President Donald Trump said he asked Google’s CEO to rename the Atlantic Ocean on Google Maps, but Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, denied this claim. Trump said this during a rally in South Carolina, also mentioning that Google Maps had changed some place names.
Key Facts
President Trump said he called Google CEO Sundar Pichai to rename the Atlantic Ocean on Google Maps.
Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, denied that any such request was made.
Trump made the statement during a rally in Clemson, South Carolina.
The president praised Google Maps for changing some place names.
The Atlantic Ocean's name is a long-established geographical feature.
The news focuses on a dispute over a claimed conversation between the president and a tech leader.
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University professor Jonathan Zimmerman says college programs to prevent sexual assault do not work well enough. He suggests that middle and high schools should teach better sex education that includes the effects of pornography.
Key Facts
Jonathan Zimmerman is a university professor.
He believes college sexual assault programs are not enough.
Zimmerman wants sex education to start earlier, in middle and high school.
He stresses the need to discuss how pornography affects people.
The goal is to prevent sexual assault by educating students earlier and more fully.
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Two Syrian security officers died and five were hurt in a fight with a suspected ISIL group during a raid near Damascus. The authorities killed five ISIL members, arrested six, and seized weapons during the operation in Rankous.
Key Facts
The clashes happened during a raid on an ISIL cell on the outskirts of Damascus.
The fight began when the suspected ISIL members opened fire instead of surrendering.
Two security officers were killed and five wounded; five ISIL suspects were killed and six arrested.
Authorities seized weapons and explosive belts from the group.
Local residents reported the group had about nine people; some escaped, and others were injured.
Syrian security forces imposed a curfew and arrested several people after the raid.
Earlier this month, Syrian authorities foiled another ISIL plot and arrested a top ISIL military commander.
ISIL has frequently attacked Syrian security forces with bombings and ambushes.
Syria joined the international coalition against ISIL in November, after Kurdish forces defeated ISIL in northeast Syria.
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At a rally in South Carolina, President Donald Trump spoke in support of Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. A short video showed the crowd booing after Lindsey Graham's name was mentioned, but fuller footage reveals the boos were directed at a heckler interrupting the event, not directly at Lindsey Graham.
Key Facts
President Trump campaigned in South Carolina supporting Darline Graham, who was appointed after her brother Lindsey Graham's death in July.
A viral 25-second video showed the crowd booing right after Trump mentioned Lindsey Graham.
The boos were not against Lindsey Graham but were directed at a heckler who disrupted the rally.
Trump responded to the heckler by calling the noise "loud, horrible, disgusting."
The rally included multiple interruptions from protesters, with at least one protester being removed and one punched.
Polls show Darline Graham leads her Democratic opponent Annie Andrews by a small margin.
President Trump has faced regular protests and interruptions at his recent rallies ahead of the midterm elections.
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Costco is planning to open a new warehouse in a state where it does not currently have any stores. Some states still have not had their first Costco warehouse despite the company's popularity.
Key Facts
Costco has not opened stores in every U.S. state.
The company is now planning to open a warehouse in a new state without a Costco location.
This expansion shows Costco is growing its presence in more areas.
Some states are still waiting for their first Costco warehouse.
Costco warehouses are large stores where customers can buy goods in bulk.
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Airbnb has introduced new rules that stop hosts from asking guests to do time-consuming chores like laundry and cleaning tasks that usually require professional help. Some hosts disagree with these rules, saying they are unfair and may cause higher costs.
Key Facts
Airbnb’s new policy stops hosts from asking guests to do major chores like stripping beds and starting laundry.
The policy aims to protect guests from work that might make their stay less enjoyable.
Tasks like washing dishes or putting away laundry are not allowed to be requested from guests.
Hosts can still ask guests to do small things, like putting used dishes in the sink or sorting trash.
The new rules apply to bookings made from November 20 onward.
If hosts break the rules often, Airbnb may reduce their listing’s visibility or warn guests on the listing page.
Over 5,000 hosts signed a petition asking Airbnb to reverse the new policy.
