A six-year-old girl from China named Lian Yunzhi set new world records for solving the 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube. She broke the women’s record twice within three days, achieving an average solve time under 4.5 seconds.
Key Facts
Lian Yunzhi is from Sichuan Province, China.
She is six years old.
She set two new women’s world records in the 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube within three days.
Her average solve times were 4.52 seconds and 4.27 seconds.
Lian is the only female cuber with an average time under 4.5 seconds.
She competed in Wuhan and Guangzhou, China.
She learned over 1,300 different solving methods (algorithms).
Her training included two to three hours of practice daily over one year.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United Kingdom and the United States have successfully test-fired a torpedo from an uncrewed underwater drone for the first time. This test is part of the AUKUS partnership with Australia and represents progress in developing advanced autonomous naval technology.
Key Facts
The test took place in UK waters and involved a live torpedo firing from a 12-meter-long underwater drone named Excalibur.
The underwater drone was built in Britain, and the torpedo was jointly developed by the US and Australia.
This event is a significant technological development for the AUKUS alliance, which includes the UK, US, and Australia.
The test-drone operation shows autonomous systems can do more than just surveillance; they can carry and use weapons.
The AUKUS partnership aims to strengthen security and naval capabilities against threats from countries like Russia and Iran.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will meet US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly to discuss further cooperation on artificial intelligence and security.
As part of this cooperation, the UK will host the G20 summit in Manchester in November 2027.
The UK government said this new technology enhances NATO’s underwater strategic advantage in the Euro-Atlantic region.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The European Union (EU) could not agree on removing Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list on Monday. Talks will continue as the EU tries to extend sanctions on nearly 3,000 other people and groups linked to the Ukraine war.
Key Facts
The EU failed to finalize a deal to lift sanctions on Russian billionaires Usmanov and Fridman.
Negotiations are set to continue to try to reach an agreement soon.
France and Slovakia pushed to remove Usmanov from the sanctions list, citing national security reasons.
Luxembourg demanded Fridman’s sanctions be lifted if Usmanov’s were, as part of a compromise.
Some EU countries like Poland and the Baltic states strongly opposed lifting sanctions on these businessmen.
The EU aims to extend most Russia-related sanctions for three years rather than shorter periods.
Ukraine criticized the possible lifting of sanctions, saying pressure on Russia must increase, not decrease.
Both Usmanov and Fridman are suing the EU to challenge their sanctions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An 11-year-old boy in Sydney was critically injured after being shot in the face and neck in his home. The New South Wales government and opposition are debating gun control measures, including a planned gun buyback aimed at reducing gun violence.
Key Facts
The boy was taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital in critical condition.
The shooting happened in a unit in Norwest, NSW, with five other people present who were not injured.
One man was charged with hiding a serious crime, and two others were arrested but released pending further investigation.
Police have no evidence linking the shooting to organized crime and are investigating how the gun got into the home.
None of the residents had gun licenses or legally owned firearms registered to the property.
The NSW government plans to start Australia’s largest gun buyback in 30 years on 2 November.
The opposition supports canceling some gun ownership limits for farmers and wants to stop the buyback program.
The police minister criticized the opposition’s position, saying fewer guns in the community means safer neighborhoods.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Canadian province, British Columbia, is suing OpenAI because the company did not alert police about warning signs on ChatGPT before a man killed eight people in a school shooting. The lawsuit claims OpenAI failed to act on threats seen in the shooter’s online chats, raising questions about tech companies’ responsibilities to prevent violence.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed in a U.S. federal court in California.
The shooter, Jessie Van Rootselaar, killed eight people, including six children, in February.
OpenAI’s safety team flagged Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT activity months before the shooting, but did not inform authorities.
British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma said OpenAI refused to share the flagged chat content with the province.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized for not alerting law enforcement before the tragedy.
Families of the victims have filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI.
Any money awarded to British Columbia will be used to rebuild the school affected by the shooting.
The lawsuit is focusing on tech companies’ duties when they face credible threats of violence in user data.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham met President Donald Trump in New York during the United Nations gathering. They hope to find shared views, especially on cooperation about artificial intelligence (AI) and international issues like peace efforts.
Key Facts
Burnham and Trump have talked by phone twice since Burnham became prime minister in July.
The two leaders met face-to-face for the first time at the UN in New York.
Burnham plans to push for closer UK-US cooperation on AI and peace efforts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The UK and US recently tested firing a heavy torpedo from a British underwater drone, a new military milestone for both countries.
The drone test aims to protect important infrastructure like deep-sea data cables.
Burnham discussed with Mauritius about the paused plan to transfer the Chagos Islands and the military base on Diego Garcia, which lacks support from President Trump.
Opposition politicians criticize the AI partnership plan, calling for stricter global AI safety measures.
