The UK government is considering granting mayors and local leaders the authority to oversee water companies, allowing them to influence spending decisions and hold executives accountable for issues like rising bills and sewage discharges. Andy Burnham, facing pressure to enhance water industry oversight, has vowed to bring public utilities, including Thames Water—which serves 16 million customers and has a regulated asset value of £23 billion—under public control. Complaints about water companies have surged by 48% year on year, marking the highest increase in two decades, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with the current state of the sector.
India has protested against Pakistan for "unacceptable and unprofessional conduct" following a collision between a Pakistani naval ship and an Indian warship in the Arabian Sea. The incident occurred as Pakistan's naval units approached at high speed, violating a 1991 agreement that mandates a distance of at least three nautical miles in international waters; fortunately, no major damage was reported. Concurrently, the US Senate has passed a sanctions bill that could allow President Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian energy, potentially impacting India's energy imports amidst its growing ties with Russia.
McLaren is set to build its first SUV as part of a £500 million investment by its new Abu Dhabi owner, creating 1,000 jobs and funding a new factory, likely in Sheffield. This move aims to tap into the market of wealthy Formula One fans who may not own supercars, with McLaren's sales potentially doubling from the current 3,000 cars per year due to the new model. The SUV is expected to compete with high-end models like the Bentley Bentayga and Aston Martin DBX, with pricing starting above £200,000, and the company plans to leverage its successful racing brand to attract new customers.
Residents of Piddington, Oxfordshire, voted overwhelmingly in a symbolic referendum to leave the UK, with 285 out of 312 votes in favor, in protest against plans to house over 1,000 asylum seekers in a nearby converted Ministry of Defence site. The government plans to accommodate up to 1,256 male asylum seekers in Bicester have sparked significant local opposition, highlighting issues of community engagement and the suitability of the proposed site. A government minister defended the housing strategy, stating that the country needed to share the asylum accommodation burden more equitably across different communities.
On September 16, 2026, the Kosovo war crimes tribunal will deliver verdicts for former President Hashim Thaci and three former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army accused of war crimes, including murder and torture, during Kosovo's conflict with Serbia, with prosecutors seeking 45-year prison sentences for each. The case has caused significant public unrest in Kosovo, where Thaci is still celebrated by many, as demonstrated by rallies in Pristina attended by tens of thousands advocating for the acquittal of the defendants. The conflict resulted in approximately 13,000 deaths, predominantly among ethnic Albanians, and displaced around one million people, with Kosovo declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, a claim that Serbia does not recognize.
Foreign students in Australia will face tighter restrictions on bringing family members with upcoming immigration changes announced by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, aiming to reduce net overseas migration from approximately 305,000 to about 225,000 over two years. Last year, Australia issued over 337,000 international student visas, with approximately 45,000 granted to dependents, but the new measures are likely to require most students to travel alone. Additionally, the government plans to enforce actions against visa overstays and unlawful non-citizens, which numbered 110,898 as of July, while navigating political pressure amid rising support for opposition party One Nation.
A Kosovo war crimes tribunal is set to deliver a ruling in the trial of former President Hashim Thaci and three former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1998-1999 independence war with Serbia, with prosecutors seeking 45-year prison sentences for each defendant. The KLA is accused of killing over 100 political opponents and collaborators, as well as committing politically motivated murders against civilians, despite the defense arguing that the lack of command structure in the KLA makes the leaders not directly responsible for such acts. The tribunal, unpopular in Kosovo, has indicted 15 individuals since its establishment, with only three currently serving sentences.
The United States has confirmed for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space, specifically "on-orbit space control weapons," aimed at defending against hostile actions. This revelation comes amid rising concerns about potential space threats from Russia and China, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that the space-based components of the "Golden Dome" missile defense system could cost up to $542 billion over the next 20 years. Additionally, the debate around weapons in space has intensified after Russia's 2024 development of a space-based nuclear weapon, which led to tensions over existing international treaties regarding peaceful uses of outer space.
The discovery of seven women's bodies near Johannesburg's international airport, including five in the past week, has ignited widespread outrage over femicide in South Africa, which has one of the highest rates in the world, with over 5,578 women murdered in the last year. Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo's tragic case, which gained significant media attention after her disappearance on September 9, highlights the ongoing concerns about women's safety, leading to calls for action from the government and community activists. Women For Change criticized the notion that women should bear the responsibility for their own safety, emphasizing the need for men to take accountability for violence against women as detectives explore possible connections among the killings.
Five individuals have been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for involvement in Russian intelligence-linked plots that included surveillance, recruitment, and planned murders, with all five remaining at large. The group, consisting of Russian nationals Yuri (63) and Kirill Khrameev (27), and Cubans Oemis Romagoza Durruthy (35) and Yaidel Delgado Suarez (35), along with Venezuelan Angel Eduardo Castro (22), faces charges that include conspiring to finance terrorism and, for three of them, conspiring to commit murder for hire. At least one recruit was offered $40,000 to eliminate a target in the U.S., and another was promised $25,000 to carry out a hit in Lithuania.
