Thursday, August 13, 2026

What’s a codeshare flight, exactly?

Plus the practical details that make airline bookings easier to read at a glance.

Search for survivors of Colombia earthquake enters "final phase"

The gist: Colombia’s strongest earthquake this century has killed 265 people, while rescuers make last-ditch searches for survivors as the 72-hour rescue window closes.

Big picture

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake has damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure across western Colombia, leaving thousands of families without safe places to live. The country is now moving from urgent rescues toward mourning, emergency relief and rebuilding.

Explain like I'm 5

A powerful shaking of the ground knocked down buildings and trapped people underneath them. Rescue workers are listening, digging and using dogs to find anyone still alive, like searching carefully under a huge pile of blocks.

Why it matters now

Thursday morning marks roughly 72 hours since the August 10 earthquake, and officials say rescue efforts are entering their final phase. Colombia has declared an economic emergency and three days of national mourning, while international aid is arriving.

Three things to know

Missing figures remain disputed

The president reported nearly 500 people missing, while civilian-run databases put the number above 4,100.

Some rescue signs offer hope

At a collapsed bakery in Pereira, vibration-detection equipment and possible knocks led crews to focus on finding a trapped street vendor.

Thousands need housing

More than 11,000 dwellings were destroyed, forcing many people to sleep outdoors because their homes were unsafe or they feared aftershocks.

Trusted source
CBS News

Tehran says Strait of Hormuz "under Iran's control" after Trump threat

The gist: Iran says it controls the Strait of Hormuz, directly rejecting President Trump’s claim that the U.S. has “total control” of the vital waterway.

Big picture

The dispute adds to tensions in the Iran war because the strait is a major route for commercial shipping and energy exports. An oil spill, concerns about a U.S. aircraft carrier’s long deployment, and international criticism of Iran’s executions show the conflict is creating wider military, environmental, and human-rights problems.

Explain like I'm 5

Iran and the U.S. are both saying, “This important sea route is ours.” It is like two people arguing over who is in charge of the same busy bridge while ships are still trying to use it.

Why it matters now

Iran’s foreign minister and other officials responded Thursday after Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. had “total control” and might keep the waterway. Iran is also investigating an oil spill that reached Qeshm Island and appears to be seeking compensation.

Three things to know

The spill’s source remains unconfirmed

Iran says preliminary evidence points to a foreign bulk carrier, but it has not named a responsible party or specified how much compensation it wants.

Carrier deployment set a record

The USS Abraham Lincoln has reportedly been deployed for more than 250 days and away from port for over 200 days, prompting senators to seek answers about supplies, plumbing, water, safety, and sailors’ mental health.

Executions drew international condemnation

More than 30 countries, including France, Britain, and Canada, accused Iran of using executions to silence protesters and intimidate communities.

Trusted source
CBS News

UK defends seizing shadow fleet tanker after Putin threat

The gist: The UK is defending its seizure of the Smyrtos, a Russian-linked oil tanker, after Vladimir Putin threatened to respond to future vessel seizures.

Big picture

The dispute is part of a wider struggle over Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which Western governments say helps fund the war in Ukraine by hiding the source and ownership of oil shipments. It also raises the risk that sanctions enforcement at sea could trigger retaliation between Russia and European countries.

Explain like I'm 5

Some ships are being used to sneak Russian oil past punishment rules. Britain stopped one of them, and Russia says it may stop Western ships in return.

Why it matters now

Putin issued his warning as Britain continued detaining the Smyrtos and the EU stepped up pressure on Russia’s shadow fleet. The ship remains under British monitoring near Weymouth while its captain faces a sanctions-related charge.

Three things to know

The fleet is unusually large

The UK Ministry of Defence estimates Russia’s shadow fleet has more than 700 vessels carrying about 75% of its sanctioned oil.

The operation broke new ground

Royal Marines boarded the Smyrtos in June in what the article describes as the first operation of its kind aimed at disrupting a sanctioned tanker.

Europe is widening enforcement

More than 630 vessels are barred from EU ports, and nine suspected shadow fleet tankers have been seized around the EU since the start of the year.

Trusted source
BBC World

CPI report shows inflation eased in July to a 3.4% annual pace

The gist: U.S. inflation eased for a second month to 3.4% in July, but prices are still rising faster than wages and could shape the Federal Reserve’s September decision.

Big picture

Cooling inflation gives the Federal Reserve more reason to leave interest rates unchanged rather than raise them to slow spending. But energy costs remain a major risk, and inflation is still above the Fed’s 2% goal.

