The Guardian
US ends limits on coal and gas plant emissions, removing key tool to battle climate crisis
Trump’s EPA strips itself of regulation ability, gutting Clean Air Act in what experts say is a gift to planet polluters
On the heels of the hottest summer ever recorded in the US, the Trump administration has said it will erase any limits on emissions from coal and gas plants that are dangerously heating up our planet.
The US Environmental Protection Agency said it will strip itself of its ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions coming from power plants under the Clean Air Act, removing a key tool to address the climate crisis.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 21:17
The Guardian
Calvert-Lewin shows the way as Leeds thrash limp Newcastle and rise to third
Leeds United’s magnificent start to the Premier League season continued with a statement victory over an appalling Newcastle United to move the Whites up to third in the table and offer further evidence a European push may not be beyond them this season.
After one of the most eye-catching performances of the season so far, Leeds humiliated Newcastle on a night where Matthias Jassle was given a stern lesson about the challenges the Premier League can provide. Leeds bullied the visitors physically from start to finish and now sit inside the Champions League places with two wins and two draws from their first four games.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 21:07Trump dismisses push for AI guardrails despite warnings from tech leaders
President Trump threw cold water on momentum for AI guardrails, saying all the U.S. needs is a "SMART PRESIDENT."
14th September 2026 21:03
The Guardian
AI-linked stocks slide after tech bosses call for slowdown in ‘reckless’ development
Donald Trump dismisses attempts to increase controls on artificial intelligence as ‘sick conspiracy’
AI-linked stocks tumbled on Monday after the bosses of Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX called for a slowdown in AI “reckless” development, citing fears the technology could soon run out of control.
Shares in the semiconductor designer Nvidia – the world’s most valuable company – were down 3.3% by market closing in New York City, while Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) slid 4% and Micron Technology and Sandisk shares slumped by 5%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index fund was down 0.5% by the end of the day.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 21:01Trump agrees to ethics requirements in crypto Clarity Act as GOP seeks Democratic votes
Community banks fear customers will withdraw deposits to buy stablecoin crypto assets that could pay higher yields.
14th September 2026 20:54Warren to rip Clarity Act on Senate floor ahead of key preliminary vote
Sen. Elizabeth Warren will call the latest Clarity Act ethics proposal blessed by Trump a "weak fig leaf."
14th September 2026 20:48
The Guardian
US ‘super-emitters’ of planet heating methane identified by satellite analysis
Energy Transfer, whose CEO is a major Trump donor, named as biggest single methane producer in new rankings
Down a short gravel track in a largely nondescript corner of Louisiana sits a gas processing facility, operated by a company whose chief executive is a major donor to Donald Trump. It may be the largest emitter of methane in the US.
The Energy Transfer site, located near the city of Shreveport, is named as the biggest single “super emitter” in new rankings of US oil and gas operations for the largest releases of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is rapidly overheating our planet, according to a new UCLA study, which is based on satellite data.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 20:42Pennsylvania woman dies of measles complications, coroner reports
A 40-year-old woman died on Saturday from complications associated with measles, the coroner reported.
14th September 2026 20:40
NPR Topics: News
Israel is 'dismantling Palestinian life' says Israeli human rights group
One of the country's leading human rights organizations says Israel is dismantling all aspects of Palestinian life at a breakneck rate. The group has extensively documented what it says are the mechanisms Israel has used to "ethnically cleanse" the West Bank of Palestinians.
14th September 2026 20:34
The Guardian
Burning Man at 40: the once anarchic desert festival faces a midlife crisis
The subversive bacchanal for San Francisco’s eccentric underground is ageing out amid an influx of the super-rich
Burning Man, the infamous arts festival in the Nevada desert, turned 40 this year, and it’s showing some distinct signs of middle age.
It’s not just the tech billionaires who show up to party, the chartered flights straight to the desert or the HBO documentary about behind-the-scenes power struggles. The tens of thousands of people who assemble each year to create a tent city in the wilderness appear to be growing older, and it doesn’t seem that they’re being replaced by as many younger “burners”, as festival participants are called.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 20:16Tech stocks slump after AI execs call for industry slowdown
The Nasdaq slid 1% on Monday after AI company executives called for a slowdown in developing the technology.
14th September 2026 20:13The stock market could do something strange this week after the Fed decision
Odds of more interest rate hikes coming this year have grown.
14th September 2026 19:49
The Guardian
From influencers to brutal finishes, US Open 2026 was worst grand slam in recent memory | Tumaini Carayol
Despite the drama on the court, the poor condition of Arthur Ashe Stadium was just one problem among many
At the end of another comically late night and early morning in Flushing Meadows, when the remaining spectators were departing, a familiar scene was unfolding on the US Open tournament grounds. A handful of workers had congregated directly beneath a hole in the ceiling inside one of the tournament shops as they tried to stop water from flowing out of a broken pipe and ruining thousands of pounds worth of merchandise below.
This was not a surprising sight. Upon entering Arthur Ashe Stadium this year, fans were greeted by some ominous signs: “Pardon our appearance while we write the next chapter of Arthur Ashe Stadium.” The tournament’s appearance, it must be said, was hideous. Inside the corridors and rooms at one of the biggest sporting events in the world, it felt like its main building was falling apart.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 19:48Counting the votes: Warsh faces a tough battle as the Fed girds for expected interest rate hike
Traders were pricing in a better than 92% probability of a rate increase, as well as a more than 75% chance for another one in December.
14th September 2026 19:47
The Guardian
Pietersen has England players ‘buzzing’ but McCullum delivers Carse warning
Former England batter starts role with white-ball teams
Fleming also ‘right person’ to take Test team forward
Brendon McCullum has revealed that he was the driving force behind the recruitment of Kevin Pietersen as a specialist mentor to England’s white-ball teams and said the new arrival had specific orders to “look across the environment and challenge me”.
Pietersen spent his first day in the role monitoring training at the Utilita Bowl after delivering an address that had the players “buzzing”, according to McCullum, England’s white-ball coach.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 19:46Ross Fire still burning, with over 90,000 acres scorched
The wildfire, which has torn through Palo Pinto and Jack counties, forced evacuations, closed roads and disrupted schools.
14th September 2026 19:33
The Guardian
‘Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like’: female athletes spark backlash against viral advert
American actor accused of sexualising women’s sports
British sprinter Amy Hunt leads storm of protest
The US actor Sydney Sweeney is facing a backlash from female Olympians and other athletes, who have accused her of demeaning and sexualising women’s sports by appearing in a controversial advert for a sports prediction company.
