Thing

• Google's Gemini logged into three real companies during a cyber test over the weekend of September 18-19, 2026. • Daniel Miessler suggested using Jev as a decision layer underneath enterprise AI, citing costs of roughly $42 per billion input tokens and $0 output cost, with around 200 ms round-trip latency. • This approach could lead to tens of thousands of email judgments for about $0.12, making it a potentially cost-effective solution for companies.

Charles lands at Heathrow with just two bags and nowhere to go as a result of Brexit and Stockholm’s hardline immigration positionDoubled over a Heathrow baggage trolley, the former British business director is sobbing uncontrollably, exhausted emotionally and physically after being deported from Sweden.Hours earlier the 65-year-old had been marched on to a plane in Stockholm, separated from his home and his Swedish wife after a five-year battle to stay in the country after Brexit came to an end. Continue reading...

• Indian equities continued their recovery on Friday, with the Nifty index gaining 0.33% while the Sensex slipped 0.03%. • Market sentiment was supported by a moderation in crude oil prices and global yields. • Broader markets outperformed the main indices, indicating a wider recovery across different stock segments.

• Iran launched the "Janfada" self-sacrificing campaign with a major military parade in Tehran and government SMS messages calling for citizen mobilization. • US Marines reported that brand-new Belleville Intense Cold Weather Boots failed during NATO’s Cold Response 2026 Arctic exercise in Norway, with soles peeling and leather developing holes. • The far-right AfD defeated Friedrich Merz’s centre-right CDU in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt this month.

• Andrew Caruana Galizia, Head of Europe and Eurasia at the World Economic Forum, stated that Europe should prioritize its internal market. • He noted that the region will never be fully self-sufficient in certain areas, specifically citing critical raw materials. • This focus suggests a strategic shift toward strengthening regional trade and stability rather than pursuing total independence from global supply chains.

‘Campus Collection’ aimed to mark 1893 club foundingRange pulled from website two hours after launchOxford United have abandoned a new range of American style-sportswear after it inadvertently referenced the tragedy of September 11.The League One club launched its new ‘Campus Collection’ on Friday morning and had removed it from sale by lunchtime, after clothing designs were revealed to bear the slogan ‘United 93’. The U’s immediately published an apology that admitted to a lack of understanding of “the historical context and associations” related to the branding and made “sincere apologies for this error and any offence caused.” Continue reading...

When Mohammad Abdul Zinati, 15, rushed to help a man wounded in a bomb attack, he had no time to react before he too was hit. Plus, meet the cartographers who took on centuries of western biasGood morning.Mohammad Abdul Zinati was walking home from school through the rubble of Salah Khalaf Street in northern Gaza City when he stopped at a supermarket where a group of classmates and friends had gathered.What has Israel said about the incident? The Israeli military said the incident was under review. The IDF has repeatedly rejected allegations that it deliberately targets civilians, saying it assesses and takes into account the risk of civilian harm when carrying out strikes.What has Trump said about South Korea? Trump has criticised Seoul for what he called insufficient support for the Iran war ‌and scaled back major joint military drills by the two countries’ armed forces this summer, a move that unsettled the US ally. Continue reading...

• The European Commission stated on July 6, 2026, that a French bill banning social media access for children under 15 does not fully align with European Union law. • France is pursuing this restriction alongside Spain and Denmark, following Australia's lead as the first country to implement a digital age of majority in December 2025. • The ruling creates a legal hurdle for France as it attempts to restrict youth internet access while remaining compliant with broader EU regulations.

Sharangan Maheswaran denies message he received about NSW minister David Elliot was related to work for fugitive property developerFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastA former Labor councillor says he had a “common interest” with a conservative Liberal operative, but denied that a message he received about damaging the reputation of NSW Liberal minister David Elliot was related to political work for a fugitive property developer, an inquiry has heard.Sharangan Maheswaran told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Friday that a message sent to him by lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood claiming “We have something that will kill Elliott” did not relate to work by Greenwood’s company Beckington for Jean Nassif.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...