Ed Sheeran's North American tour was disrupted when four supporting acts, including Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham, and Finneas, withdrew in support of rapper Macklemore, who was removed from the tour for making pro-Palestinian remarks during a concert. Macklemore's ouster occurred after he expressed support for Palestine on September 5, leading to backlash from some venues that threatened to drop the tour. The four acts emphasized their solidarity with oppressed peoples and criticized the power dynamics involved in voicing political issues, with Finneas explicitly stating his stance on the matter and Rowe referencing Irish colonial history in their justifications for leaving the tour.
Pro Ref chief Howard Webb stated that "tunnel vision" caused VAR officials to erroneously award Erling Haaland's goal during the Manchester derby, which was initially ruled offside but later allowed after review. The governing body acknowledged that the decision was incorrect due to a failure to consider the offside position of teammate Enzo Fernandez, leading to VAR officials Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus being stood down from officiating until after the international break. Webb expressed disappointment over the outcome, highlighting that the VAR's focus on Haaland's position resulted in overlooking crucial aspects of Fernandez's involvement in the play.
The US has imposed visa restrictions on individuals in South Africa accused of discriminating against the country's white minority, as tensions escalate between the two nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the restrictions target those who promote race-based discrimination, incite violence, or enable land confiscation without compensation, without naming specific individuals. The announcement follows strained relations, marked by aid cuts and other punitive measures by the Trump administration, while South Africa maintains that it is not persecuting any racial group and emphasizes that land reform aims to address historical inequalities.
Islamist extremist violence in Africa's Sahel region is projected to reach historic highs, with incidents rising from 63 in 2016 to 2,845 expected by 2025, and 2,145 recorded events already in 2026. The UN has reported over 9,000 deaths from security incidents across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in 2025, highlighting the Sahel as a focal point for terrorism despite a global decrease in total terrorism deaths. Key groups such as al-Qaida-linked JNIM have intensified their operations, particularly in Mali and Burkina Faso, with JNIM claiming over 130 attacks in 2026 alone, while the Islamic State remains more active in Niger.
On September 13, a runaway horse was captured by police on motorbikes in Santa Fe, New Mexico, just before a parade. The horse was cornered and successfully lassoed by a cowboy, and afterwards, it was given a drink of water. Following the incident, the unharmed horse was walked back to the start of the Desfile de la Gente parade, as reported by the Santa Fe Police Department on Facebook.
A news helicopter in Los Angeles, NewsChopper4, crashed while covering a fatal bus accident, resulting in at least three deaths and one injury. The helicopter crashed near a storage building in the Chatsworth neighborhood, roughly one mile from the bus accident site, where two people were previously reported killed. The cause of the crash is currently unknown, and investigations by the US National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are underway.
The US House has voted 220-204 for the third time to end the war in Iran, passing a war powers resolution aimed at limiting President Trump's military actions without congressional approval. The six-month conflict, which began on February 28, has cost $38 billion, with an expected increase of $3 billion per month, and is anticipated to raise inflation by 0.5 percentage points in early 2027. Despite these resolutions and a majority of Americans deeming the war not worth fighting, Trump's administration remains resistant to congressional efforts to curtail military engagement.
A Seoul court has ordered North Korea to pay approximately 44.6 billion won (about $32.5 million) for the 2020 demolition of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office, marking the first instance of South Korea seeking damages directly from the North. The office, built in the Kaesong Industrial Complex to promote better relations, was destroyed by North Korea in June 2020 after rising tensions due to anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent from the South. Relations between the two Koreas had improved during 2018, but deteriorated following a failed summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump in early 2019.
Omar Yassine, a 50-year-old man, was denied bail after being charged with stalking and intimidation for allegedly verbally abusing a 13-year-old Muslim girl on a Sydney bus, calling her a "fucking terrorist" and other insults. He has a 46-page criminal record and claimed in court that he did not threaten anyone, despite evidence including a video recorded by the girl showing the incident. The judge emphasized the vulnerability of the victim and expressed concern over Yassine's past behavior, leading to a heated exchange where Yassine berated the judge after the bail refusal.
China is inaugurating its first modern river-to-sea canal, the 134km Pinglu Canal, which connects the Xijiang River to the Beibu Gulf, aiming to reduce shipping distances to Southeast Asia by approximately 560km (350 miles) and lower logistics costs by 18 to 30 percent. The canal, a part of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative, is expected to save over 5 billion yuan (about $700 million) annually in transport costs and facilitate the passage of 5,000-tonne capacity ships. With the region’s trade with Southeast Asia hitting about 4.34 trillion yuan ($640 billion) in the first half of 2026, Guangxi plans to develop the "Pinglu Canal Economic Belt" to attract industry and enhance connectivity between production sites and maritime trade routes.
