The article gives advice on writing good out-of-office (OOO) messages for work. It explains that a clear, polite message with return dates and backup contact details is best, while avoiding too much personal information or jokes that might offend.
Key Facts
A good OOO message should be polite, short, and include your return date.
It should provide another contact person so people know who to reach when you’re away.
Sharing too many personal details, like holiday plans or expensive hobbies, is not recommended.
Avoid using jokes or sarcasm, as these can be misunderstood or cause problems with clients.
Saying you have “limited email access” can encourage people to keep emailing you. Saying “I won’t be checking emails” is clearer if you want a full break.
Informing the colleague covering for you about important things before you leave helps communication.
In the UK, employees have a legal right to uninterrupted vacation unless stated otherwise in their contract.
Starting your message with a polite greeting like “Thank you for your email” is better than just saying “I’m on leave.”
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Eddie Smith, owner of Grady-White Boats in North Carolina, has decided to give his company to a trust instead of selling it. This trust will use almost all the company’s future profits to support charities.
Key Facts
Eddie Smith owns Grady-White Boats in Greenville, North Carolina.
He chose not to sell the company.
He donated the company to a perpetual purpose trust.
The trust will give nearly all future profits to charity.
Smith hopes other business owners will make similar decisions.
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Zareh, an Armenian-Lebanese restaurant in Melbourne, has been named Gourmet Traveller’s restaurant of the year. The restaurant features dishes from Armenian, Egyptian, and Lebanese cultures and opened in August 2025.
Key Facts
Zareh is co-owned by Tom Sarafian and Jinane Bou-Assi.
The menu includes dishes like aish baladi (Egyptian flatbread) and kafta nayyah (raw lamb).
The restaurant highlights cultural connections between Armenia and Lebanon.
Zareh won the award at a ceremony in Sydney celebrating Australia’s migrant food culture.
Other award winners included Beppi’s (enduring excellence) and Melbourne’s Saadi for best new talent.
Chef Stephanie Alexander received recognition for her lifetime contribution to hospitality.
The award event marked the 60th anniversary of Gourmet Traveller magazine.
Melbourne’s Yiaga was named best new restaurant, and Christian Ryan was chef of the year.
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Stellantis is recalling nearly 850,000 vehicles in the U.S. because a software problem can make the rearview camera stop working. The recall covers several Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram models from 2026 and 2027. The company will fix the issue with a software update sent directly to the vehicles.
Key Facts
Stellantis announced a recall of about 850,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to rearview camera software issues.
The affected vehicles are from the 2026 and 2027 model years.
Brands involved include Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram.
About 107,000 additional vehicles are being recalled in Canada, Mexico, and other markets.
Models recalled include Chrysler Pacifica variants, Dodge Charger, various Jeep models, Ram 1500 and 2500 pickups, and ProMaster vans.
Stellantis will fix the problem by sending a software update over the air (wirelessly).
No accidents or injuries related to the issue have been reported.
Drivers are advised to use their mirrors and stay alert when reversing if the rearview camera is not working.
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The Supreme Court denied Verizon’s request to get back a $47 million fine from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Verizon and other phone companies were fined for selling customers’ real-time location data without permission, and Verizon wants another chance to challenge its fine in court.
Key Facts
Verizon asked the Supreme Court to refund $47 million it paid as a fine to the FCC.
The Supreme Court refused Verizon’s petition without giving a reason.
Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint were fined a total of $196 million in 2024 for selling location data without customer consent.
The Court ruled in June that the FCC’s fining process does not violate the carriers’ right to a jury trial.
Verizon claims it didn’t know it could refuse to pay the fine and wants to argue the fine’s legality again.
AT&T and T-Mobile are still fighting their fines in lower courts.
Verizon lost its case in the 2nd Circuit Court, and the Supreme Court affirmed that decision.
Verizon wants a small change from the Supreme Court to be allowed to reopen its case like the other companies.
