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Van Haylen scandal rolls on: Ministerial driver keeps job after judge rules dismissal threat unjust

The ministerial driver who ferried former transport minister Jo Haylen on a 13-hour, 446-kilometre van trip for a boozy three-hour lunch in the Hunter Valley has prevented the Minns government from sacking him after a judge found the threatened dismissal unjust and unreasonable. Industrial Relations...

Sydney Morning Herald · 15 hours ago Join Discussion

UK News

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Mainstream GB News

Royal Navy launches torpedo from undersea drone in warning shot to Vladimir Putin

Britain has launched a heavyweight torpedo from an unmanned underwater drone for the first time ever in a warning shot to Vladimir Putin.The Royal Navy's 12-metre submersible drone, the XV Excalibur, fired the weapon last week in British waters.Built in Plymouth, the vessel can be controlled remotely from almost 10,000 miles away and is currently undergoing sea trials.The torpedo itself was co-developed by the United States and Australia, engineered to destroy warships and deep-diving submarines. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Both Britain and the US conducted the trial under the Aukus defence pact, which focuses on advanced submarine technology, AI and autonomous undersea systems.Neither nation had previously launched a torpedo from an uncrewed underwater platform.The MoD described the successful test as a "significant breakthrough" for Euro-Atlantic security and Nato's undersea capabilities.Russia has already been conducting a form of "hybrid warfare" at sea, deploying spy ships and covert underwater assets to surveil the UK's undersea cables and pipelines, stoking fears of sabotage.This spring, Nato allies caught Russian submarines practising with a secret weapon near the remote Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic.The device was designed to knock out vital undersea cables without leaving a trace.Moscow's GUGI undersea warfare directorate oversaw the covert operation, using deep-sea submersibles to practise using the technology for real, two Western officials told Reuters.A combined British, Norwegian and American mission tracked and intercepted the Russians, forcing them to abandon the exercise and withdraw.London and Oslo revealed the discovery of the Arctic operation in April, though details of the weapon, precise location and US involvement only emerged days ago.Three US officials said American intelligence analysts are growing worried that Russia could test Nato's Article 5 mutual defence commitment - potentially by severing a subsea cable.There are two fibre-optic cables connecting Svalbard to the Norwegian mainland, running as deep as 2,700 metres underwater.They transmit enormous volumes of satellite data from SvalSat, the world's largest satellite ground station and part of Nasa's Near Space Network.DEFENCE - READ MORE:Andy Burnham told to roll out 'war register' for civilians to fight in case UK comes under attackMoD sites targeted by drones on daily basis in major national security threatAndy Burnham accused of sending 'dangerous message' to Putin as Russia 'threatens to burn Europe'The Kremlin, for its part, denies carrying out sabotage against Nato members or planning any confrontation.It also calls its four-year-long invasion of Ukraine a "special military operation".But fears are rising at the very top of Nato that Russia could attack Europe at the same time as a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that China could force Russia to launch an attack on the continent while it invades Taiwan in the Asia-Pacific.While in Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that Moscow is plotting "hybrid" drone and missile attacks on nations that back Ukraine.A Czech intelligence chief told The Guardian a possible escalation could come in "months, not years".Baltic intelligence agencies insist there is no sign of an imminent attack - though Lithuania, which sits between Russian ally Belarus and Russian exclave Kaliningrad, is making evacuation plans as a precaution.The Prime Minister travels to New York on Tuesday for the UN General Assembly, where he will sit down with US President Donald Trump for their first in-person meeting.Ukraine, the Middle East and AI are set to dominate discussions among world leaders in the days ahead.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to hold talks with Mr Trump on the margins of the summit.The US President has been urging him to stop his country's strikes on Russian oil refineries, citing concerns over fuel shortages and rising energy prices.The Middle East produces nearly triple as much oil as Russia.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Mainstream GB News

British contractor 'killed with RPG during Isis massacre after letting women and children escape Islamist attackers'

A hero British contractor was killed by an RPG during an Isis massacre after letting women and children escape the attackers first, an inquest has heard.Philip Mawer, 58, was killed in Palma, Mozambique as his hotel faced an onslaught from Isis terrorists.He spent two days sheltering inside the Amarula Hotel in 2021 as Isis-linked Al-Shabaab fighters raided the area.Mr Mawer, a manager at the firm RA International, was offered a helicopter evacuation on the second day, but bravely turned down the offer and insisted "women and children went first". TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say He again turned down an evacuation in an armoured B6 truck, offering to drive in a separate vehicle.Moments later, he was killed when a rocket smashed into his car.Now, an inquest into his death has revealed workers were aware of regular attacks around Palma, but work on a large-scale gas project continued after the threat was considered low.Mr Mawer, originally from Somerset, became trapped in his hotel on March 24 as the massacre unfolded around him.Gordon Rhattigan, his friend and fellow project manager, said: "It was chaotic at the time. It was a very fluid situation so it was changing every 30 seconds or minute."The next day, South African private military company Dyck Advisory Group evacuated 23 people from the hotel, but Mr Mawer refused to leave with them.As the attack heightened, he joined a convoy fleeing the hotel on March 26, but a blast from a RPG ripped off his left arm and caused catastrophic injuries to his spine and brain stem.Pathologist Dr Russell Delaney said he was knocked unconscious and killed instantly.MORE ON TERRORISM:Islamist plot to recruit young British Muslims for terror attack against UK revealed in 9/11 filesLondon-based leader of Muslim Brotherhood sanctioned by US for 'helping to fundraise for Hamas'British couple murdered by Isis-linked South African gang who fed their bodies to crocodilesHe told Winchester Coroner’s Court: "There was instant catastrophic haemorrhage, spinal cord and brain stem damage which would have caused instant unconsciousness and death."He added: "It's designed to be initiated on impact and a metal jet to pierce armour and penetrate other structures like brick or concrete walls."It will cause severe damage to things in its path."Mr Rhattigan told the inquest workers were "100 per cent" aware of attacks happening around the project in the outskirts of the village, even detailing one horrific instance where terrorists "took all the people to a football field and beheaded them there"."But they then started attacking villages in the north as well as the south," he added.RA International boss Soraya Narfeldt said the contractor knew Mozambique and Africa extremely well, adding that he "knew the country so intimately".Mr Rhattigan remembered his friend as being "very well liked" by a variety of companies in the town.He said: "Philip was very kind, very funny, and very down to earth. He was honest. I really enjoyed working with him and I had been looking forward to working with him for a while.Ms Narfeldt added: "My best memory with him was watching world cup rugby with him, and I’d ended up on the Welsh side. He was a great guy."The five-day inquest continues. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Mainstream The Scotsman

