Scotland has introduced new rules that stop supermarkets and other stores from placing sugary, fatty, or salty foods in visible places like aisle ends or checkouts. These rules also ban multi-buy deals on these products to encourage healthier eating and reduce obesity.
Key Facts
Sugary drinks, biscuits, breakfast cereals, chocolate, crisps, and ice cream can no longer be placed in prominent spots in stores.
Multi-buy offers like "buy two get one free" or extra loyalty points on these foods are banned.
The rules apply to businesses with more than 50 employees, including supermarkets, restaurants, and petrol stations.
Online stores must also follow restrictions, such as not advertising these foods on their main homepage.
Foods affected include many snacks, ready meals, sweetened yoghurts, and cereal bars if they have high sugar, fat, or salt.
Meal deals and "dine for two" offers are exempt but these foods cannot be displayed in restricted locations.
The Scottish government aims to lower obesity rates by making unhealthy food less tempting and easier to avoid.
Two out of three Scottish adults are overweight or obese, especially in poorer areas.
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A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv faced a mid-air attack when the co-pilot tried to crash the plane by stabbing the captain. Passengers and crew stopped the attack, and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia with no serious injuries. Investigations are ongoing to understand the attacker's motives.
Key Facts
Flight FZ 1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The co-pilot stabbed the captain multiple times and tried to crash the plane.
The captain, despite severe wounds, opened the cockpit door allowing others to stop the attacker.
The Boeing 737 Max safely landed in Saudi Arabia with 174 people on board.
The attacker is an Omani national who was detained by Saudi authorities.
Israeli and international officials are investigating the motives, including possible terrorism links.
No confirmed connection to Iran has been found so far.
Multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, US, Oman, and Israel, are cooperating in the investigation.
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Brazil’s presidential race between President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his challenger Flavio Bolsonaro is very close and marked by insults and scandals. Both candidates are trying to win undecided voters before the election, with strong political division across the country.
Key Facts
The election is very close, and a runoff vote is expected on October 25.
Lula is 80 years old and running for a fourth term, while Flavio Bolsonaro is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Both candidates have avoided a televised debate, disappointing many voters.
Lula has more support from Catholics; Bolsonaro’s support mainly comes from Evangelical Christians.
The campaign saw rumors about Bolsonaro wanting to change a revered religious symbol, which he denied.
Lula made a comment about men being “cowards” about prostate exams that Bolsonaro’s camp criticized as sexist.
Many voters feel disappointed with both candidates and the political tension in the country.
Lula’s previous terms saw reduced unemployment, inflation, and deforestation in the Amazon, but voters remain concerned about crime and the cost of living.
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Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his rival Flavio Bolsonaro are exchanging harsh attacks as they compete in a very close presidential election expected this weekend. Both candidates are using controversial statements and rumors to try to gain more voter support in a politically divided country.
Key Facts
The election in Brazil is expected to be very close, possibly requiring a second round on October 25.
President Lula is 80 years old and is running for a fourth non-consecutive term.
Flavio Bolsonaro is a right-wing senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
The campaign has involved scandals, insults, and misinformation from both sides.
Many voters are unhappy with the candidates and some refused to watch a televised debate because both declined to participate.
Lula has strong support from Catholic voters; Bolsonaro is backed largely by Evangelical Christians.
One controversy involved false rumors about Bolsonaro's plans concerning Brazil’s patron saint, which were ordered to be removed by the election court.
President Donald Trump said he is watching Brazil’s election “very closely” and Jair Bolsonaro is a close ally of Trump.
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Ethiopia and Eritrea have cut diplomatic ties amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia, raising fears of a wider conflict. Ethiopia closed its embassy in Eritrea and expelled Eritrean diplomats, accusing them of threatening national security, while Eritrea responded by severing ties and denying the accusations.
Key Facts
Ethiopia closed its embassy in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea.
Ethiopia ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave within 48 hours, accusing them of threatening national security.
Eritrea cut diplomatic relations with Ethiopia in response.
Explosions were heard in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, near military headquarters.
Fighting involves Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and allies in northern regions.
The TPLF formed an alliance last month with six other armed groups to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of supporting armed groups fighting its government; Eritrea denies these claims.
Tensions have increased partly due to Ethiopia's push for access to the Red Sea, which Eritrea opposes.
