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Actor Patrick Dempsey said he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine. This comes after Democratic nominee Graham Platner withdrew from the race due to a sexual assault accusation.
Key Facts
Patrick Dempsey is an actor known for "Grey's Anatomy."
Dempsey confirmed he is not running for the Maine Senate seat.
Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee, withdrew from the race on Wednesday.
Platner faces an accusation of sexual assault from a former girlfriend, which he denies.
Platner is an oyster farmer and a Marine veteran.
He won the Democratic nomination in June.
The Senate race is against Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Democrats were considering replacements after Platner’s withdrawal.
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Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply after recent attacks on three ships and retaliatory strikes by the US and Iran. The strait is a key waterway where much of the world's oil and gas shipments pass, and movements have been disrupted due to disagreements over safe shipping routes.
Key Facts
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway used for transporting over 20% of the world’s oil and gas.
Traffic fell from 47 ships a week ago to just 23 ships on Wednesday after recent attacks.
Three ships using a US-recommended route near Oman were attacked this week.
Iran says vessels must use a route near its coast, while the US recommends a different route through Omani waters.
After a peace deal in June, traffic briefly increased but has dropped again following renewed attacks.
The US and Iran have exchanged military strikes after the attacks on ships.
Iran claims it has the right to control movement and charge fees for passage; the US and allies insist the strait should remain open and free.
No ships used the US-recommended Omani route on Wednesday, down from about 10 per day before the latest attacks.
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Eva Marcille talks about the fifth and last season of the TV show "All the Queen's Men" on CBS News. She appeared on "CBS Mornings" to share her thoughts about the show ending.
Key Facts
Eva Marcille is an actress on "All the Queen's Men."
The show is reaching its fifth and final season.
Eva Marcille appeared on "CBS Mornings" to discuss the show.
The interview was broadcast on CBS News.
The show "All the Queen's Men" will conclude after this season.
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Australia and Fiji have formed a new military alliance called the Ocean of Peace Alliance. This agreement makes the two countries promise to help each other if either is attacked and aims to counter China’s growing presence in the South Pacific region.
Key Facts
Australia and Fiji signed a pact where they will help each other if one is attacked.
The alliance is called the Ocean of Peace Alliance and may include other countries like New Zealand.
China has been increasing its influence in the South Pacific by building ports, airports, and other infrastructure.
China signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands in 2023, raising concerns among other Pacific nations.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supports engagement with China but wants to limit its influence in the Pacific.
The alliance also includes a $1 billion Australian investment in Fiji’s education and health infrastructure.
The pact commits the countries to consult on threats to peace or stability and respond to armed attacks.
New Zealand is considering joining the alliance to help create a Pacific security group similar to NATO.
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Several Democrats in Maine have started running for the U.S. Senate after candidate Graham Platner stopped his campaign due to sexual misconduct accusations, which he denies. Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson and Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, are among those entering the race.
Key Facts
Graham Platner suspended his Senate campaign because of sexual misconduct and assault allegations.
Platner denies the accusations against him.
Troy Jackson, former Maine Senate President, announced his Senate run soon after.
Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, also joined the Senate race.
The race is for a U.S. Senate seat representing Maine.
Multiple Democrats are now competing in the race following Platner’s exit.
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A California antiques enthusiast shared old photos of a girl from the 1960s on Reddit, claiming he found them in a thrift store purse. Later, he explained the purse story was made up to get more attention, and that he actually bought the photos at an estate sale from a family who no longer wanted them.
Key Facts
The photos show a girl dressed in 1960s fashion, including mod style clothes and a bob haircut.
The Reddit post received over 2,500 upvotes and more than 70 comments guessing the photos' age.
The original story about finding the photos in a thrift store purse was false.
The photos were purchased at an estate sale in Los Angeles.
Many families do not keep old photos of deceased relatives, which leads to them being discarded.
The seller's goal was to share interesting old photos with as many people as possible.
The fake story was made to increase online engagement and views, which exceeded 200,000 for one photo.
Viewers initially believed the photos were randomly discovered and speculated about the family and date.
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The Ebola outbreak in Congo has caused over 600 deaths so far. New suspected Ebola cases have appeared in provinces that did not have the disease before, showing the virus is spreading.
Key Facts
The Ebola death toll in Congo has passed 600.
New suspected cases have been found in the provinces of Tshopo and Haut-Uele.
These provinces were previously free of Ebola.
The main center of the outbreak is in the Ituri province.
