RSA

The United States is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, with the country described as being in mourning. The milestone anniversary of the attacks, in which nearly 3,000 people were killed in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, is prompting renewed reflection and memorial events nationwide.

Ambassador Mike Waltz says the United States held conversations with China regarding dealings connected to the Iran conflict. The comments point to diplomatic contact between Washington and Beijing over the war, though details of what was discussed have not been made public. The remarks come amid heightened attention to Iran and the international role of major powers in the conflict.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly dealing with unresolved questions about their security arrangements as the world marks the anniversary of Princess Diana's death. The story links the couple's ongoing concerns over protection, following their step back from royal duties, with renewed public attention to Diana's legacy and the circumstances surrounding her death in Paris.

SpaceX has carried out a full launch rehearsal as it prepares for the 14th test flight of its Starship rocket. The dress rehearsal, reported by spaceflight outlet NASASpaceflight, is a key step in checkout ahead of the next integrated test from Starbase, Texas. Space enthusiasts are following the campaign closely as the company continues its rapid cadence of Starship development flights.

SpaceX has completed its launch rehearsal for Starship Flight 14 and received the final FAA approval needed to proceed, with liftoff scheduled for Monday. The dress rehearsal, a full countdown and fueling test, is a standard final step before launch. Space watchers are tracking whether the flight will build on the progress of previous Starship test missions.

The European People's Party is sharpening its position on migration. At a large gathering of the party in southern France, Friedrich Merz and the CDU are pushing for stricter measures on migration, following the party's defeats in recent German state elections. An amendment proposal calling for tougher policies has been put forward for delegates to approve.

Greg Abel has broken Berkshire Hathaway's 14-quarter streak of net stock sales, reportedly buying a net $20 billion of equities last quarter. The reversal marks a sharp shift in the company's investing posture under its new leadership and is drawing attention to how Abel will deploy Berkshire's cash pile compared with Warren Buffett's long-running caution.

Guardian columnist Moira Donegan argues that abortion has dropped out of America's national political conversation despite the ongoing harm caused by post-Roe abortion bans. She writes that the US has grown accustomed to the horror of these bans, while Republicans have worked to suppress the stories of women affected. The piece raises questions about public attention drifting from a major civil rights issue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed India's policy of 'zero tolerance against terrorism' ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 surgical strikes across the Line of Control. His remarks come as India commemorates the operation launched in response to the Uri attack, with the anniversary prompting renewed focus on the government's national security record.

Daniel Gultsch, developer of the Android XMPP messaging app Conversations, has announced he is stepping away from Google Play distribution and making the app free. Paid Google Play builds end as the paid app is discontinued; the open-source F-Droid build becomes the main route, with donations supporting development.

The United Nations has declared September 29 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information. The designation gives global recognition to the right of the public to seek and receive information, including from governments and public bodies. Observers see it as a boost for transparency, press freedom and open-government efforts, and it is expected to be marked annually with events promoting access-to-information laws worldwide.

The Warsaw Rights Forum has returned, convening human rights advocates at a moment when organisers and participants describe civic space as narrowing. The gathering is expected to focus on pressures facing civil society, from restrictions on assembly to shrinking room for independent voices, and to coordinate responses across the region.

A new examination of chronic traumatic encephalopathy reviews what research has established about the brain disease linked to repeated head impacts, and where scientific certainty ends. The piece weighs confirmed findings against open questions about diagnosis, prevalence and long-term effects, reflecting ongoing debate among scientists, athletes and sports organisations over how much is truly known.

Guardian columnist Moira Donegan argues that abortion, once a dominant political issue after the overturning of Roe v Wade, has notably receded from America's national debate ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Despite ongoing Republican pushes for abortion bans, the topic is drawing less attention than in recent years, raising questions about shifting voter priorities and Democratic strategy.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has set out a plan for universal free social care, urging the government to 'rip the plaster off' and confront the issue of how to fund and reform the system. The proposal would remove means-testing and charges for care, positioning Burnham as a voice for bolder reform in the Labour Party ahead of potential leadership discussion.

The United Nations is preparing an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the 2001 World Conference against Racism held in Durban, South Africa. The anniversary commemoration is drawing attention because the original Durban conference remains controversial, particularly over debates about Israel and antisemitism at the 2001 gathering.

Scientists have observed that the amount of dust in Earth's atmosphere has declined, reversing a previous trend. NBC News reports the shift is described as mysterious, with the cause of the reversal not yet explained. Dust in the atmosphere affects climate, air quality and weather patterns, so researchers are paying close attention to what is driving the change.

SpaceX has completed the launch rehearsal for Starship Flight 14, the next test flight of its giant rocket system. The wet dress rehearsal puts the full launch sequence through its paces ahead of liftoff from Starbase, Texas. It is another step in SpaceX's rapid testing campaign for the Starship program, which is central to NASA's lunar landing plans and the company's deep-space ambitions.

A Bloomberg opinion piece argues that universal public health insurance is the answer to the United States' ongoing healthcare crisis. The article contends that millions of Americans face unaffordable care and gaps in coverage, and that a publicly funded universal system would address these failures. The argument feeds into a long-running American debate over single-payer healthcare versus the current mixed public-private model.

Singapore is moving to penalize bus passengers who play music loudly or hold speakerphone conversations, with fines that could reach hundreds of dollars. The measure targets everyday commuting irritations that many riders complain about, and it is drawing wide attention as people debate whether fines are the right way to enforce courtesy on public transport.

US Senate legislation addressing pilot mental health has reportedly gained ground, with Nathan Fielder's HBO series The Rehearsal credited with helping build momentum. The show, which examined the pressures facing commercial pilots and screening systems, drew wide attention to the issue, and lawmakers have since advanced bills on the topic.

Universal Music Group has appointed Òscar Celma as Senior Vice President of Applied AI and Machine Learning. The announcement, made via press release, signals the music company's continued investment in artificial intelligence across its operations, from artist tools to content recommendation and rights management. The news is drawing attention as major labels navigate AI's growing role in music creation and distribution.

Demonstrators gathered outside the ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas, in a protest over US immigration enforcement and detention conditions. The facility, south of San Antonio, has become a focal point in the ongoing debate over immigrant detentions. Local coverage reported the rally, but details on the size of the crowd, organisers, and specific demands remain limited so far.

Universal's film releases have generated substantial box office revenue in 2026, according to a report by Gizmodo. The piece highlights the studio's strong financial performance at the movie box office this year, though the specific titles and figures driving the total are not detailed in the available information.

China has reaffirmed its support for Cuba as the two countries mark 66 years of diplomatic relations. Beijing reiterated its commitment to cooperation with Havana, in a statement reported by Chinese state media. The announcement underscores the enduring political alignment between the two Communist-ruled states, and comes amid continued US sanctions on Cuba and growing Chinese engagement across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Speculation is growing that Tesla may be preparing to launch an unsupervised version of its Full Self-Driving system, removing the need for a driver to monitor the car. The topic was raised alongside conversations with Ara, Tesla's Grok-powered AI assistant, which can interact with vehicle systems. Observers are weighing how close Tesla actually is to true driverless operation.

NBCUniversal is reportedly considering a move into video games as Comcast prepares to separate the media company into a standalone entity. The plan would mark a significant push into gaming for the studio behind major franchises, though no official announcement or details on timing and investment have been confirmed.

The Washington Post published an opinion piece arguing that a foreign policy which gives adversaries better treatment than longstanding allies ultimately leads to diplomatic isolation. The piece contends that alienating friendly nations while courting rivals undermines trust and weakens a country's global standing. The argument reflects ongoing debate over how major powers balance relations with partners against engagement with hostile states.