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A man from Virginia named Brian Cole Jr. is accused of placing pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic Party offices before the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. His trial is scheduled to begin in February.
Key Facts
Brian Cole Jr. is from Virginia.
He is accused of planting pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic Party headquarters.
The pipe bombs were placed on the eve of January 6, 2021, the day of the Capitol attack.
A judge named Amir Ali set the trial date.
The trial will start in February.
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Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced she will run for the U.S. Senate seat as the Democratic candidate, replacing Graham Platner. Bellows previously ran for Senate in 2014 but lost to Senator Susan Collins.
Key Facts
Shenna Bellows is currently Maine’s Secretary of State.
She launched her campaign to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine.
Bellows is replacing Graham Platner, who withdrew from the Senate race.
Bellows ran against Senator Susan Collins in 2014 but did not win.
Senator Susan Collins is a Republican from Maine.
Bellows stated that people in Maine have been working to build a political movement.
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Mohammad al-Waheidi, a Palestinian aid worker involved in organizing public World Cup screenings in Gaza, was killed by an Israeli airstrike while riding in a taxi. His funeral saw hundreds of mourners gather to pay their respects. The strike also killed three other people, including two children.
Key Facts
Mohammad al-Waheidi worked for the Egyptian Relief Committee, which helps people in Gaza.
He helped set up public screenings of World Cup matches to bring joy to people affected by war in Gaza.
He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on July 7, 2026, in Gaza City.
The strike also killed three others, including two young children aged 10 and 8.
Israel said it targeted a Hamas militant but acknowledged civilians may have been harmed.
No Palestinian groups claimed the people killed in the strike as members.
Egypt expressed opposition to Waheidi’s killing and asked Israel to stop targeting aid workers.
Gaza has been heavily bombed, displacing almost all of its 2 million residents, many now living in tents or damaged buildings.
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A medicine called trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is used to treat cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection causing severe diarrhea in the United States. While this antibiotic helps clear the infection, it can also cause diarrhea as a side effect in some patients.
Key Facts
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis and leads to watery, sometimes "explosive," diarrhea.
TMP-SMX (brand names Bactrim and Septra) is the main antibiotic recommended by health officials to treat this infection.
Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, and frequent bowel movements.
The illness can last weeks or come back after seeming to get better if untreated.
TMP-SMX can cause diarrhea as a side effect due to its effect on gut bacteria, which may last even after treatment ends.
Most patients recover without treatment, but antibiotics speed recovery and are advised for some cases.
The generic form of TMP-SMX is inexpensive, typically costing under $10 for a 14-tablet course.
Cyclosporiasis cases tend to rise in summer, often linked to eating more fresh produce.
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Graham Platner, who ran for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine, tried to challenge Senator Susan Collins. His campaign ended quickly due to several public problems. This left the Democratic Party without enough time to find a strong replacement candidate.
Key Facts
Graham Platner ran against Senator Susan Collins for Maine's Senate seat.
Platner announced his campaign on August 19.
His campaign faced multiple public controversies.
These problems caused his campaign to collapse quickly.
The Democratic Party struggled to organize a replacement campaign in time.
Susan Collins is the current Maine Senator and a Republican.
Platner’s challenge was seen as an insurgent, or outsider, campaign.
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The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, will not take part in any public events during her husband Prince Harry’s visit to the UK this week. This follows a dispute about security arrangements, and it is unclear if she will visit the UK privately with their children.
Key Facts
Meghan will not appear at any public events during Prince Harry’s UK visit this week.
Initially, Meghan and her children were not joining Prince Harry at the start of the week due to a security disagreement.
There was speculation she might attend a later event at the Invictus Games in Birmingham, but this is now ruled out.
The visit’s purpose is to promote the Invictus Games, a sports event for injured service members, which will be held in Birmingham next year.
Two weeks ago, plans showed Meghan would appear at events in London and Birmingham, marking her first UK appearance since 2022.
Meghan pulled out of London events after the security dispute.
Meghan’s representatives have not commented on any private visits or meetings, which means it is possible she and her children could meet King Charles privately.
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A man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk told his roommate that he regrets committing the crime, according to an interview played in court. This information was shared during a recent legal proceeding.
Key Facts
The suspect in Charlie Kirk’s murder case spoke to his roommate about the crime.
He said he "wishes he hadn't done it."
This statement was revealed during a court interview.
The interview was played publicly on Thursday.
Charlie Kirk is the victim in this criminal case.
The coverage was provided by CBS News reporter Anna Schecter.
The report appeared on CBS News platforms.
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Keir Starmer has suggested he might give out resignation honours when he leaves his role as prime minister in about 10 days, even though he said three years ago he would not. He is expected to be succeeded by Andy Burnham, who is likely to become the next prime minister after receiving strong support from fellow Labour MPs and unions.
Key Facts
Keir Starmer may hand out resignation honours when he leaves Downing Street soon.
