CBS News presents a special program called "The Uplift: The American Dream" to celebrate the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary. The show features American stories, including one about the founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics who became a Catholic priest.
Key Facts
CBS News is airing a special called "The Uplift: The American Dream."
The program celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States.
It highlights stories about American heroes and common pastimes.
One story features the founder of e.l.f. Cosmetics.
The founder made a big life change to become a Catholic priest.
The special aims to showcase inspiring American stories.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating payments made to the UK political party Reform UK before the 2024 general election. The inquiry focuses on large donations sent through a company run by the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, with concerns about the source of the funds.
Key Facts
The police are examining two donations of £250,000 each given to Reform UK by Britain Means Business, a company controlled by Richard Tice.
Britain Means Business received a £1 million transfer from Fiona Cottrell shortly before these donations.
Fiona Cottrell’s son, George Cottrell, has a criminal record for fraud and close ties to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Both Fiona and George Cottrell have been questioned by police under criminal caution.
Fiona Cottrell also directly donated two payments of £250,000 each to Reform UK in May 2024.
A suspicious activity report was filed by bankers regarding the £1 million transfer, prompting a probe into the money’s origin.
The National Crime Agency is working with foreign partners to trace where the transferred money came from.
No arrests have been made; the investigation concerns possible breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Since July 2025, over 1 million children in the U.S. lost access to food benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) after a new law tightened eligibility rules. This law, called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, reduced overall participation in SNAP by more than 4 million people by March 2026.
Key Facts
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025 tightened rules for SNAP food benefits.
More than 4 million Americans were removed from SNAP between July 2025 and March 2026.
Over 1 million children across 19 states lost SNAP benefits during this period.
Arizona saw the largest drop, with over 450,000 people losing benefits and participation cut in half.
In Louisiana, nearly 25% of children on SNAP lost their benefits; Massachusetts and Texas each lost about 20% of their child participants.
The law shifted more SNAP costs to states based on their error rates in payments.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities warns the situation will get worse without congressional action.
Over 200 U.S. mayors asked the Senate to reverse the SNAP cuts to help fight the growing food insecurity problem.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article explains the differences between closed, open-source, and open-weight artificial intelligence (AI) models. It clarifies that these terms describe whether the details about how an AI works are shared publicly and if people can change the model, rather than describing any personality of the AI.
Key Facts
"Closed" AI models keep their inner workings secret and are private property.
"Open-source" AI models share their source code, allowing anyone to see, modify, and share the software.
The idea of open-source software started in the 1980s and 1990s as part of the free software movement.
The movement promotes four freedoms: to run, study, modify, and distribute the program and its versions.
Large language models like ChatGPT might seem to have personalities, but they do not.
Open-weight AI models also share model details but focus especially on sharing the weights, which are key parameters in machine learning models.
Sharing AI models openly can help researchers and developers improve and innovate together.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the United States and Ukraine are working together to build a drone factory in the U.S. This factory will combine American manufacturing skills with Ukraine’s experience using drones in combat.
Key Facts
Ukraine and the U.S. plan to build a joint drone factory in the United States.
The goal is to merge American manufacturing with Ukraine’s drone technology used in battles.
This new project expands on an earlier agreement about drone cooperation.
President Zelensky shared this information in an interview.
The partnership focuses on defense and military technology.
The cooperation reflects closer ties between the U.S. and Ukraine in security matters.
The factory aims to increase production of drones for military use.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
About 70 million people in the US will face very high temperatures due to a third “heat dome” this month. This weather pattern traps heat and causes intense, long-lasting heatwaves across many southern and central states.
Key Facts
A “heat dome” is a high-pressure system that traps hot air over an area for days or weeks.
Temperatures will range from 95-105°F (35-40°C), with some desert areas potentially reaching 120°F (48°C).
The heatwave affects a broad area from the Gulf Coast to the Great Plains and Midwest.
This is the third major heat dome in the US this month, following earlier heatwaves that broke temperature records.
Extreme heat warnings include western Nebraska, where temperatures may reach 108°F (42°C).
Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and severe due to human-caused climate change from burning fossil fuels.
Heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the US, especially dangerous for older adults, pregnant people, children, and those with health issues.
Similar extreme heat and wildfire events are occurring in Europe, with thousands displaced and fatalities reported.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has worsened rapidly, with deaths surpassing 1,300 and nearly 3,000 total cases confirmed. The virus is spreading quickly, especially because it is a rare strain with no approved vaccine or treatment, and efforts to control it are hampered by conflict and shortages in healthcare.
Key Facts
More than 1,300 people have died from the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC.
The total confirmed cases, including deaths, have reached 2,973 as of Thursday.
The virus spreading is the Bundibugyo strain, the rarest Ebola variant with no approved vaccine.
The outbreak is the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic ever recorded.
Conflict in the region complicates efforts to fight the outbreak and limits health resources.
A volunteer received the first dose of a new experimental vaccine developed by Oxford Vaccine Group.