The petition says these chores are normal and that professional cleaners doing extra work could increase costs for hosts and guests.
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The U.S. government has accused Canadian officials of trying to influence American elections ahead of the November 3 midterms. Canada denies these claims, saying their actions respond to U.S. trade policies and aim to protect Canadian interests.
Key Facts
The U.S. Embassy in Canada published a fact sheet listing nine examples of Canadian involvement in U.S. politics.
Canadian officials have met with American politicians and supported efforts against U.S. tariffs.
At least 11 Canadians have been charged or sentenced since 2012 for illegal voting in U.S. elections.
Canada says its actions are responses to U.S. trade measures, not election interference.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford denies trying to interfere in U.S. elections.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joked about U.S. concerns over interference at a pro-Canada rally.
The Trump administration has increased monitoring of noncitizen voting in the U.S. ahead of elections.
Trade disputes between the U.S. and Canada have worsened relations between the two countries.
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Meta made a deal with Mark Zuckerberg to keep him in California and running the company despite a proposed billionaire tax. The deal lets Zuckerberg sell some Meta shares to pay the tax without losing control of the company.
Key Facts
California may introduce a one-time 5% tax on residents worth over $1 billion.
Zuckerberg, with a $226 billion net worth, considered moving away to avoid this tax.
Meta formed a special committee to negotiate with Zuckerberg to keep him in California.
The deal allows Zuckerberg to sell shares to cover tax costs but keeps his leadership control.
Meta sees Zuckerberg’s role as vital for managing the company during tough competition.
Most major U.S. tech companies are based in California, home to about 225 billionaires.
The proposed tax will be voted on by California residents on November 3.
Meta is heavily investing in artificial intelligence, making Zuckerberg’s leadership important.
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A foreign man was killed by a crowd of about 50 people in Durban, South Africa. The police are investigating the incident, which happened during ongoing protests against immigrants in the country.
Key Facts
The victim, a foreign national in his late 30s or early 40s, was attacked by two men and then by a larger group.
He died at the scene, and police have not yet determined the motive.
This killing follows recent violent protests against immigrants in South Africa's cities, including Durban and Soweto.
The government has asked protesters to remain peaceful but acknowledges the need for immigration reform.
Tens of thousands of undocumented foreign nationals have been deported or sent back this year as part of a crackdown.
Groups like March and March demanded that undocumented migrants leave South Africa by June 30.
Several African countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, have taken steps to protect and repatriate their citizens amid fears of violence.
South Africa has a history of xenophobic attacks; in 2008, over 60 people died and many were displaced during similar violence.
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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said Russia used cluster missiles in attacks on Kyiv, killing at least four people and injuring 34 others, including children. Russia denied the cluster bomb use and reported shooting down many Ukrainian drones during the same period.
Key Facts
Ukraine says Russia fired ballistic missiles with cluster warheads hitting Kyiv and other areas.
Cluster bombs release smaller explosives over a wide area and can harm civilians.
Over 100 countries banned cluster bombs in 2008, but Russia and the U.S. did not join the treaty.
At least four people died and 34 were injured in the attacks, including five children.
Russia said its air defenses shot down 808 Ukrainian drones overnight.
More than 600 drones were launched toward Moscow recently, according to Moscow’s mayor.
Talks between Russia and the U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff are ongoing but progress is slow.
Zelenskyy urged President Trump to provide interceptor missiles to help Ukraine defend itself.
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Virginia state Senator L. Louise Lucas was charged by federal authorities for leading a criminal group that bought and sold large amounts of marijuana and hid its profits. The charges say she used her political influence to protect the operation and put her own financial gain above her duties as a public official.
Key Facts
L. Louise Lucas is a Virginia state senator and a long-time Democratic politician.
She was charged Thursday with running a criminal enterprise involved in marijuana distribution.
The group also laundered, or cleaned, the money made from selling marijuana.
Prosecutors say Lucas used her political power to avoid investigation.
Six other people, including family members, were charged along with Lucas.