Explain like I'm 5

Prices are still going up, but not as quickly as they were before. It is like a shopping cart that is still getting heavier, just more slowly.

Why it matters now

The July report arrives after a weak jobs report and before the Fed’s September 16 rate decision. August’s inflation report, due September 11, will be the final major reading officials receive beforehand.

Three things to know

Core inflation also cooled

Prices excluding volatile food and energy rose 2.5% over the year in July, down from 2.6% in June.

Gas prices drove the increase

Energy prices rose 14.7% from a year earlier, including a 24.6% jump in gasoline prices after oil surged above $100 a barrel during regional tensions.

A rate hike remains possible

The Fed may hold rates steady in September, but officials could still raise them if August data shows price pressures picking up again.

Trusted source
CBS MoneyWatch

Social Security recipients will get more money next year. Here’s how much the COLA may boost benefits.

The gist: Social Security benefits could rise by as much as 3.6% in 2027 through the annual cost-of-living adjustment.

Big picture

The adjustment is meant to help benefits keep up with rising living costs. A higher payment could help recipients cover more of their everyday expenses.

Explain like I'm 5

Social Security may give people a little more money next year because everyday things can cost more. The increase is like adding a small boost to their regular payment.

Why it matters now

The estimate for the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is now as high as 3.6%, though the article does not give a final figure.

Three things to know

The increase is percentage-based

A 3.6% adjustment would raise each recipient’s benefit by a percentage of their current payment, so dollar increases would differ from person to person.

The figure is not final

The word “could” means 3.6% is a possible estimate rather than a confirmed payment increase.

Payments would rise in 2027

The proposed adjustment applies to Social Security benefits received next year, not to payments described as increasing immediately.

Trusted source
MarketWatch

The AI boom is not just driving stocks — it’s also moving the foreign-exchange market

The gist: The AI boom is influencing currencies as well as stocks, with companies expanding their AI offerings becoming a new force in the foreign-exchange market.

Big picture

Currency markets are usually explained through broad economic forces such as interest-rate differences, inflation and trade balances. The article says corporate activity linked to AI is increasingly becoming part of that picture.

Explain like I'm 5

When companies race to build more AI products, they can affect the value of countries’ money, not just share prices. It is like a new player joining a game that used to be mostly controlled by interest rates, prices and trade.

Three things to know

AI adds a new currency driver

The shift means foreign-exchange movements are being linked not only to economic statistics but also to companies’ plans for expanding AI products.

Stocks are not the whole story

The same AI boom that attracts attention in equity markets can also have effects in currency markets.

Traditional forces still matter

Interest-rate differences, inflation trends and trade balances remain established influences even as AI-related business activity gains importance.

Trusted source
MarketWatch

Terabytes of credentials leaked in massive supply-chain attack

The gist: A supply-chain attack on LiteLLM exposed terabytes of sensitive credentials from more than 2,500 organizations, including major technology and financial companies.

Big picture

The incident shows how one hacked software package can spread risk through the tools companies use to build and deliver their own software. The danger is not limited to AI itself: weak security around software supply chains and development systems can turn a short attack into a much larger breach.

Explain like I'm 5

Some trusted software was secretly changed so it copied passwords and access keys from computers using it. It was like a delivery box that quietly took valuables from thousands of homes before carrying them away.

Why it matters now

Security firms disclosed the stolen data on Tuesday and Wednesday after analyzing a 195-terabyte file, and they are urging affected organizations to revoke and replace exposed credentials. Organizations are being told to check specifically for LiteLLM versions 1.82.7 and 1.82.8.

Three things to know

The theft lasted 40 minutes

During that window in March, compromised LiteLLM versions read computer memory and sent its contents through an attacker-controlled channel.

CI/CD systems were heavily exposed

Researchers said credentials from about 434,000 software pipelines were included, covering cloud keys, database passwords, repository tokens, and Kubernetes secrets.

Some victims are hard to identify

Many stolen secrets lacked company names or domains, so researchers could not reliably connect every credential to its owner and warned that organizations may not know they are affected.

Trusted source
Ars Technica

Researchers found a way to hijack devices through Zoom screen sharing

The gist: A flaw in Zoom’s screen-sharing system could let attackers silently take over devices, and AI found the working attack in fewer than 20 prompts.

Big picture

The discovery shows how AI can make sophisticated software attacks faster and easier for people with fewer security skills. It also highlights the risks in trusted tools whose complicated, less-visible features may not receive enough public scrutiny.

Explain like I'm 5

Imagine sharing a drawing board during a video call, but someone secretly uses a hidden mistake in that board to get into your computer. You would not need to click anything or notice anything for the attack to work.