Pictures reveal plans for renovation of Hugh MacDiarmid cottage and new centre for writers in residence

The cottage has been empty for more than three years

Mainstream The Scotsman

The North Sea transition is running out of time and risks becoming disorderly decline

Britain’s traditional energy economy is declining faster than the new one is being built

World News

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Mainstream CBS News

Grand jury declines to indict anyone in death of Nolan Wells

The grand jury reviewing the case of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old who was found dead after going missing following an outing with friends on Mississippi's Horn Island on the Fourth of July, has determined there was no criminal wrongdoing in the teen's death. Wells' death sparked a considerable amount of speculation across social media, much of which was rebuked . "The Grand Jury finds no credible evidence to support the public allegations that any persons who rode to or from Horn Island on July 4, 2026, on the Triton, the Palm Beach, or the Tideline engaged in any criminal conduct related to the death of Mr. Yuki Iwamura/AP Wells had traveled to Horn Island with his friends to celebrate the Fourth of July, but didn't return to the mainland with them that afternoon, Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said at the time.  He was last seen on the island at 3 p. m., according to attorney Ben Crump's office. His mother reported him missing later that night. His body was found Monday, July 6, off the coast of the island, which is about 10 miles south of the Mississippi mainland.  An independent autopsy commissioned ' cause of death, Crump said in late July. According to the report, the grand jury concluded the "position of, condition of, time of discovery, and location of Mr. Wells' body is consistent with drowning." Wells' friends have told authorities that he chose to stay behind on the island to speak with a girl, telling them he would come back to the mainland later. Wells' parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, previously told "CBS Mornings" they didn't believe their son would have stayed behind by choice. "No, he wouldn't. Nolan always stays with the group," Elmore Wonsley, Nolan's father, told "CBS Mornings." "If you be with me, you come back with me. So that I don't understand, and with me being a parent, if I was in that situation, I would have told them, 'You're going to get back on this boat with me because I don't want to answer to your parents if something happens to you.'" Crump, who is representing the family, told "CBS Mornings," "There are so many glaring contradictions, that's why so many people all across America are chiming in, saying this is not adding up. I mean, you have [his friends] say he was talking to a young lady, and she said that he said, 'I'm going to get back on the boat with the boys.' The boys say, 'He said that, 'No, I'm going to stay with her.' I mean, which is it?" In a statement released Monday evening, Crump called on the district attorney to keep the investigation into Wells' death open and active. "We don't know how Nolan died, and neither does the State of Mississippi.

Mainstream Fox News Latest

Giants' season-opening high comes crashing down as Jaxson Dart's knee injury overshadows Rams' blowout win

close Video Aaron Donald set to start in Monday Night Football matchup vs Giants 🏈 FOX NFL Sunday Jay Glazer reports the latest scoop in Week 2, including Aaron Donald setting to start in the Los Angeles Rams' Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Giants. The New York Giants were riding high coming into Los Angeles to face a frustrated Rams team that returned home from a beatdown in Australia. After defeating the Dallas Cowboys on their own home turf, the talk around the league after just one week was that the Giants could be a problem for the rest of the NFL in this John Harbaugh era. But those giant expectations took a massive hit on "Monday Night Football" after quarterback Jaxson Dart was ruled out after a brutal hit led to a knee injury that now has the organization and fan base collectively waiting for MRI results with bated breath.   This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom. MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants warms up before a game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 21, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. () Once Dart left the game, and Jameis Winston took over for the Giants, the offense that surprised the Cowboys last week with its ground-and-pound nature struggled to find its footing against a revitalized Rams defense—one that lacked Myles Garrett, but featured the return of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald at SoFi Stadium. Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford looked more like the reigning MVP in this game compared to Week 1, and with tons of time in the pocket, he dissected the Giants’ defense as the Rams cruised to a 28-6 victory to get its first of the new season. THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW! Now, things hang in the balance as the Giants await Dart’s MRI results, which should come on Tuesday. Dart was clutching at his knee after getting sandwiched between two Rams defenders that beat the Giants’ tackles off the edge, and while airborne, video replay showed his leg shift in an awkward way. Dart was able to walk off on his own power, and ESPN’s Jordan Raanan even reported during the game that he tried to let the coaching staff put him back in the game.

Mainstream CBS News

Flights resume at NYC-area airports following equipment outage, FAA says

Flights into and out of Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports resumed Monday night, following an earlier equipment outage, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The outage had and will continue to have a ripple effect on air traffic throughout the country. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said early Monday evening the telecom lines that had been damaged in an earlier incident on NJ Transit property were repaired. However, delays are expected to persist at the New York City-area airports for some time. As of 11 p. m. on Monday, there were hundreds of flights canceled or delayed at the three New York City-area airports, officials said. Ground stops and delays had been issued at Newark Liberty, JFK and LaGuardia earlier in the day. Included in the stops were flights to the two New York City airports from more than a dozen regions across the U. S. and Canada, including Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Miami, Toronto and Montreal. What we know about the airport outage Duffy said an Amtrak crew accidentally cut into a Verizon fiber line in New Jersey, causing the outage, according to a social media post. CBS News New York reached out to Amtrak, which said the incident happened on NJ Transit property. NJ Transit then released the following statement: "At approximately a. m. today, a construction crew working on the Delco Lead project between New Brunswick and North Brunswick accidentally severed a fiber-optic cable while working at the site. We've been made aware that this cable served as a back-up to a primary circuit system that failed," NJ Transit said. "Preliminary information indicates the crew was operating approximately 10 feet from the utility markings. NJ TRANSIT staff is currently on site working to determine the status of the repairs, while also determining whether it was Verizon or the contractor who made the utility markings at the site. "We will continue to work closely with Verizon and the contractor as the circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated. We will provide additional updates as information becomes available." FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the primary circuit in Philadelphia TRACON failed. The backup line also had a break, he said. Bedford said the cut was somewhere between New Brunswick and Newark. Some flights that were already in the air when the ground stops went into effect were sent to other airports. A spokesperson for Boston's Logan Airport confirmed they were "getting a lot of diversions from impacted airports." Travelers are encouraged to check with their airlines for the latest information about individual flights.

