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President Donald Trump announced plans to build a new granite helipad on the White House South Lawn to prevent damage caused by the latest Marine One helicopters. The helipad's cost, initially estimated at $5 to $6 million by Trump, may be closer to $13 million, including related renovations, with some funding reportedly provided by aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky and its parent company Lockheed Martin.
Key Facts
The new helipad will be made of granite and include a 100-foot-wide White House seal carved into it.
Sikorsky, the helicopter maker, will cover the helipad cost because their helicopters caused damage to the lawn.
The overall project cost could reach $13 million, covering the helipad, South Portico, and a driveway resurfacing.
Construction is accelerated to finish by September 17, before a planned visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
There are concerns that despite private funding claims, taxpayer money might still pay for some work.
Experts worry about possible corporate influence and lack of transparency in funding and contracts.
President Trump was personally involved in the helipad design, including drainage and curb changes.
The pad is designed to accommodate the new VH-92A Marine One helicopters used for presidential transport.
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Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, appeared in court for an important hearing. The case is ongoing and being reported by CBS News.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk.
Charlie Kirk is known as a conservative activist.
Robinson attended a court hearing on Monday.
The hearing is described as critical or important for the case.
CBS News covered the court appearance and the story.
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British singer Lauren Bennett, known for her voice on the 2011 hit song "Party Rock Anthem," has died at age 37. Her music group G.R.L. announced her death but did not share the cause.
Key Facts
Lauren Bennett was a British singer featured on LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem."
The song spent six weeks as number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 2011.
The "Party Rock Anthem" music video has over 2.5 billion views on YouTube.
In 2014, Bennett joined the pop group G.R.L., which was a reboot of The Pussycat Dolls.
G.R.L. released singles like "Ugly Heart" and appeared on Pitbull’s "Wild Wild Love."
G.R.L. disbanded in 2015 after the death of member Simone Battle.
Bennett also sang on soundtracks for the movies "Date Night" and "21 Jump Street."
No cause of death for Lauren Bennett has been shared publicly.
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Alaska had the highest error rate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments for the fourth year in a row, with 23% of recipients receiving the wrong amount in 2025. The state is working on modernizing its system to reduce errors, but the high error rate could lead to federal penalties and is linked to complex rules and manual processes.
Key Facts
In the federal fiscal year ending in September 2025, 23% of SNAP payments in Alaska had significant errors, mostly overpayments.
The national average error rate for SNAP payments was 11%.
Alaska's error rate has dropped from more than 55% in 2022 and 2023 but remains highest in the nation.
The Alaska Division of Public Assistance noted that modernization efforts are underway, with improvements expected by 2028.
Errors are caused by complex eligibility rules, manual work processes, and workforce challenges.
Alaska has faced millions in fines due to its high error rates in recent years.
President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act requires states to pay some costs of SNAP errors, potentially shifting $40 million to Alaska if applied now.
Alaska is currently exempt from this cost-sharing requirement until possibly 2030 due to a special exception.
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The Gambia’s Supreme Court is about to decide whether to uphold or change the country’s ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). Many mothers fear that if the ban is weakened, their daughters could face the same harmful practice they endured.
Key Facts
The Gambia banned FGM in 2015 with laws punishing the practice, including prison sentences up to life if it causes death.
Despite the ban, some girls are still secretly subjected to FGM.
A recent case involves a three-month-old baby who died after a secret FGM procedure near the capital, Banjul.
Mothers who survived FGM are worried their daughters may be at risk if the Supreme Court weakens the ban.
Some mothers have reported cases of FGM to the police but were told it was a “family matter,” showing low legal support.
The court case is creating debate about culture, religion, and women’s rights in The Gambia.
Parliament rejected a proposal in 2024 to repeal the FGM ban, keeping it law for now.
Mothers express deep trauma from their experiences and strong determination to protect their daughters.
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Senate Democratic leaders Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand asked Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner to leave the race. They cited serious allegations of violence, abuse, and sexual assault as the reason for their request.
Key Facts
Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are leading figures in the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.
They issued a public statement asking Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine, to withdraw.
The request came after reports of allegations against Platner involving violence, abuse, and sexual assault.
Schumer and Gillibrand called these allegations “incredibly disturbing” and said such behavior is “absolutely unacceptable.”
The Democrats want to remove Platner from the race to ensure the party’s standards and values.
This situation is unfolding during the campaign period for the Maine Senate election.
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A new poll shows that President Donald Trump’s net approval rating among men has dropped from -13 to -19 within a month. This decline is notable because men were a key group supporting him in the 2024 election, but overall his approval rating remains below 40 percent with many Americans disapproving of his handling of the economy and other issues.
Key Facts
President Trump’s net approval rating among men fell from -13 in June to -19 in late June 2026.
Men helped President Trump win the 2024 presidential election by a 12-point margin over Kamala Harris.
