Hurricane Isaias has strengthened and is now a Category 3 storm as it moves toward the United States. Emergency preparations are underway in affected states, including Florida and Mississippi.
Key Facts
Hurricane Isaias has reached Category 3 strength, which means it has very strong winds.
The storm is approaching the U.S. Gulf Coast.
States like Florida and Mississippi are preparing for the hurricane's impact.
CBS News reporters Jason Allen and Rob Marciano are covering the storm.
A Category 3 hurricane can cause significant damage to buildings and power outages.
Local officials are updating the public on safety measures and response plans.
The news coverage includes live reports and emergency updates to keep people informed.
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Illinois State Police are investigating a reported shooting on westbound I-290 near Austin Avenue in Chicago that caused the highway to close for several hours. No injuries were reported, and the police have asked for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
Key Facts
Police responded to a shooting report around 10:48 p.m. on Thursday on westbound I-290 near Austin Avenue.
No one was injured during the incident.
All westbound lanes near Austin were closed from about 2:37 a.m. to 5:50 a.m. the next day.
The reason for the highway closure hours after the shooting call is not yet clear.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have not released more details.
Police are asking witnesses or people with dashcam videos to contact Illinois State Police.
Witnesses can share information anonymously.
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The Trump Accounts program lets parents open special investment accounts for children under 18. Some children may get a one-time $1,000 payment from the government added to these accounts.
Key Facts
The Trump Accounts program started earlier this year.
It allows parents to create investment accounts for children aged 18 or younger.
Some children can receive a $1,000 government contribution to these accounts.
The accounts are designed to help save money for children’s future.
Parents do not always need to take action; some children might be enrolled automatically.
This program aims to encourage saving and investing at a young age.
The government contribution is a single one-time payment.
The program is available in the United States.
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The Pentagon announced plans to execute Nidal Malik Hasan, a former U.S. Army officer convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, by firing squad. The military intends to livestream the execution.
Key Facts
Nidal Malik Hasan was convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood shooting that killed 13 people.
Hasan is a former U.S. Army officer.
The U.S. military plans to execute him by firing squad.
The Pentagon said the execution will be livestreamed for public viewing.
This method and livestreaming of an execution are unusual in modern U.S. military justice.
Hasan's execution is part of the military's legal process for serious crimes.
The story was reported by CBS News.
The livestreaming decision has not been common practice for executions.
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An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and injured a man in the Bronx, New York City, while the man's 5-year-old son was inside the car. The incident was reported by Democratic Representative Adriano Espaillat.
Key Facts
The shooting happened in the Bronx, a borough of New York City.
The man who was shot was inside a car at the time.
The victim’s 5-year-old son was also inside the car during the shooting.
The shooter was an ICE agent, which is a federal law enforcement officer.
Democratic Representative Adriano Espaillat shared information about the incident.
The event is being covered by CBS News and other local news outlets.
Details about the reasons for the shooting or the man's condition were not provided in the report.
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Ukraine has carried out drone attacks on two data centers operated by Yandex, a major Russian technology company like Google, in two days. These strikes come after Russian attacks on Ukrainian data centers and mark a new stage in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
Key Facts
Yandex is Russia’s top technology company with services similar to Google.
Two Yandex data centers in the Kaluga and Ryazan regions of Russia were hit by drone strikes within two days.
The Kaluga data center strikes caused some parts to go out of service, and emergency teams are working to assess damage.
No injuries were reported at Yandex sites, but drone strikes in Kaluga injured nine people and damaged homes.
The Kaluga facility hosts thousands of servers and supports many Yandex services and cloud computing for businesses.
These Ukrainian attacks are seen as retaliation for Russian strikes on data centers in Kyiv last month, which caused internet outages.
Russian bloggers note that Russia was not well-prepared for attacks targeting data centers, unlike Ukraine.
The strikes suggest a new digital front in the war, with both sides targeting key infrastructure.
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A lightsaber used by Darth Vader in the famous Star Wars scene where he says “I am your father” will be sold at an auction next month. The auction will include many Star Wars props from different movies and is expected to attract high bids.
Key Facts
The Darth Vader lightsaber was used in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
It is expected to sell for at least $1 million.
More than two dozen lightsaber props from Star Wars Episodes I through IX will be auctioned.
Lightsabers used by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith are expected to start at $10,000 each.
A Luke Skywalker lightsaber and severed hand prop sold for $3.75 million in July, the highest price for a Star Wars prop.
Other items up for auction include Boba Fett’s blaster, a Yoda puppet hand, a signed Star Wars screenplay, and a TIE Fighter pilot helmet.
The auction is run by Heritage Auctions.
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The French Education Minister Édouard Geffray introduced urgent actions to address large protests by high school students. These protests are about their future and school conditions, and some students shared their opinions in interviews.
Key Facts
Many high school students in France are protesting.
The protests have caused thousands of arrests.
Police used stun grenades and tear gas during protests, leading to injuries.
The government has stopped police from using stun grenades in school protests.