In the viral commercial for Novig, which was viewed more than 22 million times in the first two days of its release, Sweeney’s nude body is covered by footballs, basketballs, and other sports equipment, as she tells users they can bet on “just sports”. After saying “sports” nine times, she appears topless on a pool table, before saying: “You can’t trade this, I just look good here.”
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 19:25Apple releases test of redesigned Siri AI before iPhone 18 hits stores this week
Following Apple's iPhone launch event last week, the company is releasing a redesigned Siri AI, though users may have to sign up for a waitlist.
14th September 2026 19:05The AI bubble is leaking air, some economists say. Should investors worry?
AI has fueled a stock boom in recent years. Now, some Wall Street analysts think that epic run is coming to an end.
14th September 2026 18:58
The Guardian
Alligator Alcatraz held detainees in cages the size of phone booths, DHS watchdog says
Office of inspector general’s report says practice at Florida immigration jail is not aligned with ‘humane treatment’
Before the facility was shuttered, detainees at Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” federal immigration jail were frequently locked in outside metal cages no bigger than a phone booth, according to a damning government watchdog report that said the practice “does not align with standards for humane treatment”.
The findings from the office of the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were published on its website – and offer rare criticism of the Trump administration by one of its own agencies.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 18:53
NPR Topics: News
10 years after taking a knee, Colin Kaepernick is still waging a 'Perilous Fight'
The former 49ers quarterback created an uproar in 2016 when took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality. In The Perilous Fight he explains why he still wants to play football.
14th September 2026 18:45Abbott Labs to pay nearly $385M in case over bacterial contamination at plant
The case stems from a Cronobacter bacterial contamination at one of Abbott Laboratories' Michigan plants.
14th September 2026 18:43
The Guardian
Bob Mackie, costume designer to stars daring to be noticed, dies aged 87
Famous for his flamboyant outfits, he helped celebrities including Cher, Tina Turner and Elton John cause a stir
Bob Mackie, the costume designer behind some of the most sexy and glamorous outfits worn by celebrities in the past 50 years, has died at the age of 87.
“He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a fashion and costume designer, which is all he ever wanted to do,” read a statement posted on his Instagram account. “His genius and extraordinary designs will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.”
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 18:39
NPR Topics: News
Kennedy Center says it's on the brink of bankruptcy, might close as early as Tuesday
In two board resolutions made public Monday, the arts institution says it is in a dire financial and physical state — and that only President Trump can "rescue" it.
14th September 2026 18:25Ukraine says it's open to halting attacks on Russian energy after Trump's claims of deal
"The World's Diesel price rise is mostly caused by the Russia/Ukraine War, not Iran," Trump said in a social media post.
14th September 2026 18:21
The Guardian
Russian oligarch close to Putin reportedly paid for part of Donald Trump Jr’s lavish wedding
US president’s eldest child married Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson in three-day celebration across two exclusive private islands
A top Democrat has demanded answers after it was reported that a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Donald Trump Jr’s wedding in the Bahamas earlier this year.
Trump Jr, the US president’s eldest child, married Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson in a lavish three-day celebration across two exclusive private islands in May, which according to ProPublica was partially bankrolled by Umar Kremlev, a member of the Russian president’s circle.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 18:17
The Guardian
The Guardian view on Reform UK: crypto billionaires must be stopped from undermining democracy | Editorial
The vast sums given to Nigel Farage’s party in recent days must lead to action on political funding
The staggering sums gifted to Reform UK over the weekend have transformed the context for the representation of the people bill making its way through parliament. The announcement of two £36m donations from Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, both crypto billionaires who have lived abroad, makes Andy Burnham’s decision not to impose a limit on political donations – a move he supported before becoming prime minister – look even more misguided. Fortunately the House of Lords still has the chance to amend the bill. It should take it by imposing meaningful limits on both political donations and party spending.
It is unclear whether either man meets the criteria set out in the Rycroft review into foreign influence in politics. It set a maximum of £100,000 per annum for people who have not been in the UK for at least a year. Mr Delo previously lived in Hong Kong while Mr Harborne is based partly in Thailand; Nigel Farage said on Monday that he does not know the details of their movements. While ministers will view the prospect of a legal fight over eligibility with trepidation, they must do what it takes to ensure rules are met.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 18:13
The Guardian
The Guardian view on the united Ireland debate: shifting dynamics need to be treated with caution | Editorial
Donald Trump’s blithe comments at the weekend were characteristically unhelpful. A careful and considered discussion on the subject has yet to begin
A decade ago, the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) viewed Brexit as a potential gamechanger in the struggle to resist future pressure for a united Ireland. As the author and journalist Fintan O’Toole wrote in an essay published last year, the DUP hoped that the 2016 referendum would deliver “a double exit. Brexit would not simply mean the UK’s departure from the EU. It would also be an act of separation from the Republic. It would reverse the slow drift towards integration.” That proved to be, to put it mildly, a deeply flawed judgment.
The direction of travel since 2016 has instead been the opposite. Rather than leading to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, which would have disastrously undermined the Good Friday agreement, the UK’s divorce agreement from Brussels eventually placed one in the Irish Sea. The logic of further economic integration between north and south within the EU’s single market was reinforced.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 18:11
The Guardian
British man accused of drugging and raping wife over two decades admits 60 offences
Man, who cannot be named to protect anonymity of his victim, admits scores of criminal offences
A man has pleaded guilty to drugging and sexually assaulting his wife over a period of 20 years as he admitted 60 criminal offences.
The man, who cannot be named in order to protect the anonymity of his victim, is in his 60s and before his arrest lived in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 18:07Iconic designer Bob Mackie dies at 87. See photos of legendary stars he dressed.
Dubbed the "Designer to the Stars," Bob Mackie won nine Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and was nominated for three Oscars.
14th September 2026 18:02The U.S. economy faces mounting headwinds. Here are the top risks.
Rising energy costs, persistently high inflation and mounting federal debt are clouding the outlook for the U.S. economy — and Americans' finances.
14th September 2026 17:48Novo CEO tells CNBC why drugmaker is rebranding, needs to 'rethink' obesity strategy
The Danish drugmaker called the changes the beginning of a new chapter for the company, which faces stiff competition from Eli Lilly.
