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President Donald Trump gave a primetime speech on Thursday night focused on U.S. election security. In the speech, he made accusations against China related to the U.S. elections.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke during a primetime address to the American public.
The main topic of the speech was election security in the United States.
He accused China of interfering or being involved in U.S. elections.
The speech was covered and anchored by Tony Dokoupil on CBS News.
Viewers could watch the speech through the CBS News app or website.
The speech aired on Thursday night.
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A 100-year-old water pipe broke under Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, causing flooding and road closures on Thursday. No injuries were reported, and crews are working to fix the damage while residents still have clean drinking water.
Key Facts
The broken pipe is a 36-inch steel water main that burst early Thursday.
The break caused a sinkhole and flooded streets, including parts of the Sunset Strip.
Several major roads shut down, and traffic was heavily affected.
Local buses were partly submerged in the floodwater.
No injuries have been reported, and there is no need for evacuations.
Officials do not yet know what caused the pipe to burst.
West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman and LA Mayor Karen Bass spoke about the incident and the need for better infrastructure planning.
A new city infrastructure plan will appear on the November ballot to address outdated systems like this pipe.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with women who accused Jeffrey Epstein of crimes after Senator Thom Tillis requested the meeting. Blanche encouraged the accusers to provide any new information to the FBI, but some attendees criticized Blanche’s tone and commitment during the meeting.
Key Facts
Blanche met for about an hour with Epstein accusers at the Justice Department in Washington.
The meeting included senior Justice Department officials, FBI agents, and victim support staff.
Blanche encouraged the victims to speak with FBI investigators about any new evidence.
Epstein accusers Annie Farmer and Dani Bensky described Blanche as dismissive and unhelpful.
Blanche said he wants to deliver justice through prosecutions but doesn’t know if that will happen.
The Justice Department has released many documents related to Epstein’s crimes and said new investigations will happen if new evidence appears.
Senator Thom Tillis requested the meeting before supporting Blanche’s nomination as Attorney General.
Blanche has spoken with over 30 representatives of Epstein’s victims during the review of files.
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Taco Bell is removing lettuce from its menu in some US states because it may be linked to an outbreak of a parasite causing severe diarrhoea. The company made this decision to protect public health while working with health officials.
Key Facts
About 7,000 people in 34 states have been infected by cyclosporiasis, a parasite spread through contaminated food or water.
Most infections are in Michigan, which has over 3,300 reported cases.
Taco Bell is stopping use of lettuce from one of its suppliers indefinitely and will replace it.
No official warning has been issued yet by health authorities.
The suspected supplier is named Taylor Farms, according to US media reports.
Symptoms of the infection include watery diarrhoea lasting days, weight loss, and loss of appetite.
The parasite is hard to track because it is very small and tracing outbreaks is complicated.
Taco Bell said public health is a shared responsibility between restaurants, suppliers, and officials.
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President Trump proposed giving $1,000 investment accounts to every child born while he is president. Experts say this plan is more symbolic and does not effectively address the large wealth gap, which is the biggest in 30 years.
Key Facts
The wealth gap in the U.S. is the widest it has been in three decades.
President Trump plans to provide $1,000 investment accounts to children born during his time in office.
The investment account idea aims to help families build wealth.
An economist speaking to Al Jazeera called the plan symbolic rather than a real solution.
The plan does not significantly reduce financial inequality in the U.S.
The wealth gap refers to the difference in money and assets between rich and poor families.
The debate highlights ongoing concerns about economic fairness in the country.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Wang Huning, a top Chinese official, to discuss strengthening ties between North Korea and China. The talks follow Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea in June and aim to improve cooperation between the two countries.
Key Facts
Wang Huning, a high-ranking Chinese official, visited Pyongyang to meet Kim Jong Un.
Kim and Wang pledged to deepen North Korea-China relations.
This visit continues after President Xi Jinping’s trip to North Korea in June, the first in seven years.
China wants to maintain strong influence over North Korea as it grows closer to Russia.
China is North Korea’s largest economic partner despite North Korea’s recent ties with Russia.
Kim and Xi agreed on a plan to strengthen their strategic and diplomatic cooperation.
China promised firm support for North Korea’s government and policies.
The Chinese delegation visited sites important to Korean War history and North Korean leaders.
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Pauline Hanson spoke in an interview blaming the end of the White Australia policy for changes in migration to Australia. She also promoted her daughter, Lee Hanson, as a future leader of the One Nation party.
Key Facts
Pauline Hanson appeared on a podcast hosted by British activist Tommy Robinson.
Hanson claimed that Muslim communities abuse Australia’s national disability insurance scheme, though no evidence was provided.
