Ministers from other UK departments say Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has not provided detailed estimates of how her asylum reforms could affect homelessness and rough sleeping. Mahmood’s allies say the impact cannot yet be quantified because the proposals are not final, while the Home Office says the reforms will not leave people homeless and that the changes have saved taxpayers more than £1 billion since the election.
Key Facts
The proposed asylum reforms include ending permanent leave to remain and the government’s duty to support people who would otherwise become destitute.
A Home Office impact assessment says reduced disposable income could cause hardship or destitution and increase demand for homelessness services and rough-sleeping support.
Ministers responsible for housing and other policy areas have sought more information about the reforms’ possible effects.
Sources say Ali McGovern and Miatta Fahnbulleh raised concerns while serving as ministers under Keir Starmer, with support from then housing secretary Steve Reed.
McGovern and Fahnbulleh met Alex Norris, then a Home Office minister, but believed their questions were not adequately answered.
A planned formal letter requesting details was not sent after Fahnbulleh resigned from government.
The Home Office says the reforms followed the usual cross-government process and says asylum seekers will be moved to more suitable accommodation as asylum hotels close.
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The UK will raise its tax-free trading allowance for side-hustle income from £1,000 to £3,000 a year in April 2027. The government estimates that up to 1.4 million people could benefit, including some who will pay less tax or no longer need to report their trading income to HMRC.
Key Facts
The allowance will increase from £1,000 to £3,000 in April 2027.
The change was announced in the budget by the chancellor.
The government estimates that up to 1.4 million people could benefit.
About 400,000 people are expected to see their tax bill fall, with an average saving of £380.
About 100,000 people are expected to no longer need to report their trading income to HMRC.
People earning more than £3,000 can choose whether to use the allowance or deduct eligible business expenses and capital costs when calculating taxable profit.
Selling personal belongings for less than their original purchase price is not taxable because the seller has not made a profit.
Online platforms must report seller information to HMRC when a seller makes 30 sales or earns €2,000, about £1,700, in a year.
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France will deploy about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country for protests planned on October 31. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a very high risk of disorder and said authorities would ban Halloween gatherings promoted online as calls for a “revolution.”
Key Facts
The deployment will match the number of officers mobilized the previous week.
The Yellow Vest movement and student unions called for a new day of protests.
Nuñez said demonstrations could take place but would not be allowed in city centres where authorities see a risk of disorder.
The government plans to strengthen security measures to protect shops.
Protests on October 17 led to rioting, looting and damage to public property.
Student groups said government proposals on learning conditions and school renovations did not meet their demands.
Youth organization representatives met Nuñez on Thursday and criticized the meeting and the police response.
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Victoria’s Court of Appeal dismissed Erin Patterson’s appeal against her convictions and removed the minimum prison term that could have made her eligible for parole. The judges ruled that the crimes were so serious that she must remain in prison for life, though she can ask Australia’s High Court to review the convictions and sentence.
Key Facts
Patterson was convicted of murdering three relatives of her estranged husband and attempting to murder a fourth.
The victims ate a meal at Patterson’s home in Leongatha, Victoria, in July 2023.
The three murder victims were Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson; Ian Wilkinson survived after weeks in hospital.
Patterson said she added death cap mushrooms to the meal by accident.
The appeals court upheld her convictions and granted prosecutors’ request to remove her 33-year nonparole period.
Justice Stephen McLeish said the court found the crimes involved “shocking criminality” and were extraordinarily cold and calculated.
Patterson can apply to Australia’s High Court, her last appeal option.
Patterson is the second woman in Australia sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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The UK Home Office revoked Swedish academic Andreas Malm’s Electronic Travel Authorisation, saying his presence in the country was not conducive to the public good. Malm believes the decision is linked to a planned London panel about Palestine, but the Home Office had not responded to requests for clarification at the time of publication.
Key Facts
Malm was due to speak at a panel organised by the magazine Tribune in London the following week.
The panel was also set to include Huda Ammori, cofounder of Palestine Action, and be chaired by Hala Hanina of Palestine Deep Dive.
The Home Office email told Malm to apply for a visa if he wishes to visit the UK.
The UK government website lists three weeks as the processing time for a standard visitor visa.
Malm said he had visited the UK regularly for decades and last travelled there in May.
Malm said he had asked the Home Office to explain the cancellation but had not received a response.
The UK proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation last year; rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the move.
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Survivors of three deadly train crashes in Spain are urging authorities to improve rail safety and maintenance. The article says an initial investigation linked the January 2026 Adamuz crash to a broken rail, while the causes of the latest crash near Urda remain uncertain.
