September 2026

Earth's day is not exactly 24 hours long, and the reason may lie deep inside the planet. A Canadian study says the planet's core is quietly changing the length of a day.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party suffered its worst state election result in postwar German history, according to Bloomberg. Merz called the outcome a "disaster" as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged. The defeat has left Merz under pressure as the AfD eyes a second state win.

Iran has given the United States seven conditions to end their war and re-engage in talks, according to reports. President Donald Trump is weighing the fresh demands ahead of his visit to the United Nations. The conditions were conveyed as Tehran signaled its terms for halting the conflict.

President Donald Trump asked his budget chief to draft an order that would bring health research funding under his control, according to Politico. The order would create a White House board to approve NIH grants, tightening control over the agency's $48 billion budget. The move follows a court defeat for the administration's previous attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants from census counts.

Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia, including hundreds fired at Moscow, in what Moscow's mayor described as the largest ever attack on the city. The strikes came on the final day of Russian elections.

Republican candidates in competitive midterm races are increasingly defying President Donald Trump in public, with Politico describing him as 'kryptonite' to the party and CNN reporting that vulnerable Republicans are breaking with a president who famously demands loyalty. The Wall Street Journal reports that Republicans in tough races are tip-toeing away from Trump, while the Los Angeles Times describes California Republicans walking a tightrope as Trump jumps into midterm campaigning.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have taken a strategic port city on Yemen's Red Sea coast, a major victory for the Iranian-aligned group. The advance raises the threat to Red Sea shipping and risks a return to civil war in Yemen, as the rebels target a vital oil shipping route.

Iraq's government confirmed that a drone attack that shut a vital Saudi oil pipeline was launched from Iraqi territory. Iraqi authorities seized a drone-launching platform used in the attack, according to Al Jazeera. The strike targeted a key oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia, prompting a drop in Saudi shares.

A Hong Kong court sentenced three organizers of the city's annual Tiananmen Square vigils to prison in a national security case. The terms run as long as 7 years and 3 months, according to coverage of the ruling.

President Donald Trump said he would 'love' to see a united Ireland and called Irish unification 'fantastic' during a visit to Ireland. The remarks break with decades of U.S. policy on Northern Ireland.

Jimmy Kimmel said his interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico will not air on ABC television. Kimmel attributed the decision to regulatory pressure from the FCC. The interview had been scheduled to appear on Kimmel's late-night program.

The United States and Iran have escalated their six-month-old war with a wave of attacks on shipping and military targets. US forces struck five Iranian oil tankers, while Iran attacked ten ships and a US base in Jordan, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Kurdistan24. The attacks mark the biggest wave of strikes on shipping since the war began, Reuters reported.

The United States launched 'large and powerful' strikes on Iran, and Iran retaliated by firing on its Gulf neighbors, including US bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The strikes come after a monthlong lull in direct exchanges, with the latest fighting centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States has banned imports of some Canadian products, including motorcycles, dairy, and alcohol, as the North American trade war intensifies. The bans were announced after negotiations broke down, and additional tariffs are expected on items such as mattresses, motorboats, and golf carts.

The Trump administration has proposed sweeping changes to the U.S. census that would reshape how political power is allocated, potentially excluding millions of immigrants from the count. The proposal, reported by multiple outlets, would alter who counts as living in America and what information is collected, with significant implications for voting maps and congressional representation.

Gloria Steinem, a leading figure in the American feminist movement and co-founder of Ms. Magazine, has died at the age of 92. Outlets across the political spectrum, including CNN, Fox News, and The Washington Post, reported her death on September 3, 2026.