Why it matters now

Researchers disclosed the Zoom flaws on Tuesday, and Zoom says it has already begun rolling out fixes. The vulnerabilities affected Zoom on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Three things to know

The bug hid in annotations

The vulnerable code handled real-time annotations during screen sharing, a specialized feature researchers targeted because complex and obscure components can contain overlooked mistakes.

AI shortened the process

A Security said the same kind of discovery might previously have required five people and about six months of refining and testing.

Every supported system was affected

The advisory covered all operating systems supported by Zoom, rather than limiting the problem to a single type of computer or phone.

Trusted source
Ars Technica

Twitch content has trained Amazon AI for years, but users can opt out now

The gist: Twitch users were automatically opted into Amazon’s AI training, but they can now opt out of having their channel content used.

Big picture

The change gives Twitch creators more control over how their work is used, while highlighting that online content can be repurposed for AI training without a separate request each time. It also shows how platform privacy choices may cover many kinds of content, not just livestreams.

Explain like I'm 5

For years, Amazon could use things from Twitch channels to help teach its AI, like using ingredients to improve a recipe. Now creators can tell Twitch not to use their content for future training.

Why it matters now

Twitch announced the opt-out option today and added it to the account security settings. Users who do not want future training use must change the setting themselves.

Three things to know

The opt-out covers more than streams

It includes video-on-demand recordings, clips, stream chats, and the pictures and text on a channel.

Training can improve captions

Twitch says a creator’s audio could help refine speech-to-text systems, improving captions on Twitch and elsewhere across Amazon.

The setting targets future training

The support page describes the choice as preventing content from being used in future improvements to Amazon’s generative AI models.

Trusted source
Ars Technica

Poison center reports of liver injuries rise nearly 400% since 2000, with acetaminophen as a top driver

The gist: Reports to U.S. poison centers of substance-related liver injuries rose nearly 400% from 2000 to 2024, with acetaminophen the leading contributor.

Big picture

The rise involves more than pain medicine: alcohol, stimulants, street drugs, supplements and environmental toxins also contributed, though less often. The findings show how poison centers can spot changing safety problems and reinforce the need to follow medication directions.

Explain like I'm 5

The liver is like the body's cleanup station, but too much of some medicines or other substances can hurt it. Poison centers are hearing about many more of these problems, and most people in the study needed hospital care.

Why it matters now

A new UVA Health study published today reviewed poison-center reports from 2000 through 2024. It highlights that acetaminophen injuries from combination prescription products fell after an FDA limit, while injuries linked to acetaminophen alone kept increasing.

Three things to know

The rate rose fivefold

After adjusting for population growth, reported cases increased from 10.9 to 52.9 per million people, with 220,160 cases recorded overall.

FDA limits reduced some harm

Acetaminophen exposures from combination prescription medicines dropped by 60%–85% after the FDA capped the amount they could contain, unlike exposures involving acetaminophen by itself.

Intentional exposures led cases

Suspected suicide was the most common reason for acetaminophen exposure in both sexes, while alcohol-related injuries were more common in men and rose for both sexes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trusted source
Medical Xpress

The drug lenacapavir is a mighty weapon against HIV. Its rollout gets mixed reviews

The gist: The twice-yearly HIV-prevention injection lenacapavir offers exceptionally strong protection, but its rollout is limited by access and pricing concerns.

Big picture

Lenacapavir could make HIV prevention much easier, especially for people who struggle with daily pills, stigma or refilling prescriptions. Its success could help reduce new infections, but only if countries and communities that need it can get the drug.

Explain like I'm 5

Instead of remembering a pill every day, people can get a shot twice a year to help keep HIV away. It is like putting several guards around a house instead of asking one guard to watch only one door.

Why it matters now

The drug was approved in the United States last year, and Uganda received its first batch in February before beginning distribution in April, a month later than planned. Access is still limited even as countries start adopting it.

Three things to know

Trials stopped ahead of schedule

Independent monitors ended the randomized parts of both major trials early because lenacapavir worked so well that withholding it from placebo participants was considered unethical.

Protection held up in Uganda

In the follow-up period of PURPOSE 1, none of nearly 4,200 women acquired HIV and more than 96% received their injections on time.

Results differed by group

In PURPOSE 2, which included men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men, adherence was slightly lower and one participant acquired HIV.

Trusted source
NPR Health

Intensive blood pressure lowering cut recurrent stroke risk by around 38% after brain hemorrhage

The gist: Long-term intensive blood-pressure treatment reduced recurrent stroke after brain hemorrhage by 38% without raising serious side effects.