Over 100 health workers have been infected, with about 35 deaths among them, due to lack of protective equipment and local hostility.
Healthcare workers in affected areas have gone on strike over unpaid wages and unsafe working conditions, disrupting treatment efforts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kalshi, a company that runs prediction markets, sent a legal warning to Netflix. Kalshi says a trailer for Netflix’s new documentary about prediction markets gives false information and wants it removed.
Key Facts
Kalshi is a company that operates prediction markets, where people bet on future events.
Netflix released a trailer for a new documentary about prediction markets.
Kalshi says the trailer has false and misleading statements about their business.
Kalshi’s lawyer, Jovalin Dedaj, sent Netflix a cease-and-desist letter on Friday.
The letter asks Netflix to take down the trailer or face legal action.
The dispute centers on how prediction markets are shown in the documentary.
Prediction markets allow people to place bets on outcomes, often used to predict events.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israel’s parliament passed new media laws that give the government more control over news and broadcasting. Some rules meant to protect journalism standards and limit media ownership were removed, raising concerns that these changes could bias the media before upcoming elections. A court froze parts of the law while deciding if the government can fully implement it.
Key Facts
Israel’s right-wing government approved media reforms before parliamentary elections in October.
The reforms reduce government rules on journalism standards and ownership of multiple media outlets.
Media watchdogs and opposition lawmakers criticize these changes, fearing less media independence and more government influence.
A court temporarily blocked some parts of the law after complaints from journalists and opposition parties.
The government must respond to the court by Sunday, which will decide whether to keep or lift the freeze.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not vote due to a conflict-of-interest agreement related to his corruption trial.
The Communications Minister thanked Netanyahu for pushing the media reforms.
Critics say the reforms aim to control the news and weaken independent journalism in Israel ahead of elections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A man has been charged after a bomb was found in a car in the Republic of Ireland. The car was stopped near Carrickmacross during a police operation against dissident republican activity.
Key Facts
A bomb was discovered in a car near Carrickmacross, Ireland.
The car was stopped on the N2 road during a security operation.
The operation targeted alleged dissident republican activity.
A man in his 40s was charged in connection with the bomb.
He is scheduled to appear in court at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Saturday evening.
A 25-year-old woman was also charged related to the same incident on Friday.
The location is near the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Cecilia Vega, a former 60 Minutes correspondent, said CBS News leaders pressured her to include political bias in her stories. She claimed these demands affected how topics like immigration and poverty were reported during her time at the network.
Key Facts
Cecilia Vega spoke about pressure from CBS executives to add political bias to 60 Minutes segments.
She said she was asked to include fake footage of protesters attacking federal immigration officers.
Vega was questioned for not interviewing JD Vance about poverty linked to President Trump’s policy changes.
She was told to report on unverified claims about Minneapolis officials opposing federal agents.
Vega was fired in spring 2024 and expressed concern over 60 Minutes’ future under new leadership.
Bari Weiss became CBS News’s editor-in-chief last October and has criticized liberal institutions.
There have been several firings and controversy about editorial decisions at 60 Minutes since Weiss’s appointment.
CBS denied Vega’s claims, saying they are not true.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pop singer Katy Perry criticized the White House for using her song "Firework" without permission in a TikTok video about strikes on Iranian targets. The video showed a missile hitting a naval ship in Iran and featured her music in the background.
Key Facts
Katy Perry is a popular singer known for the song "Firework."
The White House posted a TikTok video about missile strikes on Iranian targets.
The video included footage of a missile hitting a naval ship in Iran.
The song "Firework" was played in the background of the video.
Katy Perry said she was upset that her music was used without permission.
The White House TikTok video attracted a lot of attention online.
The incident involved a connection between U.S. government communication and a celebrity’s music.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse continue to seek justice years after his death. They are now opposing President Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general, aiming to hold accountable those involved in the Epstein case.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Epstein was involved in a high-profile abuse case linked to powerful people.
Epstein died several years ago, but survivors are still active in seeking justice.
Survivors want more accountability for those connected to Epstein’s crimes.
They are opposing President Trump’s nominee for attorney general.
The attorney general is the top legal official in the U.S. government.
The fight involves legal and political actions by survivors.
This issue connects to wider concerns about justice and power in the U.S.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A former top FDA official warned that the federal response to a large cyclospora outbreak is close to a “catastrophic level” due to rising infections and poor coordination. The outbreak has affected thousands across many states, with the federal government investigating outbreaks linked to recalled lettuce.
Key Facts
Frank Yiannas, ex-FDA deputy commissioner (2018-2023), criticized the federal response to the cyclospora outbreak.
The outbreak is one of the largest on record, with at least 1,947 people sickened by lettuce linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico.
The CDC has received reports of over 4,100 lab-confirmed cases and knows of more than 7,400 probable cases as of late July 2024.
There have been 308 hospitalizations and no deaths reported so far.
Michigan has reported over 8,000 illnesses, showing differences between federal and state data.
The FDA made a false positive lab finding related to the outbreak, causing confusion about the investigation.
