Alex Price, the mother of a three-year-old autistic and non-verbal girl named Ayda, is raising awareness about autism elopement after her daughter escaped their Merseyside home in April 2024 and was found face-down in a lake. Ayda was resuscitated by paramedics, spent two days in a coma, and has since made a full recovery. Price highlights the lack of danger awareness in many autistic children and urges the public to avoid making cruel judgements against caregivers when elopement incidents occur.
Summary headline: Mother issues warning about autism elopement after toddler almost drowns in lake
Ian Price has created a companion-finding app called Alongside for people in Guernsey, inspired by his 76-year-old mother Marlene's struggles with loneliness following the death of her partner. Aimed primarily at over-55s or those experiencing isolation such as through mid-life divorces, the app seeks to bridge the gap for individuals who may feel uncomfortable attending large organised events. Safety features include ID checks, public meeting arrangements, reporting tools, and the option for relatives to oversee accounts.
Summary headline: Guernsey man develops friend-finding app after mother's experience with loneliness
Bärbel Bas hat überraschend ihren Rücktritt als Bundesarbeitsministerin und SPD-Co-Vorsitzende bekannt gegeben. Sie begründete diesen Schritt mit dem Tod ihrer Stieftochter und dem Bedürfnis nach Trauerbewältigung sowie mit anhaltenden öffentlichen Angriffen, teilweise aus den Reihen des Koalitionspartners. Sie behält jedoch ihr Bundestagsmandat.
A new £19.5 million energy centre has been launched on Wolverhampton's Heath Town estate to provide reliable heating and lower energy costs for over 1,000 residents. Funded in part by a £7.5 million government grant and the council's Housing Revenue Account, the facility replaces ageing infrastructure with 48 roof-mounted evaporators, air source heat pumps, and hydrogen-ready boilers.
Summary headline: New £19.5m energy centre launched in Wolverhampton to cut heating costs
Bereaved families in Swindon have gathered for a special memorial event to pay tribute to relatives lost to mesothelioma and highlight the human cost of the town's industrial railway heritage. Liz Emms, whose husband Melvin died within three months of being diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer in 2024, shared her experience of how quickly the disease progressed decades after his exposure as an apprentice. Local politicians, support charities, and legal experts attended the event at Queen's Park to raise awareness, release white doves, and offer guidance on support services, benefits, and compensation.
Summary headline: Families in Swindon unite to remember loved ones lost to asbestos-related diseases
Under new government plans, holidaymakers in the New Forest could face an optional tourist tax on overnight accommodation. The proposed levy would be charged as a percentage of overnight stays across hotels, B&Bs, and short-term lets, though local businesses and MPs have expressed strong opposition due to cost of living concerns, while conservationists argue it could help protect the national park if funds are reinvested locally.
Summary headline: New Forest tourist tax: How a proposed visitor levy could work for holidaymakers and businesses
Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Older People, Siobhan Casey, has warned that Stormont leaders are failing to plan for a rapidly ageing society. According to a new report, official projections indicate that the number of people aged over 65 will overtake the number of children by 2027, with the over-65 population expected to increase by almost 45% over the next 25 years. Casey criticised the Executive's approach as piecemeal and noted that the Programme for Government contains only a single reference to an ageing population.
Summary headline: Stormont failing to plan for rapidly ageing population, warns commissioner
Data obtained via a Freedom of Information request reveals that Essex County Council's budget for transporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has risen by nearly 100%, increasing from £22.37m in 2021-22 to £42.73m for 2025-26. The number of children receiving this transport support grew from 6,519 in April 2022 to 13,939 by April. Local councillors and officials have discussed national challenges, rising demand for education, health and care plans, and the need for more local special educational provision to address spiralling travel costs.
Summary headline: Essex County Council SEND school transport budget doubles over five years
Planning applications have been submitted to turn a section of the ground floor of the Saint Lawrence Pub in Jersey into a one-bedroom self-catered tourist accommodation. According to Socrates Architects, the proposal aims to secure the future of the operating pub rather than replace it, providing a sustainable way to support the local business amid concerns over disappearing traditional pubs in the area.
