Vice President JD Vance accused Microsoft and several other technology companies of fraud in their use of the H1b visa program and a related route to permanent U.S. residency. The White House will not process any new or pending Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM) applications from Microsoft or the other firms, according to Labor Secretary Kieth Sonderling. Microsoft said 80% of its H1b filings in the last fiscal year were for existing employees, not new hires, and that its H1b workers receive the same compensation as U.S. workers.

The UK’s 2026 drought pushed the total cereal harvest to a record low, with wheat output down about three million tonnes, or 11%, according to AHDB. Some farms reported harvests falling by more than 50%, while spring barley and beans dropped by over 50%. A Wiltshire farm said the impact cost it more than £100,000.

Finland’s regulator has ordered construction work to stop at two planned Google data centres, citing the clearance of more than 300 hectares of forest and the absence of a required environmental impact assessment. The projects are part of Google’s record €13bn (£11bn; $15bn) investment in Finland. Google said it had fallen short of its own standards and would follow the regulator’s guidance.

The Group of Seven has agreed, under the International Energy Agency’s coordination, to release up to 100 million barrels of oil and diesel over four months. The plan includes a frontloaded and substantial diesel release within the first 20 days. The move aims to cool surging fuel prices and avert a possible U.S. ban on diesel exports.

Seven months after the US-Israel war with Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, Middle East oil exports have climbed back to more than 90% of prewar levels. In the final week of September, average daily flows reached 92% of the prewar baseline, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler. Roughly 40% of September exports bypassed the strait via overland pipelines, while ship-to-ship “shuttle” transfers helped maintain throughput.

Average diesel prices in the UK have crossed £2 a litre for the first time, reaching 200.01p, according to the RAC. Average petrol prices also climbed to 174.71p a litre. Rising global oil prices have continued to push up pump prices. On the same day, G7 nations agreed at an emergency meeting to release 100 million barrels of oil to curb further increases.

Nike’s market value has shed hundreds of billions of dollars in recent years amid a string of self-inflicted errors, with its share price down 75% over five years. The latest blow came after football star Kylian Mbappé ended a 20-year relationship with the brand to join Swiss rival On. Nike posted quarterly revenue of $11bn that missed analysts’ expectations and warned revenue would decline by “high-single digits” in the financial year ahead. The company also said it plans to save $2.5bn by 2031, with some savings expected to come from job losses, while management acknowledged more work is needed in sportswear, the Jordan brand and China.

UK diesel prices have hit a record high at about £2 a litre after rising more than 40% since the end of February. Over the same period, petrol has climbed nearly 34% to 174.8p per litre, as supply risks have been driven by seven months of conflict involving the US and Israel with Iran. Transport operators such as Berry's Coaches say operating costs have surged, with the company reporting a £750,000 rise in fuel-related costs this year.

US diesel prices have climbed past $6.50 a gallon, and Donald Trump said he would support banning diesel exports. Republican lawmakers are pressing the administration ahead of November’s midterm elections to limit exports in an effort to ease financial strain on voters. The US exports about 1.3 million barrels of diesel per day, nearly a quarter of its refining output.