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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
Happy hour is stretching far beyond a quick after-work drink. A rising drinking ritual known as the “daycap” is shifting cocktails out of the late-night bar scene and into the golden hours between logging off and sitting down to dinner — and the trend is gaining enough traction that hospitality brands are already paying close attention.
Bacardi identified the term in its 2026 Cocktail Trends Report, placing it within a wider cultural shift the company describes as “afternoon society.” Unlike a nightcap, which winds down an evening, a daycap signals the close of the workday.
What Is a Daycap and How Does It Work?
According to Bacardi, a daycap is essentially the afternoon or early-evening counterpart to the nightcap. It often centers on a lower-ABV cocktail, a dinner booking closer to 6 p.m., and a conscious move to socialize before the traditional late-night going-out window gets underway.
The shift is already showing up in consumer behavior. Bacardi’s report found that 34 percent of Americans of legal drinking age say they have begun drinking, dining and socializing earlier in the evening. That figure rises to 40 percent in both Spain and India, and reaches 51 percent in France — suggesting the habit extends across markets rather than belonging to a single country or demographic.
Why Gen Z Is Driving the Daycap Trend
For Gen Z, the trend sits at the crossroads of moderation and social connection. Data from the International Alliance for Drinking shows that half of Gen Z feels pressure from health messaging to reduce alcohol consumption. At the same time, 60 percent still views alcohol as part of its culture and says drinks help elevate social occasions.
The daycap gives them a way to honor both sides.
Sean Kerry, Bacardi’s VP for global on-trade, told Food and Wine that Gen Z “isn’t drinking less” but is “simply drinking earlier, lighter, and with more intention.” He said the shift points toward “more meaningful drinking moments.”
An IARD spokesperson told the same outlet that “moderation has gone mainstream,” describing what’s happening as a move toward “more intentional, balanced consumption” rather than a decline in social drinking.
The daycap is showing up in the kinds of gatherings younger drinkers actually plan.
“[Gen Z] tend to socialize differently, prioritizing activity-centric occasions like games, workouts and concerts,” Brandy Rand, VP of hospitality at Questex, told Fox News Digital at the Bar and Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas. “Beverages enhance the experience, not define it.”
Caroline Begley, VP of marketing at Pernod Ricard USA, told the outlet that Gen Z drinkers “prioritize connection, community and making a mindful drink choice that fits into their lifestyle.” She pointed to brunch as “a key cultural moment again,” describing it as an experience rather than just a meal.
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Outdoor gatherings are on the rise too, with festivals, beach days and backyard get-togethers driving demand for easy, refreshing drinks in relaxed settings.
Is a Daycap Healthier Than a Nightcap
Timing changes some of the math. Drinking earlier gives the body more time to process alcohol before sleep, according to one health outlet. Pairing a drink with a snack or meal can help prevent or lessen hangover symptoms, per the Cleveland Clinic.
The caveat still matters. The same side effects of alcohol apply regardless of when the glass is poured. The CDC recently updated its alcohol consumption guidelines to note that even moderate drinking increases health risks compared to not drinking at all.
Ina Garten says she has no regrets about the life she and her husband, Jeffrey Garten, built without children.
In a new interview with the New York Times, the 78-year-old celebrity chef reflected on that choice, saying parenthood would likely have changed the course of their marriage and careers. “I think it would have been difficult, and I think Jeffrey and I would have had a different life together,” she said.
Garten emphasized that she does not view one path as better than the other. “I’m not saying it’s a better life or a worse life,” she explained, noting that there were periods when Jeffrey’s ambitions took them in very different directions — including the time he decided to launch a business in Japan and moved there.
During that period, Ina was based in East Hampton, and the couple kept their relationship going by traveling “back and forth” between their separate worlds.
“We figured it out,” she recalled. Looking back, the Barefoot Contessa star said that kind of flexibility may not have been possible with children, especially while she was working long hours at her store, managing catering jobs and running the business day to day.
The couple eventually married in 1968.
Before her big breakthrough, Ina had been working for the government when she saw a classified ad for a gourmet foot store in West Hampton, called The Barefoot Contessa, for sale.
