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Taiwan is preparing for Typhoon Podul, expected to hit the southeastern city of Taitung on Wednesday with winds up to 155 kph (96 mph). Nearly 700 people in Hualien County are being evacuated due to flooding risks from a landslide-formed dam, Reuters reported.

After hitting the southeast, Podul will move toward the densely populated west coast and then China’s Fujian province. Heavy rain of up to 600 mm has been forecasted in southern mountains.

The region is still recovering from July’s storms, which caused flooding, power outages, and four deaths. Authorities urge residents to stay alert and follow safety orders.

Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI plans legal action against Apple, accusing it of favoring OpenAI’s ChatGPT in App Store rankings and blocking competitors like xAI’s Grok. ChatGPT currently leads the US iPhone App Store, with Grok in fifth place, according to Reuters.

Musk also questioned Apple’s refusal to feature xAI apps in the “Must Have” section. Apple, OpenAI, and xAI have not responded to the allegations.

The dispute comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny and recent legal actions against Apple’s App Store practices, Reuters reported.

Taylor Swift has announced her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, following a teaser campaign and confirmation from her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. The album is available for pre-order, with the release date yet to be announced, BBC reported.

Her previous album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024), broke Spotify’s single-day streaming record. Earlier this year, Swift bought back the rights to her first six albums and continues re-recording them as “Taylor’s Versions.”

Swift recently ended her record-breaking Eras tour, which included 149 shows and generated about £1bn for the UK economy.

Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, DC on Monday, authorizing the Department of Justice to take control of the city’s local law enforcement. At the same time, he announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops to the capital, with 100 to 200 supporting law enforcement efforts.

According to Al Jazeera, protesters near the White House voiced their disapproval, with some describing the move as a significant and alarming escalation. Keya Chatterjee, executive director of advocacy group Free DC, called the action “authoritarian,” emphasizing concerns over the rights of DC residents and their long-standing calls for self-determination.

US President Donald Trump announced that his administration is reviewing the possibility of reclassifying cannabis as a less dangerous drug. Speaking at the White House, Trump said he expects to make a decision in the coming weeks, calling the issue “very complicated.” He acknowledged positive reports about medical cannabis but expressed concerns about broader use, especially its impact on children and older adults, Al Jazeera reported.

Following his remarks, stocks of cannabis companies surged, with New York-based Tilray Brands rising nearly 42 percent. Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level as a Schedule I drug, categorized alongside heroin and LSD, indicating high abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Former President Joe Biden had proposed reclassifying cannabis to Schedule III, reflecting lower risk, but the change was not implemented before he left office.

A shooting at a Target store parking lot in Austin, Texas, left three people dead after a gunman opened fire and then fled in stolen vehicles. Police caught the suspect, a man in his 30s with a history of mental health issues, about 32 km away following a chase, according to Firstpost.

Two victims died at the scene; a third died later in hospital. Another person was injured but unrelated to the shooting.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the attack a “sickening, cowardly act” and offered condolences to the families. The investigation is ongoing, Firstpost reported.

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that recent tariff hikes will not apply to gold imports, ending speculation over duties on certain gold bars.

His statement followed a letter from US customs authorities suggesting that 2.8 kg of gold bars, in two standard weights, should be subject to import duties, according to Firstpost.

Trump posted on Truth Social, “Gold will not be Tariffed!” without providing further details.

US President Donald Trump will join a virtual summit on Wednesday with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, called by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ahead of Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Firstpost reported.

Leaders will discuss ways to pressure Moscow, the status of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, and security guarantees for Kyiv. Europe insists on a ceasefire before talks and rejects any land deals without Ukraine’s consent. Zelensky has ruled out territorial concessions, warning they would embolden Russia.

According to Firstpost, Trump said he will seek “everybody’s ideas” before urging Putin to end the war.