White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is leaving her job after less than a week. President Donald Trump told her to think again about staying because of strong criticism from the media and public.
Key Facts
Katie Zacharia worked as White House press secretary for fewer than seven days.
President Donald Trump advised her to reconsider her role.
The reason given was harsh scrutiny from the media and public.
Al Jazeera confirmed that Zacharia is "transitioning out" of her position.
The announcement came shortly after Zacharia started the job.
No new press secretary was named at the time of the report.
The role of press secretary involves speaking for the White House and managing communications.
The transition happened during President Trump's current term.
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President Donald Trump said that neither he nor Elon Musk was responsible for the recent Starlink internet outage in Ukraine. This comment came during a disagreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about renewed attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Key Facts
Ukraine experienced an outage of its Starlink internet service earlier this week.
Starlink is a satellite internet system owned by SpaceX, a company founded by Elon Musk.
President Trump denied any involvement in causing the Starlink outage.
Elon Musk was also stated by Trump not to be responsible for the outage.
The statements were made amid tensions between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky.
The disagreement involved Ukraine resuming strikes on oil refineries in Russia.
Starlink internet has been important for Ukraine’s communications during the conflict.
The cause of the Starlink outage was not confirmed in this report.
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Apple's new foldable iPhone, called the iPhone Duo, is very popular and pre-orders have quickly sold out, with delivery dates now pushed back to early 2027. The phone features a large foldable screen that allows users to run two apps side by side and starts at $1,999.
Key Facts
Apple started pre-orders for the iPhone Duo on Friday morning.
Demand exceeded supply immediately, causing delivery times to push past the official launch date and into January 2027.
The iPhone Duo can split the screen to run two apps or two web pages at once.
It costs $1,999 for the base model with 256 GB storage.
When folded, the phone is about the size of a passport.
The unfolded screen is Apple's largest phone display, similar in size to an iPad.
Apple expects to sell about 10 million units soon and up to 25 million in 2027.
The iPhone Duo was announced by Apple's CEO John Ternus last month at an Apple event.
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gave $1 million to Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign for the U.S. Senate in Michigan. El-Sayed is competing against former Representative Mike Rogers for the Senate seat.
Key Facts
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Democratic representative from New York.
She donated $1 million to Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate campaign.
Abdul El-Sayed is a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.
El-Sayed is in a close race with Mike Rogers, a Republican and former representative from Michigan.
The donation was confirmed by a spokesperson for El-Sayed’s campaign.
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Sean Spicer, who was President Donald Trump’s first White House press secretary, spoke to CBS News about Katie Zacharia’s short time in the role before she was removed. Zacharia served as press secretary for only five days.
Key Facts
Sean Spicer was President Trump’s first White House press secretary.
Katie Zacharia held the White House press secretary job for five days.
Zacharia was removed from the position after this brief time.
Sean Spicer gave his comments about her departure on CBS News.
The article mentions other unrelated news topics but focuses on Zacharia’s ouster.
Zacharia reportedly spent part of her time in the role feeling isolated.
The coverage includes a short video segment of Spicer discussing the situation.
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President Donald Trump denied that he limited Ukraine’s access to Starlink’s military-type internet network called Starshield. The network slowdown happened amid tensions between the US and Ukraine after Ukraine resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries, which affected Ukraine’s defense against Russian drone strikes.
Key Facts
Ukraine’s ability to use Starshield was restricted, limiting drone speed and defense capabilities.
President Trump and Elon Musk both said they were not responsible for the network slowdown.
Reuters reported the US government might have ordered the restrictions from inside the White House.
Starlink is a high-speed civilian internet operated by SpaceX; Starshield is the military version used by the Pentagon.
Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries after a controversial diesel deal between Russia and the US.
The US had warned it could stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine if attacks on Russian energy facilities continued.
About 600,000 Ukrainians lost power after Russian strikes destroyed communication and energy sites.
A group of US senators requested an investigation into the Starlink network disruptions affecting Ukraine’s defense.
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A recent shooting by federal immigration officers in New York City has brought House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Mayor Zohran Mamdani together. Both Democratic leaders, despite their political differences, united in opposing federal immigration enforcement practices in the city.
Key Facts
The shooting involved a 28-year-old man named Oscar Belgal in the Marble Hill neighborhood of NYC.
Over 100 Democratic officials in NYC, including Jeffries and Mamdani, signed a letter asking property owners not to support ICE operations.
ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency that enforces immigration laws.
The letter urged parking lot and garage owners not to rent or lend their spaces to ICE for enforcement activities.
Jeffries leads the House Democrats, while Mamdani is the mayor of New York City, representing different wings of the Democratic Party.
Their collaboration shows broad Democratic support against ICE enforcement under the Trump administration.
Other prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, also signed the letter.
Despite past political disagreements between Jeffries and Mamdani, they have cooperated on this issue to protect immigrant communities.
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A 16-year-old named John J. Griffin II entered Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, and killed four people using a shotgun. He was then shot and killed by a local carpenter, Kaylub Giamanco, who acted to stop the shooting.
Key Facts
John J. Griffin II was 16 years old and lived in Bend, Oregon.
