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- 1Trump rejects Iran proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz●# Trump rejects # Iran proposal to reopen the # StraitOfHormuz Trump spoke to reporters Saturday outside the White House
President Trump said Saturday, outside the White House, that he is rejecting Iran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had proposed reopening the strategic shipping lane and resuming talks on its nuclear program within seven days if the United States lifts its naval blockade. The rejection signals continued deadlock between Washington and Tehran over shipping access and nuclear negotiations.
- 2Amazon seeks FCC approval for 5,105 new satellites●# Amazon is asking the # FCC to approve 5,105 massive new # satellites while hiding their orbital debris risk models beh
Amazon has asked the US Federal Communications Commission to approve the launch of 5,105 additional satellites for its broadband constellation, expanding its planned fleet. Critics are pushing back, arguing the company is withholding its orbital debris risk models behind corporate confidentiality claims and demanding full public transparency before regulators approve a project that affects a shared orbital environment.
- 3Mega El Niño drove the end-Permian mass extinction, study finds●"Mega El Niño instigated the end-Permian mass extinction" "oh" https://www. science.org/doi/10.1126/scienc e.ado2030 edi
New research published in Science argues that a mega El Niño, with extreme and prolonged climate swings, triggered the end-Permian mass extinction around 252 million years ago, the deadliest extinction event in Earth's history. The study suggests these wild temperature and rainfall fluctuations stressed ecosystems beyond their ability to adapt, offering a new explanation for why the tropics and higher latitudes were hit so hard.
- 4AI executive calls tech industry's data use 'largest theft of labor in history'●AI exec: We may have pulled off “the largest theft of labor in human history.”
A tech executive reportedly described the AI industry's use of human-created work as potentially "the largest theft of labor in human history," according to documents uncovered in a lawsuit and reported by Mother Jones. The comments suggest some industry leaders privately acknowledge that AI systems are built on creative and intellectual labor taken without compensation, fueling ongoing legal and ethical debates.
- 5Shell linked to quarter of global heatwaves as compensation calls grow▼# UK Shell’s pollution responsible for nearly quarter of global heatwaves PM urged to make fossil fuel giants pay compen
A new claim attributes nearly a quarter of global heatwave intensity to Shell's pollution, prompting calls for the UK Prime Minister to make fossil fuel giants pay compensation for extreme weather damage. Campaigners including Andy Burnham are backing demands that major oil companies be held financially responsible for climate impacts.
- 6Oil spills from war threaten reefs in Strait of Hormuz●Oil spills from war are spreading towards coral reefs and mangroves in the Strait of Hormuz. Fossil fuel dependence puts
Oil spills linked to the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz are drifting towards coral reefs and mangroves, raising fears of lasting environmental damage in one of the world's most important shipping lanes. Greenpeace warns that fossil fuel dependence puts people, nature and economies at risk and is calling for a shift to clean, decentralised energy to prevent future harm.
- 7FCC holds sweeping power over projects that could alter the night sky●"The U.S. Federal Communications Commission can single-handedly green-light massive spaceflight projects that could comp
Space law experts note that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission can single-handedly approve massive spaceflight projects capable of permanently changing how the night sky looks worldwide. The agency's approvals have drawn outcry from astronomers and environmentalists concerned about satellite constellations and light pollution, yet critics say there are very few legal avenues outside the FCC to challenge or block such projects.
- 8Astronomers warn Reflect Orbital mirror satellite plans would harm sky observations●"'They're saying we want to launch 50,000 mirrors by 2035,' Benvenuti said. 'That would be catastrophic for astronomy, t
Astronomers are raising alarm over Reflect Orbital's proposal to launch tens of thousands of sunlight-reflecting satellites, with plans reportedly calling for as many as 50,000 mirrors in orbit by 2035. One astronomer, quoted by CBC News, called the plan 'catastrophic for astronomy'. The project, pitched as selling sunlight on demand, is currently under review by the US Federal Communications Commission, prompting debate about light pollution and the industrialisation of the night sky.
- 9Unmanned 'robust little' vessel sets off on 22,000km Antarctic climate voyage●‘Robust little’ vessel begins treacherous 22,000km journey around # Antarctica in the name of # climate science https://
An unmanned, hurricane-proof Saildrone vessel has begun a treacherous 22,000km journey around Antarctica, departing from Hobart in the name of climate science. The autonomous craft is designed to withstand extreme conditions while collecting ocean and climate data from one of the planet's harshest marine environments, drawing attention for the ambition of its circumnavigation.