Key Facts
The 2013 Angrois crash near Santiago de Compostela killed 80 people and remains Spain’s deadliest rail accident.
At least 69 people were killed in a train collision near Urda, close to Toledo, on Wednesday, according to the article.
A January 2026 collision near Adamuz killed 46 people.
An initial investigation into the Adamuz crash found that a broken rail caused one train to leave the track and enter the path of an oncoming train.
The article says investigators had not established the cause of the Urda crash; a survivor cited possible human error and a control-system problem.
Angrois survivor Cristobal Gonzalez said he still struggles with post-traumatic stress and called for more investment in rail safety.
The article cites European Commission data showing Spain spent an average of about $1.67 billion a year on high-speed lines from 2018 to 2022, with 16 percent going to maintenance or repairs.
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Israel’s election left Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats and the opposition grouping with 48, while Palestinian parties won a record 19 seats. The opposition could form a majority only if it secures support from Palestinian parties, but coalition talks face deep political divisions; authorities say they have found no evidence of election fraud.
Key Facts
Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 seats in the Knesset.
The grouping led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48 seats.
Palestinian parties won 19 seats, their highest total to date.
A governing majority in the Knesset requires 61 seats.
Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, is expected to invite the person most likely to form a government to begin coalition talks.
Netanyahu claimed Palestinian-led parties had stolen the election.
Israeli authorities said there was no evidence of election fraud.
If coalition talks fail, Netanyahu could remain caretaker prime minister while the country faces new elections or prolonged uncertainty.
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President Donald Trump has told rally audiences that states may receive less federal help if voters elect Democrats in the November midterms. He tied continued aid for veterans affected by Camp Lejeune contamination to Republicans winning control of Congress, while the White House said he wants a Republican majority to advance his agenda.
Key Facts
At a rally in Perry, Georgia, Trump said he would respond differently to requests for state funding from Republican Senate candidate Mike Collins and Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
The Associated Press reported that Trump made similar remarks at rallies in North Carolina, Ohio and Kansas.
Trump has paired his warnings about aid with announcements about investments and other policy changes.
A 2022 law signed by then-President Joe Biden enabled people with health conditions linked to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune to seek compensation.
In Greenville, North Carolina, Trump said $1 billion in settlements had gone to affected veterans and family members, and said remaining legitimate claims would be settled quickly if Republicans won the House and Senate.
Trump later said that another administration would have to settle the remaining Camp Lejeune claims if his party did not win.
The White House said Trump was seeking a Republican congressional majority so he could continue his agenda.
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French investigators questioned Édouard Philippe over alleged misuse of public funds linked to a digital hub contract awarded while he was mayor of Le Havre. Magistrates designated him an assisted witness, a status less serious than formal investigation; Philippe denies the accusations.
Key Facts
Philippe served as France’s prime minister from 2017 to 2020.
The case involves allegations of misuse of public funds, favouritism and harassment.
The contract concerned running a digital hub in Le Havre and was awarded in July 2020 to LH French Tech, the only bidder.
LH French Tech was created in July 2020 and was chaired by Le Havre’s deputy mayor.
The association was set to receive more than €2 million over several years to run the hub.
A former civil servant filed the complaint and says her contract was not renewed and she was bullied after raising concerns.
France’s national financial prosecutor’s office opened the investigation.
Philippe is running for president in 2027 for the centre-right Horizons party.
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National polls cited in the article show Democrats leading Republicans four days before the U.S. midterm elections, while some state races remain close. A legal dispute over two Alaska Senate candidates with the same name could delay the result, and President Donald Trump canceled two weekend rallies in favor of phone events.
Key Facts
RealClearPolling showed Democrats ahead nationally, 51.4 percent to 43.2 percent.
A Marquette Law School poll in Wisconsin put Trump’s approval rating at 37 percent and disapproval at 61 percent.
In that Wisconsin poll, 42 percent said they were worse off financially than a year earlier, 16 percent said they were better off, and 42 percent said their finances were about the same.
A CNN survey reported Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton in Texas, 49 percent to 43 percent, and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed leading Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan, 49 percent to 42 percent.
The Alaska Senate race includes two candidates named Dan Sullivan: the incumbent Republican senator and an independent candidate registered as a Republican.
The Justice Department has taken legal action over the Alaska dispute; the article says it could delay knowing which party controls the Senate if the race determines control.
Trump campaigned in South Carolina for Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham and canceled two weekend rallies in favor of campaigning by phone.