FoodNet, a program that monitors foodborne illnesses, made cyclospora reporting optional starting in 2025, raising concerns about monitoring accuracy.
President Donald Trump commented on the outbreak publicly for the first time recently when asked about lettuce safety.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
SpaceX successfully completed the 13th full-scale Starship test flight, which landed safely in the Indian Ocean without catching fire. The company plans to try catching the Starship with mechanical arms on the launch tower in its next flight, aiming for a longer trip possibly into low-Earth orbit.
Key Facts
The 13th Starship test flight launched from South Texas and landed intact in the Indian Ocean near Australia.
Previous Starship water landings usually ended with the rocket catching fire, but this time it remained mostly undamaged.
Over 18,000 ceramic tiles on Starship’s heat shield survived extreme temperatures reaching 2,600° Fahrenheit (1,430° Celsius).
SpaceX engineers used drones to inspect the heat shield after landing to gather detailed data.
Elon Musk said the next flight might include catching the Starship with the launch tower’s mechanical arms as it hovers.
SpaceX has successfully caught the Super Heavy booster before, but Starship will be a faster and more difficult catch.
Keeping the heat shield durable is essential for quick reuse, as Starship is designed to fly multiple times daily.
Signals and camera data were maintained after splashdown using SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Four firefighters died from burn injuries while fighting the Knowles wildfire in western Colorado. The wildfire started near Knowles Canyon and was later merged with the Snyder Fire, which spread quickly across the Colorado-Utah border.
Key Facts
Nathan Matthews, 43, from Nebraska died from burn injuries sustained during firefighting efforts.
Three other firefighters—Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson—died at the scene while fighting the fire.
A fifth firefighter was involved but their name and condition have not been released.
The fire began near Knowles Canyon in Mesa County, Colorado, and was overtaken by the Snyder Fire.
The Snyder Fire has burned over 28,000 acres along the Colorado-Utah border.
Firefighters were caught in a burnover, which means the fire spread fast and trapped them.
The U.S. Department of the Interior and Wildland Fire Service are supporting those affected by the loss.
Fast winds and changing conditions made it difficult to control the wildfire.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Violence has increased in the West Bank, leading to many deaths. The situation is part of ongoing unrest in the Middle East, involving Israel and Palestinian areas.
Key Facts
The West Bank has seen rising deadly violence recently.
Israeli and Palestinian tensions remain high in the region.
The violence is part of a larger conflict affecting the Middle East.
Nomi Bar-Yaacov, an expert in negotiation and mediation, was featured discussing the situation.
Related news includes tensions in the Red Sea, clashes involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, and issues in Gaza.
UNESCO added the Sebastia site to its World Heritage List despite objections from Israel.
Oil prices have increased amid rising tensions in the Gulf region.
President Donald Trump is involved in Middle East diplomacy, linking nuclear deals to Israel.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Treasury Department has announced new sanctions targeting nine companies and four individuals linked to Iranian businessman Babak Zanjani. These sanctions accuse them of trying to avoid previous U.S. restrictions.
Key Facts
The U.S. Treasury Department issued sanctions on Friday.
Nine businesses and four people connected to Babak Zanjani are affected.
Babak Zanjani is an Iranian financier already under sanctions.
The sanctions aim to block efforts to bypass existing U.S. sanctions.
The Treasury Department released an official statement about these actions.
The sanctions are part of ongoing U.S. efforts to limit Iran’s financial activities.
These measures freeze any assets the targeted firms or individuals hold in the U.S.
The sanctions also generally prohibit U.S. citizens from doing business with them.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Troy Jackson won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Maine after the previous nominee, Graham Platner, withdrew due to scandals. Jackson will run against Republican Senator Susan Collins in the November election.
Key Facts
Troy Jackson secured the Democratic nomination at the Maine party convention with 566 votes.
Jackson defeated Sandra Pelletier, who received 5 votes.
Graham Platner, the former Democratic nominee, withdrew amid sexual assault allegations and other controversies.
Jackson is a veteran state politician and logger.
He criticizes the current economic situation and Senator Collins, focusing on protecting Social Security, Medicare, abortion rights, and LGBTQ issues.
Jackson opposes policies linked to President Donald Trump.
The Maine Democratic Party emphasized a transparent and grassroots-driven nomination process.
The Senate race is important for Democrats’ efforts to regain control of the U.S. Senate.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A fire broke out in a home in Flushing, Queens, injuring at least 12 people, including firefighters and emergency medical workers. The fire spread to nearby buildings and was still active hours after it started, with authorities working to control it and investigating the cause.
Key Facts
The fire began just before 10 a.m. on 41st Road near College Point Boulevard.
It started on the first floor of a house and spread to at least two neighboring buildings.
By noon, the fire had reached five alarms, indicating a large and serious fire.
At least 12 people were injured: eight firefighters, two emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and two civilians.
One civilian had serious injuries; five firefighters had moderate to serious injuries.
All injured people were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Residents nearby were asked to keep windows closed to avoid smoke, and road closures caused traffic delays.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
