JD Vance reacts to airstrike that killed four at Iran wedding: ‘Things happen’

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2026 took place in Bishkek from August 31 to September 1, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the organization. • Discussions focused on regional cooperation, security, trade, energy, and connectivity, while addressing major geopolitical issues including the Russia-Ukraine war.

• The Harvard Kennedy School is launching a new program dedicated to diplomacy, focusing on negotiation scholarship and the management of international ties. • Co-led by Simcock and Nick, the initiative aims to build a professional "bench" capable of addressing emerging geopolitical issues and managing disputes.

• This daily news roundup from September 2, 2026, highlights several critical global issues, including Ukrainian President Zelensky's threats regarding civilian aircraft. • The collection features reports on the widespread deployment of AI, the potential appointment of an IDF fanatic to a top U.S. Army position, and the environmental impact of extreme heat.

• Iran has claimed responsibility for new attacks targeting military bases used by U.S. troops in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, ignoring previous warnings from Donald Trump. • Simultaneously, the Pentagon is investigating reports that a separate U.S. military strike may have accidentally hit a wedding party.

• Kyrgyzstan is hosting a pivotal Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, bringing together global heavyweights involved in current geopolitical conflicts. • The host nation is strategically balancing its diplomatic ties with major global powers to leverage its geographic position for political and economic gain.

• Prof Michel Chossudovsky and Drago Bosnic released a video on September 2, 2026, alleging that Pfizer Inc. has a criminal record with the U.S. Department of Justice. • The report highlights a previous $2.3 billion health care fraud settlement mandated by former U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., citing it as the largest of its kind.

• Experts from the Brookings Institution are analyzing the long-term global implications and policy requirements resulting from the war in Iran. • The conflict has highlighted a "jarring reckoning" regarding the fragility of economic security across Asia within a degraded geopolitical landscape.

US tech company has sued London mayor after he prevented it from working with Metropolitan policeSadiq Khan has agreed for his text messages and emails to be searched as part of a legal battle with Palantir, the high court has been told, after he prevented the US technology company from working with the Metropolitan police.The London mayor stepped in to block a £50m deal between Palantir and the Met in May, with the artificial intelligence developer suing Khan’s office over the decision. Continue reading...

Under-pressure carmaker will shed 15% of workforce and halve its product line in sector’s biggest ever restructureThe car company Volkswagen has confirmed that it will shed 100,000 jobs by the end of the decade after being hit by US tariffs and fierce competition from Chinese rivals.The German manufacturer said management and unions had agreed as part of a sweeping cost-cutting plan to cut a further 50,000 positions by 2030, bringing total job losses in the pipeline to 100,000. Continue reading...

Project that critics say will disrupt historic sightlines in Washington DC is facing a lawsuitThe Trump administration said on Thursday that excavation work will start over the next two weeks on the site where it plans to build a towering, gilded arch, a project that is facing a lawsuit and that critics say will disrupt historic sightlines in Washington DC.The proposed arch is one of several projects the Republican president is pursuing to leave his lasting imprint on Washington, including renaming and renovating the Kennedy Center, building a huge new White House ballroom, refurbishing the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool and rebuilding a golf course in East Potomac Park that could significantly reduce the public’s access to running and biking paths. Continue reading...

Deadlocked jurors to return on Friday to see if they can reach a decision after dramatic day of deliberationsThe deadlocked jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial went home without a verdict Thursday in a dramatic sixth day of deliberations.Her defense lawyer told the judge that the panel’s foreperson said in a note that a single juror would not follow the court’s instructions about reasonable doubt and was holding up a verdict. Continue reading...