US Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the first time since 2023 16. September 2026 (20:28) Fed committee votes unanimously to raise interest rate by a quarter-percentage point to a range of 3.75% to 4%Federal Reserve raises interest rates – liveThe US Federal Reserve voted to raise interest rates on Wednesday for the first time since 2023 as the central bank continues to fight to tamp down inflation.The Fed’s open market committee voted unanimously to raise its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-percentage point to a range of 3.75% to 4%. This is the first time the Fed has raised rates since July 2023 and potentially sets Kevin Warsh, the current Fed chair, on a collision course with Donald Trump. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Family of pregnant woman who died sues Ken Paxton for wrongful death 16. September 2026 (20:27) Tierra Walker, 37, was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at 20 weeks, and family says denial of abortion led to deathA wrongful death lawsuit filed on Tuesday accuses Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, doctors and state health officials of contributing to the death of a pregnant San Antonio woman whose family says she was denied an abortion that could have saved her life.Tierra Walker, 37, died in December 2024 while 20 weeks pregnant after being diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy-related high blood pressure condition that can be fatal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New lawsuit accuses Trump administration of blocking NIH grants as form of censorship 16. September 2026 (20:20) The administration has used a list of 235 keywords – such as ‘gender’ and ‘racist’ – to prevent topics from being fundedResearchers filed a class action lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Wednesday, arguing the Trump administration is blocking and cancelling scientific grants to censor topics with which it disagrees.The administration has used a list of 235 keywords – such as “gender” and “racist” – to prevent topics from health equity to climate change from being funded. The NIH is the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Greens just four points behind Labour in urban areas, poll reveals 16. September 2026 (20:00) Exclusive: Party could take 40 seats if result replicated at next election, according to Labour-linked thinktankThe Green party is just four points behind Labour in urban constituencies, putting them within touching distance of taking as many as 40 seats if the result was replicated at the next election, according to new polling by a Labour-linked thinktank.The survey by ThinkLabour, which has extensive links to Andy Burnham’s government, finds that urban voters have moved in large numbers towards Zack Polanski’s party since the 2024 general election. The research highlights the challenge Labour faces holding onto the Holborn and St Pancras seat in the face of a challenge from Polanski himself at next month’s byelection. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Suspect in ‘Putney pusher’ case found dead at his west London home 16. September 2026 (19:53) HSBC director Nicholas Brandram, 44, was found unresponsive by emergency services on Tuesday evening A senior city banker suspected of pushing a woman into the path of a moving bus in the “Putney pusher” case has been found dead.Nicholas Brandram, 44, was discovered at his home in Chiswick, west London, on Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More Republicans are turning on Iran war as midterms come into view 16. September 2026 (19:18) Three more GOP members voted for war powers resolution to force withdrawal from the conflict as election loomsUS politics live – latest updatesAs the US war with Iran drags on, the ranks of Republicans signaling the conflict is a liability for their party continues to grow.When the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening considered its sixth war powers resolution intended to force Donald Trump to withdraw troops from the conflict, three Republicans who had not supported the previous efforts broke with their party to vote this one to passage. Earlier that day, a Republican who had lost his primary after repeatedly clashing with Trump proposed impeaching the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, alleging a variety of constitutional transgressions including prosecuting the war against Iran without congressional authorization. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Obama family dog Sunny dies: ‘a force of nature’ 16. September 2026 (17:54) Sunny, who joined the Obama family at the White House in 2013, was the second Obama dog after Bo, who died in 2021Sunny Obama, the Obama family’s second beloved Portuguese Water Dog, died on Tuesday, Barack Obama announced on Wednesday morning.“Yesterday, we lost a cherished member of our family,” the former president wrote on social media, attaching a photo of the 14-year-old dog whom he called “a force of nature”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Annie Dillard, Pulitzer prize-winning author of nonfiction and nature essays, dies aged 81 16. September 2026 (17:51) Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, published when Dillard was 28, skyrocketed her to become one of the most prominent nonfiction writers of her generationAnnie Dillard, author of the Pulitzer prize-winning book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, died aged 81 at her home in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts on Tuesday.Maggie Nelson, Dillard’s literary editor, confirmed her death to the New York Times. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former French culture minister goes on trial on corruption charges 16. September 2026 (17:48) Rachida Dati accused of lobbying for carmaker Renault-Nissan when she was member of European parliamentRachida Dati, a former French culture minister, has gone on trial in Paris on corruption charges linked to dealings with the Renault-Nissan carmaking group.Dati, 60, is accused of illegal lobbying when she accepted €900,000 (£770,000) in lawyer’s fees from a Netherlands-based subsidiary of Renault-Nissan while she was a member of the European parliament. The court will have to decide what the money was for. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump 2.0 has cut or frozen $177bn in grants across every state, analysis finds 16. September 2026 (17:38) Cuts hit all 50 states and DC, with environment, health, nutrition and disaster relief making up the largest shareThe Trump administration has cut or frozen up to $177bn in federal grants since the president took office for his second term, according to a tracking tool released Wednesday by a pro-democracy non-profit and a group of researchers and scientists.The cuts affected all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with health, nutrition, the environment and disaster relief making up the largest share of cuts, the States United Democracy Center and Grant Witness organization found. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
