The article says Chancellor John Healey is due to announce the government’s tax and spending plans in the Budget later today. BBC political correspondent Harry Farley explains what to expect.
Key Facts
John Healey is identified as the chancellor.
Healey is due to unveil the Budget later today.
The Budget will set out the government’s tax plans.
The Budget will set out the government’s spending plans.
BBC political correspondent Harry Farley provides an explainer.
The article is listed under Politics.
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Zimbabwe’s mining sector earned a record $8.5 billion in export revenue in 2025, with gold and platinum-group metals helping drive the increase. In communities near major platinum operations, residents say roads, schools, water services and local livelihoods have not kept pace with mining activity.
Key Facts
Platinum reached $2,923 an ounce on January 26, according to the World Platinum Investment Council.
Zimbabwe has the world’s second-largest known deposits of platinum-group metals, after South Africa.
Mining accounts for about 75 percent of Zimbabwe’s exports and 14.5 percent of its gross domestic product, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration.
The mining sector’s export earnings rose from $5.9 billion in 2024 to $8.5 billion in 2025, according to the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe’s then-president, John Musekiwa.
Zimplats operates mines, concentrators and processing facilities in the Mhondoro-Ngezi district, on the Great Dyke mineral belt.
A local councillor said some children walk 15 to 25 kilometres to reach Musinambi Secondary School and called for a satellite school in Makwavarara.
Residents near the mining area said that infrastructure and basic services have not kept pace with the area’s growth.
Residents alleged that sewage from the mining area entered the Ngwazani River; the article excerpt does not provide a response from the mining company or verification of the claim.
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The Odyssey, a U.S. residential cruise ship, suspended its world voyage after fuel costs rose sharply during the war in Iran. Its operator said it could not absorb the resulting losses or pass the full increase on to residents, who were told to leave the ship.
Key Facts
The Odyssey began a planned three-year voyage to all seven continents about two years ago.
Villa Vie Residences said monthly fuel costs per cabin rose from a historical average of $1,800 to an estimated $6,000–$8,000 in parts of Asia.
The company said it tried to cut fuel use by slowing the itinerary and spending more time in port.
The ship docked at Cambodia’s Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on Oct. 23 for a planned five-day visit and remained there on Wednesday.
The Odyssey carried 203 passengers from 15 nationalities, mostly Americans, and 156 crew members; it could accommodate 650 residents.
Passengers were told to leave the ship, but the crew’s status was unclear.
The ship had a confirmed itinerary through November 2027. The company did not address plans for a second residential cruise ship.
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President Donald Trump is campaigning heavily for Republicans ahead of the midterms, urging supporters to imagine he is on the ballot. His low approval ratings and the political issues facing voters make his personal role in the campaign a significant risk for the party, while the White House says he is its strongest messenger.
Key Facts
Trump is holding campaign rallies across the country as the midterm elections approach.
The article cites the war with Iran, concerns about artificial intelligence, redistricting disputes, high energy prices, and living costs as issues shaping the election year.
Trump spoke on both nights of the first Republican midterm convention, held last month in Dallas.
Trump has said he would give voters $5,000 if Republicans keep control of Congress, though the proposal would likely require lawmakers' approval.
Political groups associated with Trump spent at least about $277 million to help Republicans after September 1.
Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC had $416 million at the start of the previous month, according to the article.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle called Trump the Republican Party's leader, best messenger, and unmatched motivator.
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Partial election results show Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud as Israel’s largest party, but his bloc appears short of the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc also appears unlikely to win a majority without support from Arab-led parties, while absentee ballots remain uncounted.
Key Facts
Israel elects 120 members of parliament, and a government needs 61 seats for a majority.
Early results put Netanyahu’s Likud ahead as the largest single party.
Netanyahu’s bloc of right-wing, ultra-Orthodox and ultra-nationalist parties appears just short of a majority.
Partial results suggest Eisenkot’s bloc also lacks a clear path to a majority without Arab-led parties.
Most Jewish opposition parties said during the campaign that they would not work with Arab-majority lists.
Arab Israelis make up about one-fifth of Israel’s population, and turnout among them appeared unusually high.
Absentee ballots, mostly from soldiers, could affect the final count; results may take another day or two.
Netanyahu and Eisenkot each told supporters they would work to form the next government.