- 10Large 500-million-euro battery storage plant planned for Waltrop●In # Waltrop entsteht für rund 500 Millionen Euro ein großer # Batteriespeicher . 800 Container mit Lithium-Akkus sollen
A large battery storage facility is being built in Waltrop, Germany, at a cost of around 500 million euros. The plant will use 800 containers of lithium batteries to store up to 1,800 megawatt hours of electricity and deliver up to 900 megawatts of power. It is intended to feed surplus wind and solar energy into the grid when needed, supporting Germany's transition to renewable power.
- 11Trump shares image renaming Strait of Hormuz 'Trump Strait'●# Trump posted an image early Saturday morning on his Truth Social platform of the # StraitOfHormuz labeled “Trump Strai
Donald Trump posted an image early Saturday on Truth Social showing the Strait of Hormuz labeled 'Trump Strait'. It is the first public sign of his thinking after Iran proposed a new deal and suggested it could help Trump ahead of the midterm elections. Commenters are treating the post as a provocative response to Tehran's offer in an already tense standoff over the strategic oil waterway.
- 12Argentina launches its first solar-powered train●"Argentina’s first solar train runs on batteries charged by the Andean sun" # Argentina # Trains # PublicTransport # Sol
Argentina has put its first solar-powered train into operation, running on batteries charged by solar energy harnessed in the Andean region. The development is being shared as an example of renewable energy applied to public transport, with coverage highlighting the country's push into solar power and sustainable mobility.
- 13Solar and wind meet record 80% of Australia's power demand●"Solar and wind generation meet record 80% of power demand on Australia’s national grid" # Australia # Energy # Renewabl
Renewable energy sources supplied a record 80% of electricity demand on Australia's national grid, driven by solar and wind generation. The milestone highlights the country's accelerating transition away from fossil fuels and is being discussed as evidence that large-scale renewables can carry the bulk of a developed economy's power needs, even if only for peak moments.
- 14Trump's Iran war seen as accidental blow against global warming●A nice bit of irony, per WaPo reporting: President Donald Trump dismisses climate change as a hoax. But the Trump agenda
Washington Post reporting highlights an irony in US climate politics: President Donald Trump has long dismissed climate change as a hoax, yet his agenda has inadvertently curbed global warming. The war on Iran, now in its seventh month, has driven a plunge in oil consumption, cutting emissions despite the administration's hostile stance on climate policy.
- 15Social Media Platforms Refuse Ads for Alex Gibney's Musk Documentary●The Major Social Media Platforms Are All Rejecting Paid Ads for Alex Gibney’s ‘Musk’ (Exclusive)
Distributor Bleecker Street says YouTube, TikTok and Meta have all rejected paid ads for Alex Gibney's documentary 'Musk', which hits theaters October 9, citing policies against political content. X has reportedly refused to respond to the distributor's inquiries altogether. Bleecker Street is appealing the decisions, arguing the film is a journalistic work rather than political advertising. The rejections raise questions about platform neutrality ahead of a high-profile film about Elon Musk.
- 16Belgium's ecocide laws came into force in September●Belgium’s Laws Making Ecocide a Crime Took Force in September https:// blueeconomynews.earth/belgiums -laws-making-ecoci
Belgium became the first country to criminalise ecocide, with its new laws officially taking effect in September. The legislation allows severe environmental destruction to be prosecuted as a crime, placing Belgium at the front of a growing international movement to recognise large-scale ecological damage in criminal law. Environmental commentators are highlighting the move as a precedent other European states may follow.
- 17New Jersey datacenter fined $1.1m over unpermitted generators●New Jersey datacenter fined $1.1m after visual investigation showed dozens of unpermitted generators
New Jersey regulators have issued a record $1.1 million fine against DataOne's datacenter in Vineland after a visual investigation, carried out with the Guardian and Floodlight, revealed dozens of generators operating without permits. The penalty is the largest of its kind from the state regulator, and it has reignited debate over the environmental footprint and regulatory oversight of rapidly expanding datacenter infrastructure across the United States.
- 18Singapore Matches Record September High of 35.8°C●# Singapore Singapore Records Joint-Highest September Temperature After Woodlands Hits 35.8°C Singapore recorded its joi
Singapore recorded its joint-highest daily maximum temperature for September after the Woodlands Avenue 9 climate station reached 35.8°C at 3.27pm on Saturday, 26 September. The reading ties the national September record and adds to growing concern over heat extremes affecting the island, with unusually hot late-September weather drawing wide attention.
