A group of renters in London paid large deposits for the same flat but never received keys because scammers were advertising the property multiple times. Around 23 people were affected, losing thousands of pounds each, as rental fraud cases have risen in the UK recently.
Key Facts
Mide Awosika and two flatmates paid £12,000 to rent a four-bedroom flat in Poplar, east London.
On moving day, they found no keys and at least nine other groups claiming rights to the same flat.
The rental agent, Derrick Fringe, asked for large upfront payments and later stopped communicating.
In total, 23 people contacted Awosika after similar scams linked to this property and agent.
Rental fraud cases reported in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland rose from 4,642 in 2021 to 4,178 in 2025, with victims losing nearly £14.5 million.
Victims describe feeling pressured by the competitive London rental market and uneasy about trusting online listings.
Platforms like Zoopla and OpenRent had the flat listed, with OpenRent stating they have processes to verify landlords.
Police were contacted after the scam was uncovered, but the landlord and agent have not responded publicly.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
ABC’s managing director, Hugh Marks, secretly hired a recruitment firm to find a new news director without Justin Stevens’ knowledge. Stevens, who worked at ABC News for 19 years, resigned after Simon Robinson was chosen as his replacement. Marks said the company needs to change to fix problems and better use resources.
Key Facts
Hugh Marks, ABC managing director, started a secret search for a new news director.
Justin Stevens, the current news director, did not know about this search.
Stevens resigned last month after Simon Robinson from Reuters was hired as his replacement.
Marks said all ABC leadership roles are being reviewed as part of ongoing succession planning.
ABC faces problems and stretched resources, especially in live news coverage.
Marks suggested some old, long-running programs might be cut, but said the show "7.30" is not going away.
ABC hired Grace Tame to host a podcast about autism, despite controversy over her past comments.
Charlie Pickering criticized this hiring but later apologized for his remarks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The US Department of Defense has added several major Chinese companies, including Alibaba and electric car maker BYD, to a list of firms with alleged ties to the Chinese military. Being on the list warns American businesses of potential risks but does not ban dealings with these companies.
Key Facts
The US has added Alibaba, BYD, and other Chinese firms to a list of companies linked to the Chinese military.
The list is known as Section 1260H and includes over 80 companies providing services to the US.
The companies listed are considered to support Chinese military operations through commercial activities.
Alibaba and BYD deny being involved with the military and say the list has no basis.
The Chinese embassy in the US criticized the list as discriminatory and said Chinese firms follow local laws.
Other companies on the list include Baidu, Nio, and aircraft maker Comac.
Previously added firms like Tencent, Huawei, DJI, and CATL remain on the list.
Inclusion on the list alerts US organizations to risks but does not prohibit business with these firms.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Botswana’s diamond industry is facing a sharp slowdown, causing major cuts in production and many workers losing their jobs. This decline is hurting the country’s economy, household incomes, and businesses that rely on mining.
Key Facts
Debswana, Botswana’s main diamond company, cut production by about 27% in 2024 and plans further cuts in 2025.
Diamonds make up about 70% of Botswana’s export earnings and one-third of government revenue.
The country’s economy shrank by about 5.3% in the second quarter of 2025, mainly due to the drop in diamond mining.
Many diamond workers have lost jobs or face temporary contracts with lower pay and less stability.
Rising living costs make it harder for mining families to cover expenses like school fees, loans, and healthcare.
Workers report uncertainty about job security and worries about whether contracts will be renewed.
The government’s credit rating was lowered in 2025 because of the economic impact from the diamond industry downturn.
People are considering other ways to make money, like farming or small businesses, but often lack the money to start.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The price of tickets for big sports games and concerts has become very high. For example, a ticket to Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden is now averaging over $8,000 on the secondary market, which is much higher than the original $3,000 price.
Key Facts
Tickets for major events are selling for much more than their original price.
A ticket for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs costs over $8,000 on resale.
The original ticket price for that game was about $3,000.
The increase in ticket prices shows a trend of rising costs in sports and entertainment.
Joe Enoch is a CBS News reporter covering consumer, business, and technology topics.
High ticket prices are creating challenges for fans who want to attend these events.
