Several new movies, music albums, and games are available for streaming this week. Highlights include the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael," a documentary on drummer Travis Barker, a new season of the show "Reacher," and Carly Simon's first album in over a decade.
Key Facts
The movie "Michael," about Michael Jackson, starts streaming on August 10 on Starz after earning $1 billion at the box office.
"Don’t Say Good Luck," a comedy starring Adam Sandler’s daughter Sunny, releases on Netflix on August 14.
The film "Normal," featuring Bob Odenkirk as a substitute sheriff, streams on HBO Max beginning August 14.
The documentary "Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear" premieres on Hulu on August 13, covering the drummer’s life including surviving a 2008 plane crash.
Carly Simon releases a new album "Comes In Waves" on August 14, her first with original songs since 2008.
Singer Becky G releases a new bilingual album "Baraja Bendita" on August 14, celebrating her Mexican heritage.
The video game "Madden NFL 27" and a new season of the show "Reacher" are also available this week.
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Duane "Keffe D" Davis is on trial for his role in the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. The trial will focus on whether Davis helped plan the attack and provided the gun, not who fired the shots.
Key Facts
Tupac Shakur was shot in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, and died six days later.
Davis faces one charge: murder with a deadly weapon intended to support a criminal gang.
Jury selection starts Monday in Clark County District Court, Las Vegas, with Judge Carli Kierny presiding.
Prosecutors say Davis did not pull the trigger but made calls leading to the shooting and supplied the gun.
Davis co-wrote a memoir detailing his role; he claims he gave a gun to an associate but does not name the shooter.
The main suspect who is believed to have fired the gun was Davis’ nephew, Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, who died in 1998.
About 35 to 45 witnesses may testify, including people close to Shakur and Davis, and former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.
Public access to the trial will be limited, with a lottery for courtroom seats and a live feed shown in a separate room.
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Count Binface, a comedian who wears a garbage can on his head, is running for a seat in the British Parliament in a special election. This election follows the sudden resignation of Nigel Farage, who quit to seek reelection amid financial allegations but faced boycotts from major parties.
Key Facts
Count Binface is a joke candidate known for wearing a rubbish bin on his head.
He calls himself an intergalactic space warrior and has run against multiple prime ministers.
Nigel Farage resigned from Parliament suddenly and planned to run again to clear his name.
Major political parties boycotted the election caused by Farage’s resignation.
The election features nearly three dozen candidates, many with humorous or unusual platforms.
Count Binface has gained media attention as the primary challenger in the election.
The comedian behind Count Binface is Jon Harvey, who keeps his identity hidden during interviews.
The election is in Clacton-on-Sea, southeastern England, and is seen by some as unusual or farcical.
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A global movement encourages people to fight loneliness by inviting strangers to share a seat and have a conversation. This simple idea aims to help people feel less alone by connecting them with others.
Key Facts
Loneliness is a common problem affecting many people worldwide.
The movement uses the idea of "pulling up a chair" to invite strangers to talk.
Sharing a conversation can help reduce feelings of isolation.
The initiative is happening in many different places around the world.
The movement focuses on building human connections through simple, friendly acts.
CBS News reporter Tina Kraus covered this story.
The project encourages people to reach out and help others feel included.
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A 78-year-old British woman named Joyce Thomas, who has lived in Sweden for 21 years, was told she must leave the country because her application to stay after Brexit was considered late. Swedish authorities have ordered around 2,500 British residents to leave since Brexit, and the UK government has criticized Sweden’s strict approach.
Key Facts
Joyce Thomas is a 78-year-old widow and retired nurse living in Sweden for 21 years.
She applied late to stay in Sweden after Brexit, and her application was rejected for not having “reasonable grounds.”
Her subsequent attempt to stay under Swedish immigration laws was also denied.
Sweden has deported more British residents related to Brexit than any other EU country, about 2,500 people.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and campaigners say Sweden’s policies are unusually strict.
Thomas lives near her son, grandchildren, and her late husband’s grave in Sweden.
Lawyers are helping Thomas appeal her case to a higher court.
A UK Member of Parliament called for compassion in handling such cases involving British nationals living abroad before Brexit.
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President Donald Trump said the US is focusing on economic pressure rather than new military strikes to make Iran agree to a deal. Talks about reopening the Strait of Hormuz are close to an agreement, but Iran wants the US to lift its naval blockade and stop military actions first.
Key Facts
President Trump prefers using economic pressure over new military actions against Iran.
The US has a naval blockade on Iran since April, which has hurt Iran’s economy.
Iran faces high inflation and struggles to pay its military troops.
Oil prices are around $75 a barrel, helping to reduce the impact on US consumers.
Talks mediated by Oman aim to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for shipping.
Iran wants the US to lift the blockade, stop military actions, and pay war damages before fully reopening the strait.
Fighting resumed after a June ceasefire collapsed over control of the strait.
Iran has launched strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan; Yemen’s Houthis, supported by Iran, declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
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More than a million people were evacuated in eastern China as Typhoon Dolphin brought record rainfall and caused flooding concerns. The storm hit Shanghai with the highest rainfall in over 150 years and led to many flight cancellations while moving inland and weakening.
