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Historian Andrew Lownie claimed that Sarah Ferguson had a casual relationship with rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, supported by statements from Combs' former head of security, Roger Bonds. Both Ferguson's and Combs' teams denied the claims. Bonds confirmed some details but denied that Combs showed interest in Ferguson’s daughters.
Key Facts
Andrew Lownie wrote about a "friends with benefits" relationship between Sarah Ferguson and Sean "Diddy" Combs in his book.
Combs' former head of security, Roger Bonds, supported parts of Lownie's story in a TV interview.
Ferguson’s representatives called the claims "fabricated nonsense."
Combs’ team dismissed the claims as "ridiculous gossip."
Bonds said Ferguson was attracted to Combs because he was a "bad boy" and connected to power.
Bonds denied the claim that Combs was interested in Ferguson's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Combs faced legal charges including sexual assault and sex trafficking but was acquitted of the most serious ones, though convicted on two lesser counts.
Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor) is under investigation for unrelated misconduct allegations and has denied wrongdoing.
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Democrats in Maine are supporting Troy Jackson as their candidate to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in the upcoming election. Jackson gained strong backing after other candidates dropped out and the previous Democratic candidate, Graham Platner, ended his campaign following sexual assault allegations.
Key Facts
Troy Jackson is expected to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine.
He received wide support after other Democratic candidates, Nirav Shah, Dan Kleban, and Jordan Wood, ended their campaigns and endorsed him.
Graham Platner, the former Democratic candidate, quit after being accused of sexual assault, which he denies.
Jackson finished third in Maine's recent Democratic primary for governor.
His campaign focuses on Medicare for all, cutting U.S. tax dollars to Israel's military, abolishing ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and supporting abortion rights.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders previously endorsed Jackson in the governor’s race.
The Maine Democratic Party will officially choose the nominee at a convention with 601 delegates.
Republicans are preparing a strong advertising campaign against Jackson in the Senate race.
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Thousands of young people in India are protesting against unemployment, education problems, and political issues under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The protests began online as the Cockroach Janata Party and have grown, focusing especially on concerns about medical school entrance exams and alleged corruption.
Key Facts
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) started online in May as a protest movement by young people in India.
Protesters are unhappy with unemployment, education reform, corruption, and government accountability.
Police used teargas and batons to stop an unauthorized march near India’s parliament.
The group’s name refers to a comment by India’s Chief Justice who compared unemployed youth to cockroaches.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical school is a major issue due to leaks and pressure on students.
Several student suicides have been linked to the stress and controversies surrounding the NEET exam.
Environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protests with a hunger strike demanding the education minister’s resignation.
India’s Health Minister met with protest representatives and promised to raise their demands in government.
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The United States is focusing its foreign policy on Latin America by addressing immigration, drug trafficking, and competition with China. The Trump administration is increasing its involvement in the region through military action in Venezuela, pressure on Cuba, and political support for leaders in several countries.
Key Facts
US policy toward Latin America now emphasizes immigration control and stopping illegal drugs.
The US is also concerned about China's growing influence in Latin America.
The Trump administration has increased its military presence in Venezuela.
There is a campaign of strong pressure against Cuba by the US government.
The US openly supports politicians in Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, and other countries.
Historically, the US used strong tactics with Latin American countries but had reduced focus until recently.
Americas Quarterly editor Brian Winter provided these insights.
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A recent poll shows that nearly half of Americans think the Supreme Court makes decisions about President Trump's policies based on politics, not just the law. The survey asked over 2,600 people about their views on the court’s rulings related to the president’s agenda.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by The Washington Post and Ipsos from July 8 to 13.
46% of the 2,648 respondents believe the Supreme Court judges decide cases based on their political beliefs.
The cases in question relate to President Donald Trump’s policy agenda.
The Supreme Court has nine justices who rule on legal cases.
The poll reflects public opinion on how the court handles politically sensitive cases involving the president.
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Civil rights groups sued the Department of Health and Human Services for not responding to a request about the Trump administration’s childcare funding cuts. The lawsuit seeks emails and information about decisions to freeze federal money after unproven fraud claims against Somali childcare providers.