14th September 2026 17:30
The Guardian
Sydney Sweeney naked sports ad controversy: what’s she playing at? - The Latest
The actor Sydney Sweeney is under fire for ‘sexualising women’s sports’ in an ad campaign for US sports prediction company Novig, which features a series of images of her in various states of undress as she pretends to play different sports. The ad has been widely criticised by a number of sportswomen, including Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus who described it as ‘infuriating’ and a ‘kick in the teeth’ to women who have ‘spent decades perfecting their craft’. Sweeney has responded by saying the ad was about ‘embracing a fun idea’. Lucy Hough speaks to Guardian writer Elle Hunt
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 17:23Vance says 870K people suspected of COVID-era U.S. fraud barred from federal loans
A U.S. enforcement push, dubbed "Heartland fraud surge," probed losses involving the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
14th September 2026 17:10
The Guardian
Richard Tice rallies to the defence of Reform’s crypto ‘patriots’ | John Crace
You can’t buy Dicky’s level of stupidity though it could be argued that Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo just have
Never in the field of British politics has so much been given to so many by so few. You’d have thought Nigel Farage would have wanted to explain Reform’s sudden windfall from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo himself. To bask in the glory of the donations from two down-to-earth, anti-establishment crypto billionaires. Men who know what it’s like to graft, who know the meaning of an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.
There again, Nige is keen not to appear as a one-man band these days and he could do with some downtime to enjoy his own £5m handout. And besides, he’s got a police investigation into Reform party funding to worry about. Even so, it wasn’t the best of looks to send Richard Tice out on to the morning media round. Dicky may have his talents, but he keeps them well concealed. His main talent is the unfortunate ability to make Honest Bob Jenrick sound trustworthy. But he does always leave you guessing. Is he being wilfully stupid or is he naturally that half witted?
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 17:05
The Guardian
‘A coin flip’: on the campaign trail as Brazil’s far right edges back to power
Neck-and-neck with Lula in polls, Flávio Bolsonaro fires up his base in the bellwether state of Minas Gerais – starting at the scene of his father’s stabbing
A giant banner of Brazil’s incarcerated former president Jair Bolsonaro fluttered in the morning breeze as his eldest son, Flávio, touched down at an airfield on the fringe of a city that will soon help decide the future of one of the biggest democracies on earth.
“Brazil is rudderless. Brazil has no president and Brazil needs a president – and that president is Flávio Bolsonaro,” the far-right senator declared as he waded into the flock of supporters who had gathered to welcome him to Juiz de Fora, one of the largest cities in the battleground state of Minas Gerais.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 17:04
The Guardian
Russian strike on passenger train will not deter Ukraine’s backers, Nato chief says
Mark Rutte says attack that narrowly missed Boris Johnson and David Petraeus shows Vladimir Putin’s desperation
The head of Nato has said a Russian drone attack on a train close to Ukraine’s border with Poland would not deter Kyiv’s western backers.
Mark Rutte said the strike on a passenger train showed how desperate Vladimir Putin had become. “He thinks that he can stops us from supporting Ukraine and that he can undermine our unity. He is wrong. Our answer is to increase support,” the Nato general secretary said.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 16:56
The Guardian
Unions to intervene on political funding as TUC chief warns ‘super-rich’ threaten democracy
UK general secretaries had been split on issue but sources say they are likely to back strong words calling for action
Trade unions are set to launch an intervention on Tuesday on political donations after the head of Britain’s trade union movement, Paul Nowak, said the government must act to “stop the super-rich corrupting our politics.”
Union leaders met on Monday to discuss possible support for a domestic cap on donations. Discussions are expected to continue but sources said general secretaries were likely to back strong words calling for further action on political donations from wealthy individuals – but arguing that trade union members should be treated as individual donors giving small amounts.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 16:50
The Guardian
Sweden’s political parties launch coalition talks as both blocs try to secure power
Centre-left bloc led by Social Democrats has narrow lead with 95% of vote counted, but faces internal policy battle
Sweden’s political parties have launched coalition negotiations as the Social Democrats leader, Magdalena Andersson, started the long and difficult process of trying to form a new government.
Full results from Sunday’s election are not expected until after overseas votes are counted on Wednesday, but with 95% of the votes counted, the Social Democrats and the centre-left bloc had a narrow but growing lead of 176 seats to the right-leaning parties’ 173.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 16:47Don Jr.'s wife says Russian oligarch hosted post-wedding festivities as a "gift"
Bettina Anderson, wife of Donald Trump Jr., said their "dear friend" Umar Kremlev hosted two nights of festivities after their wedding in the Bahamas.
14th September 2026 16:37Microsoft sets limits for future AI models as industry throttles frontier development
Microsoft wants to be seen as a responsible AI entity as it ramps up model development alongside partners Anthropic and OpenAI.
14th September 2026 16:31
The Guardian
Ben Jennings on Reform UK’s bumper weekend of donations – cartoon
14th September 2026 16:23
The Guardian
‘Very weak. Very bad’: how Rodri’s verdict exposed woeful Valencia’s crisis | Sid Lowe
The World Cup winner’s off-the-cuff assessment was brutally honest. Within days their manager and CEO were gone, but the problems run much deeper
Kiat Lim wanted to see Valencia play so badly, so that is what he did. It was week four in La Liga, 6 September, and for the first time since he was given the presidency 18 months earlier, the owner’s 33-year-old son was going to watch his team play a competitive game. He was going to do it from the inside, too, so he took a flight to Spain, landing at Manises in a black mask and cap, a van to the hotel, then the team bus to Mestalla. He looked through the window as they rolled along Avenida Suecia, a huge, noisy crowd waiting, but when he got off and headed through the iron gate with its ornate club badge, he saw that this was no welcome.
Above him as he went in were giant portraits of Mario Kempes, Antonio Puchades, Juan Sol, Gaizka Mendieta, David Villa and Santiago Cañizares, footballers from a better time; around him were yellow banners and whistles for the footballers there now. Inside, Lim saw the game start with the lower south stand empty as fans stayed away until the 19th minute, the sound of another protest drifting in from the street. They were out there still when, sitting alongside Joan Laporta, he saw Lamine Yamal score the sixth-minute opener then get a second. And although that, also from Lamine Yamal, was ruled out, he eventually saw Barcelona get four more, presiding over a 5-0 debut defeat.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 16:10
The Guardian
‘A double entendre in every crevice’: what, beyond near-naked tennis, is Sydney Sweeney’s game?
With her new, semi-nude advert for sports site Novig, the actor cements her reputation as the anti-woke poster girl. But is it real – or just provocation with a soft porn gaze?
Bear with me here, but I’m beginning to suspect Sydney Sweeney is a very fine actor. It’s a skill she has been recognised for in the past, of course, winning nominations for Emmys for Euphoria and The White Lotus, but I mean it in a deeper sense, related to her work in advertising rather than drama – can she do more than play a role? Can she make you feel what she’s feeling?
