The government of Guernsey has started a savings program that puts aside £10 each week for children in care. These children can access the money when they turn 18 to help with the costs of starting adult life.
Key Facts
The program is run by Guernsey's Children and Family Community Services and Guernsey Community Savings.
About 40 children currently in care will begin benefiting from the scheme immediately.
The money is saved weekly, starting from when the child enters care.
At 18, the young person can open an account with Guernsey Community Savings or move the money to another bank.
The scheme helps tackle financial challenges young people in care face as they become independent.
The States of Guernsey pays a one-time fee to set up the program through a payment company called allpay.
Social workers support the young people in managing their savings as they approach adulthood.
The goal is to give children in care a better financial foundation and more confidence as they grow up.
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In the Yemeni city of Taiz, women who first organized food deliveries for government fighters have started raising money to buy weapons and ammunition. This change happened after renewed fighting and a siege by Houthi forces began in early September, severely limiting supplies to the city.
Key Facts
Taiz is a southwestern city in Yemen held by the government and under siege by Houthi forces.
Women initially baked cookies and delivered food to soldiers defending the city.
Fighting resumed in early September after nearly four years of relative calm following a 2022 truce.
The Houthis advanced rapidly, taking control of coastal areas including the port city of Mocha.
The city is surrounded, causing shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
Some women began raising funds to buy weapons and ammunition for fighters due to urgent needs.
Social media discussions influenced the shift towards supporting fighters with arms.
These efforts reflect women's involvement in defending their city without participating directly in combat.
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Many Europeans have protested recently about high living costs, low pay, and poor public services. Governments in Europe, especially France, are facing rising debt and higher borrowing costs, which reduce the money available for public services like schools and hospitals.
Key Facts
Large protests have occurred in France, Belgium, Italy, and Portugal over jobs, housing, and public services.
France had over 550,000 people protest nationwide recently.
European governments borrow money by selling bonds, promising to repay with interest over time.
France’s government pays about 5% interest on 10-year bonds, higher than Germany’s 3.41%.
Higher borrowing costs mean governments spend more on interest and have less for services.
The United States has the highest government debt at $41.4 trillion, 127% of its economy size.
France ranks fifth in the world in total debt, owing $4.2 trillion or 118.5% of its economy.
Other countries with high debt compared to their economies are Japan (199%), Italy (138%), and the UK (102%).
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Pavlohrad, a Ukrainian city near the frontline with Russia, continues to face daily attacks with drone and missile strikes. Despite the ongoing bombardment and exhaustion, residents say they refuse to accept Russian occupation and want the war to end through negotiation, though they doubt Russia's willingness to negotiate fairly.
Key Facts
Pavlohrad is less than 90 km from the frontline with Russia in eastern Ukraine.
The city experiences constant drone attacks, missile strikes, and frequent air raid warnings.
Residents express tiredness but remain determined not to yield to Russian demands.
Locals do not support giving land to Russia, fearing it would lead to losing more territory.
Some residents criticize US President Donald Trump’s statements against Ukrainian President Zelensky, viewing them as unhelpful.
Trump has called for new Ukrainian leadership to make a deal with Russia, which many Ukrainians oppose.
Ukrainian law currently bans elections during wartime, and most Ukrainians oppose changing that rule.
The people of Pavlohrad want peace but insist on living in an independent Ukraine without Russian control.
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Arab parties in Israel may hold the key to forming the next government after the upcoming election, as neither main bloc has a clear majority. Increased tensions between Jewish and Arab citizens, following the October 2023 Hamas attack and ongoing conflict, have made coalition talks difficult.
Key Facts
Arab Israelis make up about 20% of Israel’s population and could decide the election outcome.
Voter turnout among Arab Israelis has been low in past elections but is expected to rise this time.
The current government is a coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties.
Main opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot has ruled out partnering with Arab parties.
After the October 7 Hamas attack, Arab Israelis faced increased discrimination and arrests.
The government has cut budgets for Arab communities to fund war-related defense spending.
