The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accused UCLA’s law school of unfairly using race to reject white and Asian students in admissions. Similar complaints were made against UCLA’s medical school and law schools at Duke University and the University of North Carolina.
Key Facts
The DOJ says UCLA law school discriminated against white and Asian applicants.
The accusation claims race was used illegally in deciding who gets admitted.
The issue is about fairness in college admissions.
The Trump administration also accused UCLA’s medical school of similar discrimination.
Duke University and the University of North Carolina law schools face related complaints.
The DOJ’s role is to protect against discrimination by law.
This case is part of a broader national debate on race and college admissions.
UCLA and the other schools have denied wrongdoing.
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South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung is upset with Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned transferring captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea during a UN speech. South Korea says Ukraine revealed sensitive information that should have been kept secret and demands an apology.
Key Facts
President Zelenskyy said at the UN that Ukraine transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea.
These soldiers were captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine's Kursk region.
South Korea claims Ukraine promised to keep the transfer secret but then made it public.
President Lee called Ukraine’s comments a threat that could raise the risk of war on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea demands an official apology and explanation from Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister called the issue a “diplomatic misunderstanding” and emphasized the importance of good relations with South Korea.
The disagreement complicates cooperation between US-aligned countries against Russia, China, and North Korea.
South Korean lawmakers showed photos of the two North Korean prisoners transferred from Ukraine to South Korea.
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed the state attorney general as a special prosecutor to investigate an alleged gang rape at Cornell University. The case, involving a woman who said she was drugged and raped by members of a fraternity in 2024, was reopened after new evidence and a civil lawsuit brought public attention.
Key Facts
The alleged attack happened in 2024 at a fraternity house at Cornell University.
The woman, called Jane Doe in court documents, claims she was drugged and raped by seven men known as the "Cornell Seven."
The case was originally handled by Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who did not file charges due to lack of evidence.
New evidence, including a Snapchat chat from fraternity members, prompted the case to be reopened.
Governor Hochul removed Van Houten from the case due to concerns about how it was handled.
The New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, is now leading the investigation and may prosecute if warranted.
Jane Doe also filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell University, accusing it of failing to protect her or punish the accused men properly.
Governor Hochul and Attorney General James plan to give an update on the investigation soon.
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The Saudi-led coalition said Yemen's Houthis attacked an electricity station supplying the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, a sacred city in Saudi Arabia. The Houthis denied the attack, which happened as fighting grew worse in Yemen between government forces and the Houthis.
Key Facts
The Houthis are a rebel group in Yemen supported by Iran.
The attack targeted the Taibah electricity distribution station in Medina on September 29.
This station supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Houthis, based on drone wreckage and an investigation.
The attack damaged one transformer but did not disrupt the wider electricity network.
Fighting intensified in Yemen, with government forces striking Houthi areas including Sanaa, Saada, and Taiz.
The Houthis control the capital Sanaa and much of Yemen’s coast along the Red Sea.
Several Muslim countries, including Turkey and Qatar, condemned the attack and supported Saudi Arabia.
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Australia's online safety agency found that gaming platforms like Steam, Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft have serious problems protecting children from harmful content and contact with predators. The report shows these platforms use inconsistent safety methods, such as relying on users to say their age and weak detection tools for dangerous content.
Key Facts
Nine out of 10 Australian children aged 8 to 17 have played online games.
Steam (owned by Valve) does not use common technology to detect harmful content and mainly flags scams in chats.
Roblox and Valve use only their own data to train systems that detect harmful language and do not update these systems regularly.
Minecraft and Fortnite allow users to declare their own age, letting some kids access risky communication features.
Steam recently added age checks using credit cards; Roblox improved its age checks in late 2025.
Valve did not share information or cooperate in industry efforts to fight child sexual exploitation, unlike Minecraft and Roblox developers.
Epic Games (maker of Fortnite) did not report breaches in a global program against online child abuse.
