President Trump approved a deal allowing mainly U.S. investors to take control of TikTok from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, due to national security concerns. The agreement ensures that ByteDance has less than 20% ownership in the new company and involves several prominent investors. This is part of a wider U.S. government effort to address security issues by changing TikTok's ownership.
Key Facts
President Trump signed an executive order for U.S. investors to take over TikTok.
The deal aims to address U.S. national security concerns related to the app's Chinese ownership.
ByteDance will own less than 20% of the new TikTok entity.
Prominent investors involved include Oracle's Larry Ellison and News Corp's Rupert Murdoch.
Vice President J.D. Vance mentioned the company would be valued around $14 billion.
TikTok has approximately 170 million users in the United States.
A U.S. law requires foreign-controlled apps to change ownership to reduce security risks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Amazon will pay $2.5 billion to settle claims by the U.S. government that it misled people into signing up for Prime memberships and made it hard to cancel. The settlement involves $1.5 billion designated for refunds to affected customers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused Amazon of using tactics that violated consumer protection laws.
Key Facts
Amazon has agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement over claims related to Prime memberships.
The FTC claims Amazon misled customers and made canceling Prime difficult.
$1.5 billion of the settlement is set aside for refunds to customers.
The FTC won the largest civil penalty in its history with this agreement.
Amazon did not admit guilt but agreed to the settlement terms.
Prime subscriptions include benefits like free shipping and cost $139 a year in the US.
An estimated 35 million people could be eligible for refunds.
Amazon will have to change how it presents Prime membership and cancellations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Users of the app Vinted are upset about delays in getting their packages through the courier service InPost UK. The delays are due to an IT problem that InPost UK is working to fix. Some customers have been waiting longer than expected and have shared their frustrations online.
Key Facts
Vinted users are experiencing delays with InPost UK parcel deliveries.
Some packages were not collected or are stuck without tracking updates.
An IT issue caused the delays, and InPost UK is working on fixing it.
Customers reported being informed of deliveries that haven't arrived.
Sonia Fallows, a regular customer, has not received her order of toy blocks.
InPost UK acquired Yodel in May to expand its logistics operations.
InPost aims to handle over 300 million parcels annually.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United States' GDP growth for the April-to-June quarter was revised to 3.8%, higher than earlier estimates. This new data suggests the U.S. economy is not slowing down as much as previously thought and affects expectations about future interest rate cuts.
Key Facts
The U.S. GDP grew at a 3.8% annual rate in the second quarter, revised up from an earlier estimate of 3.3%.
The increase was largely due to stronger consumer spending.
Final sales to private domestic purchasers, an indicator of economic health, rose to a 2.9% annual rate.
Jobless claims dropped to 218,000, which is 14,000 fewer than the previous week.
Concerns about a potential slowdown partly relate to immigration policies and job market supply rather than demand.
Expectations for two more interest rate cuts this year fell from 73% to 65%.
Prior GDP growth was impacted by companies importing goods early to avoid tariffs, causing fluctuations in economic data.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The US economy grew faster in the spring than initially reported, largely because people spent more money and imports fell. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.8% from April to June, an update from an earlier prediction of 3.3%. Despite economic challenges like tariffs, consumer spending continues to play a crucial role in driving the economy.
Key Facts
The US GDP grew at an annual rate of 3.8% from April to June.
This growth rate is higher than the previously estimated 3.3%.
The rise in GDP was helped by increased consumer spending, which went up by 2.5% in a year.
Imports decreased, helping boost GDP as imports are subtracted in GDP calculations.
The US economy had shrunk by 0.6% at the start of 2025.
Retail sales increased by 0.6% in August from the previous month.
In August, the US added only 22,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate slightly increased from 4.2% to 4.3%.
Initial unemployment insurance claims recently dropped to their lowest since July.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has started reopening its operations in phases after a cyber attack in August. The company is working to fix its IT systems and clear payment backlogs to suppliers while its factories remain closed. The government may support JLR's suppliers to prevent small businesses from going bankrupt.
Key Facts
JLR began a "phased restart" after a cyber attack disrupted its operations.
The attack in August caused JLR to shut down its IT networks and halt production.
Parts of JLR's IT system are now back online, helping with invoicing and sales.
JLR factories are not expected to reopen until next month at the earliest.
The government is considering supporting JLR suppliers to prevent bankruptcies.
JLR's global parts logistics centre is returning to full operations.
The company says restoring IT systems helps improve cash flow by allowing vehicle sales and registrations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nigel Farage and Richard Tice from Reform UK want the Bank of England to stop selling bonds, which they say is costing taxpayers a lot of money and raising government debt costs. They also want the Bank to change its approach to cryptocurrencies to encourage innovation. The Bank of England started selling bonds in 2022, reversing previous efforts to support the economy by buying bonds.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage and Richard Tice met with the Bank of England governor to discuss concerns.
Reform UK claims selling bonds, known as quantitative tightening, is leading to financial losses.
