UK high street bosses urge chancellor to cut cost of employing young people 13. October 2026 (19:43) Retailers call on John Healey to reduce national insurance contributions threshold in his first budgetSome of the UK’s biggest retailers and hospitality businesses, including Tesco, Costa Coffee and the Co-op, have met John Healey to urge him to cut the cost of employing young people in his first budget.At the No 11 event on Tuesday morning, the chancellor heard from sector leaders – including the boss of Marks & Spencer, Stuart Machin, and Sainsbury’s chief executive, Simon Roberts – about the impact of the rise in employers’ national insurance contributions (Nics). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Florida carries out execution amid scrutiny over botched Tennessee attempt 13. October 2026 (19:41) James Robertson was the state’s 17th execution this year, amid scrutiny over failed lethal injection of Christa PikeUS plan to livestream execution elicits global condemnationFlorida put to death a convicted murderer in the state’s first execution since September’s botched attempt involving Christa Pike in Tennessee, on Tuesday.Officials said James Robertson, 63, was pronounced dead after he received a three-shot series of lethal injections at a Florida state prison in Raiford. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Saudi Arabia strikes oil depots in Yemen as conflict with Houthis escalates 13. October 2026 (19:26) Civilians warned to leave target area near Sana’a before attacks following deadly strike on Riyadh airportSaudi Arabia has launched a series of strikes on a strategic oil depot on the outskirts of Yemen’s capital Sana’a, in a fresh escalation of the conflict between Riyadh and the Iran-backed Houthi forces.Before the attack on Tuesday, a Saudi spokesperson warned civilians to leave the target area, in an apparent attempt to strike fear into the local population ahead of the biggest attack so far on Houthi energy infrastructure. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Elon Musk becomes biggest donor of US midterms cycle with $366m spent 13. October 2026 (19:13) Musk’s midterm donations, mostly for rightwing candidates and causes, surpass his contributions to Trump in 2024Elon Musk has become the biggest political donor of the 2026 US midterm elections cycle, funneling about $366m into political groups and campaigns as he backs conservative candidates and rightwing causes. The world’s richest person has poured more than $276m into politics since July alone, some of the most rapid political spending in US history. He’s targeting key races that will determine which party controls the US Senate.The New York Times first reported the spending numbers, which will be released in a federal filing on Thursday. Musk’s spending outpaces his 2024 presidential election contributions, in which he sunk nearly $300m into Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Inside Katie Zacharia's very brief White House briefing 13. October 2026 (19:04) The BBC's Sarah Smith was in the room and describes Zacharia's performance and the moment she broke news about Kimberly Guilfoyle being asked to resign.(BBC News)