Burnham described the UK-US relationship as very strong and is optimistic about working with President Trump.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Lithuania’s Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said the country has plans to evacuate people if Russia attacks but will resist any aggression. Lithuania, a NATO member near Russia’s Kaliningrad region, faces ongoing threats including drone flights into its airspace.
Key Facts
Lithuania has evacuation plans to protect citizens if Russia attacks.
Prime Minister Sinkevičius said Lithuania will fight back if attacked.
Lithuania shares a border with the Russian-controlled Kaliningrad region.
NATO fighter jets recently shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace.
The drone likely came from Belarus, a Russian ally.
Lithuania faces regular threats from drone incursions since the war in Ukraine began.
NATO’s Article 5 means an attack on Lithuania is considered an attack on all NATO members.
Lithuanian officials say European countries see more military drone incidents linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Fat Bear Week 2026 is a wildlife contest held at Katmai National Park in Alaska where people vote for the fattest bears preparing for winter hibernation. Sixteen bears, including the defending champion Chunk, compete by gaining weight from eating salmon and berries before winter. The event features live streams and ranger talks to help viewers learn about the bears.
Key Facts
Fat Bear Week is an annual event started in 2014 at Katmai National Park in Alaska.
This year’s contest has 16 bears competing, up from 12 last year.
Voting runs from September 22 to September 29 online each day between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET.
The bears gain fat by eating salmon, berries, and other food to survive winter hibernation lasting 4-6 months.
The defending champion is a bear named Chunk who recovered from a broken jaw last year.
Viewers can watch the bears live on Explore.org through webcams at Brooks Falls and other park locations.
More than 100 different bears have been identified in the area this year, including many cubs.
Park rangers host online talks and Q&A sessions to share information about the bears during the event.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UK is providing military support to Saudi Arabia to help against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen by refueling Saudi jets. The British Prime Minister plans to discuss ending the conflict in Iran during his meeting with President Donald Trump at the United Nations.
Key Facts
The UK government has agreed to offer refueling support from the Royal Air Force to Saudi jets involved in the Yemen conflict.
This decision is based on advice from the Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham calls this his first major foreign policy action.
The Prime Minister will meet President Donald Trump to urge an end to the conflict involving Iran.
There have been recent technical problems with UK air traffic control, causing flight disruptions.
Most inmates released early in England will be tagged with monitoring devices after release due to capacity issues.
The UK has tested an undersea drone with a torpedo, seen as a warning to Russia.
Financial fraud linked to Kremlin-backed firms has moved $7 billion through global banks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
World leaders, including President Donald Trump, are meeting in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly. President Trump is scheduled to speak at the event amid ongoing global conflicts, including the war involving Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as tensions with U.S. allies.
Key Facts
The United Nations General Assembly is taking place in New York City this weekend.
President Donald Trump will address the assembly on Tuesday.
There are ongoing conflicts involving Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Tensions exist between the U.S. and some of its allies.
The meeting gathers world leaders from many countries.
The assembly is a regular event where countries discuss global issues.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Leaders from many countries have gathered in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This meeting comes as there are more wars happening and people are losing trust in international organizations and rules.
Key Facts
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly is taking place in New York.
Many world leaders have traveled to attend this meeting.
Currently, there are increasing numbers of wars around the world.
People’s trust in global institutions is fading.
Some powerful countries are ignoring international rules.
The main question is whether international laws still hold value.
The event highlights challenges facing global cooperation and peace efforts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump is attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York one year after his last speech. This visit comes at a time when the US is involved in a conflict with Iran and there are ongoing issues with Israel violating a ceasefire in Gaza. People are also watching closely to see what the US priorities are at the UN.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump spoke at the UN General Assembly one year ago, calling himself a great peacemaker.
The US is currently involved in a conflict with Iran, which started under President Trump’s leadership.
There are ongoing Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The UN General Assembly is meeting in New York, where world leaders gather to discuss global issues.
Observers are paying attention to what the US wants to achieve at this year's UN meeting.
The situation reflects tensions in the Middle East involving the US, Iran, and Israel.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United Kingdom will provide limited military help to Saudi Arabia by refueling Saudi jets in flight to defend against attacks by Yemen’s Houthis. This support is focused on defensive operations and will be reviewed over time.
Key Facts
The UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham approved the request to provide air-to-air refueling for Saudi planes.
The support is time-limited and will be kept under review.
Saudi Arabia asked for help after renewed conflict with the Houthis in Yemen.
The Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, including one near Riyadh.
Houthis captured the port city of Mocha and Red Sea islands, improving their control of shipping routes.
The UK assistance will only support defensive missions to protect Saudi aircraft from drones and missiles.
One Royal Air Force Voyager plane will carry out the refueling missions.
The UK and Saudi Arabia have been military allies for decades, and the UK is a major arms supplier to Saudi Arabia.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A passenger on the Carnival Panorama cruise ship is missing after reportedly falling overboard during the ship’s return trip from Mexico. The crew discovered that one man was unaccounted for, and a search would likely be underway.
