Chemical industry backed laws in three US states to restrict use of air pollution data 10. September 2026 (13:00) As public air monitors disappear, federal rollbacks and state laws are making it harder than ever to know what’s in the airAs the US’s network for monitoring air pollution deteriorates, a Floodlight investigation has found that the chemical industry is going state-to-state to restrict one of the few options citizens have left for holding polluters accountable: low-cost air sensors.Over the past two years, the non-profit investigative newsroom determined, lawmakers in Louisiana, Kentucky and Ohio have passed strikingly similar laws barring regulators from acting on air-quality data that communities collect themselves – unless it comes from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved equipment that typically costs tens of thousands of dollars. Similar legislation has repeatedly been introduced in West Virginia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Our forefathers are coming back’: Naga people celebrate after Oxford museum agrees to return remains 10. September 2026 (13:00) Following six years of talks, Pitt Rivers Museum will return body parts collected by British colonial administrators to north-east IndiaAnthropologists and community leaders from Nagaland, a remote state in north-eastern India bordering Myanmar, have expressed joy and relief that human remains belonging to their ancestors that had been on display in a British museum for nearly a century are finally being returned.On Monday, the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford announced that 39 pieces of human remains – including parts of skulls, a finger and a piece of skin with hair – belonging to the Naga tribes, will be returned to Nagaland after six years of negotiation between the community and the museum. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hospitality industry fears jobs at risk from plan to give mayors powers to impose ‘tourist tax’ 10. September 2026 (12:03) The sector is concerned by reports that there won’t be a cap on the levy that can be imposed by mayorsKemi Badenoch has said the Conservatives are opposed to giving mayors the power to impose a tourism tax.Speaking on Sky News, she said:Right now we’re not even getting the number of tourists that we used to get. They’re going to so many other places.We need to create jobs and grow our economy. Business does that. Taxing does not create jobs. It reduces them. We saw that with Rachel Reeves’ budget. I wish Labour had learned that lesson.Waiting lists in England went up in July, reaching their highest level for nine months. The Press Association says:An estimated 7.33m treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of July, relating to 6.21 million patients, according to NHS figures.This is up from 7.27m treatments and 6.15 million patients at the end of June. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russian drones kill at least nine in strikes targeting warehouses and ports in Ukraine – Europe live 10. September 2026 (12:01) The strikes come after it was revealed that Ukraine’s president Volodomyr Zelenskyy’s plane was almost hit by a drone when leaving Moldova this weekAddressing German ambassadors, Wadephul repeats that the Russian threat “has reached our doorstep and it’s tangible.”He adds:“The Russian attempted attack at the airport in Leipzig is only the most recent incident in a string of constantly growing Russian aggression against Europe and against Nato.Russia and its partners operate with a global network against our interests and in favour of an own imperialist claim to great power status." Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iceland to become first UK high street retailer to open shop in Falkland Islands 10. September 2026 (11:06) Boss Richard Walker is ‘proud to be backing Britain’ with a store in the capital, StanleyBusiness live – latest updatesThe supermarket chain Iceland has said it will open a shop on the Falkland Islands in early December.The shop, to be launched in partnership with a local retailer, Kelper Stores, will be the first UK high street brand to have a presence in the British territory and will be in the capital, Stanley. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tourists in England face nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb stays under new plans 10. September 2026 (11:00) Labelled a tourist tax, proposals would give mayors power to decide how revenue raised should be investedUK politics live – latest updatesHolidaymakers will face a nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb-style stays in England under plans ministers are due to outline to give mayors new powers.The idea, labelled a tourist tax, was first raised by Keir Starmer’s government in November and is similar to a scheme running in Scotland. It would allow mayors to charge a fee to visitors staying overnight and decide how the revenue raised should be invested. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Grace Tame apologises for comments labelling rape of Israeli women during Hamas attacks ‘propaganda’ 10. September 2026 (10:22) The former Australian of the Year said she stood with survivors of sexual violence ‘everywhere’ and ‘no matter who they are’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGrace Tame has apologised for her comments labelling the rape of Israeli women by Hamas during the 7 October attacks as “propaganda” and “debunked”, saying her words were “misinterpreted”.The former Australian of the Year issued the apology in an Instagram video on Thursday. The comments were made in an ABC interview about Israel and Gaza in March. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tens of millions of people fail to get humanitarian aid as global system crumbles 10. September 2026 (10:00) Funding cuts in 2025 left women, children, older and displaced people hard hit, with 64m fewer people receiving aidThe humanitarian aid system is crumbling as funding shrinks, pressures increase and governments not only fail to protect civilians but are increasingly responsible for endangering them, a new report warned on Thursday as figures revealed 64 million fewer people received aid last year.With aid contributions cut by 30% between 2022 and 2025 and thousands of aid workers losing their jobs, the humanitarian system has suffered one of its biggest contractions since being formed in the post-second world war era, according to the State of the Humanitarian System 2026 report. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Climate ‘feedback loops’ could worsen global warming by 30%, study finds 10. September 2026 (10:00) Emissions of planet-heating methane and CO2 from natural sources are worsening the climate crisis, paper saysRising global temperatures caused by the burning of fossil fuels are transforming the world’s forests, wetlands and tundra to the point they are releasing emissions that could further worsen global heating by as much as 30%, a new study has found.As the world heats up, permafrost in the high latitudes is thawing, fiercer wildfires are burning in drying forests and wetlands and lakes are warming. All of these changes are themselves causing the release of planet-heating methane and carbon dioxide locked in trees and soils, therefore worsening the climate crisis, the paper states. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Primark to launch home delivery service in Britain 10. September 2026 (09:13) Retailer says trading in Europe ‘challenging’ but customers are responding well to its price-cutting campaignBusiness live – latest updatesPrimark will offer home delivery in Britain for the first time, as the fast-fashion retailer prepares to spin off from its owner Associated British Foods (ABF).The clothing chain, which already offers a click and collect service in the UK, has long avoided home delivery, arguing that its low prices made it too difficult to absorb the cost of packing and shipping orders. Continue reading...(The Guardian)