Summary headline: Plans submitted to convert part of Saint Lawrence pub in Jersey into a holiday let
ArtHouse Jersey is bringing Luke Jerram's 20ft illuminated Moon installation to the St Helier Methodist Centre from 15 to 29 November as part of the Butterfield Public Art Series. The free exhibition features NASA imagery and a soundscape, following the successful display of the artist's Floating Earth installation.
Summary headline: Luke Jerram's Museum of the Moon artwork to be displayed in Jersey
York Central MP Rachael Maskell has urged authorities to implement urgent safety improvements along the River Ouse, including better lighting and increased CCTV, following recent emergency closures on Ouse Bridge. Maskell criticised a perceived "cycle of inertia" among agencies in addressing long-standing safety concerns along the waterway.
Summary headline: York MP Rachael Maskell calls for urgent River Ouse safety measures following bridge emergencies
US-Präsident Donald Trumps angekündigte Einfuhr von russischem Diesel sorgt für parteiübergreifende Kritik im US-Kongress. Sieben demokratische und republikanische Senatoren erklärten den Deal in einem gemeinsamen Schreiben für rechtswidrig, da ein Gesetz aus dem Jahr 2022 die Einfuhr russischer Energieträger untersagt, um Russlands Krieg gegen die Ukraine nicht zu finanzieren.
Summary headline: US-Senatoren kritisieren Trumps geplante Diesel-Importe aus Russland als rechtswidrig
Scientists at the University of Southampton are asking thousands of participants across the UK to take part in the Blue Poo Test. The study involves tracking how long it takes for blue-coloured muffins to digest, followed by online brain games, to understand how gut transit speed correlates with cognitive performance across different age groups and demographics.
Summary headline: University of Southampton researchers use the Blue Poo Test to study the gut-brain connection
Oxford Direct Services (ODS) has reported that dangerous driving, including motorists mounting pavements and squeezing past trucks on narrow roads, is endangering the safety of waste collection crews in Oxford. ODS recorded 15 such incidents between March 2025 and August 2026, leading to police reports, fines, and driving bans. In response, the firm has launched the Driving Recklessly on Pavements (DROP) campaign, featuring safety messages on collection vehicles and staff uniforms to encourage motorists to be more patient.
Summary headline: Oxford bin crew safety threatened by drivers mounting pavements
Rachel Shanahan, a lead nurse for discharge and complexity at Birmingham Children's Hospital with over 20 years of service, has won the Outstanding Nurse Award at the 2026 WellChild Awards. During the ceremony in London, she met the charity's patron, Prince Harry, in recognition of her dedication to supporting children with complex medical needs and helping their families manage care beyond the hospital.
Summary headline: Birmingham children's nurse Rachel Shanahan wins national WellChild Award and meets Prince Harry
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has submitted plans to South Norfolk District Council to install temporary modular A&E units in a car park. The temporary building, intended to be in place for one year, will allow critical treatment to continue while the existing emergency department undergoes refurbishment.
Summary headline: Temporary A&E units planned for Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital car park
The East Midlands Special Operations Unit (Emsou) has decided not to renew its contract for Palantir's AI-powered software following a two-year trial. The regional policing unit stated it opted not to fund a new contract after its Home Office funding concluded, and has asked Palantir to delete all data and sever links with force systems. Privacy campaigners and human rights groups have previously raised concerns regarding Palantir's technology, while the firm defended its record across various public services.
Summary headline: Regional policing unit drops Palantir AI technology after trial
Residents near the proposed 2,400-acre West Oxfordshire Energy Plant (WOEP) have expressed shock, anger, and anxiety over the scale of the solar farm development. Developer Low Carbon plans to produce 500MW of electricity, with a public consultation expected next year and a planning application targeted for late 2027. Because the project exceeds 100MW, the final decision will rest with the energy secretary and Planning Inspectorate rather than through local planning routes.
Summary headline: Locals concerned over proposed West Oxfordshire Energy Plant solar farm
Regenerating the former Colman's mustard factory site, known as Carrow Works, in Norwich could transform the area and uncover hidden medieval and industrial history. Plans for the first phase include building 300 homes as part of a wider east Norwich regeneration scheme delivering up to 3,500 homes. While the project aims to protect listed buildings and create new walking and cycling routes, increased traffic remains a key concern for local residents.
