Prisoners to ‘double up’ in one-person prefab cells, leaked documents show 16. September 2026 (20:41) Exclusive: Ten category C prisons in England and Wales asked to add second beds, in breach of safe occupancy limitsThe Prison Service has drawn up plans to “double up” hundreds of prisoners in temporary prefabricated cells built for one person, at the request of the Ministry of Justice, leaked documents show.Amid an ongoing overcrowding crisis in England and Wales, governors of 10 category C prisons have been asked to sign off the installation of second beds in “rapid deployment cells [RDCs]”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time since 2023 16. September 2026 (20:28) Fed committee votes unanimously to raise interest rate by a quarter-percentage point to a range of 3.75% to 4%Federal Reserve raises interest rates – liveThe US Federal Reserve voted to raise interest rates on Wednesday for the first time since 2023 as the central bank continues to fight to tamp down inflation.The Fed’s open market committee voted unanimously to raise its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-percentage point to a range of 3.75% to 4%. This is the first time the Fed has raised rates since July 2023 and potentially sets Kevin Warsh, the current Fed chair, on a collision course with Donald Trump. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Family of pregnant woman who died sues Ken Paxton for wrongful death 16. September 2026 (20:27) Tierra Walker, 37, was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at 20 weeks, and family says denial of abortion led to deathA wrongful death lawsuit filed on Tuesday accuses Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, doctors and state health officials of contributing to the death of a pregnant San Antonio woman whose family says she was denied an abortion that could have saved her life.Tierra Walker, 37, died in December 2024 while 20 weeks pregnant after being diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy-related high blood pressure condition that can be fatal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New lawsuit accuses Trump administration of blocking NIH grants as form of censorship 16. September 2026 (20:20) The administration has used a list of 235 keywords – such as ‘gender’ and ‘racist’ – to prevent topics from being fundedResearchers filed a class action lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Wednesday, arguing the Trump administration is blocking and cancelling scientific grants to censor topics with which it disagrees.The administration has used a list of 235 keywords – such as “gender” and “racist” – to prevent topics from health equity to climate change from being funded. The NIH is the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Greens just four points behind Labour in urban areas, poll reveals 16. September 2026 (20:00) Exclusive: Party could take 40 seats if result replicated at next election, according to Labour-linked thinktankThe Green party is just four points behind Labour in urban constituencies, putting them within touching distance of taking as many as 40 seats if the result was replicated at the next election, according to new polling by a Labour-linked thinktank.The survey by ThinkLabour, which has extensive links to Andy Burnham’s government, finds that urban voters have moved in large numbers towards Zack Polanski’s party since the 2024 general election. The research highlights the challenge Labour faces holding onto the Holborn and St Pancras seat in the face of a challenge from Polanski himself at next month’s byelection. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
