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Brain tumor found during preventive scan puts full-body MRIs back in the spotlight

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Brain tumor found during preventive scan puts full-body MRIs back in the spotlight


Full-body MRI scans grow in popularity

‘Fox & Friends’ hosts discuss the growing popularity of full-body MRI scans for early disease detection. Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel shares his concerns about the technology.

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After a former “Bachelor” contestant said a preventive scan uncovered a brain tumor before symptoms appeared, doctors are once again weighing the promise — and pitfalls — of full-body MRI screenings.

The renewed attention comes as celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton and now former “Bachelor” contestant Josh Seiter have publicly discussed preventive body scans, fueling consumer interest in the technology despite ongoing debate among medical experts about its benefits for healthy people.

Full-body scans use different technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET), according to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

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The goal is to detect early signs of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and other abnormalities.

Dr. Daniel Durand, chief medical officer at Prenuvo, one of the biggest U.S. providers of full-body scans, compared the scan to a “virtual physical” in which a radiologist examines the inside of the body in a way that a traditional annual physical cannot.

Full-body scans use a variety of technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET). (iStock)

Prenuvo’s scan uses MRI technology to collect a “vast amount of health data,” the Maryland-based doctor previously told Fox News Digital.

“Two licensed providers analyze this data, explain its relevance directly to you and offer you guidance on the next steps necessary to optimize your health,” he said.

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Insurance does not typically cover whole-body scans.

“Coverage usually varies widely by insurance plan, jurisdiction, and the specific clinical guidelines for each genetic condition,” Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, more commonly known as “Dr. Mike,” a podcaster and primary care physician in New Jersey, previously told Fox News Digital. 

Full-body scanner

A chief medical officer compared the scan to a “virtual physical” in which a radiologist examines the inside of the body in a way that a traditional annual physical cannot do. (Prenuvo)

“My general understanding is that for screening purposes, the test is usually not covered, given the lack of documented clinical benefit versus harms.”

Some coverage may be offered, however, for those with high-risk genetic syndromes or other specific medical conditions, the doctor noted.

“Our hope is that over time, insurers will see the many benefits of our proactive approach to healthcare and will broaden coverage,” Prenuvo’s Durand said.

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“We are actively engaged in several research studies that could provide a foundation for insurance reimbursement.”

Depending on the provider and options selected, prices for full-body scans can be as high as $2,500.

The two biggest providers of full-body scans are Prenuvo (headquartered in California) and Ezra (based in New York City). 

Potential benefits

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, has also spoken with Fox News Digital about the benefits of full-body MRI scans.

“Full-body scanning, mainly through MRI, presents a significant advancement in modern medicine’s diagnostic capabilities,” he said.

“In many cases, the earliest signs of diseases — like cancers, infections or aneurysms — will be seen.”

“MRI technology allows for a comprehensive, non-invasive examination of the body to detect a wide range of conditions, including cancer and vascular malformations like aneurysms, without the need for potentially harmful radiation, as is the case with CT scans,” he also said.

Durand claimed that a Prenuvo scan can detect many diseases based on changes to the inside of the body that can be detected by MRI.

Woman discussing MRI with technician

“MRI technology allows for a comprehensive, non-invasive examination of the body to detect a wide range of conditions, including cancer and vascular malformations like aneurysms, without the need for potentially harmful X-rays, as is the case with CT scans,” one neurosurgeon said. (iStock)

“Usually these changes happen before symptoms occur or before there are signs on a physical exam,” he told Fox News Digital.

“So, in many cases, the earliest signs of diseases — like cancers, infections or aneurysms — will be seen,” he went on. “By seeing them earlier, you can be treated earlier, hopefully before the disease has done little to no permanent damage.”

Doctors share concerns

Dr. Mike told Fox News Digital that he has not recommended that any of his patients get an MRI screening scan. 

“The high upfront cost and lack of clear medical indication for broad screening (if you’re low-risk and asymptomatic) lead me to agree with the major medical organizations that routine whole-body MRI screening for the general population is not recommended,” he said.

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Much of the popularity of these scans has been driven by celebrities, who sometimes receive them for free, Dr. Mike said — which he finds concerning.