Australia’s health minister, Mark Butler, rejected Hanson’s claims about Muslim people and the disability scheme.
The White Australia policy, which favored white migrants, was dismantled in the 1960s and 1970s.
Hanson said earlier migrants like Italians and Germans integrated well by learning English and working.
Hanson praised her daughter Lee Hanson as smart and the future of One Nation but said she must earn leadership by proving herself.
Lee Hanson works as a senior adviser in a taxpayer-funded role and manages the party’s efforts in Tasmania.
Tommy Robinson, the podcast host, has criminal convictions and is considered politically controversial in the UK.
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Several Maine Democrats are competing to become their party’s Senate candidate. They debated Thursday night to earn support before the candidate selection deadline. The race opened after Graham Platner left due to serious allegations.
Key Facts
Graham Platner, a progressive Maine Democrat, withdrew from the Senate race.
Platner faced sexual assault and misconduct allegations.
The Democratic field to replace him is large and competitive.
Candidates debated on Thursday night to gain voter support.
The selected Democratic nominee will challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins.
The deadline to choose the new Democratic candidate is approaching soon.
Susan Collins is a long-serving Republican Senator from Maine.
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President Donald Trump accused U.S. intelligence agencies of hiding evidence that China tried to interfere in the 2020 election by stealing millions of voter files. He said officials kept important information out of his daily briefings and claimed there was a cover-up within the FBI and intelligence community. These claims contrast with official intelligence reports that concluded China did not try to influence the election outcome.
Key Facts
President Trump made these accusations during a prime-time address from the White House.
He alleged China obtained 220 million U.S. voter records, which is close to the total number of registered voters in 2020.
Trump claimed that CIA and NSA reports about China’s election targeting were deliberately withheld from his daily briefings.
An FBI official was accused by Trump of running a "shadow government" to hide information on China’s election meddling.
Trump reduced funding and staff for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and ended its election security programs.
The Election Assistance Commission was dismantled recently during Trump’s term.
Despite these claims, U.S. intelligence agencies concluded with high confidence that China did not try to influence the 2020 election results or interfere with vote counting systems.
Intelligence reports found China aimed to increase global influence but considered the risks of election interference too high.
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A federal judge criticized President Trump, his lawyers, and the Justice Department for a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The judge expressed strong disapproval of the legal actions taken in this case.
Key Facts
The lawsuit involves President Trump and the IRS.
The Justice Department is also involved in the case.
A federal judge strongly criticized the lawsuit and those involved.
The criticism was directed at President Trump, his legal team, and the Justice Department.
The case concerns legal actions related to the IRS, the U.S. tax agency.
CBS News reported this information and provided further analysis.
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Several major U.S. news networks will not show President Trump’s speech live on their main TV channels. Instead, ABC, NBC, and CNN will provide the speech through their online streaming services or through live written updates on their websites.
Key Facts
President Trump is scheduled to give a speech on Thursday evening.
ABC News, NBC News, and CNN confirmed they will not air the speech live on their main TV networks.
These networks will offer the speech on their separate streaming platforms.
They will also provide live updates in written form on their websites.
President Trump has mentioned he will share “big news” during the speech.
The speech is expected to cover topics related to President Trump’s previous statements.
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Telstra said a software problem with one of its key time-keeping servers caused a major mobile network outage across Australia. The server reset with the wrong date, which slowly spread errors in security systems, disrupting mobile calls and data for many customers.
Key Facts
The outage was caused by a software update that was not applied to a time-keeping server in Melbourne.
This server reset incorrectly to the year 2006 during maintenance.
The wrong date spread across the network, making security certificates invalid.
Customers had trouble connecting to the mobile network, affecting calls and data.
Telstra has three time servers in Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth, and the other two worked properly.
A design change made to fix an earlier problem was not documented, so maintenance staff were unaware of the server’s behavior.
Telstra took full responsibility and promised to improve controls to prevent future outages.
The emergency number 000 (triple zero) calls mostly worked, and fixed-line callers on the NBN were not affected.
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Taco Bell said it will stop using lettuce in some stores because the FDA is investigating iceberg lettuce linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak. This move is to protect customers while the investigation continues.
Key Facts
Taco Bell plans to remove lettuce from certain locations.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell.
The investigation is related to a cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S.
Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by a parasite found in contaminated food or water.
Taco Bell is working with public health officials during this investigation.
Removing lettuce is a safety step until the source of the outbreak is confirmed.
The announcement was made on a Thursday.