The Congo health ministry reported these updates on Thursday.
The spread to new areas indicates the outbreak is expanding.
Ebola is a serious and often deadly virus that causes fever and bleeding.
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The U.S. Air Force canceled the promotions of 135 security forces airmen and women after finding a grading mistake on their specialty knowledge test. The error was caused by an outdated scoring key, and the Air Force will replace those promoted incorrectly with others after regrading all test takers.
Key Facts
135 airmen and women were wrongly promoted due to incorrect test scores.
The mistake was caused by using an outdated scoring key for the security forces specialty knowledge test (SKT).
A total of 2,285 candidates took the test, and 586 promotions to technical sergeant were available.
The Air Force will rescore all exams and promote the correct candidates.
No artificial intelligence was involved in the grading error; it was human error.
The Air Force has improved its internal processes to prevent future mistakes.
Those affected were informed and given access to leadership for questions.
This issue comes amid recent controversy over military promotion decisions related to diversity.
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President Donald Trump recently used the old Air Force One plane instead of the new one gifted by Qatar when returning from Turkey. A New York Times reporter, Maggie Haberman, questioned the truth of the president’s explanation for this choice.
Key Facts
President Trump flew back from Turkey using the old Air Force One plane.
There is a newer Air Force One that was gifted by Qatar.
The president gave an explanation for choosing the older plane.
Maggie Haberman, a White House reporter, expressed doubt about the president’s reason.
Reports suggested that security concerns might have influenced the decision.
The president dismissed those reports when speaking to reporters.
The situation involves official presidential travel and plane security.
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Ruf, a German car maker once known for modifying Porsches, revealed a new flat-eight engine called the B8 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. The engine produces over 1,000 horsepower and will be tested in a prototype car named "Erprober."
Key Facts
Ruf started as a company that modified Porsche cars but is now recognized as a car manufacturer.
Ruf has been building its own cars and parts, including carbon fiber chassis for models like the SCR and Rodeo.
The new B8 engine is a flat-eight design, different from Ruf's previous six-cylinder engines.
The B8 engine has a size of 4.8 liters.
It produces more than 1,000 horsepower (745 kW) and 737 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque.
The B8 engine was shown running publicly for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The engine is installed in a prototype called the "Erprober," which is a modified version of Ruf’s CTR3 car.
Tanner Faust, a racing driver, will drive the car with the new engine up the Goodwood hill climb.
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Graham Platner stopped his campaign for the U.S. Senate in Maine after an allegation of sexual assault, which he denied. The Maine Democratic Party now has to pick a new candidate by July 27 to run against Republican Susan Collins in the important November election.
Key Facts
Graham Platner withdrew from Maine’s Senate race following a sexual assault allegation he denied.
Platner had won the Democratic primary in June before the allegation became public.
Maine law allows Democrats to replace a nominee who withdraws before 5 p.m. on July 13.
The party must name a new candidate by July 27.
The Democratic Party held an emergency meeting to organize the replacement process.
Democrats need to gain four Senate seats in November to control the Senate; Maine is a key target.
Troy Jackson, a former state Senate president, is currently the favorite to replace Platner.
Other possible candidates include Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah.
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The House of Representatives failed to approve a special rule needed to pass four important bills, including the SAVE Act. Because of this, the House ended its session for the week without passing any of these measures.
Key Facts
The House tried to pass a special rule to move forward with four major bills.
One of the bills involved is called the SAVE Act.
The special rule did not get enough votes to pass.
Due to this failure, the House stopped its work and adjourned for the week.
No progress was made on the four important bills during this session.
This situation has been described as a "procedural implosion," meaning a breakdown in the normal process.
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A toddler in Phoenix, Arizona, was mistakenly declared dead by a doctor after being found in a backyard pool. Despite police officers and a nurse noticing possible signs of life, the child was taken to the hospital morgue and later found alive.
Key Facts
A toddler was found in a backyard pool in Phoenix, Arizona.
A doctor declared the child dead, even though others saw possible signs of life.
Two police officers and at least one nurse were present and noticed signs the child might still be alive.
The child was taken to the hospital morgue.
Hours after being declared dead, the toddler was found alive in the morgue.
The case was recorded on police bodycam video.
The incident is under review to understand how the mistake happened.
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Utah prosecutors will play audio recordings in court of police interviews with the roommate of the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The defense objected, saying the statements might be seen as a confession and could harm the defendant's chance of a fair trial.
Key Facts
The victim is conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The accused is Tyler Robinson.