“My understanding is that even receiving a free scan is a business relationship that the FTC requires disclosing,” he said. “My understanding is that the companies themselves cannot claim their tests save lives, so they work with celebs who can make personal claims that are not subject to the same investigational scrutiny.”

Woman MRI

“With the current level of technology, I am against full-body scans in favor of more directed workups initiated by expert physicians who know what they are looking for,” one doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“This also sends a conflicting message to the consumer and creates confusion.”

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News’ senior medical analyst, also does not recommend these scans to patients.

“With the current level of technology, I am against full-body scans in favor of more directed workups initiated by expert physicians who know what they are looking for,” he has told Fox News Digital.

“If you do a full-body scan, you will be inclined to pursue every positive finding, whether they are really significant or not.”

“If you do a full-body scan, you will be inclined to pursue every positive finding, whether they are really significant or not.”

Siegel also noted the high expense and the fact that full-body scans are “frequently oversensitive.”

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“They may take the place of more directed, accurate studies and screening tests that are more suited to the symptoms, history and genetic tests in specific patients,” Siegel cautioned. 

The doctor also noted the current shift toward more personalized healthcare approaches, “augmented by not just genetics, but also artificial intelligence.”

“This will lead to more directed workups, not to more full-body scans.”

MRI man with technician

One doctor warned of mental risks, including anxiety during the procedure (claustrophobia), stress from incidental findings and an increase in health-related worries. (iStock)

The most significant risks that come with these full-body scans, according to Dr. Mike, are the issues that arise with false positives, overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

There are also mental risks, including anxiety during the procedure (claustrophobia), stress from incidental findings and an increase in health-related worries, the doctor noted.

“Some proponents say it can ease health-related anxiety; however, I am pretty skeptical of that claim,” he said. “Based on my clinical experience, even getting a clear scan would secure peace of mind only temporarily.”

“We don’t know if we are saving more people by catching disease early or harming more people with overdiagnosis, false positives and overtreatment.”

Research published in 2020 found that imaging abnormalities are expected in about 95% of screened subjects, according to the doctor. 

“This means the majority of those scanned will have some sort of finding presented to them,” he said. “I can’t imagine how helpful that would be to someone already prone to health worries.”

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During a 2025 podcast interview with Dr. Mike, Andrew Lacy, CEO of Prenuvo, said that long-term data on these screening scans is not yet available.

“So, currently, we don’t know if we are saving more people by catching disease early or harming more people with overdiagnosis, false positives and overtreatment,” Dr. Mike said. 

Woman getting an MRI

“Before having a CT screening procedure, carefully investigate and consider the potential risks and benefits and discuss them with your physician,” the FDA advised.  (iStock)

“Barring emergencies, if I don’t have clear data about the harms and benefits of an intervention, especially one that is meant to be used on healthy people, I cannot widely recommend it.”

Prenuvo did cite a recent study of over 1,000 patients who were followed over a one-year period.  

“In this sample, we found pathologically-proven cancer in 2.2% of Prenuvo patients,” Durand told Fox News Digital. “Importantly, most of these cancers were early stage, and the majority were cancer types for which there is no widely accepted screening exam.”

Guidelines of health agencies

The most recent guidance from the FDA echoes the doctors’ concerns.

“At this time, the FDA knows of no scientific evidence demonstrating that whole-body scanning of individuals without symptoms provides more benefit than harm to people being screened,” the agency stated on its website.

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The FDA also warned about the “relatively high radiation exposure” from CT scans. While this exposure risk is “greatly outweighed” by the benefits of diagnostic and therapeutic scans, the agency said that for whole-body screening of asymptomatic people, “the benefits are questionable.”

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“Before having a CT screening procedure, carefully investigate and consider the potential risks and benefits and discuss them with your physician,” the FDA advised. 

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) also recommends against full-body scans for early tumor detection in asymptomatic patients.

Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].



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Trump to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian hockey sticks, milk, alcohol and other goods

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Trump to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian hockey sticks, milk, alcohol and other goods


President Trump is imposing 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods, from hockey equipment to alcoholic beverages, escalating the trade dispute between the two countries. 