The U.S. Attorney General and FBI Director announced the charges in Norfolk, Virginia.
Lucas surrendered to authorities and was set to appear in federal court the same day.
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Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released an attack ad featuring Donna Arthur, mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton, accusing Acton of lying about her past. Acton’s campaign responded by highlighting her mother’s history of legal troubles and abuse allegations, noting that Acton was sexually abused by her late stepfather.
Key Facts
Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign created an ad showing Donna Arthur accusing her daughter Amy Acton of lying.
Amy Acton is the Democratic nominee for governor in Ohio and a former Ohio Department of Health director.
Acton and her mother have been estranged since 1978 after Acton accused her stepfather of sexually abusing her.
Donna Arthur stayed married to Acton’s stepfather, who was charged with raping Acton.
Acton’s campaign shared records of Donna Arthur’s history of legal issues and fraud allegations.
Court records show Donna Arthur was charged with animal neglect and theft by deception in the past.
Acton’s campaign said Ramaswamy’s ad was a smear and called use of her estranged mother “disgusting.”
Ramaswamy’s campaign defended the ad by accusing Acton of lying to the public.
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A 61-year-old man named Clifford Foster has been charged with murder after Eleanor Barnfield, a 47-year-old housing association worker, died from stab wounds and injuries sustained in a crash in Bridgend, Wales. Police say the stabbing happened before the crash, and investigations are ongoing.
Key Facts
Eleanor Barnfield, 47, died in hospital after a crash in Bridgend, where she was found with stab wounds.
The stab wounds were not related to the crash collision itself.
Clifford Foster, 61, was arrested and charged with murder.
Foster is set to appear in court in Newport on Friday.
Police confirmed this is not being treated as a domestic incident.
The Welsh Ambulance Service said the claims that Eleanor was driving herself to hospital were false.
Emergency medical teams, including a helicopter service, responded quickly after the crash.
Eleanor was a housing association worker for Valleys to Coast, which supports older people’s housing.
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President Donald Trump has linked federal funding for disaster recovery and veterans’ compensation in North Carolina to the success of Republican candidates in upcoming midterm elections. He warned that funding might be withheld if Republicans lose, although he later said some comments were jokes.
Key Facts
President Trump is supporting Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections.
He suggested withholding disaster recovery money for North Carolina if Republican candidates lose.
Trump later said that his comments about withholding funds were meant as a joke.
The funding discussed included over $2 billion in FEMA aid for recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Trump also connected federal compensation for veterans affected by contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to election outcomes.
Up to one million people were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987.
North Carolina’s Governor and others criticized Trump’s linking of funding to election results.
President Trump’s approval rating recently dropped to 36 percent, his lowest on record.
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Israeli military attacks in Gaza killed four Palestinians, including a young girl, over the past 24 hours. The Israeli forces have been expanding their control across Gaza, which remains heavily damaged and crowded.
Key Facts
Four Palestinians, including a child, died from Israeli attacks in the last day.
A young girl was killed by gunfire near Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.
One person was killed and another injured in a strike in Gaza City’s Tal al-Hawa neighborhood.
A man on a bicycle was also killed in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Another person died from earlier wounds caused by an Israeli strike.
Israeli troops are expanding control inside Gaza, moving from north to center and west.
About two million people live in Gaza, much of which is destroyed or under Israeli control or restrictions.
Since October 2023, over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed and about 5,500 injured after the ceasefire.
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Nearly 980,000 deportations occurred during the first 18 months of President Donald Trump’s second term, based on a Migration Policy Institute (MPI) analysis. This number is below the Trump administration’s goal of 1 million deportations annually but is higher than deportation rates during the Biden administration.
Key Facts
The analysis covers deportations between January 20, 2025, and July 31, 2026.
About two-thirds of deportations involved people caught at the U.S. border.
The Trump administration reported over 3 million undocumented immigrants left the U.S. since January 2025, including 2.2 million voluntary departures.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests and deportations increased after receiving billions in extra funding.