She transformed the store, began catering and went on to author nearly a dozen bestselling cookbooks and host a successful Food Network series.
“I think it would have been much harder,” Ina told the NYT of what her life would have looked like if she had children.
“I’ve never looked back on the decision and thought, ‘I should have done it differently.’ I understand how my friends have wonderful families, and they really enjoy being parents, but it’s just not something I ever wanted to do.”
In her 2024 memoir, “Be Ready When the Luck Happens,” Ina also revealed that an unhappy childhood contributed to her decision not to have kids.
“When I got married, I just thought I would be the wife and we would have children and we would have a traditional relationship,” she told Hoda Kotb in 2025.
“In my 20s, I kind of resisted having children. I was like, why would I want to re-create that nightmare that I just came from? And I thought that’s what life at home with children would be. (It) never occurred to me that other people’s lives were different because that was my experience.”
Ina added in her book, “And then one day, maybe when I was around 25, I thought,’ I just don’t want to have children.’ I just don’t want to do that. And thank God [Jeffrey] is amenable to what I would I want. He wants me to be happy and it was OK.”
The father of a two-year-old girl killed by her mother and the woman’s new boyfriend after what prosecutors described as a “sadistic” campaign of violence says authorities failed his daughter and missed opportunities to protect her.
Isabelle Welsh had suffered 21 broken bones in the weeks before she died at her mother’s home in Thornaby, Teesside. Her fatal injuries came after a final “massive head injury” was inflicted shortly before her death.
Her mother, Alexandra Walker, and Walker’s boyfriend, Harrison Simpson, were both found guilty of murder in July.
Simpson, 22, was also convicted of sexually assaulting the toddler, while Walker was cleared of that charge.
Both were sentenced to life in prison. Simpson must serve a minimum of 27 years and 231 days, while Walker, 26, was handed a minimum term of 21 years and 48 days.
Speaking in detail for the first time about Isabelle’s murder, her father, Joshua Welsh, 27, criticised the authorities – most notably the NHS and the police – for failing to keep Walker and Simpson away from the little girl.
In one incident, Walker left Isabelle in pain for two weeks with a fractured leg before seeking medical attention.
When she finally sought help – 11 days before Isabelle’s death on September 14 2025 – staff at North Tees Hospital in Stockton, Co Durham, did not want to allow Isabelle to return to Walker’s home, fearing potential abuse.
But when they raised safeguarding concerns, Walker became argumentative and threatened them.
Ultimately, staff on a paediatric team ‘overruled’ the concerns and she was allowed to go home.
Little Isabelle Welsh, two, was murdered by her mother, Alexandra Walker, and Harrison Simpson, who Walker had known only a matter of months
It later emerged Simpson was also the subject of an arrest warrant issued 18 months before the murder but police failed to locate him.
Mr Welsh said he only found out two days after the verdict about the outstanding arrest warrant.
‘I did not get told by the police,’ he said.
‘My sister found out about it on local radio. I was absolutely raging. I was angry, hurt and upset. The police should be ashamed of themselves.
‘If they had done their job properly Isabelle would still be alive today. I want to campaign and raise awareness – to make sure the police do proper checks to stop this happening again.
‘Instead of leaving innocent kids in the hands of monsters I want them to do their jobs properly.’
He added: ‘Social services needed to carry out welfare checks, the NHS child protection also let her down.
‘Isabelle could have been saved in the NHS had worked properly. If the nurse was not overruled by clinical doctors who did not have a clue.
‘There are such wide ranging failures – from the police to the social services to the NHS.
‘There were several chances for the authorities to step in and save her. Yet she was handed back to these monsters. That is unforgiveable.
‘But I will remember Isabelle for her smile, for the happy and cheeky girl she was. Not by a photo of her next to those ugly monsters. As that is all they are.’
The court heard Walker had concerns about paedophile Simpson, who sexually assaulted Isabelle shortly before her murder, but continued to see him
Walker, of Thornaby, Teesside, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years and 48 days in prison
Mr Welsh said he split from Walker in August 2024 following a five-year relationship but had not seen his daughter for some months before her death.
