A surrogate mother named McKenna West asked the US Supreme Court to stop a previous ruling that gave custody of a baby to the parents who hired her. West refused to have an abortion when the parents wanted it after learning the unborn baby had a serious heart defect. She gave birth in Texas, where abortion laws are strict, and now she seeks custody of the child.
Key Facts
McKenna West is the surrogate who refused to have an abortion requested by the parents, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar.
The unborn baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious heart defect needing multiple surgeries.
West traveled to Texas to give birth because abortions are almost completely banned there.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton supported West and got a court order for the baby to receive medical care in Texas.
A California court gave parental rights to Ahmed and Gilkar, while a Texas court restricted West from seeing the baby.
West worries the biological parents might not provide proper medical care because they wanted an abortion.
The baby, named Rumi by the parents, was reported to be in critical condition with potential complications.
West’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to protect her access to the baby’s medical information and custody rights.
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The House of Representatives will consider a bill next week to impose stronger sanctions on Russia. The bill already passed the Senate with wide support and is backed by President Trump.
Key Facts
The House will discuss a new bill to increase sanctions on Russia.
The Senate passed the bill with bipartisan support last month.
The bill was originally promoted by the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
President Trump supports the legislation.
The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday to review the bill.
Sanctions are measures to punish or pressure another country, often by limiting trade or financial activities.
The goal is to respond to Russia’s actions that the U.S. opposes.
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The UK government’s Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, which helps people injured by Covid vaccines, has spent £83 million on running costs since April 2022—more than twice the £32 million paid to vaccine injury victims. Most claims are linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, but only a small number of claims have been successful.
Key Facts
The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) started in 1979 to aid people harmed by vaccines.
Since November 2021, there have been 24,260 claims related to Covid vaccine injuries.
Only 264 of these claims have been successful.
Total running costs (staff, administration, medical assessments) from April 2022 to March 2026 reached £83 million.
Payments made to victims total about £31.6 million as of June 2026.
Medical assessment costs have risen from £4.3 million in 2022/23 to £19.3 million in 2025/26.
Claimants must prove they have "severe disablement" to qualify for a one-time payment of £120,000.
The scheme is criticized for being slow and inefficient, and there are calls to reform it based on a Covid inquiry’s recommendations.
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On September 11, 2026, New York City held a moment of silence at 10:28 a.m. to remember when the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed on September 11, 2001. This marked the 25th anniversary of the tragic event.
Key Facts
The moment of silence happened at 10:28 a.m. Eastern Time.
It commemorated the collapse of the North Tower on 9/11.
This event occurred 25 years after the original attacks in 2001.
The World Trade Center was located in New York City.
The moment was observed publicly to honor victims of the 9/11 attacks.
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The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board criticized President Donald Trump’s plan to give $5,000 checks to every adult in the U.S. if Republicans win Congress. The board said the plan would cost about $1.2 trillion and called it unrealistic.
Key Facts
President Trump proposed giving $5,000 to every adult in the U.S. if the GOP wins both houses of Congress.
The total cost of the plan is estimated to be around $1.2 trillion.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board publicly criticized the plan.
The editorial described the plan as "preposterous," meaning very unrealistic.
The U.S. has approximately 240 million adults who would be eligible for the payment.
The plan is part of President Trump’s campaign promises for after the November elections.
The editorial reflects concerns about the financial impact of the plan on the country’s economy.
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Federal immigration officers carried out a raid at a snack-food factory in Cato, New York, making 57 arrests and checking workers' immigration status. The body camera video from the operation shows officers searching the facility, questioning employees, and separating U.S. citizens from others during the investigation.
Key Facts
The raid occurred at Nutrition Bar Confectioners in Cato, New York, a small town near Syracuse.
Officers arrived after 9 a.m. and began their search with body cameras recording.
They made 57 arrests related to immigration status during the multi-hour operation.
Workers were asked to provide documents, answer questions about their legal status, and were separated into groups based on citizenship.
Officers searched every part of the building, including locked rooms and bathrooms.
