Does Airtel Money mark the end of London’s listing drought? Not yet | Nils Pratley 23. September 2026 (18:25) The biggest flotation in five years was a bit of a shoo-in. Let’s see what happens when overseas competition is tougherIndian billionaire’s payments firm plots biggest London flotation in yearsA win is a win, but we should probably contain our excitement about the biggest flotation in London for five years. Airtel Money, a payments processor that operates in 13 African countries and should be worth between £6bn and £7bn, is a welcome addition to the stock market but it would be a stretch to say the event marks a definitive change in the weather to end the listings drought.Why? Because, in a sense, Airtel Money is already here. It is a 78%-owned subsidiary of Airtel Africa, an established FTSE 100 firm with a market value of £11.3bn ultimately controlled by Bharti Enterprises under the Indian billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal, also known for his 25% stake in BT. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Couples ‘putting off divorce due to cost of living crisis’ in England and Wales 23. September 2026 (17:46) Lawyers say financial pressures are fuelling ONS figures that show fewer divorces after longer periods of marriageCouples are putting off divorce because of the cost of living crisis, lawyers have said, after figures showing the average length of a marriage ending in divorce in England and Wales reached a record high last year.The Office of National Statistics (ONS) released figures on Wednesday showing that the average marriage ending in divorce lasted for 13 years in 2025. This is the longest since records began in 1963 and up from a record low of 8.9 years in 1985. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
West Yorkshire criminals using social media to recruit students as ‘parcel mules’ 23. September 2026 (17:22) Organised crime groups offer cash to move packages containing illegal drugs, weapons and dirty cashStudents are being recruited by criminals in West Yorkshire to transfer illegal packages containing illegal drugs, prohibited weapons, stolen goods and dirty cash.Organised criminals are using social media platforms including Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook to recruit people to help them move illicit goods, particularly targeting students and vulnerable adults. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trans row nurse tells tribunal she ‘felt discriminated against’ by her union 23. September 2026 (17:18) Sandie Peggie accuses RCN of failing to adequately support her in dispute over sharing women’s changing room with trans doctorA nurse who objected to sharing a changing room with a transgender doctor has said she felt “discriminated against” by her union after raising the complaint.Sandie Peggie, who worked for NHS Fife for more than 30 years, won a partial victory against her employer after a tribunal in December 2025, when a judge upheld her harassment claim against the health board but dismissed claims of discrimination, indirect discrimination and victimisation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nike cofounder gives $1bn to University of Oregon in historic donation 23. September 2026 (17:13) Phil Knight and wife, Penny, make largest known donation to a public university to fund a new engineering schoolNike cofounder Phil Knight, and his wife, Penny, have donated $1bn to the University of Oregon in what the university described as the “largest gift ever made to a comprehensive public university”.The donation is intended to be used to establish a new engineering school in Eugene. In a news release, seen by the Guardian, the university said the new school “will educate engineers and applied scientists in bioengineering and other high-demand disciplines, attract faculty and researchers to a growing campus, and accelerate the university’s ability to move discoveries out of the laboratory and into products, therapies, technologies and companies”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Groceries rise by 7% across Australian supermarket chains, Choice finds 23. September 2026 (17:01) The price of a basket of items in Coles, Woolworths, IGA and Aldi increased to an average of $43.62, survey saysGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastGroceries have become more expensive at all four of Australia’s major supermarket chains, with the average price of a basket of essentials increasing by 7% between March and June, new analysis has found.The consumer advocacy group Choice on Thursday released its 10th quarterly government-funded survey of supermarket prices, which it assessed by filling a basket with eight common grocery items at 104 different stores in June.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Property investors may pay less capital gains tax under Labor’s reforms, analysis suggests 23. September 2026 (17:00) Researcher says public debate since May budget has overstated how much reforms will cost landlords and investorsGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastMost property investors may end up paying less capital gains tax after Labor’s budget reforms, research based on an analysis of historical data suggests.The e61 Institute’s analysis also found half of all landlords would have faced higher costs from the loss of negative gearing over the period from 2008 to 2025 if the new system had been in place, suggesting the tax reforms alone cannot explain a slump in investment demand. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gas lobby ‘scare campaign’ urges Victoria to scrap ban in new homes, leaked documents show 23. September 2026 (17:00) Exclusive: Australian Gas Infrastructure Group lobbying campaign warns energy bills could increase by $100 unless ban is reversed, despite experts disagreeingGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe gas industry has been accused of unleashing a “scare campaign” before the Victorian election as it pressures the state government to reverse a ban on gas in new homes.A paper prepared by a lobbyist for the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) and shared with ministers has warned annual household gas bills could increase by $100 unless the ban is overturned, without providing evidence to support that claim. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Victorian Labor puts reproductive rights on election agenda as it warns One Nation could try to wind back abortion access 23. September 2026 (17:00) Exclusive: ‘We don’t want to see any winding back of women’s rights,’ health minister says ahead of state electionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian Labor government is announcing new measures to improve access to medical abortion, as it puts reproductive rights on the election agenda and claims One Nation could use abortion as a negotiating chip with the Coalition in the event of a hung parliament.On Thursday, the deputy premier and minister for women, Gabrielle Williams, and the health minister, Ingrid Stitt, will announce a rollout of new portable ultrasound machines for the state’s 20 sexual and reproductive health hubs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Six arrested after anti-migrant protest at Gosport marina 23. September 2026 (16:55) Heeding calls from far-right activist Daniel Thomas, hundreds of protesters turned out in HampshireSix people have been arrested after anti-migrant protesters gathered at a marina in Hampshire in the mistaken belief that a small boat was due to arrive.Heeding calls from the far-right campaigner Daniel Thomas, hundreds of protesters gathered early on Tuesday evening at Gosport in Hampshire, aiming to disrupt any disembarkation of asylum seekers. The Border Force vessels carrying them landed instead in Dover early on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
