6:48 am, September 28, 2026
Heathrow’s third runway delayed until 2039
Heathrow’s third runway has been delayed for four years until 2039.
Bosses at the airport, the largest and busiest in the UK, have told the government that sticking to the current 2035 deadline is not possible, it is understood.
The shifting deadline is likely to come as a blow to Andy Burnham’s ambitions to deliver economic growth, as Labour’s annual conference kicks off in Liverpool. Heathrow’s third runway has been delayed for four years until 2039. The 2035 deadline was set by then-chancellor Rachel Reeves last January, and was considered an ambitious goal at the time.
High energy prices will make it ‘harder’ to avoid interest rate hike – Bailey
The governor of the Bank of England has said high energy prices will make it ‘harder’ to maintain interest rates at their current levels and avoid an increase.
Andrew Bailey indicated that the Bank could have to increase interest rates if energy prices ‘remain higher’ amid pressure linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
It comes only a few days after a deputy governor at the Bank said a rate hike is looking ‘increasingly likely’ if energy prices remain elevated.
Alfa Romeo’s Edizione Luna Rossa special editions take inspiration from sailing
Alfa Romeo has launched a new special-edition trim level designed to take inspiration from sailing boats and equipment.
Called Edizione Luna Rossa, it’s a new special trim which will be used on the Junior, Tonale, Giulia and Stelvio cars.
Inspired by the Luna Rossa sailing team, it brings a range of visual tweaks to the four vehicles and is set to be introduced to the UK soon. Changes include Luna Rossa badging and a new grey body colour, while the Giulia and Stelvio get carbon fibre exterior detailing.
The markets
Stocks in London made modest progress on Friday as lower oil prices amid hopes of progress in US-Iran negotiations helped offset concerns over another rise in bond yields.
In London, the FTSE 100 index ended up 15.26 points, 0.1%, at 10,695.25. The FTSE 250 rose 106.82 points, 0.4%, to 24,261.14, and the AIM all-share added 1.40 points, 0.2%, at 786.36.
The pound was quoted at 1.3238 dollars on Friday, up from 1.3214 dollars at the same time on Thursday. Against the euro, sterling ebbed to 1.1616 euros from 1.1628 euros.
Police investigate whether Iran linked to suspected RAF base terror plot
Counter terror police are understood to be investigating whether Iran is linked to a suspected terror plot at a military airbase used by US bombers.
Five men were arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences after armed police stopped three vans travelling towards RAF Fairford.
The group, detained in the nearby village of Whelford, Gloucestershire, in the early hours of Sunday, were ‘looking to do big damage’, US president Donald Trump later said.
Healey to pledge ‘new era of industrialisation’ in address to Labour conference
John Healey will pledge to take Britain forward into a ‘new age of industrialisation’ when he addresses the Labour Party conference for the first time as chancellor on Monday.
The former defence secretary is expected to argue that the UK cannot return to the coal mines of its past, while setting out a positive economic vision based on modern industry.
Describing his politics as ‘shaped by the industrial heartlands of South Yorkshire’, he is expected to point to the example of the former Orgreave mine, now the site of Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park.
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Weather
Today will be largely dry and sunny across the UK, although blustery showers will affect north-west Scotland and rain may develop in the southeast later.
Tonight, southern areas will become cloudy with scattered showers, mainly in the southeast, while the north stays dry, clear and chilly overnight.