Many restaurants and stores are offering special discounts and promotions for the Fourth of July holiday. These deals range from free desserts to discounted meals and sweepstakes, celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary.
Key Facts
TGI Fridays offers a free dessert with an entrée purchase on July 4 for dine-in customers.
Grimaldi's sells an 18-inch cheese pizza for $17.76 from July 1 to July 5 with an online promo code.
7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes have several deals like buy-one-get-one-free burritos and discounted frozen margaritas.
Captain D’s and PepsiCo are running a sweepstakes for a seven-night Alaska cruise holiday package.
Burger King app users can buy a Whopper Jr. for $2.50 on July 4.
KFC offers a 12-piece chicken bucket for $15 through July 11.
Sonic Drive-In has a $2.50 menu featuring items like cheeseburgers and hot dogs until July 12.
Some discounts need app purchases or loyalty memberships and may vary by location.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who once supported AI data center growth, is now opposing new AI data centers in rural Texas because of concerns about electricity use, water consumption, and impacts on local communities. He wants to stop tax breaks for these centers and make sure they pay for the electricity infrastructure they need without raising costs for regular people.
Key Facts
Governor Greg Abbott recently said AI data centers should not be built in rural Texas neighborhoods.
He wants to end tax incentives that AI data centers currently receive in Texas.
Abbott is concerned about how data centers use large amounts of electricity and water.
Data centers need power and cooling, which often leads to higher demand on local electricity grids.
Abbott asked Texas electricity regulators to make sure data centers cover their infrastructure costs themselves.
He wants data centers to manage resources sustainably and reduce impact on local communities.
Experts say it is hard to balance the costs and benefits and question how Abbott’s plan will work in practice.
The AI industry has brought a big wave of data center construction across the U.S., raising similar concerns nationwide.
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A couple left The Custom House restaurant in Penarth without paying a bill of £115, which included seafood and eight soft drinks. The restaurant posted a video asking the pair to contact them and South Wales Police is investigating the incident.
Key Facts
The couple ordered food worth £115, including a £52 Dover sole, calamari, and eight Cokes.
They left the restaurant without paying when staff were distracted.
CCTV captured the couple leaving, and their car was gone from the parking lot before the manager could stop them.
The restaurant issued a social media appeal asking the customers to return and settle the bill.
South Wales Police confirmed they are investigating the theft report.
The restaurant owner said the incident hurt the team’s morale and added to the difficulties faced by the hospitality industry.
The Custom House is a historic restaurant that has been part of the Penarth community for over 20 years.
Similar dine-and-dash cases in South Wales have led to legal action in the past.
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The governments of Canada and Alberta have announced a plan to build a new oil pipeline with investments exceeding C$150 billion to address environmental and Indigenous concerns. The project includes a route change to the south coast, promises ownership stakes for Indigenous communities, and maintains a tanker ban to protect the northern coast.
Key Facts
Canada and Alberta will build a new oil pipeline transporting 1 million barrels of oil per day.
Investment of over C$150 billion will support infrastructure, including port expansion and power for a new LNG terminal.
Indigenous communities will have meaningful ownership in the project and will be consulted immediately.
The pipeline route shifts from British Columbia’s north coast to a southern route, avoiding the lifting of the tanker ban.
The government will keep the 50-year federal tanker ban on the north coast to protect the environment.
British Columbia’s government will not oppose the pipeline under the new conditions and will compensate locals for environmental risks.
Some First Nations support the project due to safeguards; others had threatened to withdraw support for LNG if the tanker ban was lifted.
The U.S. economy added fewer jobs than expected in June 2026, with some industries that use artificial intelligence (AI) heavily, like finance and information, seeing job losses. AI is now a leading reason for layoffs, but experts say the overall effect on employment is still complex and not yet fully clear.
Key Facts
The U.S. added 57,000 jobs in June 2026, about half the predicted number.
Financial activities and information sectors lost about 150,000 jobs this year, both strong users of AI.
AI was the most reported cause in 31% of layoffs in June, with over 101,000 layoffs citing AI as a reason in 2026.
The overall unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, mostly because people left the labor force, not because of more hiring.
AI adoption in American companies reached 20.6% in June, up from 19.5% in May.
A construction boom helped balance job losses in AI-heavy industries by increasing employment in building data centers.
Some experts warn AI could replace many jobs, but others say AI might also create new types of work.
