Asda, a major UK supermarket, has reported its first sales growth in over two years, with a 0.2% increase in sales at established stores for the quarter ending June. The company credits lower prices, improved online services, and more stable IT systems for this recovery amid strong competition and previous challenges.
Key Facts
Asda’s sales rose by 0.2% in the latest quarter, the first increase since early 2024.
Sales had previously declined by 2.3% in the prior quarter.
Improvements include better pricing, more customers, and growth in online shopping services.
Asda faced past problems with its technology systems after switching from Walmart’s systems, costing nearly £1 billion to fix.
The supermarket has strong competition from discount chains Aldi and Lidl, with Aldi nearly matching Asda’s market share.
Asda plans to improve online delivery systems further by partnering with Ocado starting next year.
Food sales increased by 0.7%, while clothing and non-food items saw a drop in sales.
Current economic uncertainty and government policies affect shopper confidence and business growth.
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Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is scheduled to give an important speech at the annual economic meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The speech comes during ongoing concerns about rising inflation and unrest in the bond market.
Key Facts
Kevin Warsh is the Chair of the Federal Reserve.
He will speak at the central bank’s yearly economic meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Inflation remains high, which means prices are rising and causing concern.
The bond market, where government loans are bought and sold, is showing signs of instability.
Recently, the yield (interest rate) on 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds reached a 19-year high.
The bond yield briefly dropped after comments from Treasury Secretary Scott.
The Federal Reserve often uses these meetings to share plans about the economy and interest rates.
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President Donald Trump started a trade dispute with Canada, focusing on defense-related issues. This conflict could cause problems for U.S. companies that supply weapons and military equipment.
Key Facts
President Trump chose to challenge Canada in a trade disagreement.
The dispute involves defense products and military supplies.
U.S. defense companies may face negative effects because of this conflict.
The trade fight could impact the production and sale of military goods.
Tensions between the U.S. and Canada in defense trade are increasing.
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Petrol prices in the UK have reached their highest level since late 2022, just before a busy bank holiday weekend. This increase adds financial pressure on drivers as many prepare for travel, with prices influenced by international events and local market practices.
Key Facts
The average petrol price in the UK is now 161.6 pence per litre; diesel costs 183.4 pence per litre.
The last time petrol was this expensive was November 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Millions of people plan to drive over the bank holiday, with traffic expected to be the heaviest since 2015.
The price rise is partly due to global oil price changes, including spikes driven by conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is monitoring pump prices to prevent retailers from charging excessively.
Many petrol stations delay lowering prices when wholesale costs drop, according to the CMA.
A government tool called Fuel Finder helps drivers compare fuel prices at nearby stations.
Competitive petrol stations can influence local prices, often lowering costs nearby.
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Central bankers and economists are meeting at the annual Federal Reserve symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will speak about inflation and the bond market. Market participants are watching closely to see how the Fed will handle rising inflation and recent government actions to lower US borrowing costs by buying long-term bonds.
Key Facts
The Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole symposium focuses this year on inflation and bond markets.
Kevin Warsh is the new Chair of the Federal Reserve.
Warsh’s speech is expected at 10 a.m. Eastern Time in Wyoming.
Investors want clarity on how the Fed will control inflation if prices keep rising.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been buying long-term bonds to lower borrowing costs.
This Treasury action could conflict with the Fed’s efforts to manage inflation.
European bond yields have risen to highs not seen in 15 to 18 years amid these concerns.
Warsh has indicated his speech will also cover topics like AI, productivity, demographics, and the global impact of the Iran war.
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The number of U.S. homeowners falling behind on their homeowners association (HOA) fees has increased significantly over the past three years. This rise in unpaid fees has led to more legal claims called liens and a higher risk of foreclosure in some states.
Key Facts
HOA liens in the U.S. rose by 41.7% from 2022 to 2025, reaching 250,951 liens last year.
Three years ago, there were 177,260 HOA liens nationwide.
HOA fees usually range from $200 to $400 per month.
Nearly 44% of homes for sale in 2026 have HOA fees, up from 34.3% in 2019.
Unpaid HOA fees can result in liens, which must be paid before selling or refinancing a home.
Some states, like Minnesota and Nevada, allow HOAs to foreclose on homes for unpaid fees more aggressively.
