Keurig Dr Pepper plans to separate into two companies after acquiring Peet’s Coffee in an $18 billion deal. One of the new companies will focus on coffee, while the other will focus on cold drinks like Dr Pepper and 7UP. The separation aims to enhance focus and flexibility in each market.
Key Facts:
Keurig Dr Pepper will split into two companies after buying Peet’s Coffee for $18 billion.
One company will focus on coffee; the other will sell drinks like Dr Pepper and energy drinks.
The split reverses the 2018 merger of Keurig and Dr Pepper.
Shares of Keurig Dr Pepper fell by 7% after the announcement.
The coffee business merger includes brands like L’OR, Jacobs, and Douwe Egberts.
The company anticipates saving $400 million over three years due to this merger.
Keurig Dr Pepper expects the new structure to help with global sales and stabilize against U.S. tariffs.
Once separated, the coffee business will have headquarters in Burlington, Mass. and Amsterdam.
The Kennedy Center named Stephen Nakagawa as the new head of its dance programming shortly after firing its previous dance department staff. Nakagawa, a former dancer with The Washington Ballet, does not have documented experience as an arts curator or administrator.
Key Facts:
Stephen Nakagawa is the new director of dance programming at the Kennedy Center.
The former staff of the dance department was recently fired.
Nakagawa is a former dancer and choreographer with The Washington Ballet.
There is no mention of Nakagawa having experience in arts administration or curation.
The Kennedy Center received increased funding from Congress, with some conditions attached by Senate Republicans.
Jane Raleigh, the previous director, claims her dismissal was due to her support for a union organizing campaign.
The Kennedy Center is one of the largest performing arts institutions in the U.S.
Shares of China Evergrande, a large real estate company, were removed from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange after failing to sort out its debt. Evergrande's financial issues have contributed to a long-lasting crisis in China's property market, affecting the economy.
Key Facts:
Evergrande's shares were delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as of Monday.
The company failed to present an acceptable debt restructuring plan.
Evergrande had debts totaling over $340 billion.
The company's financial problems began after Chinese authorities limited excessive borrowing in the real estate sector in 2020.
Many developers, including Evergrande, defaulted on their debts, worsening the property market crisis.
China's real estate sector was a significant part of its economy, accounting for about 20%.
Measures have been taken by the Chinese government to stabilize the housing market and finish incomplete projects.
Keurig Dr Pepper plans to separate back into two companies a few years after their merger. They are buying the company that owns Peet's Coffee for $18 billion and will divide into one company for coffee and another for cold drinks. Each new company aims to focus better on its specific market.
Key Facts:
Keurig Dr Pepper plans to split into two separate companies.
They are buying the owner of Peet’s Coffee for $18 billion.
The coffee company will include brands like L'OR and Jacobs and will focus more globally.
The cold beverage company will include drinks like Dr Pepper, Snapple, and energy drinks.
Shares of Keurig Dr Pepper fell by 7% after the announcement.
The coffee business aims to generate $16 billion in annual sales.
The split expects to save around $400 million over three years.
The plan hopes to complete the separation by the first half of 2026.
More than half of the recent job losses in the UK have happened in the hospitality sector, according to industry leaders. Factors like higher business costs and taxes are causing pubs, restaurants, and hotels to reduce hiring, cut staff, or even close down. The government has provided some relief measures, but concerns about costs and job losses continue.
Key Facts:
The hospitality sector includes restaurants, bars, pubs, and hotels.
Around 89,000 jobs were lost in the hospitality sector since October last year.
Hospitality makes up 53% of total job losses in the UK since the last budget.
Increased costs include higher minimum wages and National Insurance contributions.
High inflation and rising costs for ingredients and energy are impacting businesses.
The government has extended business rates relief and cut licensing costs for outdoor dining.
Job vacancies across nearly all industries have decreased, affecting hiring in hospitality and retail.
The Bank of England's inflation target is below the current inflation rate of 3.8%.