He said he had had no welfare concerns for Isabelle despite not being able to see her as much as he wanted and had never heard of Simpson until his arrest.
The court also heard that there were no concerns about Isabelle’s welfare until she began a relationship with Simpson, who she met on Facebook Dating.
She grew suspicious of Simpson’s interactions with her daughter and even checked the Sex Offenders’ Register to see whether he was a paedophile, but did not break up with him.
Mr Welsh added: ‘I had a very close bond with Isabelle. I was the first to hold her when she was born.
‘I would always get a special cuddle from her and she was my little angel.
‘I did not have a clue about her new boyfriend. I did not know him from Adam.
‘I had no suspicions of her while we were together. I did not in any way think she was capable of something like this.
‘I thought she was a good mum. I think it’s all his influence to tell you the truth.
‘I am trying to get more information on it. But I knew nothing at the time.’
In relation to the outstanding warrant, Cleveland Police said in a statement: ‘Multiple inquiries and arrest attempts were carried out to try to locate and arrest him, but these proved unsuccessful.
‘We recognise the time Simpson had an outstanding arrest warrant is far from adequate. A review of this was immediately conducted upon his arrest for murder.’
Charles Spencer has remembered his late sister, Princess Diana, with a poignant tribute.
Princess Diana
Diana, Princess of Wales, was 36 when she died from injuries sustained in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris, France, on August 31, 1997. Her partner, 42-year-old film producer Dodi Fayed, and their driver, 41-year-old Henri Paul, also died in the crash.
Taking to Instagram 29 years later, Diana’s 62-year-old brother shared a shot of a flag being flown at half-mast over their childhood home, Althorp House, in West Northamptonshire, England.
Charles captioned the post: “31 August. My least favourite day.”
Lionel Messi’s last appearance for Argentina came on soccer’s biggest stage: this year’s World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium.
The 39-year-old football icon announced Monday that he is stepping away from the Argentina national team following the country’s defeat to Spain in the final. The decision comes four years after Messi lifted the World Cup trophy with Argentina, cementing one of the defining chapters of his legendary career. In an Instagram post featuring a handwritten note spread across three sheets of notebook paper, Messi said he had written the message on July 21, two days after the loss to Spain.
His retirement announcement also arrives a little more than three weeks after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who died at 68 after battling an illness.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi looks dejected after losing the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. REUTERS
“Today, after what happened with my dad, I am more convinced than ever,” Messi wrote in Spanish.
Messi, who continues to play club soccer for Inter Miami in MLS, leaves Argentina as the national team’s all-time leader in both goals, with 125, and appearances, with 207.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts to my core, but I understand that it’s the right time,” Messi wrote in Spanish. “I swear that I always gave my all, not only in the last few years when we won everything, but also before, and I always fought and gave everything for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentinian through football.
Jorge Messi, father and agent of Lionel Messi, holds his son’s “Best player of the World Cup” trophy following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France on Dec. 18, 2022. Getty Images
“There’s not much time left, and chapters are closing, and this is one that hurts me a lot. I love, loved, and will always love being on the National Team. I’ve given everything; I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up behind me who deserve to be there.”
I recently went away for my best friend’s bachelorette celebration, and, as these trips often go, the drinks were flowing a little too freely.
During one especially chaotic night out, our group walked past a tattoo studio and, caught up in the excitement, decided that tiny matching tattoos would be the perfect way to mark the occasion.
By the next morning, however, the fun of the impulse had completely worn off, and I was overwhelmed with regret.
The problem isn’t the tattoo itself — it’s just a small heart on my wrist — but the fact that, in my drunken haze, I somehow forgot how much my boyfriend absolutely hates tattoos.
Whenever we see someone in public who has them, no matter how small, he always makes a comment about how they’ve ‘ruined’ their body. He’s repeatedly said he’s so glad I don’t have tattoos myself because he thinks they’re ‘hideous.’ He’s gone so far as to say that he’d even break up with me if I ever got a tattoo.
