American Airlines will soon allow customers to pay for flights using a mix of cash and airline miles. This option will be available for U.S. domestic flights, excluding trips to Alaska and Hawaii, and can be accessed through the airline’s website or app.
Key Facts
American Airlines introduced a new payment option to combine cash and miles for flight bookings.
The feature applies to U.S. domestic flights, but not flights to or from Alaska and Hawaii.
Customers will use a slider tool on the checkout page to decide how much cash and miles to use.
This change will roll out in the next few weeks, with no exact date given.
Other airlines like Delta and United already offer similar payment options.
American Airlines also launched a promotion giving customers with status on other airlines temporary status on American’s flights.
Rising jet fuel prices, caused partly by the war in Iran, have made airline tickets more expensive this year.
Flight prices for Thanksgiving trips have increased by around 31% compared to last year.
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The U.S. Department of Justice says UCLA’s law school broke the law by using race to decide which students to admit. This claim follows similar accusations against other University of California schools, and it comes after a Supreme Court ruling banned affirmative action in college admissions.
Key Facts
The DOJ accused UCLA Law School of favoring Black and Hispanic applicants over white and Asian students in 2023, 2024, and 2025 admissions.
UCLA Law School denies the accusations and says it follows all legal rules in its admissions process.
The DOJ found that admitted Black applicants had lower average LSAT scores than admitted white applicants.
Admissions staff at UCLA Law reportedly encouraged applicants to reveal their race in essays during events like the “Diversity Admissions Open House.”
The Trump administration is increasing investigations into colleges’ admissions and claims some schools use applicant essays and personal statements to include race illegally.
Affirmative action in college admissions was banned by a 2023 Supreme Court decision, but schools can still consider applicants’ backgrounds in other ways.
The DOJ’s request for detailed admissions data from universities was blocked by a federal judge after several states sued, citing privacy concerns and poor timing.
The judge said the government might have the right to collect this data but criticized the way the request was handled.
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Joshua Kerry has been charged with preparing terrorist acts, including a plan against Nigel Farage. He is also accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe, who was attacked with a hammer at her home in July 2024.
Key Facts
Joshua Kerry, 28, from South Yorkshire, was charged with preparing terrorist acts.
The charge relates to actions between 31 May 2024 and 8 July 2024.
Kerry is also accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead in her home in July 2024.
Ann Widdecombe was a spokesperson for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party and a former Conservative minister.
She was attacked with a hammer 21 times and died at her home in Devon.
The case is being investigated by Counter Terrorism Policing with support from forensic experts.
Kerry appeared at Westminster magistrates court but was not asked to enter a plea.
Police say the investigation has been complex and intensive over some time.
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Christa Pike remains in the hospital, unconscious and on a breathing machine after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute her. The state gave her two doses of pentobarbital, but problems with the intravenous lines meant the drug did not enter her bloodstream properly.
Key Facts
Christa Pike was given two doses of the drug pentobarbital during a failed execution in Tennessee.
Medical staff are working to save her life and remove the drug from her system.
Pike’s lawyers say the IV lines were not correctly placed, causing the drug to enter her body improperly.
Despite the problem, the execution team gave a backup set of the drug without fixing the line issue.
Pike was sentenced to death in 1996 for a 1995 murder involving a satanic symbol carved into the victim.
She would have been the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.
The failed execution has led some lawyers, doctors, and religious leaders to ask for a pause on the death penalty in the U.S.
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California’s attorney general and several city attorneys reached a $272.5 million settlement with Lyft. The settlement resolves claims that Lyft wrongly labeled drivers as independent contractors instead of employees from 2016 to 2020, which led to lower wages and fewer worker protections.
Key Facts
The lawsuit began in May 2020, accusing Lyft and Uber of misclassifying drivers to avoid paying full wages and benefits.
The $272.5 million settlement applies only to Lyft; the legal case against Uber is still ongoing.
California used Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), a law defining who counts as an employee versus an independent contractor, as the basis for the lawsuit.
In 2020, California voters passed Proposition 22, allowing rideshare companies to keep classifying drivers as contractors, which is why the settlement only covers up to 2020.
Lyft’s CEO said most drivers wanted to remain independent contractors and praised Proposition 22 for providing new benefits.
Critics say the settlement amount is small compared to the money drivers lost and does not fully fix ongoing issues.
The California Gig Workers Union was officially recognized in 2023 to support rideshare and gig economy workers’ rights.
Officials said the settlement sends a message that companies must follow laws and treat workers fairly.
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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said he chose to stay on the Court because he feels he can still help. At 76 years old, he plans to revisit this decision every year.
Key Facts
Justice Alito is 76 years old.
He decided not to retire from the Supreme Court at this time.
He said he believes he can still make valuable contributions.
He plans to reconsider whether to stay on the Court yearly.
The information came from an interview with CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford.
The interview was set to air on a Monday.
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King Charles III will visit several Caribbean countries from October 27 to November 4, including the Bahamas, Guyana, Antigua, and Barbuda. During his trip, he will openly recognize the harmful impact of Britain’s colonial rule and slavery while meeting local people and attending official events.