Education Minister Geffray announced hiring 3,000 extra teachers as part of new measures.
Students, teachers, and unions want better learning conditions.
Some people have called for limiting social media access for young people during the protests.
A policeman was charged for firing a tear gas grenade at a student.
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The Pentagon has announced that the execution of Nidal Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood, will be livestreamed. This decision aims to provide public access to the event.
Key Facts
Nidal Hasan is a former Army major convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood.
The Pentagon will livestream Hasan’s execution.
Livestreaming means the event will be broadcast live over the internet.
Hasan’s case involves a mass shooting at a U.S. military base.
The announcement was made by a Pentagon official.
The execution is part of the U.S. military justice process.
The decision to livestream may be unusual for executions.
This news was reported by CBS News.
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Hurricane Isaias became a category 3 storm as it moved toward the US Gulf Coast, causing states of emergency in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. The hurricane is expected to bring heavy winds, flooding, storm surges, and possibly tornadoes when it makes landfall Friday night.
Key Facts
Isaias reached category 3 strength with winds of 105 mph before making landfall near the Alabama-Florida border.
States of emergency were declared in Alabama (40 counties), Florida (27 counties), and parts of Mississippi.
Storm surge could reach up to 7 feet in some coastal areas, with waves as high as 30 feet.
Heavy rainfall up to 15 inches and tornadoes are possible from Alabama through southwest Georgia.
5,000 National Guard troops are preparing to deploy in Florida, and some school classes were canceled.
About 63% of Gulf of Mexico offshore oil production was shut down, stopping about 1.3 million barrels per day.
Dauphin Island, AL, and Indian Pass, FL, are expected to experience significant flooding from the storm surge.
This is the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, arriving very late, which is unusual due to the El Niño weather pattern.
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Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of invading its northern Tigray region and said it will defend itself. Both countries blame each other for starting new fighting after a two-year civil war in Tigray.
Key Facts
Ethiopia says Eritrean troops crossed the border and advanced up to 60 km into Tigray.
Ethiopia’s foreign minister called Eritrea’s actions an “all-out invasion” and asked the UN for support.
Eritrea denies invading and says Ethiopia is the aggressor.
Last week, Ethiopia’s government took control of Mekelle, Tigray’s main city, from rebel forces.
Eritrea and Ethiopia previously fought together against the Tigray rebels during the civil war.
Relations worsened recently over Ethiopia’s desire to control one of Eritrea’s Red Sea ports.
Ethiopian drone strikes reportedly hit Eritrean forces in the town of Adigrat.
Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of trying to change its government by supporting opposition groups.
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The European Union is speeding up projects to secure minerals like lithium and rare earths to reduce reliance on China amid fears of a potential trade crisis. The EU supports 46 strategic projects worth €21 billion to boost local supply chains by 2030 and is in talks with China to reduce trade imbalances.
Key Facts
The EU announced 46 new projects to speed up supplies of important raw materials by 2030.
These materials include lithium, gallium, and rare earths used for cars, defense, and renewable energy.
The total cost of these projects is €21 billion (£17.8 billion).
EU officials warn of a possible trade crisis with China in the coming months.
One key project is a rare earths plant in France that could produce 15% of global demand for certain minerals.
Other important plants are operational in Greece (gallium) and Finland (lithium).
The projects benefit from faster permit approvals and help to find funding but do not receive direct EU money.
The EU aims to cut dependence on China for raw materials by mining, processing, and recycling more within Europe.
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The article explains that the rise in spending on artificial intelligence (AI) is helping the economy grow. It also mentions that US government bond yields, which affect borrowing costs, are increasing during this time.
Key Facts
There is a current boom in investing money into AI technologies.
This AI investment is supporting economic growth.
At the same time, US government bond yields are rising.
Higher bond yields can influence loan interest rates and financial markets.
The AI buildout refers to expanding AI systems and infrastructure.
The economic effects combine both AI spending and changes in bond yields.
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The US plans to livestream the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009. Mental health experts warn that watching the execution could cause lasting trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially for vulnerable viewers.
Key Facts
Nidal Hasan, a former army psychiatrist, will be executed by firing squad on December 3.
This execution will be livestreamed, possibly marking the first public execution in the US in nearly 100 years.
Experts say watching violent events like executions can cause psychological harm, including PTSD.
There is concern that if the execution faces problems or fails, it could increase trauma for viewers.
People with existing mental health issues are more at risk of being harmed by viewing such content.
Public executions were common historically but mostly stopped, as they were found not to deter crime and sometimes caused harmful behavior in crowds.
Some experts advise people not to watch the livestream and hope media avoid showing graphic details.
The last public executions in most countries stopped due to concerns about negative social effects and lack of crime prevention.
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Jon Ossoff and Mike Collins debated ahead of the Georgia midterm elections. During the debate, Ossoff accused Collins of promoting content linked to neo-Nazis, while both candidates discussed topics like the economy, healthcare, tariffs, and data centers.
Key Facts
Jon Ossoff and Mike Collins are candidates in the Georgia Senate race.
