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Every briefing story from the last 30 days. Story pages stay live for a month at the same address, so links from the daily digest and around the web keep working.
DoorDash and Instacart want to join forces. Will the U.S. government get in their way?
The companies say their proposed merger will help smaller grocers compete, but analysts wonder if regulators will conduct an “extended review” of antitrust risks.
DoorDash is acquiring Instacart for $17 billion
DoorDash has announced that it's buying Instacart in a deal valued at approximately $17 billion.
South West Water given lowest environmental rating
The water firm is performing "significantly below target" for pollution, the Environment Agency says.
Europe’s central bank chief Christine Lagarde to step down nine months early
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will step down on Feb.
Third-quarter U.S. GDP increases a better-than-expected 3.4% as September inflation accelerates
The personal consumption expenditures price index was projected to increase 0.5% in September for an annual rate of 3.7%, according to the Dow Jones consensus.
Volkswagen logs Q3 operating loss of €5.86 billion on Porsche writedown
The Volkswagen Group has filed its worst quarterly performance since the height of the "Dieselgate" scandal in 2015.
Spain's train crash kills 69 people: What exactly happened?
In Spain, the deadly train accident that killed 69 people and injured scores has once again brought national railway safety under the spotlight.
Russell Brand's wife tells his rape trial he is 'kind and a wonderful father'
Laura Brand tells the jury at his trial she feels "very seen by him" and "I love him very much".
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about a new policy for compounding peptides, a PBM disclosure rule, and more
HHS released a policy that will temporarily allow compounding pharmacies to manufacture some peptide products
'Painful' years head, think tanks warn, as living standards set to fall
UK households face a drop in their disposable income over next three years, the Resolution Foundation is warning.
Israel election results live: president warns against ‘tarnishing an entire community’ in defence of Palestinian vote
In remarks posted on X, Eisenkot said: Israel must safeguard the integrity of the elections against any attempt at interference, spin and manipulation, and examine every…
Record number of purges as Xi emphasises 'party discipline' at China political gathering
Xi's anti-corruption campaign has become "an effort to consolidate and maintain authority", observers say.
US 2026: Georgia’s African Americans mobilise for the midterms
African Americans, who make up around a third of Georgia’s electorate, are being urged to vote early.
Alaska governor orders investigation into Democrat’s Senate campaign – live
President Trump had lashed out at Mary Peltola after The New York Times reported that her campaign and national Democrats helped recruit spoiler candidates to the race.
Treasury denies Healey plan to cut welfare bill before election, claiming his comments were misinterpreted – UK politics live
Asked earlier if there would be a cut to the welfare bill before the next election, the chancellor said: ‘There will be a reduction in the benefits bill’ Selling nicotin…
UK government borrowing costs fall as City welcomes ‘no harm’ budget – business live
Premier owner Whitbread says budget business rate measures ‘will do much to mitigate’ damage of past two budgets to hospitality sector The Institute for Fiscal Studies s…
South Africa v Australia: third men’s cricket Test, day three – live
92nd over: Australia 338-4 (Inglis 90, Carey 54) Wiaan Mulder takes the ball for South Africa.
Sri Lanka chasing 387 against England after Duckett century: men’s cricket tri-series one-day international – live
The ground is full only with empty green seats, as the call to prayer rings out.
Afghan farmers pushed to opium farming to make a living
Farmers in Afghanistan say they're being pushed into poppy seed cultivation to make a living despite a ban.
A 700,000-year-old elephant tooth reveals a lost world where early humans lived
A remarkably preserved elephant tooth dating back nearly 700,000 years has revealed a surprisingly lush prehistoric world where giant elephants and early humans lived si…
Analysis: Kevin Warsh is keeping his options open — and Wall Street guessing
The new chairman made clear he leans toward higher interest rates, but left himself options depending on how the data comes in.
‘Fuxi: Four Tales of Feasting’ Review: Qiu Jiongjiong Returns With a Sensory Banquet
Lauded for the stylized studio environments of his debut fiction feature, 2021’s Locarno prizewinner “A New Old Play,” Qiu Jiongjiong returns to the soundstage for a sec…
South Korean prosecutors press for death sentence in Yoon martial law case
Former president faces renewed death penalty demand as he appeals life sentence for insurrection.