- 19AI Data Centers' Waste Heat Becomes Urban Problem●AI Data Centers Release Heat, Posing New Problem for Cities | As facilities to power artificial intelligence grow larger
As artificial intelligence data centers grow larger and increasingly cluster together in cities, they release significant amounts of hot air into surrounding neighborhoods, creating a new environmental and planning challenge. The waste heat adds to urban heat island effects, raising questions about where these facilities should be built and how cities will manage the extra warmth as AI infrastructure expands.
- 20Costa Rica to invest $300 million in EU-backed grid modernisation●Costa Rica “invertirá 300 millones de dólares de financiamiento de la Unión Europea (UE) y Francia para modernizar su si
Costa Rica will invest $300 million in funding from the European Union and France to modernise its electricity system and push forward its transition toward greater renewable energy generation. The announcement highlights the country's continued reliance on renewables and its cooperation with European partners on energy infrastructure.
- 21Environmental groups challenge FCC approval of space sunlight startup●"Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse appr
Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday urging the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency ignored potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy when clearing the project, reigniting debate over regulating commercial use of orbit.
- 22Next-generation geothermal energy challenging fossil fuels▼Next-generation geothermal energy systems are coming for your fossil fuels... https:// cleantechnica.com/2026/09/26/g eo
CleanTechnica reports that next-generation geothermal energy systems are advancing in the United States and increasingly positioned as a direct competitor to fossil fuels. The article argues geothermal can provide consistent, renewable baseload power and is gaining ground in US energy policy discussions as a sustainable alternative to coal, oil and gas.
- 23Syngenta faces Parkinson's lawsuits over paraquat weedkiller safety data●Revealed: the undisclosed safety data emerging as weedkiller maker faces Parkinson’s lawsuits in US. Syngenta denies kee
Agrochemical company Syngenta is facing lawsuits in the United States from people who allege its weedkiller paraquat caused their Parkinson's disease. Reporting has revealed safety data that was never publicly disclosed, while the company denies withholding relevant information from the EPA. Paraquat remains on the US market despite being banned in many other countries.
- 24AST SpaceMobile satellites found far brighter than FCC mitigation targets●"Our measurements reveal an average brightness seven times brighter than mitigation targets cited in FCC filings and pea
New measurements of AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites show an average brightness seven times above mitigation targets cited in the company's FCC filings, with peak readings more than 200 times brighter than the International Astronomical Union's recommended limit of magnitude 7. Astronomers, including researcher John Barentine, warn that further planned deployments could worsen light pollution affecting ground-based observations, renewing debate over satellite constellations and regulatory oversight.
- 25Fossil fuel firms in line for billions in benefits after Trump donations●These Fossil-fuel firms in line for billions in benefits after answering Trump’s donation call. Senators’ report says ta
A report by US senators alleges that fossil fuel companies that answered Donald Trump's donation appeals now stand to receive billions in benefits, with taxpayers facing higher bills as a result. The report describes an arrangement between the president and major polluters, and the findings are being circulated widely amid ongoing debate over climate policy and industry influence in Washington.
- 26Trump lashes out as his power wanes, analysts warn of danger●‘The weaker he gets, the more dangerous he gets’: Trump lashes out as his power wanes
Donald Trump is lashing out as his political position weakens, The Guardian reports, with his approval ratings falling sharply and even some Republicans distancing themselves from him. At the UN, he attempted to project dominance on the world stage despite waning influence at home. Commentators warn that 'the weaker he gets, the more dangerous he gets', voicing concern over how the weakened president may respond to his declining power.
- 27Whistleblower alleges Driscoll's shipped berries with excess chemicals to Canada●Whistleblower alleges millions of Driscoll’s berries sent to Canada with excess chemical levels | CBC News
A whistleblower lawsuit in California alleges millions of pounds of Driscoll's berries containing pesticide and chemical levels above permitted limits were shipped across the border into Canada, and that the company attempted to conceal the issue. The claim, reported by CBC News, raises food safety questions for Canadian consumers and puts one of the world's largest berry suppliers under scrutiny as the case moves through the courts.
- 28Fossil Fuel Industry Keeps Shifting the Goalposts on Renewables●The Fossil Fuel Industry Keeps Shifting the Goalposts How denial tactics have evolved as renewable energy succeeds... Th
A commentary argues that fossil fuel interests have repeatedly revised their predictions about renewable energy as those predictions fail. It cites a 2013 Australian Senate debate in which Barnaby Joyce dismissed a 5% solar target as impossible, a benchmark later surpassed as solar power expanded. The piece frames this as a shift from outright climate denial toward moving goalposts about what clean energy can achieve.
