New UK rules taking effect on Sunday will bar offshore workers who weigh more than 124kg in civilian clothes and footwear from flying to platforms covered by the regulations. Offshore Energies UK says the number of workers above the limit has dropped from about 2,200 to fewer than 250, with some workers using weight-loss medication amid concerns that the rules could affect their jobs.
Key Facts
The weight limit is 19st 7lb (124kg), including civilian clothing and footwear.
The rules apply to helicopter flights to offshore platforms covered by UK safety regulations.
Offshore Energies UK says fewer than 250 workers now exceed the limit, down from about 2,200 when the rules were announced last year.
The industry body said that on one platform, 60% of staff had been using weight-loss drugs, and extra refrigerator space was provided to store the medicines.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency warned that rescue winches could not safely lift people above the limit, which accounts for the rescuer, stretcher and other equipment as well as the person being lifted.
Offshore Energies UK says employers have also used gym equipment and healthier food options to help workers manage their weight.
The RMT union criticized the policy, saying there had been too little consultation and experienced staff could be excluded from offshore work.
Industry health and safety manager Graham Skinner said some employers might offer alternative onshore roles, but workers who do not meet the limit could lose their jobs.
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The UK government has removed a two-year deadline that could make some pension lump-sum death benefits taxable when payments were delayed. The change aims to prevent bereaved families from facing tax bills because of delays outside their control, though wider duties to process claims promptly remain.
Key Facts
Under the previous rule, some lump-sum death benefits were tax-free only if paid within two years after the pension scheme learned of the death.
The government announced the rule change in Wednesday’s Budget.
The change removes the two-year deadline as a reason for taxing these payments.
Capita took over administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme in December 2025 and said it inherited a backlog of more than 86,000 cases.
The backlog had grown to 120,000 cases by February, according to the article.
As of 30 September, 1,643 bereavement or death-in-service cases had been outstanding for more than 100 days.
Rob Wassell waited more than two years for a lump-sum payment after his brother’s death and was taxed at 45%; he is awaiting the outcome of a complaint review.
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President Donald Trump is campaigning in South Carolina on Thursday ahead of next week’s midterm elections. He is expected to rally for Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who faces a competitive challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews.
Key Facts
Trump took his midterm campaign tour to South Carolina.
The rally was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
Trump aimed to strengthen Republican support before next week’s midterms.
He was expected to campaign for Sen. Darline Graham.
Graham is a Republican.
Democrat Annie Andrews is challenging Graham.
The article describes the race as unexpectedly competitive.
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India’s food system feeds more than a billion people, but rising cases of food adulteration and poor hygiene are raising public health concerns. The report examines the difficulty of overseeing the country’s large and complex food industry and notes that adulterated food can have fatal consequences.
Key Facts
India’s food industry serves more than a billion people each day.
The article reports a rise in food adulteration cases.
Food adulteration can have fatal consequences.
Concerns about poor hygiene are also growing.
The scale and complexity of India’s food system make regulatory oversight difficult.
Food safety has become a growing public concern in India.
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Israeli attacks across Gaza killed at least six Palestinians and wounded dozens over the 24 hours reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry renewed its call to open the Rafah crossing so patients and wounded people can leave Gaza for medical care.
Key Facts
An Israeli drone strike on a car in the Maghazi refugee camp killed two Palestinians and wounded others, according to Al Jazeera reporting.
An Israeli strike in Jabalia wounded one Palestinian, who was taken to al-Shifa Hospital.
Four Palestinians were buried at Nasser Hospital after a drone strike in al-Mawasi near Rafah; Al Jazeera reported they were Ministry of Economy employees monitoring aid trucks.
More than 30 people were wounded in the al-Mawasi attack, according to Al Jazeera.
Emergency services said 11 people, including women and children, were wounded when Israeli artillery struck a house east of Gaza City.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said six Palestinians were killed and 38 wounded in the previous 24 hours.
The ministry said 21,468 patients and wounded people need to travel outside Gaza for treatment, including 6,430 priority cases.
The ministry said 3,056 patients and wounded people have been evacuated for treatment abroad since February: 2,614 through Rafah and 442 through Karem Abu Salem.
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The Guardian invited readers to send questions to economics columnist Aditya Chakrabortty for an online discussion on economics, democracy, and politics. The article also highlights his podcast, Radical Thinking, and recent conversations with guests including Yanis Varoufakis, Naomi Klein, Astra Taylor, and James Graham.
Key Facts
Aditya Chakrabortty is the Guardian’s senior economics correspondent and an opinion columnist.
He received an MBE for services to public understanding of the economy and wider social issues.
Chakrabortty launched the Saturday podcast Radical Thinking last month.
Recent podcast guests include Yanis Varoufakis, Naomi Klein, Astra Taylor, and playwright James Graham.
The article says Chakrabortty would answer reader questions online at 2pm GMT on Friday.
Readers could email questions to conversations@theguardian.com or join the discussion through the Guardian website.