Big picture

The results support stronger blood-pressure control as a key way to protect people who survive intracerebral hemorrhage. This could be especially important in countries where high blood pressure is common but often poorly controlled.

Explain like I'm 5

A brain bleed can happen again, especially when blood pressure pushes hard against blood vessels. Keeping that pressure lower is like turning down water pressure in a fragile pipe, making another leak less likely.

Why it matters now

A new meta-analysis in The Lancet Neurology combined four trials and found the benefit held for people treated at different times after their original hemorrhage. The findings may prompt doctors and guideline writers to reconsider how aggressively blood pressure should be lowered.

Three things to know

Most benefit came from preventing bleeds

Intensive treatment lowered the risk of another intracerebral hemorrhage by about 61%, which drove most of the overall reduction in recurrent strokes.

The pressure gap was modest

During follow-up, average systolic blood pressure was 127 mm Hg with intensive treatment versus 138 mm Hg with standard care, a difference of 11.2 mm Hg.

Benefits appeared even below target

Among patients whose starting systolic pressure was 130 mm Hg or lower, recurrent stroke affected 6.2% receiving intensive treatment compared with 13.9% receiving standard care.

Trusted source
Medical Xpress

Neuroscientists have vastly underestimated brain cells’ computing power

The gist: A new study shows that hundreds of branches inside each neuron can compute information independently, making individual brain cells far more powerful than previously thought.

Big picture

This helps explain how the brain handles enormous amounts of information without needing vastly more neurons or energy. It also suggests that the brain’s computing power depends on the detailed activity inside neurons, not only on how neurons connect with one another.

Explain like I'm 5

A neuron is not just one tiny calculator—it is more like a whole team of calculators connected by branches. Each branch can work on different information before sharing it with the rest of the cell.

Why it matters now

The study, published in July, provides the first direct evidence in living animals that dendrites compute independently, based on recordings from mice exploring virtual environments.

Three things to know

Dendrites changed before cell bodies

In unfamiliar surroundings, some dendrites represented a mouse’s new location before the neuron’s central cell body adjusted.

Local memories may last

When researchers moved a reward in a familiar environment, certain dendrites kept traces of their earlier activity even after the cell body changed.

The study used voltage imaging

Researchers tracked electrical activity in parts of individual hippocampus neurons while mice ran on miniature wheels through virtual environments.

Trusted source
Scientific American

Rapid warming may tip Atlantic circulation at 2°C, while slower warming may avert collapse

The gist: New research finds that the Atlantic’s major ocean-current system could collapse at around 2°C of warming if warming happens quickly, while slower warming kept it stable beyond 5°C in the study’s model.

Big picture

The AMOC carries warm tropical water north and helps keep Western Europe relatively mild, so a major weakening could affect climate far beyond the Atlantic. The findings suggest there is no single temperature at which collapse becomes inevitable: the risk also depends on how quickly warming occurs.

Explain like I'm 5

Think of the ocean like a giant machine that needs time to adjust when the planet heats up. If the heating happens too fast, the machine can stall; if it happens slowly, it has more time to adapt.

Why it matters now

The new Nature Climate Change study challenges the earlier idea of a roughly 4°C tipping point by showing that rapid warming caused collapse near 2°C in its model, while slower warming did not cause collapse even at 5°C.

Three things to know

The model tested two speeds

Researchers raised atmospheric CO2 by 0.5 parts per million per year in the slow simulation and 2.5 parts per million per year in the fast one, isolating the effect of warming speed.

The critical pace matters

The researchers estimate that the AMOC becomes especially vulnerable near a warming rate of 0.3°C per decade, a pace the world is already approaching.

Overshoot could be irreversible

A temporary rise above a climate target could still trigger an AMOC collapse before later cooling takes effect, so returning temperatures downward may not undo the damage.

Trusted source
Phys.org

AI‑designed viruses are a test of whether biosecurity can keep pace

The gist: AI has now helped design complete genetic instructions that became working viruses infecting bacteria, testing whether biosecurity can keep up.

Big picture

This could support useful treatments against antibiotic-resistant infections, but the same design tools may eventually make biological engineering easier to misuse. Safety will need to cover the AI models, DNA manufacturers, laboratories and public-health systems together.

Explain like I'm 5

Scientists used an AI that learns the patterns in DNA to draw plans for viruses that attack bacteria. Some plans worked when scientists built them, like turning a computer blueprint into a real machine.

Why it matters now

A recent study showed that AI-generated virus designs can produce working bacteriophages, bringing new urgency to efforts to test and strengthen safeguards before these tools become more capable and widely available.

