Zen Brief

Ahead of next month's Budget, the IMF has backed the government's plan to cut borrowing, while banks warn that tax rises could weigh on lending. Elsewhere, questions over deleted hospitality records, rising NHS surgery waits and a deadly strike in Ukraine.

1. 1 Banks lobby against autumn Budget tax increaseSenior bankers warn that expected tax rises in the autumn Budget could curb lending and investment across the UK economy.
2. 2 Deleted Records on PM-City Dinners Spark Transparency RowNew details on deleted hospitality records involving the prime minister and Man City's chairman add to calls for clearer disclosure rules.
3. 3 IMF backs UK fiscal plan before autumn BudgetThe IMF has praised UK plans to cut borrowing three times in 24 hours, giving Starmer rare international backing before next month's Budget.
4. 4 NHS Surgery Waiting Times Rise as Winter Crisis DeepensWaiting lists for planned surgery are rising earlier than usual, prompting new warnings about winter capacity in hospital trusts.
5. 5 Starmer condemns deadly Zaporizhzhia strike, pledges UK aidStarmer condemned a Russian glide bomb strike on Zaporizhzhia that killed at least 20 and reaffirmed continued British military support for Ukraine.