The listed discussion topics include economics, democracy, British and global politics, and Andy Burnham’s budget.
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Zazie Beetz spoke with “CBS Mornings” about her starring role in Apple TV’s “Nocturne.” The article listing does not include details about how she prepared for the role.
Key Facts
Zazie Beetz stars in Apple TV’s “Nocturne.”
Beetz discussed the role in an interview with “CBS Mornings.”
The interview video is listed as five minutes and five seconds long.
The listing does not provide details of Beetz’s preparation.
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DoorDash will acquire grocery delivery company Instacart in a deal valued at $17 billion, with closing expected by the end of 2027 or during the first half of 2028. The companies say the deal will expand customer and retailer options, while regulators may examine it for antitrust concerns.
Key Facts
DoorDash will acquire Instacart for $65 per share, a price 26% above Instacart’s closing price on October 22.
The deal will be at least 75% cash, according to DoorDash.
Instacart shoppers will be able to shop at 150,000 stores, up from about 100,000 now.
DoorDash plans to retain Instacart’s brand, app, and technology products.
The companies will continue operating independently until the deal closes.
The acquisition would be DoorDash’s largest to date.
New York City’s consumer and worker protection commission criticized the proposed merger and said it would continue enforcing delivery workers’ rights.
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The Hill announced its third annual “Bang for Your Buck” event, focused on helping people understand their 2027 Medicare benefits. The event will cover common Medicare questions during open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
Key Facts
The event is the third annual edition of “Bang for Your Buck.”
The event focuses on 2027 Medicare benefits.
This year’s event covers more topics than prescription drug plans alone.
The event will address common questions about Medicare.
Medicare open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.
The article identifies healthcare costs and affordability as event topics.
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Babies receiving care in the neonatal intensive care unit at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital wore Halloween costumes. The article describes the costumes as the babies’ first.
Key Facts
The babies are patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital.
The hospital is in Cleveland, Ohio.
The babies wore Halloween costumes.
The costumes were described as the babies’ first-ever Halloween costumes.
The article was published on October 29, 2026.
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The Hill’s live discussion examines Mary Peltola’s Alaska Senate race and reports that her campaign recruited candidates described as “spoilers” in the contest against Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. The hosts also review a final forecast ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Key Facts
Mary Peltola is a Democrat and former U.S. representative.
Dan Sullivan is the Republican incumbent in Alaska’s Senate race.
The discussion addresses reports that Peltola’s campaign recruited candidates described as “spoilers.”
The article frames whether the reports could affect Peltola’s chances as a question.
The hosts review a final forecast before Tuesday’s elections.
Bill Sammon, The Hill’s senior vice president of editorial content, is identified as a host.
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DoorDash announced it will acquire grocery delivery company Instacart in a deal valued at about $17 billion. The companies say the combination will expand store choices and delivery services, while the deal is expected to close in late 2027 or the first half of 2028.
Key Facts
DoorDash will pay $65 per Instacart share.
The offer is a 26% premium to Instacart’s closing share price on October 22, 2026.
The companies said Instacart customers could gain access to 50,000 additional stores.
The companies plan to offer a shared membership fee for DashPass and Instacart+.
DoorDash said the combined company would pair its delivery network with Instacart’s grocery and fulfillment technology.
The companies said Instacart is expected to keep its brand and app.
The deal is expected to close in late 2027 or the first half of 2028.
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Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo and former U.S. interior secretary, is running for governor of New Mexico against Republican Gregg Hull. Polls cited by the article show Haaland with a comfortable lead ahead of the November 3 election; if elected, she would be the first Native American woman to serve as a U.S. governor.
Key Facts
Haaland was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018.
President Joe Biden appointed Haaland to lead the Interior Department in 2021, making her the first Native American to head a cabinet agency.
As interior secretary, Haaland oversaw the creation of a missing and murdered persons unit within the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Haaland has campaigned on expanding social programs, improving rural health care, and protecting natural resources and sacred lands.
Her campaign has also pledged to investigate the legacy of Native American boarding schools in New Mexico and prioritize cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people.
Her Republican opponent, Gregg Hull, is a businessman and the longtime mayor of Rio Rancho.
The article says Indigenous people make up more than 12% of New Mexico's population.
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Some startups are using AI agents as co-workers for tasks such as scheduling, coding, marketing and customer support. Their use is growing, but the article says agents can make mistakes, frustrate people who want human contact and replace some jobs; research cited has not found major productivity gains yet.
Key Facts
Anything has 15 human employees and roughly 150 AI agents, according to its founder, Dhruv Amin.
Amin predicts that companies will soon have more AI agents than human employees.
McKinsey’s survey found that about 40% of large organizations used AI agents in some capacity between May 2025 and June 2026, up from 27% the previous year.
A Boston Consulting Group report said companies expect to reduce their workforces by 10% to 15% over the next few years as they assign more work to AI.
The article says MIT research has not found major productivity gains from AI in companies so far.
Lindy said it cut its staff from nearly 50 to about 20 and filled many open roles with AI agents.
