UK is not facing diesel shortage despite fears of Trump export ban, minister says 02. October 2026 (11:09) In effort to avoid panic at pumps, Keir Mather insists supply of fuel to Britain is ‘inherently resilient’Business live – latest updatesThe government has moved to avert panic at the pumps, insisting that the UK is not facing a diesel shortage after Donald Trump threatened to cut off US supplies of the fuel.The transport minister Keir Mather said on Friday that the UK has a wide range of sources of the fuel and is in talks with other European countries over the potential release of emergency diesel stockpiles. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Calls grow for US death penalty halt after ‘torturous’ botched execution of Christa Pike 02. October 2026 (11:00) Pike alive but in critical condition as experts call ordeal that unfolded in Tennessee Wednesday ‘unimaginably barbaric’Top lawyers, doctors and members of the faith community are calling for a moratorium on the US death penalty after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute Christa Pike left the prisoner alive but in critical condition and receiving life-saving medical care.The recent spate of harrowingly botched executions across US death penalty states reached a new low late on Wednesday when Tennessee’s governor Bill Lee called off the procedure after Pike had been injected with two full syringes of pentobarbital. She is the only person to have survived being administered 5mg of the sedative – a massive dose that under normal circumstances is considered fatal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Eastern Spain braces for torrential rain and flooding 02. October 2026 (10:58) Up to 300mm of rain could fall in places, while extreme downpours bring deadly landslides to NepalTorrential rain and potentially damaging flooding are forecast in eastern Spain over the coming days, as cold upper air moves over the warm, humid surface air of the Mediterranean Sea, fuelling violent, slow-moving thunderstorms near Spain’s east coast. The weather pattern, known as a Dana, occurs most often in autumn.Models show more than 100mm of rain could fall across the region on Friday, with 200-300mm possible in some areas. Cities including Valencia and Castelló de la Plana, with Valencia having experienced several damaging floods in recent years, are most at risk. Catalonia has now put three towns under lockdown and Valencia has shut schools for nearly half a million children. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Row erupts over Cairo mural depicting Tutankhamun and Nefertiti with dark skin 02. October 2026 (10:55) Artwork created in Tahrir Square for Chinese president’s state visit to Egypt is painted over amid allegations it revived Afrocentric claims about Pharaohs’ originsOn the eve of Chinese president Xi Jinping’s state visit to Cairo last month, the city authorities were busy removing a 66-metre-long mural from the esteemed guest’s line of sight.Depicting the Pharaoh Tutankhamun and Queen Nefertiti, the painting was among 40 murals commissioned to beautify the city for Xi’s arrival and was painted by volunteer youth group Rasmet Basma, in Tahrir Square. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Latest talks on Drumcree stand off end without agreement 02. October 2026 (10:48) Justice Minister Naomi Long urged the Orange Order to ‘do the right thing’ and not march, describing many feeling ‘despair’ at the situation.(London News)
Recent lobbyist for Palantir had key role in helping Andy Burnham become PM 02. October 2026 (10:47) Exclusive: Martha Dalton worked closely with Burnham’s team on byelection that secured his return to parliamentA recent lobbyist for the controversial $450bn US tech company Palantir played a senior role in helping Andy Burnham become prime minister, it has emerged.Martha Dalton, whose company Lodestone worked for Palantir in 2024 and 2025, campaigned for Burnham in the Makerfield byelection that secured his return to parliament. She worked closely with his team on strategic communications and rebuttals, and was among supporters who clapped him into Downing Street in July. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I was fighting for my life’: Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls flydubai cockpit attack 02. October 2026 (10:39) Smit Machchhar says in video call with Indian PM that he realised if he did not get up then ‘passengers would lose their lives’The Indian pilot who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai flight has described how he fought for his life in the minutes after his co-pilot stabbed him and the plane began a steep descent.Capt Smit Machchhar, who is recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, told the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, in a video call broadcast live on television news channels that he knew he had to get back on his feet to save the passengers onboard. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