• Space scientists discovered 84 "hypersoft X-ray sources," which are mysterious objects unlike anything previously observed. • Researchers are investigating whether these objects are the stars that eventually turn into Type Ia supernovae, the explosions used to prove the universe's expansion is accelerating. • Identifying these sources before they explode would allow astronomers to study the specific conditions that trigger these massive stellar events.

• Indian equity markets ended mixed on Thursday, with the Nifty gaining 53 points while the Sensex slipped 22 points. • Buying interest focused on mid- and small-cap stocks within the healthcare, power, defence, industrial, and capital goods sectors. • This volatility in the closing auction session creates a mixed outlook for investors tracking large-cap stocks like Reliance and L&T.

• Stock futures rebounded recently following a selloff triggered by Federal Reserve policy signals. • Analysts suggest that current market expectations for additional interest rate hikes through 2027 are likely overdone. • A projected drop in bond yields could provide a catalyst for growth in the stock markets.

PM’s push to cut cost of living is threatened by rising inflation and higher government borrowing costsBank of England holds interest ratesBusiness live – latest updatesGood luck to Andy Burnham convincing voters he is giving them “breathing space,” if the Bank of England ratchets up interest rates in the coming months.That was the prospect opened up by Thursday’s minutes of the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting, which left rates unchanged at 3.75% – for now – but suggested policymakers may be unlikely to hold out much longer. Continue reading...

Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, is due to address the European parliament on Thursday. Plus, how the attention economy overwhelmed children’s TVGood morning.Donald Trump has threatened the EU with “serious tariffs” after the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, invited Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member”.Why does the EU want closer ties with Canada? Von der Leyen told the European parliament that, as democracies faced a “fracture in the international rules-based system”, Brussels and Ottawa needed to pull closer together. “This is a partnership not against anyone else, but for our common strength,” she said.How has the EU responded to Trump’s comments? France’s Europe minister, Benjamin Haddad, said on Thursday that Washington had no power to veto EU decisions. “It is not up to the United States, or ‌anyone else, to choose the political and geopolitical direction of the Europeans,” Haddad ‌told Public Sénat TV channel.What’s next? Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has been addressing the European parliament on Thursday. Follow our live coverage here.Did Warsh identify what is driving inflation? Warsh acknowledged changing geopolitics, but avoided calling out the US-Israel war with Iran by name.How did Trump respond? Shortly after the announcement, Trump said in a Truth Social post that interest rates should be 1% or less and criticized the US trade deficit. Continue reading...

• Indian equity markets rebounded on September 16, with the Sensex gaining 333 points and the Nifty rising 99 points following a sharp sell-off on Tuesday. • Large-cap stocks led the recovery, while broader markets declined and trading activity centered on Groww, Paytm, and Pine Labs. • This volatility affects investors balancing high-value stocks against smaller companies in a shifting market environment.

• President Trump rejected calls to slow the development of frontier AI and contacted Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to maintain the current pace of innovation. • The EPA repealed Biden-era greenhouse-gas limits on coal and gas power plants, a move the agency estimates will save the industry over $300 billion. • These policy shifts prioritize rapid technological growth and energy production over safety regulations and environmental protections.