A Saudi-led military coalition has accused Yemen's Houthi rebels of attempting to target the holy city of Mecca, claiming that a hostile drone was intercepted before it could enter the airspace of the city. The Houthis have denied these accusations, labeling them as false and a "worn-out lie," while the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned any violation of holy sites. The ongoing conflict has resulted in 13 injuries from Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia on Monday night, bringing the total number of injured to approximately 100 since July.
Anthropic has secured a deal to lease the site for its first Australian datacentre in western Queensland, valued at $31.9 billion, which will be the largest of its kind in Australia. The project, located near Dalby, will span approximately 725.5 hectares and is planned to be constructed in four stages, with the first stage expected to open next year. Queensland’s Premier David Crisafulli highlighted that the investment will create more jobs and enhance the state’s energy grid, while also emphasizing the use of the state’s coal power sources for the centre.
A television news helicopter, NewsChopper4, crashed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, while covering a traffic collision, resulting in the deaths of at least three people, including one person on the ground, and leaving a fourth hospitalized. The helicopter hit a car park, damaging four vehicles and two storage containers, while over 50 firefighters responded to extinguish the resulting fire, which did not spread to any buildings. The circumstances of the crash are under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Victorian government has announced it will grant police and protective services officers the power to randomly search individuals for knives using handheld metal detectors, following a commitment to adopt Queensland’s Jack’s Law. Under this policy, 1,200 additional metal-detecting wands will be deployed, allowing searches "anywhere, anytime" in public places, despite experts highlighting the lack of evidence that such measures effectively reduce violent crime. Critics, including criminologists, argue that the new powers may lead to harassment of marginalized groups without addressing the root causes of crime, pointing to a Griffith University study that found no reduction in violence from similar searches conducted in Queensland.
New research reveals that the Bank of England and the British financial system were deeply intertwined with the enslavement and trafficking of millions of Africans, with 24 of its directors being significant investors in the slave trade. This includes four founding directors from 1694 and additional financiers throughout the following century, with the wealth from the slave trade forming part of the Bank's capital, supported by financial services provided to entities like the Royal African Company. Additionally, the Bank and the Treasury were involved in a £20 million compensation payout to slave owners, equivalent to £23 billion today, with no compensation awarded to the enslaved individuals themselves.
The newly digitized Register of British Slave Traders reveals that 45 Church of England clergy financed the Royal African Company, which trafficked enslaved Africans on hundreds of voyages, contributing significantly to the transatlantic slave trade. In 2023, the C of E launched Project Spire, a £100 million impact investment fund aimed at addressing communities affected by slavery's legacies, although it has faced criticism for not being a true reparations fund. Scholars emphasize the church's complicity in shaping modern Britain, noting that profits from slavery fueled various national advancements and that grappling with this history is crucial to the church's foundation of faith and justice.
Rotherham has the fewest job opportunities for young people in the UK, with only 46 online vacancies for every 1,000 young people, compared to 288 in the Cotswold district. The report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) reveals a sixfold gap in youth job opportunities, highlighting that nine of the 10 best areas for youth employment are in southern England, as the number of 16- to 24-year-olds not in employment, education, or training (Neet) surpasses 1 million. The IPPR calls for a significant overhaul of the apprenticeship system and the creation of a "work start" program to address these disparities and promote youth employment.
In 2025, defenders of nature and land were murdered at a rate of one every three days, with 124 reported killings, 85% of which occurred in Latin America, notably with Colombia leading at 39 deaths. The increase in organized crime, particularly related to narco-trafficking and environmental crimes, has necessitated the formation of self-defence units in many communities, such as the Kakataibo Indigenous Guard in Peru, which has grown to over 150 volunteers since 2022. Despite a slight overall decline in deaths over the past two years, the estimate remains high, with 2,375 deaths and disappearances recorded since 2012, while threats to defenders have increased due to diminished support from the international community and rising levels of organized crime.
A multi-storey residential building in western Gaza City collapsed, trapping six families beneath the rubble, with rescue crews and residents working tirelessly to reach them. Verified footage showed children being pulled from the wreckage, with cries for help heard from below, although the number of casualties is still unknown. The building had been previously damaged by an Israeli bombing, contributing to its structural instability, and many Palestinians continue to live in hazardous conditions as construction material shortages hinder recovery efforts.
A news helicopter crashed in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles on September 15, 2026, killing at least three people and injuring one other person. The crash occurred near the scene of a separate incident involving an SUV colliding with a city bus, which resulted in two deaths and six injuries. Fire officials reported that over 50 firefighters responded to the helicopter crash, which also damaged four cars and two storage containers on the ground, while investigations are being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.