Many pensioners in Guernsey are struggling to afford the high cost of heating their homes during winter. The local government plans to raise the winter fuel allowance by 19%, but some residents say the money still does not cover their heating bills.
Key Facts
Pensioners in Guernsey are using extra blankets and hot water bottles because they cannot afford to keep their homes warm.
Heating costs have risen sharply, with prices for heating oil increasing by up to 30% since August.
The States of Guernsey proposes a 19% increase in the winter fuel allowance, raising it to £50.48 a week.
Part of the fuel allowance covers standing charges, which affects the actual amount pensioners can use for heating.
Guernsey Electricity buys electricity years in advance to reduce price swings but faces challenges due to global market changes.
The government can take action if heating oil prices rise significantly during winter.
Fuel suppliers offer payment plans to help customers manage oil price increases.
Residents say they delay turning on heating and wear thick clothes to save money.
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A housing association in Bath, called Curo, raised service charges for some leaseholders to cover necessary maintenance work, including fire safety improvements and new windows. Some residents, like Callum Maddern, faced large bill increases that made it hard to pay their regular expenses, and they are calling for better communication and payment plans.
Key Facts
Callum Maddern’s service charge rose from about £1,300 to over £8,000 per year after buying his flat in 2023.
The increased charges were to cover urgent fire safety work and window replacements.
Curo said they do not make a profit from these charges and are trying to help residents prepare for the bills.
Callum says he struggled to pay the bills, sometimes heating his flat less and taking loans to cover costs.
Andrew Snee from Curo called the situation a "perfect storm" due to rising living costs, contract prices, and new safety laws.
Another leaseholder, Ken Pearson, had his sinking fund contributions rise sharply when his building needed a new roof.
Ken lost a legal challenge against the charge increases but believes the law should require landlords to better prepare residents for big costs.
Curo says they try to manage sinking funds and charges as well as possible despite financial pressures.
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Airbnb will stop hosts from asking guests to do chores that need a lot of effort, like stripping beds or washing dishes. The new rules start on November 20 and aim to make cleaning expectations clearer and more fair for guests worldwide.
Key Facts
Hosts cannot ask guests to do chores that take significant time or are usually done by cleaners.
Examples of banned chores include stripping beds, washing dishes, and taking out rubbish.
Cleaning fees are no longer shown separately since April 2025; instead, they are included in the total stay price.
Hosts can set seven standard house rules, such as check-in times, guest limits, smoking rules, quiet hours, and pet policies.
Hosts may ask guests to follow reasonable requests based on local needs, like short showers during water shortages.
Guests can be asked to place used dishes in the sink but not to wash or put them away.
The new rules are designed to make house rules easier to understand and reduce confusion for guests and hosts.
These changes apply to all bookings covered by Airbnb’s global policy, including those in Australia.
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Businesses in Yorkshire want the government to reduce National Insurance (NI) taxes for employers who hire people under 25 years old. They say this would help reduce youth unemployment and support struggling businesses. The Chancellor, John Healey, will announce his Budget on 28 October, but he has not ruled out raising taxes because of high government borrowing costs.
Key Facts
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce represents 5,000 employers asking for lower NI contributions for under-25 employees.
Employer NI contributions increased in 2024, which many local businesses say hurt them financially.
Aqila Choudhry, running a care home company, says businesses face rising costs and need tax relief to survive and grow.
Ken Murray, principal of York College, requests VAT rebates for colleges to better support young people entering the job market.
Sixth-form colleges cannot currently claim VAT refunds, unlike academies and free schools.
Martin Greenhow, a bar owner, says hospitality has suffered since Covid, and the NI tax rise forced layoffs.
Greenhow also wants changes to income tax and business rates to help people spend more and keep businesses open.
The Chancellor's October Budget is expected to address these tax issues amid historic government borrowing costs.
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Many job seekers are facing quick rejections from companies that use AI and automated tools to review applications. Organizations are calling for more transparency and human review options to make sure AI decisions are fair and unbiased.
Key Facts
Employers use AI tools to screen and score job applications to save time.
A survey of 2,000 UK workers showed 75% did not know they could ask for a human to review automatic rejections.
Campaigners want companies to check and publish how fair their AI systems are.
70% of ethnically diverse job seekers change or hide personal details on their CVs because they fear bias from AI tools.
Some people have given up applying after many automatic rejections with no human feedback.
