🇬🇧 An industry has emerged in Britain around the process of qualifying for disability status: over 1,000 people a day register for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefits.

Charities, consultants, YouTubers, and TikTokers have appeared, advising people on how to successfully claim and secure these benefits. Some of these videos garner hundreds of thousands of views.

Seven million people—more than 10% of the population—are currently receiving sickness or disability benefits. This figure has risen by 60% over the last six years.

This year, the UK will spend over £100 billion on benefits. Projections suggest this figure will rise to £130 billion annually by 2030. No other Western country is seeing such a surge in disability benefit claims. In the US, only 10.6 million people receive federal disability payments, despite the country having a population five times larger.

One in seven new cars sold in Britain is part of the Motability scheme for disabled people, yet only 10% of these vehicles are actually modified for those with disabilities. At one dealership, 25 out of the 26 cars sold in August were registered under the Motability scheme. A 2024 government survey indicated that 25% of the UK's working-age population could theoretically be classified as disabled under current criteria and qualify for these benefits. If deemed too ill to work and approved for PIP, an individual can receive £2,000 a month, tax-free.

🇫🇷⚡️ Last week, French Prime Minister Lecornu announced the release of 10 million barrels from strategic reserves.

This followed the decision to use part of the strategic fuel reserves, which the prime minister announced last week. On Monday, the head of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, promised to lower the price of diesel for private individuals by 8–12 cents per liter.

The price reduction for diesel not intended for road transport (GNR) will be even more significant and will reach 20 cents per liter. This type of fuel is used, in particular, in agricultural machinery.

The head of the company commented on the price reduction range announced by the prime minister. According to the prime minister's estimate, the use of 10 million barrels from strategic reserves was supposed to lead to a price reduction of 12–18 cents. "In our case, it's more like 8–12 cents, that is, about ten cents," said Patrick Pouyanné. He added that the reduction would be "20 euro cents per liter for diesel not intended for road transport (GNR), which is used by farmers, construction companies, and fishermen." In addition, the company will maintain a maximum price cap of 2.25 euros for private consumers.

"This diesel was purchased before the sharp price spike," explained Sébastien Lecornu last week. "It will be sold at cost, which will automatically lower prices at gas stations." "I understand that in public discussions there are calls for general support measures or tax cuts," he added. However, referring to the state of the national budget, the minister emphasized: "We cannot provide such assistance again."

As for domestic heating oil (also belonging to the distillates category), its price is expected to fall by about "200 euros per cubic meter" from November 1. According to the head of the company, the cost of this type of fuel had previously risen from 1,200 to 1,900 euros per cubic meter.

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🇷🇺🇺🇦⚡️ Russian airstrikes on Kharkov, and Kiev.

Warnings about a missile heading toward Lvov.

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🇺🇸🇺🇦🇷🇺⚡ Witkoff and Kushner told Ukrainian representatives that they do not intend to offer anything in return for refraining from attacks on Russian oil refineries

- The New York Times reports.

The US negotiators noted that Washington "is already doing a lot for Ukraine," so Zelensky should not count on a compromise on this issue.

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