Greetings! Happy National Singles Day to those celebrating.

Let’s get into today’s top stories.

🇺🇦 Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant enters a fifth day on emergency power. Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is relying solely on diesel generators after losing external electricity, its longest such outage since occupation began. The United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog and Greenpeace warned that sustained generator use increases safety risks, noting that engineered safeguards are designed for short interruptions, not multi-day reliance. Kyiv blamed Russian shelling for severing the last high-voltage line; Moscow denied responsibility while indicating plans to reroute the plant to its occupied grid. Ukrainian officials said operators are conserving diesel to stretch on-site reserves, though exact volumes were not disclosed publicly. The episode triggered fresh calls for a protection zone around the facility and a bar on military activity within it. Separately, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a large arms package and additional drone contracts to bolster air defense and strike capabilities. Analysts say the dual headlines underscore a widening risk envelope: nuclear safety on one axis, escalation dynamics on the other.

🇸🇩 Darfur’s siege deepens: el-Fasher reports rising malnutrition deaths. Medical groups in North Darfur said 23 people, including children and five pregnant women, died of malnutrition in el-Fasher in one month as the city remains besieged. The Sudan Doctors Network described the blockade as weaponized starvation and urged opening secure aid corridors. The United Nations (UN) estimates more than 40,000 people have been killed and 12 million displaced nationwide since fighting erupted in 2023, with roughly 24 million facing acute food insecurity. Humanitarian agencies reported nutrition clinics shuttered for lack of supplies, and cholera alerts layered onto the crisis. Local sources said recent drone attacks compounded access constraints by damaging markets and scaring residents from food lines. Aid groups reiterated that even modest daily relief convoys could stabilize mortality trends if allowed through. Diplomats warned that accountability mechanisms will track starvation tactics alongside other violations.

🏛️ White House asks Supreme Court to uphold birthright-citizenship limits. The administration petitioned the Supreme Court to reinstate an executive order restricting automatic citizenship for some American-born children, a move lower courts have blocked as unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. Justice Department lawyers argued current interpretations create security and immigration incentives inconsistent with the framers’ intent. Civil-rights groups contend the order contradicts more than a century of precedent and would sow legal chaos for families, schools, and employers. If the Court grants review, arguments could occur in early 2026, with nationwide effects hinging on the eventual ruling. Several states filed briefs taking opposing positions, previewing a federalism fight over documentation and benefits eligibility. Court watchers note that even accepting the case would mark a significant moment in constitutional law on citizenship.

🧾 Oct. 1 tariffs set to raise household costs beyond the checkout line. Starting October 1, new import duties will hit 100% for many pharmaceutical drugs, 50% for kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% for upholstered furniture, and 25% for heavy trucks, according to the administration’s announcement. Economists expect the immediate pass-through to show up in Consumer Price Index (CPI) categories such as medical care commodities and household furnishings, with secondary effects on renovation costs that filter into shelter-adjacent indexes over subsequent quarters. Insurers and pharmacy benefit managers say list-price shocks could pressure formularies and premiums if generic or domestic substitutes are not available at scale. Homebuilders warn cabinetry and vanity tariffs could add thousands of dollars to mid-range projects, especially where supply chains still depend on Asian manufacturing. Retailers face a choice between absorbing higher landed costs or repricing before the holiday quarter, a decision that will vary by inventory depth and contract terms. Freight and fleet operators note the 25% levy on heavy trucks will complicate replacement cycles and could modestly raise logistics costs into 2026. The White House argues the measures will spur domestic production; analysts counter that, in the near term, the net effect is inflationary and regressive for consumers.

🎂 Google marks its 27th birthday with a retro Doodle. Google ($GOOG) celebrated its 27th birthday on September 27 by swapping in a throwback Doodle that recreates the company’s first logo from 1998. The choice of date reflects Google’s long-standing practice of observing its “birthday” on September 27, even though the company was formally incorporated earlier in the month in 1998. The anniversary highlights the search engine’s evolution from a Stanford University research project to a core utility embedded in daily life across the globe. Google’s Doodle page framed the look back as a nod to early ambitions to organize information and make it widely accessible. The celebration drew attention to enduring questions about search, advertising, and AI that now define Google’s business and public scrutiny.

🐭 Disney to pay $10 million to resolve COPPA case on kids’ data. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said Disney ($DIS) will pay $10 million to settle allegations that children’s personal information was collected through certain apps without proper parental consent. The company did not admit wrongdoing and said it is enhancing compliance processes across platforms. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA) requires clear notice to parents and verified consent before gathering data on children under 13. Regulators said the settlement includes auditing and deletion requirements designed to prevent recurrence. The case arrives amid broader scrutiny of kid-focused design, including push notifications and engagement loops. Advocacy groups welcomed the fine but called for stronger default protections. The FTC said additional enforcement actions are in the pipeline as it reviews other children’s apps and ad-tech partners.

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That’s all for today!

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See you tomorrow!

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