Energy minister says UK must ‘do whatever it takes’ to avoid gas supply crisis

The UK energy minister has said the country must “do whatever it takes” to avoid a gas supply crisis after advisers warned of the risk of a shortage hitting homes and businesses by the end of the decade.Michael Shanks promised the government would “redouble our efforts to decarbonise” the economy and make sure the UK had enough gas storage and import capacity, saying the previous government had failed to plan for shortages.The minister offered assurances after the official energy system advisers warned that Britain could face a gas supply crisis by 2030 and the government should draw up plans to guard against the looming threat.The National Energy System Operator (Neso) warned ministers to address an “emerging risk to gas supply security” that could mean homes and businesses going without gas during a prolonged period of cold weather.“Such scenarios are unlikely,” Shanks said

Economists warn budget built on ‘shaky foundations’; December UK interest rate cut looks more likely – as it happened

Some UK bond yields are now moving a little higher, as the City continues to analyse the budget.The yield (or interest rate) on 10-year gilts has gained four basis points to 4.46% today, which erodes around half of the recovery in yields yesterday.Investors will have noted that while the spending increases in the budget happen quite soon, the tax rises are more back-loaded.As City firm TS Lombard put it:Tightening is mostly kicked into the back-end of the forecast period, with policy actually adding to borrowing in the next few years

London councils enact emergency plans after three hit by cyber-attack

Three London councils have reported a cyber-attack, prompting the rollout of emergency plans and the involvement of the National Crime Agency (NCA) as they investigate whether any data has been compromised.The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), and Westminster city council, which share some IT infrastructure, said a number of systems had been affected across both authorities, including phone lines. The councils shut down several computerised systems as a precaution to limit further possible damage.The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham had also reported an attack. Together the three authorities provide services for more than half a million Londoners

European parliament calls for social media ban on under-16s

Children under 16 should be banned from using social media unless their parents decide otherwise, the European parliament says.MEPs passed a resolution on age restrictions on Wednesday by a large majority. Although not legally binding, it raises pressure for European legislation amid growing alarm about the mental health risks to children of unfettered internet access.The European Commission, which is responsible for initiating EU law, is already studying Australia’s world-first social-media ban for under-16s, which is due to take effect next month.In a speech in September, the commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, said she would watch the implementation of Australia’s policy

Cricket nerds love precedent so maybe England can channel spirit of Lord’s 2005

The parallels are imperfect but, as with Michael Vaughan’s Ashes winners, hyper-aggressive cricket with a tweaked approach in the second Test is the 2025 cohort’s only chance of winningTwenty years on, a montage of the 2005 Ashes still tingles the spine. Close your eyes and you can probably make your own, with an Embrace soundtrack if you want to be right on the nose. Chances are you’ll see Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff belting sixes with lusty abandon; Geraint Jones wheeling away after winning the epic Edgbaston Test; Ashley Giles calmly patting the winning runs at Trent Bridge; Flintoff’s messianic dismissal of Ricky Ponting at Edgbaston; Simon Jones detonating Michael Clarke’s off stump at Old Trafford.All those moments came in England victories or winning draws. But no 2005 montage is complete without images of Ponting being cut below the eye or Justin Langer’s right elbow ballooning in real time

Lando Norris insists nothing has changed in title fight after Vegas shambles

Lando Norris has insisted nothing has changed in terms of his focus on sealing his first Formula One world championship after both he and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a result that catapulted Red Bull’s Max Verstappen back into contention for the title. McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, has denied the team took “excessive risks” with their car in Las Vegas.The race in Nevada last weekend was won by Verstappen but Norris took a strong second and Piastri fourth. However, four hours afterwards, following an investigation by the FIA, both were disqualified after the skid blocks on the floor of their cars were found to have been worn down below the 9mm limit defined in the rules.Verstappen had been 49 points behind Norris going into the meeting but with Norris and Piastri stripped of their points he is now only 24 behind, the same deficit as Piastri, as the season enters its penultimate round in Qatar