Mainstream Fox News Latest

Trump was a 'caged lion' roaring to return to WHCA Dinner ballroom after shooting, Leavitt says

close Video Leavitt says Trump was ‘caged lion’ after WHCA Dinner shooting, ‘roaring’ to return to ballroom Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed new details into President Donald Trump’s reaction to the WHCA Dinner shooting on ‘Hang Out with Sean Hannity.’ NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed new details on President Donald Trump’s behind-the-scenes response after shots were fired at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in April. The 2026 WHCA Dinner was originally scheduled for April 25 at the Washington Hilton, but was rescheduled and relocated after an alleged gunman breached security. (Mandel NGAN / AFP via ) Minutes after the WHCA Dinner began at the Washington Hilton, a gunman, later identified as Cole Allen of Torrance, Calif., allegedly stormed the hotel while armed with weapons. Trump and Vice President JD Vance were quickly escorted out of the ballroom . Allen, who was quickly apprehended , allegedly wrote in a manifesto that his targets were Trump administration officials except for FBI Director Kash Patel. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SHOOTING: TIMELINE TRACES HOW SUSPECT’S ALLEGED CROSS-COUNTRY PLAN UNFOLDED Guests dived under tables as the gala, meant to celebrate White House correspondents, descended into chaos. Yet, Leavitt said, the president was eager to return to the ballroom and willing to wait hours for the event to resume. Armed Secret Service agents stand on stage during a shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 25, 2026, in Washington, D. According to reports, President Donald Trump and other government officials were evacuated from the venue after gunshots. (Andrew Harnik/) "[Trump] really was asking hard questions of his detail, like, ‘Why can't I go? I will wait all night. I don't care if it's 3 in the morning, get it started,’" Leavitt shared. The former White House spokeswoman said officials even began making preparations to resume the dinner as she described Trump’s impatience to make a public statement immediately after the incident. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER SHOOTING SHARPENS FOCUS ON TRUMP’S BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL "[Trump] wanted to say something and the best way to say it was in the briefing room. And we did," Leavitt said. Trump held a news conference at the White House later that night alongside top administration members, recounting how the shooting unfolded. US President Donald Trump holds a press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, shortly after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via ) DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP After the shooting, the president reignited calls to build a ballroom at the White House to create a space for safe and secure official events.

Politics

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Mainstream NYT Politics

Trump’s U.N. Speech Comes at a Time of Tumult

The president, who has been dogged by the war in Iran and eroding alliances, is also expected to sign a security deal on Greenland and meet with world leaders.

Mainstream Politico Europe

Is this how the Greenland crisis ends?

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Cast Box Pocket Casts The U. N. General Assembly is in full swing over in New York, and the agenda is packed. But perhaps the most pressing item will take place on the sidelines of the gathering, as Denmark, the U. S. and Greenland prepare to sign a security deal. What does the agreement mean for the EU’s big Arctic strategy? And will it be enough to ease months of tension between Donald Trump and the Danish territory? Hosts Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss. Then, we’re heading back to Germany where the fallout from Sunday’s state elections is only getting worse for Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Questions are once again being raised about how long he can hang on. And finally, we have some bad news for Belgium-dwellers who love online shopping. Today we’re recording a special episode in front of an audience at our Brussels Playbook Live event. You can register to watch the entire event online here. Questions? Comments? Let us know on our WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

Mainstream NYT Politics

Why Network TV Stopped Filming the President

President Trump banned three news outlets from covering White House events, saying he didn’t like their coverage. Our chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker, explains how major television networks in the White House press pool responded by refusing to cover President Trump’s public events while the ban goes through the courts.

Mainstream Politico Europe

Open-source AI comes of age

Sponsor-generated content is content produced or curated 's own editorial content. The content
will be identified as 'sponsor-generated content' anywhere it may appear on the website. POLITICO's editorial department has no involvement in the creation of this content.

Business

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Mainstream Bloomberg Markets

Stock at Heart of Turkish Fund Crisis Ejected From Top Indexes

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Mainstream Bloomberg Markets

Thatcher-Era Water Minister Blames Regulation for Thames Crisis

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Mainstream CNBC Top News

All Iranian airlines to be 'shut down' from Wednesday, Bessent tells CNBC

Livestream Menu Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that all Iranian airlines will be shut down from Wednesday. This will be done , he said. Separately, the United Kingdom will reportedly support Saudi Arabia against Iranian backed Houthi rebels. @LCO.1 @CL.1 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks on CNBC's "Squawk Box," Sept. 21, 2026. CNBC All Iranian airlines will be shut down from Sept. 23, according to U. Speaking to CNBC's "Squawk Box," Bessent added, "How do we do that? That if they land, you cannot provide them with fuel. You cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system." The Treasury Secretary said that Washington was pressuring Iran "like never before," saying that the U. S. was putting a stop to Iran's enablers around the world, such as sanctioning banks. Last week, the Treasury announced new sanctions on Russia's state-controlled VTB Bank as part of its effort to economically isolate Iran "enablers." Separately, the G7 group of nations have called for an end to attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels against Yemen and Saudi Arabia on Monday stateside, condemning the "unacceptable continued strikes" . The bloc also called on the Houthis to cease all military actions, attacks against civilian shipping and for Iran to end its support for the rebel group. The Houthis reportedly said they attacked "sensitive" sites in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the weekend, with fire and smoke seen near the city's airport. Houthi rebels also recently seized Yemen's Perim Island on the Red Sea, tightening their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which puts Iran and its proxies on course to exercise control over two critically important oil choke points: that and the Strait of Hormuz. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is an important alternative for oil exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, especially for Saudi Arabia, whose East-West pipeline allows the kingdom to divert some oil flows to be exported from the Red Sea. The G7 statement comes after the U. K. reportedly said it will support Saudi Arabia against Iranian backed Houthi rebels, with the Royal Air Force providing air to air refueling of Saudi planes. Prime Minister Andy Burnham told reporters that the arrangement will be for a matter of weeks, and will be kept under review. The move comes as U. President Donald Trump refused Riyadh's request for help against the rebels on the weekend, reportedly cancelling a planned airstrike.