Some layoffs blamed on AI may actually be due to other business problems, not only AI technology.
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Australia's housing market is slowing down as first home buyers and investors reduce their buying activity. Rising interest rates and tax changes have caused home loan applications to drop and house prices to fall, especially for expensive homes.
Key Facts
First home buyers are buying less due to higher interest rates and uncertainty.
Home loan applications in May were 10.9% lower than the previous year, with first-time buyer applications down 13.4%.
Loan Market reported a 20% fall in first home loan applications in June compared to June 2025.
Homes priced below certain limits set by a government 5% deposit scheme rose in price longer but started falling in June.
More expensive homes, especially in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, have seen bigger price drops recently.
The Reserve Bank’s interest rate increases pushed average new home loan rates above 6% per year.
Some buyers are hesitant because they fear prices may drop further.
In cities like Brisbane, buyers want fully renovated expensive homes and are ignoring properties that need repairs.
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The article gives a behind-the-scenes look at the Disney Wonder cruise ship. It highlights the scenic views of the state’s coastline and the unique experiences Disney offers on board the ship.
Key Facts
The Disney Wonder is a cruise ship operated by Disney.
The article explores what passengers can see and do during the cruise.
It features views of the state’s scenery along the coast.
The ship offers special Disney-themed activities and entertainment.
The content is designed to show what happens behind the scenes on the ship.
The article was shared on July 3, 2026.
It is part of content linked to ABC News Live.
The focus is on travel and entertainment related to a Disney cruise experience.
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The United States patent system, established in 1790, has played a crucial role in encouraging innovation across many fields, from agriculture to transportation. This system protects inventors' ideas for a limited time, allowing others to build on inventions once patent rights expire.
Key Facts
The U.S. patent system was created by the Constitution in 1788 and the first patent law was signed by President George Washington in 1790.
The system gives patents to the "first and true inventor," allowing women and free Black people to receive patents even before they had other civil rights.
As of 2026, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued over 12.6 million patents.
Patents protect inventors' creations temporarily, after which inventions enter the public domain for wider use.
Agricultural innovations like Eli Whitney’s cotton gin and Cyrus Hall McCormick’s mechanical reaper helped increase farm productivity.
Refrigeration inventions by Frederick McKinley Jones improved food transportation by keeping perishables fresh.
Transportation advancements included the development of the steamboat, which allowed travel upstream and helped expand mail delivery and commerce.
By the 1870s, the U.S. had built a vast railroad network connecting the country coast to coast.
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More people in the UK are booking holidays at home this summer instead of traveling abroad. This shift is due to flight delays, higher airline costs linked to the Middle East conflict, and long waiting times at European airport borders.
Key Facts
UK hotel and holiday park bookings have increased by 35% compared to last year.
Airlines face higher fuel costs because of the war in the Middle East, leading to expected fare increases.
New EU border checks cause long delays, with some flights leaving only partly full.
Bookings for UK holiday spots by lakes, rivers, and seaside towns have risen around 12%.
Searches for UK summer trips on Booking.com are up by 10%.
Waitrose predicts big rises in sales at stores in popular UK holiday areas, with increases up to 23%.
About 39% of people said new EU border rules discourage them from traveling in Europe.
38% of people have delayed booking holidays because of travel uncertainties.
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Many people in Generation Z do not trust the government pension system to support them when they retire. This shows a lack of confidence in the future of state pensions among younger adults.
Key Facts
Generation Z includes people born roughly from the late 1990s to early 2010s.
A significant number in this group doubt the state pension system.
The state pension system is money the government pays to people after they stop working.
Trust in the system is lower among younger people compared to older generations.
Concerns about the pension system may lead young people to save money in other ways.
This lack of trust can affect how Generation Z plans for retirement.
The story highlights personal finance and savings as related topics.
The article also mentions cryptocurrency as an area of interest for some young people regarding finances.
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Some companies in England are letting employees start work later on Monday after the England vs. Mexico World Cup match that begins at 1 a.m. While some industries like finance offer flexible hours, sectors such as manufacturing and retail find it harder to adjust. The government has allowed pubs to stay open late, and employers are encouraged to be understanding about work schedules during the event.
Key Facts
MG Finance Group in London will let staff start work at 11 a.m. on Monday after the late football match.
This company usually expects all employees at the office by 8:45 or 9 a.m. but is allowing flexibility because of the match.