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A lorry and bus driving school in Shropshire is facing higher costs because diesel fuel prices in the UK have reached record levels. The firm, Dulson Training, finds it hard to raise prices for customers since many bookings were made before the fuel price increase.
Key Facts
Diesel prices in the UK recently hit 199.33 pence per litre, the highest ever recorded.
Prices have been rising steadily since the US-Iran conflict began in February 2024.
Petrol prices also rose to 174.23 pence per litre.
Dulson Training, based in Shropshire, pays hundreds of pounds more to fill each lorry compared to earlier prices.
The company struggles to raise prices since many customers booked in advance at cheaper rates.
The war in the Middle East has limited diesel supply worldwide, pushing prices up nearly 40%.
Dulson Training tries to save fuel by taking shorter routes and longer breaks but must complete paid training jobs properly.
The company may consider raising prices next year if fuel costs remain high.
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Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, plans to propose a three-year limit on private rent increases at the party’s conference. He wants the government to stop rents from rising more than the lowest of inflation, wage growth, or 2%, aiming to make housing more affordable for renters.
Key Facts
Polanski will speak at the Green Party conference in Brighton, focusing on housing as an issue of fairness between generations.
He wants an "emergency brake" on rent rises for three years to protect renters from big price hikes.
The proposal limits rent increases to the lowest of inflation, wage growth, or 2% annually.
The Green Party membership has tripled since Polanski became leader just over a year ago.
New UK law limits landlords to raising rent once a year to the property's market rate, and makes evictions harder.
Average private rents in the UK rose by 3.5% to £1,377 per month in the year to January 2026.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies warns rent controls could cause more demand than supply in rental housing.
Labour Party has changed some policies, partly due to pressure from the Greens, including on electoral reform and refugee resettlement.
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Russian airstrikes hit Kyiv’s Southern Bridge, a school, and apartment buildings, causing at least one death and several injuries. Ukraine launched a drone attack on the Russian city of Volgograd, targeting industrial sites in response.
Key Facts
Russian airstrikes struck Kyiv’s Southern Bridge and damaged a school and apartment buildings.
At least one person was killed, and two were injured in the attack on Kyiv’s apartment building.
Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported fires triggered by the strikes and closed traffic on key bridges.
Russia’s defense ministry said their forces hit an electrical substation near Kyiv and an industrial complex at Izmail port in the Odesa region.
A cargo vessel carrying military equipment to the Odesa port was also attacked in the Black Sea.
Ukraine launched an overnight drone attack on Volgograd, targeting industrial facilities.
South Korea warned Ukraine it might take further measures if Ukraine does not apologize for revealing that two North Korean prisoners of war were transferred to South Korea.
The North Korean POWs were captured after fighting alongside Russia and their transfer disclosure caused diplomatic tension between Seoul and Kyiv.
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A woman named Wendy Griffith experienced a man performing sexual acts outside her hotel room at a Travelodge in London. A report found that nearly one in ten Travelodge hotels had reports of people entering other guests' rooms, and the hotel chain is now working to improve safety policies.
Key Facts
Wendy Griffith was staying at Travelodge London Stratford in July 2025 when a naked man banged on her door and performed sex acts in the corridor.
The man, Trevor Reece, was given Griffith’s room key by hotel staff and pleaded guilty to outraging public decency.
Griffith tried repeatedly to get help but could not reach hotel staff because there was no emergency contact or phone in the room.
A review revealed that around 10% of Travelodge hotels had reports of unwanted room intrusions in the summer of 2025.
Travelodge had no formal policy on violence against women and girls before the review and has started working on one with a safety charity.
The hotel company apologized and said it has been making changes since March 2025 to improve security.
Experts say giving room keys to people claiming to know guests is a common failure in the hotel industry.
Griffith hopes the investigation will lead to lessons for all hotels to improve guest safety.
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The BBC is planning to cut costs by closing or reducing TV services, including BBC Three and BBC Scotland channels, due to low viewership and high expenses. They are starting a process to reduce jobs and encourage staff to take voluntary redundancy, job-sharing, or move locations to save money.
Key Facts
The BBC wants to save £500 million and may cut up to 2,000 jobs.
BBC Three and BBC Scotland channels have low live audiences and are expensive to run.
