Asia

Musk’s xAI Loses Court Fight Over Minnesota’s AI ‘Nudification’ Ban—But the Bigger Battle Is Just Beginning

WASHINGTON — Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI has suffered another legal setback in its fight against Minnesota’s first-of-its-kind ban on AI-generated “nudification” images, after a federal judge refused to temporarily block the law while the company’s constitutional challenge moves forward. U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank on Friday, September 4, rejected xAI’s request for a preliminary injunction, ruling that the company had not shown the kind of immediate, irreparable harm n

Sport

Aryna Sabalenka Stops US Open Match Over Strong Weed Smell — Then Reveals What Really Distracted Her

NEW YORK — Aryna Sabalenka has dealt with pressure, powerful opponents and the expectations that come with being the world No. 1. But during her third-round match at the 2026 US Open, it was something far more unexpected that briefly stopped the two-time defending champion: a strong smell of cannabis. Sabalenka interrupted play during her match against Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Friday after the odor became difficult for her to ignore. While serving early in t

Politics

Trump Signs Sweeping Beef Orders—But His Wolf Move Could Trigger a Bigger Battle

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a pair of executive orders aimed at reshaping the American beef industry, giving ranchers greater support against livestock predators, expanding access to meat processing and putting mandatory country-of-origin labeling back on the policy agenda. The actions, signed on September 4, come as U.S. beef prices remain at record levels and the national cattle herd sits at a 75-year low. The administration is under pressure to bring grocery costs dow

Sport

US OPEN INFLUENCER CONTROVERSY ERUPTS: Players Say Tennis Etiquette Is Being Pushed Too Far

NEW YORK — The 2026 US Open has found itself at the center of an unexpected controversy, and this time the debate isn't about a shocking upset or a championship favorite. It is about influencers, smartphones, ring lights and whether the pursuit of viral content is beginning to clash with the traditions of professional tennis. The issue erupted after spectators filming and posing during Naomi Osaka's first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova created enough noise and distraction for the chai

Politics

Lutnick Apologizes After Claiming No Americans Died in Iran War—18 U.S. Troops Are Dead

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has apologized after mistakenly claiming that no Americans had died in the ongoing conflict with Iran—an assertion quickly contradicted by the U.S. military's reported casualty figures. Lutnick acknowledged Thursday that 18 U.S. service members have been killed in the conflict and said more than 750 have been wounded. He attributed his earlier statement to confusion with a separate U.S. military operation in Venezuela, where no American service members wer

Politics

US Military Shuts Down Phone Tracking After a Chilling Discovery—But the Threat May Already Be Inside the Data

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has begun shutting down advertising trackers on government-issued phones and computers after officials acknowledged a growing national-security threat: commercially available location data can be used to track and potentially target American service members in conflict zones. The move was disclosed in letters released Friday by U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and in statements provided to Reuters, following months of scrutiny over the sale of sensitive location information by

Philippines

Duterte Camp Makes New Move Before ICC Trial—And It Could Put Digital Evidence Under the Microscope

MANILA, Philippines — The legal battle surrounding former President Rodrigo Duterte’s International Criminal Court (ICC) case is taking another turn, with his defense team asking judges to impose stricter verification requirements on digital evidence before his trial begins. Duterte’s lawyers have asked the ICC Trial Chamber III to amend its E-Court Protocol, particularly for open-source and user-generated materials that could be presented as evidence in the case. The defense argues that simpl

Asia

The World Map We Grew Up With Is Misleading—Now the UN Wants It Changed

NEW YORK — The United Nations General Assembly has backed a resolution encouraging the world to move away from distorted representations of continental size, putting a spotlight on one of the most familiar images in classrooms, offices and digital maps: the Mercator world map. The resolution, spearheaded by Togo and supported by the African Union, passed overwhelmingly on Friday, September 4, with 164 countries voting in favor, one against and six abstaining. The United States was the only coun

Entertainment

Lea Salonga Makes Hollywood History as First Filipina to Get Walk of Fame Star — But Her Message Goes Beyond the Spotlight

The Tony Award-winning Filipina performer was honored with the 2,855th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 4, becoming the first Filipina to receive the prestigious Hollywood landmark recognition. The star was unveiled in the Live Performance category outside the historic Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, bringing a milestone decades in the making to one of the world's most famous entertainment streets. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce confirmed the honor and described Salon

Business

Oil Nears $96 as US-Iran Tensions Escalate—But the Real Risk May Be What Happens Next

SINGAPORE — Oil prices were holding near six-week highs on Friday as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran pushed crude toward its strongest weekly advance since mid-July, with traders increasingly focused on the risk that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz could worsen. Brent crude futures were around $95.52 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood near $91.36 in early trading Friday. On the week, Brent was up about 7.6%, while WTI had climbed 10.4%, putting