UK economy shrinks amid fears of long recession

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( November 11, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [UK economy shrinks amid fears of longest recession since records began]( The UK economy shrank in the latest quarter, marking the first step in a long recession expected in the year ahead. A country will not officially be in recession until the economy contracts for two quarters in a row – but the Bank of England expects Britain to be in one by the end of 2023. Official figures show Gross Domestic Product (GDP) shrank by 0.2 per cent between July and September, compared to growth of 0.2 per cent in the previous three months. The Office for National Statistics said GDP had fallen by 0.6 per cent in September, in part due to the slowdown in activity due to the Queen’s funeral. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said there is a “tough road ahead” but claimed the economy has the “fundamental resilience” to recover. Blaming international factors, Mr Hunt added: “We are not immune from the global challenge of high inflation and slow growth largely driven by Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine and his weaponisation of gas supplies.”   2 / [Government services set to grind to a halt with public sector strikes]( ‘Extraordinary disruption’ to hit more than 120 government departments and public bodies 3 / [Retreating Russians leave desperate civilians in Kherson under constant shelling]( With no power or water and endless shelling, liberated Ukrainians aren’t ready to celebrate Putin’s setback 4 / [Gareth Southgate selects England squad taking significant risks in key areas]( The inclusion of the Leicester playmaker was the headline from the England manager’s World Cup squad 5 / [Elon Musk reportedly warns Twitter bankruptcy ‘not out of the question’]( Musk purchased the social media company less then two weeks ago     The Big Question What is Pi? Covid’s next potential variant that could replace Omicron It has been nearly three years since Covid-19 was first detected, and changed the world. The virus that shut down the world would go on to mutate into new variants after it emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Omicron was the last major variant, identified in November last year but scientists are already looking at what could replace it - Pi. The Omicron variant initially caused huge concern around the world, not least because it was found to be highly transmissible and the 32 mutations to its spike protein suggested it might resist current vaccines. But 12 months later, Covid cases are now beginning to fall after a mild autumn wave driven by a cluster of Omicron subvariants, which virologists described as “Omicron’s grandchildren.” These include the BQ.1 and BA.2.75.2 sub-variants, as well as XBB. [For the full story click here >](   [( Watch/ [Cop27 and the climate emergency | You Ask The Questions](   NUMBER OF THE DAY 120 –Public sector cuts could affect 120 government services this winter   QUOTE OF THE DAY “I think the prime minister was very much of the view that we needed to move things fast. But I think it was too quick.” – [Kwasi Kwarteng]( has said he warned [Liz Truss]( that she risked cutting her premiership short by rushing radical economic reforms. In an explosive interview, his first since being sacked as chancellor, Mr Kwarteng told TalkTV he advised Ms Truss to “slow down” and take a “methodical and strategic approach” to her goal of boosting growth.       Other stories you might like   [Carbon emissions from fossil fuels ‘climb to new highs’ and still rising](   [Babatunde Aleshe calls out Matt Hancock over kissing scandal on I’m a Celeb: ‘You were grabbing booty bruv!’](   [Just Stop Oil ends motorway protests after four days of disruption](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers John Rentoul, The Independent -[Can Rishi Sunak solve the Northern Ireland trade puzzle?](   Other newsletters you might like [The Race Report] The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White [Sign up]( [Inside Politics] Inside Politics Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Matt Mathers [Sign up](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.