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Disney has introduced new toys that celebrate World Princess Week. These products are inspired by Disney Princess characters and can be preordered for fans to enjoy at home.
Key Facts
Disney released new toys to mark World Princess Week.
The toys are based on popular Disney Princess characters.
Fans can preorder these products before they become widely available.
The announcement was shared by Lori Bergamotto.
The new toy line aims to bring Disney magic into people’s homes.
This launch coincides with a special celebration dedicated to Disney Princesses.
The information was shared on August 17, 2026.
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A tomato soup kit sold at Walmart has been recalled after tests showed it could be contaminated with Listeria bacteria. The recall affects soup kits sold in 29 states, but no illnesses have been reported so far.
A recent poll finds that people in California are divided on a proposed tax that would charge the state’s 200 billionaires a one-time 5 percent tax on their total wealth. This tax measure will be on the ballot for voters to decide in November.
Key Facts
The tax targets the 200 billionaires living in California.
It would charge them a one-time 5 percent tax based on their net worth (total wealth).
The poll was conducted by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.
Results from the poll show Californians are split on whether they support or oppose the tax.
The tax measure will be decided by voters in the November election.
The goal of the tax is to raise money from the very wealthy residents in the state.
The poll results were shared publicly on a Friday.
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Putting $50,000 into a 6-month certificate of deposit (CD) in August can earn between about $1,002 and $1,040 in interest. CDs lock in a fixed interest rate for the term, protecting savers from future rate changes, but money cannot be withdrawn early without a penalty.
Key Facts
The Federal Reserve's interest rate has stayed between 3.5% and 3.75% since early 2024.
A 6-month CD locks in the interest rate for that time, offering certainty on returns.
Current top 6-month CD rates range from about 4.05% to 4.20%.
A $50,000 deposit could earn roughly $1,002 to $1,040 in interest over six months.
Early withdrawal from a CD may result in a penalty, limiting access to money during the term.
High-yield savings accounts offer rates close to CDs but with variable rates and full access to funds.
High-yield savings rates range from about 3.95% to 4.10%, with $50,000 earning roughly $978 to $1,015 in six months.
Choosing between CDs and savings accounts depends on whether a saver prefers fixed returns or flexible access to money.
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Amazon MGM Studios plans to expand its Bray Film Studios near Windsor, adding new buildings and facilities. The British Film Commission supports the plan, which is expected to create many jobs and boost the UK film industry.
Key Facts
The expansion is at Bray Film Studios in Water Oakley, near Windsor.
Amazon MGM bought the site in 2024 and has used it since 2022.
The plan includes six new sound stages and a multi-storey car park.
The expansion could create 470 construction jobs and 920 jobs in the Berkshire area.
The British Film Commission supports the project and highlights its benefits to local employment.
Bray Studios was previously used by the Hammer Films company.
The planning application decision is still pending.
A public consultation about the expansion closed in May 2024.
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Reform UK has proposed cutting more than £50 billion a year from the UK welfare budget by 2030, mainly by limiting benefits for foreign nationals and changing disability payments. The plan aims for about a 25% cut in welfare spending outside the state pension but faces questions about its feasibility and possible legal and political challenges.
Key Facts
The UK will spend around £353 billion on welfare this year, with about £207 billion on benefits other than the state pension.
Reform UK wants to cut £50 billion a year from welfare by 2030, approximately 25% of non-pension welfare spending.
Around £21 billion of these savings would come from changing disability benefits like Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
Reform plans to reassess about 2.89 million people on PIP, potentially reducing or stopping payments, while protecting the most severely disabled.
About £20 billion of savings would come from stopping foreign nationals from claiming benefits, including Universal Credit.
More than one million people claiming Universal Credit were born overseas, with many EU citizens who have settled rights in the UK.
Removing benefits from foreign nationals could conflict with agreements the UK made with the EU after Brexit.
Reform also suggests using a lower inflation measure to raise benefits and spending more on fighting benefit fraud to save money.
