Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed will have their first debate for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat on Thursday in Grand Rapids. The two candidates have been competing online and through ads in a closely watched race ahead of the November election.
Key Facts
Mike Rogers is a Republican and a former congressman.
Abdul El-Sayed is a Democrat and a former public health official.
The Senate seat in Michigan is currently open with no incumbent.
Rogers and El-Sayed have exchanged words online and through campaign ads before the debate.
This debate will be their first face-to-face meeting during this Senate race.
Rogers was unchallenged in the Republican primary on August 4.
El-Sayed narrowly won the Democratic primary by less than 1%.
The general election is set for November 3, 2024.
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At least 81 U.S. military aircraft have been lost or damaged during Operation Epic Fury, the American campaign against Iran. The Congressional Budget Office estimates these losses cost between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion as of August 1, 2027.
Key Facts
Operation Epic Fury is the U.S. military campaign against Iran, starting February 28, 2027.
81 U.S. aircraft, including jets and drones, have been lost or damaged in this campaign.
The damaged aircraft include 12 F-15E fighter jets, 1 F-35A jet, 7 KC-135 refueling planes, and 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones.
Costs of these losses are estimated between $1.9 billion and $3.3 billion.
Iran has used small drones to damage U.S. military hardware, showing the rising impact of low-cost drone warfare.
The U.S. relocated some aircraft from the UK due to fears of Iranian drone attacks.
President Donald Trump’s administration requested $1.5 trillion in defense spending for 2027, partly due to the war demands.
Some U.S. senators demand more transparent accounting of war costs before approving additional funding.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has opened a new clinic at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study people who have health problems after vaccination. HHS is also considering a program to pay doctors who report these vaccine-related injuries.
Key Facts
The clinic is located at the NIH headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland.
It focuses on patients who have health issues after getting vaccinated.
The clinic opened earlier this week.
HHS is thinking about creating a payment program for doctors who report vaccine injuries.
The goal is to better understand and address possible vaccine-related health problems.
This initiative is part of HHS’s wider effort to study vaccine safety.
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A bust of Robert F. Kennedy was stolen from outside the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The company that manages the stadium, Events DC, confirmed the theft and reported it to the police.
Key Facts
The stolen item was a bust, which is a sculpture showing someone’s head and shoulders.
The bust represented Robert F. Kennedy, a former U.S. Attorney General.
It was located in a publicly accessible area outside the stadium named after him.
The stadium is in Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital.
Events DC is the company responsible for managing the stadium.
Events DC officially announced the theft.
Law enforcement authorities have been notified about the stolen bust.
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A Texas jury awarded Alek Schott $76 after he sued Bexar County and its sheriff for an unjust traffic stop based on automated license plate reader (ALPR) data. Schott was stopped and searched for over an hour, but no illegal activity was found, and the stated reason for the stop was later admitted as false.
Key Facts
Alek Schott was stopped by police in Bexar County, Texas, after a tip from a law enforcement WhatsApp group based on ALPR data.
The official reason for the stop was “lane drifting,” but the deputy admitted this was not true.
Police suspected Schott of smuggling because of a short trip pattern flagged by the ALPR system.
Schott was detained for 76 minutes while officers conducted a search that found no evidence of illegal activity.
The drug detection dog indicated the truck had drugs, but the dog’s handler was seen signaling the dog, raising doubts about the alert.
Schott sued Bexar County claiming the stop was unconstitutional and won a symbolic $76 award, one dollar for each minute detained.
The Institute for Justice helped Schott and plans to push for limits on using traffic stops as a way to conduct warrantless searches.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office did not comment on the case but promotes its use of surveillance cameras.
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Captain Zero is a superhero animated show created by Z Cher-Aimé and Andre Engco that explores the struggles of depression in a Black teenager through therapy and superhero themes. The creators use hand-drawn 2D animation to blend serious adult drama with the style of 1990s cartoons and anime.
Key Facts
Z Cher-Aimé created Captain Zero in 2015 while in college to show their experience with major depressive disorder.
The story centers on Xerxes Hughes, a Black teen hero whose depression takes physical form and who talks about his struggles in therapy.
Andre Engco joined the project, adding influences from TV dramas like The Wire and Breaking Bad.
The show aims to balance superhero action with realistic personal and social challenges.
The creators chose 2D hand-drawn animation to connect with the look of classic cartoons and to present serious themes.
They wanted the show to be a drama with superheroes, similar to how Spider-Man movies focus on character struggles.
The project highlights mental health, family, social pressure, and Black life.
The team values storytelling that respects the complexity of the person behind the hero mask.
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Four astronauts from the United States, France, and Russia returned safely to Earth after spending eight months on the International Space Station (ISS). They returned in a SpaceX capsule, landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles.
Key Facts
The astronauts returned after a mission that lasted about eight months.