Around 340,000 deportations involved migrants turned away by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the border.
Deportations of people arrested inside the U.S. rose from 28% to 39% of all deportations during the period studied.
About 20% of deported individuals had criminal convictions.
Most deported immigrants who had lived in the U.S. for two or more years had no criminal record.
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Italy and Spain have agreed to lift border controls on each other's citizens after a three-month stand-off caused by a large number of migrants entering the Spanish territory of Ceuta. Both countries will resume the European Union’s open-border Schengen rules and improve information sharing to keep the area secure.
Key Facts
Italy suspended open-border rules with Spain on July 31 due to concerns about migrants entering Ceuta and then traveling to Italy.
Spain responded by suspending open-border rules with Italy in return.
Over 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30 and 31, 2026.
Most migrants quickly returned to Morocco, but thousands, including unaccompanied children, stayed in difficult conditions.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska agreed by phone to lift border restrictions.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez discussed the issue at a European Council meeting.
The Spanish government’s response to the migrant surge affected Prime Minister Sanchez’s chances in the upcoming election.
Opposition parties in Spain have criticized Sanchez for being too lenient on immigration.
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UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting urged people and businesses to prepare better for emergencies such as natural disasters, cyber attacks, and terrorism. The government is starting a "national resilience conversation" to raise awareness and advise households on how to get ready for these risks.
Key Facts
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting spoke about the need for the UK to be prepared for emergencies and hostile threats.
The government launched a campaign called "Be Ready" to encourage households to stock supplies like food, water, and first aid for three days.
Streeting mentioned risks including wildfires, flooding, cyber attacks, and supply disruptions caused by hostile states or terrorists.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle warned that the strong El Niño event will likely cause more extreme storms in the UK.
The National Audit Office reported that the UK’s food supply chain is vulnerable to diseases, cyber attacks, and extreme weather.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the advice helps emergency services focus on those who need the most support during crises.
Some European countries already consider emergency preparedness a normal part of daily life.
The government wants to improve UK resilience against power, water, phone, and internet outages during severe weather.
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New rules supported by Republicans in North Carolina require mail ballots to use a double-envelope system and limit who can assist voters. These changes are linked to a rise in rejected mail ballots this election compared to 2022. State officials say the increase in spoiled ballots is small but could affect close races in November’s midterm elections.
Key Facts
North Carolina has new mail voting rules requiring ballots to be placed in a sealed inner envelope, then an outer envelope.
Only close relatives are allowed to help voters with their absentee ballots under the new rules.
Governor Josh Stein, a Democrat, says rejected mail ballots have roughly doubled this year.
The State Board of Elections reports a slight increase in spoiled ballots from 2.6% in 2022 to 3.1% in 2024 so far.
Ballots can be rejected for reasons like missing signatures or damaged ballots.
These changes come amid national debates on mail voting rules and election security promoted by President Donald Trump’s administration.
North Carolina is a key battleground state with important Senate and House races in the 2024 midterms.
President Donald Trump has campaigned in North Carolina to support Republican candidates in closely watched elections.
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California has passed three new laws to regulate how companies use artificial intelligence (AI) at work. These laws limit AI-based firings, restrict AI surveillance of employees’ emotions or brain activity, and require companies to give detailed notices when AI causes job losses.
Key Facts
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed three workplace laws about AI.
SB 947 bans employers from firing or disciplining workers based only on AI decisions; a human must review these cases.
Workers must be told in writing if AI played a main role in their firing and can ask for details about the AI data.
AB 1883 blocks employers from using AI to read workers’ emotions or brain signals and imposes fines for violations.
SB 951 requires companies to disclose when layoffs happen mainly due to AI replacing jobs, starting in 2028.
Companies must provide details about the number of jobs affected, types of jobs, and technology used in layoffs.
These laws put California in line with other states like Colorado, Illinois, Maine, and New York City, which also regulate AI at work.
California’s rules aim to protect employees but do not stop companies from using AI to automate jobs.
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