Family's Extreme Soda Refill Sparks Debate; Housing Prices Rise in Israel
A family in Aguascalientes, Mexico, was filmed filling two 20-liter containers with soda at a Costco store, exploiting the "free refill" offer after purchasing a pizza and drink. Store employees intervened when the family attempted to fill a third container. The video went viral, sparking a debate about whether the family was exploiting the offer or if Costco had unclear refill policies. This is not the first time Costco in Mexico has faced similar incidents, with past customers documented filling large containers after purchasing large quantities of hot dogs, each including a drink. Costco has not issued an official statement on the recent event.
Meanwhile, Israeli rental prices saw a significant increase in the first half of 2026, with the national average rent surpassing 5,000 shekels per month, a 3.1% rise compared to the same period in 2025. While all 18 major cities surveyed experienced rent hikes, the most substantial increases were observed outside the Gush Dan region. Beit Shemesh recorded a 9.9% surge in rent, making it the city with the sharpest rise. Tel Aviv remained the most expensive city, with an average rent of 7,398 shekels, followed by Herzliya and Kfar Saba. Experts attribute the rising costs to a slowdown in home purchases, high interest rates, and investors exiting the market, leading more households to rent and reducing supply.
In a separate story, a British man who purchased Bitcoin in 2011 for approximately $2,000, believing the investment was lost after his exchange ceased operations, has recovered Bitcoin valued at around $4.5 million. A law firm located a wallet containing over 5,500 Bitcoins, believed to belong to former users of the defunct exchange. The man plans to use a portion of the funds for his family's financial well-being and his son's needs, while retaining some of the Bitcoin. The firm estimates other former clients may also be eligible for asset recovery upon proving ownership.
Additionally, Anthropic, the developer of Claude, has reportedly decided not to proceed with the acquisition of the Israeli startup Descartes, a deal valued at approximately $6 billion. While negotiations and due diligence were conducted, Anthropic withdrew from the transaction. However, sources suggest the companies may explore other forms of collaboration. Descartes, founded in late 2023 by former Unit 8200 members, develops technology to optimize chip work and reduce AI system training and operation costs. The company has garnered international attention, including praise from Elon Musk.
