Fresh Hurricane Ian warning and Australia to end Covid isolation

Meanwhile, the UK economy continues to make headline news, with the energy price cap coming into force and the government trying to calm agitated markets.

There is some good news from Australia, though, where Covid travel restrictions are finally ending.

Here is our final national news round up of the week – all the headlines concerning travel making bulletin on Friday 30 September.

Florida death toll rises

Hurricane Ian has claimed the lives of at least 10 people in Florida. Joe Biden has warned the category one storm could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history, with a "substantial loss of life". Ian is now moving inland and heading towards North and South Carolina. (BBC News)

Charleston braced for direct hit

Charleston is bracing for a direct hit from Hurricane Ian with storm surges of up to seven feet. Ian has recharged from a tropical storm back into a Category 1 hurricane. Landfall in Charleston is expected around 8am, with the surrounding states also being issued with several extreme weather warnings. (The Daily Mail)

Energy price cap to come into force

Energy prices will rise for millions of households on Saturday, but the increase has been cushioned by a government cap on the cost per unit. A typical annual bill will go up from £1,971 to £2,500 but will be further mitigated by cost-of-living payments. (BBC News)

Australia ends Covid isolation

Australia has said it will end mandatory Covid isolation requirements from next month. Currently anyone who tests positive to the virus must isolate for five days, but that will end from 14 October. (BBC News)

Truss to hold emergency talks to calm markets

The Prime Minister and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng will hold emergency talks with Britain’s spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, today in an attempt to soothe panicking markets. They follow allegations the government asked the OBR not to crunch the numbers for its ’mini-Budget’ in an apparent attempt to dodge oversight. (The Daily Mail)