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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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Coles and Woolworths have tested facial recognition technology in their supermarkets to help reduce retail crime and protect staff, but have not decided whether to use it permanently. Privacy advocates warn this technology raises concerns about shoppers’ personal data and the risks of incorrect identification.
Key Facts
Coles and Woolworths tested facial recognition technology in some stores but have not made final decisions to install it widely.
The technology scans shoppers’ faces and creates a unique faceprint to compare against a list of known aggressive or banned individuals.
The supermarkets aim to use the technology to reduce crime and protect staff from aggression and violence.
Privacy experts warn this kind of technology may invade customer privacy and lead to misuse of biometric data.
People of colour are more likely to be wrongly identified by facial recognition systems compared to white people.
Bunnings received approval from a tribunal to use facial recognition despite privacy concerns from previous rulings.
Coles said their test did not use real customer or employee data, and Woolworths tested the technology in New Zealand offices.
Both supermarkets said they will continue exploring ways to improve safety while considering privacy impacts.
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A trust company linked to the Trump family’s crypto business, World Liberty Financial, has received conditional approval to start a bank. This bank would allow the company to issue and manage its own stablecoins, a type of digital currency, without needing a middleman.
Key Facts
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) gave preliminary approval to World Liberty Trust Company to create a bank charter.
World Liberty Financial was founded in 2024 by President Trump’s sons and the sons of Steve Witkoff, a Trump administration envoy.
The Trump family owns about 38% of World Liberty Financial through an affiliated entity.
Critics including some Democrats say the approval creates a conflict of interest because of the Trump family’s involvement.
Senator Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats plan to introduce a law to stop the president, vice president, and their families from controlling banks.
World Liberty says there are firewalls in place to keep the Trump family out of the bank’s direct operations while President Trump is in office.
The company emphasizes it will operate under strong federal oversight from the OCC.
President Trump earned at least $1.4 billion last year from cryptocurrency ventures, but says he is not involved in daily business activities.
World Liberty must meet more requirements before it gets full approval to operate as a bank.
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A new study reveals that the amount of money needed to live comfortably changes depending on the state and the size of a family. Different places have different costs for housing, food, and other living expenses.
Key Facts
The cost to live comfortably is not the same in every state.
Family size affects how much income is needed to cover expenses.
This study looks at basic expenses like housing and food.
Some states have higher costs for daily living than others.
The study helps people understand how much they need to earn to have a comfortable life where they live.
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Nvidia revealed it owns nearly 123 million shares in SpaceX, worth about $21 billion at the end of June. This shows how Nvidia is financially connected with SpaceX and other AI companies, supporting their growth through investments and partnerships.
Key Facts
Nvidia owns almost 123 million SpaceX shares, valued at $21 billion as of June.
SpaceX shares dropped in value since their June initial public offering, making Nvidia’s stake now worth about $17 billion.
Nvidia invested in xAI, which Elon Musk merged with SpaceX.
SpaceX has an exclusive partnership with Nvidia to use its AI computing technology in their data centers.
Nvidia has invested over $100 billion in AI companies in the last two years.
Nvidia is gathering over $500 billion with other investors to help finance its customers using chip-backed loans.
SpaceX plans to grow its computing power from 2 gigawatts now to around 10 gigawatts by 2027.
Other major investors in SpaceX include Google, which owns about 7% of the company valued at $94 billion.
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Homeowners today can choose between two main ways to borrow against their home’s value: a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a home equity loan. HELOCs offer flexible access to money with usually lower interest rates but variable rates, while home equity loans provide a fixed amount with a steady interest rate that won’t change over time.
Key Facts
HELOCs let borrowers access a credit line over about 10 years and only pay interest on the money they use.
The average interest rate for HELOCs is around 7%, which is about 1% lower than home equity loans right now.
Home equity loans give a one-time lump sum with a fixed interest rate lasting 5 to 30 years.
Fixed rates on home equity loans protect borrowers from interest rate increases.
HELOC rates can rise or fall because they change with the Federal Reserve’s prime rate plus a margin.
Experts say home equity loans are better when interest rates are rising, while HELOCs are better when rates are stable or falling.
HELOCs may tempt borrowers to withdraw more money than needed, while home equity loans limit borrowing to a set amount.
Knowing your fixed payment with a home equity loan can help with budgeting when other costs are unstable.
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The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Raytheon a nearly $23 billion contract to speed up production of Tomahawk cruise missiles over seven years. This comes after the U.S. used many of these missiles during the war with Iran, reducing its stockpile.
Key Facts
Raytheon received a $23 billion Pentagon contract for Tomahawk missile production.
