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A home equity loan lets homeowners borrow money using their house as security, usually at lower interest rates than credit cards or personal loans. For a $200,000 loan opened in September, monthly payments range from about $1,927 to $2,441 depending on the repayment period and current interest rates.
Key Facts
Home equity loans use your home as collateral, which lowers interest rates but risks foreclosure if you do not repay.
The average home equity loan interest rate as of September 8, 2026, is 8.14%.
Monthly payments for a $200,000 loan at 8.14% interest: approximately $2,441 for 10 years or $1,927 for 15 years.
Payments were slightly higher in previous months when rates were above 8.2%.
Borrowers can shop around online to compare home equity loan offers rather than sticking with their current mortgage provider.
Better credit scores help secure lower interest rates and smaller monthly payments.
Locking in a loan now might be beneficial before rates rise, with refinancing an option later.
Home equity loans are useful for large expenses like home repairs, tuition, or paying off credit card debt.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a tour of Latin America to meet with conservative leaders who support President Donald Trump’s policies. The visit focuses on strengthening cooperation to fight drug trafficking, improve energy ties, and manage migration. Rubio also defended a recent U.S. deal giving control over part of Venezuela’s oil reserves.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio is visiting three Latin American countries to promote U.S. priorities on drugs, energy, and immigration.
Rubio met Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella, who supports Trump’s policies.
Colombia and the U.S. will sign agreements on civil nuclear cooperation and mining important minerals.
The U.S. recently made a deal to control about 20% of Venezuela’s oil reserves, previously under influence of China, Russia, and Iran.
Rubio said the oil revenues should benefit the Venezuelan people once a democratic government is in place.
Colombia’s government plans to strengthen efforts against drug trafficking and illegal migration with U.S. support.
Rubio said he will visit Venezuela but has not scheduled a trip yet.
The visit aims to build a strategic alliance between the U.S. and countries in the Western Hemisphere aligned with U.S. interests.
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Over 600 flights were canceled across the UK on Tuesday because of a technical problem with the air traffic control system. Engineers fixed the issue and the system started to recover, but many passengers faced long delays and cancellations at major airports including London Heathrow and Manchester.
Key Facts
More than 600 flights were canceled due to a technical issue in Britain's air traffic control system.
The problem affected flights at major UK airports like Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Gatwick, and airports in Scotland.
The UK's National Air Traffic Services identified the issue in their flight processing system and worked urgently to fix it.
A fix was implemented and the flight system began to recover after the problem was found.
Airlines affected included British Airways, EasyJet, KLM, and Lufthansa.
Some passengers were stuck on planes on the runway for hours before flights were canceled.
EasyJet said the system failure also caused delays to flights across Europe.
The exact cause of the technical problem was not immediately known.
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Kenya’s government has given foreign business owners 90 days to get or update their permits and licenses. This decision came after President William Ruto spoke about foreign-owned businesses, causing fear among immigrant communities like Burundians and Congolese.
Key Facts
Foreigners running businesses in Kenya must now obtain or update work permits and business licenses within 90 days.
The move followed President Ruto’s remarks about foreign business owners competing with local small-business owners.
Some immigrants, especially Burundians, were worried and visited their embassy in Nairobi to get documents or consider returning home.
The government will work with foreign embassies to manage the registration and ensure laws are followed.
President Ruto asked lawmakers to change a bill to allow fair participation by foreigners in small businesses and protect some sectors for locals.
There have been complaints that foreigners take low-paying jobs and run small businesses, which some Kenyans see as unfair competition.
Kenyan officials emphasized the process is to ensure compliance with Kenyan and East African laws on business, immigration, and work permits.
A government official apologized for any confusion caused by the president’s remarks about the exercise.
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A man wanted in the UK for the killing of his wife and two daughters has pleaded guilty to gun-related crimes in South Africa. After finishing his legal case there, South African officials plan to send him back to the UK to face murder charges.
Key Facts
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma is wanted by British police for the deaths of his wife and two daughters.
He pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a gun and ammunition in South Africa.
Tshuma also admitted to entering South Africa illegally while on the run.
South African authorities arrested him in Johannesburg in July 2026.
He is a British citizen originally from Zimbabwe.
The victims were found dead with head injuries near Bedford, north of London, on July 6, 2026.