Far-right politicians have promised to increase Jewish settlement in areas with many Arab residents.
Netanyahu’s campaign warns voters against forming a government with Arab parties, using inflammatory slogans.
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A woman in Devon is afraid to turn on her heating because the cost of heating oil has almost doubled in six months. The rising prices are causing hardship for people who rely on oil for heating, especially in rural areas with no gas supply.
Key Facts
Roslynn Garner-Gatley, 76, uses oil for all her heating and hot water because she has no gas supply.
Six months ago, 500 litres of oil cost about £317 plus VAT; now it costs around £600 plus VAT.
She has changed her habits to save money, like going to bed early, using a hot water bottle, and only heating water when needed.
Heating fuel costs have risen by up to 82% since the start of the US-Israeli war involving Iran.
The government plans to improve rules for the heating oil market, promote competition, and provide better customer compensation.
Local councils in Cornwall and Devon have crisis funds to help households struggling with high heating oil costs.
Cornwall Council has distributed over £415,000 to households and plans to give more support.
Devon’s crisis fund, about £8.4 million yearly, helps low-income families with essential costs they cannot afford.
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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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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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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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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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France is experiencing violent protests, with clashes, riots, and looting in several cities. President Donald Trump said the unrest is caused by migrants and weak border policies, but French leaders and students disagree and say the protests are about social issues and student demands.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump claimed that migrants and open border policies are causing unrest in France and Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron called Trump’s comments “stupid” and said there is no proof of foreign interference in the riots.
Protests began as mostly peaceful student demonstrations about school conditions but turned violent with attacks on city halls and looting.
Over 2,000 people were detained by police during the unrest, most of them under 18 years old.
France does not track arrests by race or ethnicity, and officials have not linked the violence to migration.
Both far-right and centrist French politicians blame left-wing groups for encouraging disorder.
Similar protests and unrest have happened in Italy, Albania, Spain, and concerns about immigration have been raised in Hungary and Poland.
Experts say Trump’s comments were made to influence American voters ahead of U.S. elections by using the France unrest as an example.
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U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said that the decision about Ukraine’s access to the satellite internet service Starlink is controlled by SpaceX and Elon Musk, not the White House. This comes after reports that Starlink’s military-grade version, Starshield, faced a slowdown affecting Ukraine’s drone operations during the conflict with Russia.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio said SpaceX and Elon Musk control Ukraine’s access to Starlink, not the U.S. government.
Starshield is a special military version of Starlink used for defense purposes.
Reports said Musk ordered a slowdown of Starshield services affecting Ukraine’s drone intercept capabilities.
Some sources said the White House was involved, but Rubio and President Trump denied this.
Ukrainian officials confirmed the slowdown disrupted missions but said Starshield services were restored soon after.
Musk said any limits on Starlink usage are set by the U.S. military and President Donald Trump.
Pentagon officials described the Starlink slowdown as a commercial decision based on service terms.
Rubio claimed Ukraine never had access to Starshield, although Ukraine’s president said both Starlink and Starshield were affected.
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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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El Salvador has launched a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran soldiers who were kidnapped by gangs in Haiti. President Nayib Bukele warned the gangs that a stronger response will follow if the soldiers are not returned safely. The soldiers were attacked while working with a UN-backed gang suppression force in Haiti, where gang violence is widespread.
Key Facts
Four Salvadoran soldiers were kidnapped in Haiti after gangs attacked their armored vehicle.
The soldiers are part of a UN-supported Gang Suppression Force working in Haiti.
President Bukele of El Salvador has promised a strong response if the soldiers are not released safely.
Haitian gangs control about 70% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, where the attack happened.
Haiti’s government called rescuing the soldiers an “absolute priority.”
More than a million people have been displaced by gang violence in Haiti recently.
The Salvadoran troops are part of a multinational force including countries like Chad, Jamaica, and Guatemala.
Over 5,700 people have been killed or hurt and more than 230 kidnapped in Haiti from January to mid-September 2024.
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