6:50 am, October 21, 2026
Google to investigate cloud outage after UK businesses hit by disruption
Google has said it will investigate an incident that caused major disruption to its cloud network after confirming most services are back up and running.
Multiple businesses that rely on the network experienced problems on Tuesday, including banks and the courts.
By 3pm, Google said the issues had been largely resolved and only a very small number of customers were still being affected.
UK inflation expected to have accelerated in September after fuel surge
UK inflation is expected to have accelerated last month as higher fuel and energy costs continue to push up the cost of living, economists think.
The September inflation rate will be watched closely by economists as it is typically used to decide the level that many benefits will increase.
Most forecasters are expecting the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation to have risen to 3.4% in September, from 3.1% in August, according to a consensus provided by Pantheon Macroeconomics.
iCAUR broadens range with new V25
iCAUR has increased its line-up of cars with the V25.
The new Chinese brand sits underneath the wider Chery umbrella alongside others such as Omoda, Jaecoo and Lepas. It’s set to launch in the UK early next year with its flagship V27 SUV.
It has now announced an expansion of the range with the V25, which arrives as a smaller alternative to the V27. Like that larger model, it has a boxy, utilitarian design with circular headlights and a square grille.
The markets
The FTSE 100 closed down on Tuesday, but well above earlier worse levels, as investors awaited the start of the tech reporting season and assessed reports of fresh talks between the US and Iran.
In London, the FTSE 100 index ended down 31.69 points, 0.3%, at 10,733.00. It had earlier traded as low as 10,673.02.
In European equity markets on Tuesday, the Cac 40 in Paris ended down 0.4%, while the Dax 40 in Frankfurt fell 0.1%.
Tuesday on Car Dealer
AI agents are calling dealerships now – and experts warn the motor trade must get ready
A used car dealer discovered a BMW enquiry came from an AI agent, raising concerns that dealerships must adapt as automated assistants transform vehicle searches, comparisons and negotiations.
Toyota Yaris is Britain’s fastest-selling used car as hybrids dominate rankings
The Toyota Yaris is October’s fastest-selling used car, taking 14 days to sell, as Autotrader reported rising electric car demand and forecast UK used transactions to reach 7.95 million this year.
WSG urges clarity on car dealers’ right to repair before customers reject vehicles
Warranty Solutions Group is urging clearer Consumer Rights Act guidance, as dealers report customers demanding immediate vehicle rejection and struggle to diagnose increasingly complex, intermittent faults in modern cars.
Skoda owners can now 3D-print their own bespoke car accessories at home
Skoda has released free 3D-printable accessories for owners, including cupholders, storage boxes and cable organisers, allowing drivers to personalise multiple models at home without waiting for parts.
Two men re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran over RAF Fairford incident
Two men who were arrested during an investigation into a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford have been re-arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service.
Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said it was ‘highly likely that there is Iranian state involvement’ in the activity that took place close to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on September 27.
A 24-year-old UK national, and a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national, both from the borough of Westminster, London, were re-arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service under Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023.
Matt Hancock’s care home protective ring claim ‘unfounded’, Covid report finds
The care sector was ‘an afterthought’ during the Covid-19 pandemic with failings allowing the virus to ‘spread like wildfire’ and resulting in thousands of deaths despite the claim there was a protective ring around care homes, the inquiry has found.
Then-health secretary Matt Hancock’s claim – made in May 2020 about protections at the start of the pandemic – was ‘unfounded’, UK Covid-19 Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett said, adding: ‘Quite the opposite was true.’
The inquiry has found that vulnerable care home residents were left with ‘insufficient protection’ as patients were discharged from hospitals without knowing if they had the virus.
Weather outlook
Scotland and Northern Ireland will see spells of rain and blustery showers, while northern England has a mix of sunshine and showers.
Wales and the Midlands will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain.
Southern England will also be wet and windy at times, with temperatures generally around 10–13°C.