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Police recorded at least 26,164 tool thefts in the UK in 2025, based on data from 30 forces; 15 other forces could not provide figures. Tradespeople described repeated thefts, high replacement and repair costs, and concerns about the impact on workers and businesses.
Key Facts
The recorded thefts amount to about one every 20 minutes.
The true number may be higher because 15 police forces did not provide data.
Direct Line for Business reported an average tool-theft insurance claim of £4,206.60 in 2025.
Lulzim Pjetri said his Birmingham refrigeration business suffered six tool thefts in one year.
Pjetri said replacing tools stolen from a van can cost up to £7,000, with another £4,000–£5,000 for repairs.
Kerry Field said a break-in cost his business £10,000 in stolen tools and motorbikes, and he spent a further £10,000 on security.
The Home Office said it was working with police and industry to prevent tool theft and tackle the sale of stolen goods.
Warwickshire Police said it reviewed Field’s case after concerns were raised but found no further lines of enquiry.
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The article raises the question of who should pay on a first date. The supplied page contains no answer or further reporting, and says the video cannot play unless JavaScript is enabled.
Key Facts
The article is titled “Who should pay on the first date?”
The page labels the article under Business.
The page lists Dating, Personal finance, Money, and New York City as related topics.
The page says the video requires JavaScript to play.
The supplied text does not state who should pay or describe any views on the question.
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The Met Office issued a yellow fog warning for parts of England on Friday, with visibility dropping below 100 metres in places and the greatest disruption expected during the morning commute. High pressure is forecast to bring mostly dry weather across the UK for at least ten days, while officials warn that England’s drought will need sustained rainfall to ease.
Key Facts
The fog warning covers Lincolnshire, the East Midlands, the Home Counties and parts of Greater London.
Fog is expected to thin and clear later Friday morning, though it may persist in some rural areas of eastern England until afternoon.
Saturday may bring mist, fog and low cloud; north-west Scotland is forecast to have some rain.
On Sunday, Wales and central England may see light rain or drizzle, while much of the rest of the UK is forecast to stay dry.
The article says 82% of England remains in drought status, according to the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency says 20% more rain than average is needed over the next six months for the drought to end.
Water companies have been urged to speed up leak repairs, and the public has been asked to conserve water.
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Guernsey Deputy Tom Rylatt urged the island’s Policy and Resources Committee to complete its review of relocation grants, which was expected by September 2025. The review is examining whether the support affects rental prices and how to balance possible savings with the need to recruit staff for public services.
Key Facts
The relocation review was initially due to be completed by the end of September 2025.
P&R President Lindsay de Sausmarez said several stages of the review were complete and the committee would consider it again soon.
De Sausmarez said the committee’s workload, including tax reforms and the 2027 budget, had contributed to the delay.
Eligible recruits to Guernsey’s public service can receive a £5,000 grant, or £6,600 in Alderney, plus certain rental and moving-cost support.
People buying a home in Guernsey may qualify for an £8,750 house-purchase grant.
States of Guernsey figures show average rents rose 65% over the past decade to £2,138 per month.
A freedom of information response showed the States spent more than £5 million on relocation packages in 2025.
The review is considering alternative forms of support and may not be made public because it concerns an internal policy.
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Police in Scotland have joined international efforts to investigate online networks known as “The Com,” which groom and coerce children, mostly girls, into self-harm and other abuse. Police Scotland has made one arrest in connection with the networks, and detectives are examining a case involving nearly 1,000 images. The UK’s National Crime Agency said in May that it was investigating about 200 cases involving these groups.
Key Facts
The Com is a loose network of online groups linked to abuse, financial crimes and extremism.
Police say the groups use social media and gaming platforms to manipulate and blackmail children.
Investigators say victims in the cases they are handling are often girls aged 11 to 17.
A Police Scotland detective is reviewing nearly 1,000 images in one case to identify a victim and a suspected Scottish perpetrator.
Police Scotland has made one arrest connected to the networks; England has had several convictions.
The National Crime Agency said in May that it was investigating about 200 cases involving the networks.
In August, 20-year-old Justin Swaddle was jailed for two years for blackmailing and coercing more than 100 victims into self-harm.
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The Wildlife Trusts and Northumberland Wildlife Trust have completed the purchase of the 9,500-acre Rothbury Estate in Northumberland after a two-year £30 million fundraising campaign. They plan to support nature recovery and sustainable farming across the estate, which they hope will form part of a 40-mile wildlife corridor.
Key Facts
The estate includes former grouse moor, woodland and farmland.
The wildlife groups used a low-interest loan to cover a short-term gap while pledged donations are still due.
