General News

Samarkand, Uzbekistan – September 26, 2026 -- Timur Turlov has been elected President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), winning a second-round runoff vote at the FIDE General Assembly in Samarkand, becoming the first Kazakh national to lead the organization.

Turlov secures four-year mandate through 2030 on joint ticket with Anand

Turlov, who ran alongside five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand as Deputy President, takes office for a term running through 2030. Anand, FIDE Deputy President since 2022, remains in the role, providing institutional continuity to the new administration.

NEW YORK – September 26, 2026 -- China Southern Airlines marked its 70th anniversary with a Times Square display, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, as the Guangzhou-based carrier reported a fleet of 972 aircraft and 174 million passengers carried in 2025.

Carrier operates 972-aircraft fleet spanning Boeing and Airbus widebodies

As of the end of 2025, China Southern's fleet included Boeing 787 and 777 aircraft, Airbus A350 and A330 models, alongside domestically produced C909 and C919 jets. The airline's network now spans 177 countries and more than 1,000 destinations worldwide.

Phoenix – September 26, 2026 -- A peer-reviewed study from University of Phoenix examining AI-supported storytelling in environmental science education has been named an Editor's Choice paper by the journal Glacies.

Study links AI-generated imagery to measurable gains in student engagement

The paper, "Harnessing AI, Virtual Landscapes, and Anthropomorphic Imaginaries to Enhance Environmental Science Education at Jökulsárlón Proglacial Lagoon, Iceland," was published in February 2026. It reports that 87.1% of surveyed students enjoyed the anthropomorphic narratives used in the course, while 82.0% agreed the approach reinforced systems thinking.

Washington, D.C. – September 26, 2026 -- Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) has donated $1.1 million to MedStar Health, extending a five-year philanthropic commitment first pledged in 2024 to fund maternal, infant and pediatric care programs across Washington, D.C.

MSE and MedStar Health extend a five-year funding pledge into its third year

The gift continues annual support MSE committed in 2024 to expand access to specialized health services for birthing mothers and children in the District. Since 2019, MSE and The Leonsis Family have contributed more than $13 million to MedStar Health initiatives, including pediatric community health, COVID-19 response and sports medicine programs.

Memphis – September 26, 2026 -- International Paper Chief Executive Officer Andy Silvernail will speak at the Baird 2026 Global Industrial Conference on September 26, 2026.

Fireside chat scheduled for 8:30 a.m. ET on November 11

The Fireside Chat and Q&A session is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. CT), giving investors direct access to Silvernail's commentary on the corrugated packaging maker's strategy and market outlook.

Webcast access available via investor relations page

Interested parties can listen to the live webcast through International Paper's Investors tab on the company website, under the Events & Presentations section. A replay will be posted approximately three hours after the presentation concludes.

Kansas City, Mo. – September 26, 2026 -- Sun Life U.S. and the Kansas City Royals Foundation have completed the first "Every Single Smile" campaign, raising $50,000 to expand dental care access for underserved youth in Kansas City through nonprofit TeamSmile.

Every Royals single triggered a donation toward the season-long fundraising goal

The campaign converted a core baseball statistic into a philanthropic mechanism, with each single hit by the Royals generating a contribution from Sun Life and the Kansas City Royals Foundation over the course of the season.

Funds will finance a new December dental clinic and expand preventive care access

The $50,000 will support an additional TeamSmile dental clinic in Kansas City this December and strengthen the Dental Home Project, which links underserved youth with local dentists for ongoing preventive care relationships.

Los Angeles – September 26, 2026 -- The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) closed its three-city U.S. workshop series on Sept. 18 in Los Angeles, linking nearly 70 Southern California travel professionals with Taiwanese travel agencies, hotels and airlines for direct business meetings.

US arrivals to Taiwan hit a record 710,000 in 2025

More than 710,000 U.S. visitors traveled to Taiwan in 2025, with nearly 60% citing tourism as their primary purpose -- a record for the destination. The market is backed by over 200 weekly round-trip flights connecting Taiwan to 13 major North American cities.

Los Angeles – September 26, 2026 -- Six families displaced by the January 2025 Eaton Fire moved into rebuilt homes in Altadena's La Viña neighborhood this September, just six months after Brookfield Residential broke ground on the project on September 26, 2026.

The pace stands in sharp contrast to the broader rebuilding effort in the fire zone. According to CBS News, only about 1% of Altadena homes have been rebuilt in the 18 months since the Eaton and Palisades fires destroyed more than 16,000 structures. The L.A. County Recovers dashboard reported 100 Altadena homes fully rebuilt and 2,981 building permits issued as of September 26, 2026.

Chicago – September 26, 2026 -- The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) brought its U.S. workshop series back to Chicago on Sept. 16, 2026, ending a seven-year absence from the Midwest market and drawing 53 local travel industry representatives.

Taiwan logged a record 710,000 U.S. visitors in 2025

Nearly 60% of those arrivals were tourism-driven, the TTA reported, a record high for the destination. The agency credited strong air connectivity, with more than 200 weekly round-trip flights linking Taiwan to 13 major North American cities.

Repeat visitors matched pre-pandemic peak at 42.25% of arrivals

Through its "Tourism Dual-Wheel Drive Program," the TTA is courting repeat visitors, MICE travelers extending stays for leisure, and incentive travel groups. The 42.25% repeat-visitor share in 2025 equaled the pre-pandemic high recorded in 2019.

Belleville, Ill. – September 26, 2026 -- Illinois American Water processes approximately 275 water samples per day at its Central Laboratory in Belleville, Illinois, as part of a structured source water protection program tied to the American Water Works Association's Source Water Protection Week, running September 27 to October 3.

Utility relies on multiple river and aquifer systems to supply 1.3 million customers

The company draws from the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, the Vermillion River headwaters, and groundwater resources including the Mahomet Aquifer to serve its Illinois service territory. Rebecca Losli, President of Illinois American Water, said high-quality drinking water originates upstream in shared landscapes rather than at treatment plants.