London desk

Filed from the London desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Technology · 6 October 2026

Ofcom's Newest Thriller: Meta’s Instagram Instants Under the Microscope

Tom Wick, London desk

Ofcom has opened an investigation into Meta’s Instagram Instants, questioning whether the company performed the risk assessment required by the Online Safety Act before rolling out the Snapchat‑style feature.

Sports · 6 October 2026

LIV Golf Eyes $300m Lifeline Ahead of 2027 Season

Celia Marsh, London desk

LIV Golf has secured a potential $300m injection from BC Partners Credit, which could help the club emerge from restructuring and stay on course for the 2027 season.

Business · 6 October 2026

Lego‑Minded Liar Gets 28‑Month Sentence for Stacking Up Claims

Iris Quay, London desk

A former insurance claimant built a custom Lego model to stage a bogus loss, prompting a 28‑month prison sentence after an ABI‑backed investigation.

Finance · 6 October 2026

Euro Slides 1.2% as Informa Seals £2.2bn Clarion Deal – City Juggles Currency and Consolidation

Iris Quay, London desk

The euro fell another 1.2% after France’s central bank chief warned the country could be “strangled by interest rates”. At the same time, Informa completed a £2.2 billion acquisition of US events organiser Clari…

Finance · 6 October 2026

India’s GDP Surges, Shares Dive: Five Reasons the Market’s Feeling a Monsoon

Iris Quay, London desk

India’s economy is sprinting ahead while its equity markets take a nosedive. Five tongue‑in‑cheek explanations show why investors are trading their confidence for a cup of tea.

World · 6 October 2026

Omani Flydubai Co‑Pilot Plotting to Crash Jet into Ben Gurion Foiled by Authorities

Reginald Penny, London desk

Investigators say an Omani national serving as a Flydubai co‑pilot planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport. The lone‑wolf plot was uncovered before take‑off, prompting a swift security response and…

Finance · 6 October 2026

Pakneja’s Exit: Oil Receipts Vanish as Iran’s Economy Sizzles

Iris Quay, London desk

Iran’s oil minister Mohsen Pakneja resigned amid allegations that a trust owed the state millions in oil export receipts, as oil revenues plunge and inflation accelerates, deepening the country’s economic crisis.

Sports · 6 October 2026

Medvedev’s Mis‑Hit Sends Spectator to the Sidelines, Djokovic Stays Unbeaten in Beijing

Reginald Penny, London desk

Daniil Medvedev was defaulted after his shot struck a spectator during the China Open semi‑final, handing Novak Djokovic a 33‑0 record in Beijing and putting him one win away from a 2026 title.

Entertainment · 6 October 2026

BBC crowns former Panorama sleuth as news chief, promising less scandal, more tea

Celia Marsh, London desk

Rachel Jupp, former Panorama editor and Newsnight deputy, has been appointed director of news at the BBC, succeeding Deborah Turness who resigned last November.