Key Facts
King Charles III will tour the Bahamas, Guyana, Antigua, and Barbuda in late October to early November.
He will acknowledge the “darkest days” of Britain’s colonial history and slavery during his visit.
Charles remains head of state in the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda, though this is mostly ceremonial.
The visit includes a speech at a Commonwealth leaders’ meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.
Guyana is a republic and Charles will visit on its 60th independence anniversary; Antigua and Barbuda mark 45 years of independence.
The UK government does not support calls for slavery reparations made by a Jamaican delegation.
Charles previously called slavery an “appalling atrocity” in a 2021 speech in Barbados.
The visit will focus on current local culture, future opportunities, and meetings with people like cricket players and rainforest conservationists.
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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said he does not get recognized by many people in public. However, he noticed that more people recognized him after his confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court.
Key Facts
Justice Samuel Alito is a member of the U.S. Supreme Court.
He shared that people rarely recognize him when he is out in public.
After his Supreme Court confirmation hearings, more people started to recognize him.
The remarks were made during an interview at a baseball field in New Jersey where he played as a child.
The interview was conducted by CBS News legal correspondent Jan Crawford.
The conversation aired recently on CBS News.
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President Donald Trump said that Europe agreed to release a large amount of diesel fuel from emergency reserves. This move aims to help reduce high fuel prices in the United States during ongoing tensions with Iran.
Key Facts
President Trump announced Europe's agreement to release diesel from emergency stockpiles.
The release could involve about 100 million barrels of diesel fuel.
The goal is to lower fuel prices in the United States.
This action is connected to the US involvement in a conflict with Iran.
Emergency stockpiles are reserves of fuel held for urgent situations.
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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said that harsh criticism of the Court from political leaders can harm the institution. He mentioned that both President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump have been very critical of the Court.
Key Facts
Justice Samuel Alito spoke to CBS News about criticism of the Supreme Court.
He described criticism from political leaders as "quite damaging" to the Court.
Alito specifically named President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump as being very harsh in their remarks.
The interview was aired on a Monday by CBS News.
This discussion relates to concerns about the Supreme Court’s reputation and public trust.
The issue involves how political talk can affect an important government body like the Supreme Court.
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The news article describes the murder trial of Dr. Tomasz Kosowski, who was convicted for killing lawyer Steven Cozzi. The case involved details such as a missing lawyer, a plastic surgeon defending himself, and evidence including a murder bag and a paralyzing agent.
Key Facts
Dr. Tomasz Kosowski was on trial for the murder of attorney Steven Cozzi.
Dr. Kosowski represented himself during the trial.
The investigation included a “murder bag” as part of the evidence.
A paralyzing agent was involved in the case.
The lawyer victim, Steven Cozzi, was reported missing before the trial.
The trial and evidence were covered by the "48 Hours" news program.
Erin Moriarty and Herman Weisberg provided detailed analysis of the case.
The story is part of a larger series of true crime reports on CBS News.
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With one month left until Election Day, major Republican donors have reduced spending on North Carolina’s Senate race. Polls show Republican Michael Whatley trailing Democrat Roy Cooper, leading GOP super PACs to focus on other states.
Key Facts
Key Republican super PACs canceled October ad campaigns in North Carolina.
Polls indicate Michael Whatley is several points behind Democrat Roy Cooper.
Republicans spent $53 million on the North Carolina Senate race last month; Democrats spent $44 million.
Senate Leadership Fund, a major GOP PAC, redirected funds away from Whatley after spending $17 million in September.
The Senate Leadership Fund funded a controversial ad linking Cooper to a murder suspect’s release.
Other GOP groups like Prosperity Action and Old North Action also will not spend in North Carolina this October.
GOP resources are shifting to races in Kansas, Texas, and Alaska.
Reduced Republican spending may hurt other North Carolina races, including congressional and state legislature contests.
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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said he lost friends because of his decision in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case. This decision overturned Roe v. Wade, which had protected abortion rights across the U.S.
Key Facts
Justice Samuel Alito gave an interview to CBS News about the Dobbs decision.
The Dobbs case overturned Roe v. Wade, a key ruling on abortion rights.
Alito said losing friends was part of making controversial court decisions.
The interview aired on a Monday, shortly after the case’s impact.
The Dobbs decision changed how abortion laws are handled in the U.S.
Alito emphasized that unpopular decisions are sometimes necessary in his job.
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David Rivera, a former U.S. congressman from Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for secretly working as a lobbyist for the Venezuelan government during President Trump's first term. A jury found him guilty of not registering as a foreign agent and money laundering, and his properties were ordered to be forfeited.
Key Facts
Rivera worked secretly for Venezuela’s government from 2017 to 2018, trying to influence U.S. policy.
He did not register as a foreign agent, which is required by law when working for a foreign government.
Rivera was convicted on all counts after a seven-week trial and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors said Rivera’s actions betrayed the South Florida community, many of whom fled Venezuela’s communist regime.