Griffin used a pump-action shotgun bought by his mother around his birthday in August.
The shooting killed three children aged 5, 8, and 11, and one teacher.
Griffin forced entry into the school by shooting at locked doors.
Kaylub Giamanco, a carpenter and father of two students at the school, confronted and fatally shot Griffin.
Giamanco holds a concealed carry permit and acted to stop further harm.
Griffin’s mother expressed grief and apologized to the victims’ families.
The motive for the shooting is still unknown and under investigation.
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Elon Musk is spending over $150 million to support Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race against Democrat James Talarico. Most of Musk’s donations go through major Republican groups that fund various GOP efforts nationwide, helping Republicans keep control of the Senate.
Key Facts
Elon Musk donated $75 million to the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) on September 9, 2026.
SLF then transferred $75 million to a Texas political action committee (PAC) supporting Ken Paxton.
Musk gave another $83 million to SLF on September 23, which was transferred to the Texas PAC the next day.
In total, the Texas PAC reported receiving $158 million from these transfers.
Musk’s total spending on the 2026 midterms exceeds $276 million, close to his spending in the 2024 presidential election.
He has also funded other GOP groups, including AMERICA PAC ($76 million), Congressional Leadership Fund ($20 million), the Republican Governors Association ($10 million), and other super PACs.
Democrats, including Talarico, have raised significant funds, with Talarico raising $64 million in one quarter compared to Paxton’s $18 million.
Republicans aim to keep their four-seat majority in the Senate during the November elections.
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Recent data from the Cook Political Report shows that 14 U.S. House seats held by Republicans have shifted toward Democrats just over two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both the House and Senate and are working to keep control, while Democrats see a chance to win more seats.
Key Facts
14 Republican-held House seats in 10 states are moving closer to Democrats ahead of the midterms.
Republicans hold a slim majority: 218-214 in the House, and 53-47 in the Senate.
The shifts include districts in traditionally Republican states like Minnesota, Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Minnesota’s 1st District moved from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican," with a close race between Republican Brad Finstad and Democrat Jake Johnson.
Ohio’s 10th and 15th Districts also shifted from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican," with Republican incumbents facing tougher Democratic challengers.
Kansas and Nebraska districts held by Republicans shifted from "solid Republican" to "likely Republican."
Two Iowa House districts moved from "toss-up" to "lean Democrat," despite the state’s recent strong support for President Trump.
Senate races in Iowa and Ohio are highly competitive, and these outcomes could affect control of the Senate.
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Tensions between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky increased after Trump made a diesel fuel deal with Russia and expressed a wish for Zelensky’s replacement. Meanwhile, thousands of young protesters in India’s “Cockroach movement” were detained ahead of a voter fraud demonstration, raising concerns about government repression.
Key Facts
President Trump made a diesel fuel deal with Russia before the US Midterm elections, which President Zelensky called “weak” and felt betrayed by.
Trump expressed a desire for Zelensky to be replaced and warned him not to attack Russian oil refineries.
Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, but it did not succeed.
Zelensky sought support and solutions from European countries amid the conflict.
In India, thousands of Generation Z protesters from the Cockroach movement were arrested and held in stadiums and community halls to stop their demonstration.
The Indian government said detentions were to protect civilians, but the UN Human Rights Office urged respect for peaceful protests.
Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach movement, was arrested upon arrival and detained again recently.
The article includes analysis from journalists and experts discussing these events.
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Ethiopia and Eritrea, two neighboring countries in East Africa, have a long history of conflict over land. After a war from 1998 to 2000 and a peace agreement in 2018, tensions still exist with accusations of rebel support and attacks on key areas. The situation is tense, and efforts through talks are ongoing to avoid another war.
Key Facts
Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia in 1993.
The two countries fought a war from 1998 to 2000 over border disputes.
They were technically still at war for nearly 20 years until a peace deal in 2018 called the Jeddah accord.
Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing rebel fighters in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
Eritrea claims Ethiopia wants to take control of one of its important ports on the Red Sea.
Both sides have deep-rooted mistrust despite the peace deal.
Experts on African politics are discussing whether diplomacy can solve these problems and prevent war.
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A 5-year-old boy named Rhoam Summer was among the victims of a school shooting at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon. The shooting, carried out by a 16-year-old gunman, killed three children and a teacher before being stopped by a parent who fatally shot the attacker.
Key Facts
The school shooting happened on a Thursday at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon.
Rhoam Summer, age 5, was confirmed killed in the shooting by his father on social media.
The gunman was a 16-year-old named John J. Griffin II, who used a pump-action shotgun.
The shooter forced his way into the school by firing at locked doors.
A parent of two students at the school, Kaylub Giamanco, shot and killed the attacker.
Five people died: three children, one teacher, and the shooter.
Two others, a 7-year-old student and a 54-year-old teacher, were critically injured.
About 500 people, including Oregon’s governor and the Bend mayor, attended a community vigil.
An online fundraiser has raised over $35,000 to support Rhoam Summer’s family.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other Democratic leaders in New York asked private parking lot owners to stop renting spaces to officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They want to show support for immigrant residents in the city.
