brontë family lived from 1820 to 1861. The historic space offers fascinating insight into the lives of the three Brontë sisters and the world that inspired “Wuthering Heights.” 

Tuscany, Italy 

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Tuscany, Italy, has long been a go-to destination for travelers interested in Renaissance art and architecture, picturesque towns, and an unforgettable dining scene. It’s no wonder that it’s also a popular filming location, too. Tuscany b

Robin Trajano // Kia America

If you’ve spent the last few years in a compact car, and you’re feeling the need for an upgrade, a small SUV might be perfect for you. They offer increased cargo and passenger space without a big trade-off in fuel economy, and the prices are reasonable when you consider their capability. They’re great for folks looking to downsize from larger vehicles too. Below are Edmunds’ top picks, as well as the average price for a 2023 model on the used market compared to the base price of a brand-new example.

1. Used Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento was fully redesigned for 2021, and the South Korean SUV hardly resembles its predecessor. The Sorento is a three-row SUV packed with standard features, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and a sleek design both inside and out. It is a marked improvement over the previous-generation Sorento, with a great mix of high quality, practicality and performance (as long as you get the available turbocharged engine). The Sorento also offers an efficient hybrid powertrain if you’d prefer to save as much fuel as possible on your inevitable road trips.

Average 2023 transaction price: $28,711
Savings vs. new: $4,924
Average consumer rating (2023): 4.2 (out of 5)
Used Kia Sorento years for this generation: 2021–2025

2. Used Mazda CX-50

The Mazda CX-50 is a luxury-lite small SUV that delivers the practicality required of a crossover but in a sleeker, more appealing package. The premium interior is a step up from the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, and the CX-50 handles corners quite well given its SUV form factor. Mazda introduced the CX-50 in 2023, and confusingly, it now sells it alongside the similarly sized CX-5. The CX-50 is preferable because it’s been updated more recently, while the CX-5 has now been on sale for nearly a decade.

Average 2023 transaction price: $27,499
Savings vs. new: $3,896
Average consumer rating (2023): 4.0 (out of 5)
Used Mazda CX-50 years for this generation: 2023–2025

3. Used Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V has long been one of Edmunds’ favorite small SUVs because of its mix of practicality, value and comfort. The 2023 Honda CR-V has plenty of room for cargo, whether it’s for a weekend camping trip or the family’s luggage. It falls short of some competitors in towing capacity, but the CR-V’s roomy interior helps compensate. Mos

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When a driver secures a new auto insurance policy, they expect immediate, reliable coverage. While the car insurance policy is indeed effective from the moment the payment is accepted, nearly all insurance carriers reserve a specific, limited time, typically 60 days from the policy’s effective date, during which they can cancel the contract for a far wider range of reasons than they can later on. This critical period is known across the auto insurance industry as the underwriting window or the 60-day cancellation period. Cheap Insurance explains how this window is essential, as omissions, errors, or undisclosed risks related to the driver or vehicle can lead to policy cancellation, often without the extensive advance notice required after the 60 days have passed.

The Underwriting Function: Verifying the Risk

The auto insurance business is fundamentally about assessing risk, specifically the risk associated with a driver, the vehicle, and the potential for future claims. When a policy application is submitted, the carrier relies on the data provided to generate a quick quote and issue a binder. However, the official underwriter (the team or automated system that determines the policy’s long-term viability) needs time to verify this initial information against external records.

The 60-day underwriting window exists to allow the insurer to conduct its thorough post-bind verification. During this time, the carrier is actively performing critical checks:

• Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs): Verifying the driving record of every listed driver, checking for recent tickets, accidents, or license suspensions that were not disclosed. For an example of a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) and its components, consult this privacy and regulation guide.
• C.L.U.E. Reports: Reviewing the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange report to confirm the applicant’s history of past auto insurance claims.
• Credit/Insurance Scores: Confirming the accuracy of the applicant’s insurance scoring data, which heavily influences the risk calculation.
• Vehicle Verification: Checking the VIN to confirm the vehicle’s model, safety features, and usage.

If the insurer discovers a significant discrepancy, undisclosed risk, or material misrepresentation during this 60-day period, they have the legal right to cancel the policy because the true risk deviates too heavily from the one they initially agreed to cover.

Top Reasons for Auto Policy Cancellation During the 60-Day Window

After the initial 60 days, most state regulations severely limit an auto insurer’s ability to cancel a policy mid-term, restricting it largely to nonpayment or criminal acts. However, within the underwriting window, the criteria are signi

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More than 8 in 10 American homes now contain smart tech — including refrigerators, doorbells, and robot vacuums, according to a OnePoll survey of 5,000 American homeowners conducted from Oct. 1 to 6.

The research found they’ve spent, on average, more than $2,000 on gadgets and appliances that connect to the internet during the past five years.

Fifty-five percent are keen to add to what they already have during the next 12 months.

As many as 58 percent have smart TVs, while 35 percent have doorbells that inform them of visitors, and 14 percent have fridges that notify them when supplies are low.

Smart speakers (36 percent), robot vacuum cleaners (22 percent), and smart locks (15 percent) are also common.

The research, commissioned by Vivint, found that 18 percent can’t imagine a world without their favorite tech.

And 1 in 10 upgrade or replace their smart home tech annually, with 37 percent doing so every two to five years.

Real-time alerts or notifications (38 percent), battery backup or power-fail safety (36 percent), and voice or app control from anywhere (33 percent) are the top things they want from their devices.

Twenty-two percent feel there is room for more convenience, customization, and personalization in their current smart device setup.

A similar number (21 percent) said more devices designed around these factors, as well as protection, would significantly improve their day-to-day lives.

The study found that of those who own smart tech, 17 percent are early adopters of new products on the market — purchasing such devices early in their release cycle.

However, 52 percent prefer to purchase smart home gadgets once they already have a proven track record.

And of those intending to invest further during the next 12 months or so, smart lighting (22 percent) is at the top of their list.

Door locks or keyless entry (17 percent), indoor and outdoor security cameras (14 percent and 20 percent), and water leak or flood sensors (eight percent) are also on wish lists.

The study identified the biggest barriers to acquiring smart home devices — either for the first time or as additional purchases.

Cost (53 percent) is the most significant hurdle, followed by privacy and security concerns (33 percent), and how susceptible a gadget might be to glitches (23 percent).

And with 60 percent reporting their utility bills have increased during the past year, 32 percent of smart tech owners cited energy efficiency, monitoring, or reporting as one of their biggest considerations when purchasing such goods.

Sixty-four percent took energy efficiency and the potential financial benefits of this into account, specifically when considering the expense of new devices.

But it’s not just smart tech adopters who value energy efficiency in their electricals.

Four in 10 (40 percent) of those who don’t own any smart tech said energy efficiency w