Diesel fuel prices in the U.S. have reached their highest levels ever, mainly due to conflicts in Iran and Ukraine. This rise affects many parts of the economy and will likely increase costs for consumers.
Key Facts
The U.S. national average price for a gallon of diesel was $6.52 as of Wednesday.
This price is much higher than last year’s average of $3.69 per gallon.
Rising diesel prices are linked to the U.S. involvement in a war in Iran and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Diesel is important because it fuels many parts of the economy, even though most people do not buy it directly.
Experts say consumers will feel the impact of higher diesel prices in everyday costs.
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A Dutch court ruled that Lidl must stop selling sandals that copy Birkenstock’s famous designs in the Netherlands. Lidl faces daily fines if it does not comply and must share sales information with Birkenstock, which will also receive compensation and be paid legal fees.
Key Facts
Lidl is banned from selling sandals that imitate Birkenstock’s Arizona, Madrid, Gizeh, Boston, and Florida models in the Netherlands.
If Lidl disobeys, it will pay a fine of €5,000 (about £4,200) daily.
Lidl must hand over sales data to Birkenstock and compensate the company, with amounts to be decided later.
The court found Lidl copied Birkenstock’s trademarked “footbed design.”
Birkenstock said it will keep defending its designs and take legal action against copycats.
Previous legal cases involved similar issues: a Dutch ruling stopped another retailer from selling Birkenstock lookalikes, and Europe’s highest court said design choices on products can have copyright.
Birkenstock lost a case in Germany, where the court said sandals are practical items, not art, so they are less protected.
Other brands like Dr. Martens and Christian Louboutin also fight copycats in court.
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UK defence contractors have committed to offering 40,000 apprenticeships, work placements, and jobs annually for young people by 2030, increasing to 50,000 by 2035. This effort aims to help reduce the number of young people not in education, employment, or training by linking increased defence spending to job creation across the UK.
Key Facts
Defence firms like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, and Thales have pledged to create 40,000 opportunities per year for 18- to 24-year-olds by 2030.
These opportunities include apprenticeships, work experience, and permanent jobs.
The number of opportunities is planned to rise to 50,000 annually by 2035.
The defence industry will use a “no wrong door” policy to guide applicants to other roles if they are not successful initially.
Labour sees this as a way to support UK industry and tackle youth unemployment (Neet - young people not in education, employment, or training).
UK defence spending is planned to increase to 2.7% of GDP next year, with discussion around possibly raising this to 3% by 2030.
Funding for increased defence spending may involve cuts to overseas aid and potential tax rises.
The initiative is part of a broader plan to boost economic growth and job opportunities outside London and the south-east of England.
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President Donald Trump's administration suggested banning or limiting diesel fuel exports, which has upset the U.S. oil industry. Some politicians want to reduce high energy prices before the November midterm elections, but experts warn such a ban could cause fuel shortages and raise prices in the U.S. and other countries.
Key Facts
The Trump administration proposed a ban or limit on diesel exports.
The U.S. oil industry strongly opposes this idea.
Politicians want to lower high energy prices before the November midterm elections.
Critics say the export ban could reduce supply and increase fuel prices domestically and abroad.
The debate is part of a larger discussion about energy policies and their economic impact.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported the global economy is doing better than expected despite energy shocks, helped by investments in artificial intelligence (AI).
The issue is connected to concerns over energy security and market stability.
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Bentley has introduced its first fully electric car, the Torcal SUV, which will be made at its upgraded factory in Cheshire. The new model has a long battery range and fast charging features, while Bentley invested £350 million to build a new production line for it.
Key Facts
Bentley spent £350 million to update its factory in Cheshire for electric car production.
The Torcal SUV is Bentley’s first fully electric vehicle.
The car has a 113kWh battery that can travel up to 375 miles (600km) on a single charge.
It can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes with a 400kW charger.
The Torcal S model reaches 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and can go up to 162 mph.
Bentley’s factory has used new technology like autonomous guided vehicles to move cars in production.
The investment supports about 4,000 jobs in Crewe and benefits supply chains with over 700 suppliers.
The UK government is pushing for electric vehicles, planning to stop sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.
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Common Bond, the company that owns Barrecore, Boom Cycle, and Kobox fitness studios, has suddenly closed all its London locations until further notice. Customers were informed by email, and some instructors reported pay delays and learning about the closure only through the email.
Key Facts
Common Bond owns several fitness brands, including Barrecore, Boom Cycle, Kobox, Reformcore, and Triyoga.
All Common Bond studios in London are closed "until further notice."
Customers received an email notification about the closures.
Instructors were told their payments would be delayed and only learned about the closures from the email.
The company was formed in June last year and has not published financial accounts yet.
The company’s website is no longer publicly available.
There is uncertainty about how many customers and instructors are affected.
A director named Ben Allen left the company last month; Gaspar Lipszyc is currently the only listed director.
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The Walt Disney Company is raising prices for many of its Disney+ and Hulu subscription plans. Some plans without ads are going up by $2 to $2.50, while plans with ads are increasing by about 50 cents, with changes starting now for new customers and next month for current subscribers.