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UK Chancellor John Healey is due to present the Burnham government’s first budget, which officials have described as low-key. The article says the government faces limits on spending and has previewed measures aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures, including help with winter energy bills and energy-market reforms.
Key Facts
Healey is scheduled to announce the budget in the House of Commons at 12:30pm.
The government says the budget will offer support to low- and middle-income households.
Healey has said he will follow Labour’s fiscal rules and has rejected calls to raise capital gains tax or lower the mansion tax.
The article says the Iran war has raised borrowing costs and reduced the government’s spending power.
The government plans to abolish a rule that has left some unpaid carers in debt.
The government has paused plans to bring the lower minimum wage for workers under 21 in line with the rate for older workers.
Expected measures include winter energy-bill support for poorer families and energy-market reforms intended to reduce bills.
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said he intends to leave office when his third term ends in April 2030, though the article notes that he has reversed similar statements before. It argues that he may be preparing a succession that preserves the military’s powerful role in Egypt’s political system, amid economic strain and concerns about accountability for his rule.
Key Facts
El-Sisi said at a military academy graduation ceremony that he plans to leave office in April 2030 and that the constitution would not be changed to extend his rule.
El-Sisi previously denied plans to run for president in 2013 and said in 2017 that he would preserve the constitution’s term limits, but he later supported constitutional amendments in 2019.
Egypt’s constitution, as amended in 2019, gives the armed forces a role in protecting the state and what it describes as the people’s rights and freedoms.
Egypt’s debt is reported at 81 percent of gross domestic product, and interest payments exceed combined spending on healthcare, education, wages and subsidies.
The Egyptian pound has lost more than 80 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar since 2014, while cumulative inflation exceeds 460 percent.
El-Sisi came to power after the 2013 coup against President Mohamed Morsi, which was followed by mass killings and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of politicians, activists and journalists.
The article describes speculation that el-Sisi’s announcement could be a bid to seek public support for another term or to head off possible military action, but says a military-shaped succession is more likely.
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Alastair Campbell urged Australian politicians and media to lower political hostility and strengthen public support for democratic politics after the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines. He said public calls for change after attacks on British politicians faded quickly, and argued that economic hardship and distrust have helped fuel populist politics.
Key Facts
A 43-year-old man has been charged over the alleged attack on Helen Haines, and police are investigating.
The attack outside Haines’ electorate office in northern Victoria left her without both legs, according to the article.
Campbell said Haines’ expected return to parliament could help keep attention on the consequences of political violence.
Campbell cited the killings of British MPs Jo Cox and David Amess as cases after which political debate briefly drew calls for change.
He urged politicians and media to consider how they speak to the public and why their professions face low trust.
Campbell linked the rise of populist politics to the lingering effects of the 2008 financial crisis, including austerity and pressure on living standards.
Campbell is due to visit Australia for a speaking tour next month.
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Hair stylist Georgia Chappels runs a free, drop-in haircut project at venues in Hampshire and Dorset. After receiving help from food banks and charities during a financial crisis, she hopes to encourage other stylists to offer similar services in their communities.
Key Facts
The Community Haircuts project has been running for a year.
Professional hairdressers and barbers volunteer their time at the events.
The service is open to everyone and does not ask clients to explain why they need a free haircut.
Students and older residents have used the service, as well as families.
Chappels works in a salon four days a week alongside the project.
Barber Thomas Perriman recently joined the volunteers.
The project advertises its events on Facebook.
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Knowsley Council is offering families in Merseyside a free Halloween costume swap during half-term. The scheme aims to help parents save money and reduce textile waste by encouraging families to reuse costumes.
Key Facts
Lola Roberts said a clown costume her son chose cost £40, so she showed him free alternatives.
The swap scheme is running at Prescot Library during the school half-term.
Children can try on costumes and take part in craft activities.
Roberts said she had set aside unwanted costumes to donate for other families to reuse.
Grace Barlow of Knowsley Council said the scheme aims to ease financial pressure on parents and reduce textile waste.
The council plans to accept unwanted costumes at library collection points after Halloween for reuse next year.
The council hopes the Halloween swap will continue in future years.
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Anthropic reported that 50 professional analysts often followed the preferences of AI assistants during a fictional policy task. The company said the results suggest AI can influence expert decisions, but noted that the study used one task and assistants deliberately given a preference.
