Netanyahu was warned of 7 October Hamas attacks, book claims 08. September 2026 (17:25) Israeli PM says allegation that UAE president alerted him more than a week before major offensive is ‘absolute lie’Benjamin Netanyahu was personally alerted by the president of the United Arab Emirates that Hamas was planning a large-scale offensive against Israel a week before its 7 October 2023 attack, but did not act on the warning, according to a book by Haaretz reporters.The claim, which comes amid a crucial election campaign, prompted Israeli opposition leaders to describe the prime minister as “unfit” for office, even as Netanyahu denounced the report as an “absolute lie” and denied he spoke to the Emirati leader at that time. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Flushing the toilet can release a ‘plume’ of breathable pathogens – and closing the lid won’t stop their escape 08. September 2026 (17:00) New research shows turbulent flushes create toilet-generated aerosols that can transmit legionella, influenza and norovirusGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFlushing toilets release particles into the “breathing zone” of adults and can remain suspended in the air for at least 20 seconds, a new study has found.And closing the lid might not be enough to avoid a “plume” of potential pathogens. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Organised crime driving illicit cigarette factory boom ‘in almost every EU state’ 08. September 2026 (17:00) Bloc losing €13bn in revenue with one in 10 cigarettes illegal, watchdog reportsEurope live – latest updatesThe illegal trade in tobacco is booming in the EU, according to a report by the bloc’s financial watchdog, with almost one in 10 cigarettes produced illicitly or smuggled, causing an estimated €13bn loss in tax revenue each year.The European Court of Auditors (ECA) said in a report on Tuesday that the trade had “changed significantly” in recent years as smuggling, while still “a problem”, was overtaken by illicit manufacturing, which has increased dramatically in the bloc. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s call to rename New Mexico ‘New America’ is a distraction tactic, Democrats say 08. September 2026 (16:59) Amid unpopular Iran war and persistent inflation, governor says state has had its name since before US existedDemocrats have hit back against Donald Trump’s suggestion that the state of New Mexico should be renamed “New America”, accusing the US president of trying to distract from his war on Iran and rising prices.The administration moved to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” hours after Trump’s return to office in January 2025. In August, as trade tensions escalated between the US and Canada, it moved to do the same with Lake Ontario, moving to rename it as “Lake America”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