The new tariffs — laid out in a series of proclamations signed by Mr. Trump on Monday — are set to take effect on Aug. 19. The White House accused Canada of “unreasonable, unequal, and discriminatory actions” by imposing tariffs or import restrictions on certain American goods, some of which began after Mr. Trump’s initial round of tariffs on Canada last year.

In retaliation for last year’s Canadian tariffs on certain U.S. auto imports, the Trump administration slapped tariffs on certain Canadian electronics, hockey equipment, honey, flower bulbs, down feathers, plywood, cowhides, jewelry and other goods. The White House also imposed tariffs on Canadian beer, wine, liquor and milk, in response to Canadian boycotts of U.S. alcohol in response to last year’s tariffs and longstanding Canadian quotas on dairy imports.

Goods that flow across the border under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA — a trade deal inked during Mr. Trump’s first term — will not be exempt from the new tariffs, a senior administration official told reporters Monday.

The official said the new tariffs do not mean the U.S. is entering a trade war with Canada, and the Trump administration remains open to negotiations. But the official argued the U.S. needed to respond to what the White House views as discriminatory trade practices, framing Canada and China as the only two countries that retaliated against Mr. Trump’s tariff-heavy trade strategy.

“While the Administration continues to secure fair and reciprocal trade deals with our trading partners, Canada, unlike other partners and allies, continues to retaliate against the United States for its efforts to rebalance trade and protect U.S. industry in national-security sensitive sectors,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement.

The new levies were issued under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which gives the president the power to impose duties of up to 50% on any country that “discriminates” against U.S. commerce. The senior administration official said Section 338 has not been used in this way before, but the administration is confident it has the power to impose the tariffs. Mr. Trump’s authority to introduce tariffs was constrained earlier this year by the Supreme Court, which ruled he couldn’t use a separate emergency powers law to impose import duties.

CBS News has reached out to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office for comment. 

Canada is the U.S.’ second-largest trading partner, after Mexico, with more than $300 billion worth of goods flowing across the U.S.-Canada border in the first five months of this year, federal data shows. 

The two countries have had a rocky relationship on trade since the early weeks of Mr. Trump’s second term, when he threatened hefty tariffs on the U.S.’ northern and southern neighbors in response to what he viewed as insufficient action to prevent drugs and migrants from crossing the border. Canada reacted by rolling out its own tariffs on U.S. goods, and some provinces rolled out their own retaliatory measures, like pulling American alcohol off shelves. 

The Trump administration later launched trade talks with Canada, and it rolled back some of its most stringent tariffs by exempting goods that comply with the USMCA, which covers most trade across the U.S.-Canada border. But tensions have remained high, with Mr. Trump periodically threatening to hike tariffs and choosing not to renew the USMCA past 2036. The two countries have also feuded over NATO and Mr. Trump’s frequent musings about annexing Canada.

Late last week, Mr. Trump threatened additional tariffs on Canada in response to wildfires that blanketed the eastern and midwestern U.S. in smoke, arguing the country had been “invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air.” Canada has defended its handling of the fires. 

The senior administration official told reporters that Monday’s levies “are not the so-called wildfire tariffs,” but advisers are sharing options with the president.

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Trump slaps additional 50% tariff on certain Canadian goods

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Trump slaps additional 50% tariff on certain Canadian goods


The Trump administration announced Monday it will hit Canada with a 50% tariff on many goods imported into the United States, citing Canada’s retaliation to Trump’s tariffs in 2025.

In a call with reporters this afternoon announcing the tariffs, a senior administration official said that this action is to “hold” Canada “accountable” for their “substantial retaliation against the United States as the U.S. imposes trade actions to reindustrialize, reshore, and support its manufacturing.”

“For example, one of the things that has happened is that all but two Canadian provinces and territories have halted the purchase, distribution, or retailing of U.S. alcoholic beverages, but they have not imposed similar restrictions on other countries,” the senior administration official said. 

The senior administration official also pointed to Canada’s tariffs on some American cars and tariffs and trade quotas related to dairy. 

The list of goods covered by the new duties is very wide-ranging, from dairy products, alcohol and alcohol-related products to some food products. 

The tariffs also cover construction materials, clothing, furniture and technology, among other things.

The president signed three proclamations today under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which impose “additional 50% tariffs on certain goods of Canada in response to these discriminatory measures,” the senior administration official said. 