The government approved pubs staying open until 5 a.m. on Monday for the World Cup game.
Employers are urged to consider flexible requests like working from home or changing shift times when possible.
Trade unions suggest that workers be allowed to make up hours later or swap shifts to manage fatigue.
Some jobs, like factory work, retail, and hospitality shifts, cannot easily change their hours.
Supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Aldi will operate normally without changes.
Employees don’t have a legal right to take last-minute annual leave for the match but might be better off applying for it to avoid tiredness or calling in sick.
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A Homeowners Association (HOA) in San Marcos, California, warned residents they could be fined for displaying American flags on structures the HOA calls common property. The residents argue that federal and state laws protect their right to show the flag on their property, leading to a disagreement about the rules HOAs can enforce.
Key Facts
The Ambiance Owners Association manages a 112-unit community in San Marcos, CA.
Residents have flown American flags outside their homes for over 20 years.
The HOA threatened $100 fines for displaying flags on what it calls common property.
The HOA says it does not ban the American flag but regulates where flags can be placed.
Residents argue federal and state laws protect the right to display the American flag on private property.
The disagreement relates to the 2006 Freedom to Display the American Flag Act.
This law prevents HOAs from stopping flag displays on residential property owned or controlled by the homeowner.
HOAs may apply "reasonable restrictions" on flag display time, place, and manner but cannot ban the flag outright.
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Jersey's government will share residents' personal data with UK credit reference agencies to make it easier to get credit cards, unless people choose to opt out by July 30. Some islanders support the change as it may improve access to credit cards, while others worry about privacy and prefer an opt-in system.
Key Facts
The government will share names, addresses, and birth dates to help with credit card applications.
Islanders must opt out if they do not want their data shared; otherwise, sharing will happen automatically.
The change starts on July 30.
Some residents, like Eilidh Bell, believe this will help especially young people starting their careers.
Others, such as Mark de Gruchy, feel uncomfortable with automatic data sharing and prefer to give explicit permission first.
Consumer Council representative Carl Walker said sharing data is necessary for financial services like credit cards and has strict rules to protect privacy.
Business owners hope easier credit card access will encourage spending and benefit local shops.
To opt out, residents can email or call the government with their personal details and the message "OPT OUT."
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Starling Bank will cut 130 jobs, about 3% of its staff, to reduce duplicate roles and focus more on artificial intelligence (AI) to lower costs. The bank made these changes during a time when its revenue and profits fell slightly due to investments and regulatory challenges.
Key Facts
Starling Bank employs over 4,000 people and plans to make 130 jobs redundant.
The job cuts aim to simplify operations and increase investment in AI technology.
The bank’s revenue dropped 6% to £887 million in the year ending March.
Pre-tax profit fell 3% to £217 million, partly due to spending on its digital banking software called Engine.
Founded in 2014 by Anne Boden, Starling was a leading UK digital-only bank alongside Revolut and Monzo.
It has 6.2 million customers, mostly in the UK, but has faced difficulties growing internationally.
UK regulators fined Starling £29 million in 2024 for weak controls against financial crime.
The bank’s CEO has suggested the company might become publicly traded (a plc) in the near future.
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Nayara Energy, an Indian oil company partly owned by Russian interests, has reportedly sold petroleum to Russia amid Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities, which have caused fuel shortages in Russia. Indian officials say companies are not selling fuel directly but do not rule out Russian purchases through traders.
Key Facts
Nayara Energy runs India’s second-largest private oil refinery in Gujarat with a capacity of 400,000 barrels per day.
Nayara was originally owned by Essar but partly acquired by Russian state-controlled Rosneft and a Russian asset management firm.
About 60,000 metric tonnes of petrol were reportedly shipped from India to Russia in two tankers carrying 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes each.
Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries since March have caused fuel shortages and rationing in Russia.
Russian President Putin admits the strikes have caused some fuel shortages but calls them temporary and not critical.
Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says Indian companies are not directly selling fuel to Russia, but fuel may reach Russia via traders.
The European Union sanctioned Nayara Energy last year, banning petroleum imports from the company.
Ukraine’s strikes have targeted oil facilities including in Crimea and the Black Sea town of Tuapse, impacting Russian energy supply.
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U.S. home prices fell at the fastest rate in at least nine years in June, with the national median asking price dropping to $430,000. This decline, along with stable time on the market, suggests more buyers are cautiously returning to the housing market despite still-high mortgage rates.