So, ever since I got back from the trip, I’ve been trying to hide my new ink.
I’ve been wearing long sleeves or stacking multiple bracelets on my wrist to keep it out of sight.
But I don’t know how much longer I can hide this secret. It’s exhausting. I just worry how he will react when I tell him what I’ve done – and how I’ve lied about it.
Sincerely,
Tattoo Regret
International best–selling author Jane Green offers sage advice on readers’ most burning issues in her agony aunt column
Dear Tattoo Regret,
I’m afraid that as much as your boyfriend may loathe tattoos, it is your body, your life and your choice.
You have done absolutely nothing wrong in choosing to get a tattoo without his knowledge or permission.
You are not his chattel, nor his possession. And frankly, if he decides to break up with you because you went ahead and made a decision that you know he would disapprove of, I would say it’s a very lucky escape indeed.
We don’t get to dictate what our loved ones do or do not do. The most we can do is express an opinion, then, if we are emotionally mature and healthy, accept when our partners make a different choice.
For what it’s worth, my former husband also hated tattoos. I knew that if I had let him know I was getting one, he would have prevented me and I didn’t want to continue giving my power away. So, I didn’t tell him. I took a girlfriend with me and got a tattoo, showing him when I got home. Was he disappointed? Yes. Did he accept it? Yes.
Because he was emotionally mature enough to recognize that he did not have dominion over me.
The thing is, Tattoo Regret, no-one has dominion over you. That means no-one holds supreme authority or control over you. And generally, when someone does, it’s because we have unconsciously given them that power.
Wear your tattoo proudly and, when he asks, tell him. If he reacts as badly as you think he might, I promise you, you will be better off without him.
My boyfriend and I have been together for years and it was finally time we started talking about marriage.
We’ve been discussing it for months, going ring shopping together and talking about our future.
I had always envisioned a very specific kind of engagement ring and at all of our appointments had shown him exactly what it was I wanted.
But when it came time for him to pop the question, he pulled out the ring box and inside was a ring nowhere near close to what I had shown him.
Of course, in the moment, I said yes. I wasn’t about to let a ring get in the way of marrying the love of my life.
But in the weeks since, I cringe every time I look at my hand.
While it is beautiful, it didn’t feel like ‘me.’ It’s gold, not silver – and I am strictly a silver girl – and the diamond is an oval rather than the pear shape I had picked out.
While I am disappointed that it isn’t what I wanted, I’m more so concerned that he just didn’t listen to what I wanted and completely went off script. Honestly, it felt disrespectful and rude that he had ignored me.
This isn’t the ring I want for the rest of my life – nor even the rest of the month – but I fear that telling him would hurt his feelings.
Should I just suck it up until it’s time to upgrade after we’re married, or do I break it to him that I can’t stand the ring?
Sincerely,
Wrong Ring
Dear Wrong Ring,
First of all, congratulations on the engagement – ring, no ring, even wrong ring, it’s still a lovely thing to celebrate.
And while your fiancé didn’t hear what you were telling him, let’s assume that rather than him deliberately ignoring you, or choosing not to hear you, he was perhaps busy, or thought you would love the ring he chose.
Whatever the case, I doubt very much that he intended to give you a ring that would make you cringe, nor do I think he has deliberately done something that is disrespectful, or rude.
Look at this as your first big test. Marriage, after all, is a series of tests, which means you do need to tell him that you would like to change the ring. As always when delivering news that may be difficult to receive, sandwich the bad news between two bits of good news.
Start by telling him how much you love him, how excited you are to be married to him, then slide in the fact that you are a silver girl. That you had your heart set on a pear shape and perhaps add that you feel a little hurt that he didn’t recall after you had talked about it so much.
End by asking if the two of you can go together to look at exchanging it and finding something that you know you will love forever.
Millions of Americans could soon face a painful hit to their monthly income.
Social Security, the federal safety-net program that sends monthly checks to eligible retirees, disabled workers and surviving spouses, is facing mounting financial pressure. More than 71 million Americans depend on Social Security benefits, which often serve as a crucial replacement for income after retirement, disability or the death of a partner.