Key Facts
Disney+ and Hulu standalone ad-free plans increase by $2.50 to $21.49 per month.
Disney+ and Hulu standalone plans with ads increase by 50 cents to $12.49 per month.
The ad-free Disney+/Hulu bundle rises by $2 to $21.99 per month.
The ad-supported Disney+/Hulu bundle remains at $12.99 per month.
The ESPN bundles with Disney+ and Hulu also see some price increases, with some premium options rising $2 to $3.
Some ESPN bundle prices with ads or ad-free remain unchanged.
New subscribers pay the higher prices immediately, while current users will see changes starting next month.
Disney plans to combine Disney+ and Hulu into one app, allowing shared profiles and viewing history.
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Caesars Entertainment shareholders voted to approve a merger with Fertitta Gaming worth about $17.6 billion, including debt. The merger will create one of the largest gaming companies, pending federal review, and Caesars will become privately owned.
Key Facts
Caesars Entertainment and Fertitta Gaming agreed to merge in a deal valued at about $17.6 billion, including debt.
Fertitta will pay $5.7 billion and take on $12 billion of Caesars' debt.
The merger vote had over 133 million shares in favor and 4 million against.
Caesars operates prominent casinos like Caesars Palace, Flamingo, and Harrah's on the Las Vegas Strip.
Fertitta Gaming owns the Golden Nugget casinos and restaurant chains such as Rainforest Cafe and Morton's.
Tilman Fertitta is a large shareholder in Wynn Resorts and DraftKings.
Fertitta stepped down from his company in April 2025 after becoming U.S. ambassador to Italy and San Marino.
The merger still requires approval from federal antitrust regulators before it can be completed.
If approved, Caesars shareholders will receive $31 per share in cash, and the company will go private.
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McDonald’s plans to grow its share of the global chicken market by 1.5 percentage points by 2030 while keeping beef sales strong. The company aims to compete with popular chicken chains like KFC and Popeyes as more young people choose fried chicken and beef prices rise.
Key Facts
McDonald’s wants to increase its global chicken market share by 1.5 percentage points by 2030.
The company also aims to grow its share in drink sales by the same amount.
Currently, McDonald’s chicken market share is in the high teens percentage, while beef holds about 45%.
Chicken sales are growing twice as fast as beef sales.
Rising beef prices and energy costs are impacting profits for McDonald’s franchise owners.
Competitors like KFC, Popeyes, and Wingstop are growing quickly due to chicken’s popularity, especially among Gen Z consumers.
McDonald’s will invest about $8.5 billion to help franchisees with rent and to improve restaurants.
In the UK, 39% of consumers used chicken shops in 2025, with 52% of Gen Z customers choosing them.
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Target is holding its Car Seat Trade-In event from September 20 to October 3, where customers can bring in old car seats to get a 20% bonus on new baby gear purchases. The store also offers several discounts on baby products like diapers, clothing, and accessories through September, with new deals starting next week.
Key Facts
The Car Seat Trade-In event allows parents to recycle old car seats at Target and receive a 20% Target Circle bonus on new car seats or baby items.
The event runs from September 20 to October 3, and the bonus must be used by October 17.
Target recycles traded-in car seats to make products from its Brightroom and Room Essentials brands.
To participate, customers scan a QR code at the store using the Target app to receive the bonus.
Discounts available this week include a $20 gift card with an $80 purchase on diapers and wipes, and buy-one-get-one offers on baby clothing, toiletries, and accessories.
Next week, new discounts will start, such as 30% off certain baby toys and specific clothing brands.
Customers without an old car seat can buy one secondhand and trade it in, but it may cost more than the discount they receive.
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Zibby Owens talked with CBS Mornings about her new book called "Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot." In the book, she shares her experiences of starting a new phase in life and following her inner voice.
Key Facts
Zibby Owens is an author who wrote a book titled "Between Chapters."
The book talks about starting over and taking risks.
She appeared on CBS Mornings to discuss her book.
Owens encourages people to listen to their inner voice.
Her story involves finding a new direction in life through personal changes.
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Airtel Money, a payments company in Africa, recently had the biggest stock market listing in London in five years. However, since it is mostly owned by Airtel Africa, an existing London-listed company, this does not fully end the current lack of new company listings in London.
Key Facts
Airtel Money operates in 13 African countries and is valued between £6 billion and £7 billion.
It is 78% owned by Airtel Africa, a large company on the London Stock Exchange valued at £11.3 billion.
Airtel Africa is controlled by Bharti Enterprises, owned by Indian billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal.
Listing Airtel Money in London made sense because Airtel Africa is already listed there and well known.
Airtel Money has 53 million monthly active users with 75 million more potential customers.
The company is growing at about 20% per year and does not need to raise new equity from this listing.
Investors like Mastercard and the Qatar Investment Authority hold minority shares in Airtel Money.
London is still competing with other cities, like Stockholm and Amsterdam, to attract big company listings.
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UK lettuce farmers are losing about £10 million due to a huge outbreak of aphids, small insects that harm the crops. Around 30 million lettuces are expected to be wasted this season because of warm and dry weather, which helps aphids to multiply.
