Lack of specialist staff hinders support for Send children, teacher survey finds 29. March 2026 (01:01) National Education Union poll finds 89% feel class sizes in England are too big to be ‘properly inclusive’Oversized classes and inadequate staffing levels are hindering teachers’ capacity to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), according to a large survey of state school teachers in England.Nine out of 10 (89%) of the 10,000 teachers who took part in the poll by the National Education Union (NEU), before its annual conference in Brighton which starts on Monday, said class sizes were too big to be “properly inclusive”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
JD Vance leads CPAC poll for next Republican presidential candidate 29. March 2026 (00:25) Vice-president received about 53% of votes at Conservative Political Action Conference held in Texas this yearOne of the biggest conservative gatherings in the US ran a poll showing vice-president JD Vance is the top choice this year to be the next Republican presidential candidate.The poll from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), released on Saturday, was taken during this year’s gathering. About 53% of the more than 1,600 attendees who voted in the poll chose Vance, Reuters reports. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, came in second with 35%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
D-day for Moira Deeming as she faces preselection challenge for Victorian Liberal seat 29. March 2026 (00:00) Party members to determine MP’s political future after Dinesh Gourisetty also nominated for upper house seatGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMoira Deeming’s political future in the Victorian Liberals is about to be decided behind closed doors in the final preselection battle for the party’s upper house seats on Sunday.Liberal members were due to gather at party headquarters for the western metropolitan region convention, where Deeming faces a serious challenge from Dinesh Gourisetty, a prominent figure in Melbourne’s fast-growing Indian community. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Coroner to investigate after Northern Territory records two deaths in custody in a week 28. March 2026 (23:04) A 26-year old man died in a cell in Darwin on Saturday morning, and a 25 year-old man died in a police car on TuesdayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA 26-year-old man died at Darwin correctional centre on Saturday, Northern Territory police said.It was the territory’s second reported death in custody in just a matter of days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Badenoch criticised for ‘peddling dangerous fantasy’ about North Sea oil drilling 28. March 2026 (23:00) Conservative leader expected to call for government to lift suspension on licences in drive to reduce energy pricesKemi Badenoch is “peddling a dangerous fantasy” about North Sea energy in her attempt to reverse a ban on new oil and gas licences, a leading campaign group has said.The Conservative leader is expected to call on the government to lift its suspension of the licences as part of a drive to reduce energy prices, as the party launches a new campaign aimed at boosting the fossil fuel sector. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
James Tolkan, known for his roles in Top Gun and Back to the Future, dies aged 94 28. March 2026 (22:50) Tolkan, known for portraying authoritarian figures, died ‘peacefully’ in Lake Placid, New York, his agent saidJames Tolkan, known for his roles as an authoritarian figure in the Back to the Future and Top Gun films, has died. He was 94.Tolkan died Thursday in Lake Placid, New York, where he lived, his booking agent, John Alcantar, said Saturday. A brief obituary published on the Back to the Future website said Tolkan died “peacefully”, but no cause of death was given. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sugar high(st): more than twelve tons of KitKat’s ‘new chocolate range’ stolen in Italy 28. March 2026 (21:38) Thieves made a break for 413,793 units of the company’s new F1 line bars which could cause shortage before EasterA large shipment of KitKat candy bars was stolen while in transit to distributors, a major candy crime right before the Easter holiday that could cause shortages for customers.The truck carrying 413,793 units of a “new chocolate range”, about 12 tons of chocolate bars, was pilfered while driving through Europe on 26 March, Agence France-Presse reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Murder inquiry launched after death of young woman in Leeds 28. March 2026 (19:49) Four people arrested as police appeal for help in identifying woman found unconscious on streetPolice in Leeds have launched a murder investigation after a young woman died after being found unconscious on the street.Officers were called at 5.55am on Saturday to Kennerleigh Avenue in Austhorpe where they found the woman with serious injuries. She was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Media association condemns ‘violent assault’ on CNN crew by Israeli soldiers 28. March 2026 (19:18) CNN team detained while reporting on aftermath of attack by settlers in West Bank, Foreign Press Association saysMiddle East crisis – live updatesAn international media association has condemned what it described as a “violent assault” by Israeli soldiers who detained a CNN crew in the occupied West Bank this week.A CNN team was reporting on the aftermath of an assault by Israeli settlers and the establishment of an illegal outpost near the Palestinian village of Tayasir on Thursday when it was detained by Israeli soldiers, the Foreign Press Association said on Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Victorians get free public transport for a month in bid to ease surge in fuel demand 28. March 2026 (19:00) Allan government says measure is temporary as energy shock from Middle East conflict sees petrol prices soarGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPublic transport will be free in Victoria for a month, in an effort to encourage people to switch from driving and alleviate the surge in demand for fuel.The Allan government announced on Sunday that it would make all metro and regional V/Line trams, trains and buses free from 31 March until the end of April. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