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after landing in Air Force One, July 19, 2026 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

“By doing this, President Trump is leveling the playing field for crucial American exports: motor vehicles, alcohol, and dairy,” the senior administration official said. 

The tariffs will take effect 30 days from now. 

“Each Section 338 proclamation imposes a 50% tariff on a different set of Canadian imports, covering products ranging from wine to hockey sticks to cement,” the senior administration official said. 

The official noted that the tariffs apply even to goods covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). There are some goods which are exempted, according to the U.S. official, those include: “energy, potash products subject to tariffs under Section 232, and certain other goods such as fish or critical minerals.”

“So, so we are trying to be again very. very tailored to the volume of trade and the and the harm that that affects that that is that affects U.S. trade under these discriminatory rules,” the senior administration official said when asked what goods are covered. 

The 50% tariff is a pretty hefty duty on Canadian goods – the senior administration official noted that it’s the highest rate the president can impose under Section 338. 

When asked where trade talks between the U.S. and Canada currently stand, the U.S. official said that while teams have “substantive discussions,” there are not currently any formal negotiations. 

“We’ve certainly shared ideas with them regarding Canadian trade barriers or practices that the United States would like to see remedied. They’ve shared ideas with us on the future of the trade relationship and how to enhance economic security in North America. So we certainly have had discussions, including substantive discussions. That being said, we’re not in a formal negotiating stage at this point,” the senior administration official said. 

These are not the tariffs that Trump called for in a social media post on Friday, criticizing America’s northern neighbors for the smoke that covered American cities, coming from Canadian wildfires.

The senior administration official said that the president has “asked for options on that, and options are being shared with him.”



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What to know about Taylor Farms, the produce giant tied to the cyclospora outbreak

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What to know about Taylor Farms, the produce giant tied to the cyclospora outbreak


Produce giant Taylor Farms is under renewed scrutiny after it voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce linked to the nation’s unusually large cyclosporiasis outbreak.

Food safety experts say that while recalls are inevitable for a produce supplier the size of Taylor Farms, the current outbreak is unusual because of its scale and the number of people sickened.

More than 5,000 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported, far exceeding the typical annual level of roughly 200 to 1,000 cases. Because cyclospora infections can cause severe diarrhea lasting days or even weeks, some consumers are avoiding leafy greens and other fresh produce commonly associated with the parasite while investigators search for the source.

“Nothing about this outbreak is typical,” Jennifer McEntire, founder of food safety consulting firm Food Safety Strategy, told CBS News. “When you see something of this magnitude, it’s surprising, even to those of us who are accustomed to working with outbreaks. This is not normal, and it’s not acceptable.”

Taylor Farms did not immediately respond to CBS News’ request for comment. 

How big is Taylor Farms?

Taylor Farms, founded by CEO Bruce Taylor in 1995 in Salinas Valley, California, manages a network of dozens of production facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe. It grows one-quarter of its own produce and partners with family-owned farms to supply the rest, the company said in its 2025 impact report. 

The company, which employs 25,000 people, booked $6 billion in revenue in 2022, according to the most recent data available, ranking it among the largest produce suppliers in the U.S.

Its sheer size positions it as a key supplier of lettuce and other produce to the nation’s biggest retailers, including Walmart, Costco, Target and Whole Foods, and restaurant chains Taco Bell and McDonald’s. The company also owns the organic brand Earthbound Farms, and produces 40% of the salad kits sold in the U.S.

Consumers may mistake Taylor Farms for a small single-farm operation based on its name alone, McEntire said. “But it’s not. It’s an enormous company with multiple processing operations and growing locations in different regions,” she said. 

What’s known about Taylor Farms’ iceberg lettuce?

On July 17, Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled potentially affected iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, after federal investigators established a link between lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants and Taylor Farms de Mexico. The company’s other products, including its salad kits, have not been recalled. 

The company said that the FDA had identified a single independent farm, accounting for less than 1% of the U.S.’s iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source of the outbreak. 

On Sunday, the FDA backtracked, saying that a test that showed contaminated iceberg lettuce was a false positive. In response, Taylor Farms issued a statement saying the agency “apologized to us.”

On Monday, however, the FDA said that the “false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for [the] FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.” The agency added that its “traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.”

