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New rules started on July 15, 2026, for Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services like Klarna and Clearpay. These rules require companies to check if customers can afford payments, aiming to protect shoppers but also leading to more rejected applications.
Key Facts
New regulations for BNPL began on July 15, 2026.
Shoppers must now pass affordability checks before using BNPL.
BNPL allows people to pay for items over several months without interest.
Last year, there were about 100 million BNPL transactions, totaling roughly £7 billion.
Money Wellness, a free money advice service, saw record BNPL debt help requests in June with 4,520 customers.
This June number was only second to the usual high demand after Christmas in January.
The Financial Conduct Authority and experts are involved in explaining the new rules.
The changes aim to make BNPL safer but could also mean more people are turned down for these payment plans.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed a new $1 gold coin with President Donald Trump’s image. The coin was created to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Key Facts
The coin is a $1 commemorative gold piece.
It features the likeness of President Donald Trump.
The coin marks the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the coin on Wednesday morning.
The coin is meant to symbolize liberty and patriotism.
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Stephen Dubner, a well-known author and journalist, has started a new weekly talk show called "Better in Person" on YouTube. He talks about how the show began, the variety of guests he features, and why he chose to pay for the show himself.
Key Facts
Stephen Dubner is the co-author of the bestselling book "Freakonomics."
He launched a weekly talk show named "Better in Person."
The show is available on YouTube.
Dubner has a wide range of guests on the show.
He decided to finance the show himself without outside funding.
The show aims to present conversations in a personal, in-person style.
Dubner discussed the show during an interview on "CBS Mornings."
The program is part of Dubner's work beyond writing books.
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Security video shows what happened right after immigration agents fatally shot a man in Maine. CBS News reporters Lilia Luciano and Nicole Sganga covered the event and its aftermath.
Key Facts
The event took place in Maine.
Immigration agents were involved in the shooting.
The shooting resulted in a man’s death.
Security footage captured the moments following the shooting.
CBS News reporters Lilia Luciano and Nicole Sganga reported on the incident.
The video and report are available through CBS News platforms.
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A lawsuit challenges sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The lawsuit claims these sanctions violate US citizens’ constitutional rights and laws by restricting their ability to support ICC investigations related to Palestine and Israel.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed by DAWN and the Taxpayers Alliance Against Genocide (TAAG).
Sanctions began in February 2025 targeting ICC officials involved in investigations of Israeli leaders.
The Trump administration’s sanctions also apply to individuals and organizations supporting ICC investigations.
Plaintiffs say the sanctions violate the First Amendment right to free speech and association.
The sanctions are argued to break the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which protects personal communications from sanctions.
The US is not a member of the ICC but opposes its investigations of US and Israeli nationals.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised more pressure and sanctions against the ICC.
Previous court rulings have found some sanctions unconstitutional and temporarily lifted them.
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Heavy rains in south Texas have caused flooding, washed out highways, and stranded drivers. Officials warn that more heavy rain may cause dangerous flash floods in the region, prompting disaster declarations and rescue efforts.
Key Facts
Storms dumped up to 16 inches of rain in some rural south Texas areas, leading to at least two dozen rescues.
Parts of a highway near Ulvade were shut down due to flooding.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings, predicting 2 to 4 inches of rain in San Antonio and up to 15 inches in some locations.
The weather pattern is typical for mid-summer in Texas, caused by a slow-moving low-pressure system.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared disasters in 59 counties and deployed rescue teams and helicopters.
Some parts of Texas face a rare level 4 "high" risk for excessive rainfall, meaning flash flooding is very likely.
Past flash floods in the area have been deadly, such as in 2022 when at least 139 people died near the Guadalupe River.
Residents are advised to follow weather warnings and local safety instructions.
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Bristol has officially declared itself a “city of harm reduction,” focusing on helping people who use illegal drugs instead of punishing them. Local politicians want the government to change drug laws and allow safer drug-use facilities to reduce harm and deaths.
Key Facts
Bristol city council, led by the Green Party, made the harm reduction declaration.
The goal is to prioritize health support over criminal punishment for drug users.
The move has support from Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors but is opposed by Conservative members.
Bristol has nearly twice the national rate of drug poisoning deaths.
The city wants to open a legal drug-consumption site like the one in Glasgow.
Cara Lavan, a Green councillor, lost her partner to a drug overdose and supports the new approach.
The Greens want the UK to replace the 1971 drug law with policies based on evidence and health.
Some council members worry the policy could send the wrong message but agree on the need for change.
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Midair refueling pilots in the U.S. military fly tanker planes that refuel other aircraft while in the air. This refueling keeps military missions going without planes needing to land. Reporters visited a U.S. base in England where these pilots operate.