Key Facts
Over 900,000 people were evacuated in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.
Nearly 99,000 people were moved from risky areas in Fujian province.
Around 215,600 people were evacuated in Shanghai, much higher than earlier estimates.
Shanghai recorded its highest 24-hour rainfall in more than 150 years.
Typhoon Dolphin weakened to a tropical storm by early Monday morning.
Heavy rain was forecast to continue across eastern and central China, including several provinces.
Shanghai’s two airports canceled over 1,300 flights due to the storm.
The typhoon also affected Japan and the Philippines with injuries, power cuts, and heavy rains intensified by seasonal monsoons.
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Oil prices rose after Iran said it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz without major demands from the United States, including easing sanctions and paying war reparations. The strait, which normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies, has seen very little shipping since a war involving the US and Israel began.
Key Facts
Brent crude oil prices went up more than 1% on Monday due to Iran’s demands.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route for about 20% of the world's oil.
Iran and Oman are close to an agreement, but the strait will remain closed until Iran’s conditions to the US are met.
Shipping in the strait dropped from around 130 vessels daily before the war to between 8 and 15 vessels recently.
Iran claims it has the right to control shipping through the strait, which goes against international law about free navigation.
The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of a missile attack on one of its oil company’s ships.
Since the war started in late February, there have been at least 64 violent incidents and 17 deaths involving commercial ships in the area.
Despite the tension, Asian stock markets rose on the day oil prices climbed.
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China evacuated over one million people as Typhoon Dolphin hit eastern China, including Shanghai, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. The storm caused flight cancellations, flooding, and transportation disruptions, while authorities warned of ongoing dangers like floods and landslides.
Key Facts
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall in Zhejiang province with wind speeds up to 150 km/h (94 mph).
Over one million people were evacuated from cities including Shanghai, Wenzhou, and Taizhou.
The storm forced cancellation of 1,400 flights in Shanghai and disrupted other transportation.
Authorities issued a red alert, later downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland.
Heavy rains and flood risks remain in several provinces including Shandong, Henan, and Jiangsu.
Some tourist spots, like parts of Disneyland Shanghai, closed due to the storm.
A nine-year-old boy went missing after being swept into the sea in Zhejiang; no official casualty reports yet.
Authorities detained two people for spreading false information online about the storm using AI-edited videos.
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Protests in Kut, Iraq, increased as people called for more electricity during very hot weather. Security forces used tear gas to control the crowd outside a government building.
Key Facts
The protests took place in Kut, a city in Iraq.
People were protesting because of power shortages.
High temperatures made the lack of electricity more difficult.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Wasit Governorate Council building.
Security forces responded by using tear gas to manage the protests.
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Israel confirmed that a Palestinian detainee named Ihab Mohammed Abdel Qader Diab died in custody nearly two years after his detention. Palestinian officials say this case is part of a pattern where Israel hides information about detainees held since the conflict in Gaza began.
Key Facts
Ihab Diab, aged 36, was detained on December 12, 2023, and died around September 18, 2024, after about nine months in custody.
The Israeli Prison Service notified the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs of Diab’s death on Sunday.
Palestinian officials accuse Israel of torturing detainees and concealing their fate.
Israeli authorities claim Diab had a health problem; his family says he was healthy before detention.
Since 1967, 328 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli custody; 91 have died since October 7, 2023.
Gaza’s Prisoners’ Ministry demands an international investigation and accountability for Diab’s death.
Thousands of Palestinians are held by Israel without trial or charge, including about 3,198 in administrative detention based on secret evidence.
Israel classifies some Gaza detainees separately as “unlawful combatants.”
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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is currently having medical checks and a procedure and will be observed for two days. No details about the procedure have been shared, and it is unclear if it is related to his past health issues.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is undergoing medical examinations and a procedure.
He is expected to stay in observation for two days.
The procedure follows advice from a team of medical specialists.
No specific information about the procedure was made public.
The announcement was made on Anwar’s 79th birthday.
Anwar has been prime minister since November 2022.
He had a routine medical check in January that showed he was in good health.
In 2018, he had treatment and surgery for back and shoulder problems.
It is unknown if the current procedure relates to earlier health issues.
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Western Europe experienced record-high temperatures during the summer of 2026, breaking previous heat records for June and July. The heat waves caused wildfires, drought, and low river levels across the region. Scientists say human-caused global warming and a strong El Niño event are behind the extreme heat.
Key Facts
Western Europe set a new average temperature record for June-July at 21.62°C (70.92°F).
The heat waves began in May 2026 and caused wildfires and drought conditions.
Rivers like the Danube and Rhine reached very low water levels due to dry weather.
July 2026 had the highest average sea surface temperature recorded outside polar regions.
El Niño, a Pacific Ocean warming event, helped increase global temperatures.
2026 is currently the third-hottest year on record worldwide, with a chance to become the hottest.
Drier soils reduce natural cooling, making heat waves worse in Europe.
The European climate agency Copernicus provided the data and analysis on the heat records.