AI agents can handle tasks in parallel, but they can also make mistakes and create extra work for employees who manage them.
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A parent shares ways to keep young children entertained at home during rainy days or illness. Suggestions include a play tent, magnetic building tiles, a steering-wheel car toy and low-mess craft kits, alongside gear for going out in wet weather.
Key Facts
The writer is a parent of two young children and says staying indoors for a full day can be challenging.
The writer recommends a play tent as a space for reading, play and quiet time.
The family uses Magna-Tiles, and the writer mentions a Rail Racers set as a possible hit with children.
A steering-wheel car toy has become popular with children visiting the writer’s home.
The writer suggests craft supplies and pre-made kits, including a foil sticker set described as easy to use with little mess.
The article also mentions puddle suits and other gear for going out in wet weather.
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The Pentagon inspector general declined to investigate recent Starlink and Starshield disruptions in Ukraine, saying the matter concerns the military’s contract with SpaceX. The office said the Air Force and Space Force are better placed to address it, while a senator who requested the inquiry called for an independent review.
Key Facts
Inspector General Platte Moring told lawmakers that his office would not investigate the disruptions.
The inspector general’s office said the reported interruptions were a contractual matter.
The Air Force and Space Force oversee the U.S. military’s contract with SpaceX for Starlink.
The disruptions drew criticism as Ukraine faced Russian attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said limits on the satellite networks were imposed by the U.S. government.
U.S. and Ukrainian officials later said the services had returned to normal conditions.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said the decision not to investigate was concerning and urged the inspector general to conduct a full review.
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The article describes a financial web behind what its title calls a surging AI bubble. It argues that Silicon Valley’s unregulated bank should face tighter controls.
Key Facts
The article’s title links AI growth to financial risks.
The title characterizes the AI market as a surging bubble.
The article refers to an unregulated bank in Silicon Valley.
The article calls for that bank to be brought under control.
The provided text does not identify the bank or explain the financial arrangements involved.
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Reform UK has launched a free, monthly newspaper called the Reformer as part of a plan to build a national publishing operation. The first edition features party leader Nigel Farage prominently and promotes Reform policies, party activities and membership.
Key Facts
The paper’s front page shows Farage with a labrador and carries the headline “Nigel Farage: we will fix broken Britain”.
Farage is the only person credited as a reporter in the first edition, although the party is advertising 12 journalism roles.
Reform says it has sent the paper to 15 million people across Britain.
The publication includes Reform’s proposal to use the Royal Navy to return migrants crossing the Channel to France.
The first edition promotes Reform membership and invites readers to apply as candidates for the May 2027 local elections.
Reform insiders described the first edition as rushed and said later monthly editions would include more news and features.
Printweek reported that Walstead Group printed the paper; the publication is reportedly led by former Spiked editor Mick Hume.
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After losing Brazil’s presidential runoff to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by 4.4 million votes, Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States and said he would lead the opposition from there. He has not conceded and alleged electoral fraud without evidence; Brazil’s electoral authority said voting followed the law, and BBC analysis found about 34,000 people voted during extended hours.
Key Facts
Lula defeated Bolsonaro in Sunday’s runoff by 4.4 million votes.
Bolsonaro described himself as “leader of Brazil” in a letter posted on X, after deleting an earlier version that called him the “rightful president.”
Bolsonaro alleged that extended polling hours amounted to electoral fraud, but offered no evidence.
Both campaigns requested the extension, according to the article, and Brazil’s electoral authority said the vote proceeded normally and in line with the law.
BBC Brazil and BBC Verify found that about 34,000 people voted during the extended hours.
Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States after failing to surrender his passports as ordered by the Supreme Court in connection with a money-laundering investigation.
Bolsonaro has not been charged in the money-laundering probe and denies wrongdoing.
His party recognized the election result, and party leader Rogério Marinho said there was no evidence of electoral fraud.
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The article describes the government’s fiscal statement as a cautious, limited step that avoided the market shock caused by Liz Truss’s mini-budget but did not set out a new economic model. It says the prime minister’s planned 10-year strategy will need to address unresolved choices on welfare, energy costs, regional devolution, infrastructure and public spending.
Key Facts
The statement included £65 billion in additional borrowing over five years, and the article says markets showed little reaction.
The article links the government’s caution to the economic effects of the Middle East conflict and uncertainty over energy and borrowing costs.
The Office for Budget Responsibility forecast that the welfare bill, including pensioner support, will reach £431 billion in 2031.
A review of welfare policy may lead to a welfare-to-work scheme, including a possible separate system for younger workers.
The government plans technical changes to energy levies and renewable power auctions, while retaining its commitment to net zero.
The proposal to let local mayors keep some additional business-rate and income-tax revenue would give them incentives to grow regional economies.
The article says the 10-year plan will need to address infrastructure questions, including the Liverpool-to-Manchester high-speed rail line.
The government also faces pressure to accommodate a defence spending target of 3% of national income by 2030.
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