Some employees were pregnant or parents and expressed concerns during questioning.
U.S. citizens were asked for personal contact information before being allowed to leave.
The Homeland Security Department said the raid was part of an ongoing criminal investigation and obtained a search warrant.
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President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke at a ceremony at the Pentagon. The event was held to remember the September 11, 2001 attacks, marking 25 years since the tragedy.
Key Facts
The ceremony took place at the Pentagon.
It commemorated the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
President Donald Trump spoke at the event.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also gave remarks.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was a speaker.
The event remembered victims and honored those affected by 9/11.
The ceremony is part of ongoing remembrance activities for 9/11.
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Comedian Jimmy Kimmel has faced pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Brendan Carr under President Donald Trump, for his political commentary and guest choices on his show. This has led to concerns about free speech and censorship, with Kimmel moving some content to YouTube to avoid FCC rules requiring equal airtime for political candidates.
Key Facts
Brendan Carr, FCC chair appointed by President Trump, criticized Jimmy Kimmel’s comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Carr warned ABC and Disney about possible suspension over Kimmel’s political remarks.
ABC temporarily suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live for six days due to pressure from some local TV affiliates.
In 2024, new FCC rules require TV shows to give equal time to both political candidates, affecting talk shows like Kimmel’s.
Kimmel chose to air an interview with Texas state representative James Talarico on YouTube rather than on TV, citing FCC pressure.
The White House denied that Carr threatened Kimmel but critics see FCC actions as government interference with free speech.
Legal experts say the FCC’s new enforcement may force broadcasters to change their editorial decisions, which raises First Amendment concerns.
The case shows tensions between media, politics, and government regulation during President Trump’s administration.
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U.S. health officials have announced the end of the largest cyclospora food poisoning outbreak in the country's history, tied mainly to iceberg lettuce. Nearly 13,000 cases were reported across 21 states, but the exact source and how the parasite contaminated the food remain unclear.
Key Facts
The outbreak caused nearly 13,000 confirmed cyclospora cases and over 6,100 suspected cases since May 1, 2024.
Cyclospora is a parasite spread through human waste and causes severe diarrhea.
The outbreak was linked mainly to iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico and processed by Taylor Farms.
The recalled lettuce was supplied to major U.S. restaurant chains like Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC.
Michigan had the most cases and the only two U.S. deaths related to this outbreak.
The FDA has ended its on-site inspections of the lettuce farms and processing sites in Mexico.
It is still unknown how the parasite contaminated the lettuce and the source of the sewage contamination.
This outbreak happened during a time when U.S. regulators have reduced international food safety inspections.
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Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, many young people from Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, did not experience the event firsthand but learned about it later in life through school, family stories, and personal research. The way 9/11 is taught in U.S. schools varies by state, with some requiring lessons and others leaving it optional, contributing to different levels of understanding among students.
Key Facts
The 9/11 attacks happened on September 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.
Generation Z includes people born from 1997 to 2012, many of whom were too young to remember the attacks.
Some Gen Z individuals first learned about the event in school or from their families, often through personal stories rather than formal lessons.
There is no national law requiring U.S. schools to teach about 9/11; 25 states expect or require it, while 13 states leave it optional.
Some students only fully understood the seriousness of the event after doing their own research online.
Explaining complex concepts like terrorism to young children can be difficult, making it harder for some to grasp what happened.
People who lived through 9/11 often share their memories to help younger generations understand the event's impact.
The event continues to be a significant part of American history and education, even for those who did not experience it directly.
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The 9/11 Memorial & Museum added a seventh moment of silence during the 25th anniversary ceremony to honor people who died from illnesses caused by their work or presence near the World Trade Center site after the attacks. The ceremony took place on September 11, 2026, marking 25 years since the attacks.
Key Facts
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum held its seventh moment of silence for those who died from 9/11-related health issues.
The moment of silence was added to the usual ceremony for the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The health effects are connected to being at or near the World Trade Center site during or after the attacks.
The anniversary ceremony took place on September 11, 2026.
The event honors both the immediate victims and those who passed away later due to illness caused by the attacks.
