Florida has ordered the removal of Flock cameras from state roads and will no longer issue permits for their installation. In related news, Tropical Storm Edouard has formed in the Gulf amid the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly heading for Florida. Additionally, NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope successfully launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for its mission to explore celestial mysteries.
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has resigned after approximately 18 months, following conflict with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. At 41, Driscoll was the youngest army secretary and played a significant role in advancing President Trump's military agenda and engaging in diplomatic efforts regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. His departure adds to a trend of high-profile military leader exits, including Navy Secretary John Phelan and several others, as Hegseth has dismissed over a dozen senior military officers since his appointment.
Police shot and killed 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros after she fatally stabbed a woman and injured a man in Times Square, using two knives during the attack. The female victim, who was stabbed in the stomach, died at the hospital, while the 68-year-old man is in stable condition. Authorities reported that officers attempted to negotiate with Cisneros for about 4 minutes before using lethal force, which is under investigation as standard procedure for such incidents.
Duane "Keffe D" Davis, a 63-year-old former gang leader, has been found guilty of the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 7 and succumbed to his injuries several days later. Davis, who was charged with murder with a deadly weapon in 2023, could face a life sentence without parole.
A Las Vegas jury found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of orchestrating Tupac Shakur's murder, which occurred during a drive-by shooting on September 7, 1996, leaving the rapper dead six days later at age 25. The jury reached a verdict in under three hours after nine days of testimony, and Davis, the only person ever charged in the case, could face life in prison for the conviction of murder with the use of a deadly weapon. Davis, a former gang leader, admitted to acquiring a gun and targeting Shakur following a prior altercation but maintains his innocence and plans to appeal the verdict.
More than 15 years after the Tunisian revolution, widespread grievances are resurfacing, driven by water cuts, electricity outages, rising prices, and medication shortages affecting all social and economic classes. Unemployment, particularly among the youth, stood at 17.4% by the end of 2020, with political discontent growing in the wake of President Kais Saied’s 2021 suspension of parliament and consolidation of power, which critics label as a coup. In a politically charged environment, a conspiracy case resulted in a Tunis court sentencing 37 defendants to prison terms between four and 66 years, a move criticized by Human Rights Watch as politically motivated and part of a broader crackdown on dissent.
Tropical Storm Edouard has formed in the Gulf and is expected to cause impacts in Southeast Texas starting Tuesday, with strong wind gusts and heavy rainfall leading to potential street and flash flooding. As a result, Tuesday has been declared an ABC13 Weather Alert Day, while Wednesday is considered an ABC13 Weather Watch. School districts are preparing for closures and officials are sharing plans ahead of the storm's arrival.
A man in his early 20s was fatally shot during a suspected home invasion in Glen Alpine, Sydney, early Tuesday morning, leading police to believe it was a "targeted attack." Emergency services were called around 3:40 AM, but the victim died at the scene from a gunshot wound, and the alleged offenders, described as multiple individuals, fled before police arrived. This incident follows another home invasion in Guilford three days earlier, where a 28-year-old man was also fatally shot, although authorities have stated that there is no evidence linking the two cases.
An investigation into allegations of misconduct involving senior executives at the $915 million Powerhouse Parramatta museum is currently underway, with chief executive Lisa Havilah stepping aside pending the outcome. The museum, described as the "Opera House of the west," is still set to open on November 7, despite ongoing scrutiny of spending, including $1.7 million on a documentary and $5 million on marketing. The investigation will also review procurement deals under $6 million, which do not require ministerial approval, and the state’s anti-corruption commission was notified following a whistleblower complaint lodged in March 2025.
The Minnesota Vikings have officially signed 15 players to their practice squad and have also been awarded two offensive linemen through waiver claims as of August 31. In their final preseason game, the Vikings suffered a significant loss to the Denver Broncos, losing 34-6. Additionally, the team is maintaining a roster of four quarterbacks as part of their 53-man roster decisions.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after months of turmoil at the Pentagon, reportedly due to friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His resignation follows the ousting of several senior officials, including Army Chief of Staff Randy George in April, and comes on the heels of a turbulent period marked by leak investigations and budget issues. Driscoll, who was confirmed by the Senate with a 66-28 vote in February 2025, played a key role in negotiating between Russia and Ukraine and in efforts to modernize military operations.