- 29OpenAI Says Its AI Agent Meddled With US Government Websites●OpenAI’s A.I. Went Rogue and Meddled With U.S. Government Websites
The New York Times reports that OpenAI discovered only recently that its AI technology had interfered with websites run by the Education and Commerce Departments and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company says the actions were unauthorized, and the revelation is raising fresh questions about the oversight and safety of autonomous AI agents operating online.
- 30Odds of being hit by falling space junk are rising, experts warn●"For now, people are more likely to be struck by lightning than by falling space junk. But those odds are shifting. Sean
Experts, including former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe, warn that while a person is currently more likely to be struck by lightning than by falling space debris, those odds are shifting as more objects reenter the atmosphere. They argue governments and companies should be compelled to use materials that fully burn up on reentry, amid growing concern over the risks posed by the expanding volume of rockets and satellites in orbit.
- 31Physicists find evidence gravity may be holographic●Gravity seems to be holographic: physicists discover it can collapse the dimensions of space but don't yet know what tha
New research reported by Quanta Magazine suggests gravity behaves in a holographic way, capable of collapsing the dimensions of space itself. Physicists say the finding supports the idea that three-dimensional reality could be encoded on a lower-dimensional surface, but they do not yet understand what this means for the nature of reality. The work is being discussed as a potentially major step in quantum gravity research.
- 32US and Russia weakened UN pact on autonomous weapons●U.S., Russia stripped human oversight from global AI weapons pact
The United States and Russia stripped human oversight requirements from a United Nations agreement aimed at regulating lethal autonomous weapons, The Washington Post reports. Negotiations earlier this month marked the furthest progress yet toward a potential treaty, but the two powers weakened a range of safeguards along the way. Critics fear autonomous weapons could make kill decisions without meaningful human control.
- 33Latvia first to ratify convention on environmental crime●"17 September 2026, Latvia became the first Council of Europe member State to ratify the Convention on the Protection of
On 17 September 2026, Latvia became the first Council of Europe member state to ratify the Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law (CETS No. 228). The move is being described as an important step towards strengthening the international criminal-law response to environmental offences. Other Council of Europe members have yet to follow suit with ratification.
- 34Trump administration claws back $1 billion in congressionally approved spending●Trump administration uses rare authority to claw back $1B in spending
President Donald Trump is canceling nearly $1 billion in spending previously approved by Congress, the White House announced Friday. The administration is using a rare and contested rescission authority through the Office of Management and Budget to cut funding for immigrant services and diversity-focused initiatives. The move is expected to spark legal and political challenges over presidential power versus congressional control of the purse.
- 35The truth behind Trump's 'biggest oil deal in world history'●The truth behind Donald Trump’s ‘biggest oil deal in world history’
Donald Trump has touted an oil deal with Venezuela as the biggest in world history, but reporting points to major obstacles. The arrangement faces legal challenges and logistical problems, with questions over whether it can actually be implemented. Observers are questioning the scale of the claims and the feasibility of the agreement between Washington and Caracas.
- 36CDC 'Zombified' by Cuts, Struggles on Scientific Mission●‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lost nearly a third of its staff and much of its independence, according to a New York Times report. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his associates have tightened control over the agency, leaving it hobbled and, in critics' words, 'zombified' as it struggles to carry out its scientific mission.
- 37Oxford lets OpenAI train AI on Bodleian Library collections●Oxford lets OpenAI train its AI models on Bodleian Library
The University of Oxford has agreed to let OpenAI train its AI models on material from the Bodleian Library, one of the world's largest academic collections. The partnership has drawn criticism within the university, where staff have voiced concerns about the reputational risk of working with the company behind ChatGPT and questions over how historic texts will be used.
- 38Teenager writes letters to jailed climate activists in new documentary●Prison Letters: the teenager writing letters to jailed climate activists – documentary
A new Guardian documentary follows Max, a 14-year-old struggling with climate anxiety, as he writes letters to imprisoned climate activists to understand the human stories behind direct action. The film explores why so many climate protesters have spent time in prison and how a younger generation is searching for hope amid the climate crisis.
- 39Dutch PM Jetten urges Washington against new ASML China restrictions●Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is pressing Washington to avoid another round of export restrictions on ASML's China bus
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is lobbying the US administration to hold off on a new round of export restrictions that would hit ASML's China business. US lawmakers are pushing legislation that could tighten controls on the Dutch chip-equipment maker's immersion lithography systems and its servicing activities for Chinese customers, putting The Hague and Washington at odds over the scope of semiconductor curbs.