In her “controversial” new ad for the sports prediction site Novig (the scare quotes are because, when you’re begging for controversy this hard, you shouldn’t just be handed it on a plate), she adopts the garb of various sports. Her face, body, aspect, gait and mien are all carefully configured to amp up the erotic overtones to the maximum degree, and yet the feeling that beams out of each image is: “This is really going to piss people off, and I couldn’t be more delighted.” Her expression is so speechful that you cannot help but share in some of her hellion joy.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 16:05
The Guardian
‘It’s about controlling your entire body’: how to start doing handstands
Handstands display a mastery of one’s physical form that I have never quite felt – and they look cool. Experts share their advice for building up strength and practicing
My aspirations in life are modest: I want to write, spend time with my loved ones, and someday find a lipstick that flatters my skintone. But perhaps my greatest ambition is this: I want to be able to do a handstand.
Why? It turns the world upside down. It seems fun. It displays a mastery of one’s physical form that I have never quite felt. And it looks cool! Maybe it has to do with that one time in third grade when all my friends could do a handstand and I couldn’t, but that’s for me and my therapist to sort out later.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 16:00
The Guardian
Did you solve it? Do you have the brain of an engineer?
The answers to today’s puzzles
Earlier today I set four engineering puzzles. Here they are again with solutions. (Do check out the hundreds of great comments posted below the line in the original story.)
The cranberries
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:56
The Guardian
Kennedy Center leaders say Trump’s name on facade may avoid ‘fiscal collapse’
Center’s Trump-installed leaders also say it is on brink of bankruptcy and could close as early as Tuesday
Leaders of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts say it is reportedly on the brink of bankruptcy and could close as early as Tuesday.
The center’s Donald Trump-installed leaders argued that putting the president’s name on its facade may be the only way to avoid imminent and “certain fiscal collapse”, the Washington Post first reported, citing documents it obtained.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:42
The Guardian
Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after ‘free Palestine’ speech
The American rapper will no longer support Sheeran’s US leg of Loop tour after comments at MetLife Stadium show
Macklemore has been dropped from the remainder of the US leg of Ed Sheeran’s Loop tour, after the American rapper drew headlines for saying “free Palestine” on stage at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
In a brief speech between songs on 4 September, the Grammy-winning artist told the audience he wanted the people of Gaza and “the occupied West Bank” to know “we have not forgotten about them”, prompting a petition from the Israeli American Council demanding his removal from the tour.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:39
The Guardian
How did the Guardian cover Oasis at Knebworth 1996? Well … we didn’t
Noel Gallagher told fans ‘this is history’ but the paper opted to review support act the Charlatans instead, as that band returned from tragedy
• News: Oasis announce 2027 tour, including return to Knebworth 30 years after historic concerts
Over two days in August 1996, Oasis played to 250,000 people at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire. Riding high on two bestselling albums, the concerts were seen as the crowning moment in their career.
The Guardian covered the weekend but Caroline Sullivan’s review concentrated on the Charlatans, one of the support acts. There was a picture of the Knebworth crowds on page 7, but the main review that day was of folk-rock band Fairport Convention’s Cropredy festival. There was also a review of the “anti-Oasis” Divine Comedy.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:39
The Guardian
VARs who wrongly confirmed Haaland’s goal at Manchester United are stood down
Matt Donohue and his assistant not used this weekend
Pro Ref said allowing winner was ‘error of judgment’
The video assistant referee officials who allowed Erling Haaland’s winning goal in the Manchester derby on Sunday have been stood down. Matt Donohue and his assistant, Blake Antrobus, have been told by Pro Ref they have not received appointments for this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures.
Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer, took the decision with his management team after a review of the weekend’s action. Their availability will be reconsidered after the international break.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:39Why the election could make Washington's looming next fiscal crisis harder
Some in the GOP are already disavowing raising the debt ceiling absent deep spending cuts as the national debt balloons past $40 trillion.
14th September 2026 15:35
The Guardian
Phones are the new cigarettes: why restaurants are discouraging and even banning them
Would you hand in your phone at the door in exchange for a free bottle of wine? One restaurateur has tried that – and there are now many other gambits that are encouraging us to connect
Name: Phone bans.
Age: Their provenance is considerable; their time is now.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:31
The Guardian
Canada should become an EU state in all but name. Here’s how to make that a reality | Fabian Zuleeg
From the UK to Japan, so many countries need to quickly be brought inside the European tent without the rigours of full membership
The worst conclusion to draw from Iceland’s EU referendum result last month would be that the country, apparently now on Donald Trump’s imperial map along with Canada and Greenland, wanted to distance itself from Europe. Rather, the decision to refuse the reopening of EU accession talks shows that asking voters to choose between membership of the 27-nation bloc and staying outside the club is too binary. Some countries want to be inside the European tent without necessarily becoming members. The EU needs a new status for them.
There are existing models of close cooperation. Iceland and Norway, for example, participate in much of the single market through the European Economic Area (EEA). A range of other partial, gradual or associated membership options for candidate countries is being debated.
Fabian Zuleeg is chief executive and chief economist at the European Policy Centre
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:19
The Guardian
Uganda reverses Invictus Games withdrawal after reassurance from King Charles
Military chief had pulled country out over ‘Harry-Meghan nonsense’ but U-turned after clarification from the palace
Uganda has U-turned on its decision to withdraw from the Duke of Sussex’s Invictus Games after the country’s military chief said he had been reassured by King Charles that there was “no problem” with its participation.
Last week, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the eldest son of the Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, made the surprise announcement the country would not participate in the games in a post on X. He said he was motivated by his respect for the king amid division over the “Harry-Meghan nonsense”.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:03CBS News gets exclusive access to a U.S. aircraft carrier in Middle East
The USS George Washington recently replaced the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, quickly becoming the backbone of the U.S. operation against Iran. Tom Hanson gets an exclusive look onboard the aircraft carrier.
14th September 2026 15:00
The Guardian
Oasis announce 2027 tour, including return to Knebworth 30 years after historic concerts
After 2025’s wildly lucrative reunion, the Gallagher brothers will tour the UK, Ireland and US, and revisit the Hertfordshire site of their greatest live triumph
• From the archive: How did the Guardian cover Oasis at Knebworth 1996? Well … we didn’t
Oasis have finally confirmed new tour dates for 2027, including their long-rumoured return to Knebworth for a run of shows 30 years after they played a historic two nights at the Hertfordshire venue in 1996.
