Trump admin asks supreme court to allow gender-affirming care denial to transgender prisoners 29. September 2026 (17:25) Trans inmates sued the administration over the policy and, so far, two lower courts have blocked implementationThe Trump administration asked the US supreme court, on Monday, to allow it to deny gender-affirming care to transgender inmates in federal prisons, while litigation over the matter continues in lower courts.In its latest emergency request to the high court, the solicitor general, D John Sauer, wrote that certain care, including sex-trait-modification surgeries, hormone therapy and social accommodations – such as undergarments, makeup, padding and wigs – “could no longer be justified as treatment for gender dysphoria”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
South West Water fined £8m for hundreds of sewage spills in Cornwall and Devon 29. September 2026 (17:19) District judge orders record fine for region and says incidents of pollution cannot be toleratedA water company has been ordered to pay a record fine of almost £8m for hundreds of sewage spills at popular bathing spots and sensitive habitats in Cornwall and Devon.On one occasion, untreated sewage gushed through a harbour wall on a bank holiday weekend but South West Water (SWW) engineers took 10 hours to attend. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French students and police clash as school blockades turn violent 29. September 2026 (17:19) More than 200 arrested while teachers join protest over class sizes, exhausting timetables and staff shortagesFrench teenagers blockading their schools in protest at class sizes, teacher shortages and long timetables have clashed with police, as politicians traded verbal blows over how to respond.Demonstrations that began in Paris last week have escalated and spread across France, with the authorities reporting the arrests of 164 people on Monday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
National Rally’s Jordan Bardella rails at ‘war’ on party after antisemitism claims 29. September 2026 (17:16) President of Marine Le Pen’s far-right party faces calls to resign over comments he allegedly wrote as a teenagerJordan Bardella, the head of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN), has claimed a “total war” is being waged against his party as he faces a political storm after the publication of antisemitic comments he allegedly wrote as a young party member.Bardella, who is facing calls from political opponents to resign, said on Tuesday that the report by the investigative website Mediapart was false. To a standing ovation from his party’s lawmakers and senators at a meeting in parliament, he said the report was an attempt to damage his party as Le Pen tops the polls before the 2027 presidential election. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US senator blocks bill to ban Trump from demolishing Kennedy Center without Congress’s approval 29. September 2026 (17:04) Mike Lee objected to the safeguard against the demolition of any presidential memorial Congress designatesUS politics live – latest updatesA Republican senator has blocked a bipartisan bill that would have prevented Donald Trump from demolishing the Kennedy Center without the approval of Congress.Mike Lee, of Utah, objected on Monday night when the Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley asked the Senate to pass the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act by unanimous consent. The bill, co-written with the Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski, would have banned the demolition of any presidential memorial designated by Congress, including the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, unless lawmakers explicitly approved it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Body of newborn baby found on Welsh shoreline, prompting search for mother 29. September 2026 (17:03) Police and medics fear mother could be ‘extremely vulnerable’, after discovery in Bangor close to Menai strait on SundayPolice are searching for the mother of a newborn baby whose body was found on a Welsh shoreline, fearing she may be ill or vulnerable.A member of the public found the body of the child, whose age and sex have not been disclosed, close to the Menai strait in north Wales. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian government concedes no scientific consensus on social media harms for teenagers – but ‘credible risks’ justify ban 29. September 2026 (17:00) Commonwealth tells high court its proposed laws to let users opt out of algorithms would ultimately have the same effect as the banGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government has conceded it implemented the “world-leading” under-16s social media ban before there was scientific consensus on the link between mental health harms and social media use, but argued the “credible risks” of issues such as addictive behaviours and anxiety justify the policy.In its defence against a high court challenge of the ban, the government has also argued its proposed digital duty of care legislation, allowing users to opt out of social media features such as algorithms, would ultimately have the same effect as the ban, if implemented. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
