Failure to protect free speech could cost Labour votes at next election, says Liberty 28. September 2026 (01:01) Polling for rights group shows issue is concern for voters and many feel recent policies have had negative effect Free speech will be a big concern for voters at the next general election, with the government’s current approach on the issue perceived by many to be bad for Britain, polling suggests.Three in five people said a political party’s position on free speech would affect how they voted at a general election. The human rights organisation Liberty, which commissioned the polling from More in Common, claimed the results showed that Labour’s failure to protect free speech could cost it votes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hurricane Nolo still threatens Hawaii as Mexico's Baja braces for major Hurricane Polo 28. September 2026 (00:59) Hurricane Nolo is moving away from Hawaiian islands but threat of heavy rain, flash floods and strong winds persistsHurricane Nolo was moving away from the Hawaiian islands on Sunday, but the threat of heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds persisted in areas of the island chain still recovering from previous storms.Nolo was about 365 miles (585km) south-south-west of Honolulu and moving away from the Big Island at about 12mph (19kph). But the Hawaii county civil defense agency said a high wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the island through Sunday evening as Nolo’s maximum sustained winds rose to 115mph (165kph). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Blanche defends Trump’s White House media ban: ‘It is a privilege, not a right’ 27. September 2026 (23:42) US attorney general argues that president was ‘sick and tired’ of inaccurate reporting by CNN, MS Now and PoliticoDonald Trump’s attorney general Todd Blanche argued on Sunday that the administration was permitted to ban three news outlets from the White House because “it is a privilege and not a right to be there”.Appearing on the ABC News program This Week during the second week of the White House’s dispute over press credentialing and access, Blanche also said that the administration took the decision to ban CNN, MS Now and Politico beginning on 19 September because the president was “sick and tired” of what he considered to be those media outlets’ inaccurate reporting. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shannon felt a ‘sense of doom’ as she sought justice for sexual assault. A new NSW program hopes to alleviate that 27. September 2026 (22:00) Exclusive: Dedicated service to support sexual assault victim-survivors as they navigate legal system to open in NSWFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt took Shannon Stokes two years and 11 days to successfully prosecute her former boyfriend for sexual assault and domestic violence offences. The lengthy trial left her feeling as though “there wasn’t going to be an end in sight”.Prosecutors secured convictions on nine of the 11 charges, and he was later sentenced to five years in prison. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican senator criticizes White House for taxpayer-funded Trump ads 27. September 2026 (21:54) John Kennedy pushes back against such spending as pro-Trump ‘public service announcements’ air before midtermsAs the White House expands a taxpayer-funded advertising campaign to promote Donald Trump’s political agenda before the November midterm elections, US senator John Kennedy told CBS News on Sunday “there ought to be a rule” against such spending – before tacitly admitting such spending is “probably” illegal.Kennedy, the US president’s fellow Republican, was asked by Margaret Brennan, the CBS Face the Nation host, about the White House spending to air multiple ads featuring Trump – including one that was produced for his 2024 election campaign. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Serbia’s populist president Aleksandar Vučić resigns to run for prime minister 27. September 2026 (21:09) Vučić not allowed to seek third presidential term and election will test his grip on rule after widespread protestsSerbia’s populist president, Aleksandar Vučić, has resigned to pursue an attempt to become prime minister in an early parliamentary election that will test his firm rule in the Balkan country after nearly two years of protests.Vučić’s second presidential term would otherwise end in May next year. He is banned by the constitution from seeking a third term and said he was resigning to lead his rightwing Serbian Progressive party (SNS) in the 25 October ballot. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham to fight next election with plan for NHS-style care service 27. September 2026 (20:56) PM says he is willing to expend political capital to bring in universal service that would be funded by ‘everybody’Analysis: can Labour hang on to Burnham bounce?Andy Burnham will fight the next election with a pledge to finally fix the broken social care system, acknowledging that he is willing to expend political capital by asking taxpayers to cover the cost.As Labour’s party conference began in Liverpool, he pledged to “rip the plaster off” to radically transform care, setting out a vision for a universal service that would be free at the point of use for everybody in England. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Five arrested on terrorism charges after explosives found near RAF base used by US 27. September 2026 (20:49) Counter-terrorism police investigate whether Iran is behind suspected bomb plot after member of public calls 999 over suspicious vehiclesCounter-terrorism police are investigating whether Iran is behind a suspected bomb plot after armed officers found explosives on three vans parked minutes from an RAF base used by the US military.The Guardian understands that after five men were arrested on terrorism charges, investigators were examining materials found in the vans, with an initial view being they were consistent with improvised explosive devices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican says Trump’s support of Ken Paxton in Texas primary was ‘colossal mistake’ 27. September 2026 (20:19) Thom Tillis says Trump’s decision to back Paxton over John Cornyn has put the Senate seat at risk for RepublicansUS senator Thom Tillis on Sunday criticized Donald Trump, his fellow Republican, for the president’s support of Ken Paxton over incumbent John Cornyn in the Texas Senate Republican primary.“He made a colossal mistake,” Tillis, a frequent Trump critic from North Carolina, said during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union in reference to the president’s support of Paxton who defeated Cornyn in the May primary. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Don’t squander it’: Can Labour hang on to the Burnham bounce? 27. September 2026 (20:05) Conference delegates grateful ousting Starmer has paid off, but relief tempered by fiscal headwinds aheadUK politics live – latest updatesEven Andy Burnham’s closest allies accept that deposing Keir Starmer to install their man as leader was a huge political gamble. But if the mood at the Labour party conference in Liverpool is anything to go by, it is one that – so far – has paid off.The contrast with last year, when Starmer retained his grip on the party and Burnham slunk away from Liverpool early, could not be more stark. Their relief at their turn of fortune is tempered only by the fiscal headwinds ahead. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