More than 25,000 people donated to the campaign, according to Northumberland Wildlife Trust.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund provided a £5 million grant.
The government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pledged £1.94 million this week.
Sir David Attenborough backed the appeal, and his support prompted more than £1 million in donations in one week.
The estate is home to species including curlews, lapwings, red squirrels, salmon and eels.
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Entomologist Richard Naylor has spent five years using himself as a host to test bedbug control products in a laboratory suite at his home in Gloucestershire. He says he has largely stopped reacting to the bites and sleeps with the insects when tests require a person in the bed.
Key Facts
Naylor breeds about 50,000 to 60,000 bedbugs for research and product testing.
He feeds around 20,000 bedbugs on his arm every three to four days.
Naylor says he sleeps with the bugs when testing sprays, repellents, or devices because bedbugs need a host to become active.
He runs the not-for-profit Bed Bug Foundation and sends bedbugs to canine detection teams and businesses around the world.
Naylor says bedbugs have become resistant to modern insecticide sprays, making infestations difficult to eliminate.
A pharmacist quoted in the article says bites can be itchy but do not usually pose health risks; scratching may lead to infection.
The NHS says severe allergic reactions to bedbug bites are possible but rare.
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An 83-year-old man from Borth, Ceredigion, drove a four-hour round trip to Withybush Hospital for heart tests after his request for non-emergency patient transport was turned down. The Welsh Ambulance Services Trust said it had reviewed the call, changed its processes and was working to address rising demand and cancellations.
Key Facts
Charles Swift is recovering from cancer, has had two heart attacks and was referred for heart tests at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.
Borth is about 70 miles from the hospital, and public transport takes at least three and a half hours each way.
Swift said a call handler declined transport after he said he owned a car and could walk and climb stairs.
Swift later cancelled an appointment after being told on a Friday that his transport for the following Monday had been cancelled.
The Welsh Ambulance Services Trust said Swift’s transport would not have been refused if staff had more information.
The trust said it had updated call-handling processes and training, and that rising demand and travel distances were straining resources.
Hywel Dda University Health Board says patients are generally expected to arrange their own transport, while some patients qualify for non-emergency transport under eligibility rules.
Ceredigion councillors and voluntary groups have called for better transport for rural patients and reported frequent last-minute cancellations.
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Poundland founder Steve Smith opened the first store in Burton-upon-Trent in 1990 after starting out selling £1 goods from a market stall. The retailer, which had more than 800 UK and Ireland stores and about 16,000 employees in 2025, now faces possible administration after its owners cut off funding and a proposed takeover was rejected.
Key Facts
Smith opened Poundland’s first shop on 13 December 1990 with a £50,000 loan from his parents.
The first store stocked 624 products and took more than £13,000 on its opening day, Smith said.
Smith and his wife owned the company for 16 years; he sold his remaining shares in 2006 for £250 million.
Pepco sold Poundland to US investment firm Gordon Brothers in 2025 for a nominal sum.
Gordon Brothers cut off a funding supply and rejected a takeover offer from Ireland’s Martin Property Group, according to the article.
Poundland’s board filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, giving the business 10 days to seek a rescue deal.
About 25 people protested outside Poundland’s Walsall headquarters on Thursday, calling for the owners to sell the business.
Retail expert Sarah Montano said competitors now offer similar goods at comparable or lower prices.
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Chef Gareth Ward defended Ynyshir’s kitchen in an Apple TV documentary after the Welsh restaurant received a one-star food hygiene rating in February. Ceredigion council later restored its five-star rating after finding the restaurant had addressed the issues raised in its inspection.
Key Facts
Ynyshir, near Machynlleth in mid Wales, is co-owned by chef Gareth Ward and holds two Michelin stars.
Inspectors rated the restaurant one star in February and said food safety management, cleanliness and facilities needed major improvement.
The inspection report cited concerns including raw or undercooked foods, a dirty floor, inadequate hand-washing facilities in some areas and broken equipment.
The council had previously ordered Ynyshir to stop serving raw lobster after finding significant hazards were not properly identified.
The restaurant said it had fixed the issues and that biological testing confirmed its food-preparation techniques were safe and compliant.
Ceredigion council reinstated Ynyshir’s five-star hygiene rating in August after finding it had addressed the matters identified in the original inspection.
Ynyshir serves a 30-course tasting menu featuring Japanese-inspired raw dishes and costs nearly £500 per person.
Ward said in the documentary that he runs a spotless kitchen, while acknowledging that the restaurant had done some things wrong.
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