Yemenis face rising living costs and economic troubles while war continues. Many workers have unpaid or irregular salaries, and prices for food and basic needs keep increasing. The split banking system and disrupted oil exports make moving money harder and worsen the economy.
Key Facts
Fighting continues in Yemen between the government and the Houthis.
Many workers do not get paid regularly or at all.
Prices of food, rent, healthcare, and transport are rising fast.
People in Aden often earn less than needed to cover basic food expenses.
Yemen’s economy has shrunk by about 58% per person since 2015.
Yemen has two separate banking systems, one run by the government and one by the Houthis.
Families are buying smaller amounts of food and fewer non-essential items.
Shops are offering more discounts to attract customers due to lower buying power.
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Hezbollah joined the conflict against Israel on October 8, 2023, in support of the Palestinians, which changed Lebanon's political scene. Since then, Israel’s attacks have weakened Hezbollah, including killing much of its leadership, and the group no longer holds the same power in Lebanon it once did.
Key Facts
Hezbollah decided to enter the war against Israel the day after the October 7, 2023 attack.
Israel responded with attacks that killed many Hezbollah leaders, including Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah’s political power in Lebanon dropped, helping Joseph Aoun win the presidency and a new government to form with a tougher stance on the group.
Before the war, Hezbollah was the strongest military and political force in Lebanon and had influence across the Middle East.
The group had a history of supporting allies like the Assad regime in Syria and affecting Lebanese elections.
Hezbollah acted alone in starting support for Gaza without approval from the Lebanese government or local residents in the south.
Israel and Hezbollah exchanged attacks for nearly a year, with Israel conducting many strikes inside Lebanon.
Hezbollah’s prior confidence was shown by military displays and claims of advanced missile abilities.
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More than 260 business, finance, and law leaders met to discuss Jersey’s High Value Residency program, which grants special tax status to wealthy, skilled individuals who move to the island. Some defend the program for its economic benefits and charity donations, while others criticize it for low tax contributions and increasing living costs.
Key Facts
Jersey’s High Value Residency program allows wealthy, skilled people to live on the island with a special tax rate.
High value residents pay 20% tax on the first £1.25 million of worldwide income, and 1% on income above this amount.
About 260 families currently live in Jersey through this program.
Supporters say these residents contribute a lot to the local economy and to charitable causes.
Critics argue that the tax these residents pay is very low and does not benefit local young people.
Some experts warn that increasing taxes on these wealthy residents could drive them away to other places with lower taxes.
There are concerns about the program causing higher house prices and living costs on the island.
The meeting included private bankers, lawyers, tax advisors, and other professionals who work with high net worth individuals.
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More than 80 percent of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since October 2023 due to the war with Israel. Many of Gaza’s historic sites, homes, markets, and public places have been turned to rubble, changing the city’s landscape and affecting everyday life.
Key Facts
Over 80% of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed since the war started in October 2023.
Gaza’s streets, markets, schools, hospitals, and public spaces have been heavily affected.
UNESCO confirmed damage to 164 cultural sites, including mosques, markets, churches, archaeological sites, and museums.
Important historic places damaged include the Great Omari Mosque, Qasr al-Basha, and the Church of Saint Porphyrius.
Many landmarks have been ruined or severely damaged, altering how people recognize and move around the city.
The war has destroyed much of Gaza’s infrastructure that supported daily life for its residents.
The photos show a comparison between Gaza before the war and three years after it began.
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New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he will ask President Donald Trump to remove ICE agents from New York City after they shot a man during an arrest while his five-year-old child was in the car. The man survived and is in the hospital, and protests have occurred in response to the incident.
Key Facts
A 28-year-old man was shot by ICE agents in the Bronx during an arrest operation.
The man had a five-year-old child in the car during the shooting.
The man survived and is being treated at a local hospital.
ICE stated the man was a "criminal illegal alien" from the Dominican Republic with a criminal record.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to ask President Trump to remove ICE from the city.
Protesters gathered peacefully at the shooting scene and later near the hospital.
ICE has been involved in several controversial shootings this year.
New York bars its police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
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A British carmaker named Longbow will start making a limited-edition electric sports car called the Speedster next year in Warwickshire. The project, supported by £3 million from a government fund, will create over 200 skilled jobs and aims to produce more than 10,000 cars a year.
