Obama family dog Sunny dies: ‘a force of nature’ 16. September 2026 (17:54) Sunny, who joined the Obama family at the White House in 2013, was the second Obama dog after Bo, who died in 2021Sunny Obama, the Obama family’s second beloved Portuguese Water Dog, died on Tuesday, Barack Obama announced on Wednesday morning.“Yesterday, we lost a cherished member of our family,” the former president wrote on social media, attaching a photo of the 14-year-old dog whom he called “a force of nature”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Annie Dillard, Pulitzer prize-winning author of nonfiction and nature essays, dies aged 81 16. September 2026 (17:51) Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, published when Dillard was 28, skyrocketed her to become one of the most prominent nonfiction writers of her generationAnnie Dillard, author of the Pulitzer prize-winning book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, died aged 81 at her home in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts on Tuesday.Maggie Nelson, Dillard’s literary editor, confirmed her death to the New York Times. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former French culture minister goes on trial on corruption charges 16. September 2026 (17:48) Rachida Dati accused of lobbying for carmaker Renault-Nissan when she was member of European parliamentRachida Dati, a former French culture minister, has gone on trial in Paris on corruption charges linked to dealings with the Renault-Nissan carmaking group.Dati, 60, is accused of illegal lobbying when she accepted €900,000 (£770,000) in lawyer’s fees from a Netherlands-based subsidiary of Renault-Nissan while she was a member of the European parliament. The court will have to decide what the money was for. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump 2.0 has cut or frozen $177bn in grants across every state, analysis finds 16. September 2026 (17:38) Cuts hit all 50 states and DC, with environment, health, nutrition and disaster relief making up the largest shareThe Trump administration has cut or frozen up to $177bn in federal grants since the president took office for his second term, according to a tracking tool released Wednesday by a pro-democracy non-profit and a group of researchers and scientists.The cuts affected all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with health, nutrition, the environment and disaster relief making up the largest share of cuts, the States United Democracy Center and Grant Witness organization found. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Epstein survivors praise House committee for recommending Leon Black be held in contempt 16. September 2026 (17:32) Black has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said he did not know of Epstein’s criminal activitiesMore than a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse praised the House oversight committee for unanimously voting to recommend that billionaire investor Leon Black be held in contempt for refusing to comply with subpoenas by the panel seeking his testimony and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) as part of its investigation into Epstein.“We commend Chairman Comer for showing real resolve in pursuing accountability in the Epstein investigation,” the survivors said in a statement. They said that the 41-0 vote sends a “clear message that wealth and influence do not put anyone beyond the reach of congressional oversight”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Health officials in turmoil over 11th-hour backflip on aged care algorithm override powers, emails reveal 16. September 2026 (17:00) Ministers given emergency briefing about changes to algorithm decisions just three days before tool rolloutGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSenior department of health officials were in turmoil before the rollout of an algorithm to determine funding packages for older Australians, after discovering legislation had been drafted so rigidly that the tool could not legally be overridden by aged care assessors.Emails published under freedom of information (FoI) by the department of health, disability and ageing show that, despite assessors long receiving reassurance from the department that they would have powers to change incorrect algorithm decisions, officials realised at the 11th hour this would violate proposed regulations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labor seats get more than 90% of funding distributed under controversial multi-million dollar grants program 16. September 2026 (17:00) Guardian Australia analysis adds to concerns over the federal scheme, which is to be the subject of a Senate inquiryFederal Labor seats have received over 90% of funds already awarded in the first five months of a controversial multi-million dollar grants program, adding to concerns over the scheme’s selection process.The $568m community grants scheme will be the subject of a Senate inquiry after a report by the Centre for Public Integrity last week revealed the scheme favoured projects in notionally Labor-held electorates, including a $6m grant for a golf club in Anthony Albanese’s electorate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Godfather of AI’ says tech regulation is nearing Covid-style pivot moment 16. September 2026 (17:00) Safety crisis makes it more likely that governments will be spurred into action, says Yoshua BengioConcerns over AI safety are reaching a point where governments realise they must act to protect the public, similarly to in the Covid pandemic, according to one of the “godfathers” of the technology.Yoshua Bengio said recent events, including a “swarm” of OpenAI agents hacking a startup and tech insider warnings of an existential threat, were cutting through – making government action more likely. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US officials decide against backing Saudi Arabia in Yemen after meeting Houthi leaders 16. September 2026 (16:56) Armed group appears to reach agreement with Trump administration over safety of Red Sea shippingOfficials from the US met Houthi leaders over the weekend at the country’s embassy in Muscat, Oman, it has been confirmed, leading to the US decision not to intervene to help Saudi Arabia drive back a Houthi advance inside Yemen.The Houthis reassured the US that the ceasefire agreement between the two sides struck in 2025 still held and the movement had no intention of attacking US shipping in the Red Sea. Only Saudi-linked shipping was regarded as a target owing to its blockade of Yemen, the Houthis confirmed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Union claims victory as ministers agree to fully fund pay rise for teachers in England 16. September 2026 (16:49) National Education Union welcomes news that schools will not have to partly fund increase from their own budgetsThe UK’s biggest education union is claiming a significant victory after the government bowed to pressure and agreed to fully fund a forthcoming pay increase for teachers in England in a sudden U-turn.Members of the National Education Union (NEU) were due to vote in a ballot for strike action next month over the government’s recent pay offer which provided for a 3.5% increase from this month, with an additional 3% from next September. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