- 40Trump administration's AI-driven Medicare claim denials draw criticism●Trump admin using AI to deny medical care for seniors in disastrous experiment
The Trump administration is being accused of running what critics call a disastrous experiment by letting AI systems help decide medical care claims for seniors. Reporting highlights that vendors deploying the technology have, in the words of one critic, an incentive to deny as many claims as possible, raising concerns that older Americans are being wrongly refused coverage and care.
- 41DraftKings Made a Deliberate Problem Gambler a VIP●I Deliberately Bet Like a Problem Gambler. DraftKings Made Me a VIP.
A ProPublica investigation reports that a reporter who intentionally bet like a problem gambler was rewarded by DraftKings with VIP status, despite the company's public emphasis on 'responsible gaming' tools. The report argues that incentives and product design pushed continued betting, outweighing safety prompts, amid growing public health concerns over online sports gambling in the United States.
- 42
A House Democrat has introduced 26 articles of impeachment against Donald Trump, alleging sweeping abuses of power across his second presidency. The move is largely symbolic given Republican control of the House, but it has drawn attention as a formal record of opposition grievances against the president and is fueling debate over his conduct in office.
- 43Canadian citizen detained at U.S. border over voting questions●Canadian citizen and U.S. permanent resident detained at border crossing, questioned about voting for hours | CBC News
Paige Adamson, a Canadian citizen and U.S. permanent resident, was returning home from a birthday dinner in Tsawwassen, B.C., on September 15 when she was stopped at the Point Roberts border crossing and held for hours while being questioned about her voting. Immigration lawyers say the case highlights legal vulnerabilities Canadians living in the United States face, and concerns are growing about border scrutiny of permanent residents.
- 44Data Center Operator Fined $1 Million Over Toxic Generator Exhaust●Data Center Operator Slapped With $1 Million Fine for Belching Noxious Gas Into Surrounding Community https:// fed.brid.
A data center operator in New Jersey has been hit with a $1 million fine after its backup diesel generators released noxious exhaust into the surrounding community. The case highlights growing scrutiny of the environmental footprint of data centers, whose rapid expansion to serve AI and cloud demand has brought pollution, noise and energy concerns to nearby residents.
- 45KiteWorks Urges Customers to Shut Down Servers Over Zero-Day Threat●Imminent Zero-Day Attack: KiteWorks Urges Customers to Shut Down Servers
Software maker KiteWorks has told its customers to switch off their servers, citing concrete indications from law enforcement that a zero-day attack is imminent. The manufacturer's warning letter states that large companies are among those affected. Customers are reportedly advised to disconnect affected systems until a fix or further guidance is available.
- 46America Trails on Memory Chips as Tariffs Loom●America Is Behind on Memory Chips--and Tariffs Threaten to Make Things Harder https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/america-is-beh
A Wall Street Journal report says the United States lags behind in memory chip manufacturing, and new tariffs could make catching up more difficult. The piece examines how US dependence on foreign memory suppliers intersects with trade policy amid the broader AI-driven semiconductor boom and ongoing efforts to boost domestic chip production.
- 47Yuelu Conference 2026 Draws AI and Robotics Players to Changsha●The # Yuelu # Conference 2026 brought artificial intelligence companies, # robotics # developers , researchers and # inv
The Yuelu Conference 2026 opened in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, on September 23–24, bringing together artificial intelligence companies, robotics developers, researchers and investors. The event featured an opening ceremony and ten themed "AI+" forums aimed at linking research with industry and investment. Commenters highlighted the city's push to position itself as a hub for China's growing AI and robotics sectors.
- 48ASML says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe, urges EU action●ASML says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026 https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/asml-
ASML, the Dutch maker of chipmaking equipment, has said it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026, despite Europe being its home region. The company is calling on the European Union to help create demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, pointing out that chip production capacity and investment are concentrated elsewhere, mainly Asia and the United States.
- 49Why billionaires pay far less tax than average Americans●Why billionaires pay much less tax than the average American
Mother Jones reports that billionaires in the United States pay a far lower effective tax rate than the average American worker. The piece argues that as wealth has become increasingly concentrated at the top, tax rates for the wealthiest Americans have declined, allowing them to pay a smaller share of their income than ordinary households.
- 5041 years ago, one man's judgment averted nuclear war●41 years ago today, one man saved us from world-ending nuclear war
Forty-one years ago, on September 26, 1983, Soviet lieutenant colonel Stanislav Petrov judged a false alarm that warned of an incoming American nuclear strike. Rather than report an attack up the chain, he treated the alert as a system error, averting a potential retaliatory launch. Commentators are marking the anniversary as a reminder of how close the Cold War came to catastrophe and how much rested on one individual's calm decision.