Three years ago, Starmer said he would not give out honours after leaving office.
Prime ministers can suggest people for honours after their term, but the list must be approved by their successor and a commission.
Starmer is set to be succeeded by Andy Burnham as prime minister.
Andy Burnham has received 322 nominations from Labour MPs, about 80% of the party.
There are not enough other MPs to nominate an alternative leader, so Burnham is very likely to win.
Burnham has support from two unions: Unite and the Fire Brigades Union.
Liz Truss and Boris Johnson also had resignation honours lists approved by their successors.
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President Donald Trump is sharing videos and posts on his Truth Social platform that highlight U.S. military actions in Iran. While he shows military strength online, he is also trying to find a way to end the conflict that most Americans do not support.
Key Facts
Recent U.S. strikes targeted Iran amid ongoing tensions.
President Trump uses social media to show military power, including clips and memes.
Experts say his posts focus more on spectacle than the human costs of war.
Trump has claimed that peace talks with Iran nearly succeeded but then failed.
The White House calls Trump the "peace president," but his posts portray him as "wartime president."
Videos from the administration use entertainment-style elements from video games and movies.
Critics warn that sharing violent war content can numb people to the reality of conflict.
Trump’s early promise of a quick war has turned into a long struggle over a key shipping route.
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A writer named Rose Horowitch says that fewer Americans are reading books now. She believes that new technology and shorter attention spans have made gambling and other activities more popular than reading.
Key Facts
Rose Horowitch wrote an article for The Atlantic in August.
She claims that the era when many people read books is ending.
Gambling has become more popular as a leisure activity than reading.
New technology is partly responsible for shorter attention spans.
Overall, fewer Americans are reading and literacy levels are dropping.
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U.S. Representative Haley Stevens is campaigning in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, highlighting her past wins over Republican opponents. She points to her record of winning difficult elections as a reason she should be chosen over her primary rival, Abdul El-Sayed.
Key Facts
Haley Stevens flipped a Republican House seat in suburban Detroit in 2018.
She has won every election she has run in since then.
Stevens survived a challenging primary against another Democratic incumbent in 2022 after redistricting.
The Michigan Democratic Senate primary is scheduled for August 4.
Stevens is running against progressive Abdul El-Sayed in the primary.
Stevens emphasizes her ability to win tough races against Republicans.
She made these statements during a recent campaign stop in West Michigan.
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African countries have secured $900 million to expand access to clean cooking technologies that use less polluting fuels. This new funding adds to previous commitments, pushing total investments above $3.1 billion aimed at replacing harmful fuels like firewood and charcoal with cleaner options such as ethanol, biogas, and electricity.
Key Facts
African nations have raised $900 million to support clean cooking projects.
Total funds committed for clean cooking in Africa now exceed $3.1 billion.
Nearly 1 billion people in Africa still use polluting cooking fuels like charcoal and firewood.
These fuels contribute to about 850,000 early deaths annually due to air pollution.
Clean cooking uses low-emission fuels such as ethanol, biogas, and electricity, improving health.
Leaders from Africa, Norway, and the U.S. participated in the meeting organized by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Since 2024, there have been 121 new clean cooking policies introduced in over 30 African countries.
The IEA and the African Union are working on a continent-wide strategy to support clean cooking access.
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Senior British police officials say that technology and online platforms are being used more to threaten the UK by hostile countries, extremists, and far-right groups. The biggest threat is still Islamic extremism, but threats from hostile states and far-right groups have grown a lot in recent years.
Key Facts
British police are facing a growing number of online threats from hostile states, extremists, and far-right groups.
Islamic extremism remains the largest threat, but threats from hostile countries are increasing the fastest.
In 2025, over 20 plots backed by Iran, including assassinations and kidnappings, were reported against the UK.
Attacks linked to Russia include a fire in a London warehouse that stored equipment for Ukraine.
Russia uses apps like Telegram to recruit people in Europe to carry out sabotage and vandalism.
Teenagers as young as 15 have been arrested for involvement in proxy plots linked to these threats.
The UK threat level from far-right extremism was raised from "substantial" to "severe" in April.
Police stress the importance of help from technology companies to fight these online threats.
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Christopher Nolan has made a new movie called "The Odyssey," based on the ancient story by Homer, to be released on July 17, 2026. The film features well-known actors like Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Tom Holland as Telemachus, aiming to make the classic story easy to understand for modern audiences.
Key Facts
"The Odyssey" movie is directed by Christopher Nolan and releases on July 17, 2026.
Matt Damon plays Odysseus, the King of Ithaca and hero of the story.
Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, who has waited 20 years for his return.
Tom Holland plays their son Telemachus.
The story follows Odysseus’s long journey home after the Trojan War.
The movie tries to make the old story clear and relatable for people who know little or nothing about it.
The cast includes other famous actors like Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron.
Photographs show the cast and director at the film’s premiere and photo call events in London.