Key Facts
Aphids have caused serious damage to UK lettuce farms, especially in many parts of England.
About 30% of UK lettuce crops from now until the end of October may be wasted.
UK growers produce around 500 million heads of lettuce each season.
The outbreak may cause more imported lettuces to appear on UK shelves earlier than usual.
Warm and dry weather has created good conditions for aphids to thrive.
Last year also saw problems with aphids, and a mild winter may have helped their population grow.
The National Farmers' Union is supporting farmers by working with researchers and plant breeders to manage the problem.
The current losses affect the end of the growing season, lasting a few weeks.
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Many wealthy people feel pressure to use their money wisely and avoid waste. Collecting items like art, watches, and cars is growing in popularity among rich people, especially younger collectors who care about culture and meaning as much as financial gain.
Key Facts
Wealth managers offering art-related services rose from 25% in 2011 to 51% now.
72% of younger collectors value cultural impact and legacy more than money returns.
Different watch brands perform very differently in terms of investment value.
Understanding the specific piece, market, and desirability matters more than the category alone.
People can enjoy their collectibles while also making smart financial decisions.
Condition, history, and documentation affect the value of watches and cars.
Collections can create social connections and opportunities beyond financial benefits.
Collecting involves more knowledge and networks than just buying expensive items.
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The article questions whether relying on wealthy individuals to decide how to spend large sums of money without any oversight is a good way to manage public funds. It suggests that billionaires can afford to pay taxes instead of just giving to charity.
Key Facts
Billionaires often donate millions to charity.
Donations from billionaires do not have oversight or public accountability.
The article questions if private control of funds is the right way to serve public needs.
It implies that taxing billionaires might be a better solution than relying on their donations.
The focus is on issues related to public spending and governance.
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Many U.S. businesses cannot fill job openings because they only search for workers in nearby areas. Using temporary workers repeatedly causes problems, while hiring foreign workers permanently through visa programs could create a more stable workforce.
Key Facts
In August, 35% of small business owners had unfilled jobs.
Among businesses trying to hire, 82% saw few or no qualified local applicants.
There were 7.3 million job openings in the U.S. in July.
Companies often rely on temporary workers, causing repeated hiring and training costs.
Temporary visa programs help fill short-term needs but are not ideal for long-term workforce stability.
Permanent visa programs like EB-3 allow foreign workers to build futures in the U.S. and improve retention.
Human resources departments often focus only on local hiring, missing opportunities in international recruitment.
Expanding recruitment beyond local areas can help businesses fill jobs, maintain operations, and support communities.
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Many Americans are unhappy with current economic choices, showing less support for both capitalism and socialism. The article suggests improving capitalism by increasing ownership opportunities for workers and others, so more people can share in economic success.
Key Facts
In 2025, only 54% of Americans viewed capitalism positively, the lowest on record.
Socialism gained 39% positive views, showing no clear winner in public opinion.
People want more than just a choice between capitalism or socialism—they want to share wealth created by the economy.
The issue is not capitalism itself, but who owns the wealth; many workers do not gain enough from their labor.
Cooperative and member-owned businesses already involve 12% of the world’s population and generate trillions in revenue.
Ownership allows people to build wealth and feel included in economic growth, unlike wages that only cover daily needs.
Increasing broad ownership can strengthen capitalism and reduce political polarization on economic policy.
Economic success is more sustainable when more people directly benefit from it, not just receive government help.
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Yuen Lee, who worked as a manager at KPMG, says she was fired after a video of her responding to a man harassing her about wearing a keffiyeh at the gym went viral. She claims the harassment and her firing are connected to her wearing the keffiyeh, a traditional Middle Eastern scarf.
Key Facts
Yuen Lee was a manager at KPMG.
She wore a keffiyeh, a traditional scarf from the Middle East.
A man at the gym harassed her because of the keffiyeh.
Lee spoke up against the harassment.
A video of the incident spread widely online.
Lee says she was fired from KPMG after the video became public.
The case involves issues of harassment and workplace treatment.
KPMG is a large global professional services firm.
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The U.S. government, led by President Trump, is considering releasing more crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to address high oil prices. Experts say this may not lower fuel prices because the main issue is a lack of refining capacity, and it could increase risks if oil prices jump suddenly.
Key Facts
The Department of Energy (DOE) plans to release up to 172 million barrels of oil from the SPR to boost supply.
President Trump authorized the SPR release in March to protect U.S. energy security amid global oil disruptions linked to the Iran conflict.
Since March, over 133 million barrels have been loaned from SPR to companies who must return the same volume later.
A recent offer for 40 million barrels had very low interest due to falling oil prices.
Another release of up to 30 million barrels may happen soon, with loading in November and December.
Experts say more crude oil loans won’t lower gas and diesel prices because the problem is a global shortage of refining capacity.
Oil prices recently fell from nearly $109 to about $98 per barrel, partly due to expected reopening of a Saudi pipeline.
Releasing more oil from the SPR could make the U.S. more vulnerable to future sharp increases in oil prices.
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