Oil prices rose sharply after the US-Iran ceasefire ended without a peace deal. President Donald Trump threatened Oman and demanded Iran surrender as tensions in the Gulf region increased.
Key Facts
The ceasefire between the US and Iran expired, and no peace deal was reached.
Brent crude oil prices went above $90 per barrel for the first time since July 30.
Iran said it would adopt a more aggressive military stance if talks with the US fail.
President Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it interferes with ending the war.
A cargo ship was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil.
Only six commodity ships passed through the strait on Monday, showing limited shipping activity.
Analysts warn that continued conflict could lead to higher and more volatile energy prices globally.
President Trump said he is not in a hurry to make a deal and has not set a deadline for Iran.
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Wage growth in the UK slowed slightly in June, as workers face higher living costs partly due to economic effects from the war in Iran. Inflation is rising because of increased energy prices, which is putting financial pressure on households despite some signs of stability in the job market.
Key Facts
UK average wage growth, including bonuses, fell from 4.3% to 4.1% in the three months to June.
Regular wage growth stayed mostly stable, with private sector pay growth easing but public sector pay growth remaining high because of NHS pay awards.
Pay growth excluding bonuses increased slightly from 3.4% to 3.5%.
The number of workers on company payrolls dropped by 13,000 in July, a smaller decline than before.
Job vacancies fell, and unemployment stayed at 4.9%, higher than economists predicted.
Inflation in the UK is expected to rise near 3% due to increased energy bills caused by the Middle East conflict.
Annual earnings growth after inflation was 1.3% in the three months to June, showing workers’ pay rises are being partly wiped out by inflation.
The government is working on measures to help households with the cost of living and youth employment, including reforms to welfare and support for young job seekers.
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The United States and Canada are holding urgent talks to avoid new U.S. tariffs of 50% on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. These tariffs, planned by President Donald Trump, have raised tensions between the two countries, but both sides want to find a solution before the tariffs take effect.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to impose a 50% tariff on $20 billion of Canadian products starting August 19, 2026.
The tariffs cover various goods including hockey sticks and tongue depressors.
The U.S. and Canada have a long history of trade disputes but remain close allies.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said negotiations are ongoing but kept details private.
Nearly 72% of Canadian exports go to the U.S., showing economic interdependence.
The U.S. wants Canada to buy more American military equipment and give more access to critical minerals.
Canada wants relief from existing U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and softwood lumber.
Trump has made tariffs a central part of his economic policy, aiming to reduce the U.S. trade deficit.
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The number of job vacancies in the UK has dropped to the lowest point in over five years, mainly because smaller companies are hiring fewer workers. Despite this, the overall unemployment rate stayed the same at 4.9%, and regular wages grew slightly by 3.5% in the latest three months.
Key Facts
Job vacancies fell to 707,000 between May and July, the lowest in over five years.
Smaller businesses reduced hiring due to concerns about labor and operating costs.
The overall labor market did not change much during this period.
The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.9%.
Regular wages, excluding bonuses, increased by 3.5% yearly in the three months to June.
The data comes from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The UK economy continues to grow, but experts expect difficult months ahead.
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A homeowner in Cambridgeshire was initially unsure if a government help scheme to improve home energy use was real but now has very low electricity costs after getting solar panels. Local councils in Cambridgeshire have spent all their £3.5 million grant money on this scheme and have asked the government for more funding to help more people.
Key Facts
The scheme helps people with low incomes make their homes more energy efficient.
David Brain from Wisbech had solar panels installed through this scheme and his electricity bill dropped to about 2 pence a day.
The grant is for homes in England with lower energy ratings and usually with income under £36,000 or receiving certain benefits.
Improvements can include solar panels, heat pumps, and better insulation.
Six councils in Cambridgeshire work together on this grant scheme, known as the Cambridgeshire Energy Retrofit Partnership.
All £3.5 million of the local grant money has been spent, and councils have asked the government to provide more funds.
The government says its priority is to lower energy bills permanently and plans to expand the warm homes upgrades across the country.
Some people hoping to get improvements through the scheme are disappointed because it has run out of money for now.
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Half of homes in Great Britain are taking longer to sell compared to last year because uncertain mortgage costs have made buyers cautious. The ongoing Iran war has caused mortgage rates to rise and lenders to pull deals, affecting how quickly houses sell in different areas.
Key Facts
Homes in 180 out of 363 local authorities in England, Scotland, and Wales are selling slower than last year.
The average time to sell a home nationally remains about 42 days, but some regions are much slower or faster.
Scotland has the fastest home sales, with Falkirk averaging 11 days to sell a home.
Some areas, including Melton, Westminster, and Teignbridge, have average sale times over two months.
Mortgage rates rose from 4.83% before the Iran war to about 5.61% recently, peaking near 6% in April.
The Iran war created uncertainty, causing lenders to pull mortgage deals and increasing loan costs.
Higher energy costs pushed UK inflation from 2.6% in June to 2.9% in July, influencing expectations for interest rate rises.
The Bank of England’s base interest rate is currently 3.75%, with markets expecting two more increases by the end of next year.
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BHP reported that 109 workers left the company in the last financial year after 113 confirmed cases of sexual harassment, including indecent touching, stalking, and grooming. The mining company said these incidents mostly happened at remote work sites and that they investigate claims through an independent ethics team.
