Hurricane Ian hits Florida, plus Qatar executive 'tortured'

There is also a disturbing account of the death of former Tui and Thomas Cook executive Marc Bennett in Qatar, with allegations of torture.

Meanwhile, there is a crumb of economic comfort in so much that saving rates are due to rocket amid scrutiny of the UK government’s controversial growth plan.

Here are the key headlines affecting travel on Thursday 29 September.

Hurricane Ian leaves two million without power

Southern Florida has been hit with widescale flooding and power cuts after Hurricane Ian made land on its west coast at Cayo Costa, south of Tampa. Ian is projected to move northward to Georgia and South Carolina, while remaining at hurricane strength. Storm surges and heavy rain are causing massive flooding. (BBC News)

Former Tui exec ‘tortured’ before suicide in Qatar

The widow of Marc Bennett, 52, who was found hanged in a Doha hotel in 2019, 10 weeks after resigning from Qatar Airways, has described his ordeal. Bennett spent three weeks in a state detention centre and said he was stripped naked and blasted with high-pressure hoses. He was not allowed to leave Qatar and was later found dead in his hotel room. (The Times)

Bank of England acts to calm markets

The Bank of England took emergency action on Wednesday to avoid a meltdown in the UK pensions sector, unleashing a £65 billion bond-buying programme. The move came after Liz Truss’s mini-Budget caused chaos in the currency and mortgage markets. (Financial Times)

Savers in line for windfalls as rates rise

Savers could see returns more than triple next year if the Bank Rate hits 5.75%, new analysis has shown.If this was passed on, the average easy-access rate would rise from 0.95% today to 4.45%. Returns on a £20,000 deposit would rise from £190 a year to £890. If rates hit 5%, savers would enjoy a £1,000 return. (The Telegraph)

Minor collision at Heathrow grounds flights

Two aircraft were involved in a "minor collision" at Heathrow on Wednesday evening. The incident, involving Icelandair and Korean Air aircraft on the airfield, is being investigated. No injuries have been reported but passengers are being asked to check the status of their flights. (BBC News)