Trump administration denies entry visas to Palestinian officials ahead of UN general assembly 17. September 2026 (15:36) It is the second year this administration has barred the Palestinian delegation from US travel ahead of the forumThe US state department said on Wednesday that it had again denied entry visas to Palestinian officials ahead next week’s United Nations general assembly gathering in New York.The state department said in a statement that the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) had “failed to live up to their commitments”, accusing the groups of “taking actions to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict including through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ)” and of “glorifying terrorism” among other allegations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ireland to boycott Eurovision again over Israeli participation and ongoing Gaza deaths 17. September 2026 (15:26) Ireland joins Netherlands in refusing to take part in 2027 song contest, in second consecutive year of protestsIreland is to boycott Eurovision for the second year running over the “appalling” ongoing killing in Gaza, the national broadcaster has said.Ireland was one of five countries, along with Iceland, Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia, that refused to take part in the competition this year in protest against Israel’s participation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nicholas Brandram’s family deny he was ‘Putney pusher’ and say Met police pressure led to his death 17. September 2026 (14:52) Banker, 44, was arrested in connection with incident on bridge but family say ‘no credible evidence’ he was involvedThe family of Nicholas Brandram have denied he was the so-called “Putney pusher” and said he “took his own life after months of immense pressure caused by a Metropolitan police investigation”.Brandram, 44, was found unresponsive inside a property in Chiswick, west London, believed to be his home, on Tuesday evening. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ICE agent arrested in Minneapolis on charges of assault and false reporting of crime 17. September 2026 (14:50) Christian Castro faced assault charges after shooting Venezuelan man through the door of his apartment while children were presentA federal immigration officer wanted on assault charges for shooting and wounding a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis was arrested there on Wednesday, eight months after a confrontation that became a flashpoint over Donald Trump’s deportation sweeps.Christian Castro, an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, was taken into custody by agents of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in Minneapolis and was booked into the Hennepin county jail on his outstanding arrest warrant, the agency said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘So many loopholes’: Democratic House leader Jeffries flags concerns over Russia sanctions bill – US politics live 17. September 2026 (14:31) Jeffries said the legislation had so many loopholes that sanctions harming Russia might not be appliedSign up for the US Breaking News emailSpeaking to EU officials in Strasbourg on Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney seemed open to a proposal to grant his country a new “associate member” status within the bloc – even as details remained thin on what, exactly, that would entail.“We welcome this ambition,” Carney said of the proposal. “Canada and Europe should secure our strategic autonomy through deep cooperation in the full range of strategic capabilities, including critical minerals, defense industrial capacity, AI and compute, energy security, space, and payments.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bank of England holds interest rates at 3.75% but warns war could force future rises 17. September 2026 (14:04) Central bank announces surprise plan to sell billions of pounds in government bonds back to the TreasuryBurnham has to sell Bank rate rises as ‘breathing space’ – good luck with thatBusiness live – latest updatesThe Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold as it warned a continuation of the bitter fighting in the Middle East could force it to raise borrowing costs amid mounting fears over inflation.It also announced a surprise plan to sell billions of pounds in UK government bonds back to the Treasury to avoid fuelling turbulence in the gilt market, a decision that could have significant consequences for the public finances before next month’s budget. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Albanese government considers ‘world-leading’ ban on smart glasses in public office and buildings 17. September 2026 (14:00) Minister for public service says the devices pose ‘legitimate privacy and security concerns’ in commonwealth-run workplaces The Albanese government is considering a “world-leading” ban on smart glasses in its offices and service centres as councils around Australia push the technology out of public spaces over privacy fears.The government has avoided a sweeping ban on the import of the camera-equipped technology and encouraged individual workplaces to set their own rules. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham: UK must fully commit to reaching net zero by 2050 17. September 2026 (14:00) Exclusive: PM, who is facing pressure over whether to approve North Sea oil and gasfields, makes strongest comments yet on issueBritish people understand the climate crisis threat. Today I’m empowering them to tackle itUK politics live – latest updatesThe UK must fully commit to reaching net zero by 2050, Andy Burnham has argued in his strongest comments yet on the issue, saying it is no longer possible for Britons to believe they are not already affected by a changing climate.Writing for the Guardian about new plans for a mass of community-led local green energy projects, the prime minister said the UK must “believe in itself”, and set out his determination to reach net zero targets, which have been rejected by the Conservatives and Reform UK. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham has to sell Bank rate rises as ‘breathing space’ – good luck with that 17. September 2026 (13:54) PM’s push to cut cost of living is threatened by rising inflation and higher government borrowing costsBank of England holds interest ratesBusiness live – latest updatesGood luck to Andy Burnham convincing voters he is giving them “breathing space,” if the Bank of England ratchets up interest rates in the coming months.That was the prospect opened up by Thursday’s minutes of the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting, which left rates unchanged at 3.75% – for now – but suggested policymakers may be unlikely to hold out much longer. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump and Rubio allies are vying for control of Cuba’s assets if regime falls 17. September 2026 (13:00) Washington and Florida insiders are exploring lucrative deals for a post-communist Cuba crushed by ever-increasing US sanctionsSpanish hotel chains. A Canadian mining firm. European shipping giants. Visa and Mastercard. Scores of foreign companies have been driven out of Cuba this summer over fear of being hit with potent, new secondary sanctions. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, told Axios last month there are “no escape valves” from his unprecedented pressure campaign against the island.But not everybody is losing out. A growing cast of Washington and Florida insiders – from billionaire Trump cronies and Rubio-linked lobbyists to Cuban exiles – are jockeying for control of the communist-ruled island-nation’s key assets, charging top dollar to help clients navigate the ever-expanding web of sanctions, and positioning themselves for lucrative business opportunities in the case of regime collapse. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