The report covers data from October 2025 to March 2026 and comes after Australia’s social media ban for under-16s, which does not include gaming platforms.
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Federal prosecutors say more than $1.7 million was raised and sent to the terrorist group Hamas, including over $600,000 from people in the United States. Saleem Alzaq, a Gaza man and alleged Hamas member, is charged with running a fundraising operation that claimed to provide aid but actually supported Hamas.
Key Facts
More than $1.7 million was raised for Hamas, with at least $626,000 coming from U.S. donors.
Saleem Alzaq, 45, is charged with leading the fundraising campaign from 2020 through 2025.
The campaign falsely claimed to provide food and winter supplies to Palestinians in Gaza.
Alzaq has been a Hamas member since at least 2017 and posted Hamas-supporting messages online.
Fundraising efforts involved people in the U.S., France, Louisiana, and Florida.
Alzaq faces charges including conspiracy to support Hamas, money laundering, and defrauding the U.S., with possible prison sentences up to 20 years.
An undercover law enforcement official contacted Alzaq, who discussed coded ways to move money to Hamas.
Prosecutors say Alzaq told donors to avoid mentioning Hamas to prevent accounts from being closed.
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More than half of Europe experienced intense heat stress during the summer of 2026, according to the EU’s climate monitor. This summer was one of the hottest on record, with many parts of Europe setting new temperature highs and facing droughts that affected water supply and transport.
Key Facts
A record 52% of Europe was exposed to intense heat stress, meaning temperatures felt hotter than 38°C (100°F).
About 80% of Europe experienced strong heat stress, with temperatures feeling hotter than 32°C (90°F).
The summer of 2026 was the third warmest for Europe and the hottest ever recorded for western Europe.
Several countries set new national temperature records this summer.
Heat stress can cause serious health issues, including dizziness, organ failure, and death.
Heatwaves this summer caused tens of thousands of extra deaths across Europe.
Drought affected almost half of Europe by the end of August, leading to water shortages and impacts on transport and energy systems.
The EU’s climate monitor Copernicus noted that these heatwaves and droughts are linked to climate change and are becoming more frequent and severe.
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A Bee & Co. skincare store at Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park, California, has closed after customers accused the store of pressuring them into buying expensive skincare products. Investigations revealed that some shoppers with intellectual disabilities were coerced into spending tens of thousands of dollars, leading to a police investigation and political attention.
Key Facts
Bee & Co.’s Westfield Topanga location closed and is now vacant.
Customers accused employees of using high-pressure sales tactics to sell costly skincare products and devices.
Two men with intellectual disabilities said they were persuaded to make purchases totaling over $60,000.
Employees reportedly took customers to a back room for treatments and pressured them to buy products.
The store’s parent company, Mazal Group, runs other stores under different names in various malls.
Sherman Oaks Congressman Brad Sherman plans to alert the California Attorney General about the issue.
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the case involving victim Victor Chisholm.
Bee & Co. said they are “actively addressing” the situation but denied allegations of fraud.
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Jane Doe, a Cornell student, alleges she was raped by multiple men at a fraternity house in October 2024. She has filed a lawsuit against the men involved and the university, while prosecutors have reopened the criminal investigation.
Key Facts
The alleged incident happened on the night of October 19-20, 2024, at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University.
Jane Doe drank alcohol at a sorority house and two bars despite being underage.
She claims to have had a consensual sexual encounter initially but was then drugged with ketamine and raped by several men.
Messages from fraternity members indicated discussions about a woman being available for sex during the night.
Jane Doe described feeling cornered and losing consciousness around 5:45 a.m.
After the incident, she told roommates about the night but did not initially call it rape or assault.
Jane Doe has filed a civil lawsuit against seven former fraternity members, Cornell University, and others she says failed to protect her.
Prosecutors did not charge anyone initially but have now reopened the criminal investigation into the incident.
