Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff defended the school’s response to a 2024 gang rape allegation at a fraternity during a heated faculty meeting. Faculty members challenged his handling of the case and the university’s steps to address sexual violence, while investigations continue by both the school and New York state authorities.
Key Facts
A student known as Jane Doe accused fraternity members of gang rape at Cornell in 2024.
Jane Doe filed a complaint with campus police three weeks after the alleged incident.
She has also sued the accused students and Cornell University, alleging she was drugged and raped.
Cornell suspended fraternity parties and involved state police in its investigation following the allegations.
Faculty questioned why two accused students were still allowed to remain on campus during the process.
No criminal charges have been filed, and all fraternity members named deny wrongdoing.
The university conducted a Title IX investigation, which did not find the accused responsible for rape.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is investigating the incident independently.
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White House press secretary Katie Zacharia said her recent failure to pass the California Bar exam is "somewhat inconsequential." She explained that she planned to move to China soon to be with her husband, who is working there.
Key Facts
Katie Zacharia is the White House press secretary.
She recently took the California Bar exam but did not pass.
Zacharia described the exam results as "somewhat inconsequential."
She made this statement during an interview with the conservative outlet Real America’s Voice.
Zacharia plans to move to China to join her husband who is working overseas.
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A spokesperson for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he agrees fully with President Donald Trump’s choice to cancel the livestream of the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan. Hasan, a former Army major, killed 13 people in the Fort Hood shooting in November.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports President Trump’s decision to stop the livestream of Hasan’s execution.
President Trump announced on Wednesday that the execution would no longer be livestreamed.
Nidal Malik Hasan was a former Army major.
Hasan killed 13 people in the Fort Hood shooting.
The execution was originally scheduled for December 3.
The cancellation of the livestream means the public will not see the execution online.
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Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama refused to quit despite large student protests in the capital. The students are angry about corruption, poor education, and the sale of coastal land for a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.
Key Facts
Thousands of students protested in Albania's capital.
Protesters broke windows and clashed with riot police.
Police used water cannons and tear gas to control crowds.
Students accuse the government of corruption and ignoring education problems.
The protests also focus on the sale of southern coastline land.
The land sale is connected to a luxury resort project supported by Jared Kushner.
Prime Minister Edi Rama refused to resign amid the unrest.
The protests happened on October 15, 2026.
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Ismael Ayala-Uribe died while being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in California during President Donald Trump’s second term. His family says he did not get proper medical care, and 2025 was the deadliest year for people in ICE custody.
Key Facts
Ismael Ayala-Uribe was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. as a child.
He was arrested on August 17, 2025, during President Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.
Ismael was held first in a local jail and then at an ICE detention center in Adelanto, California.
He showed signs of serious illness during a visit from his mother, Lucia Uribe.
Ismael died on September 22, 2025, from complications of a pelvic abscess.
The family claims he did not receive adequate medical treatment in ICE custody.
Over 50 people died in ICE custody in the first 500 days of President Trump’s second term.
2025 was the deadliest year on record for deaths in ICE detention centers.
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Brit Hume, a commentator from Fox News, said the Republican Party might do poorly in the upcoming midterm elections. He noted that Republicans could lose both competitive races and some they expected to win easily.
Key Facts
Brit Hume is a commentator on Fox News.
He talked about the U.S. midterm elections happening soon.
Hume warned that Republicans may lose many races in these elections.
Some losses could include races that were not expected to be close.
This prediction suggests a possible "washout," meaning a large number of losses for Republicans.
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Eric Deters, a Republican donor, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Kimberly Guilfoyle and her legal team. The lawsuit follows a dispute about money Deters said he wired to Guilfoyle and her team's denial of his claims.
Key Facts
Eric Deters accused Kimberly Guilfoyle of asking him to wire $100,000 to pay her credit card bill.
Deters said this payment was in exchange for Guilfoyle’s help with the Trump administration before her Senate confirmation hearing.
Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned from her ambassador position to Greece earlier this week.
Guilfoyle’s team questioned the authenticity of text messages Deters shared with the media.
Deters filed a defamation lawsuit in Kentucky state court against Guilfoyle and her lawyers.
Guilfoyle’s legal team said Deters owed her money for attending and supporting events.
Deters denies owing money and says Guilfoyle’s team claimed his allegations were false.
CBS News tried to contact Guilfoyle’s attorneys, Jesse Binnall and David M. Schwartz, for comment.
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Three recent polls in Texas show that Republican Governor Greg Abbott is leading in his race for a fourth term, while Democrat James Talarico is leading against Republican Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race. Some voters who support Abbott for governor are choosing Talarico for Senate, giving Democrats a better chance than usual in Texas.
Key Facts
Greg Abbott, the Republican governor, is running for a fourth term and is ahead of his Democratic opponent Gina Hinojosa.