They participated in a debate shortly before the midterm elections.
Ossoff accused Collins of supporting content connected to neo-Nazi groups.
Both candidates talked about economic issues like tariffs and healthcare.
The debate also covered the topic of data centers.
The event was reported by CBS News correspondent Skyler Henry.
The discussion was part of broader campaign activities leading up to the election.
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NATO will conduct its yearly nuclear drills in Europe next week, called Steadfast Noon. The exercises are routine and planned, but come shortly after Russian President Putin warned that Russia might use nuclear weapons to protect its Baltic Sea territory of Kaliningrad.
Key Facts
NATO’s annual nuclear exercise, Steadfast Noon, involves about 2,000 people and 70 aircraft from over a dozen countries.
The drills train forces on deploying aircraft capable of launching nuclear bombs, including support for refueling and security.
NATO says the exercise is routine, not connected to current events, and not aimed at any country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened nuclear action if Kaliningrad, a Russian territory surrounded by NATO countries, is attacked.
Kaliningrad hosts a major Russian naval base and missile launchers and is located between Poland and Lithuania, both NATO members.
NATO accuses Russia of increasing sabotage, cyber attacks, and misinformation against the alliance, which Russia denies.
The U.S., UK, and France are the only NATO members with nuclear weapons, but some other NATO countries host U.S. nuclear arms on their soil.
Nuclear weapons stockpiles fell after the Cold War but are now growing again, with countries upgrading or expanding their arsenals.
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Mortgage rates in the U.S. have reached 7.40%, the highest point in almost three years. This increase has made monthly home payments more expensive for buyers and comes as a key economic concern ahead of the November midterm elections under President Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 7.40% as of October 8, up from 7.28% the previous week.
Mortgage rates have climbed for seven weeks in a row and are higher than the 6.30% rate from a year ago.
When President Trump took office in January 2025, the average rate was 6.91%.
The median U.S. home price is about $419,250 as of September 2026.
Buyers now pay roughly $246 more per month or $2,954 more per year on their mortgage compared to last year.
Compared to the start of President Trump’s term, monthly mortgage payments are about $111 higher for the same home price and down payment.
Higher mortgage costs make buying a home harder and can reduce home sales and available homes for sale.
The rising cost of living, including housing expenses, is a top issue for voters approaching the midterm elections.
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Robert Jenrick, leader of the Reform UK party, criticized Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and the Tory party, saying they represent wealthy city people and not working-class voters. Jenrick also rejected the idea of a coalition deal with the Conservatives and defended his views on English identity.
Key Facts
Robert Jenrick is the shadow chancellor of Reform UK and previously a Conservative.
Jenrick called Kemi Badenoch "Kensington Kemi," accusing her of representing wealthy metropolitan elites.
He said a coalition deal with the Tories would be like being “handcuffed to a zombie.”
Reform UK and the Conservative Party have worsening relations and disagree on political cooperation.
Kemi Badenoch ruled out uniting with Reform UK, saying the party made her mixed-race children feel not fully English.
Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader, said a post-election deal with the Conservatives is “extremely unlikely.”
Jenrick talked about differences between ethnicity, culture, and citizenship in relation to English identity.
Jenrick defended his controversial comments on “Islamification” of the UK, which have been reported to police.
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Tax cuts for big banks in the UK have reduced government revenue by £6 billion over three years, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC). The TUC urges the government to raise taxes on banks to help fund public services and ease the cost of living.
Key Facts
In 2023, the UK government cut the bank surcharge tax from 8% to 3% for banks.
This tax cut happened alongside a rise in corporation tax from 19% to 25%.
The four largest UK banks made £200 billion in pre-tax profits over five years.
The TUC estimates the tax cut will reduce government revenue by £2.3 billion in 2023-24, £1.7 billion in 2024-25, and £2 billion in 2025-26.
Campaigners want to increase the bank surcharge to raise up to £60 billion to help with household bills.
Bank leaders have warned that higher taxes could harm investment and jobs.
Proposals include raising the surcharge to 16%, 35%, or restoring it to 8%, with varying expected revenues.
Some groups argue banks are making record profits thanks to high interest rates and can afford to pay more tax.
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Two men, Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati, have denied spying on Jewish and Israeli sites in London for Iran's intelligence service. They face charges under the UK’s National Security Act for allegedly gathering information at several important locations last year.
Key Facts
Shahsavani, 41, and Farasati, 22, pleaded not guilty to spying accusations.
The alleged spying took place between July 9 and August 15, 2023.
Targeted places include the Israeli embassy, consulate, a college, a woman of interest to Iran, and Britain's oldest synagogue.
Prosecutors say Shahsavani ordered Farasati to collect intelligence on London's Jewish and Israeli communities.
Shahsavani is a British-Iranian dual national living in London since 2009; Farasati is an Iranian national living in London since 2021.
Police seized electronic devices from Farasati during a stop in August 2023.
Both men were detained in March 2024 and remain in custody.
A full trial is set for April 26, 2024, at the Old Bailey court in London.
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