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The University of Roehampton offers scholarships of up to £2,000 to students who compete in esports, which means playing video games competitively in tournaments. These scholarships help students with financial costs while encouraging them to balance gaming with their studies.
Key Facts
Roehampton University gives esports scholarships to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Scholarships are for students who perform well in major esports games or have popular streaming channels.
Winners compete weekly in university tournaments and represent the school in live events.
The scholarship money was increased from £1,500 to £2,000 due to the esports team’s success.
Previous recipients say the money helped them study without needing part-time jobs.
Many students miss out on scholarships because they don’t know about them.
Average university graduate debt in England is over £47,500.
Experts encourage students to seek out scholarships to reduce financial stress.
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A thinktank called the Resolution Foundation says that UK workers are producing more than official numbers show. Their new analysis suggests the economy’s productivity has improved recently, challenging the idea that productivity has gotten worse in the 2020s.
Key Facts
Productivity measures how much economic value each worker creates.
Official data shows UK productivity as weak, but the Resolution Foundation disputes this.
The thinktank used a different method than the standard labor force survey to measure productivity.
Their data shows productivity is rising across many sectors, not just due to job cuts in low-skilled areas.
The increase in productivity does not seem to be driven mainly by artificial intelligence (AI).
UK’s economy was one of the fastest-growing in the G7 group in early 2026.
Some economists from the London School of Economics and Morgan Stanley agree that UK’s economic outlook is improving.
Consumer confidence in the UK reached a two-year high recently.
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The government has promised to review and improve how business rates are valued for pubs and hotels in England and Wales to make the system fairer. An independent review will report back by March 2027, aiming to consider changes before the next revaluation in 2029.
Key Facts
Pubs and hotels faced higher business rate bills this year after pandemic relief ended and new revaluations took effect.
Andy Burnham announced a 20% business rates cut for pubs, social clubs, and live music venues in England starting April next year.
The review will be led by Jerry Schurder, an independent business rates expert, and will focus on valuation fairness but will not change this year's rise.
The review is set to report to the Treasury by the end of March 2027.
Hospitality businesses have struggled with rising costs for energy, food, wages, and taxes.
Industry leaders support the review, saying it is needed to reflect the actual trading conditions of pubs and hotels.
Around two pubs are closing daily in Britain this year, affected by financial pressures including higher business rates.
There are calls to extend rate relief to other community businesses like independent bookshops.
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N Chandrasekaran resigned as chairman of Tata Sons, leaving a key leadership vacancy at the large Indian conglomerate. The company faces challenges like managing losses in new businesses and deciding on its future direction amid heavy investments.
Key Facts
N Chandrasekaran stepped down as Tata Sons chairman on 12 August 2026 due to disagreements with Tata Trusts, the controlling shareholder.
Tata Sons controls a $300 billion group including Jaguar Land Rover, Air India, and Apple iPhone manufacturing in India.
Disputes involved plans to list Tata Sons publicly and funding for new, unprofitable units like semiconductors and e-commerce.
The group is investing billions to build India's first chip factory, make electric vehicle batteries, and improve Air India.
New leadership will need skills in managing diverse businesses, working with government regulators, and handling financial risks.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), formerly the main cash generator, is now challenged by new technologies like artificial intelligence.
Internal candidates exist but may need additional training due to the complex role.
Investors expect uncertainty while the company decides how to handle the losses and growth strategy of new businesses.
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Reform UK plans to change social housing rules to give priority to British-born citizens, young married couples with children, and veterans. The party says this will help hard-working British people but would require new laws and has faced criticism for potentially harming vulnerable groups.
Key Facts
Reform UK will announce a policy to prioritize British-born citizens over foreign-born UK citizens for social housing.
Young married couples with children and veterans would also get priority under the new rules.
Some foreign-born Britons, like those born abroad to British parents temporarily overseas, would be exempt.
The party had previously proposed banning foreign nationals from social housing entirely.
Richard Tice said over half a million social homes are currently occupied by foreign nationals.