The false positive “doesn’t call into question the conclusion of the outbreak investigation,” McEntire said. Had the positive test been confirmed, “it could’ve resulted in a substantially expanded recall.”

CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Céline Gounder said that while it’s rare for the FDA to publicly walk back test results, such false positives are “ordinary as a laboratory event.” Testing for the cyclospora parasite is also more complicated than for other pathogens, such as E. coli or Salmonella, McEntire said.

“The unusual thing isn’t the false positive. It’s that an unconfirmed single-sample result went public on a Saturday and was withdrawn on a Sunday,” Dr. Gounder said. “The question I’d ask FDA is not ‘how did the lab get it wrong’ but ‘what is your policy for announcing a presumptive positive before confirmatory testing closes, and did you follow it?'”

The FDA did not immediately respond to CBS News’ inquiry about the state of the investigation, or immediately indicate what its protocol is for announcing test results. 

What is Taylor Farms’ history of food safety?

Taylor Farms has been connected to several previous food safety investigations and recalls.

In 2024, Taylor Farms supplied slivered onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders that were contaminated with E. coli, leading to one death and more than 100 illnesses, according to the FDA. The FDA found dozens of violations at a Taylor Farms facility that supplied the onions, including dirty equipment. 

In 2020, Taylor Farms recalled several products containing onions from a third-party supplier due to concerns that they could be contaminated with Salmonella. 

In 2013, Taylor Farms’ salad mixes produced in Guanajuato, Mexico, and supplied to Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants were also linked to a Cyclospora outbreak in 2013, which led to hundreds of illnesses across the U.S, according to the CDC. 

Has this impacted Taco Bell or produce sales?

Foot traffic at Taco Bell restaurants across the U.S. was down by 19% on Friday compared to the average number of visits on a Friday for the rest of the year, according to R.J. Hottovy, head of analytical research at Placer.ai, a location analytics firm measuring foot traffic at retailers and restaurants. 

Consumers reacted even before federal officials linked Taylor Farms’ produce served at Taco Bell, with some consumers sharing tips about where they had eaten before falling ill with cyclosporiasis.

A brand that has suffered a food safety incident can recover from reputational damage if it’s transparent with the public, experts told CBS News. 

On Friday, Taco Bell preemptively removed potentially contaminated food items from its menus in certain states before any recalls had been announced. 

“They got out ahead of the story. They didn’t wait for the FDA or the CDC, and that’s good,” Sandra Eskin, the CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness and the former deputy undersecretary of food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, told CBS News. 

The full impact of the outbreak on the reputations of Taylor Farms, Taco Bell and other stakeholders won’t be known for some time. 

“There is still a lot of uncertainty, and we don’t have full clarity. We will have to wait to determine just what happened and who is at fault to be able to say which brand will be hit the hardest,” Hottovy said.

Edited by

Aimee Picchi

Mary Cunningham

contributed to this report.

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Thousands of websites taken down for illegal World Cup streams

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Thousands of websites taken down for illegal World Cup streams


Almost 3,000 websites have been blocked or seized for illegally streaming World Cup matches, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has said.

More than 1,000 domains were shut down in the US alone during the tournament, with a similar number blocked in Colombia.

Enforcement agencies in America and across South America carried out the action under investigations named “operation offsides” and “operation red card”.

Ivan J. Arvelo, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (NIPRCC), said unauthorised broadcasting of World Cup matches violated intellectual property rights and “fuels criminal organizations”.

The DOJ said at the end of last month it had taken down 400 webpages over illegal World Cup streaming. Now hundreds more have been taken down or blocked.

“The sustained effort to seize more than a thousand domains dedicated to illegally streaming the World Cup confirms the administration’s commitment to intellectual property rights and to the success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said the DOJ’s assistant attorney general A. Tysen Duva.

The enforcement has been largely overseen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency that includes the NIPRCC.

The illegal streaming of sports often happens through webpages or websites created specifically for the event. Companies and broadcasters have estimated the activity costs them billions of dollars a year.

Due to its global popularity, football has been found to be pirated at an “industrial scale”, according to analysts. The increasing cost of rights deals for matches has resulted in higher prices for fans at home, especially if they choose to pay for multiple services to watch their team play.