Key Facts
109 BHP workers resigned or were fired due to sexual harassment in the 2025-26 financial year.
There were 113 confirmed sexual harassment reports, the highest number since 2023.
Many cases involved indecent touching, stalking, grooming, and sexually aggressive comments or jokes.
Another 104 reports were not investigated because of lack of information or the affected person’s wishes.
BHP operates large mining sites in Australia, North America, and South America but did not specify where most cases occurred.
Independent ethics teams handle the investigation of these allegations.
Three class action lawsuits are underway against BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue, claiming widespread sexual harassment and discrimination at remote mining sites.
BHP also reported 22 workers left after incidents of racial harassment.
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The United States and Canada held urgent talks to prevent the U.S. from imposing a 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. The talks come as President Donald Trump considers tariffs aimed at bringing manufacturing back to the U.S., but both countries want to avoid hurting their long-standing trade relationship.
Key Facts
The U.S. planned to impose a 50% tariff on $20 billion of Canadian products.
Canadian exports to the U.S. make up nearly 72% of Canada’s total exports.
The tariff would affect many Canadian goods, including hockey sticks and tongue depressors.
President Donald Trump has previously imposed tariffs and made strong comments about Canada.
The U.S.-Canada border is usually open and sees $2 billion worth of goods crossing daily.
Americans and Canadians have a long history of cooperation and trade.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the negotiations intense and sensitive.
The U.S. may want Canada to buy more U.S. military equipment as part of a trade deal.
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Marisa Mender-Franklin started a flower business in Memphis by using unused yards and gardens shared by her neighbors through a local Facebook group. Her community support helped her grow flowers on nine different plots of land, leading to the creation of her full-time business, Midtown Bramble & Bloom.
Key Facts
Marisa Mender-Franklin wanted to grow flowers for her wedding in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She did not own any land, so she asked her local Buy Nothing Facebook group for unused garden space.
Within minutes, many neighbors offered their yards and gardens for her to use free of charge.
By 2021, she was growing flowers on four different plots and receiving help like supplies and labor from the community.
Today, she runs nine flower farms and employs 10 people at her flower shop in Memphis.
Her business held 57 workshops in one year and provided flowers for 44 weddings and large events.
The idea was inspired by a Canadian flower gardener named Sarah Nixon, who also worked with shared land.
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A Chinese animated film called "Niulai" was criticized online for its low-quality animation but unexpectedly became a box-office success. The movie, made mostly by two people over five years, went from earning very little to making over $2.5 million.
Key Facts
"Niulai" is an animated film about a calf dreaming of growing up with family support.
The film initially earned only about 10,000 yuan ($1,480) in the first 10 days.
On August 17, 2026, the film's daily earnings surged to 8.2 million yuan ($1.2 million).
Total box office earnings reached 17.1 million yuan ($2.5 million).
The movie was made mainly by director Xin Yumeng and his mother over five years.
Online comments mocked the film’s crude animation and called it "terrible" and a form of internet humor.
Some moviegoers recommend it as a prank or joke to friends.
Its unusual popularity has been compared to viral, meme-driven internet trends.
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Asian stock markets fell as rising oil prices and concerns about inflation outweighed gains from strong company earnings. Despite some positive reports from firms in Japan and other parts of Asia, worries about the impact of the war in Iran on global oil supply pushed prices higher, affecting markets worldwide.
Key Facts
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index dropped 1.6% to 68,098.54.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slightly rose by 0.2% to 9,088.60.
South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.6% to 6,933.60 after earlier gains.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite indexes lost 0.6% and 0.5%, respectively.
Rising crude oil prices are linked to worries about the war in Iran affecting oil flows from the Persian Gulf.
Brent crude oil price climbed to about $91 per barrel, increasing inflation concerns.
Higher energy costs have pushed U.S. Treasury yields up, raising pressure on the economy and investments.
Strong earnings in Asia, helped by growing demand tied to AI investments, have not fully offset market declines caused by oil price fears.
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Canada and the United States are in serious talks to stop new US tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods that could start in less than two days. Canadian leaders are trying to find a deal to avoid these tariffs, but no final agreement has been reached yet.
Key Facts
The US plans to start new 50% tariffs on about $20 billion Canadian imports soon.
Canada’s negotiators have been in Washington for a week trying to reach a deal.
Prime Minister Mark Carney described the talks as "very delicate and intense."
The US wants Canada to remove its tariffs on American cars and change dairy rules.
Canada’s provinces control alcohol sales, affecting possible concessions on US alcohol imports.
Ontario and Quebec leaders have different views on concessions, especially about dairy and alcohol.
Many Canadians feel the trade conflict is hurting them; some support tougher responses.
The new tariffs may harm future trade talks if they are put into effect.
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The U.S. Navy gave a $22.9 billion contract to Raytheon to speed up making Tomahawk missiles. This action comes after the Navy faced a shortage of these missiles following the start of the war in Iran.
Key Facts
The Navy awarded the contract on Monday.
Raytheon is the company receiving the contract.
The contract is worth $22.9 billion.
The goal is to increase Tomahawk missile production.
The missile shortage happened after the Iran war began.
The contract supports rebuilding the defense industry.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao announced the contract.
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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.