Mainstream CNBC Top News

Alibaba shares jump as new AI chip, data center buildout plans unveiled

Livestream Menu Alibaba aims to operate more than 20 gigawatts of global data center capacity by 2032. Its new Zhenwu V900 AI chip delivers three times the performance of its predecessor. The push comes as Nvidia, Meta and Huawei ramp up their AI ecosystem bets. BABA SHENZHEN, CHINA - AUGUST 31: An illuminated Alibaba logo is displayed atop an office building on August 31, 2026, in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. Alibaba is accelerating investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, chips and models as the Chinese technology giant seeks to expand its cloud and AI businesses amid intensifying global competition. (Photo /) Cheng Xin | News | Shares of Alibaba jumped around 3% in Hong Kong on Tuesday after the Chinese technology giant unveiled a new artificial intelligence chip and plans to sharply expand its data center footprint, stepping up its bet on the infrastructure powering the AI boom. At its cloud unit's annual flagship Apsara Conference in Hangzhou, Alibaba introduced the Zhenwu V900, its next-generation AI chip that it said delivers three times the performance of its predecessor, the Zhenwu M890 released in May. The company also announced plans to expand Alibaba Cloud's global data center capacity to more than 20 gigawatts by 2032 as part of a broader roadmap spanning chips, cloud infrastructure and AI models.  The announcements underscore Alibaba's growing push into the machinery behind the AI boom, amid a flurry of AI infrastructure investments . Earlier this month, Nvidia outlined plans to work with Australian partners to support up to 2 gigawatts of AI infrastructure in the country by 2027, while Meta in July unveiled plans for its first data center in Canada, a 1-gigawatt facility in Alberta expected to cost about $9 billion and take up to three years to complete.   Alibaba's new Zhenwu AI chip is scheduled for mass production and commercial release in the first quarter of 2027. Its existing Zhenwu chips are already used 650 customers across industries including automotive, finance, energy and manufacturing.  The company also said its next-generation Qwen 4 model is currently in training and outlined plans for future Qwen 4.5 and Qwen 5 model series.  Eddie Wu, CEO of Alibaba Group, said machine thinking still had an "enormous growth runway," comparing today's AI development with the early stages of electrification, adding "AI coding is simply the light bulb of the machine intelligence era."  Alibaba's domestic peer Huawei also unveiled new AI infrastructure last week that it said can scale to as many as one million processors.

Technology

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Mainstream TechCrunch

Morphotonics raises €40M to expand its display tech into data centers

The Netherlands’ ASML is possibly the biggest name in lithography, using its machines to etch patterns onto silicon wafers inside a computer chip factory, known as a “fab.” Fellow Dutch company Morphotonics is smaller and works in a different corner of the same field: nanoimprint lithography, or NIL, a process used to manufacture the displays in AR glasses and other optics. It said it has benefited from ASML’s supply chain and uses many of the same vendors. Morphotonics has spent 12 years developing that technology, largely under the radar. Now, as demand for smart glasses and other optics surges, the company said Tuesday it has raised €40 million to scale up production and push into a new market: optical components for data centers. The round was backed by 3M Ventures, Innovation Industries, BOM, and Invest-NL. The European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund; Ernij Next, a Dutch family office; and the European Investment Bank (EIB) also participated. Morphotonics’ NIL work means the startup creates a “stamp” and applies it to photosensitive materials to create various kinds of displays, from augmented reality glasses to privacy screens for cars. This is useful in creating the waveguide technology used in smart glasses, including the Meta Ray-Ban Display, Even Reality, and Magic Leap. Waveguides are thin pieces of glass or plastic that deflect light along a specific path so that they display an image in front of the wearer’s eyes. Smart glasses are just one application of Morphotonics’ technology, but it’s currently the most in-demand one. This week, China said sales of smart glasses in the country doubled in the first eight months of this year. In June, the market research firm IDC noted that shipments of smart glasses with displays are expected to reach 12.2 million by 2030. As that market grows, manufacturers are looking for machines like Morphotonics’ that can produce those displays at scale. The latest fundraising is part of an extended round that began in 2024, raised in multiple installments. The company has used the money to more than double its headcount to 60 employees, up from roughly 30 in September 2024, when CEO Hugo Da Silva joined. Morphotonics still plans to hire and expects headcount to stabilize around 70 to 75 people. “Typically, display manufacturers would acquire our equipment as part of the supply chain, and we integrate it into the entire manufacturing process. We teach them the process, we provide the chemicals, and they can manufacture that,” Da Silva said.

Mainstream Hacker News

Apple Music to open concert venue in Battersea Power Station

Apple Music to open concert venue in Battersea 47 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Mark SavageMusic correspondent The venue will inhabit the north side of the former power station, with views overlooking the Thames The US tech giant Apple is to open a new, state-of-the-art concert hall in London, situated underneath its European headquarters at Battersea Power Station. The 600-capacity venue will host one-off shows , all of which will be filmed and broadcast live online. Apple Music's vice president, Oliver Schusser, told BBC News the facility, which is expected to open in the coming weeks, contained "more cameras and speakers than any venue of its size, anywhere in the world". It comes as London's live music scene faces huge pressure, with 45 venues closing in the capital last year alone. It's a reflection of a national trend: Between 2020 and 2025, as the cost of living increased and people made post-Covid lifestyle changes, about 400 of Britain's clubs closed. The rate in London is higher than the rest of the country, so the arrival of a deep-pocketed tech company could give independent venue owners cause for concern. But Schusser said its new venture was not trying to steal customers. "We're not trying to be in the live business. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy welcomed the development, calling it "a huge vote of confidence in the UK as a global creative powerhouse" and "a signal of just how strong our creative sectors really are". Details of the opening act are expected to be announced soon. Lady Gaga launched her third album, Artpop, at the iTunes Festival in London's Roundhouse in 2013 BBC News got an early look at the venue as the finishing touches were being made in early September. It's a small, intimate space, with fluted vaults and brick-lined walls that echo the Art Deco architecture of the former power station. But echo itself won't be an issue -even the bricks have been specially selected to absorb reflected sounds. The stage is 38-foot long, and can be configured for both "in the round" and more traditional front-facing shows, while the dressing rooms are kitted out with en-suite showers and dedicated costume storage areas. The facility also contains new studios for Apple Music's radio stations, which will move from their current home in King's Cross, and dedicated rooms for DJ mixes, writing camps and band rehearsals. The whole building is wired for video and audio, meaning artists can walk in, record a podcast, appear on a radio show, and live-stream a gig in the same day.