“Start the celebrations!”, the band said in a statement. “After a period of reflection, The Most Damaging Pop Cultural Force in Recent British History” – a quote from a Guardian opinion piece about the band – “has declared itself fit for purpose and will once again return to lift the spirits of the people. Come witness the fitness. It shall be a sight to behold.”
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:00
The Guardian
A job that changed me: Working the pool kiosk in the summer of ’82, I was excited when older boys came by – but I learned that respect is better than attention
My job made me the envy of the cool girls; it made me visible. Then Johnno, Stevo and Whack paid a visit
In the summer of 1982, at the age of 14, I was hired to work in the ticket office and kiosk at the Sale Memorial Pool in Victoria’s Gippsland region. The cool girls at school, who did not usually acknowledge me, were seething with jealousy. It was a sought-after job in a time before fast-food outlets and chain supermarkets.
I was anxious because I didn’t look like the girls who usually worked at the pool. The Dolly magazine cover-girl types. They were tanned, used raspberry lip gloss and Impulse body spray, and wore stretchy boob tubes over their crocheted bikini tops.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 15:00
The Guardian
Sydney Sweeney’s prediction ad is cynical, unhealthy and reveals plenty about modern sports | Jane McManus
The actor’s latest promotion has stirred outrage but will no doubt be good for the prediction markets hoping to lure in young men
Prediction markets are a cynical business.
Many customers will lose money, and the real product may just be the delightful dopamine hit that comes in that brief window between placing a bet and its outcome – which is statistically more likely to be a disappointment than a victory. So the bettor has to think they are buying more than their own fleecing.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 14:30How to raise confident, conscious daughters
Dr. Shefali Tsabary joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss her latest book, "Raising Conscious Daughters," where she offers ways to build your child's confidence in a frantic, social media-centric world.
14th September 2026 14:30Axios co-founders on simplifying life and work
Axios co-founders Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen join "CBS Mornings" to talk about their new book, "Simplify: Do 50% More with 50% Less," and offer tips for decluttering your work and life.
14th September 2026 14:26Trump urges Ukraine to stop ‘knocking out’ Russian oil refineries as U.S. diesel hits record
U.S. diesel prices have surpassed $6 a gallon for the first time ever as the Ukraine and Iran wars drive broader energy supply concerns.
14th September 2026 14:25
The Guardian
‘The eye-gouging was very, very satisfying’: how we made cave horror classic The Descent
‘The child crawler whose head I crush with my boot was only 11, bless him. It was actually me stamping on a cauliflower’
I was introduced to Christian Colson at Celador Films off the back of [2002 horror film] Dog Soldiers, and I pitched them a project – actually a feature-length version of my student graduation film – about zombies on an oil rig. They liked it but said it was too expensive, so on the train back to Newcastle I was asking myself what would make a really scary horror film that could be contained and so made on a budget. I was thinking of things set in the dark and was like, well … caves. At the back of my mind was a school trip to a lead mine where the guide had said, “OK, everybody, turn your lights off” and, for the first time, I experienced a darkness that I just couldn’t fathom.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 14:23
The Guardian
US airman recounts Iran rescue in 60 Minutes segment branded propaganda
Critics say segment about airman’s rescue was made to boost public perception of Trump’s unpopular war
A US airman has spoken of climbing a 7,000ft ridge with a broken back, arm and shoulder after he was shot down in Iran – and of being rescued by a team of American special forces as hostile locals closed in on him.
The air force colonel, identified only by his codename Bravo, appeared on camera Sunday night on CBS’s 60 Minutes in a segment some critics have labelled Pentagon propaganda to boost public perception of Donald Trump’s unpopular war.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 14:17
The Guardian
USA’s Solheim Cup inquest begins amid early celebrations and stats complaints
Losing captain frustrated by lack of in-play statistics
Stanford offers warning to Ryder Cup leader Jim Furyk
The latest inquest into failure by an American team on European soil involves slow greens, the perception of a premature celebration and a curious absence of statistical backup. Angela Stanford, whose Solheim Cup team were defeated by Europe in the Netherlands on Sunday, warned Jim Furyk’s Ryder Cup contingent to take note.
Stanford used the numbers-based evidence of Justin Ray to assist with decision-making and Furyk will do likewise at Adare Manor next year. In the aftermath of the 15-13 defeat and assessing Ray’s input, Stanford clearly had an underlying gripe. “I’m wondering how honest to be,” she said.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 14:15How a slowdown in AI development would impact markets
Leaders in AI have explicitly warned that a lack of regulation on the industry could have dire consequences. CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger joins to discuss how a slowdown in development could impact stock markets.
14th September 2026 14:08
NPR Topics: News
The producer of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer's tip for finding a hit? Don't look for one
Theatre producer Francesca Moody has a remarkable record of spotting shows that go on to have wide success. At the Edinburgh Fringe festival, she told NPR about what she looks for in a performance.
14th September 2026 14:03U.S. Air Force officer shot down in Iran says watching crewman's rescue was "proudest dad moment"
For the season premiere of "60 Minutes," Norah O'Donnell interviewed the U.S. Air Force officer who was stuck in Iran for more than two days after his F-15 was downed. From his vantage point, he witnessed the rescue of his crewmate.
14th September 2026 14:01OpenAI boss Sam Altman spells out how and why the AI industry wants to slow down: 'We could lose control'
OpenAI's chief has made comments detailing how AI safety frameworks and a slowdown could work, as the industry unites behind concerns.
14th September 2026 13:38
The Guardian
Westminster’s time is coming to an end, say first ministers of UK’s Celtic nations
Leaders in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland discuss independence and call for constitutional change at summit
Westminster’s time is coming to an end, the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have said at a summit aimed at putting the UK’s Celtic nations on the path to independence referendums.
The Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth; the Scottish National party leader, John Swinney; Sinn Féin’s vice-president, Michelle O’Neill, and the president and leader of the opposition in Ireland, Mary Lou McDonald, met in Cardiff on Monday to sign a memorandum of understanding recognising that “the political landscape across these islands is changing”.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 13:21
The Guardian
A royal cavalry and beating a drum: photos of the day – Monday
The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 13:20Satellite images show extent of damage to Saudi Arabia’s oil pipeline that bypasses Strait of Hormuz
Saudi Arabia temporarily shut the roughly 750-mile pipeline as attacks threaten a key alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
14th September 2026 13:08
The Guardian
Polanski the first managerial victim of Bundesliga season as Gladbach fail again | Andy Brassell
Departure of head coach after defeat at Freiburg sums up club that could join other fallen giants in second tier
It could not go on. Even at this early stage the sinking feeling was familiar and impossible to shake, and something had to give at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The first Bundesliga coaching change of the season is upon us just three games in, and it is not a major surprise that it is Eugen Polanski departing. Neither is it a shock that Gladbach are involved; after all, it was at exactly this point last season – three games in – that they parted ways with Gerardo Seoane.