Key Facts
Several civil rights groups, including the ACLU, filed the lawsuit against HHS.
The lawsuit concerns a Freedom of Information Act request about childcare funding restrictions.
The Trump administration froze over $10 billion in childcare and family assistance funds to five states.
The freeze followed a viral video by influencer Nick Shirley, who made unproven fraud claims about Somali childcare centers.
Investigations found the childcare centers mostly operated normally and children were present.
Court orders have blocked the funding freeze and demanded the release of related emails.
The lawsuit alleges the freeze caused fear and delays for families relying on childcare support.
Civil rights groups say the funding cuts are linked to racial bias and political motives.
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A global study found that bacteria resistant to antibiotics are increasingly causing infections in children. This resistance has grown in every region from 2004 to 2022, making common infections harder to treat, especially in babies, children in intensive care, and countries with fewer health resources.
Key Facts
The study analyzed over 100,000 infection samples from children in 82 countries.
Antibiotic resistance means bacteria no longer respond to medicines that used to kill them.
Resistance is rising in severe infections like sepsis and pneumonia, often caused by Acinetobacter baumannii.
Klebsiella bacteria, which cause urinary tract infections, showed the fastest rise in resistance, especially in parts of Asia, Europe, and the Pacific.
Resistance to last-resort antibiotics may reach 82% for Acinetobacter and 35% for Klebsiella by 2035.
Children have fewer antibiotic treatment options and are often overlooked in drug research and guidelines.
The researchers created a website called AMR in K to track antibiotic resistance by country, bacteria, and drug type.
Children with weakened immune systems, like those with transplants, face especially high risks from resistant infections.
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A new poll from the University of North Florida shows Republican Byron Donalds leading Democrat David Jolly by 5 points in the race for Florida governor. The poll indicates a close contest ahead of the 2026 election, with both candidates showing strong support among voters.
Key Facts
Byron Donalds has 46% support, and David Jolly has 41% among likely Florida voters.
6% of voters are undecided, and 5% support other candidates.
Both candidates are currently leading their primary races, scheduled for August 18, 2026.
Among voters not affiliated with either party, Donalds leads slightly with 39% over Jolly's 38%.
Jolly has stronger support among Hispanic and Latino voters, winning 53% compared to Donalds’ 35%.
The poll surveyed 848 likely voters from July 8 to 17, 2026, with a margin of error of ±3.8 percentage points.
Other polls show mixed results, with one giving Jolly a 4-point lead and another giving Donalds an 8-point lead.
The poll also found Florida voters slightly disapprove of President Donald Trump, with 51% disapproving and 48% approving.
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The recent World Cup showed that immigration involves both multiculturalism and assimilation. People from many cultures come together, while also adopting some common ways to live and work.
Key Facts
The World Cup featured athletes and fans from many countries and cultures.
The event highlighted how diverse cultures interact and blend.
Multiculturalism means keeping different cultural traditions alive.
Assimilation means adopting some shared habits or values in a society.
The article suggests immigration is a balance between these two ideas.
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Ismael Zambada García, known as “El Mayo,” a leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, was sentenced to life in prison in a US federal court after admitting to leading a large drug trafficking operation. The court also ordered him to give up $15 billion earned from illegal drug sales.
Key Facts
Zambada is 76 years old and was sentenced in Brooklyn, New York.
He admitted to shipping large amounts of cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and fentanyl to the US and other countries.
He pleaded guilty to charges including racketeering and running a continuing criminal enterprise.
The US justice department agreed not to seek the death penalty in exchange for his plea.
Zambada was a co-founder and key leader of the Sinaloa cartel, known for violence and corruption.
He was arrested in 2024 after a kidnapping operation led by one of El Chapo’s sons.
Zambada urged an end to violence and asked future traffickers to choose a different path in a court statement.
The sentencing happened during heightened US pressure on Mexico to fight drug cartels, including designating the Sinaloa cartel as a terrorist group.