Vote comes amid Republican call to impeach defense secretary Pete Hegseth. Plus a catnapped bodega cat in Brooklyn is returned homeDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning. Saudi Arabia’s air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ⁠Houthi drone south of Mecca yesterday before it entered prohibited airspace over the holy city. A spokesperson for the kingdom, which is fighting the Iran-aligned group in Yemen, said the security of Islam’s two holiest sites and of pilgrims was a “red line”. Mecca, home to shrines sacred to Muslims worldwide, is Islam’s holiest ​city and the focal point ‌of the annual ‌hajj pilgrimage.Meanwhile, in Washington, the US House of Representatives has voted for a third time to end the war in Iran, approving a war powers resolution a few hours after a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report showed the conflict had cost at least $38bn and left the US stockpile of defensive missiles so depleted it could take five years to rebuild.Why is Pete Hegseth being targeted by lawmakers? Republican congressman Thomas Massie has proposed impeaching Pete Hegseth, saying the defense secretary had repeatedly violated the constitution through his handling of war with Iran and the deaths of civilians in conflicts worldwide.How is the Trump administration reversing decisions over arming Israel? Congress has been informally notified about a pending deal, with the US planning to deliver powerful 2,000lb bombs to Israel. The weapons prompted such concerns about the possibility of mass casualties in Gaza that the Biden administration paused their delivery two years ago.How has Ed Sheeran responded? In a lengthy Instagram post, the British singer said: “I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together … I am not complicit. I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean that I don’t care. Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine.” Continue reading...

• The US Supreme Court blocked an administration attempt to change midterm voting processes, allowing states to continue using mail-in ballots. • Civil rights groups praised the verdict after the administration made a last-ditch effort to alter how voters cast their ballots. • This decision ensures that millions of voters can maintain their current access to mail-in voting options for the upcoming elections.

• Indian equity markets saw a sharp recovery from Friday's lows as falling oil prices and bond yields improved investor sentiment. • The Sensex and Nifty indices closed lower due to foreign capital outflows and geopolitical risks. • This volatility creates a high-risk environment for traders as bearish trends compete with resilient domestic fundamentals.

• U.S. stock futures declined recently following calls to slow the development of artificial intelligence and escalating tensions in the Middle East. • German companies increased their investments in China by one-third while U.S. spending in the region dropped, according to the IW. • These shifts in investment and geopolitical instability create volatility for global equity markets and technology stocks.

• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda this month to take decisive action to stabilize the yen and prevent it from softening. • A Reuters poll indicates economists expect the Bank of England to hold its key Bank Rate at 3.75% through the end of the year and into mid-next year. • These developments create uncertainty for currency traders and investors regarding the level of influence Washington may have over Japanese monetary policy.

Strike on kingdom’s east-west pipeline could affect 4% of global oil supply. Plus, report reveals British monarchy’s role in financing slave tradeGood morning. Oil prices have climbed above $108 a barrel after a series of drone attacks from Iraq’s territory forced Saudi Arabia to close its east-west crude pipeline. Saudi traders said the kingdom would run out of oil stocks for export if it did not reopen within days. Gas prices also climbed higher. Energy prices have surged this year, as the US-Israel war with Iran has disrupted oil and gas supply across the Middle East.The spike came as the Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen launched several attacks against Saudi Arabia and captured the strategic island of Perim in the Bab al-Mandab strait on Sunday, expanding their control of the waterway.Where did the attack on Saudi Arabia come from? Iraq’s government confirmed the attacks were launched from its territory and ordered an investigation. Baghdad is under mounting pressure to stop militant groups – including those backed by Saudi Arabia’s regional rival Iran – launching attacks on Gulf countries from Iraqi soil. The US president, Donald Trump, said he believed Tehran was responsible.Why has Saudi Arabia been relying on its east-west pipeline? Riyadh has increased the use of the 745-mile pipeline since the start of the war on Iran in order to bypass the strait of Hormuz’s closure. The world’s biggest exporter has used the pipeline to reroute about 4m barrels a day – about 4% of global supply – but with the ‌pipeline out of service, the Red Sea port of Yanbu now has stocks to maintain exports for just five to seven days.What is the Anthropic CEO proposing? Robert Booth explains Amodei’s suggestion: first, each US AI company grants access to third-party evaluators; second, all companies in democratic countries establish common safety standards; and third, the world’s democratic AI powers coordinate with autocracies – notably China – to control the race.How has Barack Obama intervened over AI? The former US president made a direct appeal to Democrats to coalesce around a unified AI safety policy, arguing that waiting for voluntary compliance from tech firms was a recipe for governance failure. Continue reading...