A club with more prospects and direction would have chosen to move on from Polanski in the summer, but the reality is that Gladbach have few of either. Saturday afternoon’s humiliation at Freiburg – a club enjoying a 100% record, guided by poise and purpose, having spent the Johan Manzambi money wisely – was no bad day at the office but a season in microcosm. The home side cruised into a 2-0 lead inside the first half-hour before the Gladbach captain, Tim Kleindienst, was sent off for a second yellow card (after an utterly avoidable first one). One former Gladbach player, Yannik Engelhardt, scored twice while another, Matthias Ginter, made two assists. It finished 5-0 and could have been way worse.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 13:03
The Guardian
Beck: Ride Lonesome review – stunning end to the heartache trilogy of Sea Change and Morning Phase
(Iliad/Capitol)
On his first album in seven years, Beck keeps the quality control extremely high as he surveys mid-50s malaise in the wake of divorce
The last time Beck released an album it was 2019 and the singer-songwriter found himself in a strange and unenviable position. In some quarters, the arrival of Hyperspace was eagerly anticipated precisely because his personal life was in turmoil. Nine months before its release, his 15-year marriage to actor Marissa Ribisi had ended in divorce, an experience he understandably described as heartbreaking. Unfortunately for him, there exists a pervasive argument that Beck’s greatest work is born out of misery.
His beloved 2002 album Sea Change featured a set of disconsolate acoustic songs written in the wake of a break-up with his long-term girlfriend Leigh Limon that Beck had initially thought were too personal for public consumption. They were certainly very different from the knowing, postmodern approach with which he’d made his name, but no matter: Sea Change went on to become a huge critical and commercial success. It wasn’t entirely clear what prompted the gloomy mood of 2014’s Morning Phase, but it very much seemed to be cut from similar musical and lyrical cloth. Some critics suggested it was the best album of his career; it subsequently won three Grammys, including album of the year. Given the circumstances, there was much pre-release speculation that Hyperspace would be a companion piece.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 13:00
The Guardian
Andy Burnham cancels engagements as his father’s death is announced
UK prime minister had been due to speak at the TUC conference in Brighton
Andy Burnham has cancelled his engagements for Monday and Tuesday after his father, Roy, died.
Among other plans, the prime minister had been due to speak to the TUC conference in Brighton on Tuesday.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 12:44
The Guardian
Africa’s richest man aiming to make $23bn from continent’s biggest-ever IPO
Public offering of Aliko Dangote’s Nigerian oil refinery business could swell his net wealth by two-thirds
The fortune of Africa’s richest person could swell by two thirds to nearly $60bn (£44bn) after his refinery in Nigeria listed publicly in the continent’s biggest-ever initial public offering.
If Monday’s flotation of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals on the Nigerian exchange goes to plan, then Aliko Dangote will add a further $23bn (£17bn) to his $35bn net worth.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 12:38Senate returns today for final legislative sprint ahead of midterms
The Senate is returning to Washington from a five-week recess, with several priorities to address before leaving town next month to take to the campaign trail.
14th September 2026 12:36
The Guardian
Gulf states postpone strait of Hormuz talks with Iran as Yemen conflict intensifies
Impasse comes amid growing Saudi anger with Tehran over Houthi advances and strikes on airbase and pipeline
Gulf states have postponed a critical meeting with Iran on the future of the strait of Hormuz owing to a lack of Arab consensus and growing Saudi Arabian anger with Tehran for helping the Houthis loosen Riyadh’s grip in Yemen.
The stalemate over the vital waterway came as Houthi rebels launched a fresh barrage of missile and drone attacks on Saudi military targets. A Houthi military spokesperson claimed its forces had attacked the King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait, hitting fighter-jet hangars, radar systems, runways and landing strips, ammunition depots and additional targets.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 12:22
The Guardian
The far right’s march to power in Sweden has been halted, but its influence remains
The Sweden Democrats slipped to third after decades of growth, but their hardline positions have already reshaped the political mainstream
Since the party was founded in 1988, the story of the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) has been one of such continuous growth that a triumph in Sunday’s general election seemed inevitable.
In 2022, the party capitalised on electoral gains – and the desperation of right-leaning parties to form a minority administration – and almost made its way into government. A supporting role in prime minister Ulf Kristersson’s Tidö coalition earned the party, which has neo-Nazi roots, huge influence and mainstream acceptance by the political establishment.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 12:19
The Guardian
I worked at Google DeepMind. You should listen to the warnings about AI | Alex Turner
We must stop companies from allowing AI to self-improve into an uncontrollable level of intelligence
Major AI lab CEOs advocated for slowing the pace of AI development this weekend. They are right to be concerned: the field runs an extremely dangerous race towards superintelligent AI. We can and should be demanding that our governments protect us from the catastrophe of out-of-control AI.
This July, OpenAI’s AI swarm of 700 agents broke containment to hack Hugging Face, a multi-billion dollar company. OpenAI didn’t tell the AIs to hack that company, but the AIs had different priorities: cheating on the unrelated challenge OpenAI gave them. AI researchers call this a “misalignment” between what OpenAI wanted and what the AI actually prioritized.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 12:00
The Guardian
Rosie Mackean’s quick and easy recipe for lamb chops with courgettes, walnuts and yoghurt | Quick and easy
Intimidated by the thought of midweek entertaining? Three simple rules make it simple…
Entertaining midweek can feel daunting, but if you employ a couple of tricks, things can very quickly go from mayhem to magic. First, choose a dish that goes perfectly with good bread, so your carb is covered. Second, choose a protein that is quick to cook and great for sharing – little lamb chops are perfect for this, while also being a treat. And, finally, use other ingredients that don’t need much help. Here, the walnuts just get cooked in butter and the lamb juices, the courgettes are simply boiled and dressed, and the yoghurt is, well, yoghurt. Suddenly you’ve conjured up a masterpiece ready for many hands to dig in.
