October

Israeli PM says allegation that UAE president alerted him more than a week before major offensive is ‘absolute lie’Benjamin Netanyahu was personally alerted by the president of the United Arab Emirates that Hamas was planning a large-scale offensive against Israel a week before its 7 October 2023 attack, but did not act on the warning, according to a book by Haaretz reporters.The claim, which comes amid a crucial election campaign, prompted Israeli opposition leaders to describe the prime minister as “unfit” for office, even as Netanyahu denounced the report as an “absolute lie” and denied he spoke to the Emirati leader at that time. Continue reading...

• COMASIA LIMITED has announced the return of MEGA SHOW Hong Kong for its 33rd edition, scheduled for October 2026. • The event serves as a premier sourcing destination for "Made-in-Asia" products, maintaining a reputation as a key industry hub for over three decades. • This exhibition is significant for international buyers and suppliers seeking to connect with Asian manufacturers and discover new product trends.

Chancellor says he wants everyone from apprentices to senior economists to take part in brainstorming exerciseJohn Healey has asked junior Treasury staff – including IT workers and apprentices – to send him ideas for his October budget, saying he will listen to all suggestions regardless of grade or profession.The chancellor’s unorthodox approach comes as he faces a tricky autumn with expected inflation rises, sluggish growth and potential cuts from other departments to fund extra defence spending. Continue reading...

Households in Great Britain will pay equivalent of £1,723 a year, prompting calls for more supportMillions of households in Great Britain will face the highest energy charges in three years this winter after months of soaring market prices caused the government’s price cap to rise for a second time in three months.Gas and electricity prices will rise by 4% from October under the new energy price cap, months after climbing 13% at the start of July to take account of soaring global energy market prices caused by the war on Iran. Continue reading...

• South Korea's Financial Services Commission has officially launched an ₩880 billion (approximately $630.9 million) Ultra-Long-Term Technology Investment Fund. • The fund is specifically designed to provide capital for up to 16 years to companies developing foundational and advanced technologies that require extended timelines for commercialization. • This initiative matters as it addresses the funding gap for high-risk, long-term research and development that traditional short-term investment cycles often overlook.

• The Supreme Court has announced its docket for the start of the new term, scheduling oral arguments for seven major cases throughout October. • Key proceedings include *Johnson v. United States Congress*, alongside other disputes where the outcome may depend on whether the court deems certain cases premature for a final ruling. • These decisions are critical as they could either halt ongoing legal battles immediately or leave the legal status of the involved parties uncertain.

• London indie-pop quartet PREP has announced a series of headline tour dates across Asia for October, including stops in Singapore, Manila, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. • The tour follows the band's successful 2024 run and supports their latest release, leveraging a massive digital presence of over 650 million streams. • This tour targets Southeast Asia, which remains one of the group's strongest global markets, specifically in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Taiwan.