Overall, Trump’s approval rating is 34 percent, while 57 percent disapprove according to the Focaldata/Financial Times poll.
Approval on specific issues is lower: 20 percent approve on inflation and cost of living, 29 percent on jobs and economy, and 41 percent on immigration.
Voter dissatisfaction is growing ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, partly due to economic concerns.
Other polls show similar trends with Trump’s overall approval in the high 30s and disapproval around 55 to 58 percent.
The polls were conducted in late June 2026 with samples over 1,600 to nearly 3,000 adults.
White House responses highlight President Trump’s accomplishments and efforts on jobs, inflation, and housing.
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Comedian Trevor Noah made a joke about President Donald Trump getting involved in a controversy over a red card given to soccer player Folarin Balogun. Noah called this involvement "government interference" during his livestreamed show before the USA-Belgium World Cup match.
Key Facts
Trevor Noah is a comedian known for commenting on current events.
Folarin Balogun is a soccer player who received a red card in a World Cup match.
President Donald Trump publicly intervened in the controversy about this red card.
Noah made a joke on his livestreamed show "Trevor Noah’s World Cup Watch Party."
The joke described Trump’s involvement as "government interference."
This comment happened ahead of the USA vs. Belgium World Cup game.
The World Cup is an international soccer tournament watched worldwide.
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A woman who dated Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has accused him of forcing her to have sex without her consent, according to a Politico report. Following the allegation, Platner has postponed his campaign events.
Key Facts
The woman made the sexual assault claim to Politico.
Graham Platner is running for the U.S. Senate in Maine as a Democrat.
Platner and the woman had dated before the allegation.
Platner’s campaign events have been postponed.
The allegation involves forcing sex without consent.
The report was covered by CBS News citing Politico.
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A woman who dated Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, has accused him of forcing her to have sex without her consent. Platner denies this claim. Some Democrats are now asking Platner to drop out of the Senate race.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine.
A woman who dated him has accused him of sexual assault.
The allegation says Platner forced her to have sex against her will.
Platner has denied the accusation.
Democrats have called for Platner to withdraw from the race.
The news was reported by Politico and covered by CBS News.
Aaron Zitner, a reporter from The Wall Street Journal, provided additional information.
The situation is gaining media attention during the Senate campaign in Maine.
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A seaplane had to make a sudden, rough landing in New York City's East River on Sunday. A passenger shared their experience of the event during an interview.
Key Facts
The incident involved a seaplane landing hard in the East River of New York City.
The landing happened on a Sunday.
A passenger spoke about what they experienced during the landing.
The story was covered by CBS News.
The account was shared through an interview with Kris Van Cleave, a CBS News reporter.
There is video footage available on CBS News platforms.
The report does not mention any injuries or damages.
The cause of the hard landing was not detailed in the article.
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The BBC has investigated secret prisons run by Russian-backed forces in parts of Ukraine occupied since 2014. Survivors report widespread torture and abuse, naming specific men involved, who now live normal lives in Russia or occupied Ukraine. The UN and Ukrainian officials say thousands of civilians have been detained or disappeared in these prisons.
Key Facts
Liudmyla Huseinova was kidnapped in 2019 and held in a detention center called Izolyatsia in occupied Ukraine.
She and other survivors describe torture, sexual violence, beatings, electric shocks, and mock executions in these prisons.
Yurii Temerbek, a former Ukrainian policeman turned separatist, is identified as one of the men involved in abuses.
The UN human rights office reports systematic and widespread ill-treatment of civilians by Russian-backed forces.
Russian authorities deny allegations of sexual violence and accuse the UN of bias.
The UN recently added Russia to a list of countries suspected of sexual violence in conflict zones.
Ukrainian officials estimate more than 16,000 civilians have been detained or have disappeared since 2014.
The Izolyatsia prison was originally a factory and art gallery before being taken over by Russian-backed forces.
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Samsung Electronics expects its profits to rise about 19 times in the April to June period due to strong global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips. This marks the company's third record quarterly profit in a row as chip demand remains higher than supply, raising prices.
Key Facts
Samsung expects to earn 89 trillion won (about $58 billion) from April to June.
This profit forecast is 19 times higher than the previous period.
It will be Samsung's third consecutive quarter with record operating profits.
The growth is driven by strong demand for AI memory chips worldwide.
Samsung makes semiconductor chips used by major tech companies like Nvidia and Google.
Global chip demand currently exceeds supply, causing prices to increase.
Samsung’s stock price has more than doubled since the beginning of the year.
South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix’s shares have also increased by over 200% this year.
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Prince Harry has returned to the UK to attend a week of events supporting his charities, including the Invictus Games for injured military veterans. On Tuesday, he will learn the outcome of a court case against Associated Newspapers, which he and several others accuse of illegal information gathering.
Key Facts
Prince Harry began his UK visit with an event in London for the Invictus Games charity.