It has led to some fans turning to illegal streams of big games to avoid such costs.

Charles Rivkin, chairman of the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), which aims to combat digital piracy and helped in the police effort, said on Monday that the World Cup was the “kind of global live event that piracy networks move quickly to exploit”.

The crackdown on illegal streaming was also supported by Fifa, which organises the World Cup, beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Warner Brothers.

Much of Fifa’s revenue comes from the sale of broadcasting rights to the various global media networks that want to televise matches.

Fifa and the other media entities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Colombian Attorney General’s Office said it had even made several arrests in connection with the operations.

Four members of what was referred to as the “cybercriminal group” Los Ciberinfiltrados were arrested for allegedly gaining and distributing access to World Cup games illegally.

Another 830 websites in Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and the Dominican Republic were also taken down.

As well as illegal streaming, police in Colombia conducted “nationwide search-and-seizure operations” around counterfeit sports clothing.

The DoJ said 11 people in the country has been arrested and convicted for the illegal manufacture and distribution of fake sporting merchandise.



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Gas prices top $4 a gallon again as U.S.-Iran conflict escalates, AAA data shows

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Gas prices top a gallon again as U.S.-Iran conflict escalates, AAA data shows



Gas prices hit $4 a gallon again as the U.S. and Iran launched more attacks.

The national average for a gallon of gas reached $4.003 on Monday, marking the first time in over a month it has crossed that threshold, according to AAA data. The price represents a national average, meaning drivers in some states are paying more than $4 a gallon, while others are paying less. 

The national average for diesel, which influences the cost of groceries and other goods transported on trucks, reached $5.11 a gallon on Monday. 

Gas prices escalated after the war in Iran began on Feb. 28, hitting a recent high of $4.56 in May. Prices began to moderate as negotiations between the U.S. and Iran progressed, with the two sides reaching an interim deal in June.

However, oil and gas prices are creeping higher as fighting between the U.S. and Iran intensifies, with the two sides vying for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Sunday that the “only reason” why the U.S. is launching strikes is because of the Islamic Republic’s attacks on ships in the waterway, which serves as a vital chokepoint for oil shipments.

“As the U.S. military degrades the terrorist Iranian regime’s ability to attack commercial vessels and disrupt the free flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas prices will plummet back to pre-conflict levels,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement to CBS News.

Oil prices, which influence the price at the pump, have been rising since early July, CBS News’ energy tracker shows. Brent crude, the international standard, rose 1% to $88.98 per barrel Monday and benchmark U.S. crude climbed 0.8% to $82.44 per barrel, according to Oilprice.com.

The rise in gas prices is likely to weigh on voters as U.S. midterm elections approach. In a Gallup poll released last month, two-thirds of Americans surveyed said the cost of fuel has caused financial hardship for their household.

Edited by

Aimee Picchi

The Associated Press

contributed to this report.

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World Cup 2026: Fifa opens investigation into Argentina post-final trouble

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World Cup 2026: Fifa opens investigation into Argentina post-final trouble


As the final whistle blew in New Jersey, a few Argentina players – including Lionel Messi – slumped to the turf.

Others stood there motionless as Spain’s players raced across the pitch in jubilation.

Rodri, who had been substituted in extra-time, ran over from the dugout to join his team-mates.

As the Manchester City midfielder went past Molina, the Argentina defender appeared to punch Rodri on the arm or stomach.

This was the fuse which ignited the trouble.

Rodri confronted Molina, but it was the Argentina player who thrust forward in an aggressive manner.

Garcia ran over to back up his team-mate at which point Paredes got involved too, jabbing Garcia in the throat.

Unused substitute Gavi tried to intervene, only to be forced to the ground by Almada.

Paredes then pushed Gavi to the floor by putting his hand in the Spaniard’s face.

Ayala then looked to be holding Garcia around the throat. He then appeared to strike Spain midfielder Dani Olmo.

“Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone’s face. He went for them,” Alan Shearer said on BBC One’s coverage. “There is no place or space for that.

“We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose. Too many times we have seen that from Argentina. The reaction after the final whistle is terrible.”

Joe Hart added: “The game’s done, they can have absolutely no complaints about what happened today. Disgusting behaviour.”

But Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, who had attempted to calm the situation, appeared to play down the incidents in his post-match interview.

“We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat,” he said. “Today, we are showing that we know how to lose.

“We lost the match, and we accept it, but that doesn’t mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here.”



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EU pauses methane penalties amid energy crisis, US pressure

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EU pauses methane penalties amid energy crisis, US pressure


The European Commission says waiving penalties will ensure the security of energy supply.

Published On 20 Jul 2026

The European Union has recommended the suspension of penalties for oil and gas companies that breach its methane emissions standards, following pressure from the United States and other countries.

The European Commission on Monday said that EU member states should not apply penalties in 2027-2030 in order to avoid energy supply disruptions. The environmental regime was due to come into effect from the start of next year, but the energy crisis sparked by the US-Iran war has served to complicate the issue.

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The commission said the suspension would give importers time to reach compliance “while ensuring security of supply in a context of global energy markets tightness caused by the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the conflict in the Middle East“.

The EU Methane Regulation would have seen companies face fines of up to 20 percent of annual turnover for failing to comply with European-equivalent emissions monitoring rules.

The US and other oil- and gas-producing states, as well as fossil fuel industry groups and some EU member states, had demanded changes to the law.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, alongside Algeria, Nigeria and Qatar, wrote to the EU in June, warning of potential disruptions to Europe’s oil and gas supply.

A group of 17 EU member states also asked for the law to be delayed.

Environmental groups have sought to hit back, urging Brussels to keep the penalties in place.

However, the suspension announced on Monday is unlikely to satisfy the critics. The commission noted that “all obligations stemming from the Regulation will continue to apply”.

In addition, the European Commission’s recommendation is not legally binding, but courts are required to take the recommendation into account.

The commission noted that although methane is the second-greatest contributor to climate change, “geopolitical developments in the Middle East are re-shaping the global energy system”.

Restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted the flow of oil and gas for months, and with the current renewed tensions between the US and Iran, fears of supply shortages remain high.



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Judge temporarily halts Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger

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Judge temporarily halts Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger


A U.S. district judge temporarily halted the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery merger on Monday, after a coalition of states sued to block the deal.

The temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days, with a hearing set for Aug. 3.

The states’ lawsuit “presented compelling evidence that the combined firm resulting from the transaction will possess substantial market share in the wide-release theatrical distribution market,” California district judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín wrote in the ruling. “On this combined firm market share alone, the Court is persuaded that it can presume the proposed merger is likely to violate antitrust laws.”

“Paramount and Warner Bros. will continue to operate as separate, viable companies competing in the marketplace while they wait for the Court to adjudicate this case,” she added. 

Attorneys general in 12 states, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, sued last week, arguing that the merger would harm competition in the movie industry, result in lower pay for actors and writers and harm consumers by limiting their news and entertainment options. 

A Paramount Skydance spokesperson called the states’ antitrust arguments “without merit.”

“This merger is lawful, pro-competitive, and will benefit consumers, creators, workers, and the entertainment industry,” the company said in a statement Monday. “We will continue to vigorously defend the transaction and will look forward to the hearings on the substance of the State AGs’ action.”

Warner Bros. referred CBS News to Paramount for comment.

Bonta issued a statement calling the judge’s ruling “a critical first win in our case to ensure this megamerger never sees the light of day.” He said the states are “fighting for a free and fair market and a thriving film and television industry that serves creatives and audiences alike.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who also joined the lawsuit, said, “Today’s decision is an important victory for all those who would be hurt by this merger, and I look forward to continuing to fight this case.”

The states’ lawsuit alleged that the merger would violate the Clayton Act of 1914, which prevents mergers that may undermine competition or create a monopoly.

Paramount has argued that combining with Warner Bros. will allow it to create more series and films and boost employment opportunities for industry professionals. 

The $110 billion merger would unite two of the nation’s leading media companies, giving them control of nearly a third of cable programming and more than a third of blockbuster films, according to Bonta’s office.

Edited by

Aimee Picchi

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Healey seen as ‘safe pair of hands’ as he is appointed chancellor

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Healey seen as ‘safe pair of hands’ as he is appointed chancellor



The BBC’s Economics Editor Faisal Islam outlines the challenges facing the new chancellor.



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