According to the Social Security Administration, if Congress does not act, the program’s trust fund reserves are projected to be depleted by 2033. After that point, the agency would be able to pay only about 78% of scheduled benefits — a shortfall that could cost the average recipient roughly $500 per month.
“This train wreck is going to happen,” Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) told Politico, warning that lawmakers cannot afford to wait. “So as early as six years from now, we’re going to have to have a plan. And of course, I’m a big believer that we need to deal with it now, or we need to start the process of dealing with it now.”
If nothing no legislation is passed, Social Security funds will be wipes out by 2032 Monkey Business – stock.adobe.com
With anxiety rising among beneficiaries and policy experts, members of Congress have introduced a wave of proposals aimed at strengthening Social Security’s long-term finances. So far, however, none of those bills have made it across the finish line.
In July, the Promise Act — bipartisan legislation from eight senators — would create a process for Congress to develop a plan to keep Social Security solvent for at least 50 years.
“I won’t pretend there’s consensus on how we solve this, but the math is unforgiving: the longer Congress waits to act, the fewer good options remain, which is why I am proud to support this legislation,” Senator Thom Tillis, who co-sponsored the bill, said.
Just before that, the Bipartisan Social Security Commission Act was introduced in June by two representatives which would also establish a committee to develop solutions.
The Social Security 2100 Act was also introduced back in June and would increase benefits while shoring up Social Security’s finances by making higher-income Americans pay more into the system.
According to the bill — which was first introduced back in 2017 — all current and new beneficiaries would see a 2% benefit increase, it would change how COLA is calculated and make other switches to benefit structure.
Social Security recipients are at risk of losing an average of about $500 a month zinkevych – stock.adobe.com
The new minimum benefit would change to 125% of the Federal poverty line, and switch the COLA calculation to the CPI for the Elderly (CPI-E).
The CPI-W currently calculates Social Security COLAs. It tracks the spending of working-age people — specifically wage and clerical workers. But it also tracks the cost of food, housing, energy, transportation and healthcare.
Meanwhile, the CPI-E is another measure for folks 62 and older, offering more information on expenses that directly impact seniors. Some advocates believe that this change would be more beneficial to Social Security recipients as it’s a “senior-focused” inflation measure instead of “working-person-focused.”
However, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) — a non-partisan advocacy group that makes very accurate COLA projections — fear the chance of the bill passing is slim to none.
“Although the Social Security 2100 Act is unlikely to pass in the current Congress, it should. The bill is the gold standard for Social Security reform and accomplishes the majority of changes older Americans want to see for the program,” TSCL Executive Director Shannon Benton said.
Op-ed by Texas General Land Office Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D.
Every American relies on three essentials that are easy to take for granted until they are put at risk: reliable energy, a stable food supply, and national security.
No country can stay strong and prosperous if it cannot power its homes and businesses, feed its people, or protect its borders and critical infrastructure. When the lights fail, when grocery shelves thin out and prices climb because supply chains break down, or when vital systems are exposed to danger, the effects ripple through communities large and small. These issues are often treated as separate debates, but in reality, they are closely connected.
As Texas Land Commissioner, I oversee the Texas General Land Office, known as the GLO, the oldest state agency in Texas. While many Americans may not know the full scope of our mission, the work of this agency is tied directly to all three of these national priorities — and its reach extends well beyond Texas.
The GLO manages more than 13 million acres of state land and mineral interests, oversees over 3,400 miles of shoreline, administers major disaster recovery efforts, supports veterans through the Veterans Land Board, and manages assets that help generate billions of dollars for public education through the Permanent School Fund. Our work begins with responsible land stewardship, but its influence stretches into some of the most pressing energy, security, and economic challenges facing the United States today.
First, America must remain fueled by continuing to produce abundant, reliable, and affordable energy.
Texas plays an outsized role in that effort. Our state leads the nation in oil and natural gas production, refining capacity, and a growing portfolio of emerging energy technologies. Energy production on state lands generates revenue that supports Texas public education while helping provide the oil, natural gas, and other resources that power homes, businesses, farms, manufacturers, and modern innovations.
