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)
