Melbourne man’s mysterious disappearance on popular Peru hiking trail prompts widespread search 27. September 2026 (08:45) Loved ones describe Jordan Yap, 30, as an experienced hiker who set out for a 10-day solo trek Peru before falling silentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLoved ones of a missing Australian trekker who was last seen nearly two weeks ago on a remote South American hiking trail are urging local authorities to help with the search.A wide-scale sweep by a private rescue crew has so far failed to find any trace of 30-year-old Jordan Yap, who last made contact with friends and family on 14 September ahead of a planned 10-day solo trek along Peru’s Huayhuash mountain range, 400km north-east of Lima. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
London’s investment bankers and lawyers make more than £1bn in takeover frenzy 27. September 2026 (08:00) Bumper fees paid in the year’s mergers and acquisitions spark anger over high City pay during cost of living crisisLondon’s investment bankers and lawyers have made more than £1bn from a frenzy of takeover deals this year, sparking anger over high City pay during the cost of living crisis.The value of mergers and acquisitions of UK stock market listed companies has surged 175% in 2026 to $132.9bn (£100bn), according to the London Stock Exchange, as overseas buyers snap up British companies at record pace. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Undercover police officer lied to spycops inquiry about sexual relationship 27. September 2026 (07:00) Officer forced to admit relationship with woman lasting at least six months while working under fake name Dave EvansAn undercover police officer who infiltrated leftwing and animal rights campaign groups appears to have lied to the spycops inquiry when he claimed he did not have a sexual relationship as part of his deployment.The officer who used the fake name Dave Evans had originally testified that he did not have any relationships while using his fake identity. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I turbocharged my career then pressed eject’: why couples are getting divorced later 27. September 2026 (07:00) Financial pressures, legal changes and shifting attitudes may help explain why couples are staying married for longer“We don’t know anyone whose marriage hit the skids after just a few years,” Celia said, reflecting on her divorce. “Everyone seemed to cling on to their relationships for as long as they possibly could.”It took Celia two years to initiate divorce after realising her 12-year marriage wasn’t going anywhere – and the latest figures show this experience is increasingly common, with marriages that end in divorce now lasting longer than at any point since records began. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
OpenAI halts training of latest models as reports mount of AI agents going rogue 27. September 2026 (03:10) Decision follows disclosures that OpenAI agents searching government websites had acted in unexpected waysOpenAI said it has paused training of its latest artificial intelligence models as reports of AI agents going rogue mount.The decision to halt development came just hours after the company disclosed Friday that it was reviewing several incidents from the summer in which OpenAI agents searching federal government websites acted in unexpected ways beyond what was asked of them while gathering and distributing information. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: Hume sceptical legal action should follow OpenAI breach; flight cancellation heartbreak for AFL fans 27. September 2026 (03:00) Follow live updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland records five-year high number of deaths in child protection systemQueensland has recorded a five-year high of 92 deaths of children in the child protection system, according to new data.The real alarm bell that was set off this week is the fact that the only reason we knew about this breach of the Medicare archive or data system is because OpenAI told us there was a breach.If they hadn’t told us that there was a breach, would we have known about it at all? That demonstrates that our cyber defences, particularly for Services Australia, were woefully inadequate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Cash grab’: One Nation demands up to $630,000 from Victorian election candidates 27. September 2026 (02:46) Exclusive: Many applicants left feeling ‘used, lied to, misled and gaslit’, complaint letter seen by Guardian Australia saysListen to the Guardian podcast The Populist hereGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation could collect as much as $633,000 from people who have put their hand up to run in the Victorian state election, with potential candidates questioning whether the party is staging a “cash grab”.Guardian Australia has spoken to multiple former councillors, mayors and deputy mayors who expressed an interest in running for the party. They claim they went through what one called a “pay-to-play” application process, after which they were rejected.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian backlash to datacentres is faux import from US, officials say: ‘We are not the United States’ 27. September 2026 (00:00) Pro-datacentre officials argue scale of Australia’s buildout is smaller, more regulated and less damaging than in USAustralian politicians and business leaders are arguing that their populace’s growing resentment of AI datacentres is an inauthentic import from the United States.Like the US, Australia is seeing community resentment grow in response to a surge in the construction of massive AI datacentres. However, pro-datacentre officials and executives argue the scale of Australia’s buildout is smaller, more regulated and therefore less damaging than that in the US. They say the burgeoning negative reaction is being tainted and inflamed by a heated US debate that has arrived down under via social media feeds. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Private colleges around Australia offering last-minute discounts for diploma allegedly ‘misused by shonks’ 26. September 2026 (22:00) Federal government to deregister graduate diploma of management in October over fears it was being used by ‘non-genuine’ students to remain in countryGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPrivate colleges are offering discounts to rush students into a diploma the federal government is cancelling over concerns it is being “misused by shonks”.The government announced in early September it would deregister the graduate diploma of management (learning) which it suspected was being used by “non-genuine” students to remain in Australia. The course is taught by close to 450 institutions, has over 15,000 students studying currently and more than 40,000 students registered for future enrolment following completion of a different vocational course. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Palestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at Sydney school sues for racial discrimination 26. September 2026 (22:00) Wasim El-Haj alleges NSW government school ordered him to stop wearing symbolic garment as it ‘may cause discord’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Palestinian careers adviser who was allegedly directed to stop wearing a keffiyeh at a Sydney government school because it was a symbol that “may cause discord” has lodged a racial discrimination case in the federal court against the state of New South Wales.Wasim El-Haj, a former careers adviser at Sydney Girls High School – an inner-city selective government school – alleges the then acting principal told him in 2024 that the keffiyeh was seen as a symbol of conflict. He alleges the state’s conduct is unlawful for breaching the Racial Discrimination Act. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