Critics warn the policy could harm vulnerable people, including those escaping abuse or homelessness.
Labour says migrants with legal status including NHS workers would be targeted unfairly by these new rules.
Reform UK promises to build 50,000 affordable homes a year without extra borrowing or taxes, compared to the government’s current plan of 18,000 homes per year.
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European countries accuse China of supporting its exports and selling cheap goods in Europe, which they say harms European businesses and jobs. There are worries about China's growing control over global supply chains, and officials are debating if this could lead to a trade war between Europe and China.
Key Facts
Europe claims China gives financial help (subsidies) to its exporters.
Chinese products are sold at low prices in Europe, causing competition concerns.
European industries and jobs are seen as being at risk due to Chinese imports.
China is becoming a major part of global supply chains, which worries European leaders.
Officials in Europe are discussing ways to respond to China's trade practices.
There is public debate about the possibility of a trade war between Europe and China.
The Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and EU official Teresa Ribera met in Beijing in July 2025.
The information comes from a BBC World Service program titled Business Daily.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the United States imposed new tariffs on Canada, which increased tensions in the trade relationship. He warned that these tariffs could harm people in both Canada and the U.S.
Key Facts
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke about new U.S. tariffs.
The tariffs were described as unfair and unprofitable for Canada.
Carney said these actions could hurt people living in both countries.
The U.S. proposed new trade terms affecting Canada.
This situation has escalated a trade disagreement between the two countries.
The reliability of the trade benefits Canada receives was called into question.
Trade tensions have increased recently between the U.S. and Canada.
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CrossCountry train services were severely disrupted on Sunday due to a power outage at their Birmingham control centre, causing many cancellations. The company plans to run a limited service Sunday evening and a full train schedule on Monday while working with partners to restore normal operations.
Key Facts
A power failure at CrossCountry’s control centre in Birmingham caused widespread train cancellations on Sunday.
CrossCountry will operate a small number of trains from 6:00 pm Sunday, focusing on routes to Leicester and Derby.
The company aims to resume a full train service on Monday.
Passengers delayed by more than 30 minutes may get compensation; those who do not travel can get a refund.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed support for the recovery efforts and mentioned plans to nationalize rail services next year.
The rail union RMT called for a review of control centres to prevent future power-related disruptions.
Some passengers were stranded overnight due to the cancellations, causing inconvenience and extra expenses.
National Rail updates confirmed partial service resumption on some routes Sunday evening.
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The Boston Symphony Orchestra and its musicians have agreed to extend their contract by 48 hours to continue talks and avoid a possible strike. This would be the first strike in the orchestra’s 145-year history if it happens.
Key Facts
The current contract between the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its musicians was set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
Both parties agreed to extend the contract until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
The extension allows more time for collective bargaining negotiations to avoid a strike.
The Boston Musicians’ Association authorized a strike before the contract expiration.
The extension still needs to be approved by a vote from the musicians’ union and players’ committee.
The orchestra’s management and musicians have had tense relations since March.
The orchestra plans to start its new season on September 17.
Music director Andris Nelsons will be leaving the orchestra next summer after 13 years.
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“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” stayed number one at the box office for its fourth weekend, earning $39 million in the U.S. and Canada. Christopher Nolan’s film “The Odyssey” became his highest-grossing movie ever, making $1.4 billion worldwide.
Key Facts
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” earned $39 million from 4,006 theaters in its fourth weekend.
The movie has made over $854.9 million in North America.
“Spider-Man” is close to surpassing “Avengers: Endgame” as the second highest-grossing domestic film.
“The Odyssey” earned $19.5 million in its sixth weekend in North America.
“The Odyssey” surpassed “Deadpool & Wolverine” to become the highest-grossing R-rated film.
Worldwide, “The Odyssey” has made $1.4 billion, led by strong sales in China and Korea.
“Insidious: Out of the Further,” the sixth in its series, earned $25.3 million domestically and $35 million internationally.
