Duncan Sheik, singer and composer of Spring Awakening, dies at 56 18. September 2026 (17:28) The musician, who went from 90s altpop hits to Tony-winning Broadway success, died of organ failureDuncan Sheik, the singer-songwriter behind the 90s alt-pop touchstone Barely Breathing and the composer of the Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening, died on Thursday at a Manhattan hospital. He was 56.His death, from organ failure, was confirmed to the New York Times by his mother Suzanne Sheik. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform donor Ben Delo loaned £350k to academic found to have engaged in online bullying 18. September 2026 (17:25) Judge said Nina Power and her friend’s social media posts had ‘the whiff of threat and antisemitism’Reform UK’s new mega-donor Ben Delo gave a £350,000 loan to a conservative writer fighting a legal case in which a judge later found she had engaged in online bullying and regrettable conduct with a “whiff of threat and antisemitism”.Nina Power and her friend, the writer Daniel DC Miller, brought the legal action for defamation against the performance artist Luke Turner, who they had accused of falsely calling them antisemitic. At the same time, Turner brought a counter-claim against the pair accusing them of harassment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Diana book sparks royal row between King Charles and Earl Spencer - The Latest 18. September 2026 (17:04) Buckingham Palace has issued a rare, and strong, rebuttal to claims made in Earl Spencer’s memoir Swan Song. The book claims that King Charles told Spencer days after Diana’s death and during a heated row over funeral arrangements: ‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.’ Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s senior national news editor, Aaron Sharp Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alleged underworld supporters and unfounded health claims: One Nation rolls out more Victorian election candidates 18. September 2026 (17:00) Party has unveiled a steady stream of contenders for state election, including a former councillor who lost his licence for drink-drivingGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastCandidates contesting the Victorian state election for One Nation include a former Liberal who has won support from alleged underworld figures, a naturopath who has endorsed Donald Trump’s unfounded claim that paracetamol is linked to autism and a former shire councillor who lost his licence for drink-driving.Pauline Hanson announced who would be her party’s upper house candidates and Victorian leader, Warren Pickering, at a press conference last month. Since then One Nation has used social media to unveil a steady stream of candidates, with 51 of the 88 lower house spots now filled. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Swedish teenager jailed for attempted murder, rape and assault committed online, with victims in Germany and Australia 18. September 2026 (17:00) Eighteen-year-old known as Chai was active in networks notorious for their sadistic exploitation of young peopleA Swedish teenager known as Chai has been sentenced to more than 10 years in jail for attempted murder, rape and aggravated assault – crimes committed via the internet, including against a teenage girl in Australia.The district court found that Chai, 18, was active in online networks notorious for their sadistic extortion of young and vulnerable people, coercing them to create sexually explicit material or engage in acts of violence – and for the youth of those involved.In Australia, support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and at MensLine on 1300 789 978. In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393 and Childline on 0800 1111. In the US, call or text Mental Health America at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tech billionaires trying to live for ever? That’s a waste of time, says physicist 18. September 2026 (17:00) Exclusive: Prof Jim Al-Khalili says he will offer solution to ‘arrow of time’ problem in Royal Institution lecturesTech billionaires attempting to live for ever are, quite literally, wasting their time, a leading physicist has said.While some normal people are turning to unregulated peptide injections, cold plunges and supplements in an effort to defy ageing, the ultra-rich are aiming for immortality with even more drastic interventions: the tech chief executive Bryan Johnson has even tried injecting plasma from his 17-year-old son – although he later said he saw no benefit from it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Record fuel prices across EU prompt calls for bloc-wide windfall tax on firms 18. September 2026 (16:42) German minister says companies are ‘exploiting situation’ in Middle East, as sky-high prices become major domestic issue for leadersEuropean governments have discussed imposing a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy companies, as near-record fuel and gas prices pile pressure on leaders desperate to contain mounting public discontent and the challenge of the far right.With elections due next year in eight EU countries including France, Italy, Spain and Poland, leaders are scrambling to head off the potential fallout from what analysts have warned could be one of the continent’s biggest energy shocks in decades. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