James Talarico, a Democratic state representative, leads Ken Paxton, the Republican attorney general, in the Senate race in some polls.
Abbott’s support among voters is higher than Paxton’s, meaning some Republicans who like Abbott prefer Talarico over Paxton for Senate.
Talarico does especially well with white women who have college degrees and suburban voters.
Paxton has lower favorability ratings than Abbott, with many voters viewing him negatively, including some Republicans.
About one-third of Paxton's supporters said they only somewhat support him, while most Talarico and Abbott supporters said they strongly back their candidates.
Paxton’s negative image might cause Republican voters to split their ballots, supporting Abbott for governor but Talarico for the Senate.
This polling shows a rare opportunity for Democrats in Texas, where no Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat since 1988.
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A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by former CIA Director John Brennan. Brennan had asked the government to save records tied to an investigation about his actions related to the 2016 election, but the judge said Brennan was not the right person to bring the case yet.
Key Facts
John Brennan is a former CIA Director.
Brennan filed the lawsuit in July.
The lawsuit aimed to force the Justice Department to keep records connected to an investigation.
The investigation is focused on Brennan’s role in reviewing the 2016 election.
The judge ruled that Brennan currently does not have legal standing to sue.
“Standing” means being the right person to bring a case in court.
The court dismissed the lawsuit without addressing the main issues of the investigation.
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A 19-year-old man from Illinois was arrested for allegedly planning a racially motivated attack on a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois. Lawmakers reacted with shock and concern over the two-year plot that targeted the community.
Key Facts
Alexandros Paporakis, age 19, from Palatine, Illinois, was arrested.
The arrest happened at his apartment in Palatine, where he lives with his mother.
The plot to attack the Hindu temple reportedly lasted about two years.
The plan was motivated by racial hatred.
Lawmakers expressed horror and outrage about the planned attack.
The temple targeted is located in Aurora, Illinois.
Authorities stopped the attack before it could happen.
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Several cargo and chemical ships were attacked by drones near the Black Sea coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, including in Romanian territorial waters. These attacks, believed to involve Russian drones, have led NATO to increase its counter-drone defenses along its eastern border.
Key Facts
At least seven ships have been attacked near the Black Sea in the exclusive economic zones of NATO countries.
Some attacks occurred inside Romanian territorial waters, a first for these incidents.
The chemical tankers Yara J and Wine Trader caught fire; all crew on Yara J were rescued, but seven sailors from Wine Trader are missing.
Other ships targeted include the Sea Destiny, Dania J, Chelsea 3, and Dignity, with some casualties and missing crew reported.
These attacks happened near key shipping routes used for Ukrainian exports, especially around the Sulina canal and Danube River.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed boosting counter-drone systems after talks with Bulgaria and Romania.
Bulgaria and Romania are increasing cooperation to protect shipping after repeated drone attacks believed to be conducted by Russia.
The pattern of attacks began earlier in October, involving drones sinking or damaging cargo ships in the Black Sea near NATO members.
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A recent survey shows that financial security among U.S. workers fell to the lowest point in seven years, with many delaying medical care due to cost. Workers in their 40s feel the least secure and face high healthcare costs, while most employees expect to have a harder time in retirement compared to their parents.
Key Facts
Financial security among U.S. employees dropped from 46% in 2025 to 36% in 2026.
About one-third of workers delayed or skipped medical or dental care last year because it was too expensive.
Workers in their 40s reported the lowest financial security, with only 30% feeling secure.
More than 40% of workers in their 40s skipped medical care due to money worries.
People in their 40s often face high costs as they care for both children and aging parents.
Around two-thirds of employees expect their retirement to be worse than their parents’ generation.
Older Americans, especially those 65 and over, generally have more wealth than younger groups.
Households led by people aged 65-74 saw their wealth increase by 37% between 2022 and 2025.
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A political action committee (PAC) linked to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) group is spending over $1 million in the Iowa governor’s race. This is the largest amount the group has contributed to any election so far.
Key Facts
The group MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) supports Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
MAHA Action PAC is the political action committee making the donations.
The PAC is run by Tony Lyons, who is an ally of Kennedy and a book publisher.
The PAC is investing more than $1 million in the Iowa governor’s election.
This is the biggest election contribution from the MAHA group to date.
The PAC is a federal super PAC, which means it can raise and spend unlimited funds to support political candidates.
The funding is aimed at influencing the governor’s race in Iowa.
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Ethiopian forces and their allies have expanded control in the Tigray region and entered the city of Aksum. Fighting continues near the Eritrean border, where Eritrean troops reportedly withdrew, but Eritrea denies these claims.
Key Facts
Ethiopian government forces and the allied Tigray Peace Force (TPF) entered the city of Aksum in northern Tigray.
The TPF claimed Eritrean troops suffered losses and retreated toward their border, but Eritrea called this false.
Independent group ACLED confirmed government advances and Eritrean troop movements near the border town of Zalambessa.
