Two former Hungarian ministers detained over suspected bribery and misuse of public funds 29. September 2026 (14:09) Ministers from Viktor Orbán’s former far-right government arrested after MPs vote to lift their immunityTwo ministers in Viktor Orbán’s former far-right government suspected separately of misusing millions of euros of public funds and taking millions more in bribes have been detained, hours after Hungarian MPs voted to lift their immunity.Prosecutors said on Tuesday that Balázs Hankó, Orbán’s culture minister and still an MP in the former prime minister’s nationalist Fidesz party, was taken into custody late on Monday. Hankó is suspected of misappropriation of funds. He has denied any wrongdoing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘It takes a lot of work’: Deb Haaland puts addiction struggles at center of New Mexico governor bid 29. September 2026 (14:00) First Native American woman to serve as US cabinet secretary candid about history with alcohol as she seeks to tackle billowing public health crisis “It clouds your mind,” recalls Deb Haaland, the trailblazing US cabinet secretary now running to be New Mexico’s next governor. “They say that, after the first drink, you lose your judgment.”Haaland developed a drinking problem after leaving high school and was twice arrested for driving under the influence. But in her 20s she decided to get sober, a battle that required personal commitment and critical external support. She went on to become a member of Congress, one of the first two Native American women ever elected to the House, and then to become the first Native American to serve as a US cabinet secretary. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senate passes bipartisan Protect College Sports Act amid ‘chaos’ in industry 29. September 2026 (13:41) College sports have been upended by athlete paymentsCritics say legislation does not go far enoughThe Senate passed a sweeping bipartisan bill on Monday that would regulate college sports, an attempt to end “chaos” in an industry that has been upended by skyrocketing athlete payments and near-unrestricted transfers between schools.The overwhelming 77-22 vote to pass the Protect College Sports Act is the strongest effort yet by Congress to set national regulations governing payments to college athletes for their name, image and likeness and how often they can transfer. It would give the NCAA new authority over those rules and limited antitrust protections to enforce them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New UK homes in flood-risk areas could become uninsurable, says Aviva boss 29. September 2026 (13:41) Amanda Blanc says flooding threat is ‘absolutely increasing’, as she also warns ministers over ‘kite flying’ before budgetBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of Britain’s biggest insurer has said that homes being built now could become uninsurable in the future because they are sited in flood-risk areas.Amanda Blanc, the chief executive of Aviva, said the flooding threat was “absolutely increasing”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Imams’ council condemns Melbourne Islamic preacher’s call to ‘take up arms’ against enemies 29. September 2026 (13:04) Independent MP Allegra Spender says the comments reinforce the need for stronger protection against hate speechGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s peak body for imams says it is “deeply concerned” about reports a Melbourne-based Islamic preacher called for followers to “take up arms against his enemies” and not take “Jews and the Christians for friends”.The Australian National Imams’ Council (ANIC) released a statement on Tuesday after Nine newspapers revealed the preacher who goes by the name Abu Ahmad made the comments during a sermon in July. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
RAF Fairford: Rubio says ‘foreign actor’ behind plot as some evacuated residents begin to return home – latest updates 29. September 2026 (11:56) US secretary of state and Donald Trump express concerns about decision to bail suspects; some residents reported as hesitant to return homeRubio says foreign actor was ‘clearly’ behind suspected RAF Fairford plotTell us: have you been affected by the incident at RAF Fairford?An MP and councillors representing the residents of the village near RAF Fairford who were evacuated due to the suspected plot have expressed scepticism and concern over the security response to threats made by Iran.Roz Savage, the MP for South Cotswolds, said she had many questions about the circumstances of how the alleged plot was averted. The Liberal Democrat MP, whose constituency covers the military base, said she would be writing to the prime minister and the defence secretary with her concerns. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trial of live facial recognition in London stations ends with a false positive and no arrests 29. September 2026 (11:48) Freedom of information request finds six-month trial cost £320,000, used almost 100 police hours and led to just one – incorrect – alertA six-month trial of live facial recognition (LFR) technology in London’s railway stations that cost more than £320,000 and almost 100 hours of police officers’ time ended in one false match against a watchlist of suspects and no arrests.More than half a million faces were scanned between February and July this year in some of the capital’s busiest transport hubs during the British Transport Police (BTP) trial of the surveillance technology, which aimed to help catch offenders and people breaching court orders. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dale Vince plans London-wide news operation to take on ‘rightwing bias’ in the media 29. September 2026 (11:48) Green energy entrepreneur plans rescue package for the group behind the Camden New Journal, Islington Tribune and Westminster ExtraThe green energy entrepreneur and Labour donor Dale Vince is planning to launch a London-wide news operation, as part of a “rescue” of one of the capital’s most highly regarded local newspapers.Vince, who has vowed to take on what he sees as rightwing bias in the UK media, said he would invest “whatever it takes” to support the loss-making group behind the Camden New Journal (CNJ), Islington Tribune and Westminster Extra. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney teen taken to hospital after falling from moving bus on northern beaches 29. September 2026 (11:40) Transport for NSW, bus operator and Rail, Tram and Bus union investigate after incident on Monday eveningGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastInvestigations are under way after a teenage girl fell from a moving double-decker bus on to a busy road in Sydney’s northern beaches.Emergency services were called to Manly Road at Seaforth on Monday evening after the teenager fell from the B-Line bus near the Spit Bridge. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott jailed for child sexual abuse 29. September 2026 (11:37) Dott, 49, receives seven-year sentence after abusing a boy and a girl in what judge says was ‘gross violation of trust’The former snooker world champion Graeme Dott has been jailed for seven years at the high court in Edinburgh after being convicted of sexually abusing two children.In August, Dott was found guilty of sexually abusing a boy and a girl after a five-day trial at Glasgow high court. The court heard that the 2006 world champion inappropriately touched and exposed himself to both children. He denied the charges but was convicted of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour by a majority verdict. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