Job seekers say they would like the chance to get human feedback to improve their chances.
Experts warn that not all AI recruitment systems operate without bias.
Legal guidance says people have the right to challenge automated decisions with a human review.
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Dame Judi Dench, a well-known British actress, says her eye disease has made it too hard for her to act on stage, in films, or to read. She was diagnosed in 2012 with a condition called age-related macular degeneration, which damages her vision.
Key Facts
Judi Dench was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012.
AMD is an eye condition that makes it hard to see clearly, especially faces.
Because of her condition, Dench can no longer perform in plays, films, or read easily.
She is 91 years old and has acted for over 70 years.
Dench won an Oscar in 1999 for playing Queen Elizabeth I in the film Shakespeare in Love.
She is famous for playing "M," the boss of James Bond, starting in 1995.
Despite her vision loss, Dench still attends events and talks about living with her condition.
She also shared memories of meeting actor Sidney Poitier and her love for Shakespeare.
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Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers debated each other before the election for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. During the debate, they discussed whether Iran is a threat to U.S. national security.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic candidate for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat.
Mike Rogers is the Republican candidate competing for the same seat.
The Senate seat in Michigan is currently open, meaning no incumbent is running.
The candidates held a final debate before the election.
One key question during the debate was about the security threat posed by Iran.
Both candidates shared their views on whether Iran threatens the safety of the United States.
This debate was part of the process to help voters decide who to elect as senator.
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AI companies in the UK warn ministers they have about 12 months to prevent public protests against datacentres, which are large facilities that store and run AI computers. They want the government to create a plan that helps local communities benefit from hosting these datacentres to reduce opposition and support AI development.
Key Facts
AI firms including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Cisco say protests like those in the US could threaten datacentre projects in the UK.
Datacentres use a lot of energy, raising public concerns especially after dry summers and high energy bills.
Microsoft plans to invest $30 billion in UK AI infrastructure and is building datacentres in London and Newport.
Anti-datacentre activism is growing due to fears about AI safety and environmental impact.
The Sovereign AI Leadership (SAIL) taskforce wants a government agreement to share benefits with communities hosting datacentres.
Proposed benefits include allowing local councils to keep more tax revenue from datacentre businesses.
Groups opposing datacentres say people may reject deals with big tech companies if they feel their interests are ignored.
The taskforce aims for practical steps to help the UK’s AI economy grow while gaining public support.
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This article presents a Thursday news quiz covering a variety of recent and interesting topics from around the world. The quiz includes questions about Canadian politics, archaeology, films, transportation projects, space missions, animal news, and pop culture.
Key Facts
A Canadian province held a referendum on whether to have a binding referendum on independence.
Archaeologists discovered the identity of bones found in a Roman sarcophagus at Westminster Abbey.
A documentary about Elizabeth Holmes had the biggest debut in North America since 2004, earning $15 million.
A new northern England city station is planned under the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme.
Japan launched a space mission to collect rocks from one of Mars’s moons.
A man was found guilty of stealing a 27-year-old flamingo from a Las Vegas hotel.
The character Apu in The Simpsons has a new voice actor.
England’s women’s rugby team lost their first game after a 41-match unbeaten streak.
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The article discusses environmental destruction caused by political leaders like President Donald Trump and former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. It highlights Brazil's recent progress in reducing deforestation, which could improve if current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is re-elected, while warning that some leaders intentionally harm the environment to hurt their opponents.
Key Facts
Since 2015, global deforestation rates have decreased, partly because of China and Brazil.
Brazilian Amazon deforestation is now one-sixth of the level recorded in 1988.
In the past four years, Brazil’s deforestation rate fell by 71% due to government policies.
If Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wins the upcoming election, Brazil could achieve zero deforestation by 2030.
President Donald Trump removed protections for public lands and weakened environmental laws in the US.
These actions are partly influenced by industries like logging, mining, and ranching.
Jair Bolsonaro, former president of Brazil, oversaw a 59% rise in deforestation and increased violence against Indigenous people and environmental defenders.
The article argues some political leaders destroy nature to attack those who care about the environment and social justice.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham is hiring new advisers to fill gaps in his team at No 10 Downing Street, including an expert on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on society. These advisers will focus on issues like AI’s effect on jobs, public services, the cost of living, and economic policy.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham wants to hire an AI expert to prepare for AI’s impact on jobs and public services.