Good Time Cooking: Show-Stopping Menus for Easy Entertaining, by Rosie Mackean, is published by Pavilion Books at £26. To order a copy for £23.40, visit guardianbookshop.com
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 12:00
The Guardian
Barrio Triste review – raw and dynamic portrait of anarchic slum life in 1980s Medellín
Bad Bunny collaborator Stillz’s debut feature shot using Betacam focuses on vibes over plot
Best known as the creative mind behind the music videos of Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny, Stillz has risen to the top of the industry as an in-demand director and photographer. Interestingly, for his feature-film debut, Stillz has turned away from the glitz and glamour of celebrity to fix his lens on the underdog. Shot on Betacam video and set in the crime-ridden neighbourhoods of 1980s Medellín, Barrio Triste opens with an unexpected act of rebellion: having snatched a camera from a television crew, a group of young men head out on an anarchic joyride and film their exploits in the process. Previously rendered invisible by the system, they have inserted themselves into a tool of mainstream media.
There are moments of crisis here and there – the restless band of youths attempt a robbery and even kill a hostage – yet the primary focus seems to be on vibes rather than plot. The ever-roving camera not only channels the agitated psyche of the main characters but also drums up the chaotic pace of Medellín’s underbelly. One particularly memorable sequence moves from the peculiar sight of a punk duo practising on a rooftop to the garbage-strewn streets, during which seemingly benign interactions can quickly escalate into heated altercations. Echoing the handheld cinematography, life in the slums is unmoored and precarious, as if the ground might give way at any second.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 12:00
The Guardian
Nine EU countries further delay EES border checks
Holiday hotspots including France and Greece plead for more time to implement changes in busy airports
Nine EU countries, including France, are delaying the introduction of fingerprinting for non-EU citizens as they plead for more time to introduce the new border controls at busy airports in the bloc.
The entry-exit system (EES), which was due to come into force in full on 6 September, has been delayed multiple times to avoid visitor congestion around large events, including the Olympics in 2024.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 11:57Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei: "For too long the industry lied" about AI risks
The head of the artificial intelligence company calls the exponential rate of AI developments a "warning sign," with risks for humanity, and says, "We need to slow down." He talks with "Sunday Morning" about possible steps forward.
14th September 2026 11:44
NPR Topics: News
Key leaders sound the alarm on AI. And, Iran-Gulf diplomacy hits a setback
Some key leaders at artificial intelligence companies call for a slowdown in AI development. And, Iran-Gulf diplomacy hits a setback as talks in Oman are delayed.
14th September 2026 11:39Amazon halts use of 21 Air after plane overshot Miami runway
Amazon says it has decided to suspend its operations with 21 Air after one of the carrier's planes overshot a runway in Miami, killing five people.
14th September 2026 11:34
The Guardian
How Britain's kings and queens powered the slave trade – video
Enslaved African people were seared with hot metal brands bearing the royal crown, according to research by historians who have documented the monarchy’s centuries-long involvement in Britain’s slave trade.
The kings and queens most heavily involved were those who ruled after the monarchy was restored in 1660. The Register of British Slave Traders is the most comprehensive research project into the investors in the country's trafficking of enslaved African people. Its publication will further inform calls for the king to finally acknowledge the monarchy’s deep involvement in the trade.
In response to the Guardian’s reporting of the new research relating to the monarchy, a spokesperson for King Charles said he was 'grateful to all those undertaking academic work in this area and thus contributing to the debate about how such issues might best be addressed'.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 11:33
The Guardian
Scientists find nine new sponge species in glimpse of Alaska’s deep-sea diversity
But their habitat is threatened by bottom trawling in the region and Trump’s plan to expand seafloor mining
Scientists have discovered nine new deep-sea sponge species off Alaska, offering new insights into the region’s largely unexplored marine biodiversity.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) announced the discovery on Thursday, saying the species were found in the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The findings bring the total number of known sponge species in Alaska to 232.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 11:30
The Guardian
Zuckerberg says the science isn’t settled. But the harms of short-form video on the brain are starting to show | Caty Enders
Recent social media lawsuits have addressed concerns about mental health. But what about its cognitive effects?
A few years ago, when I’d just started graduate work, I was waiting with a grandmother finishing a questionnaire I’d handed her about her 19-year-old granddaughter who was in the testing room next door. They were participating in a study that used brain imaging to look at adolescent development. The older woman had a soft southern accent and a warm laugh.
“What’s funny?” I asked.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 11:00
The Guardian
She’s Donald Trump’s least-favorite Fox News host. But Jessica Tarlov remains undeterred
The 42-year-old liberal commentator regularly co-hosts the network’s 5pm talk show, taking flak from her conservative colleagues and harsh insults from the president.
Jessica Tarlov is the left-leaning Fox News host that some of the network’s most conservative viewers, including Donald Trump, love to hate.
The US president regularly bashes Tarlov on his Truth Social platform, in April calling her “one of the Least Attractive and Talented People on all of Television”, and demanding that Fox “GET HER OFF THE AIR.”
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 11:00
NPR Topics: News
This city led the way on reparations for Black people. Trump is trying to stop it
Evanston, Ill., became the first U.S. city to compensate Black people for historical discrimination. The Justice Department is trying to kill its program before other cities follow suit.
14th September 2026 11:00
The Guardian
Spanish GP plans to change Madring after fierce criticism from F1 drivers
New track for Spanish GP frustrated drivers and fans
McLaren’s Stella: ‘It’s impossible to attempt overtaking’
Discussions are already under way to change the layout of Formula One’s newest circuit after driver condemnation of the Madring during its inaugural grand prix. The race in Madrid was won by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, but it was notable for being a procession with overtakes failing to reach double digits over 57 laps. Drivers were left frustrated and disappointed at an opportunity that had been lost, resulting in a chorus of criticism.
“I don’t know how someone looks at this design and goes ‘mint’,” said the defending world champion, Lando Norris, who finished third. “There’s a lot of opportunity. They can make it into a track that’s good for racing and I’m excited to come back here next year if they can make these changes.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 10:57
NPR Topics: News
The powerful millionaires hiding in plain sight
They own car dealerships, law firms, dental practices, and restaurant chains. Collectively, these overlooked business owners hold far more wealth than the Forbes 400 — and wield considerable political power.
14th September 2026 10:30
NPR Topics: News
Beijing hits back at Anthropic CEO's call to curb China's AI development
China's Foreign Ministry called the Anthropic CEO's warning about the dangers of Chinese-developed AI "fearmongering," as the Chinese and U.S. leaders prepare to meet in Washington later this month.