British police believe Tshuma left the UK on July 4, traveled to Zimbabwe, and then went to South Africa.
After Tshuma’s court case in South Africa ends, he will be extradited to the UK to face murder charges.
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Doctors in Kenya have threatened to join a nurses’ strike that is now six weeks long because hospitals have too much work. The nurses are demanding the government officially enforce a pay and work agreement signed in 2017, but the government says it cannot afford to pay due to budget problems.
Key Facts
Nurses in Kenya have been on strike for six weeks, demanding a 2017 agreement be put into action.
The 2017 agreement included higher pay and better work conditions but is not yet implemented due to government budget limits.
Kenyan doctors say they are overwhelmed by extra work from the nurses’ strike and cannot do nursing tasks.
Doctors warn they will strike too if the government does not fix the situation within seven days.
The Council of Governors, which represents county governments, was meeting to discuss pay on the day of the protests.
Kenyan courts have declared the nurses’ strike illegal and some counties have threatened action against striking nurses.
Nurses say they are owed nine years of unpaid allowances related to uniforms and nursing services.
The chair of the Council of Governors asked nurses to stop striking and allow time for talks with the government.
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Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice André Mendonca removed the country’s federal police chief Andrei Rodrigues and an intelligence chief due to alleged illegal reports about the court’s activities. This decision has caused more conflict inside the Supreme Court and draws President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government into political tensions before the upcoming national elections.
Key Facts
Justice André Mendonca, appointed by former President Bolsonaro, ordered the removal of federal police Director-General Andrei Rodrigues and intelligence director Leandro Almada.
The officials were accused of producing six illegal reports about the Supreme Court’s actions.
Mendonca is leading investigations related to a bank collapse and alleged fraud in Brazil’s pension system, involving politicians from both the opposition and Lula’s family.
President Lula is seeking reelection in October and faces Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Bolsonaro.
The federal police’s acting director said Rodrigues has the force’s full support despite Mendonca’s ruling.
Eleven federal police directors offered to resign in protest, claiming the accusations damage the police’s reputation and history.
Mendonca’s move adds to ongoing tensions with fellow Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who sentenced former President Bolsonaro to prison last year.
Documents showed the arrest-related Banco Master owner had legal contact with Justice de Moraes, complicating court relations.
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A wildfire in Antalya, Turkey, forced hundreds of people to leave their homes and injured at least two people. Firefighters used planes, helicopters, and trucks to control the fire, which spread quickly due to strong winds.
Key Facts
The fire started Monday evening in the Aksu district and spread to the Kepez district in Antalya.
Two people were hospitalized with leg injuries, and six others were treated for smoke exposure.
At least 254 homes were evacuated in the affected areas.
A highway between Antalya and Isparta was temporarily closed because of the fire.
Over 100 dogs were evacuated from an animal shelter and given medical care for smoke effects.
More than 2,000 homes lost power during the wildfire.
Firefighters used 5 aircraft, 10 helicopters, 110 fire trucks, and 600 personnel to fight the fire.
There were also wildfires being fought in the nearby provinces of Adana and Mersin.
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A 22-year-old man named Malone Lam pleaded guilty to organizing a plan that stole over $240 million in bitcoin from a Washington, D.C., resident. Lam and his group tricked the victim using fake Google and crypto exchange identities, then spent the stolen money on luxury cars, mansions, and nightclubs before Lam was arrested.
Key Facts
Malone Lam is 22 years old and came from Singapore to the U.S.
Lam pleaded guilty to federal racketeering conspiracy related to a major bitcoin theft.
The theft took place in 2024 and involved stealing more than 4,100 bitcoin valued at over $245 million.
Lam and others used “social engineering” by pretending to be Google and Gemini crypto representatives.
The stolen bitcoin was converted into cash that funded a lavish lifestyle, including sports cars, mansions, and nightclub spending.
Among Lam’s purchases were a $2 million watch and more than 30 luxury cars like Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Ferraris.
Lam is one of 18 charged defendants and the 11th to plead guilty in this case.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and awaits sentencing in Washington.
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The owners of The Blade newspaper in Toledo are trying to sell the paper. If no buyer is found, The Blade will stop printing and publishing online by the end of the year due to ongoing financial losses.
Key Facts
The Blade’s owners announced they want to sell the newspaper.
