6:48 am, October 5, 2026
G7 leaders agree to release ‘up to 100 million barrels’ of petroleum reserves
G7 countries have agreed to release 100 million barrels of strategic petroleum reserves over four months.
Members of the group, which includes the UK, France and the US, have also agreed to ‘refrain from’ measures which restrict them from the trading of oil products with each other.
But experts said it could be just a ‘short-term buffer’, and risks limiting protection against future shocks.
Wetherspoon’s boss tells government to ‘refrain’ from tax hikes as profits dip
The boss of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, has urged the government to ‘refrain’ from more tax hikes as the pub group announced weaker profits.
Profits slid by more than a quarter after it was hit by a jump in costs, including higher wages and property taxes.
The company, which runs 792 pubs across the UK, said pre-tax profits tumbled by 28% to £58.6m for the year to July 26, compared with a year earlier, driven by an increase in costs. More recent trading was buoyed by ‘exceptional weather’, helping like-for-like sales jump 8.6% in the nine weeks to September 27.
Volkswagen continues its legacy of award-winning adverts
Volkswagen’s YourVolkswagen marketing campaign has won a Silver Effectiveness Award from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising. Developed with Bernbach, the campaign focused on genuine Volkswagen customers and their stories rather than products and offers.
The approach helped Volkswagen’s UK likeability and trust scores reach an all-time high, while positive social media sentiment rose to more than three times its usual level.
Volkswagen UK marketing boss Sarah Cox-Thornley said the campaign’s success was rooted in authenticity, trust and the brand’s heritage.
The markets
Stocks in London ended Friday on the front foot as weaker than expected US job figures saw rate bets pared back across the pond, supporting a rebound in bonds.
In London, the FTSE 100 index ended up 33.68 points, 0.3%, at 10,461.95. The FTSE 250 rose 51.03 points, 0.2%, to 24,194.24, and the AIM all-share firmed 1.71 points, 0.2%, to 783.75.
The pound was quoted at 1.3233 dollars on Friday, up from 1.3204 at the same time on Thursday. Against the euro, sterling firmed to 1.1750 euros from 1.1739.
US withdraws bombers from RAF Fairford after suspected terror plot
The US Air Force has withdrawn all its bombers from RAF Fairford after a suspected terror plot at the base in Gloucestershire.
The bombers have been sent back to their home bases in the US, with aircraft monitoring sites showing B-1 bombers flying out of the base on Sunday.
On Saturday, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said a sixth man arrested in connection with events at RAF Fairford had been released on bail.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take police to court over his arrest, report says
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will take Thames Valley Police to court over allegations that searches of his homes may have broken the law, it has been reported.
The former Duke of York has been granted permission to challenge whether the force acted lawfully over the searches relating to his arrest in February, the Telegraph reported.
Andrew’s application for a judicial review is said to have been made earlier this year and recently approved by a High Court judge.
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Weather
Today, cloud and patchy rain across northern areas will move south, followed by sunny spells and occasional showers, reports BBC Weather. Further south, early fog will clear to sunshine.
Tonight stays dry with clear spells in the south, while Wales, northern England and southern Scotland turn cloudier with showers developing overnight.