Mainstream WIRED

1Password Coupon: Score a Free Trial in September 2026

Save StorySave this story Save StorySave this story The Password Managers You Should Use Instead of Your Browser Keep your logins locked down with our favorite password management apps for PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, and web browsers. 1Password? There are also some very nice features in 1Password that you won't find elsewhere. If you frequently travel across national borders, you’ll appreciate Travel Mode. This mode lets you delete any sensitive data from your devices before you travel and then restore it with a click after you’ve crossed a border. This prevents anyone, including law enforcement at international borders, from accessing your complete password vault. In addition to being a password manager, 1Password can act as an authentication app like Google Authenticator, and for added security, it creates a secret key to the encryption key it uses, meaning no one can decrypt your passwords without that key. 1Password also offers tight integration with other mobile apps. Rather than needing to copy and paste passwords from your password manager to other apps (which puts your password on the clipboard at least for a moment), 1Password is integrated with many apps and can autofill. This is more noticeable on iOS, where inter-app communication is more restricted. You can get savings on the company’s suite of products with our 1Password coupons and deals. 1Password Is Still the Gold Standard for Securely Managing Your Passwords 1Password has been around for decades, and it still manages to stay on the cutting edge of keeping your logins safe. a 1Password Password Manager Plan? The price of a 1Password Password manager plan varies by plan, with the annual plan discounted up to 28% off for committing yearly. The plans vary, with an individual plan at $3 per month, a family plan at $5 per month, the Teams starter pack (with up to 10 users a month) at $20 per month, and business at $8 per month per user. If you don’t want to commit to a yearly plan—and score massive savings—those plans are a bit more expensive. Monthly individual plans are $4 per month, family is $7 per month, Teams starter pack (with up to 10 users a month) is $25 per month, and business is $10 per month, per user. 1Password via Jacob Roach Save to wishlistSave to wishlist 1Password Best Password Manager 2026 1Password just may be the best password manager. We named it the “best upgrade,” because of its impressive and comprehensive suite of additional security features, like Secret Key and secure travel mode.

Mainstream WIRED

Meta Quest Promo Codes and Coupons for September 2026

Save StorySave this story Save StorySave this story Courtesy of Meta Save to wishlistSave to wishlist Meta Quest 3 Courtesy of Meta Save to wishlistSave to wishlist Meta Quest 3S Get $50 Off the Meta Quest 3 With Today’s Promos There are two virtual reality headset models to choose from: Quest 3 and Quest 3S. The more budget-friendly of the two is the Meta Quest 3S (8/10, WIRED Review). It has a slightly lower-resolution screen, and the pass-through isn’t as sharp, but most people will be happy with it. It’s currently marked down $50, taking the price as low as $250. If you want to spend those savings accessorizing, some of the extra add-ons are marked down by 20%. I’d recommend picking up the Elite Strap with a battery, which will improve the comfort and make up for the limited battery life. If you're looking for an extra game to go with your new headset, you can also use our links to score $30 in Quest Cash with the purchase of a new Quest 3 or Quest 3S headset. You can use that Quest Cash in the store to buy games or apps, and it’s good for DLC as well. For example, if you want to pick up some extra courses for Walkabout Mini Golf, for example, one of my favorite games. You’ll get the cash for your account once you’ve activated the device—make sure to buy the Quest 3, or use this link for the Quest 3S. As a frequent Quest 3 user, a Quest+ subscription has been well worth the price. You typically get access to at least two free games every month, yours to play as long as you claim them during the month and keep your subscription active. There are a ton of games in the included library too, and regular discounts on DLC and big releases. If you pick up a Quest 3 bundle, you can score three months of Quest+, plus Batman: Arkham Shadow, one of the best single-player immersive story games for the platform. That gives you a chance to try tons of games and titles, and is a great place to start diving into virtual reality head first. The Meta Quest 3S Is the Best Headset for VR Noobs Meta’s most affordable VR headset is cheap, light, and easy to use. Just don’t expect to wear it too long, as the battery life isn't great. 3 Deals and Ray-Ban Glasses From $239 While “refurbished” might be a dirty word to some folks, to me it sounds like savings.

Mainstream New Scientist

Worried about an AI apocalypse? Here’s how to think about the risk of doom

AI probably isn’t coming for you and probably isn’t going to look like this Shutterstock/Roman3dArt What are the chances that artificial intelligence could destroy humanity? Until recently, this wasn’t a question that most people worried about, yet in recent weeks, the discussion has broken through to the mainstream. You may have seen headlines saying there is a greater than 10 per cent chance that AI could kill all humans, but what does that actually mean? The honest answer is: very little. No one can produce a scientifically meaningful probability of an AI apocalypse – what people in AI circles call p(doom) – because it isn’t a scientific question. That is demonstrated p(doom) from 0 to more than 95 per cent – covering the full probability spectrum tells us nothing. Does that mean you shouldn’t worry about AI taking over the world? I can’t answer that question, because it depends on a number we have no reasonable way to derive. What I can do is compare it with other scenarios. Let’s start with an easy one: what is the chance of you losing the lottery? First, as with any question of probability, we have to make some assumptions. I will assume you have actually bought a ticket and that you are playing the UK National Lottery. The odds of winning any prize, from a free play up to the jackpot, are about 1 in 4.9, or 20.4 per cent. That means your odds of losing are 79.6 per cent, which is how the lottery makes money – most players lose. Let’s move to something more serious: what are your odds of dying in a road traffic collision? According to the World Health Organization, slightly more than 1 million people die in road traffic collisions each year, so the odds of this happening to you are around 1 million divided by 8 billion, or roughly 0.01 per cent. That is wrong, of course. The odds for you personally are highly dependent on many factors, including where you live – “more than 90% of road traffic deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries”, says the WHO – but we can use the figure as a ballpark. What matters is that the odds are low enough that we don’t worry about it all the time, but high enough that we take some precautions to mitigate against the possibility, from wearing seatbelts to looking both ways when we cross the road.