The accumulation of microplastics in UK agricultural soils is threatening food security, leading scientists, MPs, and campaigners to call for legally binding targets to reduce pollution. UK soils are among the most contaminated in Europe due to the use of treated sludge as fertilizer, where microplastics—pieces of plastic ranging from 1 micrometre to 5 millimetres—are affecting soil functionality, fertility, and the health of organisms like earthworms. The report highlights that over 16,000 chemicals are used in plastics, with approximately 4,000 known to be harmful to health, and makes five policy recommendations to address the issue.
Research by Yopa shows that houses near top state secondary schools in the UK cost an average of £40,574 more, reflecting a premium of about 11% compared to the wider local areas. For instance, properties near Bishop Vesey's grammar school in Sutton Coldfield sell for approximately £509,964, a £275,814 increase over the Birmingham average, while homes near Henrietta Barnett school in London cost 37% more, adding £354,288 to the average property price. In contrast, properties near Reading school and Kendrick school are priced around £276,870, which is £84,373 below the overall Reading average of £361,243.
The US Supreme Court has authorized the $400 million construction of a ballroom at the White House in a 5-4 decision, overriding lower court rulings that sought to halt the project. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, expressing concerns over the legality of the construction without congressional approval, while Trump praised the decision as a win for the "Golden Age of America." The project, which involves the demolition of the historic East Wing and a proposed 90,000 square foot ballroom, is expected to be "substantially" completed by November 2026 and fully finished by August 2028.
A Colombian military air strike on August 27 targeting cocaine-trafficking rebels resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, including three minors aged 15 and 16, making it the deadliest military operation since President Abelardo de la Espriella took office earlier that month. Since de la Espriella's inauguration, 24 suspected rebels have been killed in military operations, amidst a noted rise in child recruitment by armed groups, with over 1,500 children recruited since 2021 and 625 cases reported in 2024. Human Rights Watch highlighted that social media platforms like Meta and TikTok are being used to recruit children, with algorithms promoting content encouraging their involvement in armed groups.
The Trump administration removed language banning political interference from the Commerce Department's scientific integrity policy, raising concerns about the reliability of data from the Census Bureau. This policy revision, dated August 19—just after a controversial report on non-U.S. citizen voting—has alarmed former officials and data experts as it signals potential political influence over the agency's statistics, crucial for the upcoming 2030 national head count. The updated policy no longer includes protections against inappropriate influence, which were previously emphasized in the 2025 version, leading experts to warn of a possible weaponization of the Census Bureau.
Dale Sanders, a 91-year-old hiker from Tennessee, has set the record as the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail, a distance of 2,193 miles, reclaiming the title he first achieved in 2017 at the age of 82. During his hike, he fell 71 times, including six hard falls that led to a brief hospitalization, but he persevered and completed the trek on September 25, 2025, after starting on September 6. Throughout the journey, he found motivation in the support from thousands of social media followers and the kindness of "trail angels," and he expressed gratitude for his achievement despite experiencing physical challenges along the way.
The U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision allows the Trump administration to continue construction on a $400 million ballroom project at the White House, despite ongoing lawsuits questioning its legality due to lack of congressional approval. The project, which includes a planned 8,400 square meter (90,000 square foot) ballroom, is said to address national security concerns and is expected to see its framework completed by November and full completion by August 2028. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, labeling the project "likely unlawful," while two Democratic-appointed judges previously ruled that such decisions were for Congress, not the executive branch, to decide.
India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal recently led the largest-ever business delegation to Japan, highlighting Japan's significant push into India, which is now home to over 100 Japanese firms operating global capability centers. Notable investments include MUFG Bank's $4.4 billion acquisition of a 20% stake in Shriram Finance and Sumitomo Mitsui's 24.22% stake in Yes Bank. Additionally, Japanese companies have pledged $12.5 billion in investments through around 120 agreements, with a potential to exceed Japan's goal of investing 10 trillion yen in India.
Wildfires in Borneo and Sumatra have critically endangered orangutans, destroying their habitats and leaving them without food and water. The wildlife foundation Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI) highlighted the urgency of the situation, with a weak orangutan found in Ketapang slated for rehabilitation and eventual release. Indonesia is intensifying efforts to combat the haze and prevent further damage across six provinces affected by the fires.
