English councils warn of ‘catastrophic’ Send debts forecast to hit £10bn by 2028 13. October 2026 (01:01) Surge in EHCP applications poses risk to public finances and may lead to deteriorating levels of supportCouncils are warning of potentially “catastrophic” debts, which are forecast to reach a record £10bn over the next 18 months, as a result of rapid growth in demand for special educational needs and disability (Send) support in English schools.Although the government recently cleared more than £5bn in historic council Send debts, a surge in requests has led to authorities predicting they will have re-accrued that debt figure by April, and doubled it by 2028. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queensland prison where children self-harm to get transferred ‘more suitable’ than police watch-houses: ombudsman 13. October 2026 (01:00) Inmate advocacy group attacks watchdog’s ‘gutless retreat’ on Wacol youth remand centreFollow our Australia politics live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland ombudsman has backed away from calls to close a youth prison so “unsuitable” for children that some are self-harming in an attempt to get transferred, amid concerns that the Crisafulli government’s hardline bail laws could create a new crowding crisis in police watch houses.The ombudsman, Anthony Reilly, published an inspection report last week that raised serious new concerns about the suitability of the Wacol youth remand centre to hold children for extended periods, including the fact that young people were being held in conditions where there is “a lack of space, privacy and natural light”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bolivia investigates ex-president Evo Morales over alleged ties to 2009 killings 12. October 2026 (23:40) Leftist former leader accused of involvement in shooting of three Europeans in Santa Cruz and torture of two othersBolivia’s attorney general has announced an investigation into leftist former president Evo Morales, alleging his involvement in the murder and torture of European citizens in 2009.Seventeen years ago, police raided a hotel in the city of Santa Cruz, shooting dead Eduardo Rózsa Flores, a Bolivian-Croatian, Michael Dwyer, an Irishman, and Árpád Magyarosi, a Hungarian-Romanian. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia politics live: PM urged to call Trump about execution livestream; Robert Pether speaks after Iraq prison release 12. October 2026 (23:35) Follow the day’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRobert Pether has stressed his innocence and recalled his brush with death in his first comments since the Australian engineer departed Iraq after serving more than five years in jail.Pether and his Egyptian colleague Khalid Radwan were detained in Baghdad in 2021 after flying in for a meeting with bank officials to resolve a dispute with his engineering firm, CME Consulting.We were innocent when we were taken on the 7th of April 2021, and we remain innocent today.I was released from prison hours away from death. My body was shutting down after months of critical illness and excruciating pain, but I remained trapped in Iraq.She is an incredible person, someone that I have so much respect for, and being able to come home was incredible. Just the emotion that it brings is, you can’t describe it. I mean, it’s been years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
RJ Mitte, actor best known for Breaking Bad role, dies aged 34 12. October 2026 (23:10) Mitte, who played Walter White Jr on acclaimed show, had cerebral palsy and advocated for disability representationThe Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte died on Monday aged 34, his representatives confirmed.Mitte died in Brownsville, Texas. No cause of death was given. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Archbishop of US military condemns Pentagon plans to livestream execution 12. October 2026 (22:33) Timothy Broglio says Catholics on army firing squad should ask to be excused since it clashes with church teachingsThe archbishop who oversees the spiritual care of Catholics serving in the US military condemned the Pentagon’s proposed plans to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan later this year.Archbishop Timothy Broglio also stipulated in a Monday statement that any Catholic soldier assigned to the US army firing squad should ask to be excused from that duty, which he described as contrary to the teachings of the church. He joins other Catholic leaders in speaking out against the death penalty and the live stream plans. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Selma Blair arrested at JFK after she allegedly attacked flight attendants 12. October 2026 (22:03) Several news outlets reported Blair allegedly punched a flight attendant, bit another and tried to open plane doorThe actor Selma Blair was arrested on Sunday at John F Kennedy (JFK) airport in New York on allegations that she attacked flight attendants on a Delta Air Lines flight, according to officials.Blair’s arrest happened at about 11pm, after Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials said they responded to a call “about a physically abusive passenger aboard Delta Air Lines flight 938 which was parked at the gate” at JFK after arriving from Los Angeles (LAX). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
BBC to stop recording The Archers in Birmingham for first time in its 75-year history 12. October 2026 (21:56) Plans for a new theatre for world’s longest-running soap in Digbeth scrapped as part of cost-cutting measuresThe BBC is set to stop recording The Archers in Birmingham for the first time in the show’s 75-year history, after scrapping plans for a radio drama theatre that was to be the new home of the world’s longest-running soap opera.A pledge to move recordings to the so-called Tea Factory, the BBC’s new Birmingham hub in Digbeth, has become the latest victim of the corporation’s £500m cuts plan. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham promises ‘serious dialogue’ over UK’s relationship with EU 12. October 2026 (21:15) PM hails next month’s ‘reset’ summit as first step to closer ties, but tensions over trade may prove problematicAndy Burnham has promised a “serious dialogue” over the UK’s future place in Europe, saying the existing relationship is “not good enough” as he framed next month’s Brussels summit as a possible first step to EU membership.The prime minister said Britain must take a “clear-eyed rational look” at its long-term relationship with the bloc to boost economic growth and control immigration, which needed to go beyond Labour’s existing red lines. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mahmood orders urgent security review after killing of Ann Widdecombe 12. October 2026 (20:20) Home secretary also expands police support ‘with immediate effect’ for high-profile public figures not currently MPsSecurity arrangements for high-profile public figures including politicians and members of the royal family are to be urgently reviewed after the killing of Ann Widdecombe, the home secretary has said.Shabana Mahmood said former MPs, party leaders who are not MPs, peers, former members of devolved parliaments and party spokespeople will also be offered police support. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