Foreclosure filings related to unpaid HOA fees rose 46.1% between 2022 and 2025.
Five states—Florida, Texas, Nevada, California, and Arizona—accounted for 85.2% of HOA foreclosure filings last year.
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Some chefs in the UK are switching from gas to electric induction cookers to reduce kitchen heat, save energy, and improve safety. Electric induction cookers heat only the pans, lowering kitchen temperatures and cutting energy costs, while also reducing harmful pollution from gas stoves.
Key Facts
UK kitchens can get dangerously hot, especially during summer heatwaves, causing some restaurants to close or reduce hours.
There is currently no legal maximum working temperature for kitchen staff in the UK.
Electric induction cookers heat food directly in the pan, which reduces kitchen temperatures by up to 10°C compared to gas.
Induction cookers are more energy-efficient, safer, and help air conditioning work better in busy kitchens.
Some chefs worry induction cooking won’t replicate traditional cooking effects, but others have successfully reached high temperatures and maintained flavors.
Switching to induction can save thousands of pounds on energy bills, with payback periods of about three years.
Electric induction hobs are quieter than gas burners and easier to clean.
Gas cookers emit pollutants linked to health issues like asthma, making electric a better option for health and the environment.
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Residents near a large datacenter under construction in Vineland, New Jersey, are suing over loud noise they say disturbs them, especially at night. The lawsuit argues the noise is a public nuisance, and this issue is part of growing national concerns about datacenter impacts on local communities.
Key Facts
Steve Brown and neighbors near a 350MW datacenter in Vineland, NJ filed a lawsuit about noise pollution.
The datacenter, called DataOne, covers 2.4 million square feet and is close to residential areas.
Noise from the site is described as a loud, constant, machine-like humming that disrupts sleep.
The plaintiffs seek class action status to represent more affected residents.
The law firm Liddle Sheets Coulson, specializing in environmental cases, represents the plaintiffs.
Noise pollution concerns rank alongside energy use, water consumption, and emissions as problems caused by datacenters.
Local opposition includes town hall meetings, protests, and political ads against datacenter development.
Federal efforts to regulate noise pollution diminished in the 1980s, leaving limited enforcement today.
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Colman's Mustard, a well-known brand originally from Norfolk, has been put up for sale. This sale is part of plans linked to a merger between Unilever and the American food company McCormick, which is valued at about £48 billion.
Key Facts
Colman's Mustard was founded in 1814 in Norfolk by Jeremiah Colman.
The brand had a factory in Norwich for 160 years before closing in 2020.
Unilever plans to sell the Colman's brand and assets to avoid competition issues in the merger with McCormick.
The merger deal between Unilever and McCormick is worth around £48 billion.
McCormick owns French's, a major mustard brand, and will gain control of brands like Hellmann's, Marmite, Knorr, and Pot Noodle.
After the Norwich plant closed, production moved to Burton-on-Trent and Germany.
Unilever will focus on home and personal care products after the merger, keeping brands such as Dove, Persil, and Lynx.
The former Colman's factory site in Norwich remains empty and is planned for housing development.
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SSE Airtricity will raise gas prices by nearly 19% from October 1 for 200,000 homes and small businesses in Northern Ireland. This increase is due to higher wholesale gas costs caused by global energy market changes linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Key Facts
SSE Airtricity is Northern Ireland’s largest natural gas supplier.
The price rise will cost a typical household in Belfast and west gas network areas about £172 more per year.
The increase is caused by volatile global energy markets and higher wholesale gas prices.
Wholesale gas prices in the UK have doubled since the US and Israel attacked Iran.
The conflict closed the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for oil and gas transport.
About 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The UK imports most of its oil and gas from the US and Norway.
The continual rise in wholesale gas prices is expected to affect energy bills into winter.
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More people in the UK are buying beans, lentils, tofu, and other legume products to save money and eat healthier. Sales of these foods rose by 7.3% in early 2026, while purchases of fake meat products declined.
Key Facts
Sales of beans, pulses, and soy products in the UK increased by 7.3% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same time last year.
Cheap dried lentils saw a 23% rise in sales, and canned butter beans grew by 30.3%.
Sales of fake meats, like soya and pea proteins, dropped by 4.3%, but mycoprotein products like Quorn grew.
Meat sales, especially beef and lamb, fell by 1.8% year on year due to rising prices.