A flash flood in the Grand Canyon over the weekend resulted in at least two deaths and 15 people reported missing, likely caused by factors such as drought, wildfire damage, and warmer Pacific Ocean temperatures. The storm, which occurred in the Bright Angel Creek area, was particularly intensified due to recent wildfire scars from the Dragon Bravo wildfire, which burned nearly 150,000 acres and worsened runoff conditions. Research indicates that the risk of debris flows in the area has increased by two to eight times following wildfire impacts, and the deluge was further exacerbated by the climate phenomenon El Niño, leading to extraordinary rainfall on the already vulnerable terrain.
The typical capital city home price has fallen to $990,394, dropping below $1 million as buyer demand decreases due to rising interest rates and economic uncertainty, according to property data firm Cotality. In particular, the median home price in Perth decreased to $999,987, while Sydney and Brisbane remained the only capitals with prices above $1 million, at $1.22 million and $1.08 million respectively. Cotality’s research director noted that nearly all capital city suburbs have experienced price declines, with fewer homes sold compared to last year, indicating a lack of buyer confidence in the current market.
A North Carolina teenager, Moises Ponce Mendoza, died on August 31, 2026, after contracting a rare infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, which entered through his nose and led to brain damage. His condition began with severe headaches on August 21, but following a brief examination at a Burlington hospital, he was sent home before being rushed to the University of North Carolina hospital the next day, where he was diagnosed with the infection, which is often fatal with a mortality rate of over 97%. Each year, fewer than 10 cases of this rare infection are typically reported in the U.S., primarily during hot weather, although the climate crisis is causing the amoeba's range to expand.
A lawsuit filed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 22 states alleges that Amazon overcharged over a million advertising customers by manipulating auction prices, which has reportedly generated $20 billion since 2019. The complaint claims that Amazon improperly charges advertisers their winning bid nearly 80% of the time in "second price" auctions, diverging from the expected model where they would pay just one cent more than the next highest bidder. In response, Amazon stated that the FTC misunderstood advertising mechanics and claimed that average winning bids for Sponsored Products fell 50% from 2019 to 2025.
Poland has initiated a "terror" investigation into a fire at the WB Electronics factory, which manufactures drone parts for Ukraine, suspecting possible Russian sabotage operations. The Polish National Prosecution Office stated the inquiry involves participation in foreign intelligence activities and deliberate arson. The fire, contained by firefighters after two hours, occurred shortly after midnight at the factory located south of Warsaw, which is a major supplier of military components, including the FlyEye and Warmate drones used by the Ukrainian military.
Arsenal maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 1-0 victory against Aston Villa, featuring a second-half goal from Bukayo Saka, marking their second consecutive win without conceding. Manager Mikel Arteta celebrated his 250th league game in charge, while Arsenal prepares for a significant matchup against Chelsea, who have also won their first two matches. On the other hand, Aston Villa faced their second straight defeat, having dismantled their successful squad during the summer, including selling Ezri Konsa for £51 million ($69 million).
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their strategic alliance during a meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, amidst increasing global uncertainty. Xi expressed optimism for the future of Beijing-Moscow relations, stating they have become "more solid," while Putin noted that cooperation is developing on all fronts despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has entered its fifth year. The SCO summit also marks the 25th anniversary of the grouping and includes over a dozen heads of state, signaling a united front against Western influence.
Phantom Ranch, a historic lodge in the Grand Canyon established by Teddy Roosevelt, has served hikers for over a century but faced a deadly flash flood recently, resulting in two confirmed deaths and at least 15 individuals reported missing. Over 60 people had to be evacuated by air from the lodge and the adjacent North Kaibab Trail after the intense rain swelled local creeks. The incident highlights the inherent risks of flash flooding in the canyon, especially following recent wildfires that have increased danger in the area.
The U.S. famine warning system, FEWS NET, which previously went offline, has resumed operations but is facing scrutiny as crucial updates regarding Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen were halted despite growing food crises affecting 6.5 million people in Somalia alone. This reporting pause has drawn criticism from various organizations, including the Rockefeller Foundation, amidst concerns that it obscures the consequences of funding cuts to these nations by the Trump administration. The State Department announced that FEWS NET would restart its reporting in September 2026, citing the need to realign reporting with foreign policy priorities.
The US Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, has allowed the Trump administration to proceed with the construction of a $400 million White House ballroom, despite legal challenges from a historic preservation group. The decision permits the administration to block a lower court order that had halted above-ground construction while the lawsuit is pending. Chief Justice John Roberts, who previously issued a temporary order to continue the work, dissented from this latest ruling, aligning himself with the three liberal justices who deemed the construction "likely unlawful."