Bank of England hikes interest rates; pound hits highest level since Brexit vote – business live
Posted on Thursday November 05, 2026

Sterling is its strongest against a basket of currencies since 2016, as UK hit by first interest rate rise in three years

UK government bond prices are also rallying today.

This has pushed down the yield, or rate of return, on UK 10-year gilts by 4 basis points (0.04 of a percentage point) to the lowest since August 28, below 5.1%.

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Multiple planes diverted as bomb threats to commercial flights reported across Europe – live
Posted on Thursday November 05, 2026

Fifteen flights across Europe have received bomb threats so far today, with some forced to divert

• Tell us: have you been affected by the bomb threats?

And the Italian news agency Ansa reported that two more planes with links to Italy were affected by bomb threats this morning: that’s a WizzAir service from Milan Malpensa to Warsaw, which reportedly landed in Vienna, and a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Rome Fiumicino.

Belgian newspaper Le Soir also reported a bomb threat against a LOT Polish Airline flight from Warsaw, which now landed at Zaventem.

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Poundland’s US owner says retailer remains ‘vulnerable’, after talks with ministers
Posted on Thursday November 05, 2026

Gordon Brothers still in ‘active discussions’ with interested parties and seeking to ‘protect as many jobs as possible’

The US owner of Poundland has said the high street chain remains “challenged and vulnerable” after holding talks with ministers amid government criticism of its handling of the retailer.

Gordon Brothers said on Thursday morning that it was still in “active discussions” with interested suitors and had been seeking to “protect as many jobs as possible”.

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‘I never understood wind’: midterms spark hope for renewables after Trump’s hostility
Posted on Thursday November 05, 2026

Future brightens for US developers in particular after election when voters rejected Trump’s war on clean energy

After years as collateral damage in Donald Trump’s war on climate action, the Democrats’ sweeping triumph in the US midterm elections has emerged as a victory for the global renewable energy industry, too.

Across the world’s financial centres the market value of renewable energy developers climbed as the election results confirmed the Republicans had lost control of the Senate and House of Representatives.

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UK found to be ‘dangerously’ reliant on China for critical minerals needed for defence and AI
Posted on Thursday November 05, 2026

Delivering net zero also at risk, say MPs as they call for centralised policy and funding for mines and diversification

The UK is “dangerously” dependent on China for critical raw materials needed for the military, renewable energy infrastructure and AI, a parliamentary investigation has found.

MPs on the business select committee called for an urgent centralised policy and the creation of a “critical minerals finance facility” to help fund rare earth and other critical mineral mines, and deploy grants, equity and debt to accelerate a diversification programme.

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Apple iPad mini A20 Pro review: the best small tablet but with a big price
Posted on Thursday November 05, 2026

All-round upgrades fit a bigger OLED screen in a smaller and lighter body with water resistance for first time

The new iPad mini takes Apple’s fan-favourite tiny tablet and upgrades just about everything about it, including giving it a new OLED screen, serious performance, speakers embedded into the display and even water resistance, all with a big new price tag.

The eighth-generation iPad mini costs from £699 (€749/$699/A$1,099), which is £200 or equivalent more than the original price of its predecessor as RAMageddon continues to bite. That makes it uncomfortably expensive, costing £270 more than the base model iPad (A16) and only £50 cheaper than the bigger 11in iPad Air M4.

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Money-making Nations Championship project carries a cost for fans and players
Posted on Thursday November 05, 2026

New tournament is designed to provide a context that was apparently lacking in the legendary clashes of the past

It was a loose kick, tumbling aimlessly end over end into the All Blacks’ half. Their wing Billy Wallace gathered it and sprinted into midfield, through a gap and on into the Welsh half, only their full-back ahead of him now, and with his teammate Bob Deans in the corner of his eye, coming on the inside calling for the ball. Wallace gave the pass and Deans was away, making straight for the posts, tackled at the last moment by Rhys Gabe, and the two of them went sliding for the try‑line together. The ball finished in the tips of Deans’s fingers, at the end of his outstretched arm.

Over the line? On the line? Inches away from the line?

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Fifa wants to restrict women’s Olympic football to under-23s in controversial move
Posted on Thursday November 05, 2026

• IOC open to dialogue and Fifa wants input from others

• Fifa concerned about fixture congestion and workload

Fifa wants the International Olympic Committee to restrict the women’s Olympic football tournament to under-23s owing to concerns over fixture congestion and the workload of senior players.

The eligibility criteria for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles has been set, with qualification tournaments having begun in some regions, so no change can be made until Brisbane 2032 at the earliest, but sources at both organisations have told the Guardian that they are open to dialogue.

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