World
Vice president Takeshi Okada said responses to several World Cup controversies did not align with his personal values.
Vice president Takeshi Okada said responses to several World Cup controversies did not align with his personal values.
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Two high-speed trains carrying hundreds of passengers collided in central Spain south of Madrid. Officials warn that the death toll is likely to increase. Follow DW.
<p>John Healey is announcing his financial update – here are the main points, with political analysis</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2026/oct/28/budget-2026-latest-updates-john-healey-andy-burnham-labour-uk-politics">Budget 2026 live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>John Healey starts by saying that his budget is “delivered at a time when global uncertainties and pressures are swirling worldwide and hitting people here at home”.</p><p>Healey says he will meet the fiscal rule that day-to-day spending must be covered by tax receipts, and the investment rule that government debt, defined as public sector net financial liabilities, must be falling as a percentage of GDP in the third year of the forecast.</p><p>The government will have £15bn of headroom in 2029-30 and £20bn in 2030-31, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility, the government’s forecaster.</p><p>Government borrowing will be 4.2% of GDP this year, 3.4% next year, then 2.9%, 2.1% and 1.8% by 2030-31, the OBR says.</p><p>Predictions of slowing growth were wrong, Healey says. The OBR says GDP will grow by 1.2% this year, 1% next year, 1.6% in 2028, 1.8% in 2029, 1.7% in 2030 and 1.6% in 2031. In March the OBR had predicted GDP growth of 1.1% in 2026, rising to 1.6% in 2027 and 2028, and dropping to 1.5% in 2029 and 2030.</p><p>Government debt is forecast to be 83.2% of GDP this year, 83.8% next year then falling to 83.1%, 82.3% and 81.7% in the following years.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/28/budget-2026-key-points-john-healey">Continue reading...</a>
<p>British pharma company reports declining profits amid weaker vaccine sales and looming patent loss for blockbuster HIV drug</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/oct/28/john-healey-budget-standing-charges-gas-city-bonds-pound-latest-news-updates">Business live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Shares in GSK slid on Wednesday despite the UK drugmaker reporting better than expected financial results, as investors were unnerved by weaker vaccine sales, restructuring charges and its overall outlook.</p><p>Britain’s second-biggest pharmaceutical company reported a 19% decline in pre-tax profit to £1.9bn in the July to September quarter and £318m of restructuring charges, with more to come.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/28/gsk-shares-dive-as-weaker-sales-and-mounting-costs-unnerve-investors">Continue reading...</a>
<p>As USS Colorado showcases the program in Perth, Peter Briggs says personnel is just one of the ‘huge issues’ it faces</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Australia faces an uphill battle to recruit and train enough naval personnel to serve on submarines planned for the future fleet of nuclear-powered vessels under <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/18/paul-keating-aukus-locking-australia-into-us-china-war">the controversial $368bn Aukus deal</a>, a retired admiral has warned.</p><p>As the Virginia-class submarine USS Colorado arrived at HMAS Stirling south of Perth on Tuesday for a month of routine maintenance and to help build Australian expertise, retired admiral Peter Briggs said more people needed to be enrolled in the navy’s submarine program.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/28/australia-must-recruit-hundreds-more-to-crew-aukus-submarines-retired-admiral-warns">Continue reading...</a>