Key Facts
Longbow plans to produce the hand-built Speedster electric sports car at Mira Tech Park in Nuneaton.
The West Midlands mayor supported the project with £3 million from a government fund to help grow the electric vehicle industry.
Longbow says the region has the right talent and supply chain to build the car, which they say cannot be built anywhere else in the world.
The Speedster costs around £85,000 and has a waiting list of buyers worldwide.
The company aims to follow the Speedster with another model called the Roadster.
Longbow expects to create more than 200 skilled jobs with this project.
The UK region is known for building lightweight sports cars and has strong engineering and design expertise.
The production is supported by the West Midlands Supplier Readiness and Transformation fund, aiming to boost the UK’s electric vehicle manufacturing.
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A photographer warns parents who use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to remove watermarks from school photos instead of paying for them. Experts say uploading children’s photos to AI tools can risk misuse, including the images being kept, sold, or used without consent.
Key Facts
Parents are using AI software to remove watermarks on school photos to avoid paying for them.
The photographer, Ian Gilbert, has noticed about 25% of parents using this method, causing profit loss for himself and the schools.
Removing watermarks using AI is considered theft by the photographer, as it bypasses paying for the photos.
AI tools often allow companies to keep, sell, or use uploaded images in other ways, which parents may not realize.
AI safety expert Dr. Simon Thorne warns it is risky to upload photos with personal information to these tools.
Uploading images that include other children can cause privacy issues since those parents might not consent.
Some photographers are working on new methods, like moving images over photos, to stop AI from copying them.
A case occurred where a parent used AI to add a missing child back into a group photo, showing the unexpected uses and risks of AI editing.
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UK water companies earned over £340 million last year by accepting industrial and commercial wastewater to treat at sewage works. Many sewage plants use treatment methods that do not remove harmful chemicals, so pollutants often go into rivers, seas, or farmland. Currently, water companies regulate this wastewater trade without independent oversight.
Key Facts
UK water companies earned more than £340 million in revenue last year from industrial and commercial wastewater.
About 608 billion litres of industrial wastewater were sent to sewage treatment works from various sites like power stations and hospitals.
Water companies issue permits called “trade-effluent consents” for businesses to send wastewater but regulate these without an independent body.
Most sewage works use treatment that removes organic material but not many industrial chemicals, such as solvents, flame retardants, and heavy metals.
Pollutants left in treated water flow into rivers, seas, and farmland via sludge used as fertilizer.
United Utilities earned the most revenue from industrial wastewater at £61.6 million, and Thames Water received the highest volume of waste at 113 billion litres.
Industrial and commercial wastewater volumes and related revenues have risen sharply across UK water companies in recent years.
Experts say the permit system is outdated and lacks full understanding of how much toxic waste enters waterworks annually.
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Two major UK health organizations, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Pharmacy, have ended sponsorship deals with Teva UK, an Israeli pharmaceutical company. These decisions followed pressure from pro-Palestine campaigners and concerns about the company’s activities, alongside Teva's recent legal fines for anti-competitive practices.
Key Facts
The Royal College of Pharmacy canceled Teva UK’s sponsorship and exhibition at its annual conference.
The Royal College of Nursing dropped Teva as a sponsor of nursing events and its union.
Both decisions came after reviews flagged Teva’s activities as not aligned with these bodies’ values.
Pro-Palestine activists influenced the move by circulating an open letter urging ethical scrutiny of partnerships related to Israel.
Teva specializes in generic drugs and has faced large fines for blocking competition and price fixing.
The European Commission fined Teva €462.6 million in 2024 for anti-competitive practices with its multiple sclerosis drug.
In 2023, Teva paid $225 million to settle US Department of Justice charges related to drug price fixing.
Campaigners want other UK medical royal colleges to also cut ties with Teva.
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A large illegal waste dump near Ashford in Kent, England, known as Hoads Wood, was cleared after 15 months and £15 million spent from taxpayer money. Criminal gangs had dumped nearly 40,000 tonnes of waste in this special woodland area in 2023, and the cleanup aimed to restore the site and prevent further illegal dumping.
Key Facts
The illegal waste dump was located in Hoads Wood, a protected natural area with rare plants and wildlife.