Inflation surges, PCE shows. Fed pause on rate hikes unlikely to last long with prices still rising.
Even though the Federal Reserve temporarily put its inflation fight on hold this week, the cost of living rose sharply again last month in a sign the central bank’s work…
Michelle O'Neill says DUP has blocked her from PM meeting in Glasgow
The move follows unionist anger over Sinn Féin's involvement in protests which prevented a contentious Orange Order march in Portadown.
Is this play-safe budget a sign that the prime minister is planning an early election? | Larry Elliott
Andy Burnham may be parking the big decisions until he has a true mandate Continue reading...
Ethiopia acquires Russian fighter jets and air defence systems amid war in Tigray
The acquisition of the warplanes comes amid ongoing fighting in northern Tigray region that started last month.
Explosive book targets Jared Kushner’s role in US foreign policy | First Thing
A book that contains incendiary claims about Jared Kushner’s financial dealings during Donald Trump’s first term has ignited a political and media storm.
A week of Israel’s lockdown in Hebron: What’s happened, when will it end?
Israel is imposing a tight siege of Hebron amid raids, home demolitions and displacement.
USA: Barack Obama slams Donald Trump in final midterm push
Just five days before the US midterm elections, former president Barack Obama came to Georgia in a show of support to Senator Jon Ossoff in tthe midterm elections.
Carney to push for closer ties at Canada-EU summit in Montreal
The term "associate member" is reportedly off the table as officials discuss deeper economic and defence ties.
NASA discovers Jupiter’s invisible shield is more complex than Earth’s
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has discovered that Jupiter uses a surprisingly complex system of powerful plasma waves and multiple shock regions to defend against the solar win…
Caterpillar’s stock heads for worst day in 7 years — and what that means for the Dow
Caterpillar’s data center business is fine, but other areas disappointed and the stock was heading for its biggest loss in years.
European Central Bank chief resigns as economic volatility worsens
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde announced her resignation on Thursday, ending months of speculation about her future just as Europe enters a period vol…
DoorDash is acquiring Instacart for around $17 billion
DoorDash has announced that it's buying Instacart in a deal valued at approximately $17 billion.
As Trump Faces Down the Midterms, a Grim Mood Takes Over the White House
The White House has been rocked by turnover and anxiety over the midterms.
How Laura Loomer and Trump allies amplified ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ lie dogging Abdul El-Sayed
Loomer, an influential outside adviser to Donald Trump who calls herself “ a proud Islamophobe ”, has claimed since El-Sayed entered politics in 2018 that an open letter…
England’s Ivan Toney to stand trial during Euro 2028 after denying assault charge
Striker’s trial due to begin on 12 June 2028 He has denied assaulting man at Soho nightclub Ivan Toney has in effect been ruled out of Euro 2028 after his trial for assa…
AI build-out hits snag as Google and Microsoft put off raising capex forecasts
Microsoft and Alphabet both reported capital expenditures that fell short of estimates, adding to concern over the cost of the AI build-out.
King Charles faces calls for apology, slavery reparations on Caribbean tour
The visit marks King Charles' first official trip to the Bahamas as king, during which the government closed all public schools on the island of New Providence to welcom…
Sri Lanka v England: men’s cricket tri-series one-day international – live
The ground is full only with empty green seats, as the call to prayer rings out.
The Download: AI agent tracking and climate feedback loops
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.
Alphabet earnings miss reflects first real sign that AI is taking a bite out of search
Wall Street hammered Alphabet for an earnings miss that included weaker-than-expected revenue out of the company's core business.
Poundland's future hangs in the balance as chain edges towards collapse
Poundland's bosses is filing a notice of intention to appoint administrators to the business.
Serious pollution by water industry remains high despite £5bn investment
All but one of England's water companies were rated as "poor" or "requiring improvement" for environmental targets.
Einstein's equations may explain the universe without dark energy
Mathematicians have uncovered what they argue is a fundamental flaw in the standard model of the universe, potentially challenging the need for dark energy.
Vulnerable at risk as 'life-saving' drug needle site closes
Belfast charity workers warn people who use the "life-saving" service will be left without support.