Quantitative easing involved the Bank buying bonds to support the economy; now it's selling them.
The Bank of England started its bond-selling program last year.
Tice argues these actions can affect government taxes and budget decisions.
Farage wants the Bank to relax its rules on cryptocurrencies to boost innovation.
Reform UK plans to accept Bitcoin donations and promote cryptocurrency use.
The Bank of England has warned that stablecoins could threaten the financial system.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Starbucks plans to close some of its underperforming stores in the U.S. and UK, which will result in cutting about 900 jobs. The company aims to save costs and improve sales while still planning to open new locations in both regions. The job cuts will mostly affect support teams, not the baristas who serve customers in the stores.
Key Facts
Starbucks will close some stores in the U.S. and UK as part of a cost-saving move.
About 900 jobs will be cut, affecting mostly support teams.
This action is part of efforts to improve sales and reduce wait times.
In February, Starbucks announced a previous job cut of 1,100 positions and changes to its U.S. menu.
The company still plans to open 80 new stores in the UK and 150 across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa this year.
Some stores in Switzerland and Austria will also close.
The job cuts will not affect baristas working in the stores.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Papa Johns introduced a new pizza called the "Papa Dippa," which comes with four different garlic-based dipping sauces. This menu change aims to attract customers as people spend less due to economic uncertainty.
Key Facts
Papa Johns launched the "Papa Dippa" on September 22.
The new pizza includes four dipping sauces: Special Garlic, Garlic Parmesan, Garlic Pesto, and Garlic Hot Honey.
The pizza is available for $13.99 and is cut into 16 strips for easy sharing and dipping.
Each strip has 160 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 6 grams of protein.
From September 25 to October 9, customers can send the pizza to others using Uber Eats with a personalized message.
Papa Johns plans to grow sales by 2% to 5% by 2025 and open 85 to 115 new stores in North America.
The company will keep focusing on digital ordering and partnerships, like with Uber Eats, to boost business.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Amazon will pay $2.5 billion to settle with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over claims that it misled customers into signing up for Prime memberships and made it hard to cancel them. This settlement includes $1 billion in civil penalties and $1.5 billion in refunds to customers. Amazon denies any wrongdoing.
Key Facts
Amazon has agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC.
The settlement involves $1 billion in civil penalties.
An additional $1.5 billion will go towards refunds to affected Prime members.
The FTC claims Amazon misled customers into signing up for Prime.
The FTC also says Amazon made it difficult for users to cancel their Prime memberships.
Amazon denies any wrongdoing in this case.
Amazon has not yet responded to requests for comments about the settlement.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Amazon agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over accusations that it misled customers into enrolling in its Prime service. The FTC claimed that Amazon made it hard for people to cancel their Prime memberships. Despite the settlement, Amazon did not admit to any wrongdoing.
Key Facts
Amazon will pay $2.5 billion to settle allegations with the FTC.
The FTC accused Amazon of tricking customers into signing up for Prime memberships.
Amazon also allegedly made it difficult for customers to cancel Prime.
The settlement includes $1 billion in civil penalties, the largest fine ever by the FTC.
$1.5 billion from the settlement will go to consumers affected by the Prime enrollment practices.
The trial began in Seattle and relates to a case filed two years earlier.
Amazon did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Starbucks is closing about 200 stores and laying off 900 corporate employees in the U.S. and Canada as part of a strategy to improve the company. The CEO, Brian Niccol, aims to enhance customer experience by investing in new store openings and making current stores more appealing to customers. Recent changes have not yet improved the company’s financial performance significantly.
Key Facts
Starbucks will close roughly 200 stores in the U.S. and Canada.
The company will lay off 900 corporate employees as part of a turnaround plan.
Starbucks plans to finish the fiscal year with nearly 18,300 locations in these regions.
The company’s strategy includes opening new stores and renovating over 1,000 existing ones.
This is the second wave of layoffs following 1,100 job cuts in February.
CEO Brian Niccol, who joined from Chipotle, aims to improve customer experience by speeding up service and upgrading store designs.
Starbucks has reported declining sales for six consecutive quarters.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Starbucks announced it will close some stores and lay off 900 employees as part of a $1 billion restructuring plan. This move comes as the company works to improve after having lower sales for a long time.
Key Facts
Starbucks will close an unspecified number of stores.
The company plans to lay off 900 employees.
The restructuring plan will cost $1 billion.
Starbucks is trying to improve its business after ongoing sales drops.
This is part of the company's larger turnaround efforts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Amazon decided to settle a lawsuit by agreeing to pay $2.5 billion after being accused of tricking people into its Prime membership program. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claimed that Amazon used confusing web designs to get people to sign up and made it hard for them to cancel. Amazon did not admit it did anything wrong but agreed to the settlement as a trial was about to start.
Key Facts
Amazon will pay $1 billion to the government and $1.5 billion to affected customers.
The FTC accused Amazon of using confusing web designs to enroll users in auto-renewing Prime memberships.