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Bestselling author Sarah J. Maas made changes to her Instagram and official website before releasing the next two books in her "A Court of Thorns and Roses" (ACOTAR) series. Fans noticed posts were removed or archived, new artwork appeared, and official release dates for the sixth and seventh books were announced.
Key Facts
Sarah J. Maas is the author of the popular ACOTAR fantasy book series.
She recently changed her Instagram profile by removing or archiving posts and updating her profile picture.
Maas replaced artwork on her official website, which fans think may contain clues about the upcoming books.
The next two ACOTAR books will be released close together: book 6 on October 27, 2026, and book 7 on January 12, 2027.
No official titles, covers, or story details have been shared yet.
Fans are guessing which characters the new books will focus on, including Elain Archeron, Azriel, and Lucien.
Some believe the new website images hint at connections to Maas’s other series, Throne of Glass.
Maas’s team has not publicly explained the Instagram changes or confirmed any new story details.
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A study by Freedom Debt Relief found that Aldi is the cheapest grocery store in 32 states, while Whole Foods is the most expensive in 44 states. The price difference can be over 50 percent for the same groceries, depending on the store and state.
Key Facts
Aldi is the most affordable grocery chain in 32 states across the U.S.
Lidl is the cheapest store in Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Walmart offers the lowest prices in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
WinCo is the cheapest option in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Whole Foods is the most expensive major grocery chain in 44 states.
Shoppers can pay around 52 percent more at Whole Foods compared to the cheapest stores in many states.
Other expensive chains include Safeway (Alaska and South Dakota), Trader Joe’s (Delaware), Albertsons (North Dakota), Shaw’s (Vermont), and Fresh Thyme Market (West Virginia).
Price differences arise because discount grocers keep prices low by using strategies like private-label products.
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Old debts can sometimes show up again on your credit report, but there are rules about how long negative information can stay on it. Federal law usually limits most negative credit items to about seven years, and debt collectors must report the original date you first missed a payment, not a new date when they buy the debt.
Key Facts
Credit card debt increased by $21 billion in the second quarter of 2026.
Lenders are keeping charged-off credit card accounts on credit reports longer than before.
Most negative credit information stays on your report for about seven years under federal law.
Debt collectors who buy old debts cannot reset the clock to make debts appear newer.
The original date of delinquency must be reported, preventing "re-aging" of debt.
The credit-reporting limit and the time a creditor can sue you (statute of limitations) are different.
Making a payment or acknowledging an old debt might restart the statute of limitations in some states.
Consumers should understand these rules before paying old debts or disputing them.
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The prices of school supplies have increased sharply this year. This rise is linked to the ongoing conflict in Iran and tariffs set by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
School supply costs have gone up significantly in the current year.
The conflict or war involving Iran is affecting prices.
President Donald Trump has applied tariffs, which are taxes on imports.
Tariffs make imported goods more expensive.
These two factors combined have contributed to higher prices for school items.
Tibor Besedes, an economics professor, has discussed this issue on CBS News.
The article mentions that this topic was covered on the CBS News app as well.
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China's economy showed slower growth in July, with factory output and retail sales rising less than expected. This adds pressure on the government to take actions like tax cuts and increased spending to support the economy.
Key Facts
Factory output grew 4.5% in July, down from 5.3% in June and below the forecast of 4.8%.
Retail sales increased by 0.6% in July, slower than the 1% rise in June and below the predicted 1.5%.
Extreme weather, including heat and heavy rain, disrupted markets and consumer demand.
China’s quarterly economic growth rate was 4.3% for April to June, below the government target of 4.5% to 5%.
Premier Li Qiang said China will try to boost exports to make up for weak domestic demand.
Analysts expect growth to improve later this year, helped by government spending and support for manufacturing.
The slowdown is one of the weakest quarterly performances since China began reporting quarterly GDP in the early 1990s.