President Donald Trump attended a Pentagon ceremony as part of the 25th anniversary events.
The 25th anniversary ceremonies were held in several places, including New York City and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
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The Justice Department announced the deportation of an Afghan woman, Nazira Haji Zada, in the first case ever heard by the federal Alien Terrorist Removal Court. She was accused of supporting her son and son-in-law’s failed 2024 terrorist plot and accepted her designation as an alien terrorist.
Key Facts
Nazira Haji Zada was a lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
She was accused of helping her son and son-in-law’s planned 2024 attack, which was stopped by authorities.
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court is a special federal court rarely used until this case.
The court used classified (secret) information to decide she was linked to terrorism.
Zada accepted the terrorist label and did not challenge her deportation.
Her lawyers had argued the government was hiding evidence and violating her rights.
The Justice Department says this case helps protect national security and follows the law.
The case involved information that could not be made public to protect intelligence sources and prevent future attacks.
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A recent survey shows many Americans are worried about future cuts to Social Security benefits, causing some to claim their retirement money early. Experts warn that claiming benefits before full retirement age can permanently lower monthly payments, but concerns about the program’s financial troubles and possible cuts are driving this early action.
Key Facts
About 73.5% of financial advisers say clients are claiming Social Security early because they fear future benefit reductions.
The Social Security retirement trust fund is expected to run out of money by late 2032 unless Congress acts.
If the fund is depleted, benefits could be cut by about 22% for everyone receiving payments.
70 million Americans currently receive Social Security benefits, which many depend on for retirement income.
Early claiming starts as soon as age 62 but causes smaller monthly payments compared to waiting until full retirement age (66–67).
Nearly 59% of advisers say their clients don’t believe Congress will fix Social Security’s funding problems.
Benefit cuts could mean losing between $12,700 and $22,300 per year, depending on income and household type.
Possible solutions include raising taxes, but these options may be unpopular, especially for working-class people.
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President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at the Pentagon on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. They used the occasion to support the ongoing US war on Iran, linking it to the fight against terrorism that began after the 2001 attacks.
Key Facts
The Pentagon was one of the sites attacked on 9/11, with 64 people on the plane and 125 inside the building killed.
President Trump honored US military members who served in the "war on terror" and those currently fighting Iran.
Trump said the US must prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and connected this mission to 9/11.
Vice President JD Vance attended the 9/11 memorial in New York while President Trump stayed in Washington.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran’s military defenses were weakened and emphasized ongoing military pressure.
Hegseth described Iran as an "Islamic theocracy" hostile to the US for nearly 50 years.
Both officials framed the conflict with Iran as a continuation of the fight against terrorism that started with 9/11.
Hegseth called for a new generation of soldiers ready to defend the country.
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An active-duty Navy sailor, Wilbert Joseph Castañeda, who was imprisoned in Venezuela and later freed in a prisoner exchange arranged by President Trump, appeared on stage at the Republican National Committee's 2026 midterm convention. Military rules generally forbid active-duty members from taking part in political events, but it is unclear if officials approved his stage appearance.
Key Facts
Wilbert Joseph Castañeda is an active-duty Navy sailor who was held prisoner in Venezuela for almost a year.
He was freed through a prisoner exchange negotiated by President Donald Trump's administration.
Castañeda appeared on stage at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas on September 10, 2026.
He did not wear his military uniform but wore a black suit and red tie and held a sign showing the number of days he was detained.
Defense rules prohibit active-duty military personnel from participating in partisan political events but allow attendance as spectators if not in uniform.
It is unclear whether Navy officials knew about or approved Castañeda’s participation on stage.
Castañeda is no longer authorized to wear the Navy SEAL Trident due to performance issues and has had a rank reduction.
The Republican convention was a political event to promote candidates and rally voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
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A new poll shows Democratic Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya are close in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, with Flanagan holding a small lead within the margin of error. The race is important because Democrats aim to regain control of the Senate, and Minnesota's current Democratic senator, Tina Smith, is retiring.