Investors are hopeful about possible interest rate cuts after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested this might happen soon. However, some experts warn that the economy might not be ready for lower rates. The Federal Reserve will decide on rate cuts based on upcoming economic data, such as job and inflation reports.
Key Facts:
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted at possible interest rate cuts in an upcoming meeting.
Investors are optimistic about these potential cuts, even though they haven't happened yet.
Experts caution that the economy might not be prepared for sustained lower interest rates.
The Federal Reserve's decision depends on economic data, like job growth and inflation rates.
There is concern that cutting rates too soon could lead to mistakes in monetary policy.
Economic signals show the economy could be picking up speed, with mixed views on inflation.
Market expectations are set high, with investors looking for two quarter-point rate cuts this year.
Key data, like the August jobs report, will influence the Federal Reserve's decisions on rate cuts.
Health insurance prices are expected to increase in 2026, partly due to higher medical costs and expensive prescription drugs. This rise could particularly impact those buying individual coverage, especially if federal financial support ends. Additionally, health insurance coverage may reduce, leading to higher out-of-pocket costs for patients.
Key Facts:
Health insurance costs are likely to rise in 2026.
Expensive treatments and prescription drugs, such as diabetes and obesity medications, are driving costs up.
There might be less financial help from the government for people buying individual insurance.
More people are seeking medical care, including expensive emergency room visits.
Healthy people are dropping insurance, leaving insurers with more sick patients who need more care.
New costly drugs and treatments, like gene therapies, are also contributing to rising expenses.
Insurance premiums on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces could go up by 20% or more.
Without renewed tax credits, customer costs might increase by over 75%.
Yorkshire Pianos is the last piano-making workshop in the UK. Owner Adam Cox believes the art of building pianos remains important despite being listed as endangered by Heritage Crafts charity. The workshop builds pianos using traditional skills and employs people passionate about this craft.
Key Facts:
Yorkshire Pianos is the last remaining piano builder in the UK.
Piano building is listed as an endangered craft by the Heritage Crafts charity.
Adam Cox, the owner, believes piano making is as relevant today as ever.
The Cavendish piano is built entirely in the UK at their workshop.
Building a piano involves assembling various parts from different craftspeople, a process taking up to six months.
The workshop uses specialist tools, and building pianos is described as a complex craft.
Learning the skills to build pianos can take years, making it a lifelong profession.
The workshop employs six people and collaborates with other craftspeople for different parts.
Evergrande, a major Chinese property company, is facing a severe financial crisis, leading to its shares being removed from the Hong Kong stock market. The company has accumulated over $300 billion in debt and filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. The crisis is affecting China's economy, which heavily relies on the real estate sector.
Key Facts:
Evergrande's shares were delisted from the Hong Kong stock market due to financial troubles.
The company missed a key debt payment in 2021, leading to it being declared in default.
Evergrande was involved in various sectors, including real estate, wealth management, and electric cars.
The company's founder, Hui Ka Yan, was fined and banned from China's capital market for reporting false revenue.
China's government implemented rules to limit real estate borrowing in 2020, affecting Evergrande.
Evergrande's financial troubles have contributed to a decline in China's real estate investment and GDP growth.
The Chinese government provided indirect financial support to the sector but avoided direct bailouts for developers.
Due to climate change, some wineries are starting to mix wines from different years to keep the taste consistent. This practice, called non-vintage blending, is more common in sparkling wines but is now being used for still wines as well. Warmer weather and extreme events like wildfires are affecting vineyards worldwide, leading wine producers to consider new methods.
Key Facts:
Climate change is causing hotter weather and more extreme events, like wildfires, in vineyard areas.
Non-vintage wine blends mix wines made from grapes harvested in different years.
In Napa Valley, California, higher temperatures and wildfires have impacted vineyards significantly.
Chris Howell, a winemaker in Napa Valley, uses non-vintage blends to manage the impact of climate changes.