The information comes from CBS News coverage on this topic.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tom Brady is starting a new business by launching a coconut water brand called Good Nut. He partnered with Gopuff, a delivery company, to sell this drink made with organic ingredients and no added sugars.
Key Facts
Tom Brady has worked on several business projects since leaving the NFL.
He is a sports commentator and owns parts of several sports teams.
Brady’s new product is a coconut water brand called Good Nut.
The drink is made using coconuts from Vietnam.
It is certified organic, has no added sugars, and comes in multiple flavors, including chocolate coconut water.
The brand is sold exclusively through Gopuff.
Brady’s careful approach to health and nutrition influences the product.
The announcement was shared on Gopuff’s social media with a video of Brady discussing the product.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
SpaceX recently launched its biggest rocket, which successfully returned its booster by landing it precisely using a special catcher device. The company plans to sell shares to the public for the first time, allowing ordinary investors to own part of SpaceX, a move expected to increase interest in the stock market and potentially make Elon Musk the first trillionaire.
Key Facts
SpaceX launched its largest rocket at Starbase, Texas, using a reusable booster that landed safely with the help of a device called Mechazilla.
Elon Musk described the launch as a big step toward making human life possible on multiple planets.
SpaceX plans to begin public trading of a portion of its shares on June 12, 2024.
Until now, only Musk and a small group of wealthy private investors owned SpaceX shares.
UK investors are expected to receive about £1.5 billion worth of shares, sparking strong interest from retail investors.
Many people with pension plans will indirectly own SpaceX shares through their investments.
SpaceX's mission includes using technology to explore space and support artificial intelligence innovations.
The public sale of SpaceX shares is seen as a significant test of investor confidence in technology and AI's role in the economy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
New rules limit learner drivers to swapping their driving test booking to only three nearby centres to reduce wait times. Last year, 64,500 driving tests were missed when people did not show up, causing longer waits across Britain.
Key Facts
Learner drivers can now only move their test booking to one of the three closest centres to their original booking.
In 2025, 64,500 practical driving tests were missed because people did not show up.
The average wait time for a driving test is over five months in the UK.
Some no-shows were caused by third-party resellers using bots to book tests and then resell at higher prices.
Wait times: 22.7 weeks in England, 22.9 weeks in Scotland, and 17.3 weeks in Wales.
The number of no-shows increased from 52,000 the previous year to 64,500.
Driving instructors hope the new rules will free up test slots and reduce fake bookings.
The DVSA has added over 217,000 extra tests by using military driving examiners to help lower wait times.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch plans to say that rules requiring public organizations to promote equality in decisions should be removed. She argues these rules have caused many legal problems and allowed divisive ideas to spread in public services.
Key Facts
Kemi Badenoch will call for scrapping the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in a speech.
The PSED requires public bodies like schools and hospitals to prevent discrimination and promote equality for groups protected by law.
The duty was introduced in 2010 as part of the Equality Act, combining earlier anti-discrimination laws.
Courts have used the duty to challenge public bodies on decisions affecting services like libraries and care homes.
Conservatives say the duty has led to unnecessary bureaucracy and promoted identity politics in public services.
The Labour government supports expanding equality and diversity efforts in the civil service.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission says the duty helps public bodies make better decisions about equality and is not a barrier to their work.
Badenoch’s party plans to remove the duty without replacing it, saying people should simply do their jobs without it.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Wall Street's main stock indexes steadied Monday after a big drop last week, with AI-related stocks recovering some losses. Oil prices rose due to conflicts between Israel and Iran but later gave up most gains as tensions eased.
Key Facts
The S&P 500 rose 0.3% after falling 2.6% on Friday, its largest drop since October.
The Dow Jones fell slightly by 80 points (0.2%), while the Nasdaq rose 0.9%.
Companies that make chips and memory for AI boomed but saw price swings due to investor concerns about overvaluation.
Micron Technology’s stock gained 9.9% Monday after a 13.3% drop Friday; its stock price has more than tripled in 2026.
Marvell Technology joined the S&P 500 and rose 9.6% in its first trading day after steady gains this year.
Nvidia’s CEO called Marvell a potential trillion-dollar company, influencing investor enthusiasm.