The roommate and romantic partner of Tyler Robinson is named Lance Twiggs.
Prosecutors want to play audio clips of interviews with Lance Twiggs in open court.
Defense attorneys oppose the public release of these statements.
Defense fears the statements could be viewed as a confession.
They argue that broadcasting the statements might affect Robinson’s right to a fair trial.
The case is happening in Provo, Utah.
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U.S. home sales showed a small drop in June, while the median home price reached a record high of $440,600. Rising mortgage rates and high prices make it harder for people to afford homes, even though sales have stayed near a low level.
Key Facts
Existing home sales in the U.S. fell 2.4% in June compared to May.
The annual rate of home sales in June was 4.09 million units, below the expected 4.21 million.
Home sales have stayed close to 4 million annually since 2023, below the usual 5.2 million.
The national median home price in June reached $440,600, the highest on record since 1999.
Home prices have increased every year for 36 months straight.
Mortgage rates recently ranged between 6.23% and 6.53%, their highest since August of the previous year.
Higher mortgage rates and home prices reduce affordability for buyers.
Sales reflect contracts made when mortgage rates were rising amid concerns about inflation and the U.S.–Iran conflict.
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Good Housekeeping conducted a survey about how modern families share household chores. Elspeth Velten, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, discussed the results on CBS Mornings.
Key Facts
The survey focused on how people feel about dividing housework.
It looked at different ways families split chores.
Elspeth Velten explained the survey findings on CBS Mornings.
The information comes from Good Housekeeping magazine.
The topic highlights current family habits around chores.
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NASA is working on a plan to build a human base near the Moon’s South Pole. The goal is to create a place where people can live and work on the Moon for a long time. This plan includes living mostly indoors to protect against harsh temperatures and space radiation, and using the Moon’s resources to produce energy.
Key Facts
NASA’s Moon Base Program aims to establish a lasting human presence near the lunar South Pole.
The Moon has no atmosphere or magnetic field, exposing inhabitants to space radiation.
Temperatures near the Moon’s South Pole vary widely, from over 130°F in sunlight to minus 334°F in shadowed craters.
People living on the Moon will spend most time inside shelters covered with lunar soil for protection.
Robotic systems will be used extensively to do outdoor tasks to limit human exposure to radiation.
Lunar materials could help build large solar power satellites in space.
These satellites could provide continuous, green energy to Earth because they won’t be affected by weather or night.
Building solar satellites from Moon materials may be cheaper than launching them from Earth.
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Audio clips from an interview with the roommate of the person accused of killing Charlie Kirk will be played in a court hearing. The hearing is a preliminary step before the main trial.
Key Facts
Prosecutors will play audio clips from an interview with the accused killer’s roommate.
The clips will be used during a preliminary court hearing.
The accused is charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Caroline Polisi, a legal expert for CBS News, provided details about the case.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
This is part of the early legal process before a full trial.
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Doreen Lawrence and six others lost a court case accusing the Daily Mail of illegal methods to get stories. The court rejected claims of phone tapping and hacking, and Lawrence will not have to pay legal costs from the failed action.
Key Facts
Doreen Lawrence joined a lawsuit against the Daily Mail for alleged illegal news-gathering methods.
Claims included phone tapping, hacking, and tricking people for private information.
The High Court dismissed all claims brought by Lawrence, the Duke of Sussex (Prince Harry), and others.
The Daily Mail publisher will try to recover legal costs, which could be very high but may be reduced.
Lawrence will not have to pay any share of the legal bills from the case.
Insurance was in place to cover legal costs for the claimants and their lawyers if they lost.
The judge found no proof that the Daily Mail used unlawful methods for 55 stories cited by the claimants.
Other claimants included Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, and Simon Hughes.
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David Hearn, a 67-year-old U.S. Olympic canoeist, pleaded not guilty to charges of damaging the Reflecting Pool near the Washington Monument. He was indicted after being accused of removing sealant from the pool's bottom and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Key Facts
David Hearn competed in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics as a canoeist.
He was indicted on July 2 for allegedly damaging the Reflecting Pool on June 19.
Hearn is accused of ripping out part of the sealant at the bottom of the pool.
He says he only touched the sealant briefly out of curiosity during a bike ride.
His lawyers asked for no restrictions and for him to be released without supervision.
The judge agreed and released Hearn on his own recognizance (without bail).
A status hearing and trial date are planned for August 5.
The defense says the case is part of the administration’s effort to shift blame for failures.
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