Prime memberships cost $139 per year or $14.99 per month.
Regulators said Amazon made the cancellation process difficult on purpose.
Amazon denied any wrongdoing and said its practices were clear and beneficial to customers.
A trial was about to start in Seattle, with a jury set to decide if Amazon broke the law.
Amazon faces another lawsuit accusing it of running a monopoly, expected to go to trial in 2027.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Krispy Kreme is celebrating National Coffee Day by giving away free coffee and doughnuts at participating locations on September 29 without any purchase required. Additionally, customers can buy an Original Glazed dozen for $1 with the purchase of another dozen at the regular price over the weekend.
Key Facts
Krispy Kreme offers free medium-sized hot or iced coffee and a free doughnut on September 29 at participating stores.
No purchase is needed to get the free coffee and doughnut.
A separate promotion offers an Original Glazed dozen for $1 when buying another dozen at the regular price, valid from Saturday to Monday.
The promotions are available in-store and via drive-thru at participating shops nationwide.
National Coffee Day has been celebrated in the U.S. for over ten years.
Singer Joe Jonas is partnering with Krispy Kreme for this promotional event.
The $1 BOGO (buy one, get one) deal is available for pickup or delivery via Krispy Kreme's website or mobile app with a promo code.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
New home sales in the U.S. rose significantly in August 2025, reaching an annual rate of 800,000 homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This marked a 20.5% increase from July and a 15.4% rise from the same month in the previous year. Builders offered price cuts and incentives, which helped boost sales despite higher overall median home prices.
Key Facts
New home sales hit an annual rate of 800,000 in August, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
This rate was 20.5% higher than July's rate and 15.4% higher than August 2024.
Sales increased most in the Northeast, with a 72.2% rise from July.
Builders offered price cuts, with 37% doing so in August, according to a survey by the National Association of Homebuilders.
The median sales price for a new home was $413,500 in August.
The inventory of new homes dropped to 490,000, equivalent to a 7.4-month supply.
The percentage of homebuilders offering discounts rose to 39% in September, the highest in over five years.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Twenty One Pilots' album "Breach" hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking a notable comeback for rock music. The album sold 200,000 units, with 169,000 from sales including 72,000 on vinyl. Ed Sheeran's "Play" debuted at No. 5, while streaming continues to play a significant role in album rankings.
Key Facts
"Breach" by Twenty One Pilots is the No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart.
The album sold 200,000 equivalent units, with 169,000 from sales.
72,000 of the album's sales were vinyl records.
This is the biggest rock debut since Tool's "Inoculum" six years ago.
Twenty One Pilots last topped the albums chart in 2015 with "Blurryface."
Ed Sheeran's "Play" debuted at No. 5 with 71,000 equivalent units.
Streaming significantly impacts chart rankings, as seen with new artists like sombr.
"Golden" by HUNTR/X is No. 1 on the Hot 100 singles chart for the sixth week.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Customers in England, Wales, and Scotland owe a total of £4.4 billion to energy suppliers, setting a new record. Over one million households have no plan in place to repay this debt, and the regulator, Ofgem, is exploring ways to address the issue, including proposals for a Debt Relief Support Scheme.
Key Facts
Customers owe £4.4 billion to energy suppliers, which is a new high.
This debt increased by more than £750 million from the previous year.
More than one million households do not have repayment plans for their energy debt.
Ofgem is considering a Debt Relief Support Scheme to help manage and possibly reduce this debt.
Energy prices have dropped from their peak but remain high, causing payment difficulties.
The average debt for households without a repayment plan is £1,716.
Ofgem aims to make it easier for people to get help from charities and debt support groups.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A dog owner in California got two DNA tests from different companies for her adopted dog, Lydia, to find out its breed for sure. This reflects a broader trend, as the U.S. pet DNA testing market is growing, expected to reach $234 million by 2030.
Key Facts
The dog owner, Allie, adopted her dog Lydia from a rescue in Southern California.
Lydia was first identified as a dachshund mix by the rescue.
Allie used two DNA test companies, Wisdom Panel and Embark, to confirm Lydia's breed mix.
The tests showed Lydia is 33% Yorkshire terrier, 25% Chihuahua, 9% poodle, and a mix of other breeds.
The U.S. pet DNA testing market was valued at $144.4 million in 2024.
The market is projected to grow to $234 million by 2030.
Some research suggests DNA test results can vary and might be influenced by factors like photos.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ticketmaster is required to provide better information about ticket prices. The change comes after complaints about unclear pricing during an Oasis tour. The company will now inform fans 24 hours in advance if a tiered pricing system is used.
Key Facts
Ticketmaster must give more detailed price information to music fans.
This change follows complaints about Oasis's reunion tour last year.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) pushed for this change.
Fans will now get a 24-hour notice if a tiered pricing system is used.
Ticketmaster sold "platinum" tickets much higher than standard ones, without clear explanations.
The CMA said Ticketmaster potentially misled fans with unclear prices.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