Key Facts
U.S. military uses midair refueling tankers, like the KC-135 Stratotanker.
These tankers refuel other aircraft during flight.
Midair refueling allows military planes to stay in the air longer and extend missions.
Pilots specializing in this task are essential to U.S. military operations worldwide.
The report covered U.S. forces based at a Royal Air Force base in Mildenhall, England.
The tankers are sometimes called "the gas stations of the sky."
Midair refueling supports many U.S. military missions globally.
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A man in his 20s was arrested in south London for allegedly threatening to shoot Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, in a social media post. The police are investigating and have released the man on bail while they continue their inquiries.
Key Facts
The threat was made on the social media platform X and reported to police on May 8.
The arrested man is suspected of sending threatening messages to a Member of Parliament.
The arrest happened six days after Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe was killed.
The Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team informed Nigel Farage about the arrest.
Nigel Farage noted that this is the first time police have taken action on such social media threats.
Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson said a potential government from the party would offer constant protection to all MPs.
Farage is said to live under constant threat, highlighting the security risks faced by politicians today.
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The Department of Homeland Security announced that all Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest teams will now have at least one officer wearing a body camera. This decision came after two fatal shootings involving ICE agents who were not wearing body cameras. President Donald Trump defended ICE’s actions and operations on social media despite the new policy changes.
Key Facts
ICE agents involved in two fatal shootings were not wearing body cameras.
The Department of Homeland Security requires every ICE arrest team to include at least one officer with a body camera.
Body cameras record interactions between officers and the public to increase transparency.
President Donald Trump publicly supported ICE’s work amid the new safety measures.
The shootings happened in Maine and Texas.
The policy aims to improve accountability during ICE operations.
The announcement and President Trump’s defense came shortly after the shootings were reported.
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Dale Vince, a green energy businessman and Labour Party donor, will receive damages from the Daily Mail’s publisher for using his photo to wrongly suggest he was involved in a sexual harassment case. The court of appeal ruled the newspaper misled readers by showing his picture next to a headline about another person’s misconduct.
Key Facts
Dale Vince is a businessman who supports the Labour Party and has donated over £5 million.
The Daily Mail published an article in June 2023 about Labour repaying money to a former donor accused of sexual harassment.
The article used a picture of Vince, but the headline referred to someone else, Davide Serra, who was found guilty of harassment in 2002.
The print edition kept Vince’s photo next to the misleading headline, while the online version replaced it after 47 minutes.
Vince sued the newspaper, claiming his personal data was wrongly used and that readers would wrongly think he was accused.
ANL (publisher of the Daily Mail) initially won in the high court but lost on appeal.
The court said the publisher failed to follow rules against misleading readers by mixing the headline and Vince’s photo.
Vince believes this case could change how libel laws work in the internet age, as many people only read headlines and not whole articles.
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Natalie Goodrich, a bride from Columbus, Ohio, experienced a sudden severe allergic reaction shortly after stepping outside for wedding photos on June 19, 2026. She was treated at urgent care with a steroid shot and then returned to her wedding reception.
Key Facts
Natalie Goodrich got married on June 19, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio.
About 10 minutes after going outside for photos in her second dress, she began sneezing and experienced worsening allergy symptoms.
Her symptoms escalated to eye swelling, hives, and an itchy throat.
Natalie and her husband went to urgent care where she received a steroid shot to stop the allergic reaction.
She stayed for observation before returning to the wedding around 8:30 p.m.
The cause of the allergic reaction is unknown.
Natalie shared videos of the incident on social media, which received wide attention.
They plan to have a re-celebration for their marriage on their one-year anniversary.
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A Wisconsin commission found probable cause that Elon Musk may have broken state election laws by offering $1 million payments tied to voting in a 2025 state Supreme Court election. Prosecutors have 40 days to decide if they will press criminal charges, which could challenge current rules about campaign money and free speech.
Key Facts
The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission voted 5–1 to refer complaints against Elon Musk to prosecutors.
Musk is accused of offering $1 million payments to people connected to the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election to influence their votes.
Prosecutors must decide within 40 days whether to bring criminal charges against Musk.
Musk’s political action committee, America PAC, and related groups spent tens of millions on the election, which broke national spending records with over $100 million total.
Three Wisconsin voters received $1 million payments, some handed out publicly at a rally in Green Bay.
Wisconsin law makes it illegal to offer “anything of value” to induce voting, with violations punishable by up to 3.5 years in prison and fines.
Musk’s side argues the payments were political speech related to petition signing, which is protected by the First Amendment.
The case could set an important legal precedent about how money can be used in politics and elections.