Key Facts
Anthropic asked 50 professional analysts to assess whether a fictional advisory program for a farming cooperative should be expanded.
Analysts made four choices between defensible options before giving a final policy recommendation.
Anthropic secretly set each AI assistant to favor a particular decision.
Analysts selected options matching their assistant’s preference 86 percent of the time.
Analysts who had formed a preference changed their decision 60 percent of the time when the AI disagreed.
When explaining their decisions, 77 percent of analysts used arguments from their AI assistant, while 15 percent credited AI as the source of their thinking.
Anthropic said the study had limitations, including its use of a single task and assistants deliberately given a preference.
The researchers said oversight should examine how decisions are made and help experts state their assumptions and values.
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Republicans spent an estimated $183 million on television ads attacking Democrats over transgender-related issues in the final phase of the 2026 midterm campaign, according to data through Oct. 25. The strategy aims to energize voters, even as polling cited in the article found that far more voters prioritize the economy and cost of living.
Key Facts
Republican-backed groups aired about 217,000 transgender-focused television ads nationwide through Oct. 25.
The estimated $183 million in spending exceeded Republican spending on similar ads at the same point before the 2024 election.
Texas received an estimated $58 million for more than 50,000 airings, the largest share of the spending described.
Republicans also invested in ads targeting Democrats in Ohio, Kansas, South Carolina, Iowa and Mississippi.
An October AP-NORC poll found about 1 in 10 registered voters said transgender issues were among the election’s most important issues.
The same poll found roughly 8 in 10 cited the economy or cost of living.
President Donald Trump highlighted transgender-related themes at campaign rallies while playing down rising gasoline prices and other costs.
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The U.N. General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution condemning the U.S. embargo on Cuba, which has been on the agenda for 34 years. The vote comes amid rising tensions between the Trump administration and Cuba, including a public confrontation between their representatives at the U.N.
Key Facts
The General Assembly has voted on a resolution condemning the embargo annually for 34 years.
Last year, the resolution passed 165-7, with 12 abstentions.
The resolution is not legally binding but reflects the views of U.N. member states.
The article says the Trump administration is seeking to influence this year’s vote.
President Donald Trump raised the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Cuba last week.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez argued during a General Assembly session on Tuesday.
The U.S. first imposed its embargo on Cuba in 1960, after Cuba’s revolution and nationalization of U.S.-owned property.
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Simon Tisdall argues that President Donald Trump may renew military action against Iran after the U.S. midterm elections, potentially alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He warns that another attack could raise energy prices and disrupt trade, and says diplomacy is needed to prevent wider harm.
Key Facts
The article says Trump reportedly rejected Netanyahu’s push for an attack on Iran this month, partly because of concerns about the midterm elections.
Tisdall argues that Trump’s political calculations may change after the midterm polls close.
The article says Netanyahu may favor renewed conflict to strengthen his position in post-election coalition talks.
The article reports that a renewed assault could target a mountain complex where Iran’s enriched uranium is believed to be stored.
Pentagon officials reportedly say Iran could retaliate against Gulf oil infrastructure and undersea internet cables.
The article warns that attacks or disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab could affect energy supplies, transport and trade.
Tisdall argues that renewed fighting could push oil prices higher and harm consumers worldwide.
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John Healey is expected to present a budget focused on household costs, energy bills, first-time buyers and defence spending. Higher debt-interest costs have reduced the government’s projected financial buffer, while the article says Healey cannot raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT rates without breaking manifesto commitments.
Key Facts
The government is expected to spend about £1.42tn on day-to-day services and public investment this year.
About £100bn is expected to go toward debt interest, which has risen as government borrowing costs increased.
The Resolution Foundation estimates that the government’s £24bn budget buffer may have fallen to about £12bn.
The budget is expected to extend parental pay to more than 150,000 additional parents each year and change rules for unpaid carers.
Healey plans to spend more than £1bn to help poorer households with energy bills, including by expanding the Warm Home Discount.
The budget is expected to set out details of a first-time buyer scheme offering a 20% equity loan for new-build homes and a minimum deposit of 2.5%.
Healey aims to address a £4.7bn shortfall in the defence investment plan, mainly through cuts to other departments, according to the article.
The article says Healey has ruled out raising income tax, National Insurance and VAT rates because of manifesto commitments.