Oil prices briefly rose above $98 per barrel due to Israel-Iran strikes, then settled around $94.25.
Rising oil prices have contributed to higher inflation and increased bond market yields, which can slow economic growth.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” released in 2026, became the first film to earn over $1 billion at the 2026 box office in its tenth weekend. It is now the highest-earning film of the year and the second-highest-grossing video game movie ever, making the Super Mario franchise one of the most profitable animated series.
Key Facts
“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” crossed $1 billion in box office sales in 2026.
It was released on April 1, 2026, by Illumination, Nintendo, and Universal.
The movie is the top-grossing film of 2026 by more than $100 million.
It ranks second among video game movies worldwide, after “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” which earned $1.3 billion globally.
Together, both Super Mario movies have earned $2 billion total and rank ninth among the highest-grossing animated franchises.
The Super Mario franchise has surpassed the “Madagascar” series in total earnings with just two films.
Universal plans more big releases in 2026, including new movies from Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan, and a “Minions & Monsters” film.
A third Super Mario movie is expected to be released around 2028.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
SpaceX is launching a public stock offering, allowing regular investors to buy shares for the first time. The company plans to price shares around $135 and hopes to raise $75 billion, making this IPO one of the largest ever.
Key Facts
SpaceX will become a publicly traded company with shares listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker "SPCX."
The company expects to value itself at $1.77 trillion after the IPO, higher than Tesla and other large companies.
About 30% of the shares will be available to regular retail investors, which is unusually high.
Shares are expected to price on Thursday and start trading the following day.
Retail investors can buy shares through brokerage accounts or investing apps such as Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Fidelity, Robinhood, and SoFi.
High-net-worth investors may access shares through private banks like JPMorgan.
Secondary private sales of SpaceX shares have become limited as investors focus on the public market.
After the IPO, anyone can buy SpaceX shares on the open market, and the stock may be added to index funds and 401(k) plans.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Many U.S. cities expected big economic benefits from hosting the FIFA World Cup, with hopes of more tourists, hotel bookings, jobs, and spending. However, rising ticket prices, visa issues, and economic challenges have caused lower travel demand and hotel bookings than expected, raising doubts about the event’s financial impact.
Key Facts
The FIFA World Cup was promoted as an economic boost for host cities through increased tourism and spending.
High ticket prices and visa problems have made it harder for international fans to travel to the U.S. for the event.
President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and warnings from groups like the ACLU have caused concern for foreign visitors.
Visa bond requirements were waived for ticket holders, but delays in visa processing remain an issue.
Economic challenges in the U.S., such as high gas prices and a weak job market, are lowering domestic travel spending.
Hotel bookings are significantly below expected levels in cities like New York and Seattle, with as much as 80% below forecast in some areas.
Canadian cities hosting World Cup games are also seeing weaker hotel demand than expected.
Some officials and business leaders remain hopeful that bookings and tourism will improve closer to the event start date.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kroger will pay $1.25 million to settle a lawsuit in California. The lawsuit said Kroger gave wrong calorie counts on some of its Carbmaster bread products.
Key Facts
Kroger is paying $1.25 million to resolve the case.
The lawsuit was filed in California.
It claimed Kroger showed inaccurate calorie information.
The affected products are Carbmaster breads sold by Kroger.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office announced the settlement.
The case involves false advertising related to nutrition facts.
The story is still developing with possible updates later.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal judge rejected a plan from the Trump administration that aimed to limit tax credits for wind and solar energy. This decision supports the use of renewable energy but comes just before a deadline when these tax credits are set to end under a new Republican bill.
Key Facts
A federal judge blocked an effort by the Trump administration to restrict tax credits for wind and solar power.
Tax credits help reduce the cost of renewable energy projects.
The ruling favors renewable energy supporters.
There is a deadline approaching to start phasing out these tax credits.
The phase-out is part of a Republican bill called the "Big Beautiful Bill."
It is not clear how this ruling will affect the future of renewable energy tax incentives.
The case shows ongoing debate over government support for clean energy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Jet fuel prices in the US have nearly doubled, causing airline fuel costs to rise sharply ahead of the summer travel season. This increase, linked to tensions between the US and Iran, is reducing airline profits and forcing some carriers to raise ticket prices or cut flights.