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A new bill in the U.S. Congress proposes a federal tax on electricity used by large data centers to help fund community programs. The bill aims to address the rising electricity demand from data centers driven by artificial intelligence growth and to share the costs with the tech companies benefiting from this expansion.
Key Facts
The bill is called the Data Center Community Reinvestment Act of 2026 (H.R. 10102).
It proposes a 1-cent tax per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed by data centers using more than 1 megawatt of power.
The bill was introduced by Representative Andrea Salinas, a Democrat from Oregon, on August 13.
U.S. data centers used about 176 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2023, about 4.4% of total U.S. electricity.
Electricity use by data centers could rise to between 325 and 580 terawatt-hours by 2028, up to 12% of U.S. electricity use.
The tax revenue, estimated at $1.76 billion per year, would fund housing, conservation, environmental cleanup, transportation, and energy programs.
The bill does not directly lower monthly electricity bills but aims to ease local infrastructure and grid strain caused by data centers.
Experts say many factors affect electricity prices, so the bill’s impact on consumer bills is uncertain.
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Government borrowing costs have reached their highest levels since the 2008 financial crisis in several major economies, including the US, France, Germany, Japan, and the UK. Investors are worried that ongoing inflation and the Middle East crisis will force central banks to keep raising interest rates, which makes borrowing more expensive for these governments.
Key Facts
The 30-year bond yield in France rose to 4.8558%, the highest since September 2008.
Germany’s 10-year bond yield reached its highest since 2011 at 3.2138%.
US 30-year Treasury yield climbed to 5.29%, the highest since 2007.
Japan’s 10-year government bond yield hit 2.93%, a 30-year high, reflecting expectations of interest rate increases.
Investors fear that central banks will continue raising interest rates to control inflation.
The Middle East crisis pushed up oil prices by 6%, adding to inflation concerns.
The European Central Bank is expected to raise interest rates soon, with almost 85% probability indicated by markets.
UK and Italian government bond prices fell as bond yields rose, which happens when investors demand higher returns.
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Most debt collectors cannot take money directly from a 401(k) retirement account because these accounts are protected by federal law. However, some exceptions exist, such as for child support, alimony, or tax debts owed to the IRS. Withdrawing money from a 401(k) can remove these protections and may result in taxes and penalties.
Key Facts
Credit card debt in the U.S. reached about $1.26 trillion in the second quarter of 2026.
About 4.7% of all household debt was delinquent during that time.
Most 401(k) plans are protected by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
ERISA prevents ordinary creditors from seizing funds directly from retirement accounts.
Debts like child support or alimony can be collected from a 401(k) through court orders called qualified domestic relations orders.
The IRS can levy retirement accounts to collect unpaid federal taxes.
Taking money out of a 401(k) early can result in income taxes and a 10% penalty in many cases.
Once withdrawn, the money loses the legal protections it had inside the 401(k) plan.
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Australia’s compulsory superannuation system, worth $4.4 trillion, is often criticized by some conservative politicians who say it fails to reduce government pension costs and is broken. However, government reports and experts show the system keeps retirement spending steady despite an ageing population and helps more people retire without relying on the age pension.
Key Facts
Australia has a $4.4 trillion compulsory superannuation (retirement savings) system.
Some conservative politicians claim the system fails to reduce reliance on the age pension.
Treasury’s 2023 intergenerational report shows age pension spending has stayed around 2% of GDP for 26 years and is expected to stay stable until 2063.
Superannuation tax concessions will exceed age pension spending in the 2040s but total pension-related costs will stay steady at about 4-4.5% of GDP.
The number of people fully funding their own retirement is predicted to rise from 29% now to 38% by 2050.
David Knox, an actuary, says Australia’s pension costs will be among the lowest in wealthy countries by 2030 despite ageing populations.
OECD countries are expected to increase public pension spending from 8.8% to 10% of GDP by 2050, much higher than Australia’s forecast.
Australia’s retirement system helps keep government pension costs stable while supporting growing numbers of retirees.
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