Around 40,000 tonnes of waste were dumped illegally over six months in 2023.
The cleanup took 15 months and cost £15 million, funded by the UK government.
Removing the waste required 2,500 truckloads to transport rubbish to a landfill site in Essex.
Other biggest illegal waste sites in England have cost £26 million in total for cleanup.
Authorities closed access to the site and created barriers to stop waste trucks from entering again.
There is concern that criminal gangs or others might return to dump waste again without quick police action.
It will take many years for the ancient woodland’s plants and animals to recover, but new open spaces and ponds might attract some wildlife eventually.
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President Donald Trump is taking steps to lower fuel prices ahead of the November midterm elections. He allowed tax-free red dye diesel, normally for off-road use, to be used on highways temporarily and pushed the G7 to release oil from reserves to increase supply. Fuel prices have risen due to conflicts in the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine war, impacting many Americans and the economy.
Key Facts
Gasoline and diesel prices have more than doubled since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began in February.
Rising fuel costs are affecting transportation, farmers, and drivers across the US.
President Trump announced a waiver to allow red dye diesel (tax-free diesel for off-road use) on highways to reduce fuel costs.
Using red dye diesel on roads causes issues because the dye is hard to remove and can lead to fines as it is considered tax evasion after the waiver ends.
Conflicts in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine have limited oil supplies, causing oil prices to stay above $100 per barrel.
Higher fuel costs are a major part of inflation and are causing financial strain on households and businesses.
The G7 countries, after pressure from Trump, agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from reserves to ease supply shortages.
Some recent small drops in fuel prices may be linked to these government actions.
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Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, faced heavy criticism after the party passed a motion labeling Zionism as a form of racism. The motion supports a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine, including modern-day Israel. Polanski, who did not vote on the motion because he was campaigning, has faced internal party conflict and external criticism but says he will continue as leader.
Key Facts
Zack Polanski has been Green Party leader for just over a year.
A by-election in Holborn and St Pancras was won by Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali, a former refugee from Somalia.
The Green Party passed a motion calling Zionism racism and supporting a single Palestinian state including Israel.
Polanski did not vote on the motion because he was campaigning in the by-election.
Polanski has been criticized by party members, Jewish groups, and European Green parties for the motion.
Caroline Lucas, former Green Party leader, did not back Polanski continuing as leader after the controversy.
Polanski himself is Jewish and has been banned from Israel.
He says there is ongoing genocide and displacement of Palestinians, calling it racist, but Israel denies it is genocide.
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As winter approaches, more people in Kyiv are looking for safer places to stay due to ongoing Russian attacks. Many families, including mothers with young children, are leaving the city to avoid power cuts and cold temperatures caused by attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Key Facts
Russia continues attacking Kyiv with drones and missiles, targeting power plants, bridges, and petrol stations.
Last winter was very cold and hard due to power cuts and freezing temperatures caused by damage to Ukraine’s power grid.
Many residents, like Mariia Shostak, are leaving Kyiv early to avoid another difficult winter.
Mariia plans to spend the winter in Egypt because it is warmer and cheaper than Europe.
A survey found 40% of Ukrainians are thinking about moving if conditions worsen.
Families with young children feel especially under stress because of the risk and harsh living conditions.
Some children, like three-year-old Polina, are suffering from health problems and anxiety due to the attacks and cold.
Kyiv’s mayor warned that the city is in a very serious situation because of the ongoing attacks.
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Candidates in three key U.S. Senate races debated issues like the economy, tariffs, the Iran war, and abortion rights as the midterm elections approach. The debates in Michigan, Georgia, and Maine focused heavily on affordability, with candidates exchanging personal attacks and differing views on policies affecting gas prices, taxes, and inflation.
Key Facts
The debates took place in Michigan, Georgia, and Maine, important states for Senate control.
Candidates discussed the high cost of living, including gas, groceries, housing, and healthcare.
In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers both support suspending fuel taxes to lower costs.
El-Sayed criticized Rogers for increasing his wealth while in office, while Rogers accused El-Sayed of being influenced by billionaires and extremist groups.
In Georgia, Jon Ossoff challenged Mike Collins over tariffs and their impact on local families and the economy.
