Oil prices rise after drone attacks shut down Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline 14. September 2026 (10:03) Price spike comes as rebel Houthis in Yemen target oil infrastructure and capture strategic island in Bab al-Mandab straitBusiness news – live updatesOil prices have climbed above $108 a barrel after a series of drone attacks forced Saudi Arabia to close its east-west crude pipeline.Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, surged to as much as $108.03 a barrel on Monday – a 3.25% increase on the day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thames Water redraws mega-reservoir plan amid local opposition 14. September 2026 (10:00) A new public consultation has opened on the 150bn-litre above-ground White Horse project in Abingdon, OxfordshireThames Water has amended the blueprint of a planned mega-reservoir in Oxfordshire as the struggling utility tries to convince regulators that construction should go ahead amid warnings of “catastrophic consequences”.The White Horse reservoir near Abingdon is scheduled to hold 150bn litresof water with a surface area of 6.7 sq km (2.6 sq miles) – almost the same size as Gatwick airport. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AI-linked stocks fall after tech bosses call for slowdown in ‘reckless’ development 14. September 2026 (09:32) Shares in tech firms tumble across Asia with Nasdaq also likely to dip later after Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX leaders back callBusiness news – live updatesAI-linked stocks tumbled on Monday after the bosses of Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX called for a slowdown in “reckless” development citing fears the technology could soon run out of control.Shares in SoftBank, a Japanese investor that is a big backer of OpenAI, slumped 13%, while the South Korean Kospi stock index, which relies heavily on chip makers that supply AI companies, dropped by 3%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israel accused of trying to ‘eliminate’ living conditions for Palestinians in West Bank 14. September 2026 (09:23) Report by Israeli human rights group says systematic and broad assault being waged on conditions required for Palestinians’ existenceIsrael is working towards the systematic “elimination” of the conditions that sustain Palestinian collective life in the occupied West Bank, according to a major report published by the human rights group B’Tselem.The Israeli organisation’s hard-hitting report, shared with the Guardian in advance of publication, says Israel is “dramatically intensifying its attacks on every aspect of Palestinian life in the West Bank”, including “the ability to get to work, take children to school or university, receive medical treatment or municipal services, meet family and friends, cultivate land or go on vacation … routine activities that make up human life”.1,107Number of Palestinians killed by Israel in the West Bank since October 2023 Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pauline Hanson’s comments about Indigenous Australians condemned as ‘nasty’ and ‘derogatory’ 14. September 2026 (08:38) Indigenous senators have criticised One Nation leader saying the comments showed ‘wilful ignorance’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastFederal parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have joined in condemning resurfaced comments by Pauline Hanson as “nasty” and “derogatory”, after she labelled Indigenous Australians the “most primitive race on Earth”.The Indigenous affairs minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, a Yanyuwa and Garrwa woman, described the One Nation senator’s comments as “totally outrageous” while her opposition counterpart, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, said Hanson’s comments showed “wilful ignorance” and had “dragged the conversation into appalling territory”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Tidal wave’ of Pfas being launched to satisfy AI industry, campaigners warn 14. September 2026 (08:00) Big manufacturers planning to produce more of the forever chemicals to meet demand from datacentresPfas companies are launching a “tidal wave” of forever chemicals production to meet demand from the AI industry, a campaign organisation has warned.Despite alarm over the chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, a survey of the 10 biggest manufacturers found most had plans to increase production. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney mayor allegedly threatened and children secretly recorded after he refused to step down, Icac hears 14. September 2026 (07:05) Corruption inquiry turns its investigation to allegations Strathfield councillors may have engaged in blackmail or illegal surveillanceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastA Sydney mayor was allegedly threatened, followed and his children were secretly recorded after he refused to honour an agreement to step down, the NSW corruption watchdog has heard.Former independent Strathfield council mayor Matthew Blackmore has fronted the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) inquiry, codenamed Operation Rosny.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rail passengers get automatic right to switch operators for free when trains are cancelled 14. September 2026 (07:00) ‘Commonsense change’ looks to end current confusion and put ‘passengers first, not shareholders’ when services are disruptedRail passengers whose trains are cancelled will have the immediate right to travel on other operators’ services to finish their journey without further charge, ministers have announced.The “commonsense change” will take effect from Sunday 20 September, ending the confusion in Britain where many pre-booked tickets are not valid on other firms’ trains. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jack Thorne warns some fellow scriptwriters are using AI ‘to cheat’ 14. September 2026 (07:00) Adolescence co-writer criticises government inaction and calls for laws banning secret use of AI to generate scriptsJack Thorne, one of Britain’s most successful screen and stage writers, has warned that some people in his profession are using AI “to cheat”, as he called for laws banning the secret use of the technology to generate scripts.Thorne, who co-wrote the hit Netflix drama Adolescence and wrote the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, said that “writers need to be squeaky clean” in the face of AI models that “steal” the creative industry’s work. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Somerset ‘festival of ideas’ to measure whether its talks change people’s outlook 14. September 2026 (07:00) Attenders will be asked to take part in tests to see if they have become more open to views they do not agree withFestivalgoers sometimes report feeling they have a fresh perspective of the world when they make their weary way home after a stimulating cultural gathering.A new “festival of ideas” in Somerset is aiming to measure whether the beliefs and ideas of attenders and speakers really are changed by their event. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
