Free the Strip! Melburnians fight back against outlawing of much-loved picnic spot 26. September 2026 (02:12) A council ban on drinking on the median strip in Canning Street, Carlton, sparks a peaceful protest featuring punch bowls, chips and laughterGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt looked like a typical spring evening on Melbourne’s Canning Street when a few dozen picnickers gathered on the grassy median strip on Friday, with drinks in hand.People in one group who’d come with a full alfresco setting chattered as they ladled punch out of a glass bowl on a wooden table, set with a tablecloth and yellow flowers in a vase. Others sat on picnic blankets, passing around bags of chips. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two people arrested in New York City for allegedly climbing out of manhole 26. September 2026 (00:57) Kevin Rodriguez and Samuel Reveron were booked after reports of ‘mole people’ emerging from sewers across cityTwo people have been arrested for allegedly emerging from manholes across New York City.Police reportedly suspect them of searching for valuables that had been washed into the storm drains and sewer system. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Supreme court blocks Trump-backed Missouri congressional map from use in midterms 26. September 2026 (00:33) Court puts end to long-running legal dispute as it rules Republican-friendly map cannot be used in NovemberThe supreme court on Friday turned away an attempt to use a new Missouri congressional map backed by Donald Trump, putting an end to a long-running legal dispute as absentee voting is under way in the midterm elections.The justices halted a federal appeals court ruling that would have revived the Republican-friendly map for the November elections, which will determine control of Congress. There were no noted dissents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Michigan CEO loses job after posting AI-made image of her family in ‘Lake America’ sweaters 26. September 2026 (00:21) Jane Smith reportedly used ChatGPT to edit photo to show name Trump ordered US agencies to use for Lake Ontario amid trade war with CanadaThe CEO of a Michigan credit union is no longer employed there, according to the organization, after she posted on social media what appeared to be an AI-generated image of her and her family wearing sweaters emblazoned with the Donald Trump-associated words “Lake America”.In the statement recently announcing that Jane Smith would no longer be its CEO, Family First Credit Union also apologized “for the concern, disappointment and pain this situation has caused”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ex-American Idol contestant told lover he dreamed of killing wife, murder trial hears 26. September 2026 (00:12) Alleigha Botner tells court Caleb Flynn, charged with murder of wife Ashley Flynn, sent her AI love songsThe Ohio former pastor and American Idol contestant accused of fatally shooting his wife fantasized to his then lover about killing his spouse and sent her AI-generated love songs, according to evidence presented at trial this week.Caleb Flynn, 40, is on trial for aggravated murder in connection with the 16 February shooting death of Ashley Flynn. He also is charged with two counts of felonious assault and three counts of tampering with evidence, according to a March indictment. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump and Chinese president Xi end summit without major agreement on AI 26. September 2026 (00:11) Xi’s state visit to the US emphasized personal rapport with the US president, rather than substantial agreements to pause their respective countries’ AI arms raceDonald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping wrapped up their Washington summit on Friday, facing criticism that they had squandered an opportunity to pause their countries’ artificial intelligence (AI) arms race.The three-day state visit emphasised pageantry and personal rapport rather than substantial agreements. The US president and Xi discussed the wars in Iran and Ukraine and the status of Taiwan. Their biggest policy announcement was a modest two-month extension of a trade truce. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Turning Point USA knew of security concerns yet insisted Charlie Kirk speak outdoors, report says 25. September 2026 (23:32) According to report, school staff recommended event move to a more secure location weeks before Kirk was fatally shotA new report says that Turning Point USA insisted the conservative political group’s leader Charlie Kirk speak outdoors at Utah Valley University – where he was ultimately assassinated – despite security concerns raised with his team by the school’s leaders and its police chief.The independent report with those findings was commissioned by UVU and released on Friday. The report examined security procedures leading up to the 31-year-old’s fatal shooting on 10 September 2025 during a talk at the university’s campus in Orem, Utah.The Associated Press contributed reporting Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nearly 200 people wrongly identified on Nevada’s voter rolls as non-citizens 25. September 2026 (23:10) State election officials said they reviewed 185 records homeland security sent them and confirmed they were US citizensThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wrongly identified 185 people on Nevada’s voter rolls as non-citizens, state officials said this week, escalating concerns over the shoddy methodology the government is using to raise fear about non-citizen voting ahead of the midterm elections.In July, Donald Trump gave a speech saying DHS had found a combined 278,000 non-citizens on the rolls in Nevada, California, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Follow-up letters to each of those states weakened the claim, saying there only could be as many as 278,000 non-citizens on the rolls, including up to 15,903 in Nevada. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New Jersey lieutenant governor resigns after sexual harassment accusation 25. September 2026 (21:52) Investigation determined Dale Caldwell violated state ethics rules and engaged in harassing behaviorDale Caldwell, the lieutenant governor of New Jersey, resigned from his position on Friday, after the release of a report accusing him of sexually harassing a female staffer, among other ethics violations.New Jersey’s governor, Mikie Sherrill, announced on Friday afternoon that Caldwell had submitted his resignation to her earlier in the day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Idaho cold case may be tied to unsolved 1982 Tylenol murders, authorities say 25. September 2026 (21:38) Officials say man found dead in a church decades ago may be linked to poisonings in Chicago area in 1982A man found dead in an Idaho church decades ago may be connected to unsolved poisonings in 1982 in the Chicago area that were dubbed the “Tylenol murders” and ushered in child safety caps for medicines, authorities announced recently.Detective Tim Cooper of the Ada county sheriff’s Office reopened a cold case investigation in 2019 that led authorities to identify Dr Mathew Francis Betkouski posthumously. Betkouski fatally poisoned himself with cyanide more than 40 years ago and was buried anonymously. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
