‘Incredibly encouraging’: healing the scars of traditional anchors in Dorset’s seagrass meadows 21. September 2026 (13:00) Eco-moorings help to restore seagrass in just five years, boosting sealife such as seahorses, eels and crabsOne of the UK’s most precious underwater habitats – Dorset’s seagrass meadows – is recovering thanks to “eco moorings” designed to prevent the seabed being ripped up, a study has revealed.Scars caused by traditional anchors in some areas of seagrass in Studland Bay have almost entirely vanished, which is boosting the number of seahorses that thrive in the submerged meadows. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starbucks baristas reel from surges in health insurance costs: ‘I’m considering a second job’ 21. September 2026 (13:00) Several workers say they’re opting to go without health coverage due to premium costs soaring this yearStarbucks workers say their health insurance premiums have soared this year, in some cases more than doubling, according to a recent survey conducted by Starbucks Workers United.The survey of more than 130 Starbucks workers in both unionized and non-unionized stores, shared exclusively with the Guardian, found baristas are experiencing significant hikes in costs for their health insurance coverage starting 1 October. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Google fined more than €400m by Irish regulator over its use of location data 21. September 2026 (12:57) Watchdog says users may have been unaware their information was used to target adverts or infer their interestsGoogle has been fined more than €400m (£345m) over the way it processed users’ location data, following claims that the tech giant had manipulated users into agreeing to be constantly tracked on their mobile phones.The fine, imposed by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), comes after complaints from multiple European consumer organisations that Google was following every step users took. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Latest German election humiliation puts Merz on borrowed time as CDU unrest grows 21. September 2026 (12:04) Chancellor acknowledges disastrous state election results but vow to push on is likely to further alienate voters, and his own party• Europe live – latest updatesFriedrich Merz called it a “disaster”, and that was even before the full scale of the catastrophe for himself and his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came into view after Sunday’s state elections.In what one outlet called a “power move”, the German chancellor made a highly unusual televised speech just minutes after polls closed in the states of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, attempting to get ahead of the narrative with a pledge to stay on and fight for his economic recovery programme. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Merz insists he will stay as German chancellor despite heavy losses in state elections – Europe live 21. September 2026 (11:48) CDU suffered heavy losses in two regional elections, including in home state of former leader Angela Merkel, where it polled just 4.9%Another air traffic control failure has disrupted flights at several British airports, about two weeks after a software glitch caused widespread flight chaos across the region.
Currently, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast airports are experiencing delays. The NATS air traffic control provider says this is due to an issue at one of its Scottish centres.
London’s Gatwick and City Airports have warned of disruption, while British Airways has alerted customers and easyJet airline has cancelled some flights.“This, once again, calls into question the resilience of NATS’ systems and demonstrates the need for firm actions to prevent these repeated failures,” easyJet said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Japanese islands brace for Dujuan to become a typhoon again 21. September 2026 (11:45) Storm system expected to hit Izu Islands as it strengthens. Meanwhile, Atlantic hurricane season is unusually quietTropical Storm Dujuan is skirting the coast of Japan and despite avoiding a direct landfall, is still expected to leave its mark. Dujuan briefly reached typhoon status on Friday before weakening to a tropical storm again on Sunday morning. But it is expected to restrengthen back into a typhoon by Tuesday morning. Sustained winds could reach 80mph (129km/h), with gusts approaching 100mph.Although mainland Japan has avoided a direct hit, Dujuan’s track takes it across the Izu Islands, where evacuation warnings are in place. Heavy rain, flooding and landslide alerts are widespread, with high waves adding another threat to exposed coastal areas and islands. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Flights cancelled at airports in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland 21. September 2026 (11:36) British Airways and easyJet among those to cancel or delay services after air traffic control fault at PrestwickBusiness live – latest updatesFlights are being disrupted in parts of the UK after National Air Traffic Services was hit by its second technical issue in a fortnight.A number of departing and arriving flights at Scottish airports have been severely delayed, with disruption affecting Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Think Australia would be better off with less migration? The numbers tell a different story 21. September 2026 (11:35) The population is ageing and we’re having fewer babies. Labor should keep that in mind as the migration debate ragesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastThe intergenerational report lays bare how today’s growing anti-migration rhetoric clashes with a future where we need to attract people from overseas to help grow the economy and pay for our ageing population.The “replacement” fertility rate is 2.1 children per woman – this is the average number of births to keep the population steady without migration and we’ve been below this level for 50 years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ed Davey rejects claims party is ‘sleepwalking into irrelevance’ under his leadership – UK politics live 21. September 2026 (11:23) Lib Dem leader says he is proud of party’s record at Brighton conference Ed Davey has also claimed that Liberal Democrats are now a tax-cutting party.Asked on the Today programme if that was an accurate way to describe the party, Davey replied:Yes. Yesterday I talked about the need to have a temporary tax cut in fuel duty because people are paying a huge amount of the pumps, and we showed how we could pay for it. I’m showing through our growth strategy how we can pay for more tax cuts.I’m excited by the prospect of more Liberal Democrat MPs and building on the success we’ve had in recent years.I think there’s a moral responsibility to stop the far right. I really take that very seriously. It wears heavily on my shoulders. We have to win to stop Mr Farage and stop Kemi Badenoch giving him the keys [to Downing Street].And that’s why I think there’s a real chance we could end up with more MPs than the Conservatives after next election. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rebel Wilson back in court as The Deb producers sue star over allegedly blocking film 21. September 2026 (11:02) Hollywood actress appears in NSW supreme court in Sydney for the latest lawsuit over her directorial debutGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHollywood star Rebel Wilson had a “last chance” phone call with her film’s co-producers over a dispute about up-front costs and her $1m fee, a judge has heard.The Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids star appeared in the New South Wales supreme court in Sydney on Monday in the latest lawsuit over her directorial debut, a musical comedy named The Deb. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