14th September 2026 10:09
The Guardian
The one change that worked: I was terrified of the dentist – until I found a very special one
After an agonising experience, I avoided checkups for four years. But a practice that assured a stress-free process for scared patients was transformative
I haven’t always been afraid of the dentist. If you had asked me a decade ago whether sitting in the dentist’s chair filled me with dread or made me break out in a cold sweat, I would have laughed and said no – what is there to be afraid of? It was only in 2021, after I had a filling without being properly numbed, that I understood why people are afraid of dental work. Despite telling him I was in excruciating pain, the dentist carried on with the procedure anyway, and I was left with a newfound and deep-seated fear.
At first, this was easily managed. I simply binned the reminders to book checkups, avoided their calls and carried on with my life. After a year, I told myself I’d see the dentist soon – just not yet. I firmly shoved the problem to the back of my mind.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 10:00
The Guardian
The pet I’ll never forget: Polly, the golden retriever who saved my husband’s life
We got her as a puppy and she became particularly close to Adam – a blessing when he went into cardiac arrest in the middle of the night
My husband, Adam, and I had always planned to have a big family and that journey began when we got our dog, Polly, five years ago. I’ve loved golden retrievers since I was a child because I grew up with one. We got Polly as a puppy and she was everything we’d hoped for: loving and smart.
She immediately connected with both of us, but became inseparable from Adam. They would go for morning runs together; Polly could always be found wagging her tail by his side. This bond proved to be lifesaving.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 10:00
The Guardian
The situation in Iran is dangerously escalating – but whatever you do, don’t call it a war | Arwa Mahdawi
Forget the bombing: the Trump administration keeps insisting this isn’t a war. But it’s not just a matter of semantics
“I will not send you to fight and die in stupid foreign wars that never end,” Donald Trump promised a crowd in Pennsylvania in 2024. While the disastrous conflict in Iran, which has escalated in recent days, may make it seem like the president has reneged on that promise, that’s inaccurate. It would be wrong to say that the president has dragged the US into yet another disastrous forever war in the Middle East because, as government officials keep insisting, what’s happening in Iran isn’t actually a war.
“I wouldn’t call it a war,” JD Vance told reporters early this month, for example, after being asked whether the fighting in Iran might be over by the November midterms. “Right now, there is no active shooting.”
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 10:00
NPR Topics: News
New Carlo Rovelli book challenges science's understanding of reality and the universe
In his latest book, the world-renowned physicist draws on science and philosophy to explore the notion that the university and reality are fully knowable.
14th September 2026 09:44
The Guardian
Weather tracker: Floods in eastern India and hurricane damage in California
Flooding in West Bengal has led to three deaths, while severe beach erosion has been witnessed in Orange county
Flooding around the city of Malda in the Indian state of West Bengal since Thursday has had a devastating effect. So far, three deaths have been recorded and many areas are still flooded, with numerous villages affected, along with the region of Bhutni. Erosion from the flooding, reported from Khaskol, led to a disruption in river flow which led to a more severe impact in Bhutni. More than 100 boats have been sent out for evacuation.
At East Basudevpur, a 20ft (6-metre) embankment collapsed, reducing the channel from 550ft to under 150ft, which could lead to further flooding unless repaired. This flooding resulted after the Ganges River rose about 75cm above its “extreme danger” level owing to heavy rainfall.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 09:28
The Guardian
Royal Ballet: The McRae/Vassilev Project review – an encounter between two masterful ROH performers
Linbury theatre, London
Directed by Natalie Abrahami and choreographed by Loughlan Prior, this is an evening of many parts that sometimes feels bolted together
It’s an evening of two halves and many, many parts, some that dovetail snugly, others more clunkily bolted together. And perhaps that’s because The McRae/Vassilev Project is just that: a project more than a piece.
Directed by Natalie Abrahami and choreographed by Loughlan Prior, it is essentially an encounter between two masterful performers with long careers at the Royal Opera House, dancer Steven McRae and violinist Vasko Vassilev, entwined with the near mythical figure of another virtuoso artist, Niccolò Paganini.
The first half opens with Vassilev centre stage playing Bach (for some reason); he backs off to cede space for a luxurious pas de deux by McRae and partner Sarah Lamb, all exquisite lines, spins and lifts. From this “front stage” scene, the set switches to a backstage studio, artists McRae, Vassilev, Lamb and pianist Pamela Tan Nicholson entering as if for rehearsal. The rest of this section is a light-touch show-and-tell of McRae and Vassilev’s backstories – one a homespun Australian who happened upon dance as a child, the other a Bulgarian prodigy hothoused within a musical family – illustrated with old photos and videos, supplemented by comments from Lamb and Nicholson, and interspersed with consummate yet seemingly off-the-cuff demonstrations of their skills in music and dance.
The scene is at once charming – personalising the figure of the professional performer – and contrived: even as you warm to the characters you feel the joins in the script (voice acting is not their forte) and the jolts between the attempted naturalism of their conversation and the executed artifices of classical performance.
The second half is a complete change of tack. Everyone returns as devilish Paganinis in tailcoats and cummerbunds, hair dyed dark and tastefully tousled. As well as flourishing a violin bow like a baton, sword or spear, McRae uses his tap dance training in fiendish zapateado and brilliant Cossack spins, sometimes melding his commanding footwork in partnership with Lamb’s airy pointe-work and lean lines. Still, it’s perhaps Vassilev who holds the stage most, simply by putting his body into playing Paganini; the laser focus is spellbinding.
Shame, then, that there are so many distracting effects, from back-projected dancers to billowing smoke and glaring lights, and a busy abstract animation that visualises the musical dynamics. With performers like these, it’s enough for them to just do their thing.
At the Linbury theatre, London, until 19 September.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 09:00
The Guardian
‘I never pass up a rewatch’: why Valley Girl is my feelgood movie
The latest in our series of writers explaining their most rewatched comfort films brings us back to 1980s LA
As a teenager growing up in the 1990s, I was deeply obsessed with all things 1980s pop culture. Chalk it up to nostalgia for my Care Bears-filled childhood – or a stubborn adolescent desire to separate myself from the Dave Matthews Band-loving, khaki-wearing kids at my high school. (Mission accomplished: it’s safe to say I was the only person I knew rocking a bandana tied around my pants leg or a Wild Boys-era Duran Duran shirt.)
Back then, I was especially drawn to 1980s teen movies. In my own life, I was having zero luck finding a New Romantic Romeo; instead, I pined after artsy, sensitive boys who didn’t know I existed. But throughout these films, even the most awkward characters managed to find a happy ending, with the ultimate examples being Samantha (Molly Ringwald) in Sixteen Candles landing hunky Jake Ryan or Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh) linking up with Rat (Brian Backer) in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Continue reading... 14th September 2026 09:00