Residents of Zalambessa report no current fighting but have been without power and water for a week.
Ethiopian tanks and heavy weapons moved toward the Eritrean border, raising fears of a wider conflict.
Ethiopia accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting a rebel alliance against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government; all deny involvement.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) withdrew from Mekelle, the regional capital, and government forces retook several towns without fighting.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Ethiopia to reduce tensions during a call with Prime Minister Abiy amid concerns over the border situation.
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Democrat Mary Peltola is leading Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in the race for Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat as their debate approaches. Recent polls show Peltola ahead by small margins, and President Donald Trump recently visited Alaska to support Sullivan’s reelection campaign.
Key Facts
Mary Peltola is a Democrat running against incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan for Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat.
Recent polls show Peltola leading Sullivan by 2 to 7 percentage points.
The race is considered important because Democrats hope to gain a Senate majority.
President Donald Trump made a rare campaign stop in Alaska to support Sullivan.
Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, and Peltola’s advantage remains in final rounds of counting.
Prediction markets give Peltola about a 74% chance to win, up from 64% in mid-September.
Key issues for Alaska voters include the high cost of living and rising fuel prices.
The Senate debate is scheduled for Thursday evening local time.
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A study by Columbia University shows that microplastics in water can produce harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These molecules can damage important parts of cells like DNA and proteins, which may explain some health risks linked to microplastics.
Key Facts
Plastics are usually thought to be chemically stable, but tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in water can create reactive oxygen species (ROS).
ROS are harmful molecules that can damage DNA, proteins, and fats inside living cells.
The research team tested six common plastics and found all produced ROS, with water-repellent plastics like polyethylene generating the most.
The interaction between plastics and water changes the structure of water molecules near the plastic surface, making it easier to form ROS.
The study used methods such as electron spin resonance and fluorescent sensors to detect these reactive molecules directly.
The research helps explain why microplastics found in human blood and organs might cause harm through oxidative stress.
Previous doubts about contamination or errors in detecting ROS were addressed by careful testing in this study.
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The article discusses concerns about whether President Donald Trump and Elon Musk might stop SpaceX’s Starlink internet service, which is important for Ukraine’s defense against Russian attacks. Starlink service was slowed but has been restored, though Ukraine’s future in the conflict remains uncertain.
Key Facts
Ukraine depends on Starlink internet service provided by SpaceX to communicate during Russian drone attacks.
The U.S. slowed down Starlink service temporarily, affecting Ukraine’s air raid warnings.
Elon Musk’s Starlink system was quickly restored after the slowdown.
President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have influence over the continued support Ukraine receives through Starlink.
Ukraine is trying to rely less on the U.S. for defense after decades of dependence.
The situation raises questions about the future of Ukraine, NATO, and the European Union amid the conflict.
Kyiv is facing ongoing Russian attacks, including new motor-powered drones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is seeking more support from Washington and European leaders.
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Pope Leo XIV’s doctors reported that an X-ray showed he is recovering well after lung surgery. They also said he is able to do his daily activities on his own and can complete all physical therapy exercises.
Key Facts
Pope Leo XIV had lung surgery recently.
Doctors used an X-ray to check his recovery.
The X-ray results were positive, indicating good recovery.
He can carry out daily activities independently.
His physiotherapy includes a full range of physical exercises.
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The US Department of Justice sued California to stop the state from counting some mail-in ballots from people it says are likely noncitizens. The department gave California a list of more than 20,000 likely noncitizens and asked the state to verify their citizenship before counting their votes, but California officials have refused to act on the list.
Key Facts
The Justice Department sent California a list with over 20,000 names of likely noncitizens registered to vote.
California was asked to pause counting ballots from these individuals until their citizenship is confirmed.
The state’s Los Angeles county clerk said the list was not secure and refused to review it.
California’s Secretary of State said the Justice Department did not give her office the list and criticized the effort as causing confusion.
The lawsuit demands California either verify citizenship or set aside ballots from those flagged before counting.
The Justice Department’s methods for finding noncitizen voters have been questioned, especially after Nevada found every flagged person was actually a citizen.
The National Voter Registration Act restricts removing voters from rolls within 90 days of an election to avoid mistakes.
Experts say the Justice Department lacks authority to force states to purge voters during elections.
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Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick said that Ukraine losing access to Starshield, a military internet service by Starlink, is a serious issue. He warned that if the U.S. stops supporting Ukraine, Congress will take action.
Key Facts
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick is a Republican from Pennsylvania.
Ukraine lost access to Starshield, which is a military version of SpaceX’s Starlink internet service.
The loss happened suddenly on a Wednesday.
Starshield helps Ukraine with defense operations and communication.
Fitzpatrick called this loss a “major problem” for Ukraine.
He said Congress would respond with “consequences” if the U.S. stops supporting Ukraine.
The situation could affect Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
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