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Andy Burnham became the United Kingdom's prime minister on Monday after being declared leader of the Labour Party last week. He replaces the previous Labour leader, Keir Starmer, marking the UK's seventh new prime minister in ten years.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is now the prime minister of the United Kingdom.
He was officially declared leader of the Labour Party last week.
Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader.
This marks the seventh different prime minister in the UK over the past decade.
The change in prime minister reflects political shifts within the Labour Party.
The announcement was reported by CBS News with footage by Imtiaz Tyab.
The transition took place recently, with Burnham assuming office on Monday.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised to end rough sleeping in England by investing an extra £340 million over three years. He aims to use strategies similar to those he implemented as mayor of Greater Manchester, which initially reduced homelessness, but recent national trends show rough sleeping has increased.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham announced a plan to end rough sleeping in England with a new investment of £340 million over three years.
The funding will come from unused housing department budgets and will support building 1,200 new homes and helping 3,000 people over five years.
Burnham’s approach is based on policies from his time as Greater Manchester mayor, where rough sleeping was initially reduced by two-thirds.
The plan involves cooperation between national and local governments.
The previous government had allocated £3.5 billion to homelessness, aiming to cut long-term rough sleeping in half.
Critics note that rough sleeping has increased over the past four years in Greater Manchester despite Burnham’s earlier success.
Burnham’s strategy echoes the “Everyone In” policy used during the Covid pandemic, which temporarily housed rough sleepers.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed, who managed the previous homelessness strategy, was removed from his post as Burnham formed his cabinet.
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Scientists have found that a natural brain protein called SORLA may help protect against damage from tau protein buildup in Alzheimer’s disease. In studies with mice, increasing SORLA reduced harmful tau clumps, brain shrinkage, and loss of connections between brain cells.
Key Facts
SORLA is a protein that naturally occurs in the brain and may defend against tau protein problems linked to Alzheimer’s.
Tau proteins normally support neuron structure, but in Alzheimer’s they form harmful clumps called tau tangles.
Mice engineered to have more human SORLA showed less tau accumulation and less brain shrinkage.
Increasing SORLA reduced tau hyperphosphorylation, which is a key process causing tau to become harmful.
Higher SORLA levels helped maintain synapses, the communication points between brain cells, and supported brain plasticity.
Mice lacking the gene for SORLA experienced worse tau-related brain damage.
The study also found that lack of SORLA increased activity in brain support cells (glial cells) linked to disease progression.
Existing drugs targeting certain brain receptors (plexin-B family) might be repurposed to help in tau-related dementia.
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Smoke from wildfires in the US is causing poor air quality in parts of Canada, leading to official warnings. Meanwhile, President Trump has accused Canada of poor wildfire management and threatened tariffs, despite ongoing fires in both countries.
Key Facts
Smoke from US wildfires in Washington and Oregon is affecting air quality in southeastern British Columbia.
British Columbia has issued air quality warnings for areas near the US border, such as Kootenay Lake and Cranbrook.
There are 22 large fires burning in Washington and Oregon.
As of Monday, Canada has 843 active wildfires, with 181 out of control and spreading.
President Trump claimed the US had been “invaded” by dirty air and threatened to add costs to tariffs on Canada.
Canada’s government says it has spent C$12 billion on fire prevention and forest care over five years.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged US politicians to support Canada rather than criticize.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called climate change a shared responsibility for all countries, including the US.
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West African leaders have approved a $25 billion plan to build a 6,000 km gas pipeline from Nigeria to Morocco, linking to Europe’s gas network. The pipeline will carry gas to 14 countries, aiming to boost regional energy use and economic growth, with construction expected to start in 2028.
Key Facts
The Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline will be 6,000 km (3,700 miles) long along the Atlantic coast.
It will serve 14 West African countries and connect to Europe's gas system via Spain.
The project cost is estimated at $25 billion and construction will begin in phases starting in 2028.
About 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year will flow through the pipeline, serving 400 million consumers.
The pipeline aims to reduce Africa’s reliance on exporting raw gas and importing processed gas at higher prices.
