‘Sweat the asset’: new development minister plots path to make UK aid count 13. September 2026 (23:30) Kirsty McNeill reaffirms Labour’s 0.7% of GDP pledge and promises value for money to allay voter concernsThe development minister, Kirsty McNeill, has declared herself “a huge believer in aid”, as she reaffirmed Labour’s manifesto pledge to return to a target of 0.7% of national income spending.McNeill, a former adviser to Gordon Brown and senior executive at Save the Children, declined to give any timetable, repeating the formula that the government would work towards the target “when fiscal circumstances allow”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham to host entrepreneurs and local mayors at No 10 on Monday 13. September 2026 (23:30) Prime minister vows to ‘reindustrialise Britain’ through new partnership with business The prime minister is to host business leaders, entrepreneurs and local mayors at Downing Street on Monday to pitch his government as a “partner for growth” that can offer a stable platform for investment and jobs in the UK.Ahead of the event, Andy Burnham said the country had “everything it needs to succeed”, including talented people and world-class universities, but requires “a culture shift in how Britain does business” if it is to unlock its full potential. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters 13. September 2026 (22:51) The 8ft statue, installed in Phoenix last week to mark one year since Kirk’s killing, was found painted redA newly unveiled statue of the rightwing activist Charlie Kirk was vandalized at the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona.The statue was found with red spray-paint. A nearby poster memorial in front of the statue was vandalized with red paint as well. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
San Jose officer fired for misusing Flock camera database in domestic abuse case 13. September 2026 (22:05) Police officer shared location of a woman with his relative who is accused of abusing womanA San Jose police officer was fired for using his department’s Flock license plate tracking system to share the location of a woman with the suspect accused of abusing her, Chief Paul Joseph told NBC Bay Area on Friday.The firing marks another in a growing number of cases of misuse of a controversial surveillance technology that has expanded rapidly over the last several years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US schools and police warn about viral ‘Cat in the Hat’ trend after teens’ arrests 13. September 2026 (21:15) Disturbing and AI-generated versions of Dr Seuss character have been used to threaten schools and communitiesSchools and law enforcement authorities in the US are issuing warnings against a viral “Cat in the Hat” social media trend in which disturbing or AI-generated versions of the Dr Seuss character are used to threaten students, schools and communities.The latest warnings come as safety concerns increase and several teenagers have been arrested or charged over posts connected to the trend. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
