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)
British and Irish governments ‘should negotiate paramilitary disbandment in Northern Ireland’ 13. October 2026 (18:17) Report finds ‘window of opportunity’ for formal process involving loyalist and republican groupsThe British and Irish governments should engage with paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland to negotiate their disbandment, according to a report.A “window of opportunity” exists to establish a formal transition mechanism for loyalist and republican groups, provided certain conditions are met, it said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds of early-release prisoners in England and Wales not being tagged, say MPs 13. October 2026 (18:03) Serco denies tagging failures as police and probation officers struggle to cope with influx of released offenders Hundreds of prisoners released early across England and Wales, including stalkers and violent offenders, are not being tagged, MPs have said, despite promises of the “toughest supervision in British history”.As the government begins releasing a second tranche of 650 offenders to relieve prison overcrowding, police and probation officers have said they are struggling to cope with a new influx of offenders who are supposed to be monitored in the community. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kimberly Guilfoyle steps down as US ambassador to Greece after alleged misconduct 13. October 2026 (17:50) White House asked Guilfoyle, who is alleged to have sought a bill payment from a Trump donor, to resign from postUS politics live – latest updatesKimberly Guilfoyle is stepping down as US ambassador to Greece after weeks of reports that she sought payment from a Trump donor in exchange for access to administration officials.The decision, announced by the White House on Tuesday morning, ends the diplomatic career of one of Donald Trump’s longest-standing political allies. It came after the US president and Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, were reported to have grown furious over the allegations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Britons travelling to Europe told not to apply for delayed Etias visa waiver 13. October 2026 (17:21) Abta advice comes as more than more than 150 websites offer service of securing entry to Schengen zoneBritons travelling to Europe have told not to apply for an Etias visa waiver, with more than 150 websites touting the service despite its introduction being delayed.Non-EU citizens, including UK travellers and those from other visa-exempt countries including the US, Australia and Canada, will soon need to pay €20 (£17) for an electronic waiver to enter the Schengen zone under the European travel information and authorisation system (Etias). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia did try to interfere in Brexit referendum, head of MI5 confirms 13. October 2026 (17:15) Ken McCallum says Kremlin attempted to influence vote through social media and TV reports but had little impactRussia did try to interfere in the Brexit referendum through social media and television reports, the head of MI5 said on Tuesday, but he added that did not mean the Kremlin had any impact on the result.Ken McCallum endorsed comments by Andy Burnham, who raised the issue over the past two days, though he said continuing to debate it had given the Kremlin a needless propaganda victory. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Shocking and sobering’: UK bird populations fall to lowest level on record 13. October 2026 (17:08) Nearly half of species are in decline, with farmland birds and seabirds the worst hit, conservation bodies sayWild bird populations in the UK have fallen to their lowest level since records began, figures show, with nearly half of species in decline.Figures produced by leading nature conservation bodies for the government show that average populations across 132 native breeding species fell by 19% between 1970 and 2025, with farmland birds and seabirds the worst hit in recent years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