Three things to know

The design is not the threat

A digital DNA sequence still has to be physically made, assembled correctly and tested in a laboratory, creating several points where risks can be detected or reduced.

Screening must look beyond matches

DNA-ordering checks based mainly on resemblance to known dangerous pathogens may miss an AI-designed sequence that creates a new biological function.

Preparedness varies across borders

Because countries differ in their ability to assess and respond to biological risks, international gaps could make containment harder when threats cross borders.

Trusted source
Phys.org

The Lakers Just Sold For $12.5B, But Uncle Sam Wants His Cut

The gist: The Lakers’ $12.5 billion sale set a record, but Mark Walter could owe more than $1 billion in capital-gains tax.

Big picture

A record sale price does not equal the amount the owner keeps. The deal shows how taxes can take a major bite out of enormous gains from selling valuable assets.

Explain like I'm 5

The team was sold for a huge amount of money, but the government gets a share of the profit. It is like selling a prized toy for $100 and having to give some of the money away because it went up in value.

Why it matters now

The Lakers’ sale has just been announced at a record $12.5 billion, bringing attention to the tax bill that may follow.

Three things to know

The headline price is not take-home money

The $12.5 billion figure is the sale value, while taxes and other costs can reduce what the seller ultimately receives.

The tax is tied to the gain

Capital-gains tax applies to the increase in an asset’s value, rather than simply treating the entire sale price as taxable profit.

The bill could top $1 billion

The article says Walter’s potential tax obligation could erase more than $1 billion from the value of the windfall.

Trusted source
Yahoo Sports

Westbrook retires from NBA after 18 seasons

The gist: Russell Westbrook is retiring after 18 NBA seasons, leaving behind the league's record for 209 career triple-doubles.

Big picture

Westbrook leaves as one of the most productive point guards ever, after starring mainly for Oklahoma City and later playing for six other teams. His career included an MVP award, nine All-Star selections and a Western Conference championship appearance.

Explain like I'm 5

Westbrook played professional basketball for 18 years and is now choosing to stop. He was like a player who kept filling up the scoreboard, grabbing rebounds and passing to teammates all at once.

Why it matters now

Westbrook announced his retirement on social media Wednesday after receiving offseason offers from the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards. He chose to leave on his own terms rather than accept a reduced role with the Kings or another team.

Three things to know

His peak season broke a drought

In 2016-17, Westbrook became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1962 to average a triple-double for an entire season, earning the MVP award.

Oklahoma City shaped his legacy

Westbrook spent 11 seasons with the Thunder and remains the franchise leader in points, assists, rebounds and steals.

His late career kept producing

In his final season with Sacramento, he started 58 games and joined LeBron James as the only players with at least 25,000 points and 10,000 assists.

Trusted source
ESPN

WNBA task force discusses transgender athletes

The gist: The WNBA discussed transgender athletes but made no eligibility decision amid protests and online hostility.

Big picture

The WNBA has no publicly available policy explaining how eligibility rules apply to transgender or nonbinary players. The debate has become part of a wider fight over inclusion, fairness and the treatment of athletes in public spaces.

Explain like I'm 5

League leaders sat down to talk about who can play, but they did not make a new rule. It is like a school discussing a team rule and deciding it needs more time before voting.

Why it matters now

The task force met Wednesday after rallies at Indiana Fever games and recent comments from Sophie Cunningham about excluding transgender women from women's sports. The league said it will keep talking with teams and other stakeholders in the coming weeks and months.

Three things to know

The current wording is broad

The 2026 collective bargaining agreement says only women may play in the WNBA but does not define who qualifies as a woman.

The controversy includes nonplayers

Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft while saying they identify as women.

Online abuse is part of it

The league said its meeting also addressed continued hate and vitriol aimed at players online, while Fever coach Stephanie White condemned efforts to divide or hijack the league.

Trusted source
ESPN

BTS’ V Reveals Hearing Loss Amid World Tour

The gist: BTS’ V revealed he is being treated for hearing loss in his right ear while continuing the group’s Arirang World Tour.

Big picture

The disclosure highlights the physical challenges BTS members are managing as all seven perform together again after completing South Korea’s required military service. Jungkook also said he is dealing with a shin injury that could become more serious.

Explain like I'm 5

V said one of his ears is not working as well as the other, so he is taking medicine and visiting doctors. It is like one side of a pair of headphones becoming much quieter.

Why it matters now

V shared the update during a livestream after the group finished tour dates in Baltimore. BTS’ upcoming stops include Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong.

