Burnham dodges questions on Heathrow third runway as project faces four-year delay 27. September 2026 (17:47) Airport chiefs say 2035 operations deadline unachievable as critics say new delay makes case for project ‘even more dubious’Plans for a third runway at Heathrow are once again up in the air after the prime minister refused to say whether he backs the “contested” project which is delayed by up to four years.Over the weekend it emerged that Heathrow no longer expects to meet the original 2035 deadline. Instead, the airport hopes to secure planning permission by 2029 and then open the runway “within a decade”, meaning it would not be operational until 2039. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tense standoff over loyalist march in Portadown as protesters block route 27. September 2026 (17:33) Sinn Féin leaders join those on streets opposing decision to allow Garvaghy Road parade for first time since 1998Portadown march: latest updatesHundreds of protesters spent the day blocking the route of a hugely contentious parade in Northern Ireland after a court gave late-night clearance for the Orange Order to march on a historically significant road for the first time in nearly 30 years.The loyalist Drumcree parade along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown was given the go ahead by the Parades Commission for the first time since 1998, a decision denounced as “madness” by Sinn Féin. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Swiss voters reject stricter neutrality rules that would have curbed Nato cooperation 27. September 2026 (17:05) 70% vote against tightening centuries-old neutrality, which far right said was being eroded by sanctions against RussiaSwiss voters have decisively rejected a proposal for a strict definition of neutrality that would have required Switzerland to curb cooperation with Nato and abandon sanctions against Russia.All cantons and about 70% of voters rejected the proposal for a strictly defined version of neutrality to be written into the Swiss constitution, final results from the Federal Statistical Office showed. The motion had been promoted by the far-right Swiss People’s party (SVP). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One Nation boss called David Farley an ‘asshole’ in lead-up to Farrer byelection, text messages reveal 27. September 2026 (17:00) Exclusive: Documents seen by Guardian Australia show that Kelvin Morton has also clashed with party HQ staff and Brisbane volunteersGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation’s general manager, Kelvin Morton – brought in by the party to improve its vetting processes – referred to David Farley as an “asshole” just days before Farley’s historic Farrer byelection win for the party in May.In a series of text messages seen by Guardian Australia, Morton responds to a news article published in the Sydney Morning Herald about infighting among senior party figures over Farley’s previously undeclared support for the Labor party.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British celebrities beat AI companies lobbying to get free use of their work. They have a warning for Australia 27. September 2026 (17:00) ‘People care about the songs, books and pictures that influence the critical moments in their lives,’ says the architect of the fightback in the UKGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIf you want to state the case against copyright reform in Australia, get Kylie Minogue’s phone number.If there is one lesson to be learned from a similar battle in the UK, high-profile members of the creative industries make a difference. They get your argument on the front of newspapers, in the news bulletins and on social media. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
RBA expected to hike cash rate to 4.6%, its highest level since 2011 27. September 2026 (17:00) Outcome of meetings of Reserve Bank on Monday and Tuesday will affect Australian mortgage rates, household budgets and house pricesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s key interest rate is expected to hit its highest level since 2011, drag down house prices and add more than $100 to typical monthly mortgage repayments.The Reserve Bank board is poised to hike the cash rate from 4.35% to 4.6% on Tuesday, which would be the fourth increase in 2026 and push typical home loan interest rates to 6.5%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lime bike profits double as rider numbers surge in England 27. September 2026 (16:24) US-owned firm says average monthly users at UK arm surged to nearly 700,000 with sales up by a thirdLove them or hate them, Lime ebikes are an increasingly common sight on England’s roads with new figures showing annual profits more than doubling thanks to a surge in riders.Lime’s average number of monthly users jumped 31% to approaching 700,000 as it added more than 4,500 ebikes and scooters to its fleet, taking the total to almost 38,000, the company’s UK arm, Lime Technologies, said in accounts filed at Companies House. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Datacenter developers accused of skirting key US pollution rules 27. September 2026 (16:00) Firms manipulating process to avoid emission controls and scrutiny of their projects, environmental groups warnDatacenter developers are manipulating the EPA’s air pollution permitting process to avoid emission controls and scrutiny of their projects, environmental advocates allege.Companies need federal permits to emit a range of pollutants. In their permit applications, some in big tech are avoiding “major” reviews by dividing their emissions sources into separate, multiple “minor” sources that require less regulatory oversight, the advocates say. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two giant pandas set off to Atlanta zoo from China after Xi-Trump summit 27. September 2026 (15:14) Pandas departed Chengdu for their new homes in Georgia as part of agreement between Chinese and US governmentsTwo giant pandas departed Chengdu in south-western China early on Sunday for their new homes in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of an agreement between the Chinese and US governments.While in Washington DC for a three-day summit with Donald Trump, Chinese president Xi Jinping announced that the pandas would arrive in Atlanta in the coming days. The loan of the pandas to the Atlanta zoo was one of the few concrete outcomes to come out of Xi’s state visit with the US president, which saw expressions of goodwill between the leaders, but no fixes to any of the longstanding differences between the two countries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I wanted to help another family’: four surrogates on how they feel about the surrogacy discourse 27. September 2026 (15:00) The Guardian spoke with surrogates across the US about what they think of the controversy surrounding the practiceSurrogacy has been thrust into the national spotlight in recent weeks, with both the announcement of Lena Dunham using a surrogate to start a family and the ongoing legal battle surrounding McKenna West, a gestational surrogate who fled to Texas to avoid having an abortion that was requested by the child’s biological parents.With a renewed public interest on commercial, or compensated, surrogacy, the Guardian spoke with surrogates across the US who shared their experiences and how they feel about surrogacy being part of a global, public conversation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