There are concerns in government about AI’s risks and the UK’s readiness for its effects.
Burnham will also hire an adviser to focus on public control of essentials like transport, energy, housing, water, and the environment.
This adviser will work on policies related to the cost of living and bring new ideas to government plans.
Burnham has asked officials to consider more radical solutions for fixing Thames Water, even if they cost more or have legal risks.
A new economic adviser will be hired to focus on growth and government economic policy.
Other new roles include advisers on Scotland, work and welfare, and immigration, security, and justice issues.
Previous expert advisers declined to join Burnham’s team, partly due to disagreements over his economic approach.
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Ukraine depends on Elon Musk's Starlink and Starshield satellite networks to operate its drones in the war against Russia. Recently, Ukraine reported that the military-grade Starshield network was slowed down, causing its drones to fail, but Musk and U.S. officials have given conflicting statements about who was responsible.
Key Facts
Ukraine uses Starlink (commercial) and Starshield (military) satellite networks from SpaceX to connect and control its drones.
Starshield is licensed by the U.S. government and only available to countries like Ukraine, not Russia.
In mid-October, Ukraine experienced restrictions on Starshield, causing drones to lose connection and fall.
The restrictions involved limiting drone internet speeds, making it impossible for drones flying faster than certain speeds to stay connected.
President Zelenskyy said these limits stopped Ukraine from defending against Russian drones.
Elon Musk denied throttling the network, saying the U.S. government controls Starshield access.
CBS News reported Musk was behind slowing down Starshield, but this has not been fully confirmed.
There is no equivalent satellite internet system with the same global coverage as Starlink, making Ukraine highly dependent on it.
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North Korea announced it will restart loudspeaker broadcasts with messages against South Korea along their shared border. South Korea called for talks to reduce tensions and avoid accidental conflicts. The two countries have a heavily guarded border known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where recent incidents have raised worries.
Key Facts
North Korea plans to set up loudspeakers along the entire border to broadcast propaganda against South Korea.
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, made this announcement after inspecting border defenses.
A recent landmine explosion injured three South Korean soldiers in the DMZ, increasing tensions.
South Korea accused North Korea of deliberately laying mines near the border; North Korea denied this.
Both Koreas have historically used loudspeaker broadcasts for propaganda, including K-pop music and news from the South.
North Korea has added mines, fences, and barriers since 2024 to strengthen its side of the DMZ.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry urged North Korea to talk and work to prevent accidental military clashes.
North Korea cut off a military hotline and said it will no longer pursue dialogue or unification with South Korea.
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The UK government is working to fix security weaknesses found in PHP, a software used by many websites around the world. After the problems were revealed, companies including Amazon and some governments worked fast to protect their systems from hackers who might try to take advantage of these flaws.
Key Facts
PHP is a programming language used by many websites globally.
Security flaws in PHP have been present for at least 10 years.
The UK, EU, Australian, and US cybersecurity agencies warned organizations to fix the vulnerabilities quickly.
Amazon experienced multiple hacking attempts targeting these PHP flaws even before the official warning was public.
Some organizations took websites offline as a precaution if they could not immediately fix the issue.
The vulnerabilities could allow attackers to steal data, disrupt services, or access deeper parts of computer networks.
The PHP flaw details were leaked on social media before the planned fix was released.
Experts say AI helps hackers find and attack vulnerabilities faster than before, increasing cybersecurity risks.
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Brazil’s presidential candidates, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro, have engaged in a dispute over releasing their personal records before the election run-off. Bolsonaro says he will share his records only if Lula also discloses information about his advisers, security staff, and companies linked to his children. Both candidates are involved in corruption investigations.
Key Facts
Flavio Bolsonaro is the right-wing candidate challenging President Lula in Brazil’s upcoming election run-off.
Bolsonaro demands Lula expand his record release to include advisers, security personnel, and companies held by Lula’s children.
Lula agreed to share his bank, tax, phone records, and those of his family if Bolsonaro does the same.
Lula’s campaign filed a conditional request with Brazil’s electoral court to release personal records.
Both candidates are involved in corruption probes linked to businessmen and alleged money laundering.
Bolsonaro is investigated for seeking an investment from banker Daniel Vorcaro.
Lula’s son is investigated for allegedly helping a businessman gain government access; he denies wrongdoing.