Sparkling wines, especially Champagne, often use non-vintage blends to maintain consistency.
Italian winemaker Riccardo Pasqua started making Italy's first multi-year still wine as a way to stabilize the wine's quality.
Pasqua's family winery blends wines from up to five different years to achieve a desired taste.
Evergrande, once China's largest property developer, will be removed from the Hong Kong stock market after facing financial struggles due to massive debt. The company's collapse is notable as it once played a significant role in China's economy. Evergrande is now undergoing liquidation, impacting its projects and associated ventures.
Key Facts:
Evergrande will be delisted from the Hong Kong stock market.
It was once valued at over $50 billion.
The company collapsed under $300 billion in debt.
Evergrande defaulted on some overseas debts after new borrowing rules in China.
Its founder, Hui Ka Yan, was fined and banned from China's capital market.
Liquidators are attempting to recover money from the company's assets.
Evergrande had 1,300 projects in 280 cities at the time of its downfall.
China's wider economy has been affected by the property sector's troubles.
European postal agencies are pausing or stopping package shipments to the U.S. because a tariff exemption for low-value items is ending. This change means that many small packages that came to the U.S. without extra charges will now face tariffs.
Key Facts:
European postal services are stopping shipments to the U.S. due to a change in tariff rules for packages worth $800 or less.
The de minimis tariff exemption, which avoided fees on small packages, has been revoked by President Trump.
Packages from countries other than China will also be affected starting August 29.
At least 16 European postal services plan to pause or limit U.S. shipments according to the trade group PostEurop.
The U.K.'s Royal Mail will halt services temporarily, with a plan to resume under new rules.
Belgium and Germany have already paused shipments, while other countries like France and Greece also expect disruptions.
Last year, 1.3 billion packages entered the U.S. under the de minimis rules, with a significant portion from China.
Discount retailers like Shein and Temu are affected by increasing shipment costs due to these tariff changes.
Canada has imposed tariffs on U.S. wine, affecting the industry in the United States. A winery in California discusses how these tariffs are impacting the U.S. alcohol sector.
Key Facts:
Canada placed tariffs on wine imported from the United States.
The tariffs are a response to trade tensions between the two countries.
These tariffs have negatively affected the U.S. wine industry.
A winery in California is experiencing challenges due to the Canadian tariffs.
The tariffs are part of a broader trade dispute involving other products as well.
This trade conflict impacts U.S. wine exports to Canada.
Michigan's tourism campaign, Pure Michigan, has introduced a scent called FRESH to promote the state’s summer attractions. The scent, developed by The Aroma Labs, aims to capture the essence of a Michigan summer, including lavender and beach vibes. The campaign includes selling sprays online and promoting the scents in travel magazines to attract tourists.
Key Facts:
Michigan's tourism campaign, Pure Michigan, created a summer-themed scent called FRESH.
The scent aims to capture the essence of a Michigan summer, including lavender and beach experiences.
Tanya Thompson, founder of The Aroma Labs, developed the fragrance.
The spray is sold online for $32.
Planned future scents include "HARVEST" for fall and "FIRST SNOW" for winter.
Pure Michigan has a $15 million marketing program for this tourism season, including scratch and sniff panels in magazines.
The campaign promotes slow, mindful travel to Michigan tourist spots like Belle Isle.
Pure Michigan is part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, supporting the campaign.
A UK disability charity is urging airports to stop charging fees for dropping off blue badge holders, who have disabilities, near terminals. Many airports have inconsistent rules or require complex steps for blue badge users to get fee waivers, creating difficulties for them. The call for free drop-off aims to ensure easier access for people with disabilities at airports.
Key Facts:
UK airports have varying policies about drop-off fees for blue badge holders, who have disabilities.
Some airports let blue badge holders drop off for free, while others require them to use specific parking that is sometimes far from terminals.
London City Airport does not charge any drop-off fees for passengers.