New movie “Mutiny,” starring Jason Statham, had a $7.5 million opening but was accidentally available for free briefly on Prime Video before release.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott criticized data center companies for ignoring community concerns, leading to growing opposition against the AI data center boom. This backlash is causing several states, including Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York, to impose new rules or slow down data center projects, which may affect the AI industry's growth.
Key Facts
Governor Abbott said data center firms "dug their own grave" by failing to gain local support.
Texas once welcomed AI investments, including a $40 billion Google data center deal announced in 2023.
Abbott now demands data centers pay full costs for electricity infrastructure and is phasing out tax breaks.
Other states like Pennsylvania and New York have imposed restrictions or moratoriums on new data centers.
Data centers need large amounts of power, water, and land, causing community concerns.
Only a small number of data centers have responded to Texas requests about future power needs.
Polls show 61% of Americans oppose building new data centers near them, including many Republicans.
Data center development is important for the U.S. economy and AI progress but may be limited by voter opposition.
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The war in Iran has affected natural gas supply worldwide, giving Nigeria a chance to increase its gas exports. Nigeria plans to boost gas production, attract foreign investment, and supply more liquefied natural gas (LNG), especially to Europe, while working to lower gas prices for its own people.
Key Facts
The war in Iran is putting pressure on global natural gas markets.
Nigeria wants to become a bigger supplier of natural gas.
Nigeria is working on the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.
The country aims to attract investments to expand gas production.
Nigeria plans to increase LNG exports to meet growing demand in Europe.
Nigerians are currently paying high prices for cooking gas at home.
The government wants to lower liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) costs for households.
There are efforts to reduce gas flaring (burning off excess gas) and replace firewood, charcoal, and kerosene with cleaner gas options.
Nigeria is pushing 20 gas projects towards investment approval by 2030.
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Neel Kashkari, leader of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, said that ongoing tariff disputes between the U.S. and Canada could make inflation last longer. He explained that the longer the two countries keep changing tariffs on each other, the more inflation problems will be delayed and extended.
Key Facts
Neel Kashkari is the president and CEO of the Minneapolis Fed (Federal Reserve Bank).
Kashkari spoke about inflation during an interview on "Face the Nation."
He referred to the ongoing tariff conflict between the U.S. and Canada.
Tariffs are taxes on imported goods that can raise prices.
Kashkari said that continual back-and-forth changes in tariffs make inflation last longer.
The longer the tariff issues continue, the longer inflation problems remain.
Inflation means prices for goods and services go up over time.
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Canada will impose tariffs that match the new U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. These tariffs affect many product categories and mark a breakdown in trade negotiations between the two countries. Both nations have now set additional tariffs on each other’s products, escalating their trade conflict.
Key Facts
The U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on about $20 billion of Canadian goods, covering over 500 types of products.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will respond with tariffs equal in value to the U.S. tariffs.
The tariffs affect goods such as alcoholic drinks, dairy products (except cheese), technology items, sports equipment, wood products, and holiday gifts.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Canada failed after the U.S. made demands that Canada considered unfair and restricting to its trade rights and culture.
The new tariffs add to earlier U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, lumber, and cars.
President Trump said Canada has charged U.S. farmers high tariffs and criticized Canada’s trade stance.
Canada recalled its negotiators from Washington after rejecting last-minute U.S. conditions.
The trade conflict raises questions about the future of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade deal signed during President Trump’s first term.
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Some travel experts say that airfares tend to get cheaper after the summer travel rush and before the holiday season begins. August 23 is known as National Cheap Flight Day, a time when travelers might find better ticket deals for holiday travel.
Key Facts
National Cheap Flight Day is on August 23.
Airplane ticket prices often drop after summer ends.
Prices may be lower before the busy holiday travel season starts.
Travel experts suggest this period as a good time to buy flights.
The holiday season usually sees higher airfare prices due to demand.
Watching airfare trends can help travelers save money.
The article focuses on holiday travel and airfare timing.
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First-time home buyers in Australia continue to take out many mortgage loans with government support, while property investors are borrowing less. The government’s 5% deposit loan guarantee program has helped new buyers get into the market by reducing upfront costs like mortgage insurance.