Lula has stated his son will be treated like any other citizen during investigations.
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An Australian TV reporter named Will Murray helped rescue a man trapped in a car that was sinking in floodwaters in Morayfield, Queensland. Murray was reporting on the floods when the man got stuck in his vehicle.
Key Facts
Will Murray is a journalist with Australia’s public broadcaster, ABC.
Murray was covering flood conditions in Morayfield, Queensland.
A man got trapped inside a four-wheel-drive vehicle in rising floodwaters.
The reporter and a bystander helped rescue the man from the car.
The rescue happened during live news reporting on floods.
Morayfield is an area affected by severe flooding at that time.
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A programming language called PHP, used by about 70% of the world’s websites, was found to have serious security flaws. Artificial intelligence (AI) helped discover these flaws, leading many websites to go offline while they update their systems to prevent hacking.
Key Facts
PHP is a programming language created in the early 1990s and supports many websites globally.
Security firms used AI tools from companies like OpenAI and Google to find hidden security weaknesses in PHP.
The flaws could allow hackers to break into websites, including online stores and government services.
A security update (patch) was released and experts urged organizations to update their PHP software immediately.
Many websites, including official and popular sites, went offline temporarily to protect themselves.
China's industry ministry advised organizations to inspect and upgrade their systems quickly and change passwords and keys.
No active hacking attacks are confirmed yet, but the risk is serious as AI can find and exploit bugs faster than before.
Smaller websites and users may not know about the flaws or update in time, leaving them vulnerable.
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A large dusky shark named Bukangi has returned to a canal in Busan, South Korea, after authorities tried to guide her out. The shark had been stuck in the canal for a month, drawing many visitors, but she swam back despite barriers and rescue efforts.
Key Facts
Bukangi is a three-metre-long dusky shark spotted in a Busan canal for about a month.
The shark became popular, attracting over 1.6 million visitors to a local park.
Authorities guided Bukangi out of the canal into open water using nets in a careful rescue operation lasting over eight hours.
Bukangi broke through barriers and returned to the canal the day after being relocated.
Officials are planning another rescue effort to move the shark again.
Experts think Bukangi may have entered the canal because of warm water and plenty of fish.
The warming sea temperatures in the area may lead to more shark visits in Busan in the future.
The shark showed signs of injury and not eating, raising concerns about her health as water temperatures drop.
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Over 4.3 million tubes of toothpaste, including children’s products with popular characters, have been voluntarily recalled in the U.S. due to manufacturing issues. The recall involves 17 varieties under the Brush Buddies, evo, and ARU brands, and is classified as Class II, meaning possible temporary health effects but a low risk of serious harm.
Key Facts
The recall affects 17 types of toothpaste, including children's flavors like Barbie bubble gum and Hot Wheels strawberry.
Other recalled flavors include ice cream-themed varieties like vanilla and mint chocolate chip.
Products come from Brush Buddies, evo, and ARU brands.
The affected toothpaste tubes range from 3.5 to 4 ounces, sometimes sold in two-packs.
The recall was initiated by Pritam International and distributed by Ashtel Studios Inc. across the United States.
The FDA reported “deviations from current good manufacturing practice” as the reason but did not provide details.
A Class II recall means the product might cause temporary or reversible health issues, but serious problems are unlikely.
Consumers can check the FDA website for specific lot numbers and expiration dates of affected products.
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Candidates in Kansas’ Senate race debated key issues such as control of the Senate, tariffs, immigration, and wars in Iran and Ukraine. Incumbent Senator Roger Marshall aligned mostly with President Trump’s views, while challenger Adam Hamilton presented himself as a moderate Democrat focusing on economic and border concerns.
Key Facts
Roger Marshall is the Republican incumbent Senator running for re-election in Kansas.
Adam Hamilton is the Democratic challenger and a megachurch pastor describing himself as a moderate.
Marshall warns that a Democratic win would give Senate control to Chuck Schumer.
Hamilton criticizes Trump-era tariffs and immigration policies and calls for ending the Iran war.
Marshall blames rising diesel prices mainly on the Ukraine war, not Iran.
Marshall opposes some Trump policies like ICE raids and a beef import waiver that hurt Kansas farmers.
Hamilton promised not to support Schumer as Senate majority leader if Democrats win control.
The race is close, with many voters expressing concern about economic problems on farms.
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