“The conviction of Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis in Las Vegas has brought an end to one of the world’s most famous unsolved murder cases. He was found guilty of the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, who died when the black BMW he was travelling in was sprayed with bullets in a drive-by shooting in 1996. ‘This is huge. It was a tough case. It’s a cold case,’ former prosecutor Neama Rahmani told the BBC. ‘We’re talking about the greatest rapper of all time, an icon, and not a single arrest or prosecution for 30 years.’ The conviction gives closure to Shakur’s family, and has prompted questions from observers as to what it could mean for an almost identical case – the unsolved murder of Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, also known by his legal name of Christopher Wallace.” (09/01/26)
“Canada’s Liberals swept three special elections Monday in a result that showed voters backing Prime Minister Mark Carney for standing up against U.S. President Donald Trump. The Canadian Press, Canada’s national news agency, projected Liberal victories in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord in Quebec, Beaches-East York in Toronto and North Vancouver-Capilano in British Columbia. Carney said the results amounted to an endorsement of his government’s approach. ‘At this consequential time for Canada, voters have placed their trust in our government’s plan,’ he said in a statement.” (09/01/26)
“A new academic year began across Congo on Tuesday despite concerns by parents and teachers that the country’s Ebola outbreak still poses risks to children in the epicenter. The resumption of classes comes in the middle of what authorities say is the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease ever, with 2,950 killed among the 6,100 cases confirmed so far since mid-May. The union representing teachers in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, had called for a delay in restarting classes, but the government pressed ahead. UNICEF said it is supporting the authorities to prevent transmissions in schools. Some schools in Ituri, especially those owned by the government, recorded low turnouts. Authorities in Ituri did not respond to a request for comment on measures to ensure a lack of transmission in classrooms.” (09/01/26)
“A coalition of 22 states joined a Federal Trade Commission suit against Amazon alleging ‘deceptive and unfair practices,’ secretly gaming the prices advertisers ended up paying in search results auctions to appear on Amazon.com and its mobile app. The FTC, in a news release Monday, alleged that the platform ‘covertly and substantially increased’ costs for more than a million brands and sellers to advertise on its platform over a seven year period, costing them tens of billions of dollars, most of which was passed onto consumers.” (09/01/26)
“Turkey is pushing for a new agreement between Russia and Ukraine concerning grain exports via the Black Sea, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told journalists in Istanbul on Monday. Fidan said that Turkey was in contact with both Kiev and Moscow on this matter. ‘We are working on a further agreement, similar to the grain deal,’ the minister explained. Such an agreement had already been in place after the war began in 2022. However, it expired in 2023.” (08/31/26)
“A jury has found Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis guilty of orchestrating the killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, marking the first conviction in a case that has gripped hip-hop fans for decades. The 63-year-old Davis was convicted Monday of murder with the use of a deadly weapon and could be sentenced to life in prison. The jury deliberated for 3 hours after a weekslong trial in Las Vegas. The night of his murder, Shakur was in a BMW with music mogul Marion ‘Suge’ Knight when a white Cadillac pulled up at a red light. Shakur was shot multiple times and died six days later, while Knight survived. The confrontation was rooted in a long-running feud between the Mob Piru Bloods, a gang Shakur and Knight were affiliated with, and the South Side Compton Crips, for whom Davis was a prominent leader.” (08/31/26)
“China on Tuesday objected to Taiwan’s presence at the Pacific Islands Forum saying the democratically ruled island was not qualified to attend the summit, but Australia and New Zealand said the Pacific bloc would decide the guest list. China [pretends Taiwan is] its own territory, and tensions between both have featured prominently at the annual meeting of the 18-member group that counts Australia, New Zealand and Pacific island nations as members. … China’s special envoy for Pacific island affairs Qian Bo said on Monday that Taiwan’s presence would have consequences — without specifying what they would be.” (08/31/26)
“Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to step down in the coming days after the White House accepted his resignation, according to a person familiar with the matter and a White House official. NBC News reported last week that Driscoll had told close associates that he wanted to leave the administration by Labor Day. Driscoll visited the White House last week to discuss his future, according to three U.S. officials, but it wasn’t clear what came of the meeting. … Driscoll is the latest high-profile official at the Defense Department to depart; Navy Secretary John Phelan and the Army chief of staff, Gen. Randy George, were pushed out this spring. … Driscoll had differed over a number of issues with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who removed George, Phelan and other high-ranking Pentagon officials. He has also blocked the promotions of several senior Army officers.” (08/31/26)
“The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Monday that construction of the White House ballroom can continue, lifting a block on above-ground work as President Trump asserts the project is necessary for national security. It halts a lower court ruling that would’ve restricted construction until Congress provided additional approvals. Five of the court’s conservative [sic] justices, including all three of Trump’s appointees — Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — sided with the president. They ruled a preservationist group likely has no right to sue over one of its members’ concerns about the project. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s three liberal [sic] justices in dissent.” (08/21/26)
“Senior US military influencers were discreetly placed in government positions as part of a covert Pentagon operation, The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter and corroborating material. According to the report, the influencers in question have worked to push against criticism of the Trump administration while advancing the positions of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, being assigned as ‘special government employees (SGE)’ or ‘highly qualified experts (HQE).’ The report noted that HQEs are permitted to work either part-time or full-time with no compensation limitations, whereas SGEs may work up to 130 days per year. The sources, which named two of the influencers as US Air Force Col. (ret.) Rob Maness and US Army Col. (ret.) Kurt Schlichter, told the Washington Post that several of the veterans are in positions powerful enough to potentially influence policy changes.” (08/31/26)