Mainstream Science Daily

Stem cells reverse stroke damage and restore movement in mice

Date: September 21, 2026 Source: University of Zurich Summary: Stem cell transplants helped regenerate stroke-damaged brain tissue in mice, producing new neurons and restoring lost motor function. The treatment also improved blood vessels, inflammation, and the blood-brain barrier, raising hopes that a similar approach could eventually help repair the human brain after stroke. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY This image shows a coronal section through the mouse brain after stroke and neural stem cell transplantation. The dashed circle indicates the stroke area. The neurite projections of the transplanted human cells are stained in dark brown. Neurites extend locally into the cortex (CX) but also via the corpus callosum (CC) into the other brain hemisphere. Credit: University of Zurich Stem cell transplants may be able to repair damage caused by stroke, according to researchers at the University of Zurich. In experiments with mice, the treatment helped generate new neurons, restore movement, and trigger several other forms of brain repair, offering a promising step toward regenerative treatments for neurological damage. Stroke is extremely common, affecting about one in four adults over a lifetime. Roughly half of those who experience one are left with lasting problems such as paralysis or difficulty speaking. These disabilities can occur because a stroke deprives parts of the brain of oxygen or causes bleeding that destroys brain cells. Once those cells are lost, the damage has traditionally been considered permanent because there are currently no treatments capable of rebuilding the affected brain tissue. "That's why it is essential to pursue new therapeutic approaches to potential brain regeneration after diseases or accidents," says Christian Tackenberg, the Scientific Head of Division in the Neurodegeneration Group at the University of Zurich (UZH) Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Stem Cells Could Help Rebuild Brain Tissue One possible approach involves neural stem cells, which can develop into multiple types of cells found in the nervous system. A research team led a group headed . The results suggest that the transplanted cells do more than simply replace neurons lost after a stroke. "Our findings show that neural stem cells not only form new neurons, but also induce other regeneration processes," Tackenberg says. Human Stem Cells Become New Neurons The researchers used human neural stem cells capable of producing different types of nervous system cells. These cells were created from induced pluripotent stem cells, which are made . The team then induced permanent strokes in mice. The resulting brain damage was designed to closely resemble important features of stroke in humans.

Mainstream New Scientist

Dramatic gannet dive wins Bird Photographer of the Year competition

Sunball Rocket, the winning photo from Henley Spiers Henley Spiers This dramatic shot of a northern gannet diving for prey bested 24,000 other images to win the overall prize in the Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 competition. The photo was taken off Shetland, UK, as the bird hunted for fish to feed its offspring. When gannets spot fish, they turn to fly into the wind, stretch out their wings as brakes, precisely adjust their position and then dive-bomb into the water with wings tucked at speeds of up to 86 kilometres per hour. They have evolved to handle this dramatic moment, with muscles that lock their vertebrae into position, air sacs in the face and chest to protect from impact, and nostrils that prevent jets of water entering. “The handsome northern gannets lead a dualistic existence,” said Spiers in an announcement about the win. “In the nest, their newborn is carefully nurtured, and a couple’s bond is reinforced . In flight, hunting mode takes over, and piercing yellow eyes, fringed with blue circles, scour the sea for prey.” Spiers had been diving in the chilly, 10°C (50°F) waters of Shetland when he realised the sun was visible from his position under the sea. “Even in summer, sunshine is far from guaranteed in this remote British archipelago, so my creative engine started firing when the sunball was visible from underwater. I envisioned the shot of the gannet diving straight through the middle of it, and dedicated my entire dive to capturing that single frame,” he says. “The gannets were diving all around me, but I refused to be distracted and kept my camera pointed at the sun. After a long wait, a gannet finally dived through in the perfect spot and I met the bird as it careened under the sea. The moment was over in a split second.” A bronze award in the prize’s portrait category was given to David Stowe, who captured this western parotia (Parotia sefilata), below, dancing in the dark rainforest of West Papua, Indonesia, in a dazzling attempt to attract a female. Tiny Dancer, taken (Podargus strigoides), shown below, near Perth in Australia. As rain falls in the forest, this fledgling seems to raise a wing to cover its siblings. Chin won a gold award in the “bird behaviour” category of the prize. Donald Chin’s photo, named I’m Keeping Everyone Dry Donald Chin The below image , if not thousands, of guillemots (Uria aalge) in flight over Hornøya, Norway.

Mainstream NPR Science

What the equinox 'henge' effect tells us about U.S. cities

Equinox brings ‘henge’ effect to cities laid out on a grid The fall equinox, which arrives Tuesday in the U. S., brings shorter days, and chances to witness alignment between Earth and the sun. It's a modern version of ancient observances of a celestial shift. National What the equinox 'henge' effect tells us about U. S. cities September 21, 20263:50 PM ET By  Bill Chappell The sun creates a "Chicagohenge" effect in Chicago, as the sun rises and falls straight down streets such as Kinzie and Madison one or two days each year, as seen here on Sept. 22, 2017. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/ hide caption toggle caption Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/ The fall equinox brings shorter days, and the change of seasons. S. cities, it's also a chance to witness the striking alignment between the sun and Earth, as sunrises and sunsets align with city streets running east and west. It's a modern version of ancient observances of a celestial shift, like sunrise at Stonehenge. "Humans still connect with how special it feels," says Geoff Boeing, who studies city design as the chair of the Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis at the University of Southern California. "The things we built helped us to frame the universe in a certain way," Boeing adds. In this case, that framing is literal. Take Chicago, for instance. "In Chicago's canyon of tall buildings, especially in the downtown area, the sun will be framed , and the setting sun will be framed ," says Michelle Nichols, senior director of public programs at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. "The effect itself is accentuated ." Fans of the phenomenon call it "Chicagohenge," after England's famously solar-aligned Stonehenge. It occurs thanks to Chicago's street design that follows the cardinal points of the compass: north, east, west and south. All you need to see it, Nichols says, is a wide street running east and west. A bit of elevation might also help. The 2026 fall equinox arrives on Sept. 22 in the U. S., with the precise time falling in the evening, according to the U. It means roughly equal hours of day and night, as autumn begins in the Northern Hemisphere and spring starts in the Southern Hemisphere. Other cities that are laid out on a grid, such as Washington, D. C. and Phoenix can also offer good chances to spot a "henge" moment. Photographers, tourists and residents gather downtown to view "Chicagohenge" on March 22, 2025, in Chicago.

