Thirteenth Met police officer sacked after undercover BBC investigation 16. September 2026 (00:59) PC Mason O’Connor dismissed following Panorama film showing misogyny and racism at London police stationA 13th serving Metropolitan police officer has been dismissed in relation to an undercover BBC investigation into misogyny and racism at Charing Cross police station.PC Mason O’Connor was found to have committed discreditable conduct and breached professional behaviour standards, linked to a comment he made towards a female colleague, according to the Met. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mail-in disaster averted as Trump in angry froth after court defeat 16. September 2026 (00:10) Election officials continue push to assure Americans mail ballots are safe after supreme court rules against presidentReader Q&A: how united are the Democrats ahead of the midterms? Post your questions nowAfter the US supreme court halted Donald Trump’s efforts to make it significantly harder to vote by mail in the midterms, US election officials are redoubling their efforts to convince Americans it is safe to cast their ballots by mail.The supreme court’s Monday ruling, which sent Trump into an angry froth on Truth Social, averted what election officials of both parties said would be an administrative disaster for this year’s elections. Trump’s order would have required states to comply with cumbersome new rules, including redesigning mail-in envelopes and uploading lists of voters to the USPS, that were not feasible to implement before ballots started going out. The effort was seen as a push by the government to change voting policy as well as one to weaken confidence in voting by mail. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
House committee recommends Leon Black be held in contempt of Congress over Epstein inquiry subpoenas 15. September 2026 (23:50) Financier refused to comply with subpoenas seeking his testimony for the investigation into the late sex offenderThe House oversight committee voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend that the House of Representatives hold Leon Black, the billionaire financier, in contempt of Congress, after he refused to comply with subpoenas seeking his testimony and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) sought by the panel as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Black contends the subpoenas are “invalid” and he is suing to block them.“Subpoenas are not suggestions; they carry the force of law and require full compliance” the representative James Comer, who chairs the committee, said in the chamber on Tuesday afternoon before the voting began. “Mr Black’s testimony is crucial to our investigation because he maintained a close personal relationship with Epstein for years during the time when Epstein was engaged in sex trafficking. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran war cost US $38bn and significantly depleted missile stockpile, report finds 15. September 2026 (23:47) Damaging budget report estimates cost would grow $3bn per month and stockpile could take five years to rebuildThe war in Iran has cost the US at least $38bn and left its stockpile of defensive missiles so depleted it could take five years to rebuild, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has found, in a damaging report less than two months before midterm elections where the war and the cost of living crisis will likely hurt Republicans at the polls.The economic report comes one day after the Pentagon’s inspector general finally released its own first review of the war, saying that the US spent $22.3bn on munitions alone through 30 June, put total spending at $33.4bn and found the fighting had “resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
All supporting acts withdraw from Ed Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore 15. September 2026 (23:47) Three openers and live band for Sheeran’s tour depart after removal of Macklemore over ‘free Palestine’ commentsAll four supporting acts for upcoming dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour have withdrawn in solidarity with fellow opening act Macklemore, as backlash grows to his removal from the tour over onstage comments in support of Palestine.Finneas, the singer who was scheduled to open for Sheeran on six South American dates in November, withdrew from the tour on Tuesday afternoon, hours after Sheeran posted his own lengthy statement to Instagram explaining pressure from venue owners to remove Macklemore for pro-Palestine comments made during two shows at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Search under way for three-year-old boy missing from Suffolk playground 15. September 2026 (23:36) More than 100 people reported to have joined search for Noah, who is autistic, non-verbal and has partial hearing lossPolice are urging people to check their gardens and sheds for a three-year-old boy who went missing on Tuesday during a visit to a playground near the Suffolk-Essex border.The boy, named Noah, was last seen at 3pm in Merriam Close in Brantham, near Manningtree, before being separated from a relative. Officers from Suffolk constabulary said Noah was reported to have run down an alleyway near the playground towards a housing estate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Air pollution linked to higher suicide risk, international research suggests 15. September 2026 (23:30) Analysis of 29 studies highlights potentially heightened danger from small particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide Air pollution is associated with an increased risk of suicide and suicidal thoughts, according to research.Environmental pollution is known to be associated with poorer mental health but its role in suicide risk is less well understood. Scientists at Queen’s University Belfast examined whether air, noise, light, and water pollution could influence the risk of death by suicide and suicidal behaviours. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