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Brazil is holding a close presidential election between current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. If no candidate gets more than half of the votes, a second round of voting will happen on October 25.
Key Facts
The presidential election in Brazil is very close.
Incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is running for re-election.
The main challenger is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Voters will decide the winner this Sunday.
If no one wins a clear majority (more than 50%), Brazil will hold a runoff vote.
The runoff vote is scheduled for October 25.
The election outcome will determine Brazil’s leadership for the next term.
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Beau Lamarre-Condon, a police officer, is on trial for allegedly killing Jesse Baird and Luke Davies in February 2024. A day before the shootings, he asked a colleague about a recent murder case and whether the killer would have escaped if he hadn’t taken his own life. Lamarre-Condon denies the charges and claims he acted in self-defense.
Key Facts
Beau Lamarre-Condon is accused of shooting Jesse Baird and Luke Davies at Baird’s home on 19 February 2024.
Lamarre-Condon pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and one charge of aggravated break and enter.
On 18 February 2024, Lamarre-Condon talked with a police investigator, Ben Higginson, about a recent murder of Lilie James.
Lilie James was murdered in October 2023 by Paul Thijssen, who later died by suicide.
Lamarre-Condon asked if the killer, Paul Thijssen, would have gotten away with the crime if he hadn’t committed suicide.
Lamarre-Condon appeared unconcerned when discussing the murder and asked detailed questions about police investigations.
The defense states that Lamarre-Condon killed Baird and Davies in self-defense after physical struggles.
Lamarre-Condon began cleaning the crime scene right after the alleged shootings because he "panicked."
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Jair Bolsonaro was convicted in September 2025 for trying to overthrow the government. Despite this, his son Flávio Bolsonaro is running for president in Brazil's upcoming election and has a good chance of winning.
Key Facts
Jair Bolsonaro was found guilty of attempting a coup in September 2025.
This conviction was expected to end Jair Bolsonaro’s political influence.
Flávio Bolsonaro, Jair’s son, is now a presidential candidate in Brazil.
Flávio is campaigning partly to help release his father from legal trouble.
Brazil will hold the first round of its presidential elections this Sunday.
The outcome of the election could affect the wider Latin America region.
The information was shared by a journalist covering Latin America.
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This summer, western Europe experienced its hottest heatwave on record, with temperatures much higher than usual and widespread heat stress affecting more than half the continent. The extreme heat, worsened by human pollution and the natural El Niño weather pattern, caused many deaths, damaged crops, and increased wildfires, showing the serious effects of climate change.
Key Facts
Western Europe had temperatures 2.5°C above the recent 10-year average from June to August.
Over 60% of western Europe had temperatures above 30°C on 17 days this summer, more than in previous heatwaves like 2003 and 2025.
The heatwave caused a record 13 days of very strong heat stress across western Europe.
El Niño, a natural warming of the Pacific Ocean, is increasing global temperatures and is expected to cause nearly half a million extra heat-related deaths worldwide by February.
The summer heat damaged water supplies, energy systems, transport, ecosystems, and human health in Europe.
Europe saw its lowest river water flows in over 30 years, contributing to severe drought and wildfires.
Wildfires burned 680,000 hectares by September, making 2026 the third-worst year on record for fire damage in Europe.
Smoke from wildfires increased fine air pollution by 30% over the average of the past 20 years.
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The European Union has created very strict laws to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI). These rules include large fines for companies that break them. Meanwhile, the United States is encouraging Europe to reduce these strict controls.
Key Facts
The European Union has passed strong laws to control how AI is used.
Companies can face large fines if they do not follow these laws.
The laws are among the strictest in the world.
The US government is asking the EU to ease these regulations.
The debate centers on balancing AI innovation with safety and oversight.
The article was reported by Al Jazeera’s Rosie Birchard.
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Hundreds of people in Spain protested by banging pots to call for political action on rising rents, evictions, and the lack of affordable housing. These protests happened before a parliamentary vote on new rules to better protect renters.