Three things to know

The hearing gap is substantial

V said his right ear currently functions at roughly one-third the level of his left ear.

Treatment is now ongoing

He said he is taking medication and attending regular hospital appointments after initially treating the problem as a matter of mental strength.

Jungkook faces a separate risk

Jungkook said his shin injury is close to developing into a stress fracture, so he must carefully manage it to keep performing.

Trusted source
Variety

‘Othello’ Royal Shakespeare Company Adaptation Starring Sharon D. Clarke Postponed as She Undergoes Cancer Treatment

The gist: The Royal Shakespeare Company has postponed Othello so actor Sharon D. Clarke can undergo cancer treatment.

Big picture

Clarke’s role is central to director Touko’s version of the Shakespeare tragedy, so the RSC chose to delay the production rather than replace her. The company and creative team have publicly expressed their support for her treatment and recovery.

Explain like I'm 5

The play is being put on hold while Clarke takes care of her health. The theater hopes to bring the show back when she is ready.

Why it matters now

The production was scheduled for Feb. 13 through April 3, 2027, but that run will not go ahead as planned. Ticket holders will receive automatic refunds, while the RSC will later announce replacement programming for the slot.

Three things to know

The staging examines misogynoir

Touko’s adaptation focuses on misogynoir, the specific prejudice faced by Black women, as it reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy.

The run had a set venue

The postponed performances were planned for the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Clarke finds purpose in Othello

Clarke said the production will be her “north star” during treatment and thanked the RSC for standing by her.

Trusted source
Variety

Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz & Shaboozey Among Line-Up For Hugh Jackman-Hosted 2026 Global Citizen Festival In NYC

The gist: The 2026 Global Citizen Festival will bring major music stars to New York while supporting efforts to reduce extreme poverty, including a 30th-anniversary celebration of The Score by Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean.

Big picture

The festival shows how entertainment can attract attention and money to global goals such as education, farming and electricity access. It also directs funds toward local New York parks, youth programs and homelessness organizations.

Explain like I'm 5

It is a big outdoor concert where famous singers perform and people also learn about ways to help families facing poverty. Think of it as a music party tied to a fundraising and action campaign.

Why it matters now

Global Citizen announced the lineup today for the September 26 event, with more performers expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Three things to know

The goals have specific targets

Global Citizen aims to help 2 million children attend school, support 1.5 million smallholder farmers and bring electricity to 2.5 million homes.

Tickets require taking action

People can earn points through the Global Citizen app and use them for a free-ticket lottery, while a $25 donation secures a ticket immediately.

The campaign has raised millions

A previous Global Citizen-produced FIFA World Cup halftime show helped raise $60 million for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.

Trusted source
Deadline

These 13 Environmental Laws Could be Waived to Speed Up Airport-to-Spaceport Conversions

The gist: The FAA has proposed waiving 13 environmental laws to make it faster for some airports to become spaceports.

Big picture

The proposal could make it easier to expand space-launch infrastructure by reusing existing airport land, runways, and buffer areas. But it would also reduce the environmental reviews that normally examine effects on air, water, and wildlife.

Explain like I'm 5

Some airports could be used for rockets as well as airplanes. The FAA wants to shorten the environmental-check process for those changes, like using a shorter line at a busy checkout.

Why it matters now

The FAA announced the streamlining initiative in late July, and the proposed changes would apply if they go ahead to qualifying space-related developments.

Three things to know

Several major laws are included

The possible waivers cover the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act, among others.

Existing sites could be reused

The plan focuses on airports and remote airport buffer zones rather than requiring every spaceport to be built from scratch.

Some spaceports already operate

The article names Midland International, Ellington Airport, and Colorado Air and Space Port among airports or aerospace test centers with spaceport licenses.

Trusted source
Skift

At Norway's Newest Island Retreat, Redefining the Relationship Between Community and Tourism

The gist: Ytri Island Retreat is using 38-room luxury tourism to strengthen, rather than replace, the remote community of Træna.

Big picture

Ytri reflects a broader challenge for remote destinations: finding new income after traditional fishing declines while protecting local life and nature. Its community-led approach contrasts with overtouristed places such as nearby Lofoten, where too many visitors have caused strain.

Explain like I'm 5

Imagine a tiny island building a nice house for visitors, but making sure the islanders help run it and benefit from it. The hotel is meant to bring new life to the community without filling it with too many tourists.

Why it matters now

The retreat opened in April, and Træna's population has already risen by almost two percent. Its early growth is being watched as a test of whether tourism can support the islands' social future.

Three things to know

Locals shaped the project

The municipality and development company Træna 365 spent six years planning the hotel before outside investors joined.

