Edition 20 · Sunday, September 6, 2026
Here's what happened.
A legislative setback has hit a manufacturing and housing proposal in California. The episode illustrates how difficult it remains to build in the state, while a backlash against billionaires could make development even harder.
The United States says it struck three Iranian oil tankers, while Iran says it targeted three U.S.-linked ships. The reported attacks mark a renewed escalation involving shipping and regional tensions.
Elections in Germany’s eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt could give the Alternative for Germany party an outright majority. Such a result could produce the country’s first far-right state government since the Nazi era.
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to arrive in Kyiv for their first visit to the Ukrainian capital. The trip is part of a renewed U.S. push for peace in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, following a meeting with Putin in Moscow.
More than 150,000 airline passengers are stranded after ash from volcanic eruptions was detected in airspace near Jakarta. The disruption is affecting regional air travel in Indonesia.
Washington imposed sanctions on Inspur because of its work with the Chinese military. The company’s subsidiary nevertheless kept shipping Nvidia’s best chips to supply China’s leading A.I. firms, highlighting a gap between restrictions and access to advanced hardware.
Thousands of Kenyans made a living writing college essays for overseas students. The work has dried up with the arrival of AI, offering a warning about the technology’s impact on online gig work that has served as a global lifeline.
iOS 27 will include iPhone Handoff, a feature that lets users switch between two phones while using the same number. Apple briefly mentioned it during the WWDC keynote in June, and a new demo clip shows how to set it up.
Researchers embedded electrodes into live cockroaches and equipped them with cameras and injection devices. The remotely controlled insects are intended to deliver medication in disaster-response settings.
Climate change is intensifying the conditions aviation must contend with, including hotter and stormier skies. The report asks whether passengers will increasingly face delays and diversions as those effects grow.
Mathematician Joan Birman believed her major discoveries were behind her until she received an email from a young neighbor eager to learn. The story follows their unexpected connection across generations.
Forensic science graduate Hayden Leigh is studying the hair of Boris the bear. The work is connected to efforts to use wildlife evidence in tackling crime.
The FDA says illnesses linked to frozen blueberries have risen to 17. Affected frozen fruit products were distributed to 19 states and retailers including Walmart and Publix, with recalls beginning in July.
The war in Iran continues to affect gas and diesel prices. NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe spoke with former State Department energy envoy David Goldwyn about the impact on fuel costs.
Missouri asked the Supreme Court to allow use of a redrawn voting map that benefits Republicans. Missouri’s Supreme Court had said the map could not be used in November and that voters should decide on the new boundaries.
Trump administration officials are drafting a benefit for at-home parents, a top policy priority for Vice President JD Vance. The proposal would apply only to married couples and use a fund intended for federal child care subsidies for working parents.
The U.S. military sank boats it said were assisting drug smuggling near Ecuador. Unlike dozens of similar strikes, no one was killed after people suspected of smuggling were removed from a floating refueling station.
More than 120 people were arrested at a Memphis cantina in one of Tennessee’s largest immigration operations of the year. The raid began as a gambling investigation before expanding into an immigration operation.
Jaguar Land Rover is facing thousands of expected job cuts as it struggles with tariffs and the fallout from a major cyberattack last year. A government minister is due to meet the company’s chief executive.
Katie Taylor defeated Flora Pili by unanimous decision at a sold-out Croke Park. The victory made Taylor a three-time undisputed world champion in her final fight before retirement.
South Africa overcame New Zealand with a strong final quarter in Soweto. The world champions took a 2-1 lead in the series.
Influencers in a luxury suite at the US Open distracted players during Naomi Osaka’s match against Anastasia Zakharova. The umpire paused the match and repeatedly asked the creators to quiet down, highlighting tensions between influencer culture and live sports.
Nintendo will hold two Direct showcases on back-to-back days in September. One of the presentations will mark the 40th anniversary of Zelda, with viewing information provided by IGN.
Single-player RPG and new intellectual property The Blood of Dawnwalker sold 1 million copies within two days of launch. Publisher Bandai Namco and developer Rebel Wolves announced the milestone.
Haitian immigrants make up a large share of the already overburdened home-care workforce. Families describe the consequences after Haitian caregivers were let go in the United States.
Muslim pitmasters in Texas are reshaping one of the state’s most iconic culinary traditions. Their businesses are winning over diners even as anti-Muslim rhetoric rises in the state.
A Colorado women’s softball team includes players across an unusually broad age range. Its youngest player is 60, while its oldest is 92.
Speculation is growing that an announcement about Daniel Craig’s successor as James Bond could be near. The BBC examines the questions fans want answered about the franchise’s next lead.
Latimore, a Blues Hall of Famer, has died at 86. He became a sensation in 1974 with his hit song “Let’s Straighten It Out.”
Netflix’s September lineup includes a revival of “A Different World” and a feature-length “Call My Agent!” film. The New York Times highlights those titles among the month’s notable additions.
Comedian Munya Chawawa is making his stage acting debut. He says he wants to move away from social content and toward Shakespearean stage work.