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U.S. home prices reached a new high in June, with the median price of existing homes at $440,660, according to the National Association of Realtors. A bipartisan housing bill aimed at making homes more affordable is waiting for President Trump’s approval, but he has delayed signing it until another elections bill passes.
Key Facts
The median price of existing homes in the U.S. hit $440,660 in June, up 1.8% from last year.
Home prices have increased for 36 months in a row.
Median prices vary by region: Northeast $564,800, Midwest $346,600, South $377,700, West $633,600.
Rising home prices and slow wage growth have made housing less affordable for many Americans.
Only about 40% of households that don’t own homes can afford a typical starter home priced around $200,000.
Households need about $117,000 a year in income to afford the average home, according to Redfin.
Congress passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to lower home costs by easing building rules and limiting investors buying homes.
President Trump delayed signing this housing bill because he wants lawmakers to pass a separate elections bill first.
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Millions of Americans have until July 10, 2026, to claim refunds from the IRS related to penalties, interest, or missed tax benefits during the COVID-19 disaster period. This deadline follows a federal judge’s ruling that extended tax filing and payment deadlines due to the COVID disaster declaration from January 2020 to May 2023.
Key Facts
The IRS must extend tax deadlines by 60 days after the COVID disaster declaration ended on May 11, 2023, making July 10, 2023, the final tax deadline.
Taxpayers now have until July 10, 2026, to file claims for refunds related to this period.
Refund claims do not happen automatically; taxpayers must file a claim to protect their right to a refund.
Eligible taxpayers include those charged penalties or interest during the disaster period or those who missed tax benefits like credits or withholding.
To claim refunds for penalties or interest, taxpayers should file IRS Form 843 and mark it as a "Protective Refund Claim."
For changes to income or deductions, taxpayers should file an original or amended tax return using Form 1040-X.
The court ruling that extended deadlines might be appealed, so the law could still change.
Missing the July 10, 2026 deadline may permanently prevent taxpayers from getting refunds related to this case.
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A federal judge approved a $1.5 million settlement between Elon Musk and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over Musk’s failure to disclose a large Twitter stock purchase on time. The judge raised many concerns about the settlement but said the court cannot block it because the legal rules set a high bar for rejection.
Key Facts
Elon Musk did not disclose buying a 9% stake in Twitter within 10 days as required by law.
The SEC sued Musk in January 2025 over this disclosure failure.
The lawsuit claimed Musk’s late disclosure hurt Twitter investors by about $150 million.
The settlement requires Musk’s trust to pay a $1.5 million fine and prohibits future violations, but Musk does not admit wrongdoing.
The SEC dropped demands that Musk return profits made during the violation.
The judge noted the penalty is much smaller than the alleged investor losses.
The judge expressed doubts about the SEC’s deal but said it meets the minimum legal standards.
This case connects to broader investor lawsuits against Musk alleging false statements worth billions.
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Tyler Robinson is accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a university rally in Utah. Robinson’s former roommate said he never heard Robinson talk about Kirk before the shooting but later found a note that seemed like a confession.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in Charlie Kirk’s killing on September 10 at Utah Valley University.
Robinson’s ex-roommate, Lance Twiggs, told investigators he never heard Robinson mention Kirk before the shooting.
Twiggs found a handwritten note from Robinson saying, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it.”
Robinson planned the shooting for about a week, according to messages between him and Twiggs.
Robinson surrendered to police a day after the shooting and told Twiggs he wished he hadn’t done it.
Prosecutors want the death penalty for Robinson, who has not entered a plea yet.
There are court debates about which evidence and interviews can be shown during the trial.
Kirk’s family is seeking transparency and the right to see all evidence during the legal process.
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Democrat Graham Platner plans to officially leave the Maine Senate race on Monday. He had announced earlier that he was stopping his campaign because of growing controversy.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is a Democratic candidate for the Maine Senate.
He announced on Wednesday that he would suspend his campaign operations.
Platner is facing controversy, which influenced his decision to leave the race.
A source close to his campaign said he will file paperwork to withdraw on Monday.
Platner has privately informed his staff about his decision to quit the race.
Monday is the official deadline for candidates to withdraw from the race in Maine.
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France is experiencing its third heatwave this season, causing problems like wildfires, dry rivers, and strain on hospitals. The country struggles to adapt its cities and homes to extreme heat, with challenges including old building designs, water shortages, and economic inequality.
Key Facts
France is facing a third heatwave before Bastille Day, 2026.
Hospitals are under pressure due to heat-related health issues.
Wildfires are spreading and riverbeds are drying up.
Many homes and buildings are not designed to stay cool in summer.
There is debate about the use of air conditioning and other cooling solutions.
Water resources are becoming scarce, affecting farming and power plants.
Heat impacts poorer populations more because they cannot afford expensive cooling upgrades.
Political debates focus on how much regulation should be kept or rolled back to address climate issues.
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