Labour Send changes at risk as parents rush to secure support, say experts 07. October 2026 (23:00) Overhaul of special education in England could unravel, thinktank finds, because of ‘use it before you lose it’ dynamicLabour’s flagship changes to special education in England are at risk of unravelling because parents are rushing to secure support for their children before the system changes, new analysis has found.The Institute for Government (IfG) thinktank says the government’s plans to largely replace education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in England with more widespread support in mainstream schools may be too optimistic and take longer to complete than its 2030 timeline. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
María del Carmen Abascal, symbol of Spain’s housing protests, dies aged 87 07. October 2026 (22:57) Maricarmen’s eviction from Madrid apartment after over seven decades set off wave of protests against housing crisis‘Now is the moment’: housing activists at Madrid encampment pin wary hopes on Spain’s early electionMaría del Carmen Abascal, the 87-year-old whose eviction set off a nationwide wave of protests against Spain’s housing crisis, has died.News of her death came two weeks after Maricarmen, as she had come to be known across Spain, was evicted from the Madrid apartment where she had lived for more than seven decades. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
WHO says it does not have ‘full picture’ from Russia following suspected plague death 07. October 2026 (22:46) ‘Transparent information sharing’ from Moscow is required to conduct full risk assessment, UN agency saysThe World Health Organization has said it does not have the “full picture” from Russia following the suspected death from plague last week of a 28-year-old laboratory worker in Siberia.Darya Shipilova died two days after falling ill with cold-like symptoms. She was an employee at the anti-plague research institute in the eastern city of Irkutsk, with some reports suggesting she was infected after a workplace accident. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump backs away from top aides who reportedly advised pro-Russia government 07. October 2026 (22:31) President floats firing Chris LaCivita and James Blair over any ‘conflict’ after reports of work in Republika SrpskaDonald Trump distanced himself from two top advisers on Wednesday, claiming he did not have “any idea who else they work for”, after it was reported they spent the weekend assisting a pro-Russia government in the Balkans.On Truth Social, Trump wrote that Chris LaCivita, the co-manager of his 2024 presidential campaign, and James Blair, a campaign adviser and White House deputy chief of staff on leave of absence, “are outside consultants” and “do not work for me other than as outside consultants”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FBI says it thwarted terrorist attack in Minnesota by an 18-year-old it supplied with an AK-47 07. October 2026 (22:27) Authorities say they arrested an 18-year-old who was planning a shooting attack at the Mall of AmericaFBI officials stopped a potential terrorist attack on the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, authorities announced Wednesday. An 18-year-old was arrested on one count of obtaining a firearm to carry out an act of terrorism.Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud had been investigated over the last nearly two years by the FBI. He was arrested Tuesday in a public park after he paid $600 to an undercover FBI employee posing as a member of the Islamic State for an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition, according to the criminal complaint. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Arizona congressional candidate says she was raped while trying to repair campaign sign 07. October 2026 (22:21) Bernadette Greene-Placentia says she is sharing her story in order to fight for victims of sexual assault This article contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault.A congressional candidate in Arizona says she was attacked and raped in August while trying to repair one of her damaged campaign signs.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Houthi forces appear to make slow advance in south-west Yemen 07. October 2026 (21:45) Group’s fighters hit key airport in Aden with explosive moments before plane from Cairo was due to landHouthi forces appeared to be making slow advances on Wednesday in south-west Yemen, approaching the city of Taiz and firing a missile and an explosive towards the airport in Aden, the chief international hub of the Saudi-backed government.The explosive hit the key airport moments before a plane was due to land. The British ambassador to Yemen, Abda Sharif, said the attack could have endangered thousands of people. It forced the flight – from Cairo – to be diverted to Jeddah and led to a review about the safety of flights in Aden. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU drops sponsorship of disinformation conference at Trump officials’ request 07. October 2026 (21:38) Lithuania and Canada were also pressured to withdraw, and days before #Disinfo2026, logos were wiped off website The Trump administration pressured multiple countries to withdraw their sponsorship of a leading European conference on disinformation, with Canada, Lithuania and the EU’s diplomatic service subsequently agreeing to do so, the Guardian understands.The conference, #Disinfo2026, taking place Wednesday and Thursday, is the annual meetup of Europe’s counter-disinformation community and has drawn hundreds of researchers, journalists, technologists and policymakers to a hotel in Vilnius, Lithuania. It is run by an independent Brussels non-profit, EU Disinfo Lab. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two men serving indefinite jail sentences freed after two decades 07. October 2026 (21:16) Convicted pair, plus third man released in August, have IPPs replaced after serving much longer than minimum termsTwo men jailed with indefinite sentences for public protection (IPPs) have been freed after each serving about two decades in custody despite receiving minimum terms of two years or less.A high court judge and a magistrate hearing an appeal after a review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) told Luke Ings and Liam Bennett they would be freed, and also replaced an indeterminate sentence given to a third man, James Ward. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tories accused of prioritising rich voters as Badenoch lays out inheritance tax cut plan 07. October 2026 (19:58) Party hopes to win over affluent middle-class voters as leader rejects calls to ‘unite the right’ in conference speechKemi Badenoch has announced that the Conservatives would abolish inheritance tax on family homes if elected, prompting criticism that she is prioritising cutting taxes for the rich.The Tory leader also said couples would be able to leave an additional tax-free sum of £1m to their families, as the party attempts to shore up its traditional base in southern England. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