The Bang in Some Beans campaign, supported by chefs and supermarkets, aims to double UK bean consumption by 2028.
Large companies, including Sainsbury’s, Lidl, and Marks & Spencer, are increasing their plant-based product offerings.
Lidl reported a 694% increase in sales of plant-based foods since 2020 after introducing new products like flavored tofu.
Experts say beans are healthy, affordable, and better for the environment than meat.
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Survivors of sexual abuse in New Orleans’s Catholic archdiocese have been told they will receive up to about $641,000 each as part of a $305 million settlement to resolve the church’s bankruptcy case. Many survivors say the amounts are too low, especially compared to other recent awards and settlements outside bankruptcy, and are upset about how their individual payments were calculated.
Key Facts
The New Orleans Catholic archdiocese agreed to pay $305 million to settle abuse claims in a bankruptcy case started in 2020.
Survivors began receiving letters showing their estimated individual payments, which max out at about $641,000.
The payment system assigns points to each survivor’s claim based on the abuse type; for example, rape is 75 points.
The highest possible points total is 100, with each point worth about $6,414.
Some survivors with severe abuse claims received less than the maximum points, causing confusion and frustration.
Survivors were not given detailed explanations of how their points were calculated.
The archdiocese promised payments by spring 2026, but the process has been delayed due to disputes over records.
Survivors have 30 days to request a reconsideration of their claim points.
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John Healey, the new UK chancellor, will delay announcing when the UK will meet the defence spending target of 3% of GDP until next year’s spending review. His October budget will focus on fully funding the current defence investment plan without setting a date for the spending goal.
Key Facts
John Healey is the UK chancellor and will present his first budget on 28 October.
The UK has a target to spend 3% of its GDP on defence, but no date will be set yet to meet this target.
The last defence investment plan was set for three years but left about £1.2 billion per year unfunded.
The UK government plans to fully fund the existing defence investment plan in this budget.
A new spending review to outline defence spending plans is expected next year, but no exact date is known.
The government aims to meet NATO’s target of 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035.
Defence spending is expected to reach 2.7% of GDP by 2030, partly funded by cuts in UK aid spending.
Healey emphasized fiscal discipline as vital for economic stability and avoided increasing borrowing.
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The article discusses personal spending habits and focuses on a story about Ella overcoming a shopping addiction. It highlights issues related to managing money and controlling spending.
Key Facts
The article centers on how people can spend too much money on shopping.
Ella is featured as someone who had a shopping addiction.
The story shows how Ella managed to overcome her habit.
The content is connected to personal finance topics.
The article aims to help readers think about their own spending.
It was published recently and is part of money and shopping sections.
The article encourages better money management skills.
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A street artist in Sheffield, Chris Ashmore, has defended his unfinished mural of snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan after it received mixed reviews from locals and went viral online. Ashmore explained he has only completed part of the work and plans to make adjustments once he has better access.
Key Facts
Chris Ashmore was hired to paint a mural of seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.
The mural is on the back wall of the Spot On Snooker Club on Langsett Road in Sheffield.
Some people liked the mural, saying it brightened their day, while others criticized O'Sullivan’s face as looking "skeletal" and "zombie-like."
Ashmore said the mural is unfinished and he has only worked on it for two weeks out of the five weeks allocated.
He painted from scaffolding, which blocked his full view of the mural and affected his perspective.
The mural went viral on social media, leading to both praise and harsh criticism.
Spot On manager Dan Kirkland supported Ashmore and said small changes could improve the mural.
Ashmore plans to finish the mural properly and will not rush despite the social media reactions.
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Asian stock markets mostly rose on Friday after strong earnings reports from tech companies like Nvidia boosted U.S. stocks. While South Korea's main index fell slightly, other markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Australia, and Taiwan saw moderate gains. Investors are also watching for a Federal Reserve speech that could affect inflation policy.
Key Facts
Nvidia’s latest quarterly profits and revenue were higher than analysts expected.
Nvidia’s stock rose 8.7%, driven by strong demand for AI-related computer chips.
Salesforce’s stock jumped 22.6% after reporting a very strong quarter helped by AI technology.
Other Asian markets mostly gained: Tokyo’s Nikkei rose 0.8%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng 0.3%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 0.3%, and Taiwan’s Taiex surged 1%.
