T

The Independent

October 2026

Hackers target fridges in French supermarkets in ‘unprecedented’ cyberattack to spoil food

Hackers target fridges across Intermarché, E.Leclerc, and Super U stores, reportedly causing millions of euros in food losses

Trump shares made-up Denzel Washington quote backing the president

I've worked with a lot of people in my life, and I've never met anyone braver, smarter, or who cares more about America than Donald Trump. He's a great friend and an even better president. I'm proud to be a steadfast supporter, and I'll never apologize for it. God Bless America and our president."

Experts issue flu advice after hospital cases at highest autumn level for years

An early start to the flu season doesn’t always mean a particularly bad year. The fact that most cases are in young adults is a concern for when infections increase in older age groups,
Ahmad Hussaindr
Cases of colds, flu and Covid-19 are up early this year as children and young adults have returned to schools and universities, where respiratory viruses spread more easily in classrooms and social settings. Any infections can then pass into households or workplaces and then the wider community.”
From an NHS perspective, it is very early in the season, but the number of admissions for flu are the highest that I can remember seeing at this time of year, and it’s coincided with just the start of the expected increase in Covid cases in our hospitals.
If you’re eligible for the flu vaccine, get vaccinated. It is one of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of serious illness from flu,
To reduce your risk of getting sick, get your flu vaccine if you're eligible and offered it and also check if you qualify for the autumn Covid vaccine. Keep washing your hands and open windows for ventilation when possible. Avoid close contact if you're unwell and get plenty of sleep while sticking to a balanced diet.”

Rogue AI hack of UK cyber defences ‘inevitable’, minister warns

Kanishka Narayanbritish politician, from 2024, Member of Parliament for Vale of Glamorgan
As we cross the threshold into the age of superintelligence, the choices we make now matter… we must build machines that serve us,
Every transformative advance has been accompanied by concern that people would be left behind, and on each occasion a greater number of people have come to share in increased prosperity, health and freedom,
Victoria Collinstechnology spokeswoman
Britain has a chance to step up to use our unique position to take a leading role to get world leaders around the table to co-ordinate on safety and co-operation.
No company, industry, or government can meet this challenge alone,
It concerns me. It seems likely, if not inevitable, that our own cyber defences will be breached.”
The Australian government has said that no personal medical records are known to have been accessed, and there is no evidence of wider compromise, but the incident should concern us,

Charity van delivering meals from food bank stolen and stripped of its engine by thieves

Steve Clayamerican illustrator
It's mind-blowing, really, to think that somebody could be so callous,
Steve Clayamerican illustrator
Sourcing a suitable replacement van will cost us thousands more than the insurance sum we will likely receive and, in a week or so, we will find ourselves in the position where we are extremely restricted on the amount of food we are able to provide for people who desperately need it,

Farage accused of ‘dangerous dog whistle’ with ‘profoundly un-British’ asylum crackdown

Healey brands Farage as ‘Liz Truss with a Bitcoin account’

Bridget Phillipsonlabour Party chairwoman
Nigel Farage is casting around for more and more extreme policies as he tries to deal with scandals, police investigations and a growing challenge from Restore. This is a carbon copy of their policy.
Women seeking asylum in the UK are often escaping some of the most extreme forms of persecution and gender-based violence. Turning our backs on refugee women not only undermines the UK’s responsibilities but is shameful for a country committed to tackling violence against women and girls.”
This meaningless clickbait is nothing new: it’s the same lazy policy making that has already left our asylum system broken,
Banning asylum claims by illegal immigrants, abolishing the immigration tribunal and ending Labour’s resettlement routes are all existing Conservative policy.”
Scrapping the asylum system though will not stop people needing protection,
Over the last seventy five years, our asylum system has been the difference between life and death for thousands of refugees, allowing them to rebuild their lives in safety and go on to play a part in Britain,

Boy accused of stabbing girl at school sent mother ‘I’m sorry’ message

I almost at the time couldn’t believe what she (the female student) was saying, that someone had been stabbed,
I said I think the police are looking for you,
I just asked him where he was and I could sort of hear him breathing and he said ‘I’m sorry’,
I wanted them to stop so I could find out what’s going on,

Russia’s attempt to influence Brexit vote failed — but they still tried, Burnham says

What is now more vital than ever is that pro-Europeans make it unmistakably clear: there is only one option on the table that could begin to repair that damage, and it’s restoring our EU membership and putting the UK back at the heart of Europe, as soon as possible.”
Nigel Faragereform UK leader
The prime minister is a liar, yes, a liar."... There was no Russian interference — the Russian hoax has run all the way through this,
We know what the result was. I don’t think they’ve succeeded in their efforts,
Yes we believe the referendum result was legitimate."... The PM absolutely accepts the referendum result."

South Africa police deputy chief quits amid corruption and sex offense claims

Athlenda Mathethe start of the proceeding, police spokesperson
As the former senior officer had an ongoing disciplinary case against him at the time of his resignation, his departure from the service is therefore regarded as a dishonorable discharge,

Trump’s feds raid home of Ilhan Omar as part of criminal investigation

Today in the Washington, D.C., area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice. This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal investigation,