They went to the ISS to replace a crew that left early due to a medical issue with one astronaut.
The crew included Jessica Meir (USA), Jack Hathaway (USA), Sophie Adenot (France), and Andrey Fedyaev (Russia).
Their return was delayed because repairs were needed on the spacecraft meant to bring them home.
The splashdown happened in the Pacific Ocean, and the astronauts were quickly recovered by SpaceX’s recovery ship.
On the ISS, the astronauts did spacewalks for maintenance and enjoyed activities like a dance party and cooking demonstrations.
They watched the Artemis II mission around the moon from the station and celebrated the US’s 250th birthday with music.
Seven astronauts remain on the ISS, representing the US, Russia, and Canada, with the station hosting visitors from 26 countries since 2000.
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Hurricane Isaias, the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season, is strengthening as it moves toward the northern Gulf Coast. It is expected to hit the coast Friday night, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and a dangerous rise in sea levels to parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Key Facts
Hurricane Isaias is the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season.
It is increasing in strength while moving toward the northern Gulf Coast.
Landfall is expected Friday night.
Areas likely affected include Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
The storm will bring strong winds, heavy rain, and a storm surge (a rise in sea level caused by the storm).
Isaias matches the record for the latest first hurricane of the Atlantic season, last set in 1905.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that if Democrats win control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections, they will start investigations into corruption claims involving President Trump, his family, and associates. Jeffries promised to hold those he calls "crooks" accountable for financial benefits they gained during the start of President Trump’s second term.
Key Facts
Hakeem Jeffries is the House Minority Leader and a Democrat from New York.
Jeffries said Democrats plan to investigate corruption if they win the House next month.
The investigations would focus on President Trump, his family, and people connected to him.
The claims involve financial gains during President Trump’s early second term.
Jeffries used the term “Trump cartel” to describe the group benefiting financially.
This announcement is a campaign promise ahead of the midterm elections.
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The daughter of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Katie Wiles, shared a photo on social media that appears to show her holding a rifle near a leader from Republika Srpska, a region in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Republika Srpska is governed by a political party that supports Russia.
Key Facts
Susie Wiles is the White House Chief of Staff.
Her daughter, Katie Wiles, works as a partner at Continental Strategy.
Katie Wiles posted a photo online holding a rifle.
The photo shows her next to Željko Budimir, a political leader in Republika Srpska.
Republika Srpska is a self-governing part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The political group leading Republika Srpska has pro-Russian views.
Republika Srpska has its own government within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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The USS Abraham Lincoln, a large U.S. aircraft carrier, returned to San Diego after spending 322 days deployed in the Middle East. The deployment lasted longer than expected and involved challenges like limited food supplies and declining mental health among the crew.
Key Facts
The USS Abraham Lincoln is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
It returned to San Diego on a Thursday.
The deployment lasted 322 days, longer than the planned summer end.
The ship was in the Middle East during this time.
Crew members faced tight food supplies.
There were mental health challenges among the crew during the deployment.
The deployment was described as lengthy and difficult.
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a new program to study and support people who report health issues after vaccination. This includes a new NIH clinic, plans to pay doctors for reporting vaccine injuries to a federal system, improvements to the reporting system, and adding vaccine injury information to electronic health records.
Key Facts
A new clinic at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) opened on October 5 to study and care for patients with health problems after vaccination.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health Secretary, attended the clinic’s ribbon-cutting with Trump administration officials, though this was not publicly announced at the time.
The program proposes paying doctors to report possible vaccine injuries to VAERS, a federal vaccine safety monitoring system.
VAERS accepts reports from anyone but most reports are not confirmed as linked to vaccines after review by the CDC.
The federal government plans to improve VAERS by making it easier to use, including mobile access for healthcare providers.
Nearly $1 million was awarded to SPN Solutions Inc. to help develop the upgraded VAERS system.
Vaccine injury data will be added to electronic health records through federal health IT standards, to give doctors fuller patient information.
The initiative aims to better listen to patients reporting vaccine injuries and use data to improve vaccine safety.
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The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier returned to its homeport in San Diego after a nearly 10-month deployment in the Middle East. The ship's return marks the end of one of its longest recent missions.
Key Facts
The USS Abraham Lincoln is a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.
It deployed to the Middle East for about 10 months.
The carrier docked back in San Diego Bay on Thursday.
The deployment was one of the longest for the ship recently.
Retired Navy Vice Admiral Robert Murrett provided analysis on the return.
The news was reported by CBS News reporters Eleanor Watson and Carter Evans.
The article includes related news topics but focuses on the ship's return.
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A golden statue showing a nude President Donald Trump was displayed at the European Parliament in Strasbourg during a two-day exhibition. The sculpture, created by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt and titled “The Orange Plague,” was removed after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico asked for its removal.
Key Facts
The statue showed a nude President Trump and was made of gold-colored material.