Key Facts
Jet fuel prices rose 78% in April, reaching nearly $6.5 billion in total costs.
The price per gallon increased by $1.81 compared to last year, now at $4.11 per gallon.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) lowered its profit forecast for airlines in 2026 to $23 billion, down from earlier estimates of $41 billion.
US airfares have increased by 5.5% since the start of the conflict involving Iran.
Spirit Airlines stopped operations due to rising fuel costs.
United Airlines plans to raise ticket prices by up to 20% because of higher expenses.
American Airlines temporarily suspended several flights due to soaring fuel prices.
Airlines must reroute flights to avoid restricted airspace around Iran, increasing fuel use and costs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A 6-month certificate of deposit (CD) account currently offers an interest rate around 4%, which is much higher than traditional savings accounts. CDs keep this interest rate fixed until the end of the term and are insured by the government up to $250,000, but savers must leave their money untouched until maturity to avoid penalties.
Key Facts
6-month CDs now offer about a 4.10% fixed interest rate, much higher than typical savings accounts with rates below 0.40%.
The interest earned depends on the deposit amount; for example, a $10,000 deposit would earn about $203 over 6 months.
CDs are insured by the FDIC up to $250,000, making them a safe place to save money.
Withdrawing money from a CD before 6 months usually causes penalties that reduce or erase earned interest.
6-month CDs balance good interest earnings with a relatively short commitment period compared to longer CDs.
High-yield savings accounts offer competitive interest rates and let savers access their money anytime but have variable rates that can change.
The Federal Reserve is currently keeping interest rates steady, so savings rates are expected to remain stable for now.
Online banks often offer higher CD rates than traditional banks and can be a good option to explore.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The cost of replacing a central air conditioning (AC) system depends on several factors like home size, unit efficiency, and installation complexity. On average, a replacement system costs between $13,000 and $16,000, but prices can be higher for larger homes or more efficient units.
Key Facts
Central AC replacement typically costs $13,000 to $16,000.
Larger homes need bigger, more expensive AC units measured in “tons” of cooling capacity.
Higher energy efficiency units cost more initially but can lower utility bills over time.
Installation labor can increase costs, especially if electrical or refrigerant line modifications are needed.
Repairing or replacing old ductwork can add to the total expense but improves system performance.
Additional components like evaporator coils, thermostats, or air handlers may also raise the price.
Smart thermostats or air quality features increase the overall cost further.
Homeowners often wait to research costs until their AC system fails or performance drops.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Paul McCartney's new album, "The Boys of Dungeon Lane," entered the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, reaching number 5 in its first week. The album also debuted at number 1 on the U.K. Official Chart and topped the U.S. Top Album Sales chart.
Key Facts
"The Boys of Dungeon Lane" is Paul McCartney’s latest album.
It reached number 5 on the Billboard 200 chart in its first week.
The album sold 63,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. during its debut week.
Out of those 63,000 units, 59,500 were full album sales.
The album was number 1 on the U.S. Top Album Sales chart.
It also debuted at number 1 on the U.K. Official Chart.
Paul McCartney thanked his fans and team on social media for the album's success.
McCartney said he has no plans to retire soon and continues to enjoy songwriting.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed two new cases of the New World screwworm in Texas, a pest that harms cattle by laying eggs in wounds. Officials are working to stop its spread using sterile flies and other methods, as the pest could hurt the cattle industry if not controlled.
Key Facts
Two more screwworm cases were found far apart in Texas, adding to two earlier cases.
The screwworm is a fly larva that eats living flesh of animals like cattle, pets, and sometimes humans.
The pest was eliminated in the U.S. in the 1960s but reappeared recently after detection in Mexico last year.
Officials use a method where sterile male flies are released to mate with wild females, which helps stop the pest’s spread.
The USDA is increasing sterile fly production and building a new facility in Texas to fight the outbreak.
Some state officials want to use poison bait to kill screwworm, but experts worry about risks to other animals and people.
Canada has temporarily stopped importing livestock from Texas because of the infestation.
The screwworm prefers warm, humid climates, so its spread may be seasonal in northern areas.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