He will attend five days of events to support UK charities.
His wife Meghan and children are not with him in London due to security issues.
Prince Harry and others, including Elton John and Liz Hurley, filed a court case against Associated Newspapers for alleged unlawful information gathering.
The newspaper group publishes the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday and denies the allegations.
Buckingham Palace denied a claim that Prince Harry would stay there, stating he missed the reply deadline for the invitation.
There is speculation about possible meetings between Prince Harry and his family, but no meeting with his brother Prince William is expected.
Prince Harry might visit the Althorp estate, where his mother, Princess Diana, is buried.
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Robots are now available to rent or subscribe to, rather than just buy, helping places like hospitals and homes use the latest robot technology without a big upfront cost. These robots can do various tasks such as delivering medical supplies, entertaining guests, or even acting as home helpers, with companies providing support and updates as part of the rental service.
Key Facts
Moxi is a robot used in US hospitals to deliver medical supplies and is rented rather than sold.
Renting robots is called "robotics-as-a-service," which includes maintenance and software updates.
Rental makes robots more affordable and allows users to access newer models as technology improves.
Humanoid robots, designed to look and act like humans, are also available to rent, often for entertainment or specific tasks.
Some companies offer home helper robots on a subscription basis, lowering the upfront cost.
Renting robots helps customers avoid dealing with technical problems since the manufacturer provides support.
Robotics technology advances quickly, so renting keeps users up to date with the latest features.
Robots are being rented for different uses beyond healthcare, such as bartending and farming.
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New Jersey experienced strong thunderstorms following a period of very hot weather. The storms caused flooding and damaged buildings, including tearing the roof off a BJ's Wholesale Club.
Key Facts
New Jersey had severe thunderstorms back-to-back after extreme heat.
The storms caused flooding in some areas.
A BJ's Wholesale Club had its roof ripped off by the storms.
People in New Jersey are now cleaning up from the damage.
The severe weather affected other parts of the U.S. as well.
Weather experts are monitoring and forecasting upcoming conditions.
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President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review and cancel a red card suspension for US soccer player Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, which FIFA agreed to do. This action caused criticism from European soccer officials, including UEFA, who said it harms the fairness of the game. Separately, Prince Harry was reportedly denied permission by King Charles III to stay at Buckingham Palace during his UK visit.
Key Facts
US player Folarin Balogun received a one-match suspension after a red card at the World Cup.
President Trump admitted he spoke to FIFA's president to request a review of the red card.
FIFA reversed the suspension and allowed Balogun to play.
UEFA criticized the decision, saying it threatens the integrity of soccer rules.
President Trump said he did not pressure FIFA but only asked for a review.
Prince Harry asked to stay at Buckingham Palace but his request was refused by King Charles III.
Prince Harry was visiting the UK for charity work when the request was denied.
The incident led to tensions between Prince Harry’s team and royal aides.
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Israel’s parliament approved the first step to create a commission to investigate security mistakes around the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote, saying the commission would not be independent because its members would be picked by politicians.
Key Facts
The Knesset approved a bill to set up a commission to look into security failures before the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
The commission will have six members appointed by a two-thirds majority in the parliament, or split equally between the ruling coalition and opposition if no agreement is reached.
Opposition lawmakers want an independent commission appointed by the Supreme Court president, not politicians, and they boycotted the vote.
The commission’s work will be public, with former hostages or victims’ family members allowed to observe.
The bill’s supporters say the commission will be bipartisan and able to investigate anyone related to Israel’s security policy.
The opposition fears the commission will be controlled by the ruling coalition, calling it a “whitewash.”
Opinion polls show most Israelis want an independent inquiry into the events.
Israel has used state commissions of inquiry in the past to investigate major national issues.
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Heavy rain and flash flooding in New Jersey caused the roof of a BJ's Wholesale Club to partially collapse. No injuries were reported in the incident despite streets being underwater in the area.
Key Facts
Intense rain and flash floods hit parts of New Jersey over the weekend.
The flooding caused streets to be underwater.
The roof of a BJ’s Wholesale Club near New York City partially collapsed due to the heavy rain.
No people were hurt in the roof collapse.
The incident was reported by CBS News correspondent Lana Zak.
The BJ’s Wholesale Club affected is less than 60 miles from New York City.
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President Donald Trump introduced a new program called the "Trump Accounts" that allows children under 18 to have special investment accounts where taxes are delayed. This program is part of a large tax and spending law passed by Congress last year.
Key Facts
The "Trump Accounts" are tax-deferred investment accounts for children under 18.
Taxes on these accounts are delayed until the money is withdrawn.
The program started one year after the tax and spending law was passed.
The law was passed by Congress last year and was supported by President Trump.
The program is designed to help families save money for their children’s future.
CBS News MoneyWatch reporter Megan Cerullo covered the story.
The account program is part of a broader policy initiative from President Trump’s administration.
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