Energy security is national security. Every barrel produced domestically is one less barrel that must come from unstable regions or strategic competitors. Nations that cannot serve their own energy needs become dependent on competitors and adversaries. Every investment in American energy strengthens our economy, supports jobs, and reduces our vulnerability to foreign influence.
That is why Texas continues to pursue an all-of-the-above approach to energy. Traditional oil and natural gas production remain essential, but so do investments in innovation and emerging technologies. The GLO has helped advance projects involving carbon capture and storage, critical rare earth minerals, and uses for produced water that support continued energy production.
The GLO, in partnership with USA Rare Earth and the Trump administration, is working to end China’s monopoly on rare earth minerals. China currently controls more than 90% of rare earth magnet production. These elements are essential in powering everyday electronics like smartphones, all the way to complex technology like military fighter jets.
These efforts help ensure that future generations inherit an energy system that is competitive, resilient, and capable of meeting growing demand.
The same lands that help power our economy also support another national priority: food security.
America’s agricultural strength depends on reliable infrastructure, responsible resource management, and access to affordable energy. Farmers and ranchers rely on water to nourish their crops and livestock, fuel to operate equipment, electricity to process and store products, and transportation networks to move food across the country.
Food security is often discussed as an agricultural issue, but it is also a land and resource issue. Energy costs, water availability, infrastructure development, and responsible stewardship all play a role in ensuring Americans have access to affordable, dependable food supplies.
In Texas, those responsibilities frequently intersect. Texas leads the U.S. in cattle inventory and beef production. The GLO leases land for grazing and farming and uses the revenue gained from those leases to fund public education in Texas. Whether managing natural resources, conducting surveying work, or helping protect critical water supplies, the GLO’s work contributes to the broader systems that support agricultural productivity and economic growth. A nation that can feed itself is stronger, more stable, and better prepared to withstand disruptions at home and abroad.
The third pillar is one that has become increasingly impossible to ignore: America must remain fortified.
While our armed forces remain the greatest in the world, national security extends well beyond military readiness. It encompasses the state of our borders, infrastructure, supply chains, strategic assets, domestic energy production, and cybersecurity.
Texas occupies a unique position in each of these areas. Our state is home to critical energy infrastructure, major ports, strategic transportation corridors, and the majority of our nation’s southern border. The security of these assets affects not only Texans but Americans across the country.
The GLO has worked with state and federal partners to support public safety and law enforcement efforts on state-owned land along the border. We have assisted and led initiatives aimed at combating cartel activity, human trafficking, and other criminal operations that threaten communities on both sides of the border.
Beyond the border, Texas lands and coastal resources carry national importance. The Gulf Coast serves as one of America’s most significant energy and trade hubs. The industries operating there help power our nation’s economy, support domestic manufacturing, and connect American products to global markets. The fortification of our coast is vitally important, which is why the GLO is working with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to build the largest infrastructure project ever conceived, the Coastal Texas Project. This plan will be a combination of storm risk management systems including surge barriers, as well as beach restoration and renourishment efforts along our entire coastline.
The common thread running through all of these responsibilities is stewardship.
For nearly two centuries, the Texas GLO has managed resources that support economic growth, public education, infrastructure, and public safety, the same national priorities that affect every American household.
The challenges facing our country may evolve, but the foundations of prosperity remain the same: dependable energy, secure food systems, and the infrastructure and resources to protect both.
The Texas GLO plays a critical role in each—leveraging state lands and resources to strengthen our economy, advance energy and food security, and protect Texas and our nation.
Everything else depends on it.
Dr. Dawn Buckingham serves as the elected commissioner of the Texas General Land Office. The General Land Office manages state lands, operates the Alamo, helps Texans who are recovering from natural disasters, helps fund Texas public education through the Permanent School Fund, provides benefits to Texas Veterans, and manages the vast Texas coast. Follow the GLO on Twitter @txglo and Dr. Buckingham at @DrBuckinghamTX.