Key Facts
New data shows only first-time buyers are applying for more home loans compared to June.
Home loan demand dropped overall by 5.4% by June, with investor loans falling 8.6% and first-time buyer loans dropping only 2.9%.
First home purchase activity increased in some states like New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory.
The 5% deposit scheme lets eligible buyers borrow up to 95% of a home's price with a government guarantee, removing the need to pay costly mortgage insurance.
Property prices have fallen in Australia, but those eligible under the scheme have seen smaller price drops.
Housing Australia says scheme users saved more than $15,000 on average by not paying mortgage insurance.
Over 320,000 people have bought homes with help from the scheme since 2020.
The scheme led to more than 5,000 new guarantees issued monthly since February, slightly dipping below that in July but still higher than before the scheme’s expansion.
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A financial planner shared five tips for protecting money in romantic relationships. These tips focus on preparing for possible breakups by maintaining financial independence, understanding each other’s money situation, being cautious with joint debts, formalizing major financial agreements, and protecting individual credit.
Key Facts
Couples should keep some money in accounts under their own name for financial independence.
It is important to talk openly about income, debts, credit history, and spending habits before combining finances.
Taking on joint debt, like cosigning loans, can be risky because both people are responsible for payments.
Major financial arrangements, such as buying a house together, should be put in writing through agreements.
Written agreements like prenuptial or cohabitation agreements help avoid future conflicts if the relationship ends.
Having savings to cover basic living costs for several months can help if someone needs to leave the relationship suddenly.
Protecting personal credit and continuing to build individual assets is important even while sharing finances.
Financial preparation in relationships is about planning, not distrust, to prevent serious money problems in case of breakups.
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Some experts are concerned that big tech companies are creating hidden debt by using off-balance-sheet financing to build AI datacenters. However, this practice is not new and is generally well-regulated, with significant disclosure requirements, unlike past cases such as Enron.
Key Facts
Companies like Meta, Oracle, xAI, and CoreWeave are raising billions of dollars to build AI datacenters using special financial entities.
These financial entities borrow money independently, so the debt does not appear on the parent companies’ main financial reports.
Experts have reported over $120 billion of AI datacenter spending moved off company balance sheets.
Goldman Sachs projects that hyperscale tech companies might spend $5.3 trillion on AI and datacenters by 2030.
Some worry this hidden debt could be risky, comparing it to the Enron scandal, but experts say this is unlikely to reach that scale or cause systemic problems.
Off-balance-sheet financing has been used for decades, including in biotechnology companies in the 1980s and 1990s to spread financial risks.
Financial disclosures and market scrutiny today are much stronger than in past decades, making hidden risks more manageable.
The current approach helps companies finance expensive construction projects while limiting reported liabilities, but carries different and generally more transparent risks than older practices.
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The article discusses a plan to reduce government rules that businesses must follow. It aims to support fair chances for everyone and help companies focus on creating value and jobs.
Key Facts
The goal is to lower regulatory burdens on businesses.
The plan supports equal opportunity for all people.
It intends to shift focus away from counting people by demographic groups.
The idea is to help businesses concentrate on work and growth.
The article emphasizes fairness without heavy regulation.
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President Donald Trump announced a deal to allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported into the U.S. without extra tariffs. He said this beef would be sold at 25% below current market prices to lower costs for American consumers. However, many details about the deal, such as the source of the beef and how the price cuts will be enforced, remain unclear.
Key Facts
The deal allows importing up to 300,000 metric tons of beef without extra tariffs if imports exceed certain limits.
President Trump stated the imported beef would cost 25% less than current U.S. market prices.
It is not yet known which countries will supply the beef, but likely sources include Mexico, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and senators from beef-producing states criticized the announcement.
The White House plans to issue an executive order within two weeks that may provide more details.
Importing more beef follows rising beef prices caused by a smaller U.S. cattle herd due to drought and high feed costs.
Details about who made the price commitment and how it will be enforced are still missing.
It is unclear how these lower prices will be passed on to consumers at stores.
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