Key Facts
The median home price in the U.S. fell 2.5% compared to last year, reaching $430,000 in June.
This was the eighth month in a row that home prices declined nationally.
Mortgage rates remain high, averaging about 6.43% for a 30-year fixed loan.
Monthly payments for a typical home buyer are about $132 less than last year due to lower prices and slightly lower rates.
The West and South regions saw the biggest price drops, with the West down 4% and the South down 2.5%.
The average time homes spent on the market stayed the same as last year, at 53 days.
The number of homes being removed from sale listings dropped nearly 10% compared to last year.
Active home listings grew slightly overall, with the largest increases in the Northeast and Midwest.
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SSE Airtricity will raise electricity bills for homes in Northern Ireland by 6.2% starting August 1. This means customers will pay about £71.57 more per year, or roughly 20p extra per day, due to higher costs in the energy market.
Key Facts
SSE Airtricity is increasing electricity bills by 6.2% from August 1 in Northern Ireland.
The typical annual bill will rise by around £71.57, reaching about £1,277.07 per year.
The increase equals about 20 pence extra per day for customers.
The company says the hike is because of ongoing changes and higher prices in the wholesale energy market.
Stephen Gallagher, the managing director, said the decision was not easy and results from factors outside the company’s control.
SSE Airtricity is working to reduce the impact of these higher costs on customers.
The change affects domestic (home) electricity customers in Northern Ireland.
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A group of over 250 major UK employers has launched a taskforce called Get Britain Working to reduce long-term sickness absence and help workers return to their jobs. The initiative aims to improve workplace health tracking and reduce costs linked to illness, which currently total £212 billion a year in the UK.
Key Facts
More than 250 large UK employers, including British Airways, Tesco, and Royal Mail, joined the Get Britain Working taskforce.
The taskforce’s goal is to prevent people from leaving work due to long-term illness and support their return to jobs.
Illness-related absence costs the UK economy £212 billion annually.
Participating employers will track sickness absence, return-to-work results, and disability inclusion to improve workplace health visibility.
Other businesses like Sainsbury’s, EDF Energy, Currys, and 10 mayoral authorities including London and Manchester are also involved.
Former John Lewis chair Sir Charlie Mayfield highlights lack of communication between employers and sick employees as a key problem.
The plan aims to reduce welfare spending, which is forecasted to be 23.6% of government expenditure in 2025-26.
Sir Charlie believes improving return-to-work rates can boost the economy without needing new workers from housing development, immigration, or young people entering the workforce.
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A journalist tested 53 reusable water bottles to find the best ones for stopping leaks, looking good, and helping the environment. The testing included checking how well bottles keep liquids cool or warm, how durable they are, and how eco-friendly their brands are. The top bottles were then donated to charity.
Key Facts
The writer tested 53 different water bottles over four months.
Testing included dropping bottles, checking for leaks while hanging in bags, and measuring how well insulated bottles keep drinks cold or warm.
The bottles were also evaluated for weight when empty and full.
The environmental impact of the brands was reviewed, including durability and recyclability.
The top recommended bottles include Owala FreeSip as the best overall and Ion8 as the best budget option.
Kids' bottles were tested by children to simulate school use.
After testing, all bottles were donated to charity for resale.
The testing aimed to find bottles that help people stay hydrated while being kind to the planet.
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President Trump’s family crypto company, World Liberty Financial, earned over $500 million from selling digital tokens in 2025. Pakistan signed an agreement to explore using the company’s stablecoin, USD1, for cross-border payments, giving Pakistan unique access to the Trump administration, though no actual stablecoin transactions have taken place.
Key Facts
World Liberty Financial, linked to President Trump’s family, made more than $500 million from token sales in 2025.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance signed a memorandum of understanding with WLF’s affiliate SC Financial Technologies in January to explore using USD1 stablecoin.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir welcomed WLF executives during the signing ceremony.
No pilot projects, licenses, or transactions involving the USD1 stablecoin have occurred in Pakistan so far.
A stablecoin is a digital currency tied to a fixed value, usually the US dollar, used for internet money transfers without banks.
Pakistan ranks third globally in crypto adoption but most local crypto activity uses the stablecoin USDT, not USD1.
Pakistan received $38.3 billion in remittances last year, a record high and a 27% increase from the year before.
Financial experts question the need for USD1 since formal banking channels already handle large remittance flows efficiently.
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