Mid-day Update

Verizon and Vodafone agree on a $130 billion deal. What's behind the rising cost of shrimp. And drive-ins get driven out.

General Electric plans to spin off its highly profitable credit card business, which made the company $2.2 billion last year. August was a nasty month to be a stock. And, former players and their families will receive a massive payout, but the NFL has admitted no wrongdoing.

Fast-food workers are extending their one-day strikes to 35 cities nationwide as they try to gain traction for higher wages. One of Europe's most famous businessmen has resigned after the suicide of his company's CFO. August was once a quiet time in the political realm, thanks to the annual Congressional recess, but now activists use the time to push their agenda — and Washington message-makers cash in.

It's one of those mornings where the brass at JPMorgan might not want to read the papers. It’s the first student-run Apple Store for aspiring marketers, accountants, and entrepreneurs. And, high speed trading is behind this month's errors in financial markets.

The headlines about Syria are altering the shape of financial markets today. Airbnb is the latest company to experiment with Vine. And, students at the Greenhill School in Dallas are managing a stock portfolio worth $100,000.

Donald Trump's for-profit university made false claims according to New York's attorney general. The scheduled start of the NFL football season on Sept. 5 is putting pressure on Time Warner Cable and CBS to negotiate a deal giving cable customers access to the network's programs. And, the world's growing population needs protein. Insects provide at the fraction of the cost of beef.

Trader Joe's goes after Pirate Joe's for reselling products. Why college endowments don't cover tuition. NASDAQ freezes, fears heat up, and high speed trading is here to stay.

UPS looks to drop spousal health insurance benefits. Fun with economists in Jackson Hole, Wyo. And can football programs stem the dwindling number of men on college campuses?

Getting to know the sickest patients. Colleges give largest grants to wealthiest students. And high-tech trading goes glitchy.

Al Jazeera launches with loads of cash. The markets throw a taper tantrum. And the fight for same-sex marriage goes door to door.