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Twenty-eight beluga whales will be moved from a closed Canadian park to aquariums in the United States as part of an emergency rescue. Canadian and U.S. officials approved the plan to give the whales better care, as the park cannot support them and no other Canadian facility can provide proper treatment.
Key Facts
The whales are being relocated from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, which closed in 2024.
Marineland cannot afford to care for the whales and warned it might have to euthanize them without help.
The whales will be sent to U.S. aquariums like SeaWorld San Antonio, Georgia Aquarium, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and SeaWorld San Diego.
Two whales will be moved to Oceanografic Valencia in Spain, pending government approval.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration approved the move to ensure the whales get medical care not available in Canada.
Canada has laws banning the capture of whales and dolphins since 2019, but this rescue is an exception.
Canadian officials will authorize the final export after veterinarians check the health of each whale.
The relocation effort will focus on the safety and comfort of the whales and take several weeks to complete.
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Kuwait reported intercepting 32 hostile drones after Iran announced strikes aimed at U.S. targets. Debris from the intercepted attacks fell near the Kuwait-Iraq border, causing fires and smoke.
Key Facts
Kuwait intercepted 32 hostile drones since early morning.
Iran announced it was striking U.S. assets in the area.
Some debris from the intercepted attacks fell near the Kuwait-Iraq border.
The falling debris caused fires and thick smoke to rise.
The events took place along the border between Kuwait and Iraq.
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Heavy smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota is spreading over many parts of the United States. This smoke has caused air quality warnings in 18 U.S. states, affecting cities across the region.
Key Facts
Wildfires in Canada and Minnesota are creating large amounts of smoke.
The smoke is traveling across the U.S. and Canada.
At least 18 U.S. states have issued air quality alerts due to the smoke.
The smoke causes hazy and polluted conditions in cities.
The situation is affecting outdoor air and may impact health.
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The FDA has approved a new daily pill that lowers cholesterol and works in a different way than common statin drugs. A heart doctor from Columbia University explained how this new medicine may help some patients achieve better cholesterol control.
Key Facts
The FDA gave approval to a new cholesterol-lowering pill.
This pill works differently than statins, which are the usual treatment for high cholesterol.
The new pill is taken once a day.
It may provide improved results for people who need better cholesterol management.
A cardiologist from Columbia University discussed the new pill on CBS Evening News.
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New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez says the U.S. Justice Department is not cooperating with his ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told senators he will look into any new information about Epstein.
Key Facts
Raúl Torrez is the Attorney General of New Mexico.
Torrez claims the Justice Department is blocking his current investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
Todd Blanche is the Acting U.S. Attorney General.
Blanche said during his confirmation hearing that the Justice Department will investigate new leads about Epstein.
Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
The conflict concerns cooperation between state and federal officials on the investigation.
Torrez spoke about this issue on the show "The Takeout."
The article was reported by CBS News.
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A new study by Meta’s Oversight Board found that major AI chatbots are less likely to criticize leaders in restrictive countries compared to those in freer countries. This shows that AI models may reflect government limits on free speech, potentially spreading these restrictions beyond national borders.
Key Facts
The study tested 10 popular AI chatbots, including those from Meta, Anthropic, and OpenAI.
Chatbots would create criticism of leaders like President Donald Trump or King Charles III but refused to criticize leaders of countries with strict speech laws.
Countries with speech restrictions included China, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Turkey.
The AI systems showed fewer critical responses about governments where expressing criticism is legally punished.
AI models may be biased due to training data influenced by government censorship or company decisions.
This bias could make it harder for people in free countries to use AI tools to support protests or political speech against restrictive regimes.
Another study found AI models trained on non-English data were also influenced by foreign government controls.
These findings raise concerns about AI’s role in spreading government censorship worldwide.
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Two Australian teenagers died from methanol poisoning while backpacking in Laos, along with three other foreign tourists. The Australian government is unhappy with Laos authorities planning to file only minor charges, and it seeks stronger legal action and justice for the victims.
Key Facts
Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, both 19 and from Melbourne, died from methanol poisoning in Laos in late 2024.
Three other tourists (a British woman, an American man, and two Danish women) also died in the same incident.
Laos authorities plan to press two charges carrying up to one year in jail and a fine of 1,600 Australian dollars.
The families of the victims find these charges too light and are devastated by the news.
Australia’s foreign affairs minister called the charges “bitterly disappointing” and wants stronger charges reflecting the seriousness of the tragedy.
Pablo Kang, a special envoy, was sent to Laos to discuss the investigation and seek justice for the victims.
The Australian government offered help for a full investigation, but Laos declined.
Australia will continue to press the issue at international meetings and through diplomatic channels.
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