Larger UK airports like Heathrow, Liverpool, and Manchester allow free drop-off for blue badge holders, but some require prior online registration.
Airports like Cardiff, Newcastle, and Stansted charge disabled and regular passengers the same drop-off fees with no discount.
The process for getting a fee waiver can be complex and not all blue badge holders can easily navigate it, especially if it's online.
Disabled Motoring UK says drop-off fees for disabled individuals should not exist, as they complicate travel.
Accessibility requirements vary by airport, and passengers are advised to check policies online before travel.
Some European shipping companies have temporarily stopped sending parcels to the U.S. because of new tariff rules. The change ends a previous rule that allowed packages worth less than $800 to enter the U.S. without tariffs. This has created confusion and challenges for shipping companies as they adjust to the new requirements.
Key Facts:
European companies like DHL and Royal Mail are pausing some U.S.-bound shipments.
The change is due to the end of the "de minimis" rule that allowed duty-free entry for packages under $800.
The rule had already been removed for China and Hong Kong, and now applies globally.
The new rule does not affect letters or gifts under $100 sent between individuals.
Shipping companies are concerned about unclear policies and logistics changes needed because of the new tariffs.
DHL will continue using its more expensive service, DHL Express, for U.S. shipments.
Companies say they need more information on how customs duties will be handled under the new rules.
The Royal Mail expects a short disruption while adjusting to the new system for calculating and invoicing tariffs.
Air Canada flight attendants went on strike due to unpaid ground work before flights. A tentative agreement reached with the airline includes partial pay for these duties. The deal may set a new standard in the industry, but not all attendants are satisfied with the agreement.
Key Facts:
Air Canada flight attendants protested against not being paid for work on the ground.
A new agreement includes pay increases over several years and partial pay for pre-flight duties.
The strike caused problems during a busy travel season but ended when a tentative deal was reached.
The changes could influence pay standards at other North American airlines.
Flight attendants at other Canadian airlines and United Airlines in the U.S. also lack ground pay.
A business expert suggested the change could impact all major airlines in North America.
Some cabin crew earn above C$54,000, with senior staff earning more than C$70,000 annually.
Delta Airlines began paying for ground work in 2022, leading changes in airline pay practices.
Trading cards like Pokémon and sports cards are increasingly popular, creating a retail boom. Big retailers, like Target and Walmart, report significant growth in trading card sales, with many adults buying them as collectibles or investments. Companies are seeing substantial sales increases, driven by new releases and strong consumer interest.
Key Facts:
Pokémon and sports trading cards are driving increased sales for retailers like Target and Walmart.
Around 20% of adults buy Pokémon cards mainly for collection or investment purposes.
U.S. toy sales increased by 6% early in the year, boosted by trading card sales.
Walmart reported a 200% increase in trading card sales from February 2024 to June 2025.
Target's trading card sales are up nearly 70% this year, expected to exceed $1 billion in 2025.
Pokémon card sales on eBay have grown for 10 straight quarters.
Sales for Pokémon and Topps cards saw over 200% yearly growth, according to StockX.
Trading cards like Pokémon are consistently among the top searched items on OfferUp.
Paige Louise Williams started her beauty business, P. Louise, with a £20,000 loan from her grandmother. Over 10 years, the business grew from a salon to a large beauty brand generating substantial revenue. The brand's success was aided by strategic moves like offering makeup courses and leveraging social media platforms like TikTok.
Key Facts:
Paige Williams started her beauty business, P. Louise, with a £20,000 loan from her grandmother.
Initially, Paige had no formal business plan and limited qualifications after leaving school.
In 2014, she opened her own salon using the loan.
Her business gained traction by offering makeup classes and online courses.
A key product, Rumour Base, became the top eyeshadow base in the market, boosting sales.
TikTok played a significant role in her business growth, with P. Louise setting a UK record on TikTok Shop by earning over £1.5 million in 12 hours.
The company moved from a small space to a 36,000 square foot warehouse due to its expansion.