The project has taken nearly a decade of negotiations and has passed major political approval.
Initial construction will start in Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal before extending toward Nigeria.
The pipeline route avoids the Sahel region’s insecure areas but offshore building increases costs.
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Yemen's Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, have threatened to block the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a major oil shipping route, in response to a blockade on Yemen. This move could disrupt global oil supplies and worsen the current fuel crisis amid ongoing conflicts involving the U.S., Iran, and regional powers.
Key Facts
The Houthi rebels said they would start a naval blockade on the Bab el-Mandeb strait immediately.
The Bab el-Mandeb strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a key route for global oil transport.
Iran backs the Houthi rebels and has warned they might close the strait if U.S. attacks on Iranian targets continue.
The U.S. and Iran have been conducting strikes against each other recently, increasing tensions.
The Strait of Hormuz, another important oil route, is controlled by Iran, restricting about 20% of the world's oil and gas flow.
Blocking Bab el-Mandeb could reduce global oil supplies by about 7%, causing economic and travel disruptions.
The Houthi have previously attacked ships in the Red Sea, with attacks rising after the Israel-Hamas conflict began in 2023.
Saudi Arabia has restricted Yemen’s air and sea access and is fighting to remove the Houthi from power.
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Andy Burnham has become the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was officially invited by King Charles III to form a new government on July 20, 2026, following the outgoing Labour leader's departure.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is the new UK Prime Minister as of July 20, 2026.
King Charles III formally invited Burnham to Buckingham Palace to take office.
Burnham is the leader of the Labour Party.
He succeeded Keir Starmer, the previous Labour leader and Prime Minister.
The transition aims to bring more stability to UK politics.
Burnham is expected to address important issues like the cost-of-living crisis.
This change marks the UK's seventh prime minister in ten years.
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Tom Homan, a border official, responded to claims made by CBS News host Margaret Brennan about a deadly shooting involving an ICE officer in Houston. Brennan questioned the evidence shown in videos of the incident, saying they do not clearly support the officer’s actions.
Key Facts
A fatal shooting occurred involving an ICE officer in Houston.
The person shot was Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was undocumented.
Videos show an ICE van chasing Araujo.
CBS host Margaret Brennan said the videos do not clearly support the officer’s actions.
Border official Tom Homan said some of Brennan’s claims are hard to prove.
The discussion took place during a Sunday broadcast.
The incident involves U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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Gas prices in the United States have risen above $4 per gallon again due to increased fighting in the Iran war. The conflict has disrupted global oil supplies, especially after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route.
Key Facts
Gasoline prices increased by 13 cents per gallon last week, reaching an average of $4.003 per gallon.
The Iran war led Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about 20% of the world’s oil.
U.S. and Iran exchanged military strikes recently, worsening the conflict and raising fears of oil shortages.
The U.S. has resumed a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after Iran attacked oil tankers there.
Two U.S. service members were killed in related attacks in Jordan and Iraq.
Gas prices had briefly dropped below $4 last month after a tentative U.S.-Iran agreement seemed likely.
Before the war, gas prices last exceeded $4 in August 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Iran war caused one of the largest oil shocks, pushing prices as high as $4.56 per gallon in May.
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A $45,000 deposit in a long-term certificate of deposit (CD) can earn much more interest than the same money in a regular savings account. Longer CD terms offer higher rates and compound interest, leading to significantly more earnings over time, but the money is locked in and not easily accessible.
Key Facts
Savings accounts currently earn an average interest rate of about 0.38% per year.
Long-term CDs offer higher interest rates, around 4% or more per year.
A 1-year CD at 4.11% would earn about $1,850 in interest on $45,000.
A 10-year CD at 4.30% would earn about $23,558 in interest on the same $45,000.
Longer CD terms earn more interest because of compounding, where interest grows on both the original money and previous interest.
Savings accounts offer easy access to money, while CDs require locking up funds, often with penalties for early withdrawal.
Over 10 years, a savings account would earn about $1,739 in interest, much less than a long-term CD.
Choosing between a savings account and a CD depends on how soon the money will be needed.
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