Private Ivy League research university in Providence, RI, founded 1764
Pulitzer-winning historian Gordon S. Wood has died at 92 after being struck by a car in a Rhode Island supermarket parking lot. He has shaped modern understandings of the American Revolution, influencing how scholars view slavery, liberty, and the founding era.
El Niño has formed in the Pacific and is expected to strengthen through late 2026, with a 63% chance of reaching a very strong level. Forecasts warn of hotter global temperatures and extreme weather, while impacts will vary by region. Scientists urge preparation and climate action as nations monitor evolving conditions.
Health officials warn crowd settings at the World Cup heighten risks of infectious diseases, with measles and flu among the leading threats. Surveillance is tight as officials monitor stadiums, airports and bars for early signs of outbreaks. Experts stress vaccination and rapid response as travel ramps up.
The New Arab and Al Jazeera reports detail responses to Bezalel Smotrich’s move to revoke Hebron agreements, transferring planning and construction powers to Israeli authorities in the H2 zone. Palestinian officials condemn the action as a violation of international law, while settlements expansion and related violence intensify across the West Bank and Gaza.
A collection of recent remarks highlights how curiosity, initiative, and cross-functional effort are steering workplaces through the AI age. Leaders emphasize probing questions, practical learning, and giving beyond one’s core duties to drive product development and team culture.
AI researchers push beyond language models toward embodied intelligence. World models aim to teach AI agents to react in physical environments, with robotics data pipelines and real-world testing becoming the focus for the next frontier.
Nicholas Rossi has died in a Utah hospital while serving a prison sentence for two 2008 rape convictions. He was extradited from Scotland in 2024 after a decades-long case involving alleged faked deaths, multiple aliases, and Interpol notices. Authorities say he died from complications of an existing medical condition after discontinuing treatment.
The 250th anniversary is being marked amid partisan tensions, with leaders touting democracy while critics warn of deeper erosions in institutions and norms.
CalMatters reports widespread non-compliance across 148 public campuses on annual policies, inventories and public forums for police military equipment. Some campuses publish reports late, omit details, or skip required public forums. The findings show variability in adherence and ongoing efforts to address gaps after inquiries.
Northwestern University researchers find that TikTok’s recommendation engine responds to negative feedback but gradually reverts if users repeatedly flag content; a finding based on cloned accounts and controlled signals shows the “not interested” button reduces unwanted content by about 84%, but the effect fades with brief re-engagement.
Howard University has reinstated roughly 200 of 502 first-year students who were removed from its roster after missing a July 10 payment deadline or failing to meet other enrollment conditions; the school says each case will be reviewed. In the UK, the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent have formed the London and South East University Group (LASE/LASEUG), a four-campus group of more than 50,000 students that will launch on 7 September.
Climate models have shown an unusually powerful El Niño forming in the tropical Pacific that has a high chance of peaking this year or into 2027. Forecasts have indicated record ocean temperatures, widespread risks to food and water supplies across Africa and Latin America, and added pressure on prices and supply chains already strained by conflict and heatwaves.
The National Defense Authorization Act has cleared the House with a 216-212 vote, boosting military spending and strengthening US-Israel defense cooperation. The measure now faces Senate scrutiny, with Democrats criticizing the price tag and war-related provisions while Republicans defend funding for readiness and security. The package also includes provisions tied to the SAVE America Act and election-related funding.
Gen Z-led protests over medical exam leaks have compelled India’s education minister to resign. The Cockroach Janta Party has galvanized a nationwide movement pressing for accountability and reforms. The government has conceded some demands, while protests continue to shape political dynamics.
Measles cases in the U.S. have surged to 2,371 this year, the highest in years, prompting renewed calls for vaccination amid political and public health pressures. Outbreaks are intensifying in several states as officials warn that vaccination alone may not curb spread. Health Secretary Kennedy faces scrutiny over his vaccine stance while states push to bolster immunization programs.
The American Red Cross has declared a national blood-supply crisis as donations fall to a multi-year summer low. Hospitals face strained inventories, especially for type O blood, during the summer trauma season. Efforts to incentivize donations and explore prehospital transfusion payments are under way in the US and Canada.
Moderna has won FDA approval for its mRNA flu vaccine mFlusiva for adults 50–64 and accelerated approval for those 65 and older. The decision follows a contentious review earlier this year, a unanimous advisory panel recommendation in June and political disputes inside US health agencies over mRNA vaccines. Retail availability is expected in coming weeks.
Flock Safety is mandating new audit features, shorter data retention, and case-linked searches for its license-plate reader network amid mounting scrutiny over privacy and potential misuse by law enforcement. The company says updates are designed to increase accountability and align with community values.
A US federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration's March lawsuit accusing Harvard of ongoing Title VI civil rights violations, finding the cited incidents were "too isolated and episodic" to show institutional noncompliance. The government is assessing next steps; Harvard has not immediately commented. The suit had sought to reclaim billions in federal research funding.