If no buyer is found, The Blade will shut down both its print and digital versions by year-end.
The newspaper has faced financial losses for many years.
Block Communications previously planned to close the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette but sold it to a nonprofit group.
The Blade was founded in 1835 and is Toledo’s oldest continuous business.
The paper has won a Pulitzer Prize and been nominated several times for investigative journalism awards.
Mildred Wirt Benson, the original author behind the Nancy Drew books, worked at The Blade.
The Block family has owned The Blade since 1926 but can no longer support it financially.
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A small plane carrying four family members went missing near the Bahamas while flying from Great Harbour Cay to Miami. Their bodies were found on Tuesday after family members and authorities searched for them.
Key Facts
The plane disappeared on Monday about 13 miles west of Andros Island in the Bahamas.
The four people on board were Mario Lamar (80), his wife Lili (79), and their grandchildren Sofi Sosa (28) and Christian Sosa (22).
Mario Lamar was an experienced pilot with over 40 years of flying, often traveling between his homes in the Bahamas and Miami.
The plane was a PA-34 Piper five-seater with tail number N212ML.
The U.S. Coast Guard helped with the search after the Bahamas police requested assistance.
Weather delayed initial search efforts.
Family members found the bodies during their own search on boats.
This crash follows another deadly plane accident in the Bahamas that killed 10 people less than two months ago.
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Erik and Lyle Menendez will have an early parole hearing in March, about 17 months ahead of schedule. They were originally sentenced to life in prison for killing their parents in 1989, but a judge reduced their sentences, making them eligible for parole.
Key Facts
The Menendez brothers were sentenced in 1996 for killing their parents in Beverly Hills.
A judge reduced their sentences to 50 years to life in May 2025 because they were under 26 when the crimes happened.
They were denied parole in August 2025, with concerns about their behavior in prison.
Their next parole hearing was set for August 2028 but moved up to March after their request.
The California department allows early parole if new information or changed circumstances appear.
The brothers’ lawyer and the department have not commented on the early hearing.
Their case gained renewed public interest from Netflix true crime shows.
They have worked in prison to support others, creating programs for hospice care and beautification.
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The Supreme Court ordered TV stations to offer lower prices on election ads not only to individual candidates but also to political parties and joint fundraising groups. This decision supports Republican campaign committees and affects how discounted ad rates are applied during elections.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court issued an order requiring TV stations to give political parties and joint fundraising committees the same discounted ad prices as individual candidates.
The decision came after petitions by the National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee.
U.S. law requires broadcasters to offer the "lowest unit charge" discount to legally qualified candidates for public office.
Before this ruling, it was unclear if parties and joint committees qualified for the discount since they are not individual candidates.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had earlier instructed TV stations to apply discounts to parties and joint committees.
Democratic candidates challenged the FCC’s interpretation in court and initially won at the Court of Appeals.
The Supreme Court blocked that ruling by issuing a stay until the FCC makes a final decision.
A recent Supreme Court decision also removed federal limits on how much parties can spend coordinated with candidates, increasing the role of party spending in elections.
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Lonnie Bunch, the first Black secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced he will retire at the end of 2026 after seven years in the role. His retirement follows a year of increased criticism from President Donald Trump’s administration, which accused some Smithsonian exhibits of political bias.
Key Facts
Lonnie Bunch has led the Smithsonian Institution since 2019.
He is the first African American to serve as secretary of the Smithsonian in nearly 180 years.
Bunch was the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016.
The Smithsonian includes 21 museums, the National Zoo, research centers, and educational programs.
President Trump’s administration criticized the Smithsonian in 2023 for showing biased views in some American history exhibits.
The White House demanded signs be placed outside some exhibits to claim the history was inaccurate.
Bunch announced his retirement with no specific reason given, but it comes amid this political pressure.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto praised Bunch’s decades of service and commitment to history and culture.
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A 3-year certificate of deposit (CD) account can offer a safe way to earn interest on $100,000 at current high rates. Depending on the interest rate, savers could earn between about $13,600 and $14,100 over three years without risking their principal.
Key Facts
A CD account is a fixed-rate savings option where money is locked in for a set term.
Current 3-year CD rates range around 4.35% to 4.50%.
At these rates, $100,000 invested in a 3-year CD could earn between $13,626 and $14,117 in interest.