Key Facts
The cruise ship involved is the Carnival Panorama.
The ship was returning after a weeklong trip to Mexico.
Crew members noticed one passenger was missing.
The missing person reportedly went overboard.
The situation occurred recently, as part of a live news update.
The article does not provide details about the passenger’s identity or the search status.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ukrainian forces carried out a large drone attack on Moscow over the weekend. The mayor of Moscow said it was the biggest attack on the city since the conflict started. Videos captured the damage caused in different areas of the city.
Key Facts
Ukrainian forces used drones to attack Moscow.
The attack happened over the weekend.
Moscow’s mayor described the attack as the largest since the war began.
Videos showed damage in several parts of Moscow.
The attack is part of the ongoing conflict involving Ukraine and Russia.
This event marks a significant escalation in the conflict’s impact on the Russian capital.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Typhoon Dujuan caused heavy rain, strong winds, and severe travel disruptions near Tokyo, Japan. The storm led to two deaths, forced flight and train cancellations, and flooding in multiple areas before moving northeast out to sea.
Key Facts
Typhoon Dujuan brought wind speeds of about 144 km/h (89 mph) near Tokyo.
Over 1.6 million people were advised to evacuate.
Two deaths were confirmed due to the typhoon.
More than 275 flights were canceled by Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways.
Bullet train services between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended.
Heavy rains caused flooding in Kamakura and Ichikawa, making travel dangerous.
The Tokyo Game Show closed early, and a major music festival and baseball game in Chiba were canceled.
Dujuan is the 25th typhoon to hit Japan this year, a common occurrence in late summer and early autumn.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Young people in Morocco, inspired by protests calling for better healthcare, education, and jobs, are now running for parliament seats to bring change through formal politics. Despite their growing involvement, young voters make up a small part of the electorate compared to older generations as the country prepares for a parliamentary election on September 23.
Key Facts
Protests began nearly a year before the election, sparked by poor public services and the deaths of eight women in a hospital.
The GenZ 212 movement, mainly organized on social media, demanded better healthcare, education, jobs, and an end to corruption.
At least three people died during the unrest in October 2025.
More than 15.8 million Moroccans are registered to vote in the September 23 election.
Only about 4% of registered voters are aged 18 to 24, while those over 60 make up 29% of the electorate.
The Environment and Sustainability Party was founded by Hamza El Kharroubi to support youth political engagement.
Political activists urge parties to let young people take part in real decision-making, not just campaign events.
GenZ 212 held an online discussion with politician Omar Balafrej about democracy and youth participation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The astronomical autumn season begins with the autumn equinox on 23 September 2026 at 01:06 BST. This event marks the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night nearly equal in length worldwide, though the actual day with equal light (equilux) comes a few days later.
Key Facts
The autumn equinox happens when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, occurring on 23 September 2026 at 01:06 BST.
On the equinox, day and night are about the same length all over the world.
The equilux, the day when daylight and darkness are exactly equal, occurs a few days after the equinox, around 25 or 26 September in the UK.
Light refraction by the atmosphere makes daylight slightly longer than 12 hours at the equinox.
People celebrate the equinox at places like Stonehenge, where they watch the sunrise.
Northern parts of the UK lose daylight faster than southern parts as autumn progresses.
The equinox signals the start of astronomical autumn but does not directly cause immediate colder weather.
This September, UK temperatures have been higher than average, with slightly warmer and changeable weather expected through the end of the month.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump is preparing for a planned meeting in Washington with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. The topics likely to be discussed include artificial intelligence (AI) and Iran.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington.
The meeting is scheduled to take place this week.
Key issues on the agenda include AI technology.
Iran is also expected to be a topic of discussion.
Craig Allen, former U.S. ambassador to Brunei, spoke about the upcoming meeting on CBS News.
The summit aims to address important matters between the U.S. and China.
The meeting is part of ongoing international relations between the two countries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Mali is facing a serious security crisis with armed groups coordinating attacks and blockades disrupting fuel supplies to the capital, Bamako. The government is struggling to control the country as attacks continue, including a recent deadly assault on an army camp.
Key Facts
Armed groups Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen (JNIM) and the Tuareg Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) have increased coordination in attacks against the Malian government.
On September 10, JNIM attacked an army camp in central Mali.
The April offensive by these groups led to the death of Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara and exposed government weaknesses.
Since September 2025, JNIM has targeted fuel tankers and roads supplying fuel to Bamako, causing shortages and power cuts.
On September 14, over 900 fuel tankers reached Bamako under military protection, showing how vulnerable supply routes are.
The government took power in a 2020 coup, promising security, but faces difficulty controlling vast parts of the country.
Mali’s government is shifting alliances away from Western countries toward new partnerships, including increased reliance on Russia.
Regional support from countries like Algeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Togo may help delay the crisis from worsening.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