Collins blamed inflation on the Biden administration's spending policies.
In Maine, Troy Jackson talked about rising heating and energy costs, while Susan Collins highlighted rural health funding gains.
The Georgia debate included personal and serious accusations related to white nationalism and antisemitic views linked to Collins’ staff and family.
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Anti-immigration protests in South Africa turned violent in Soweto and Durban, with at least 24 vehicles set on fire and foreign-owned shops looted. The unrest followed a court ruling that requires the government to accept asylum applications from people who entered the country irregularly.
Key Facts
Protests happened in Soweto (near Johannesburg) and Durban (a port city).
At least 24 vehicles were burned, and foreign-owned shops were attacked.
Clashes included confrontations between South African residents and foreign nationals.
The protests followed a July ruling by South Africa's Constitutional Court allowing more people to apply for asylum.
Police used rubber bullets to break up crowds and arrested three foreign nationals connected to a reported assault.
A fight at El Castillo prison in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, caused the deaths of 10 people, including nine inmates and one visiting minor, and injured 16 others. Authorities regained control of the prison, suspended visits, and are caring for the injured and informing families.
Key Facts
The fight happened inside El Castillo Penitentiary Centre in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Ten people died: nine prisoners and one visitor who was a minor.
Sixteen inmates were injured and sent for medical care.
Security forces regained control of the prison and are still present there.
Prison visits were temporarily stopped as a safety measure.
Officials say the rest of the prison population is safe.
Sinaloa state has ongoing conflicts involving the Sinaloa drug cartel.
The US State Department advises Americans not to visit six Mexican states, including Sinaloa, due to security risks.
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ICE agents in New York shot a man while he had a five-year-old child in his car. This incident has caused protests and anger in the city, and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has asked President Donald Trump to remove ICE from New York.
Key Facts
ICE agents shot a man in New York while he was in a vehicle with a child inside.
The child in the car was five years old.
The shooting happened after ICE agents surrounded the vehicle.
The incident led to protests and public anger in New York.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani contacted President Donald Trump about the situation.
The mayor requested that ICE leave the city.
The event has sparked a local debate over ICE’s presence in New York.
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An ICE agent in New York City shot a man who was then taken to the hospital. The victim’s 5-year-old child was in the car at the time of the shooting. City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, provided an update on the event.
Key Facts
The incident involved an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shooting a man in New York City.
The man who was shot was hospitalized.
The victim’s 5-year-old son was present in the car during the shooting.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke publicly about the incident.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch also gave an update on the situation.
The shooting occurred on a Thursday.
The event is under investigation by local authorities.
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Egyptian journalists from an independent platform have been arrested and charged with terrorism. They claim they were tortured and forced to give false confessions, but authorities deny these claims. Journalists plan a protest in Cairo to support their detained colleagues.
Key Facts
Six journalists from Matsadaash were arrested in Egypt and charged with terrorism.
Authorities accuse them of working without a license and spreading false news for the Muslim Brotherhood group.
The arrested journalists say they were tortured, beaten, and forced to record false confessions.
Police and the interior ministry deny the torture claims and call them baseless.
Forensic exams reportedly found no signs of physical abuse on the journalists.
Another journalist was questioned and charged for criticizing the arrests on social media.
Journalists are organizing a protest in Cairo to show support and demand their release.
This case is part of a wider crackdown on independent media in Egypt.
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A new giant waterlily species named Victoria colombiana was discovered in Colombia’s jungle after a rare photo appeared on Instagram. The plant is very large, critically endangered, and was confirmed by scientists after a jungle expedition and research.
Key Facts
The giant waterlily can grow up to three meters wide and support the weight of a small child.
It is one of the oldest flowering plants, existing before the continents separated.
Carlos Magdalena, a waterlily expert, saw the Instagram photo of the plant in the Inírida River, Colombia.
The photo was taken by Jeremiah Harris, who first thought the plant was a common species (Victoria amazonica).
Magdalena suspected the plant’s location was unusual, leading to an expedition in the rainforest with local indigenous people.
The team found the waterlily population just before their return flight after searching for several days.
Scientists named the new species Victoria colombiana and estimate only 30-50 plants remain in the wild.
This discovery highlights that many large and important species are still unknown to science.
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