South Korea’s Kospi index fell 1% to 6,841.50.
U.S. futures were mostly unchanged, while oil prices fell slightly on Friday.
The price of Brent crude oil was $88.24 per barrel, down 0.3%; U.S. crude oil was $83.17 per barrel, down 0.4%.
Investors are awaiting a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, who is expected to provide limited guidance on inflation policy.
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The federal Labor government will introduce new national laws requiring datacentres to use 100% renewable energy, without special exemptions for Queensland or the Northern Territory. States can apply for exceptions only if they can prove using coal or gas power is cheaper, but the Australian Energy Regulator will make the final decision.
Key Facts
The government will require datacentres across Australia to use only renewable energy supported by firming (backup power sources).
No automatic exemptions will be given to Queensland or the Northern Territory despite their interest in using coal or gas.
States or territories can request an exemption if they prove fossil fuels are cheaper, but this is expected to be difficult.
The Australian Energy Regulator will review all exemption requests and decide whether to approve them.
The national rules aim to prevent datacentres from raising energy prices for homes and businesses.
Datacentre energy use in Australia is expected to grow seven times in the next decade.
The government will use constitutional powers to enforce these national datacentre energy standards even if states disagree.
Australia’s carbon emissions fell 1.6% in the year to March 2026, mainly due to more solar, wind, and battery use replacing coal and gas.
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The Trump administration is negotiating a deal with Venezuela to secure long-term access to Venezuelan oil fields, allowing American companies to develop them and supply oil to the US. The agreement could involve leasing oil fields and aims to help US refineries and replenish the country's emergency oil reserves.
Key Facts
The US is working on a deal to gain control over some Venezuelan oil fields.
The deal would let American companies operate these fields and send oil to the US.
Negotiations include 17 oil fields in Venezuela, including new areas in the Orinoco Belt and older ones in Lake Maracaibo.
Venezuela might leave OPEC as it strengthens relations with the US.
Venezuela’s current laws do not allow leasing of oil areas, but recent reforms permit joint ventures and production-sharing contracts.
The deal faces potential legal and constitutional challenges in Venezuela.
The US aims to reduce fuel prices and refill its Strategic Petroleum Reserve amid recent supply challenges.
Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was removed from power in January, and the US wants stable Venezuelan oil exports after that change.
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Selena Gomez faces a lawsuit where investors claim she did not support the mental health company Wondermind as promised, leading to nearly $1.2 million in alleged losses. Gomez denies the claims and her lawyer has asked to dismiss the case, saying the accusations are vague and wrong.
Key Facts
Selena Gomez co-founded the mental health platform Wondermind with her mother five years ago.
Investors say Gomez promised to actively lead marketing for the company but failed to do so.
The investors claim they lost almost $1.2 million because of her alleged breach of contract.
Gomez’s lawyer says she never agreed to manage the company or make the commitments investors describe.
Gomez is asking the court to remove her from the lawsuit entirely.
Her mother and other Wondermind co-founders are also involved in the fraud allegations.
Experts note that mixing family and business can create risks and unclear responsibilities.
Despite negative headlines, the impact on Gomez’s reputation may be limited among her main fans.
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This article tells how Ella Hewitt overcame a shopping addiction that made her spend up to £700 each month on clothes she didn’t need. She used strategies like waiting 30 days before buying and setting imaginary budgets to reduce her spending by about 60%. Experts say shopping addiction affects mostly women and offer tips to control impulsive spending.
Key Facts
A study found that 7% of adults worldwide struggle with shopping addiction, especially younger women.
Ella Hewitt spent roughly £700 a month in 2021 on fast fashion she often never wore.
Ella’s addiction was linked to feeling a dopamine “hit” or pleasure from shopping, fueled by social media trends.
She used tactics such as postponing purchases for 30 days and creating imaginary daily budgets to control impulses.
Ella reduced her shopping by 60% and now works as an ethical fashion influencer.
The Ukat Group reports 90% of their shopping addiction cases are women and lists signs like mood improvement after buying and guilt afterward.
Tips to reduce spending include waiting before purchasing, deleting saved cards and apps, making lists, setting budgets, and avoiding triggers like boredom or stress.
Support groups like Citizens Advice and National Debtline provide help for people with money problems related to shopping addiction.
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