UK chancellor urged to remove ‘hidden taxes’ from energy bills 11. September 2026 (14:37) Businesses, charities and other groups sign letter calling for levies to be paid by the governmentMore than 120 organisations including big businesses and charities have called for the removal of “hidden taxes” added to energy bills to help reduce costs for consumers and prevent businesses closing.In a letter to the chancellor the signatories – including Energy UK, business trade body the CBI, End Fuel Poverty and Age UK – called for levies amounting to 10% of energy bills that fund policies to be paid for by the government. John Healey is to present his first budget on 28 October. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
RNLI reports ‘significant’ donations boost after being targeted by far right over small boats 11. September 2026 (14:35) Charity condemns ‘disgraceful’ intimidation and insists it will continue core purpose of saving lives at seaUK politics live – latest updatesThe Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has had a “significant” boost in donations since becoming a target of far-right agitators protesting over small boat crossings.The charity’s staff and volunteers have been subjected to “online and physical abuse” after involvement in a rescue on Sunday in which a dingy carrying asylum seekers was brought into Portsmouth. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia targets Kyiv petrol stations for first time with jet-powered drones 11. September 2026 (14:01) Three facilities in two days struck as bombardment of Ukraine’s capital enters new phase of intensityEurope live – latest updatesPetrol stations in Kyiv have been hit by jet-powered drones in a wave of targeted Russian attacks as the bombardment of Ukraine’s capital enters a new phase of intensity.At least two people were killed and 12 injured in strikes on two petrol stations on Friday morning, according to the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How Ron DeSantis politicized Florida’s higher education by placing his loyalists at the top 11. September 2026 (14:00) Term-limited, hard-right governor instituted an ideological infiltration of universities by placing allies in powerful postsIn fewer than four months’ time, Ron DeSantis, Florida’s hard-right governor, will be termed out of office, and what critics saw as his relentless eight-year, “anti-woke” assault on higher education in the state will finally be over.But while DeSantis himself will be gone, numerous hand-picked loyalists will remain in positions of power to protect his ideological makeover of universities and colleges. The latest, Alex Kelly, the governor’s former deputy chief of staff, and Florida commerce secretary, was named last week as the sole finalist in Pensacola state college’s search for a new president, at least the 12th close DeSantis ally to win such a plum post. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran’s Houthi allies capture strategic island on vital oil shipping route 11. September 2026 (14:00) Rampant Yemeni fighters take control of island in narrow point of Bab al-Mandab strait, which Saudi is relying on for oil exportsViolence in Yemen: why it matters and how it is linked to the US-Iran warYemen’s rampant Houthi forces have captured a strategic island in the Bab al-Mandab strait, expanding their control of the narrow waterway, one of the world’s vital shipping routes.The Iran-aligned Houthis took control of the volcanic island after forces allied to the UN-backed, Aden-based government left in the latest of a dramatic series of reverses along Yemen’s west coast in recent days, including the loss of the port city of Mocha on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds of asylum seekers removed from UK to France have disappeared, say NGOs 11. September 2026 (13:33) Rights groups say those missing after being deported under one in, one out deal include dozens of age-disputed childrenUK politics live – latest updatesHundreds of asylum seekers including at least 41 age-disputed children who were removed to France under the “one in, one out” deal have disappeared, human rights organisations have said.The pilot scheme was hailed as “groundbreaking” by the former prime minister Keir Starmer when he and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, announced it in July 2025. Under a treaty drawn up for this agreement, it forcibly returns small-boat asylum seekers to France in exchange for others brought legally to the UK from France. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French flock to mass karaoke events as Céline Dion returns to stage in Paris 11. September 2026 (12:56) Fans from around the world gather for star’s long-awaited performances after break because of neurological conditionMore than 30,000 Céline Dion fans have gathered in Paris for the Canadian singer’s long-awaited return to performing on Saturday night, four years after she revealed her diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition.Thousands more people without tickets have flocked to a series of giant karaoke events across France to belt out Dion’s famous power ballads, in celebration of the star’s health stabilising enough for her to return to the stage. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
9/11 families to gather at World Trade Center and Pentagon to remember victims on 25th anniversary – US politics live 11. September 2026 (12:02) Victims of those killed in September 11 attacks honored at memorials across the USFor the first time, this year’s ceremony will add a silent moment to honor people who were exposed to the clouds of toxic dust released by the twin towers’ collapse and have since died of cancer and other illnesses.Questions remain about how many people developed health problems linked to the dust. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pupils missed 15m hours of school time during UK’s June heatwave, study finds 11. September 2026 (12:00) At least 760,000 children in England and Wales missed lessons as more than 1,700 schools closed or finished earlyThe gruelling heatwave that hit the UK in June caused pupils to miss more than 15m hours of lesson time as soaring temperatures forced hundreds of schools to close, according to a study.The research found that at least 760,000 schoolchildren in England and Wales missed lessons owing to closures during the heatwave – one of five to batter the UK this summer – as temperatures inside some classrooms topped 40C, leaving pupils and staff suffering from heat stress, nausea and headaches. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Greens select Zack Polanski to run in Holborn and St Pancras byelection 11. September 2026 (11:52) Leader has said Greens are underdogs in race for Keir Starmer’s former seat but he is confident they can beat LabourZack Polanski, the Green party leader, has been selected as its candidate for the Holborn and St Pancras byelection on 8 October.The seat became vacant this month when the former prime minister Keir Starmer announced he was leaving parliament. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