The contract covers a seven-year period.
Raytheon plans to increase annual missile production to over 1,000 units, about five times recent production levels.
In the first half of 2026, Raytheon produced three times more Tomahawks than in the same period in 2025.
Tomahawks are long-range cruise missiles launched from ships like U.S. Navy destroyers.
The U.S. has been using Tomahawks since the 1980s.
Since February, the U.S. has used nearly half of its Tomahawk stockpile, firing over 1,000 missiles during the Iran war.
The Tomahawk missile allows the Navy to strike targets from far away without risking sailors’ lives.
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Sainsbury’s paused the use of AI face scanning technology in one of its stores after a customer was wrongly accused of shoplifting and asked to leave. The company apologized and is investigating the situation, while the customer expressed concerns about the potential risks of AI in retail.
Key Facts
A customer, Matt Arnold, was falsely identified as a shoplifter by AI facial recognition at a Sainsbury’s store in East Dulwich, London.
Arnold was asked to leave the store by managers without proper investigation of the situation.
The store used Facewatch, a facial recognition system aimed at identifying shoplifters to protect staff.
After the incident, Sainsbury’s apologized and paused the AI scanning technology at that specific store.
Arnold and others have called for the technology to be suspended in all stores until it can guarantee flawless operation.
Similar false accusations using Facewatch have happened before in other UK stores, including at Home Bargains and B&M.
Sainsbury’s said the mistake was due to human error, not the technology, which it claims is 99.98% accurate.
Facewatch stated the system worked correctly in this case, sending a valid alert to the retailer.
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Government borrowing costs are rising to their highest levels in many years in France, Germany, Japan, and the United States. Investors worry that inflation will stay high because of the Middle East crisis, causing bond yields to increase as countries pay more interest to borrow money.
Key Facts
French 30-year bond yields reached 4.8558%, the highest since 2008.
Germany’s 10-year bond yield rose to 3.2138%, the highest since 2011.
Japan’s 10-year government bond yield hit 2.93%, the highest since 1996.
The US 30-year Treasury yield climbed to 5.29%, the highest since 2007.
Investors expect central banks to raise interest rates to control inflation.
Japan faces a dilemma between supporting growth and managing inflation.
Rising oil and gas prices contribute to inflation concerns.
Government debt is more expensive to finance due to higher borrowing costs.
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A bank regulator appointed by President Donald Trump has given conditional approval for World Liberty Financial to become a bank. World Liberty Financial is a cryptocurrency company started by President Trump’s sons and the sons of Steve Witkoff, a special envoy.
Key Facts
World Liberty Financial is a crypto business linked to President Trump’s family.
The company was founded by President Trump’s sons and the sons of Steve Witkoff.
Steve Witkoff is a special envoy.
A bank regulator appointed by President Trump reviewed the application.
The regulator granted conditional approval for World Liberty Financial to become a bank.
Conditional approval means the company can proceed but must meet certain requirements.
This approval marks a step for a crypto company moving into traditional banking.
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Many young people find dating too expensive and are choosing not to go on dates because of the high costs involved. However, there are affordable or free ways to spend time with someone and get to know them without spending a lot of money.
Key Facts
Dating costs, like $150 for dinner and drinks, are seen as too high by many young singles.
Some people suggest enjoying the date itself rather than worrying about finding love immediately.
Low-cost date options include free museums, parks, beaches, and other public activities.
When one person earns much more than the other, money can create tension in the relationship.
Some believe dating should wait until people are more financially stable.
Dating requires both money and emotional time, which can be difficult during tough economic times.
The author shares a personal experience of feeling financially stressed while dating someone who paid for most expenses.
There is advice to be thrifty and enjoy simple moments instead of expensive outings.
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Au Vodka, a drinks company based in Swansea, is reportedly close to being sold for £500 million to Sazerac, the owner of Southern Comfort and BuzzBallz. The founders, Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn, are expected to each earn over £100 million from the sale.
Key Facts
Au Vodka is based in Swansea and was founded in 2015 by Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn.
The company is known for its gold-colored vodka bottles and ready-to-drink cans.
Sazerac, which owns Southern Comfort and BuzzBallz, is the potential buyer.
The deal is worth about £500 million.
Co-founders Morgan and Quinn could each make over £100 million from the sale.
Au Vodka grew quickly, partly due to celebrity endorsements like DJ Charlie Sloth and YouTube star Jake Paul.
The firm opened a new headquarters in Swansea in 2025 with a unique gold theme, including gold-wrapped cars and a themed mini golf course.
Charlie Morgan gained early media attention in 2013 as a Swansea City ball boy involved in a football incident with Eden Hazard.
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