Trump admin asks supreme court to allow gender-affirming care denial to transgender prisoners 29. September 2026 (17:25) Trans inmates sued the administration over the policy and, so far, two lower courts have blocked implementationThe Trump administration asked the US supreme court, on Monday, to allow it to deny gender-affirming care to transgender inmates in federal prisons, while litigation over the matter continues in lower courts.In its latest emergency request to the high court, the solicitor general, D John Sauer, wrote that certain care, including sex-trait-modification surgeries, hormone therapy and social accommodations – such as undergarments, makeup, padding and wigs – “could no longer be justified as treatment for gender dysphoria”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
South West Water fined £8m for hundreds of sewage spills in Cornwall and Devon 29. September 2026 (17:19) District judge orders record fine for region and says incidents of pollution cannot be toleratedA water company has been ordered to pay a record fine of almost £8m for hundreds of sewage spills at popular bathing spots and sensitive habitats in Cornwall and Devon.On one occasion, untreated sewage gushed through a harbour wall on a bank holiday weekend but South West Water (SWW) engineers took 10 hours to attend. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French students and police clash as school blockades turn violent 29. September 2026 (17:19) More than 200 arrested while teachers join protest over class sizes, exhausting timetables and staff shortagesFrench teenagers blockading their schools in protest at class sizes, teacher shortages and long timetables have clashed with police, as politicians traded verbal blows over how to respond.Demonstrations that began in Paris last week have escalated and spread across France, with the authorities reporting the arrests of 164 people on Monday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
National Rally’s Jordan Bardella rails at ‘war’ on party after antisemitism claims 29. September 2026 (17:16) President of Marine Le Pen’s far-right party faces calls to resign over comments he allegedly wrote as a teenagerJordan Bardella, the head of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN), has claimed a “total war” is being waged against his party as he faces a political storm after the publication of antisemitic comments he allegedly wrote as a young party member.Bardella, who is facing calls from political opponents to resign, said on Tuesday that the report by the investigative website Mediapart was false. To a standing ovation from his party’s lawmakers and senators at a meeting in parliament, he said the report was an attempt to damage his party as Le Pen tops the polls before the 2027 presidential election. Continue reading...(The Guardian)