• The 2026 Emmy Awards will take place on Monday night at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. • The ceremony broadcasts live on NBC and streams on Peacock starting at 8 p.m., with E! red carpet coverage beginning at 5 p.m. • Viewers can watch the event live to see the winners and performances of the year's top television achievements.

• Enflame raised approximately $912 million in a Shanghai IPO between September 11 and 13, 2026. • The offering values the Tencent-backed AI-chip developer at roughly $25.5 billion. • Ayar Labs increased its Series E funding to $650 million to develop optical chip-to-chip links that reduce electrical bottlenecks in AI systems.

Commemoration ceremonies to be held around the world for the nearly 3,000 killed in 2001 terror attack on US. Plus, JD Vance sets out his stall as heir to Donald TrumpGood morning. It is a sombre day for the nation as people gather to mourn and remember the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks on September 11 2001, when 19 al-Qaida hijackers seized control of four airliners, slamming two of the planes into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania.We have comprehensive coverage of the anniversary, which will be marked by ceremonies around the world. There are stories of the day from people who were there. Stanley Praimnath and Brian Clark were two of only four individuals known to have survived above the impact zone in the south tower, and they spoke to our Washington bureau chief David Smith. Anna Sweeney Rossman was five when her mother, Amy Sweeney, a flight attendant, was killed onboard American Airlines flight 11, and she spoke to Ramon Antonio Vargas about how the events of that day have cast a shadow on her life.Donald Trump’s promise of a $5,000 “Trump dividend” for every US citizen if Republicans retain control of the US Congress in November’s midterm elections has sparked incredulity and accusations of bribery.With his approval rating at a historic low, Trump brought down the curtain on the Republicans’ first ever midterm convention by pleading with supporters to do him “the biggest favor” and “pretend” they are voting for him in November’s US elections.JD Vance, meanwhile, made a clear pitch that he should be the heir to Trump with a blistering speech that featured exaggerated claims of success, criticism of the Democrats as “lunatics” and an aggressive dismissal of a protester waving a Mexican flag.A US appeals court has rejected Trump’s attempt to impose sweeping restrictions on mail-in voting before November’s high-stakes midterm elections, dealing a fresh blow to the president’s attempted crackdown.Anthropic has detailed efforts by bad actors to misuse its AI for the production of bioweapons. More researchers and staff members at the AI startup have posted their own dire warnings about the safety of the technology, but Elon Musk called the chorus of concerns a “setup” and a “psyop”.California has adopted what Gavin Newsom described as “nation-leading” legislation that bans addictive social media features for young users, regulates companion chatbots and implements new safeguards around AI.Sales of previously occupied US homes declined in August to their slowest annual pace in more than a year as home shoppers grappled with rising mortgage rates and home prices. Continue reading...

• Manchester United and Manchester City will face each other in the 199th Manchester derby this weekend at Old Trafford. • Managers Michael Carrick and Enzo Maresca will lead the teams, with City entering the match with a perfect four-game winning streak under Maresca. • The result will impact the historical win counts for the fixture, which currently stand at 81 victories for United and 62 for City.

• OpenAI launched an Agents API and a finance workspace on September 10, 2026, while Paris-based Arlequin AI raised €28M in Series A funding. • Arlequin AI uses a topological neural network architecture to analyze relationships across documents and video using less compute than broad large language models. • These developments provide defense and fraud investigators with more efficient tools for multi-path data analysis across European and U.S. markets.

• Indian markets ended higher on Thursday after Sensex and Nifty reversed losses during the closing auction, snapping a three-session decline. • The Nifty formed a hammer pattern, indicating buying interest, despite crude oil prices rising above $102 and weak global cues. • The cautious sentiment in the market may impact stock prices, particularly for top trending stocks like SBI, Axis Bank, and HDFC Bank.