Double blow to Healey as inflation rises to 3.5% and monthly deficit hits £24bn
Posted on Wednesday October 21, 2026

Consumer prices rise by more than expected while government’s debt interest payments surge to record high for September

Inflation surged to 3.5% last month while the government deficit was a worse-than-forecast £24.5bn, in a double dose of bad news for John Healey before next week’s budget.

The Office for National Statistics said annual inflation rose from 3.1% in August, overshooting City forecasts of a rise in the consumer prices index (CPI) to 3.4%, as a result of the surging cost of fuel.

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Flaw in PHP computer language leads to shutdown of websites around world
Posted on Wednesday October 21, 2026

Precautionary takedowns come as experts say bad actors could exploit vulnerability in language used by 70% of sites

Websites around the globe have gone dark after a serious vulnerability was found in a computer language used to build much of the world wide web.

Belgian, Dutch, Finnish, French and German sites were among those that governments took down temporarily as they scrambled to patch the critical weakness in PHP, a language used by almost 70% of websites.

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Stratford International on track to get cross-Channel trains in budget boost
Posted on Wednesday October 21, 2026

Sadiq Khan says upgrade would unlock station’s true potential and allow it to live up to its name

Stratford International train station in east London will receive funding in next week’s budget, according to reports, putting it on track to live up to its name and become a hub for cross-Channel services.

London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has been making a case to ministers for funding to upgrade the station to allow it to start running international rail services.

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Energy secretary leaning towards rejecting Rosebank oilfield
Posted on Wednesday October 21, 2026

Exclusive: Officials say Miatta Fahnbulleh minded not to give approval in victory for climate campaigners

Miatta Fahnbulleh is minded to reject the giant Rosebank oilfield, sources have told the Guardian, in what would be a blow for the North Sea energy industry and a major victory for climate campaigners.

After approving the smaller Jackdaw gasfield on Wednesday, officials say the energy secretary is leaning towards refusing approval for what would be one of the biggest oilfields in the North Sea.

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UK watchdogs urged to tackle suicide social media content after death of girl, 14
Posted on Wednesday October 21, 2026

Adriana Retyte took her own life after viewing ‘high-risk’ material on the video-sharing platform TikTok

A 14-year-old schoolgirl’s death after TikTok served her suicide content has prompted renewed calls for UK watchdogs to crack down on “toxic” social media feeds.

Adriana Retyte, a pupil at Langley school in Norfolk, took her own life after she viewed videos and images related to suicide on the video-sharing platform, according to a coroner who last week found her access to the material on TikTok “may have played a significant part in her decision to take her life”.

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New prize launches for books co-written with AI
Posted on Wednesday October 21, 2026

After months of controversy over the possible use of AI by winners of prestigious awards, the Prix Pascal de Littérature IA is rewarding fiction written with the help of LLMs

A prize for AI-written books has launched this week.

The Prix Pascal de Littérature IA invites submissions of manuscripts co-written with AI tools, with the winner promised publication.

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‘Angry’ Carrick on the brink as Fernandes hits out at Manchester United tactics
Posted on Wednesday October 21, 2026

• Manager apologises to fans after 4-1 defeat in Como

• Captain criticises ‘decision from the staff’ not to press

Michael Carrick’s future as Manchester United manager is in the balance after the club’s humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat away against Como on Wednesday.

Before Bournemouth’s visit to Old Trafford on Sunday his future may be discussed by Jason Wilcox, the director of football, Omar Berrada, the chief executive, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the co-owner who controls sporting policy.

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Arsenal’s Declan Rice strikes late to deny Bayern Munich after Harry Kane penalty
Posted on Wednesday October 21, 2026

It is as if Harry Kane cannot get enough of tormenting Arsenal. The Bayern Munich striker has plenty of form from his Tottenham days. He remains the top scorer in north London derby history with 14 goals. He made an impact yet again here and yet it was not a night when he had the final word. That honour fell to Declan Rice, the Arsenal midfielder storming into the Bayern area in the 82nd minute to guide home a low finish that Kane would have been proud to call his own.

Arsenal were hunting their latest statement result. Only once had they ever won away against Bayern – the 2-0 in the Champions League last 16 second leg in 2013, although it did not prevent an away goals exit. Mikel Arteta was an Arsenal player that night. When Eberechi Eze, who came on for the injured Bukayo Saka in the 10th minute, gave them the lead midway through the first half, their hopes surged.

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