Remoteness limits visitor numbers

Most guests must make a 112-mile ferry journey from Bodø, while cruise ships bring only occasional day trippers.

Experiences draw on local life

The hotel employs island residents and serves ingredients such as scallops, kelp, and coffee ground on a neighboring island.

Trusted source
Condé Nast Traveler

American Express Platinum: Valuable benefits and an offer as high as 175,000 bonus points

The gist: The Amex Platinum offers some applicants up to 175,000 bonus points, but its $895 annual fee makes it worthwhile mainly for travelers who can use its benefits.

Big picture

The Platinum is designed for frequent travelers who can take advantage of lounge access, hotel perks, statement credits and bonus points on eligible travel purchases. Its advertised benefits can exceed the annual fee on paper, but their real value depends on using specific services and meeting their rules.

Explain like I'm 5

This card is like a big travel toolbox: it gives you points, airport lounge access and discounts, but you have to pay a large yearly fee to keep it. If you use many of the tools, they may make up for the cost.

Why it matters now

The current offer is personalized: after applying, eligible applicants may see an offer of up to 175,000 points after spending $12,000 in the first six months, before deciding whether to accept.

Three things to know

The bonus is personalized

The exact points offer and eligibility are shown after submitting the application, and applicants can decline to continue if the deal is not attractive.

Credits come with conditions

Many benefits require enrollment or have limits such as quarterly schedules, selected merchants, eligible purchases or minimum hotel stays.

Past bonuses can block eligibility

Amex generally allows only one welcome bonus per card during a person's lifetime, even if the card was held many years ago.

Trusted source
The Points Guy

Students miss over 200M more school days annually since COVID

The gist: Students are missing over 200 million more school days each year than before COVID, with nearly 1 in 4 chronically absent in 2023-24.

Big picture

The attendance increase is happening alongside weak reading and math recovery, especially in math. It suggests that lost classroom time remains one of the reasons many students have not returned to their pre-pandemic academic progress.

Explain like I'm 5

Missing school is like missing pieces of a puzzle: a few pieces may not seem like much, but many missing pieces can make the whole picture harder to understand. If a student misses about 10 days every year, those missed lessons can add up to more than half a school year by graduation.

Why it matters now

A Bellwether analysis released Tuesday found that chronic absenteeism fell from its pandemic peak but remained well above pre-COVID levels in 2023-24. The report urges districts to examine attendance alongside school-calendar breaks, closures and other disruptions.

Three things to know

Absence has a clear threshold

Chronic absenteeism means missing at least 10% of the school year, or about 18 days, for any reason.

Math recovery is especially difficult

Districts with persistently high post-pandemic absenteeism were about 50% farther from math recovery than districts that never had high absenteeism.

Calendar disruptions also matter

Teacher strikes, extreme weather, natural disasters, holidays and other closures can reduce instructional time even when students are not individually absent.

Trusted source
K-12 Dive

Unions sue Education Department over ‘professional’ degree rule

The gist: Unions sued over a rule excluding graduate education programs from the higher federal loan limit, leaving students in excluded programs with a $100,000 cap instead of $200,000.

Big picture

The dispute could affect whether people can afford graduate training for teaching, nursing and other careers that require costly advanced education. It also raises a broader question about how the government decides which professions deserve higher federal borrowing limits.

Explain like I'm 5

The government is putting advanced degree programs into two borrowing boxes. Students in one box can borrow more money, while students studying education and some other fields can borrow less to pay for school.

Why it matters now

A coalition of unions filed the lawsuit on Aug. 11, 2026, asking a federal court to cancel or postpone the rule. After a judge temporarily blocked the definition in June, the Education Department added several health-related programs but still excluded graduate education programs as of July 10.

Three things to know

The lawsuit seeks a delay

The unions asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to vacate the rule and postpone its effective date.

Licensure guides the department

The Education Department says advanced education degrees do not qualify because they are not required to enter one specific profession or obtain a license.

Several unions joined forces

The plaintiffs include the American Federation of Teachers, AFSCME, National Nurses United and the AFL-CIO, bringing both education and health-care concerns into the case.

Trusted source
Higher Ed Dive

More Early Childhood Programs Are Providing Free Housing to Teaching Staff

The gist: Some early childhood programs are offering free housing to help teachers stay in jobs that pay too little to cover local rent.

Big picture

Housing can ease one of the biggest financial pressures facing early childhood educators, even when programs cannot afford major salary increases. Friends Center’s approach is also spreading to programs in Missouri, Michigan and Georgia.