Key Facts
Mayor Zohran Mamdani leads the effort to ask private parking lot owners to ban ICE officers.
The request comes from Democratic leaders in New York State.
They want to protect and support immigrant New Yorkers.
ICE is the government agency responsible for immigration enforcement.
The call to action was made public on a Friday.
The effort targets private property owners in New York City.
The leaders emphasize their shared commitment to the city and its residents.
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HBO is bringing back the TV show "Girls" with its original cast. The show, created by Lena Dunham, originally aired from 2012 to 2017 and showed the lives of friends in their twenties living in New York City.
Key Facts
HBO announced a revival of the series "Girls."
The original cast will return for the new version.
"Girls" first aired from 2012 to 2017.
Lena Dunham created the show.
The show focused on twenty-something friends in New York City.
The original show was known for being raw and controversial.
A 2013 CBS News story gave a behind-the-scenes look at the show.
Cast members Allison Williams, Zosia Mamet, and Jemima Kirke appeared in the original series.
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Some Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses recorded people’s conversations without users saying the wake phrase, due to a software bug. Meta says the problem is fixed and users can manage or delete voice recordings, but questions remain about how many devices were affected and what caused the issue.
Key Facts
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses were recording conversations without users saying “Hey, Meta,” which normally activates the AI assistant.
Users reported the issue on Reddit, even when they had turned off the “Respond without Hey Meta” setting.
Meta confirmed the bug existed and says it has been fixed.
Users can now review, manage, and delete voice recordings in the Meta AI app’s settings.
Meta has not explained what caused the bug or how many devices were affected.
Privacy experts were already concerned about Meta glasses due to their microphone and camera, especially because they look like regular glasses.
Previous reports indicate some footage from the glasses is reviewed by contractors, raising privacy questions.
The bug shows that even with recording lights, smart glasses might record without user knowledge.
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Candidates running for the US Senate in the November midterm elections have participated in debates with strong disagreements and personal attacks. Key issues include how closely Republican candidates support President Donald Trump and concerns about the cost of living, with some Republicans distancing themselves from Trump while others show loyalty.
Key Facts
Some Republican candidates are distancing themselves from President Trump, while others show support but disagree on certain policies.
Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, frequently opposes Trump and says she voted with President Biden 91% of the time.
Collins is in a close race against Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine, with polls showing a tight contest.
In Iowa, Republican Ashley Hinson faces a tough Senate race against Democrat Josh Turek and has criticized Trump’s deal on gas imports from Russia.
Personal attacks are common in debates, such as in Michigan’s Senate race where Mike Rogers questioned Abdul El-Sayed’s Muslim background, leading to strong pushback.
The midterm elections will determine control of Congress starting in January 2025.
Voters are concerned about issues like the cost of living and fuel prices.
Some debates have seen interruptions and protests during candidate exchanges.
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Democrats running for the Senate in close races have raised a lot of money to compete with Republicans. Elon Musk and his support group have helped Republican candidates raise funds, but some Democrats have also had big fundraising successes.
Key Facts
Democrat James Talarico raised $60 million for his Texas Senate campaign from July to September.
Senator Jon Ossoff is also raising significant funds for his campaign.
Republicans have received financial support from Elon Musk and his super PAC (a group that raises money to help candidates).
The fundraising race is important as both parties try to win competitive Senate seats.
Fundraising totals show how much money each side can spend on ads and campaign efforts.
Campaign money is often raised through donations from individuals, groups, and sometimes wealthy supporters like Musk.
The Senate races are part of the larger effort for control of the U.S. Senate.
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A man named Kaylub Giamanco stopped a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, by shooting the teenage attacker inside the building. The attack killed three students and a teacher, injured others, and ended when the attacker died inside the school.
Key Facts
Kaylub Giamanco, who has two daughters at the school, stopped the Oregon school shooting by shooting the teenage gunman.
The attacker was a 16-year-old boy who entered the school by shooting through locked doors.
Three students aged 5, 8, and 11 and one teacher were killed in the attack.
Another student (7 years old) and a teacher (54 years old) were seriously injured.
The gunman used a pump-action shotgun bought by his mother, which is legal for minors in Oregon with parental consent.
Police arrived within minutes after the first emergency calls and found the attacker dead inside the school.
The man who stopped the shooter is not seeking recognition but thanks first responders and the community.
Memorials appeared near the school in memory of the victims.
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Katie Zacharia left her job as White House press secretary just five days after President Donald Trump appointed her. Questions about her legal qualifications and pressure from the press led President Trump to suggest she reconsider staying in the role.
Key Facts
Katie Zacharia was named White House press secretary by President Donald Trump.
She worked in the role for only five days before leaving.
President Trump told Zacharia to “reconsider” staying because of pressure from the media.
Zacharia does not have a law license because she did not pass the bar exam.
She replaced Karoline Leavitt as press secretary.
Her short tenure is even shorter than Anthony Scaramucci’s 10-day time as communications director in Trump’s first term.
President Trump said there was no hurry to find a replacement for her.
Zacharia graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school but is not a licensed attorney.
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