Euro falls to 17-month low against dollar amid French debt fears 05. October 2026 (13:18) France’s Cac 40 index slides as announcement of snap election in Spain also helps fuel eurozone uncertaintyBusiness live – latest updatesThe euro has slumped to the lowest level against the dollar in 17 months amid growing concern France’s debt position could threaten the stability of the wider single currency bloc.The single currency fell as much as 0.8% against the dollar in early trading on Monday to below $1.12, its lowest level since May 2025, before recovering slightly. It has slumped by about 1.2% this month, accelerating a drop of about eight cents against the greenback from a peak of $1.20 in January. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lab worker ‘possibly’ dies of plague in Siberia, prompting quarantine measures 05. October 2026 (12:47) Precautions in place in several hospitals in eastern Russia amid uncertainty over death of Darya ShipilovaSeveral hospitals in Siberia have been placed under quarantine after the death of a woman who worked at an anti-plague institute.Darya Shipilova, an employee at an institute in the eastern city of Irkutsk, died on the night of 2 October at a regional hospital in the nearby town of Shelekhov two days after falling ill. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lidl GB’s sales soar by over 10%, helped by price cuts and Deluxe range 05. October 2026 (12:27) German-owned supermarket beats Morrisons to become fifth largest grocer in Great Britain Business live – latest updatesLidl’s sales in Great Britain jumped 10% to more than £13bn this year, as shoppers sought out cheaper fresh meat, fruit and vegetables and snapped up its Deluxe range.Pre-tax profit at the German-owned supermarket’s arm in Great Britain grew by 30% to £245.5m in the year ended in February, up from £156.8m in the previous year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nobel prize in medicine 2026 awarded for research on mysteries of brain 05. October 2026 (11:52) Three scientists to share 12m Swedish kronor prize for their work on ‘light-gated ion channels and optogenetics’The Nobel prize in physiology or medicine 2026 has been awarded to three scientists for their work on investigating the mysteries of the brain.Karl Deisseroth of both Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Stanford University, Peter Hegemann of the Humboldt University of Berlin, and Georg Nagel of the University of Würzburg have been awarded the prize “for their discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mixed start for pre-Cop as just two non-Pacific leaders accept Australian invitation to climate summit 05. October 2026 (11:52) Anthony Albanese joins about 4,000 people in Fiji for preparatory meeting for year-ending Cop31 UN climate summitSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereThe Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has declared it is “important that Pacific voices are heard” after landing in Fiji on Monday to attend his first UN climate summit since becoming prime minister more than four years ago.Albanese joined about 4,000 people in Nadi for a preparatory meeting for the year-ending Cop31 UN climate summit in Turkey while facing criticism from his political opponents at home. Pre-Cop meetings are usually small and bureaucratic affairs, but this meeting has a double purpose: it is being held in the Pacific after Australia and regional leaders argued it would help bring global attention to the plight of countries most at risk from the climate crisis.Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK considering tariffs on Chinese car imports to align with EU, reports say 05. October 2026 (11:43) Move would strengthen Britain’s case to be included in new legislation to protect European manufacturingBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK is considering whether to impose tariffs on Chinese car imports to align itself with the EU and strengthen its case to be included in new legislation designed to protect the European manufacturing sectors including autos and chemicals.It is understood the EU has raised the question of tariffs with the UK as part of the discussions on the upcoming “Made in Europe” legislation, known as the Industrial Accelerator Act. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shadow chancellor to address Tory conference as he claims slashing red tape could cut cost of new houses by £50,000 – UK politics live 05. October 2026 (11:38) Andrew Griffith makes speech today as Reform UK accuses party of copying policies they ‘announced weeks and months ago’Tories to pledge to scrap Environment Agency and Natural EnglandThe Conservatives would legislate to force the Scottish government to allow a new power station to be built in Scotland, Andrew Bowie, the shadow energy secretary, is saying.Bowie is speaking at the conference this morning and, in comments released in advance, he says:The SNP’s effective ban on new nuclear energy in Scotland flies in the face of common-sense.No part of Great Britain should be missing out on plans for new nuclear renewal.Look, we are a broad church; it’s not a purity test.But when people vote for our party, they often, as they did previously, they like the things that we stand for, but they were extremely frustrated with our inability to deliver those in government. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Quebec poised to elect separatists to power for first time more than decade 05. October 2026 (11:30) Parti Québécois promises to hold independence referendum in Canada’s French-speaking region by 2028Voters in Quebec are going to the polls in provincial elections which will probably result in victory for a party that has promised to hold a referendum on independence from Canada within the next two years.If polls are correct, the Parti Québécois (PQ) will form the government of the province of roughly nine million, the first time that the separatist movement will have gained power in the French-speaking region for more than a decade. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sass Jordan, Canadian rock singer-songwriter, dies aged 65 05. October 2026 (11:22) Musician who had hit albums with Racine and Rats later became a judge on six seasons of Canadian IdolSass Jordan, the singer-songwriter who became a significant success in Canada’s rock scene in the 1990s before starring as a judge on Canadian Idol, has died aged 65.No cause of death has been given. A statement on social media said she died on 2 October “surrounded by her loving family … She remains in our hearts, an inimitable force of nature. An irreplaceable being of light and joy!” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Coach services could be cut due to record diesel prices, UK operators warn 05. October 2026 (11:04) Rising fuel costs are pushing hundreds of firms out of business, threatening school transport, firms sayBusiness live – latest updatesCoach operators have said record diesel prices could force cuts to services including school transport, as hauliers warn rising fuel costs are pushing hundreds of firms out of business.The average price of diesel on UK forecourts hit a fresh record of more than £2 a litre last week, as the war in the Middle East continues to disrupt global fuel supplies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