Key Facts
Peggy Flanagan is the Democratic candidate for Minnesota’s U.S. Senate seat.
Michele Tafoya is the Republican candidate, a former NFL sideline reporter.
The current senator, Tina Smith (Democrat), is retiring.
A recent poll shows Flanagan leading Tafoya by about 4 percentage points, but the difference is within the margin of error.
Women tend to support Flanagan more; men lean toward Tafoya.
Younger voters favor Flanagan, while Tafoya leads among older voters.
Democrats want to defend seats like Minnesota’s to retake the Senate majority from Republicans.
Minnesota last elected a Republican senator in 2002; since then, it has generally favored Democrats in Senate races.
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The United States held ceremonies and activities to remember the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Memorials took place at several key sites including New York City, the Pentagon, and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, honoring the victims and first responders.
Key Facts
The 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks was commemorated on September 11, 2026.
Memorial ceremonies were held at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington DC, and the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The 9/11 memorial in New York features reflecting pools and empty chairs representing the 2,753 lives lost in the attacks.
Firefighters, police officers, military personnel, families, and visitors participated in the observances.
Tributes included flowers, notes, wreaths, and symbolic displays such as a sand tribute in Point Lookout, New York.
Locations involved in the ceremony included Bryant Park and the Oculus transportation hub at the World Trade Center.
The events paid respects to victims, survivors, and first responders who helped during and after the attacks.
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Terry Strada, whose spouse died in the 9/11 attacks, spoke at the 25th anniversary memorial in New York City. She urged President Donald Trump’s administration to acknowledge Saudi Arabia’s possible involvement in the terrorist attacks, which Saudi Arabia denies.
Key Facts
Terry Strada is a widow of a victim of the September 11 attacks.
She spoke at the 25th anniversary memorial ceremony held at Ground Zero in New York City.
Strada asked the U.S. government to recognize alleged links between Saudi Arabia and the 9/11 attacks.
Saudi Arabia has consistently denied any involvement in the attacks.
The crowd at the memorial responded with loud applause to Strada’s statements.
The event took place during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Strada’s comments reflect ongoing calls for transparency about foreign involvement in 9/11.
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The Mail on Sunday paid MP Catherine Atkinson more than £5,000 after wrongly claiming she had gone to private school. Atkinson, who attended state schools, will use the money to create scholarships for state-educated law students at the University of Derby.
Key Facts
The Mail on Sunday falsely said MP Catherine Atkinson attended private school.
Atkinson actually went to state schools, including Sacred Heart high school in London.
The newspaper apologized and paid damages and legal costs to Atkinson.
Atkinson won the money through a legal settlement of about £5,000.
She will use at least £5,000 of this money to fund scholarships for state-educated law students at the University of Derby.
The Catherine Atkinson future lawyers award will give £500 each year for 10 years to first-year law students who attended state schools in Derby.
The scholarship aims to support social mobility and help students face fewer financial barriers to enter the legal profession.
The University of Derby welcomes the award and Atkinson’s support for local students.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about a rise in rabies exposures and the use of treatments following contact with potentially rabid animals across several states. A notable outbreak in North Carolina involved rabid baby goats from a petting zoo that exposed hundreds of people, leading to increased demand for post-exposure rabies treatment.
Key Facts
The CDC reported a 17% increase in rabies-related inquiries during July and August 2026 compared to last year.
Eight state health departments noted increased use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatments or errors in administering them.
There is no current shortage of rabies vaccines or immunoglobulin in the U.S., but proper use of treatment is important to avoid unnecessary risks and costs.
A major event in North Carolina involved rabid baby goats from a mobile petting zoo exposing nearly 300 people; over 200 were advised to get treatment.
The baby goats were unvaccinated and likely became infected after being bitten by a rabid skunk.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease affecting the nervous system; it is almost always fatal once symptoms appear but can be prevented if treated promptly after exposure.
Early symptoms are vague and can be mistaken for other illnesses, making timely treatment essential.
The CDC believes multiple local outbreaks, greater public awareness, and more testing contribute to the national increase in rabies exposures.
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