Afternoon.

It's Friday 16th October: young people's benefits could be in for a major shake-up, the NHS is changing its rules on single-sex wards and Europe is trying to keep Ukraine supported as relations with Donald Trump deteriorate.

Kettle on.

📅 On this day: In 1854, Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin. The writer became famous for The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray, alongside some wonderfully sharp observations about Victorian society.

Young people who are out of work could receive less money in benefits but more help finding employment, under plans being developed for a welfare overhaul.

Former Labour minister Alan Milburn is reviewing how to support the roughly one million young people who aren't in education, employment or training. He's expected to recommend a separate benefits system for under-25s who have never worked, replacing some cash payments with more intensive employment and health support.

The aim is to stop young people getting stuck on benefits without enough help to get into work. But there are concerns that reducing payments could make life harder for those already struggling, particularly people with health conditions. Nothing has been agreed yet. Milburn's report is expected next month, after which ministers will decide whether to act.

NHS England has published new guidance on single-sex hospital accommodation. Transgender patients should generally be placed in wards according to their biological sex rather than their gender identity.

The changes follow last year's Supreme Court ruling that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to biological sex. The rules also cover shared hospital toilets and bathrooms.

Hospitals must still prioritise patients' medical needs and protect everyone's privacy, dignity and safety. Where placing a transgender patient in accommodation matching their biological sex would be clinically inappropriate, hospitals should consider alternatives, including single rooms.

Supporters argue the rules protect privacy in single-sex spaces, while critics are concerned about the safety and dignity of transgender patients. The challenge for hospitals is applying the guidance while ensuring appropriate care for everyone.

European leaders have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine at a summit in Brussels, as its relationship with the United States becomes increasingly strained. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking more money and air-defence equipment ahead of winter, with Russian attacks continuing to damage Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has criticised Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, raising concerns among European allies about Washington's willingness to keep supporting Kyiv.

European leaders want to maintain pressure on Russia and continue helping Ukraine. The question is whether they can provide enough money and equipment if American support weakens.

Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital have introduced a pioneering same-day test that can identify infections in seriously ill children much faster.

Instead of testing separately for individual viruses or bacteria, it examines genetic material to detect a wide range of possible infections at once. That could help doctors choose treatments sooner and avoid unnecessary antibiotics. It's currently a specialist service, but researchers hope to make it available more widely.

A record 11,402 drivers contacted the DVLA last year about fines or penalties they didn't recognise, according to figures obtained by the RAC.

One possible cause is number-plate cloning, where criminals copy a legitimate registration onto another vehicle, leaving the innocent owner receiving penalties. Reports have almost doubled since 2018, although not every disputed fine proves cloning. Police have launched a new online system to make reporting suspected cases easier.

Britain's competition watchdog has proposed giving Microsoft special regulatory status because of its powerful position in business software.

The Competition and Markets Authority is concerned that businesses could struggle to switch providers or combine rival products. New rules could make competition easier, although Microsoft hasn't been found to have broken the law. A final decision is expected by February.

From 6 November, it will become illegal in England and Wales to possess or publish certain forms of extreme pornography, under new government rules.

The restrictions cover realistic depictions of strangulation or suffocation, certain sexual activity involving people presented as relatives, and sexual activity involving someone presented as a child under 16. Realistic AI-generated material can also be covered. The government says the aim is to prevent the normalisation of dangerous or abusive behaviour.

A 99-year-old woman has become the world's oldest female wing-walker.

Helga Duffy broke the record in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, after being strapped to the outside of an aircraft and flown through the sky. She was inspired by the previous record-holder, a mere 97-year-old, and used the stunt to raise money for an air ambulance charity.

Most people celebrate turning 99 with a nice meal and perhaps a slice of cake. Helga apparently decided she'd rather be attached to an aeroplane.

Have a great weekend.

See you on Monday.