Interest earnings are guaranteed and not affected by stock market changes.
Early withdrawal from a CD often results in a penalty fee that can reduce earnings.
Long-term CDs lock in interest rates, providing stable returns over the term.
Online banks may offer better CD rates than traditional in-person banks.
Savers should carefully consider their ability to keep money locked for the full term to avoid penalties.
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Skeletal remains found in North Carolina in 1977 were identified in 2024 as Cindy Marcell Blizzard, a 15-year-old girl who ran away from Maryland the same year. Investigators used DNA testing and family tracing to confirm her identity, but the death remains under investigation.
Key Facts
Remains were discovered on December 29, 1977, in Wilson County, North Carolina.
The remains were initially thought to be a White female between 16 and 23 years old.
The case was treated as a homicide but went cold due to lack of suspects and no identity confirmation.
Initial dental record checks did not match any known person.
In 2010, DNA testing began but did not immediately identify the remains.
In 2024, further DNA analysis and genetic family tracing identified the remains as Cindy Marcell Blizzard.
Blizzard was a 15-year-old runaway from Monkton, Maryland, missing since spring 1977.
The investigation into the cause of death is still open, and authorities seek information from the public.
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President Donald Trump honored the victims and heroes of the September 11, 2001 attacks during an event at the Ellipse near the White House. A large steel beam from the World Trade Center was displayed as part of a memorial tour, and more commemorations are planned for the week.
Key Facts
The event took place at the Ellipse, near the White House in Washington, D.C.
President Trump promised to "never forget" the victims of 9/11.
A 21-foot, 17,000-pound steel beam from the South Tower of the World Trade Center was shown.
This steel beam is traveling across the country as part of the Steel Across America tour.
The beam will be part of a procession in New York honoring fallen firefighter Stephen Siller.
The week includes several commemorations, with a main event planned at the Pentagon.
President Trump will attend the Pentagon event on Friday.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation organized the event.
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Jewish communities in the United States now spend more than $1 billion each year on security to protect synagogues, schools, and other institutions from threats. This money comes from their budgets and reduces funds available for education, elder care, and social services.
Key Facts
Jewish security spending is over $1.015 billion annually, up 33% from an earlier estimate of $765 million.
This security cost covers more than 4,500 Jewish institutions, including synagogues, schools, community centers, and camps.
The reported figure does not include private Jewish businesses, so actual costs are likely higher.
The security expenses include guards, cameras, security staff, building reinforcements, and training.
The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) says this cost acts like a "tax" on Jewish life, taking money away from other important programs.
The overlap of Rosh Hashanah holidays with the 25th anniversary of 9/11 highlights changes in American views on public safety and security.
The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program helps some nonprofits with security costs but may not cover all expenses.
There is debate about increasing federal funding to protect religious freedom and public safety at various places of worship in the U.S.
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Three people died at this year’s Burning Man festival in Nevada, which is three times the usual number of deaths at the event. The festival’s average attendee age is rising, with fewer young adults and more people in their 40s and 50s attending.
Key Facts
Burning Man is a temporary community event held annually in the Nevada desert.
This year, three deaths were reported related to the festival, compared to the usual average of one death.
The first two deaths happened at the festival site; a third person died on the way to a hospital.
The first two deceased individuals were men in their mid-50s and 60s.
Burning Man has about 70,000 attendees each year.
Data shows the portion of attendees in their 20s dropped from 30% in 2014 to 10% in 2025, while those in their 40s and 50s increased.
Last year, a 37-year-old man died under investigation as a homicide, which remains unsolved.
Autopsies and toxicology tests are pending and expected in 6-8 weeks to provide more information.
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The United Kingdom has banned trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, accusing settlers of ethnic cleansing against Palestinians. France and Canada are taking similar steps, while Israel criticized the move and responded with diplomatic and security measures against the UK.
Key Facts
The UK banned imports and services linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
British officials called settlement activities ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
France and Canada announced similar bans to protect the possibility of a future Palestinian state.
Israel will close the British consulate in Jerusalem and expel UK personnel from security cooperation programs.
Israeli settlements have increased under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, which opposes a Palestinian state.
The international community largely considers these settlements illegal under international law.
Several European countries have also banned or are planning to ban goods from Israeli settlements.
The UK will apply the trade ban within six to nine months.
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