Environment

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Mainstream The Guardian Climate

‘Negligent’ to talk about long term risks to Australia without examining cost of climate crisis, experts say

The latest intergenerational report has been criticised for underplaying the impact of global heating. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian View image in fullscreen The latest intergenerational report has been criticised for underplaying the impact of global heating. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian ‘Negligent’ to talk about long term risks to Australia without examining cost of climate crisis, experts say One academic says federal government’s intergenerational report, a snapshot of life in 2066, ignores the economic damage on the horizon Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our email, free app or daily news podcast An Australian government snapshot of life in 40 years has been sharply criticised for underplaying the economic and social damage expected due to the worsening climate crisis. The government’s seventh intergenerational report, which projects out to 2066, finds the effects of global heating four decades from now are “highly uncertain”, pointing to the pace of the global energy transition as a key source of unpredictability. The report finds sea level rise from global heating will have the greatest effects on coastal and low-lying areas, while hotter temperatures could reduce productivity of workers, affect agricultural crop yields and damage tourism. “Over the next 40 years, increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters will pose a significant economic risk,” it finds. the Australia emailThe deputy director of Melbourne Climate Futures at the University of Melbourne, Assoc Prof Ben Neville, said that while the report “connects demographic trends with threats on the horizon, it is negligent in ignoring the economic damage that the changing climate already is and will increasingly bring in the next 40 years”. The report mentions treasury modelling which finds that a disorderly approach to the net zero transition result in a cumulative $2tn hit to the economy by 2050. “As the geopolitics show, we are clearly on this disorderly pathway,” Neville said, adding that – as highlighted – current modelling methods significantly underestimate economic impacts “as they don’t incorporate the recognised complex impacts of climate change”. “Not integrating this perspective when forecasting the next 40 years is a very disappointing miss, illustrating a government that just doesn’t seem to get it on climate change, all while it co-leads the world towards the next global Cop negotiations in Turkey.

Mainstream The Guardian Climate

‘Short on substance’: Albanese urges climate action on world stage – but advocates say Australia failing on fossil fuels

Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the opening ceremony of the Climate Week event in New York. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP View image in fullscreen Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the opening ceremony of the Climate Week event in New York. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP ‘Short on substance’: Albanese urges climate action on world stage – but advocates say Australia failing on fossil fuels Prime minister says ‘climate security is the new national security’ in keynote speech in New York Australia news live blog for latest updates climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air here Australia understands the dangers of global heating and the urgency of climate action as much as any other country, Anthony Albanese has said in a keynote speech shortly before the United Nations general assembly. Climate advocates pointed out Albanese had not addressed the need to cut fossil fuel use – the focus of a meeting of government representatives from more than 50 nations, including Australia, in Colombia five months ago. get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free The Australian Security Leaders Climate Group, which includes former senior military and defence officials, said leadership on security would require the Albanese government to “act on the science … [and] end the contradiction of expanding fossil fuels while claiming climate leadership”. While renewable energy use in Australia has expanded rapidly, the Albanese government has approved 37 new or expanded fossil fuel developments since its election in 2022, largely for export. “Australia cannot credibly claim climate-security leadership overseas while failing to confront the scale of climate risk at home, including continuing to approve new and expanded fossil-fuel developments,” former Australian defence force chief Adm Chris Barrie said. “If the prime minister is going to New York to say climate security is national security, Australians are entitled to ask a very simple question: where is the plan? The government has yet to set out a clear climate-security framework showing how escalating climate risks are being incorporated across defence strategy, foreign policy, regional security, intelligence and national security decision-making.” Albanese said Australia understood the role it must play and the need to back “something positive” and “build a better future for the next generation”. He said his government had set an “ambitious but achievable” target to reduce national emissions by between 62% and 70% below 2005 levels by 2035. It would get there with a mix of renewable power – which now provides about 50% of electricity in the country’s main power grid – backed by gas. skip past promotion after promotion “We are now a leader in home battery installation, with Australians installing 10,000 batteries each week – more than half a million in the past year,” Albanese said.

Mainstream Inside Climate News

Federal Judge Rules Against Trump Administration Over Canceled Clean Energy Grants

A federal judge has declared that the Trump administration unlawfully terminated $7 billion in grant funding for clean energy programs in disadvantaged communities. The Solar for All program, established during the Biden administration as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, provided dozens of grants for states, municipalities, tribes and nonprofits designed to reduce electric bills, […]

Mainstream Inside Climate News

In New York, Life-sized American Bison Puppets Inspire Hope for Restoration Efforts

Standing on Manhattan’s High Line, Jason Baldes watched pedestrians, cyclists, cars and trucks braid their way through New York City. The executive director of the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative in Wyoming was in town for New York’s first-ever buffalo march, a showcase of 40 life-sized bison puppets accompanied by performances to honor the animal’s […]

Weather

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Mainstream BBC Weather London

Today: Light Cloud, Minimum Temperature: 15°C (59°F) Maximum Temperature: 21°C (70°F)

This video can not be played This morning will see any early mist or fog soon clear, leaving partly to mostly cloudy skies for the rest of the day. It will stay largely dry. Tonight, there will be clear spells and variable cloud, along with a chance of isolated showers, particularly during the second half of the night. Tomorrow morning will see an area of showers move in from the west, gradually clearing later. The showers could be locally heavy and thundery. It will turn dry with clear skies after dusk. Outlook for Thursday to Saturday Thursday will be largely dry with sunny spells and some areas of cloud, although thicker cloud will build in from the west during the evening. Friday is expected to be mainly overcast with some patchy rain in the morning, perhaps turning a little more widespread in the afternoon. Saturday looks to become mostly dry with sunny spells, patchy cloud and the odd light shower. Average wind speed 2 Miles per hour, Northerly2Average wind speed 3 Kilometres per hour, Northerly3 Humidity: Humidity: 94%,94% Visibility: Visibility: Very Poor, Very Poor Pressure: Pressure: 1030 millibars, Steady,1030mb, Steady Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° North, 2.283° West)Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° N, 2.283° W) Our favourite Weather Watchers photos nearby Report for Sale, Trafford HlzBlzReported , Borough of Bury LadyMaxReported , Trafford BuzzyBeeGirlReported , Stockport Mike AlienReported