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Horror games are very popular now, with many new titles and crossovers with horror movies. A recent conference at Falmouth University explored how horror games use fear and control themes to engage players and reflect on real-world issues like workplace dangers and global crises.
Key Facts
New horror games like Resident Evil Requiem, Reanimal, Silent Hill: Townfall, Silver Pines, and Dreadmoor are either out or coming soon.
Horror studios like Blumhouse are creating games, and some games become horror films.
The Falmouth University conference included talks on zombies, gothic themes, and the role of scary little girls in horror games.
Creative director Will Doyle explained how game makers build horror using fear, alienation, and a human tendency to see patterns.
Horror games often focus on players feeling both in control and helpless, reflecting tensions around action and agency.
Some games highlight dangers and mistrust in workplaces, mirroring current social concerns.
Academic study of horror games helps treat games as cultural stories and gives new developers important knowledge.
The link between horror games and other cultural ideas, like architecture and radical art, was also discussed at the conference.
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A new report says that if union membership in the US tripled, many workers would get paid more, with the median worker earning about 14.5% more. This change would shift $1.2 trillion annually to workers, reduce pay gaps between races, and improve worker benefits like health insurance.
Key Facts
Union membership in the US was over 30% in the 1950s but dropped to about 10% by 2025.
Public support for unions remains strong, with 68% of Americans favoring them in 2025.
Increasing union membership to 30% could raise the median worker's pay by $7,700 a year.
This pay increase would total around $1.2 trillion per year shifted to workers.
Higher union density would help reduce racial wage gaps and expand health insurance coverage.
Declines in union membership have coincided with growing income and wealth inequality since 1979.
Laws like the Protecting the Right to Organize Act could help increase union membership and improve workers’ collective bargaining rights.
States with more union members tend to invest more in public education, Medicaid, and voting rights.
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The U.S. military launched air strikes on Iran’s Greater Tunb Island near the Strait of Hormuz. This action followed President Trump’s warning of possible broader attacks against Iran.
Key Facts
The U.S. targeted coastal defense systems on Greater Tunb Island.
Cruise missile storage and launch sites were also attacked.
The strikes took place near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Precision weapons were used in the military operation.
President Trump had threatened wider strikes before the attacks.
This was part of an ongoing military response involving the U.S. and Iran.
Greater Tunb Island is a key location close to important shipping routes.
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Subaru of America is recalling over 541,000 vehicles due to a mistake on their certification labels. The labels show incorrect weight limits, which could cause the vehicle to be overloaded and increase the chance of accidents.
Key Facts
More than 541,000 Subaru vehicles are being recalled.
The recall is because the certification labels have a wrong gross axle weight rating (GAWR).
GAWR means the maximum weight an axle can safely carry.
The recall affects certain 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2025-2026 Forester Hybrid and Forester, and 2019-2026 Ascent models.
Subaru was told about the problem by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in May.
No crashes or injuries have been linked to this labeling error so far.
Subaru will send new labels by mail and offer free help from dealers to replace them.
Owners will be notified starting August 25, 2026.
The official Subaru recall number for this issue is WRH-26.
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Cognizant plans to hire 1,500 college graduates in the U.S. in 2026 to build a workforce that uses AI to help new employees learn faster and work in smaller, more skilled teams. The company is training new hires to use AI tools and gain industry knowledge quickly, aiming for them to take on important tasks sooner and work closely with clients.
Key Facts
Cognizant will hire 1,500 U.S. college graduates in 2026, with about 600 already hired.
AI is expected to help new employees gain skills faster and reduce the need for many middle-management layers.
New workforce teams will be smaller, with experienced workers acting as both coaches and active team members.
Graduates hired come from both technical and non-technical backgrounds and receive 8 to 12 weeks of training.
Cognizant focuses on hiring people who learn quickly and can develop expertise in specific industries or business areas.
The company has hired about 27,000 graduates globally since 2025 as part of a larger recruiting effort.
Some work requires employees to be physically near clients to improve business processes.
Cognizant uses programs and apprenticeships to connect with students early in their education.
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will stop most vehicle stops and require at least one officer on every arrest team to wear a body camera. This change follows two fatal shootings by ICE agents in Texas and Maine, where the agents were not wearing body cameras.
Key Facts
ICE will halt most vehicle stops nationwide.
Every ICE arrest team must have at least one officer wearing a body camera.
The policy change follows two fatal shootings involving ICE agents.
Both shootings happened in different states: Texas and Maine.
The agents involved in those shootings were not wearing body cameras.
The Department of Homeland Security made this announcement.
Body cameras are used to record interactions between officers and the public.
CBS News reported the new policy and the background of the shootings.
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