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Western Europe experienced its hottest June and July on record, with an average temperature of 21.62°C, surpassing the previous 2022 record. This extreme heat has caused severe droughts and wildfires in several countries, driven by climate change and an ongoing powerful El Nino weather pattern.
Key Facts
Western Europe's combined average temperature for June-July 2026 was 21.62°C, the highest ever recorded for this period.
The region faced a summer of heatwaves, drought, and wildfires, including severe fires in France and Spain.
Soil moisture levels were much lower than in the previous drought year of 2022, worsening dry conditions.
Major rivers such as the Seine, Rhine, and Danube had unusually low water levels, affecting transport, irrigation, and energy.
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, with climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat and drought.
The world’s ocean surface temperatures also hit record highs for the second month in a row, influenced by marine heatwaves and a strong El Nino event.
El Nino is a natural climate pattern that raises Pacific Ocean temperatures and can cause extreme weather globally, adding to climate change effects.
The combination of heat and drought is causing more wildfire-prone weather conditions across Europe and parts of North America.
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Scientists report that July 2026 saw the hottest sea temperatures ever recorded worldwide, especially in the Atlantic and western Mediterranean regions. Western Europe experienced extreme heat and drought, leading to wildfires, power plant shutdowns, crop losses, and many deaths.
Key Facts
July 2026 had the highest average sea surface temperature outside polar areas for that month on record.
The Atlantic coast and western Mediterranean experienced record-high sea surface temperatures.
Western Europe had its hottest June-July on record, causing wildfires and drought.
Extreme heatwaves broke temperature records in countries like Austria and Slovakia.
Drought reduced river flows, affecting water supply, farming, and power plants in Europe.
Coal power plants in Poland and Hungary’s nuclear plant shut down due to lack of cooling water.
Early estimates suggest that heat cost grain farmers about €2 billion in crop losses this summer.
Long-term drought effects can cause sustained economic damage, costing Europe hundreds of billions of euros.
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Daniel Kinahan, a suspected Irish crime boss, has been brought from Dubai to Dublin and appeared in court. He faces charges of directing a criminal organization.
Key Facts
Daniel Kinahan is suspected to be involved in organized crime.
He is considered one of the most wanted men globally.
Kinahan was extradited from Dubai to Dublin.
He appeared in a Dublin court following his extradition.
The charge against him is directing a criminal organization.
Kinahan is 49 years old.
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England and Wales will have a short break from very hot weather on Monday, but then temperatures will rise again, leading to the fifth heatwave of the year. Many areas face drought conditions due to very little rain, and officials will decide if more regions should be officially declared in drought.
Key Facts
A fifth heatwave will bring temperatures up to 36°C (97°F) in southeast England by Thursday.
Half of England and all of Wales are already officially in drought.
Some parts of southern England could go nearly two months without meaningful rain.
23 million people are under hosepipe bans to conserve water.
River and reservoir levels are very low, with some reservoirs at exceptionally low levels.
The National Drought Group, made up of government and water officials, will meet to discuss declaring more drought areas.
The heatwave is expected to produce very warm overnight temperatures, possibly above 20°C in some places.
A small cool period on Monday will give brief relief before the heat returns.
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Iran-backed Houthi forces have started new missile and drone attacks on Yemen’s al-Makha port, located by the Red Sea. These attacks targeted Saudi weapons storage areas and caused the deaths of at least seven people, according to Yemen’s military.
Key Facts
The Houthis are supported by Iran.
They targeted al-Makha port in Yemen, which is on the Red Sea coast.
The attacks involved both ballistic missiles and drones.
Saudi weapons depots at the port were hit.
At least seven people were killed according to Yemen’s military.
This is a resumption of attacks after a pause.
The conflict involves multiple countries connected to Yemen’s war.
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Hong Kong recorded its highest temperature ever at 36.9°C as Typhoon Dolphin brought warm air to the city. The typhoon caused heatwaves, flight cancellations, and evacuations along China’s east coast before making landfall in Zhejiang province.
Key Facts
Hong Kong’s temperature reached 36.9°C, the highest since records began in 1884.
A location in Hong Kong’s north recorded 39.8°C, the highest since automatic weather stations started in the 1980s.
The previous highest official temperature was 36.6°C in August 2017 before Typhoon Hato.
Typhoon Dolphin caused extreme heat across the region and led to a “very hot weather warning” in Hong Kong.
The typhoon made landfall near Yuhuan in Zhejiang province with winds of 94 mph, similar to a category 1 hurricane.
The storm caused mass flight cancellations and evacuations on China’s east coast.
Meteorologists say human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such extreme heat events.
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Taiwan is holding military drills that will last 10 days to prepare in case China tries to invade. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it might use force to take control. Taiwan is also unsure about the level of support it will get from President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Taiwan began a 10-day military exercise focused on defense.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory and threatens military action.
Taiwan is concerned about possible invasion by China.
The drills aim to prepare Taiwan's forces for a potential conflict.
Taiwan is questioning how much support President Donald Trump will provide.
Chinese threats have increased tensions between Taiwan and China.
The situation highlights ongoing political and military pressure in the region.
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