Key Facts
The protests involved hundreds of people across different parts of Spain.
Protesters used pot banging as a form of demonstration.
They demanded government action on high rent prices and many evictions.
The shortage of affordable homes was a main reason for the protests.
A parliamentary vote on tenant protection measures was scheduled for Friday.
The new measures aim to strengthen rights and protections for renters.
The demonstrations sought to influence politicians before the vote.
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California has made it illegal for children under 18 to get married or enter domestic partnerships. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the new law, joining 17 other states that have banned child marriage.
Key Facts
Previously, minors of any age could marry in California with parental and court approval.
Assembly Bill 1267 bans marriage licenses and domestic partnerships for anyone under 18, with no exceptions.
Governor Newsom signed the bill into law on Wednesday.
Domestic partnerships give couples legal protections similar to marriage.
Activist Courtney Stodden, who married at 16, supports the new law and wants all states to ban child marriage.
The group Unchained At Last helped push for this law.
About 9,000 children marry in California each year under the old rules.
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul has named Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to investigate claims of sexual assault made by a former Cornell University student. The alleged incident happened at a fraternity house near Cornell in October 2024.
Key Facts
Governor Kathy Hochul made the appointment on Thursday evening.
Letitia James is the state Attorney General of New York.
James will serve as a special prosecutor, which means she will lead the investigation independently.
The investigation focuses on a rape allegation from a former Cornell student.
The alleged assault took place at a fraternity house close to Cornell University’s campus.
The incident reportedly occurred in October 2024.
The announcement was made via a statement on social media.
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President Donald Trump has begun a 32-day campaign tour ahead of the November midterm elections to support Republican candidates amid low approval ratings. He defended his administration’s record on the economy and government while addressing concerns about the ongoing war with Iran and rising fuel prices.
Key Facts
President Trump started a campaign tour with rallies in Texas and Oklahoma ahead of the November midterms.
His approval ratings are low, partly due to public dissatisfaction with the economy and the Iran war.
A recent poll showed 71% of Americans disapprove of the US-Israel war on Iran, and many worry about affording food and gas.
Only 26% of people approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.
Trump promoted his tariff policies, claiming they saved American manufacturing jobs despite legal challenges.
He promised the war with Iran would end quickly, expecting victory soon after or before the elections.
The Iran war has disrupted fuel supply routes, causing diesel and gasoline prices to reach record highs.
All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats will be contested in the midterms, with Republican control at risk.
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The Australian Labor government is introducing new rules to stop international students from frequently changing their visas to remain in the country longer. The rules will also target migration agents and lawyers who help people make false visa claims.
Key Facts
International students must soon apply for a separate visa if they want to change their study course.
Students can no longer transfer to a lower-level course, like moving from a university degree to a vocational program.
From July 1, 2027, student visas will not be extended just for changing courses.
Students cannot transfer courses within the first 12 months of their study.
The government wants to reduce annual net overseas migration from nearly 300,000 to 225,000 by 2028.
Over 400,000 people are on temporary "bridging visas," many of them international students awaiting decisions on new visas.
New rules aim to stop migration agents and lawyers from making or supporting visa claims that have no real legal or factual basis.
Some lawyers have been accused of promoting false claims to keep people in Australia longer, damaging trust in the migration system.
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A crew of four astronauts from different countries is arriving at the International Space Station (ISS) for a six-month mission. They launched on Thursday morning and are currently docking with the ISS Thursday night using a SpaceX spacecraft called Crew Dragon.
Key Facts
The mission is called SpaceX Crew 13.
The crew includes astronauts from multiple countries.
The mission will last about six months.
The crew launched on Thursday morning.
Docking with the ISS is happening Thursday night.
The spacecraft used is made by SpaceX and is named Crew Dragon.
CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood provided details about the docking process.
The ISS is an orbiting lab where astronauts live and work in space.
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