Evening Briefing: Monday 19 October 2026
- If you are travelling to France: the prime minister has called for “local and partial” curfews in parts of some cities after police “lost control” during weekend protests; whole-city curfews such as in Paris are not planned, but check local guidance before you go.
- If you drive or heat your home with oil: Brent crude remains close to $110 a barrel as Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz continue, with at least 15 container ships struck in ten days.
- If your family is owed a civil service pension after a bereavement: MPs warn that delays could trigger an “unjust” tax charge, because certain lump sums must be paid within two years of a death to stay tax-free; the Cabinet Office points to compensation routes such as the Pensions Ombudsman.
Lecornu Calls for Partial Curfews as France Unrest Deepens
France’s prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has called for “local and partial” curfews after the government admitted police had “lost control” in several places during violent weekend protests. Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting,…
Lavrov Meets Araghchi in Tehran to Discuss the US War
Sergey Lavrov has held talks in Tehran with Abbas Araghchi on his first visit to Iran since February 2025, as Gulf states press Moscow to help halt Iranian attacks and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi said: “The existing insecurity ar…
Iran Strikes at Least 15 Container Ships in Ten Days
Iran has attacked at least 15 container ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz in the past ten days, using drones and mines; twelve vessels were struck in the seven days to Friday, according to UKMTO. On Sunday a ship was hit by a rock…
Zelensky Says Russian Strikes Came With ‘No Warning From Partners’
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine endured another night of Russian missile and drone strikes “and again there was no warning from partners”, renewing his accusation that Washington is limiting intelligence. Energy infrastructure was the main…
Houthi Missile Strike on Yemeni Camp Kills More Than 50
More than 50 security personnel were killed and 200 injured when the Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at a training camp near Ataq in Shabwa province, local authorities say — far above earlier tolls. Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Pres…
Burnham Calls Youth Unemployment a ‘Moral Failure’
Andy Burnham has warned that almost a million young people not in education, employment or training represent an “economic catastrophe and moral failure”. Writing ahead of a youth jobs announcement expected this week, the prime minister sa…
Downing Street Rebukes Hegseth Over Afghanistan Remarks
Number 10 has hit back at Pete Hegseth after the US defence secretary suggested “maybe five” countries contributed to the Afghanistan war, with “one or two” actually fighting. The prime minister’s spokesperson said “the facts speak for the…
Bryant Insists Troubles Bill Is ‘Not an Amnesty’
Sir Chris Bryant, the Northern Ireland secretary, has rejected claims that government changes to the Troubles legacy bill amount to an amnesty for former soldiers, as the legislation returns to the Commons. He called it “completely wrong”…
Bank of England Reviews Barclays’ Private Credit Exposure
The Prudential Regulation Authority is reported to be reviewing how Barclays logged total return swaps used to finance loans to private credit firms, after concerns were raised by an insider. The derivatives are said to have been booked in…
Reform MSP Quits, Leaving Party Third at Holyrood
Amanda Bland, MSP for Central Scotland and Lothians West, has left Reform UK Scotland to sit as an independent, relegating the party to the third-largest group at Holyrood, one seat behind Labour. She said her “principles and priorities re…