IMF chief urges governments to tighten belts as global debt levels soar 07. October 2026 (12:14) Kristalina Georgieva says big economies will have to make ‘very touch choices’ as soaring bond yields hit budgetsBusiness live – latest updatesThe head of the International Monetary Fund has called on governments across big economies to tighten their belts as soaring bond yields hit budgets.Speaking in Singapore, the IMF’s managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, said global debt-to-GDP ratios were at their highest level since the second world war and on course to hit 100% in the coming years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Badenoch expected to announce plan to cut inheritance tax and claim UK faces ‘battle of ideas’ over spending – UK politics live 07. October 2026 (11:59) Conservative leader will deliver her keynote speech to Tory conference laterIn his speech, Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, suggested that people were killed in Southport and Nottingham as a result of “Labour’s ideology” on diversity.He said:So many parts of government are corrupted by radical identity politics and a deference to clan culture.We can no longer trust our institutions to work for us all, to uphold the principle that justice is blind, that we’re all equal before the law.Everywhere I go, people tell me how much they love Kemi, including in my local pub, that place where I go to drink my far-right fantasy pint. With my far-right fantasy black lab. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia ‘pursuing strategy of terror’, EU’s von der Leyen says after deadly strikes on Ukraine – Europe live 07. October 2026 (11:54) Ukraine president confirms series of attacks on Pryluky, Dnipro, Kremenchik, Zaporizhzhia and KyivFrench chemist Henri Kagan and Japanese chemist Kensō Soai have been awarded the 2026 Nobel prize in chemistry “for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis.”Here’s more from the organisers:“Henri Kagan discovered a new way of manipulating chemical reactions, allowing a greater excess of one of the mirror images to be created than was previously assumed possible. His discovery has been revolutionary for chemists who develop reactions for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, flavours, scents and new materials.Kenso Soai designed the first chemical reaction in which only one of the potential mirror images was formed. Other than life itself, no one had ever achieved this feat. The Soai reaction is one of the most spectacular chemical experiments ever conducted.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Royal Mail to cut up to 2,500 jobs amid restructure and fall in letter deliveries 07. October 2026 (11:50) Postal service says cuts will focus on on head office and ‘support function roles’Business live – latest updatesRoyal Mail is to cut up to 2,500 jobs as the embattled company seeks to restructure its business amid intense competition and the continuing decline in letter deliveries.The postal service, which has been fined a total of £37m since 2023 for missing delivery targets set by Ofcom, said the job cuts would focus on head office and “support function roles” with the restructure to be completed by the end of next year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French police suspend use of stun grenades after high-school protester loses hand 07. October 2026 (11:09) Minister says use of grenades has been stopped ‘until we know what happened’ as protests across France continueHow dilapidated are French schools and how bad is inequality in the education system?Europe live – latest updatesFrance is suspending the use of stun grenades by police at high-school demonstrations, the interior minister has said, amid mounting accusations of police brutality during a fortnight of protests marred by often violent clashes that have injured hundreds.Laurent Nuñez told RTL radio on Wednesday that he had ordered a temporary halt to the use of the grenades “in the context of the high-school students’ movement” after a 15-year-old lost a hand during a protest in Lens, northern Fance, on Monday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shell expects refineries to almost double the profit from every barrel of fuel made 07. October 2026 (10:30) Record prices caused by global shortages amid shutdown of war-damaged refineries in Middle East and RussiaShell’s refineries are expected to make almost double the profit from every barrel of fuel produced owing to record prices caused by shortages around the world.In a market trading update on Wednesday, the energy supermajor forecast profit margins of $42 a barrel in the July to September period, far above the $24 a barrel of the second quarter and the previous high of about $28 in mid-2022. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police routinely failing to investigate ‘revenge porn’ in England and Wales 07. October 2026 (10:00) Lawyers launch super-complaint after research shows officers frequently dismiss image-based abusePolice forces are routinely failing to investigate complaints about the circulation of image-based abuse, previously known as “revenge pornography”, according to research that has triggered a super-complaint over the way such crimes are handled.Lawyers have gathered evidence from 100 people who reported intimate images being shared online without their consent. Their research suggests that image-based abuse is still frequently dismissed or not recognised as criminal offending, despite being described by the former prime minister Keir Starmer as a national emergency. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK house prices flatline as rising mortgage costs weigh on market 07. October 2026 (09:56) Average cost of home in September was £298,441, says Lloyds – about the same as year earlier and in AugustBusiness live – latest updatesUK house prices flatlined in September, according to a leading index, as rising mortgage costs started to weigh on the market.The average cost of a home was £298,441, roughly the same as it was a year earlier and in the previous month, according to the tracker from Lloyds previously known as the Halifax HPI. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nicolas Ghesquière takes us into the future for Louis Vuitton show in Paris 07. October 2026 (09:49) Models walk runway at the Louvre with flying cars hovering above as designer envisions city life in a warming worldIn silk slip dresses, breezy vented tunics and gossamer layers of chiffon, the models on Louis Vuitton’s catwalk were perfectly dressed for an unseasonably warm October evening in Paris. As the show began at sunset it was still 24C.This summer’s record temperatures were on designer Nicolas Ghesquiière’s mind. “The world is getting warmer, this definitely had a strong influence” he said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Lawyers should be running to courts’ to stop coal approvals after landmark ruling, NSW MP says 07. October 2026 (09:24) High court finding in favour of Hunter Valley community group sets precedent other environmentalists should follow, advocate saysGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastA landmark decision in Australia’s first climate change high court case has been described as a clear message to governments and fossil fuel companies that exported greenhouse gas emissions “cannot simply be ignored”.On Wednesday morning, the nation’s highest court ruled that the approval of MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coalmine expansion in NSW’s Hunter Valley was invalid, in a judgment that sets a precedent for fossil fuel projects in the state. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