Mainstream BBC Weather London

Wednesday: Light Rain, Minimum Temperature: 7°C (45°F) Maximum Temperature: 17°C (63°F)

This video can not be played This morning will see any early mist or fog soon clear, leaving partly to mostly cloudy skies for the rest of the day. It will stay largely dry. Tonight, there will be clear spells and variable cloud, along with a chance of isolated showers, particularly during the second half of the night. Tomorrow morning will see an area of showers move in from the west, gradually clearing later. The showers could be locally heavy and thundery. It will turn dry with clear skies after dusk. Outlook for Thursday to Saturday Thursday will be largely dry with sunny spells and some areas of cloud, although thicker cloud will build in from the west during the evening. Friday is expected to be mainly overcast with some patchy rain in the morning, perhaps turning a little more widespread in the afternoon. Saturday looks to become mostly dry with sunny spells, patchy cloud and the odd light shower. Average wind speed 2 Miles per hour, Northerly2Average wind speed 3 Kilometres per hour, Northerly3 Humidity: Humidity: 94%,94% Visibility: Visibility: Very Poor, Very Poor Pressure: Pressure: 1030 millibars, Steady,1030mb, Steady Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° North, 2.283° West)Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° N, 2.283° W) Our favourite Weather Watchers photos nearby Report for Sale, Trafford HlzBlzReported , Borough of Bury LadyMaxReported , Trafford BuzzyBeeGirlReported , Stockport Mike AlienReported

Mainstream Severe Weather Europe

Return of the Heat Dome: A Late-Season Heatwave Expands Across Europe into Early October

A massive Heat Dome is making a dramatic return across Europe as September draws to a close, setting the stage for an unseasonably warm spell that will stretch into early October. A powerful upper-level ridge building north from the Mediterranean and North Africa is driving a warm plume northward. Significant 850 hPa temperature anomalies will locally climb 8 to 12 °C above long-term averages and will overspread vast portions of Western, Central and Northern Europe. The primary engine behind this late-autumn thermal surge is a classic atmospheric dipole pattern. A deep, high-amplitude upper-level trough will establish over the North Atlantic and force an intense southerly jet stream plume to advect warm, tropical air deep into continental Europe. Beneath the core of this expansive blocking ridge, strong atmospheric subsidence is compressing and warming the lower atmosphere, suppressing cloud cover and driving afternoon surface temperatures well into the upper 20s and peaking into the low 30s in some areas. This is extremely warm for late September or early October. As the calendar turns to October, this persistent high-pressure block will restrict Atlantic weather systems to the far western portions of the continent. The resulting stable, dry air mass will prolong early-autumn warmth across low-lying agricultural basins and urban valleys, creating exceptional late-season temperature contrasts between Western and Central Europe and the deep troughing over the Atlantic. The following chart shows the mid-range forecast for Paris, France, and Stockholm, Sweden. Both indicate the warm wave will be long-lived, with temperatures significantly above the average. Predictions also hint it will generally expand into early October. The forecast weather model anomaly animation below represents the steady expansion of this upper-level ridge across continental Europe, highlighting where the strongest 850 hPa thermal anomalies will center through the end of September and into the first days of October. Before we dig into the details, let’s look at what a heat dome is and why it matters to understand its dynamics. Atmospheric Dynamics: How High-Pressure Heat Domes Compress and Trap Air   When significant, record-breaking heatwaves occurred in the United States, Canada, and Europe in the past, heat domes played a role. Heat domes are usually the dominant feature of summer weather patterns on both continents. We call this phenomenon a heat dome when extremely high temperatures develop. Here’s how it works and why understanding it on a broader scale is essential. The upper-level ridge pattern, or very warm air mass at higher altitudes, also known as the Upper High (or blocking High), usually forms the heat dome.

Mainstream The Watchers Natural Events

Two killed in firefighting helicopter crash during Dome Fire response in California

Credit: Yosemite National Park Fly Precision, the aviation contractor operating the helicopter, confirmed on September 21 that two members of its flight crew were killed in the crash. The company said representatives were working to notify their families and did not provide further details about the circumstances leading to the accident. The helicopter crashed at approximately PDT ( UTC) on September 20 while supporting firefighting operations in Mariposa County. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said two people were aboard the aircraft at the time. The aircraft was operating in support of the Dome Fire, where helicopters had been conducting water drops, transporting firefighters and delivering supplies into remote sections of the incident area. The cause of the crash has not been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with the FAA participating. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight operations, weather conditions, maintenance records, and other evidence before determining a probable cause. The crash occurred as firefighters continued suppression operations on the Dome Fire, which started on September 15 approximately 0.4 km (0.25 miles) north of Chilnualna Falls in Yosemite National Park. Credit: Yosemite National ParkThe fire has been burning in steep, rugged wilderness terrain north of Wawona, where limited ground access has made helicopters an important part of suppression and logistical operations. The National Park Service (NPS) reported on September 19 that nine helicopters were assigned to the incident, including aircraft conducting water drops and transporting firefighters. Four helispots had been established to support crew insertion and supply deliveries. The fire remained active overnight into September 20, spreading approximately 114.5 ha (283 acres) toward its northern perimeter and continuing into terrain previously burned by the 2017 Empire Fire. Ground crews were constructing and improving handlines in steep terrain while using granite outcrops and sparsely vegetated areas as natural barriers where possible. CAL FIRE listed the Dome Fire at approximately 1 233 ha (3 047 acres) and 15% containment on September 21. No evacuation orders or warnings were in effect as of the NPS September 20 morning update, and officials reported no immediate threats to developed areas or infrastructure. Yosemite National Park remained open, although the Chilnualna Falls Trail and routes from the top of Chilnualna Falls toward Buena Vista and Crescent Lakes were closed because of the fire. Additional fire-related closures extended east of Wawona Road between Wawona and Chinquapin. References: 1 Two dead in helicopter crash at the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park – Wildfire Today – September 21, 2026 2 Dome Fire Update, September 19, 2026 (morning) – National Park Service – September 19, 2026 Reet Kaur I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences.

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