BBC Three moved online-only in 2016 but returned to TV in 2022; now it may switch back online.
BBC Three’s budget was cut from £90 million in 2023-24 to £66 million in 2024-25.
BBC Scotland channel has low live viewership (12% of Scots) despite weekly BBC content reach of 54%.
BBC Scotland channel costs £42 million a year and has received about £250 million in funding since 2019.
The BBC is asking staff if they want to reduce hours, share jobs, or relocate to avoid forced redundancies.
High-profile shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race UK on BBC Three have been cancelled due to money issues.
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Switzerland has lost nearly 20 percent of its glacier ice in five years because of very hot summers and less snowfall in winter. Scientists say this rapid melting is caused by human-driven climate change and could affect the country’s water supply and tourism.
Key Facts
Swiss glaciers lost 5.5 percent of their ice volume during the year ending September 30, 2026, and nearly 20 percent since 2021.
In some places, glacier thickness dropped by as much as 10 meters over the summer of 2026.
A measuring pole showed a loss of three meters of ice at nearly 3,000 meters elevation during just August and September 2026.
The summer of 2026 was the hottest recorded in Switzerland.
There was little snow in the winter, so glaciers had less protection from heat.
Glaciers lost about 2.2 trillion liters (581 billion gallons) of water between July and September 2026.
This water loss is more than four times the yearly drinking water used by all Swiss households.
Glacier loss threatens Alpine tourism, which supports about 4 percent of Switzerland’s jobs.
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At least 15 workers died in an avalanche at the Himlung mountain base camp in central Nepal. Rescuers continue to recover bodies, while heavy rain causes more floods and landslides in the region.
Key Facts
The avalanche happened early Sunday at Himlung peak, which is 7,126 meters (23,345 feet) tall.
The workers were setting up tents and ropes for climbing teams.
Rescuers have recovered 15 bodies so far and expect little chance of finding the one missing person alive.
The site is buried under over four meters (14 feet) of snow.
The foreign climbers had not arrived during the avalanche.
Nepal experienced serious mountain disasters in 2014 and 2015 with many deaths on Everest.
Recent floods from a glacier collapse killed over 1,400 people, and landslides have killed at least 21 more.
Mountaineering and trekking are important for Nepal’s economy.
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Students in Chile’s capital protested against planned education funding cuts in the 2027 budget. Police used tear gas and water cannons to break up the large student gatherings.
Key Facts
The protests took place in Santiago, the capital of Chile.
Hundreds of students demonstrated against proposed cuts to education funding.
The protests followed President Jose Antonio Kast’s announcement of the 2027 budget plans.
Riot police responded by using tear gas and water cannons.
The clashes between students and police became violent during the protests.
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The Department of Homeland Security says it does not plan to send immigration enforcement officers to polling places for the midterm elections. However, some voting rights groups remain concerned because immigration arrests have increased under President Donald Trump’s policies.
Key Facts
DHS officials say they do not plan to send immigration agents to patrol voting sites.
Federal law prevents armed forces from being deployed at elections except to fight armed enemies.
Latino, Black, and Asian American groups worry about immigration enforcement at polls amid rising deportations.
Former ICE leaders and DHS officials have stated no plans to station agents at polls.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin called concerns about ICE officers at polls “fearmongering.”
President Donald Trump has not confirmed sending ICE to polls but said he would do “anything necessary” for honest elections.
ICE may arrest individuals at polling places if they are active public safety threats or have warrants.
Legal experts say deploying armed agents at elections without extreme reasons is illegal.
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Iowa lawmakers will meet to consider raising the limit on state tax incentives to support a $15 billion steel plant project proposed by Mesabi Metallics, owned by an Indian conglomerate. President Donald Trump announced the project as a major investment for U.S. steel manufacturing and economic growth in Iowa.
Key Facts
Iowa lawmakers plan a special session to discuss expanding state tax incentives for a steel plant.
The steel plant is valued at $15 billion and proposed by Mesabi Metallics, a company owned by Essar Group from India.
President Trump announced the project, calling it important for economic growth and national security.
The project is expected to be built in Lee County, Iowa, but the company has not officially committed to the site yet.
Governor Kim Reynolds supports updating Iowa's economic development laws to help secure the project.
