Healey should ‘stay the course’ and repair UK finances, says top IMF economist 13. October 2026 (08:49) Fund upgrades UK’s GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 1.3%, but says it is likely to ‘edge down’ next year IMF warns global economy ‘could soon test the limits of resilience’John Healey should “stay the course” and continue repairing the UK’s public finances, the International Monetary Fund’s top economist has said, after the fund lifted its growth forecast for Britain.Little more than a fortnight before Healey’s first budget, Silvana Tenreyro, the IMF’s economic counsellor, said the UK “stands out” among G7 countries in having a plan to narrow its deficit. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Coastal erosion in England has claimed at least 183 homes in past 16 years 13. October 2026 (08:00) Exclusive: Homes demolished along east coast after being deemed too vulnerable to live in, figures revealSeaside communities along the east coast of England have lost at least 183 homes to coastal erosion and landslides over the past 16 years, figures obtained by the Guardian reveal.After councils judged properties across the Yorkshire and East Anglian coasts too vulnerable to remain safely occupied, the homes were proactively demolished. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Same-sex couple sue over Slovakia’s refusal to register marriage 13. October 2026 (08:00) Case of couple who wed legally in Austria exposes clash between EU court ruling and national restrictionsA same-sex couple are suing authorities in Slovakia for refusing to register their Austrian marriage, testing whether a landmark EU court ruling can turn recognition abroad into legal security at home.Their fight exposes a clash between European obligations and national restrictions – and what that means for LGBTQ+ people living under Robert Fico’s populist-nationalist government. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Card surcharge ban used as ‘cover’ for larger price increases by Australian businesses, experts say 13. October 2026 (07:13) ‘Round-up’ pricing in items such as coffee suggests increases are exceeding the typical 1.5% surcharge feeFollow our Australia politics live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBusinesses are using the recent ban on credit card surcharges as “cover” to pass along much larger price increases to customers, experts say, as cafes and restaurants struggle to cope with climbing costs and rising interest rates.Credit card surcharges, typically worth about 1.5% of the transaction, were banned from 1 October, as part of a Reserve Bank-led reform aimed at improving transparency for customers and, ultimately, lowering bank fees. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel kill five people on Mexico’s Pacific coast 13. October 2026 (06:29) Security forces use helicopters to rescue dozens of people as the two storms damage infrastructure and cause flash floodingAt least five people have died after Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel pummelled Mexico’s Pacific coast, causing flooding that downed trees and electricity poles, blocked roads and inundated homes.Simon claimed the life of a 71-year-old man who died when a wall collapsed in Chilpancingo in the southern state of Guerrero, governor Evelyn Salgado said at a press conference. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bedbug infestation forces Qantas to ground plane in Rome 13. October 2026 (06:21) Aircraft taken out of operation after flight from Perth after the discovery of parasitic insects on board Qantas has been forced to ground a plane in Rome after bedbugs were discovered on the aircraft on its way from Perth.The parasitic insects were found in the front of the economy section of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as it made its way from Perth to Rome for the QF5 flight on 9 October, a source with knowledge of the incident confirmed on Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Universal appeal’: Celebrity Traitors producer reveals secrets to its success 13. October 2026 (06:00) Over 10m people have tuned in for episodes of new season of BBC hit as mass TV audiences become increasingly rareFor the celebrities chosen as traitors in the BBC’s juggernaut reality show, the task is simple – kill off fellow contestants without getting caught.Yet with the new series of Celebrity Traitors once again attracting huge audiences, its UK producers are delighting in one of the show’s more wholesome qualities – its popularity is staving off the death of television’s ability to unite the nation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Women ‘more likely to be told autoimmune conditions are psychological’ 13. October 2026 (06:00) Cambridge University study suggests stark gender divide in misdiagnosis, with women also waiting longer for treatmentWomen with autoimmune conditions are up to 74% more likely than men to be told their symptoms are psychological or psychosomatic, and face much longer waits for a diagnosis and treatment, a study suggests.Hundreds of millions of people – about one in 10 globally – are affected by autoimmune conditions, which can cause a range of health issues including fatigue, muscle pain and rashes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Super app’ aimed at UK students uses servers owned by Chinese firm on US blacklist 13. October 2026 (06:00) ZyMix platform has contract with Tencent, which US alleges has links to People’s Liberation ArmyA new messaging and payment “super app” marketed at British students uses servers owned by a Chinese company that has been put on a US military blacklist for its alleged affiliation to the People’s Liberation Army.ZyMix, which is being pushed on university campuses as the UK’s first super app designed “for gen Z”, combining chat, payments and community features, has a contract with a German-based subsidiary of Tencent Holdings, a Chinese conglomerate in Shenzhen. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Threat of AI share crash puts world financial stability at risk, says IMF 13. October 2026 (05:15) High valuations and debt put sector in danger, while fund also warns on government borrowing and cyber-attacksThe threat of an AI share price crash rippling out across global markets is putting world financial stability at risk, the International Monetary fund has warned.In its twice-yearly Global Financial Stability Report, the IMF highlighted the sky-high valuations for AI companies along with their increasing debt pile as one reason that risks in the system are “elevated”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