Rivera’s company had a $50 million contract linked to Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.
Political consultant Esther Nuhfer was also found guilty in connection with this case.
Rivera used encrypted messages and code words to communicate about his activities.
Properties owned by Rivera in Florida will be taken by the government as part of the penalties.
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Since the 2008 economic crisis, carbon emissions in the United States have generally gone down while the economy has kept growing. This shows that it is possible to grow the economy without increasing pollution from fossil fuels. Other countries like Sweden have also managed to reduce emissions while maintaining economic growth.
Key Facts
Before 2008, economic growth and carbon emissions were closely linked, like two blades of closed scissors.
Sweden reduced its carbon emissions steadily since 1996 while its economy doubled in size.
After the 2008 crisis, U.S. carbon emissions dropped significantly then showed a slow downward trend despite ups and downs.
The U.S. economy grew steadily even as emissions declined, showing a decoupling of growth from emissions.
The pandemic caused a sharp drop and rise in emissions, but the long-term trend remained downward.
This trend suggests it is possible to grow the economy while lowering harmful emissions.
Sweden’s success was helped by hydropower and nuclear energy, which may not be the same for all countries.
Although emissions are falling, they aren't decreasing fast enough yet to prevent serious climate change impacts.
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David Rivera, a former Republican congressman from Miami, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for secretly lobbying for Venezuela during President Trump's first term. He was found guilty of not registering as a foreign agent and of money laundering related to his work with Venezuela’s government.
Key Facts
David Rivera is a former Republican congressman from Miami.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday.
Rivera worked on a secret $50 million lobbying campaign for Venezuela.
The lobbying work happened during President Donald Trump’s first administration.
He was found guilty in May of all charges against him.
Charges included failure to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Rivera worked on behalf of the government of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Rivera is a longtime friend of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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National Geographic released a new series called "Africa: Earth's Wild Home." It was filmed over nearly four years in almost 30 countries and shows amazing African landscapes and animal behaviors that are rarely seen on camera.
Key Facts
The series is named "Africa: Earth's Wild Home."
Filming took almost four years to complete.
The show was filmed in nearly 30 different African countries.
It features rare and stunning views of African wildlife.
National Geographic produced the series.
The series aims to showcase the natural beauty and animal life of Africa in a new way.
It highlights behaviors and scenes not often captured on film.
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Protests by students have spread across France over complaints about crowded class schedules, not enough staff, and poor school conditions. While most protests have been peaceful, some have turned violent, leading the government to accuse political agitators of exploiting the situation ahead of elections.
Key Facts
Student protests began at high schools in Rennes, Caen, and suburban Lille.
Complaints include heavy workloads, staff shortages, and bad school facilities.
Protests spread to areas around Paris like Saint Denis and Creteil.
A student interview on TikTok about the protests got 1.4 million views.
Hundreds of protests have taken place, some peaceful and others violent.
Incidents include a school fire in Nantes and a fire truck set on fire in Marseille.
Police faced violent attacks, including a female officer being assaulted.
The government claims left-wing agitators are using protests for political purposes before elections, which the party involved denies.
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President Donald Trump is visiting Mobile, Alabama, to thank Republican voters and encourage turnout ahead of the midterm elections. His visit comes as his job approval rating remains low nationally, while Alabama remains a strong Republican state.
Key Facts
President Trump is holding a rally in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday night to support Republican voters.
Trump has won Alabama by large margins in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections.
His national approval rating is at a record low of 31%, with 69% disapproving, according to an AP-NORC poll.
Mobile is part of Alabama's 1st Congressional District, which was redrawn to favor Republicans and would have voted for Trump by about 40 points in 2024.
Trump's first rally in Mobile in 2015 was notable for an early endorsement from then-Senator Jeff Sessions.
The rally venue, University of South Alabama's Mitchell Center, has a capacity of about 10,000 people.
Republican candidates like Rep. Barry Moore and Sen. Tommy Tuberville are expected to attend.
The 2nd Congressional District race between Republican Rhett Marques and Democrat Shomari Figures is a key contest in Alabama.
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Sudan’s army said it captured the town of al-Mazroub in North Kordofan state after heavy fighting with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This victory is important because the town was the biggest RSF base in the area and links key regions, helping the army cut the RSF’s supply routes.
Key Facts
The Sudanese Armed Forces took control of al-Mazroub in North Kordofan after fierce battles with the RSF.
The RSF suffered casualties and lost many combat vehicles in the fighting.
Al-Mazroub connects North Kordofan and West Kordofan states, strategic for controlling supply lines.
Fighting in Sudan’s Kordofan region has increased since late 2025 and is a main battleground in the ongoing war.
Kordofan is between army-controlled central Sudan and RSF-controlled Darfur in the west.
The army controls the north, the RSF controls the west, and South Kordofan remains contested.
The Sudan Doctors Network accused the RSF-allied SPLM-N group of attacking the town of Dilling in South Kordofan.
The SPLM-N is a faction from South Sudan’s main party and has joined forces with the RSF and its parallel government.
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