Ex-director who oversaw Grenfell cost-cutting leaves council housing role after backlash 12. October 2026 (11:24) Survivors had criticised ‘outrageous’ appointment of Laura Johnson to £150,000 job with Barnet GroupA housing director who oversaw cost cutting at Grenfell Tower before the fatal fire has left a £150,000-a-year senior council housing role after a backlash from bereaved families and survivors.Laura Johnson was the director of housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) at the time of the 2017 Grenfell fire which killed 72 people;p, and was criticised in the subsequent inquiry for her role in budget-cutting decisions prior to the blaze. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ABC reporter could face disciplinary action over opinion piece, journalists’ union says 12. October 2026 (09:29) Opinion piece by head of union Michael Slezak sparks disagreement with new ABC director of news, Simon RobinsonSign up for Guardian Australia’s free weekly media newsletter hereABC management has refused to rule out disciplinary action against a journalist and union office-holder for writing an opinion piece for the Australian Financial Review, according to the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA).The award-winning ABC climate journalist, Michael Slezak, had an article published last week in Nine’s financial newspaper in his capacity as federal president of MEAA. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘What planet is she on?’: the Seekers take aim at CPAC over use of I am Australian 12. October 2026 (09:27) The carnival is over for use of Australian band’s song they say was played without permission at conservative conferenceGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastA member of legendary Australian band the Seekers has taken aim at a conference featuring Pauline Hanson for using a classic song, confirming no permission had been granted.Bruce Woodley said the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) featured I Am Australian without approval, while the song’s co-author revealed Hanson had been previously threatened with legal action over its potential use.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine says Russia violated Trump’s ‘energy ceasefire’ – Europe live 12. October 2026 (09:04) Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv power plant among the facilities hit after US president claims ‘energy ceasefire’, while Kremlin yet to confirm any dealTrump announces partial ceasefire in Ukraine war as Zelenskyy says deal is ‘news to me’The fast-moving row between Washington and Kyiv began on Friday when Trump announced he was lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports. He said the move would reduce global and domestic fuel prices before next month’s US midterm elections.A furious Zelenskyy called the decision “weak” and said it would generate “billions” in extra revenue for Putin, enabling him to wage war “even more intensely”. An equally irate Trump said Zelenskyy should “damn well stop” hitting Russian refineries. Ukraine needed a “new leader”, he said on Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Roman fort found in Wales could prove myth of emperor’s camp is real 12. October 2026 (09:00) Exclusive: Finds suggest account in medieval folklore of a camp near Frenni Fawr hill was rooted in realityMagnus Maximus, the Roman emperor who ruled Britain in the fourth century, led his troops against the Picts and Scots, but a theory that he also established a military camp near Frenni Fawr hill in Wales has so far been based on folklore.Now fourth-century coins, among other finds at a newly identified Roman fort in Pembrokeshire, suggest the medieval tale was rooted in reality, to the excitement of archaeologists. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Teens at Sydney private religious school made to share beds with teachers, inquiry hears 12. October 2026 (08:50) Former student says nothing untoward happened to her during stays but tells NSW parliamentary inquiry culture of Redeemer Baptist School left much to ‘untangle’ as an adultGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTeens at a private religious school were made to share beds with teachers, while its principal once wandered through a common area naked, former students claim.A NSW parliamentary inquiry on Monday was told of the disturbing allegations from two former students of western Sydney’s Redeemer Baptist School. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Doctor warned Elizabeth Struhs would not be safe at home years before religious sect killed her by withdrawing medicine 12. October 2026 (08:34) Coronial inquest begins into death of eight-year-old after 14 members of Toowoomba sect the Saints, including her parents, were found guilty of her manslaughterGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA medical specialist at the Queensland Children’s hospital warned that Elizabeth Struhs would not be safe at home with her mother years before her parents allowed her to die by withdrawing lifesaving medicine, a coronial inquest has heard.Elizabeth, a type 1 diabetic, died at the age of eight from diabetic ketoacidosis on 7 January 2022, at her family home in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, after her parents and other members of a religious sect withdrew the insulin she needed to survive and sat around singing and praying while she slowly died over the course of several days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mystery of 1950s wedding photo album found dumped in Wakefield solved 12. October 2026 (08:20) Online appeal and detective work by local historian help to return keepsake to couple’s son after it had been stolenWhen Andrew Bedford discovered an old wedding album dumped outside his city centre cafe in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, he considered chucking it into a nearby wheelie bin.But when he opened the album, the vintage photographs of the happy couple on their wedding day in 1957 seemed too precious to throw away. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK van drivers face extra £2.5bn in diesel costs this year, figures show 12. October 2026 (08:00) Calls for planned fuel duty rise to be scrapped as analysis finds average fuel bill could hit £1,965, up from £1,294Millions of British van drivers face a combined £2.5bn cost to cover the rising price of diesel this year, according to figures, fuelling calls for the government to scrap its planned fuel duty rise.The owners of diesel vans and pickups can expect to collectively spend almost £8.5bn at the pump this year, according to analysis for the Guardian, after diesel prices climbed to record highs due to a global fuel shortage caused by disruption to refineries in the Middle East and Russia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Drivers forced to use parking apps can pay up to 40% more 12. October 2026 (08:00) Council car parks have switched away from ticket machines to cut costs, leading to extra fees for usersDrivers are unwittingly paying up to 40% more to park as more councils switch to app-only payments and force customers to pick up the tab.Many councils across England have removed pay and display machines and replaced them with app payments, including a number in London. Most local authorities encourage drivers to pay by app to beat queues, while apps are often the only way to pay when ticket machines are out of order. However, many car park signs fail to mention that app payments may incur an additional service fee. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