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Independent retailers on UK high streets face rising costs, online competition and changing customer habits. Birmingham photography shop owner Surpreet Suri says rent, taxes, wages and supplies have made his current location difficult to afford, despite a loyal customer base.
Key Facts
Suri’s father started the family photography business in Birmingham about 40 years ago, and it once had four locations.
The business now has one shop in Kings Heath, and Suri is considering moving to reduce costs.
Suri says he pays himself less than the UK minimum wage and lives month to month.
He says refilling one professional printer with ink costs about 2,000 pounds.
Online retailers account for 28 percent of UK retail sales.
Nearly 14 percent of UK high street retail units are estimated to be vacant.
Independent retailers face costs including rent, business rates, VAT, wages, energy and specialist materials.
The UK government’s budget is due on Wednesday, with possible business-rates relief for smaller businesses in focus.
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Mair Godley, 78, says Reform UK councillor Carl Johnson compared her to a Nazi collaborator after she said she had volunteered to teach English to asylum seekers near Wethersfield, Essex. A draft meeting record says the discussion became heated and Johnson was asked to leave; Godley’s husband has filed a formal complaint with Essex County Council.
Key Facts
The Godleys live near the former Wethersfield military base, where the Home Office houses hundreds of asylum seekers.
At a parish council meeting on 14 October, Nick Godley questioned Johnson about potholes and Operation Vanguard, a private-security patrol scheme.
Mair Godley said she had volunteered to help asylum seekers at the facility learn English.
The couple say Johnson called her help “facilitating the invasion” and compared it to helping Germany during the Second World War.
Johnson also said he did not want to raise his daughter to be raped and murdered by asylum seekers, according to the article.
Draft meeting minutes say the discussion became heated and Johnson was asked to leave to restore order.
Nick Godley filed a formal complaint with Essex County Council, which said it would comment after investigating and finding a breach.
Reform UK and Johnson did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
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The Echo project in Sheffield sells pre-loved clothes, including school uniforms, for as little as 50p. Organisers say it helps families access affordable clothing, reduces waste and gives local people a place to meet and take part in community activities.
Key Facts
The Echo project operates at York House in Manor Top and on City Road in Sheffield.
Manor and Castle Development Trust runs the project with community interest company Uni-Recycle.
The project sells coats, shoes, sportswear and school uniforms.
Some school uniforms cost 50p, including items that may have originally sold for £14.
Organisers say the project aims to make second-hand clothing accessible and reduce clothing sent to landfill.
The trust also offers activities and support including toddler groups, employment help and physical and mental wellbeing services.
The project says affordable sportswear and trainers can help people take part in physical activity.
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The Cook Political Report moved the Kansas governor’s race from lean Republican to a toss-up and the Nebraska race from likely Republican to lean Republican, citing factors including polling and third-party candidates. The changes came one week before the midterm elections; Cook said Democrats could gain two to four governorships.
Key Facts
Donald Trump won Kansas in 2024 with 57.2% of the vote and Nebraska with 59.3%.
Republican Ty Masterson is running against Democrat Cindy Holscher in Kansas.
Cook cited the competitive Kansas Senate race and internal polling from Holscher as factors in its rating change.
Republican incumbent Jim Pillen is running against Democrat Lynne Walz in Nebraska.
Cook cited internal polling and third-party candidates Rick Beard and Brett Lindstrom among factors in its Nebraska rating change.
Masterson and Pillen have led in a majority of recent polls, according to the article.
Thirty-six governor’s offices are on the ballot, and the parties currently hold 18 each.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel needs a right-wing government and warned against relying on Arab parties to form a coalition. Early election projections showed Likud leading as the largest party, but neither Likud’s bloc nor the opposing alliance appeared likely to secure a governing majority.
Key Facts
With more than half of ballots counted, projections put Netanyahu’s bloc at 56 seats and Gadi Eisenkot’s alliance at 49.
Israeli Channels 12 and 13 projected Likud to win 27 seats, compared with 21 for Eisenkot’s Yashar party.
Netanyahu said final results would take another one or two days to emerge.
Netanyahu cited Israeli military operations and security zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria as achievements of his current term, which began in 2022.
Netanyahu said Israel had an opportunity to work with U.S. President Donald Trump to address what he called the threat from Iran.
Analysts said the party seeking to form a government may need an uncomfortable coalition agreement, while opposition voters would oppose a deal with Netanyahu’s coalition.
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