Explain like I'm 5

Many childcare teachers earn little money, while homes and apartments cost a lot. So some schools are giving teachers a place to live, like helping them carry a very heavy backpack.

Why it matters now

Friends Center currently houses 10 teachers, has two more scheduled to move in this fall and plans to house 30% of its teaching staff by 2028 as it expands its housing supply.

Three things to know

The benefit targets highest need

Friends Center generally gives housing first to its lowest-income workers with dependents, including single mothers raising young children.

Donations make the model possible

The nonprofit received its first two properties from donors and works with Yale architecture students, whose homes cost Friends Center about $300,000 instead of their roughly $750,000 value.

Teachers become housing neighbors

Friends Center owns the properties and acts as both landlord and employer, with five teachers living near one another in a community called the Village about a five-minute walk from work.

Trusted source
The 74

How to rebuild your broken attention span

The gist: Your focus is not permanently broken: rebuilding it means using attention intentionally and giving your brain real rest instead of more screen time.

Big picture

Constant notifications, feeds and task-switching can drain the mental energy needed for sustained focus, but the article says this is not permanent damage. Attention experts recommend noticing where your attention goes, choosing what to focus on, and resting in ways that do not involve consuming more information.

Explain like I'm 5

Your brain is like a small desk: every time you jump between tasks, more things pile up and it becomes harder to work. Put away some distractions and take quiet breaks, such as looking at nature, so the desk can get tidy again.

Why it matters now

The article brings together attention researchers’ advice for people who feel unable to concentrate: be deliberate about attention and replace screen-based recovery with genuine mental rest.

Three things to know

Task switching has a cost

What feels like multitasking is usually rapid switching between tasks, which uses cognitive resources and can make later concentration harder.

Attention comes in types

Sustained attention helps you stay with one task, while selective, alternating and divided attention handle filtering or switching and place different demands on the brain.

Nature offers soft fascination

Attention restoration theory suggests that sights such as waterfalls or campfires can hold involuntary attention gently enough to let directed attention recover.

Trusted source
Vox

How money actually works in American elections

The gist: Money helps candidates become visible and look viable, but early fundraising does not guarantee victory, as Abdul El-Sayed’s win showed.

Big picture

Campaign cash matters both because it pays for ads, staff, and outreach and because it signals strength to voters, party leaders, and the media. Rising spending can increase concerns about corruption, while wealthy donors, self-funding, and party spending make it harder to see who is really supporting a candidate.

Explain like I'm 5

Money is like a loudspeaker: it helps voters notice a candidate and learn who they are. But once voters know the choices, they can still choose the candidate with less money.

Why it matters now

The 2026 midterm cycle is projected to be the most expensive in US history, and a June Supreme Court ruling removed limits on coordinated spending by political parties and their candidates.

Three things to know

Early money clears a hurdle

Successful non-incumbent candidates in open-seat primaries raise about $300,000 to $400,000 in the first quarter on average, making early fundraising a sign that they are serious contenders.

Self-funding has limits

Fully self-funded candidates typically lose, although about 40 percent of non-incumbent general-election winners put at least $10,000 of their own money into their campaigns.

Information can outweigh spending

Money tends to matter more in low-information congressional primaries, while voters who already know the candidates may rely on other information instead.

Trusted source
Vox

The Best New Beverages of 2026

The gist: Bon Appétit's 2026 Pantry Awards found six standout drinks among 170 submissions, from sparkling yuzu juice to botanical soda.

Big picture

The picks show that beverages are becoming more than simple ways to hydrate, borrowing ideas from traditional drinks and culinary ingredients. They also show continued creativity in nonalcoholic beverages, with flavors ranging from familiar fruit to unusual plants and botanicals.

Explain like I'm 5

The editors tried a huge number of drinks and chose the six they liked best. Think of it like tasting lots of ice cream and picking the most exciting flavors, except these drinks include fruit, tea, herbs, and even vinegar.

Why it matters now

After months of tasting submissions, the Pantry Awards team has announced the six drinks that stood out this year.

Three things to know

Yuzuco doubles as a mixer

Its cold-pressed yuzu, sparkling water, and minerals make it suitable for drinking straight or adding to cocktails.

Haymaker revives a centuries-old tradition

The sparkling vinegar tonic draws on switchels and shrubs associated with Barbadian field workers in the 1600s.

Oomee offers a smoother option

Its matcha-based drink is noncarbonated and uses agar agar, setting it apart from intensely fizzy, acidic energy drinks.

Trusted source
Bon Appétit

Want this in your inbox every weekday morning — only your topics?

Pick your topics →

← Back to the archive