European Union opens door for Canada to become first associate member 16. September 2026 (10:38) Commission president says partnership will create ‘common prosperity’ based on shared democratic valuesEurope live – latest updatesThe European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, told the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, on Wednesday that she wants to open the door for his country to become the EU’s first associate member.The overture comes as Trump’s tariffs and repeated talk of making Canada the 51st state have pushed Ottawa to seek closer economic and security ties with Europe. Carney has called for a “unique alliance” with the EU as Canada seeks to reduce its heavy dependence on US trade. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mayors and other local leaders could be given powers to oversee water firms 16. September 2026 (10:14) Move would mean some input on companies’ spending and holding bosses to account over bills and sewage dischargesMayors and other local politicians could be given powers to oversee water companies under plans being considered by the UK government to bring utilities under greater public control.Local leaders would have the power to direct some parts of water companies’ spending and hold bosses to account over bills and sewage discharges as part of the proposals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Foreign students to face tough restrictions on bringing in family under Labor’s immigration plan 16. September 2026 (09:33) Home affairs minister Tony Burke will detail long-awaited changes as support for One Nation surges amid immigration debateFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastForeign students will face tough restrictions on the ability to bring family members into Australia, as the federal government shifts sections of the country’s immigration system away from demand-driven settings.Long-awaited changes will be revealed by the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, on Thursday, and are expected to include efforts to stop visa overstays and limit lengthy appeals processes for applicants.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We are prey’: discovery of seven women’s bodies fuels anger over femicide in South Africa 16. September 2026 (09:00) String of female murder victims found near Johannesburg’s international airport, including five in the past weekThe discovery of the bodies of seven women around Johannesburg’s international airport, including five in the past week, has prompted an outpouring of fear, grief and anger over a lack of progress in tackling femicide.When Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo did not return after going for a run on 9 September, her eight-year-old daughter alerted relatives, who contacted police. The 38-year-old’s body was found on Saturday and identified by relatives on Monday. The news of her disappearance had gone viral. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Von der Leyen to set out challenges and opportunities for EU in ‘state of the Union’ speech – Europe live 16. September 2026 (08:54) European Commission president sets out opportunities and challenges facing the European UnionThe speech is expected to start in the next 10-15 minutes, so you can watch as the European Parliament’s Hemicycle in Strasbourg is filling up ahead of the speech.Here’s our live stream for today: Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Anywhere, anytime’: Victoria police and PSOs to get random stop and search powers after Labor backflip 16. September 2026 (08:39) Premier Ben Carroll adopts Coalition’s stance on Jack’s Law, which gives police and PSOs power to randomly search people for knives with metal detectorsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian premier has made another policy backflip, announcing a re-elected Labor government would give police and protective services officers the power to stop and search people for knives using handheld metal detectors – despite experts warning of a lack of evidence that the measure reduces violent crime.Ben Carroll on Wednesday announced he would match a commitment made by the Coalition opposition last year to introduce Queensland’s Jack’s Law, named after 17-year-old Jack Beasley, who was fatally stabbed in Surfers Paradise in 2019. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Al-Qaida and IS-linked violence in Africa’s Sahel belt set to hit record levels this year 16. September 2026 (08:00) Twenty-five years after 9/11, figures compiled by conflict monitor underline how Sahel region has become centre of Islamist terrorIslamist extremist violence in Africa’s Sahel region is set to reach historic highs after a series of sweeping offensives by groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State, according to new figures compiled by the conflict monitor Acled.As the US marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks launched by al-Qaida against targets in Washington and New York, the statistics underline the continued expansion of the veteran organisation in parts of Africa – in stark contrast with its relative weakness elsewhere. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney man who allegedly called 13-year-old Muslim girl a ‘terrorist’ berates judge after bail refused 16. September 2026 (07:27) Omar Yassine was arrested and charged with stalking and intimidation after allegedly hurling insults at year 8 student wearing a hijabGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA middle-aged man accused of a “disgusting” Islamophobic attack on a 13-year-old girl has berated a judge after he was denied bailOmar Yassine made an eventful court appearance on Wednesday after being held by police overnight for allegedly verbally abusing the Muslim schoolgirl on a Sydney bus. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anthropic to build $31bn datacentre in western Queensland, David Crisafulli says 16. September 2026 (07:20) Premier describes deal as ‘major win’ that will deliver more jobs for the state and put more energy into its gridAnthropic, the AI giant behind the large language model Claude, has done a deal to lease the site of its first Australian datacentre in western Queensland.The state premier, David Crisafulli, announced the decision in parliament on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Slave-trade wealth was embedded in Britain’s financial system, research finds 16. September 2026 (07:00) Dozens of Bank of England directors and founding subscribers invested in trafficking of enslaved AfricansThe Bank of England and the British financial system were for centuries deeply involved in the enslavement and transatlantic trafficking of millions of African people, according to new research on Britain’s slavery history.Research by historians compiling the Register of British Slave Traders has found that the scale of the financial system’s involvement in enslavement is greater than previously known or acknowledged. The Bank of England, the central bank owned by the government since nationalisation by Clement Attlee’s Labour administration in 1946, had dozens of financiers involved in its foundation who were also significant investors in the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