It was part of a two-day art exhibition at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The artist behind the statue is Jens Galschiøt, from Denmark.
The sculpture was called “The Orange Plague.”
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called for the statue to be taken down.
The statue was removed after the Prime Minister’s request.
The statue’s presence in the Parliament building caused political discussion.
The event took place in a European Union institution located in France.
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U.S. authorities have added new charges of torture against Nicolás Maduro, the former president of Venezuela. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, already faced drug trafficking charges, and now face accusations of serious human rights abuses during his presidency.
Key Facts
Nicolás Maduro is the former president of Venezuela.
He and his wife, Cilia Flores, were previously charged with conspiracy to send cocaine into the U.S.
New charges accuse them of torture and human rights abuses while Maduro was president.
The U.S. case is being handled in New York.
Thousands of Venezuelans and some Americans are said to have been tortured to keep Maduro and his wife in power.
U.S. authorities say the alleged actions were extremely serious and unacceptable.
The case increases pressure on Maduro, who is already fighting drug-related allegations.
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This article introduces a weekly quiz that tests readers on recent world events, including student protests in France and comments made by President Donald Trump about Iran. The quiz also mentions entertainment news about the TV show Celebrity Traitors and asks readers how much attention they paid to global news over the past week.
Key Facts
Student protests continued in France this week.
President Donald Trump said Iran could "take out" Los Angeles or San Diego.
The TV show Celebrity Traitors started a new season involving themes of deception and murder.
The article offers a quiz about events that happened in the world during the past seven days.
Readers are encouraged to try past quizzes or explore a quiz archive.
The quiz covers topics including international news and entertainment.
The quiz was created by Ben Fell.
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Chief Justice John Roberts paused a deadline that required the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to decide on a Democratic challenge about cheaper TV ad rates for party committees before the midterm elections. The FCC was ordered by a lower court to make a ruling by Friday, but the deadline is now on hold.
Key Facts
Chief Justice John Roberts stopped a court deadline for the FCC.
The deadline was for the FCC to rule on a dispute brought by Democrats.
The challenge involves cheaper TV ads rates offered to party committees.
These cheaper rates are used ahead of midterm elections.
A lower court had set the deadline for the FCC to decide by Friday.
The halt means the FCC won’t have to meet that Friday deadline immediately.
The issue relates to how political advertising is priced on television.
The Trump administration was involved in the case before the halt.
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Eric Deters, a former candidate for Congress from Kentucky and supporter of President Donald Trump, was reported to have exchanged texts with U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle about helping her pay a $100,000 credit card bill. This information was shared by The Wall Street Journal following a news report about these financial discussions.
Key Facts
Eric Deters ran for Congress in Kentucky in the past.
He is known as a longtime ally of President Donald Trump.
Kimberly Guilfoyle is the U.S. Ambassador to Greece.
Guilfoyle reportedly owed $100,000 on her American Express credit card.
Text messages between Deters and Guilfoyle discussed paying this debt.
The story came from a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Guilfoyle is the ex-wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The case has brought public attention to the private financial issue.
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Ali Abu Yassin, a playwright from Gaza, won the English PEN "Writer of Courage 2026" award for his work during the conflict in Gaza. He has written about living through the war and the destruction around him, continuing to create despite difficult conditions.
Key Facts
Ali Abu Yassin is a 62-year-old playwright from the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza.
He stopped writing plays after October 2023 and began documenting life under heavy Israeli bombardment.
Since 2023, over 74,000 people have died in Gaza and many survivors have been displaced multiple times.
Abu Yassin writes about the war, including his personal experiences, such as his son being trapped under rubble and his house being bombed.
He worked with the Said Al-Mishal Theatre, which was destroyed in a 2018 Israeli attack.
His recent play, "50 Minutes," was performed in Gaza in difficult conditions, such as rehearsals in a makeshift tent.
Abu Yassin recently left Gaza for an artist residency in France and attended the award ceremony in London.
The English PEN "Writer of Courage" award honors authors who defend freedom of expression despite personal risks.
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Protesters in Madrid are demonstrating against Spain’s housing crisis, blaming “vulture funds” and landlords for rising rents and lack of available homes. The Spanish government has proposed new laws to limit profit-driven housing practices, but Congress rejected them, leading to a snap election.
Key Facts
Hundreds of people have camped out in Madrid to protest Spain’s housing crisis.
Protesters say “vulture funds” buy empty homes and raise rents to force people out.
Rental prices in Spain have increased by an average of 84% over the last 10 years.
In some cities like Málaga and Marbella, rent increases have been over 100%.
The government introduced emergency measures to control housing speculation but Congress rejected them.
Many Spanish people want higher taxes on owners with many properties and limits on short-term rentals like Airbnb.
Some Spaniards support taking empty homes away from large owners to help renters.
Experts say it is not clear how many homes are owned by large investment groups involved in speculation.
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