International cookie chain closes at least 60 stores this year

The Independent - Oct 19, 2026

Sales were down a reported 70 percent from August 2024 to August 2026

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China's economy picks up pace in Q3 as exports power uneven recovery
Oct 19, 2026
China's economy picks up pace in Q3 as exports power uneven recovery

BEIJING — China's economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter as a surge in exports and strong factory activity offset persistent weakness in domestic demand, easing pressure on policymakers to roll out more forceful stimulus measures. The 4.5% growth rate, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday, beat the forecast for 4.4% growth in a Reuters poll, and improved from the more-than-three-year low of 4.3% in the April-to-June period. The stronger headline growth was underpinned by a surge in exports, with China's trade surplus widening more than expected in September and keeping the country on track to surpass last year's record $1.2 trillion surplus. September activity data also showed signs of improvement. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 1.1% from a year earlier, accelerating from August's 0.4% increase and marking the fastest growth since March. Consumer spending remained subdued overall, however, highlighting the uneven nature of the recovery. Industrial output grew 5.5% in September, up from 5.2% in August and marking the strongest pace in si

Macron notes 'failures' after France unrest
Oct 19, 2026
Macron notes 'failures' after France unrest

PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron, under pressure after violent protests in France, acknowledged on Monday "failures in anticipation and intelligence", but refused the resignation of his interior minister, the presidential palace said. Some opposition politicians had called for the sacking of Nunez after demonstrations over the cost of living descended into some of the worst urban violence in France in years. Nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday, with almost 1,000 police and gendarmes injured, according to the interior ministry, as clashes between police and protesters, mass looting and fires erupted nationwide. "The interior minister submitted his resignation to the president on Sunday," the Elysee palace said in a statement. "Given the necessity for continued leadership of law enforcement at this time, the president refused." Macron had asked Nunez to "take all necessary steps to ensure transparency over the failures in planning and intelligence that led to the violence", the statement said. The president had also instructed him to "put in place new operational methods for sec

Putin proposes summit with Trump and Xi to discuss Ukraine deal, WSJ says
Oct 19, 2026
Putin proposes summit with Trump and Xi to discuss Ukraine deal, WSJ says

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a summit next month with US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the four-year-old Ukraine conflict that would favour Moscow, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the discussions. The proposed summit comes amid warming ties between Trump and Putin especially after the US President announced a deal to buy Russian diesel and signed an order on Friday waiving key sanctions on Moscow. Citing a former Russian intelligence officer briefed on the matter, the paper said that Putin's suggestion came in an October 9 telephone call with Trump that also yielded the diesel deal between the two countries. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, while the Kremlin could not be immediately reached outside regular business hours. The Russian and Chinese embassies in Washington did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The Kremlin has suggested holding the trilateral dialogue on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Rubio says Ukraine and Russia should be focused on ending the war
Oct 19, 2026
Rubio says Ukraine and Russia should be focused on ending the war

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan — Ukraine and Russia should be focused on ending the war between them, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on his visit to Uzbekistan on Monday. Asked about a possible meeting of US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to negotiate an end to the four-year-old Ukraine conflict, Rubio said: "There's been talks of a meeting. I don't know whether it's been finalized, but the president has been clear. He'd like the war in Ukraine and Russia to end." Rubio landed in Samarkand on Sunday night to meet top officials of the C5+1 grouping that brings together the United States and the Muslim-majority post-Soviet states of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Trump hosted C5 leaders at the White House last November. "We see nothing good coming from this war," Rubio said. "We see a lot of downside to it, including the very real risk of escalation and spread of this thing... into another country because of a failed sabotage attack, because of drones that are hit with electronic warfare an

Louvre blocked as France grapples with unrest
Oct 19, 2026
Louvre blocked as France grapples with unrest

PARIS — Protesters blocked the entrance to the Louvre in Paris on Monday, as French authorities scrambled to stem public discontent fuelling mass cost-of-living demonstrations that over the weekend spilled over into some of the worst street violence in recent years. President Emmanuel Macron ordered a security review as the country's interior minister admitted that the police "had lost control" during the weekend's unrest. Undeterred, the Yellow Vests movement which organised the weekend's rallies called for a new round of protests Saturday. Italy, Spain and Portugal, where anger over rising prices has also led to protests, were keeping a nervous eye on the developments after smaller clashes broke out in Milan over the weekend and protests about housing costs persisted in Spanish cities. Some half a million people turned out across France to protest the surging cost of living, a culmination of four weeks of protests that began with high school students demanding better conditions at their schools. What started as peaceful demonstrations morphed into violence in some places, as masked gr

Musk says will give SpaceX share to 'every kid in America'
Oct 19, 2026
Musk says will give SpaceX share to 'every kid in America'

WASHINGTON — Tech billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday that he would give every child in the United States a share in his SpaceX rocket company. "Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America," Musk, the richest man in the world, said on X. "This will be the first of many," he said, without providing details about how the scheme would work. There are around 73 million children under the age of 18 in the United States, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Musk owns 38 percent of SpaceX, according to Forbes. His announcement comes after President Donald Trump promised last month to give every American adult $5,000 if his Republican party retains control of Congress in November's midterm elections. SpaceX set the record for the largest initial public offering in history, raising $85.7 billion in June. The company's Starship megarocket reached orbit for the first time in September, a milestone for the rocket central to Musk's Mars ambitions.

Putin approves major Russian government reshuffle following parliamentary elections
Oct 19, 2026
Putin approves major Russian government reshuffle following parliamentary elections

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a major government cabinet reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, following recent parliamentary elections that secured a historic majority for the ruling United Russia party.Analysts have characterized the changes as a reinforcement...

Nepal imports 2 million packs of playing cards in two months
Oct 19, 2026
Nepal imports 2 million packs of playing cards in two months

Demand for playing cards tends to rise in Nepal during the festive season, particularly around Dashain and Tihar. The country imports cards from several countries to meet the seasonal demand. While cards are commonly used for entertainment, gambling can lead to substantial financial losses, with millions of rupees changing hands. Imports also account for a

Betty McGuire death: Broadway and Growing Pains sitcom star dies aged 100
Oct 19, 2026
Betty McGuire death: Broadway and Growing Pains sitcom star dies aged 100

Star was a veteran of US television and theatre and starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio

Harry Brook reveals England lesson one year after Wellington nightclub altercation
Oct 19, 2026
Harry Brook reveals England lesson one year after Wellington nightclub altercation

Brook says he could have been sacked after being punched by a nightclub bouncer

Man pleads guilty to Huntingdon train stabbings but denies attempted murder
Oct 19, 2026
Man pleads guilty to Huntingdon train stabbings but denies attempted murder

Anthony Williams pleaded guilty to 12 counts of wounding with intent and will stand trial next week

Enzo Maresca provides Erling Haaland injury update and confirms Antoine Semenyo blow
Oct 19, 2026
Enzo Maresca provides Erling Haaland injury update and confirms Antoine Semenyo blow

Haaland was hurt during the closing stages of Saturday’s win over Ipswich while Antoine Semenyo also picked up an injury

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