News Brief: 11/14/25

International

As part of a pilot scheme, people without housing will be able to open bank accounts at five of the United Kingdom’s largest banks without requiring a permanent address, opening the door for them to take first steps toward financial security.

The Treasury told The Guardian the goal of the national plan is to make financial services work for everyone. The new bank policies were unveiled alongside programs to put better financial education in schools and to help abuse victims rebuild their credit scores.

“This plan is about opening doors — helping people experiencing homelessness into work, helping survivors of abuse rebuild their credit and helping families save for a rainy day,” Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby said in a press release. “No one should be locked out of the chance to build a better future. Our strategy gives people the tools to get on and boosts the economy by supporting more people back into work.”

The plan works by waiving the need for a fixed address to open a bank account, enabling homeless to apply for jobs and rent accommodations.

A homeless charity called Shelter is partnering with the UK government as part of this initiative.

Shelter’s role is to vouch for customers based on information in their database and to accompany them to meetings at local bank branches.

“Every day at Shelter, we see the crippling financial pressures often faced by those hit the hardest by the housing emergency,” Lauren Thompson, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Shelter said. “Many are skipping meals just to cover rent, cutting back on essentials, and making impossible choices simply to stay afloat. Access to banking can help people receive financial support, pay bills, and find and keep a safe home.”

The shift is also a continuation of a partnership with HSBC, a financial services group responsible for opening 7,000 accounts for the homeless since 2019.

National

AI artist Breaking Rust’s new song, “Walk My Walk,” became hit no. 1 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart this week.

The AI-generated song achieved more than 3 million streams on Spotify in less than a month after its release.

Though the song has receivedbacklash across social media with country fans calling for authenticity in the genre, some listeners welcome AI music with open arms.

“Ultimately, this feels like an experiment to see just how far something like this can go and what happens in the future and in other disciplines of art as well,” senior entertainment reporter Kelley Carter told ABC News.

“AI artists won’t require things that a real human artist will require,” Carter added. “Once companies start considering it and looking at bottom lines, I think that’s when artists should rightly be concerned about it.”

Major music streaming platforms like Amazon and Apple Music do not label AI songs, but Spotify is pushing a new standard for AI disclosures.

“This is a fast-moving and complex area,” a Spotify spokesperson told The Times. “As the single largest source of revenue for the music industry with over 700 million users, Spotify has a responsibility to act thoughtfully — not rush out one-size-fits-all solutions for headlines. That’s why we’re working closely with key industry partners to help establish new standards for AI disclosures in music credits, strengthen AI-spam detection and develop artist-focused AI tools that benefit creators and listeners alike.”

Billboard has acknowledged Breaking Rust is an AI act and said it is one of six to chart within the last few months.

Local

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) announced it has completed the system work required to deliver partial SNAP benefits to Oklahoma residents after an enormous delay caused by the government shutdown.

Benefits will soon be rolled out to eligible households.

Partial SNAP benefit payments are decided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with amounts determined based on federal guidance, and some SNAP recipients may not receive any partial payments due to eligibility restrictions.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services announced it does not determine who is eligible; their role is distribution on behalf of the federal government.

“We know people are counting on this support, and our teams have been working around the clock to make sure Oklahomans can put food on the table,” Sondra Shelby, director of adult and family services at OKDHS, told Fox News. “Ensuring these benefits are delivered quickly and reliably is our highest priority.”

SNAP benefits will be issued automatically. Participants need not take any action to receive them.