Mesabi Metallics previously considered a site in Kentucky but shifted focus to Iowa as the project grew larger.
The White House credits President Trump’s policies for making the project possible.
Job listings for the steel plant have moved to Iowa, though some responsibilities still mention Kentucky.
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Sami Abu Shehadeh, leader of the Arab-Israeli Balad party, has decided not to run in the October 27 Knesset election. His withdrawal came after Israel’s Supreme Court indicated it might disqualify him from participating.
Key Facts
Sami Abu Shehadeh leads the Balad party, which represents Arab-Israeli citizens.
The Knesset election is scheduled for October 27.
Israel’s Supreme Court warned it could disqualify Abu Shehadeh.
The Israeli elections committee previously voted to disqualify two major Arab-majority parties.
Abu Shehadeh withdrew from the election following these legal and political challenges.
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Eritrea has cut diplomatic relations with Ethiopia after Ethiopia closed its embassy in Eritrea and expelled Eritrean diplomats. This happened as fighting restarted around the Tigray region and Ethiopia also expelled diplomats from Sudan and Egypt.
Key Facts
Eritrea ended diplomatic ties with Ethiopia by breaking off official communications.
Ethiopia closed its embassy in Eritrea’s capital, Asmara.
Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats from its country.
Fighting in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia has started again.
Along with Eritrean diplomats, Ethiopia expelled diplomats from Sudan and Egypt.
The diplomatic break reflects rising tensions linked to the conflict in Tigray.
Eritrea and Ethiopia share a border and have been involved in complex conflicts in the region.
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Iran asked Iraq to remove flight bans caused by US sanctions and fully restore air travel between the two countries. The US restrictions have disrupted flights at several Iraqi airports, forcing many passengers to travel by land and causing protests in Iraq.
Key Facts
Iran wants Iraq to lift flight restrictions linked to US sanctions.
Some flights between Iran and Najaf, Iraq restarted after efforts by Iraq’s Prime Minister.
Flights remain suspended at Baghdad, Erbil, and Sulaimaniyah airports.
US sanctions target companies that do business with Iranian airlines, starting September 23.
Flight connections from Tehran have dropped by 42%, with some international routes fully stopped.
Iraq requested a US exemption to allow flights for medical, educational, religious, and civilian needs.
The flight bans have led to protests in Iraqi cities including Najaf, Nasiriya, Karbala, and Amarah.
The US sanctions are described by Iran as illegal and harmful to trade and travel.
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Cornell University investigated allegations that a student, Jane Doe, was drugged and gang-raped at a fraternity party in October 2024. The university conducted a Title IX investigation, and a local prosecutor is reopening the criminal inquiry while the New York Attorney General is now involved as a special prosecutor.
Key Facts
Jane Doe was interviewed by campus police about three weeks after the alleged assault in October 2024.
Cornell’s Title IX investigation involved about 50 interviews with 32 witnesses in 2025.
No criminal charges were initially filed, but the local District Attorney is reopening the case.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul assigned Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor for the case.
Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against Cornell and seven fraternity members in 2025.
During the alleged incident, Jane Doe had a consensual sexual encounter but was very drunk and later felt caught off guard.
Fraternity members sent Snapchat messages suggesting a woman was "available" at the house, which was part of the investigation.
Cornell supports the governor’s decision to involve the Attorney General.
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Ben Davis, a UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) director, said he lost his job after he spoke out against Israeli actions in Gaza. He was told his contract would not be renewed due to claims that he broke rules about being impartial, including organizing silent protests at the FAO office.
Key Facts
Ben Davis worked as Director of Rural Transformation and Gender Equality at the FAO.
He was informed in July that his contract would not be renewed because of alleged breaches of impartiality rules.
Davis organized weekly silent protests about starvation and famine in Gaza at the FAO headquarters in Rome.
A report Davis helped write on food availability and humanitarian law in Gaza was ordered to be taken down.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said staff should not “play the game of human rights” within the organization and warned about firing staff who break rules.
Davis believes the director-general’s public rebuke was directed at him for being “too political.”
Hundreds of FAO employees initially joined the protests, but numbers have dropped to 30-40 people weekly.
Since October 2023, over 74,000 people have died in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict, with more casualties after the 2025 ceasefire.
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