TikTok to pay Alabama $100m and limit teenage use in first state settlement 26. September 2026 (06:19) Trial had been set for Monday over claims by Alabama that TikTok misled parents about tools meant to shield children from harmful contentTikTok has agreed to pay Alabama at least $100m and enact time limits and other restrictions for teenage users, avoiding a trial with a settlement that was modelled on Instagram-owner Meta’s recent agreement with US states.Alabama described it as a “first-in-the-nation settlement” with a state in the sweeping litigation over social media’s affect on teen wellbeing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British climber, 28, dies in fall in northern Spain 26. September 2026 (04:02) Mountaineer’s body recovered about 20 metres below the summit of Torrecerredo, the highest peak of the Picos de Europa rangeA British man has died after falling about 61 metres (200ft) while descending from the summit of a mountain in northern Spain, according to local law enforcement.The 28-year-old mountaineer fell down a vertical gully on the east side of the Torrecerredo – the highest peak of the Cantabrian mountains – on Thursday afternoon, the Spanish Civil Guard for the Asturias region said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White House blocks CNN from Air Force One in latest escalation with news media 26. September 2026 (03:31) Outlet had been scheduled to fly with Donald Trump to Tennessee for a college football game, network said FridayThe White House has blocked CNN from traveling aboard Air Force One on Saturday, impeding its TV press pool duties in the latest escalation of the administration’s battle with the news media.CNN had been scheduled to fly with Donald Trump to Tennessee for a college football game, the network said on Friday. The White House confirmed CNN’s exclusion when it did not list the network on guidance sent to the press corps regarding Trump’s schedule for Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump cancels nearly $1bn in funding approved by Congress 26. September 2026 (03:00) President using rare power to revoke expenditure with bipartisan approval to aid immigrant servicesDonald Trump is canceling nearly $1bn in spending approved by Congress, the White House announced on Friday, using a rare and contested power to axe funding for immigrant services and diversity-focused initiatives.Trump’s office of management and budget described the funding cut as focused on “the most harmful government spending”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
OpenAI says agents leaked 53 images from ChatGPT users in latest example of rogue activity 26. September 2026 (02:24) Disclosure reveals new area of privacy risk for the company and illustrates how difficult it is to inventory unauthorized activity tied to its agentsTwo months after OpenAI disclosed the accidental hacking of Hugging Face, the ChatGPT maker is still working to understand the full scope of its rogue agent activity, two people briefed on the matter told Reuters.The latest example came on Friday when OpenAI said its agents had leaked 53 images from ChatGPT users. OpenAI declined to say if the images were AI-generated or identified real people. It also declined to say when the images were posted. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Free the Strip! Melburnians fight back against outlawing of much-loved picnic spot 26. September 2026 (02:12) A council ban on drinking on the median strip in Canning Street, Carlton, sparks a peaceful protest featuring punch bowls, chips and laughterGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt looked like a typical spring evening on Melbourne’s Canning Street when a few dozen picnickers gathered on the grassy median strip on Friday, with drinks in hand.People in one group who’d come with a full alfresco setting chattered as they ladled punch out of a glass bowl on a wooden table, set with a tablecloth and yellow flowers in a vase. Others sat on picnic blankets, passing around bags of chips. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two people arrested in New York City for allegedly climbing out of manhole 26. September 2026 (00:57) Kevin Rodriguez and Samuel Reveron were booked after reports of ‘mole people’ emerging from sewers across cityTwo people have been arrested for allegedly emerging from manholes across New York City.Police reportedly suspect them of searching for valuables that had been washed into the storm drains and sewer system. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Supreme court blocks Trump-backed Missouri congressional map from use in midterms 26. September 2026 (00:33) Court puts end to long-running legal dispute as it rules Republican-friendly map cannot be used in NovemberThe supreme court on Friday turned away an attempt to use a new Missouri congressional map backed by Donald Trump, putting an end to a long-running legal dispute as absentee voting is under way in the midterm elections.The justices halted a federal appeals court ruling that would have revived the Republican-friendly map for the November elections, which will determine control of Congress. There were no noted dissents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Michigan CEO loses job after posting AI-made image of her family in ‘Lake America’ sweaters 26. September 2026 (00:21) Jane Smith reportedly used ChatGPT to edit photo to show name Trump ordered US agencies to use for Lake Ontario amid trade war with CanadaThe CEO of a Michigan credit union is no longer employed there, according to the organization, after she posted on social media what appeared to be an AI-generated image of her and her family wearing sweaters emblazoned with the Donald Trump-associated words “Lake America”.In the statement recently announcing that Jane Smith would no longer be its CEO, Family First Credit Union also apologized “for the concern, disappointment and pain this situation has caused”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ex-American Idol contestant told lover he dreamed of killing wife, murder trial hears 26. September 2026 (00:12) Alleigha Botner tells court Caleb Flynn, charged with murder of wife Ashley Flynn, sent her AI love songsThe Ohio former pastor and American Idol contestant accused of fatally shooting his wife fantasized to his then lover about killing his spouse and sent her AI-generated love songs, according to evidence presented at trial this week.Caleb Flynn, 40, is on trial for aggravated murder in connection with the 16 February shooting death of Ashley Flynn. He also is charged with two counts of felonious assault and three counts of tampering with evidence, according to a March indictment. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
