Almost 4 million children in UK affected by economic abuse, charity finds 02. December 2025 (01:01) Research shows perpetrators use methods such as stopping mothers accessing bank accounts and child benefitsAlmost 4 million children in the UK are suffering the impact of economic abuse in their families, with some having pocket or birthday money stolen by the perpetrators, a charity has found.Data from charity Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) showed that over the past year 27% of mothers with children under 18 had experienced behaviour considered to be economic abuse, where a current or former partner has controlled the family’s money. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
People living along polluted Thames file legal complaint to force water firm to act 02. December 2025 (01:01) Residents claim raw sewage and poorly treated effluent as result of Thames Water’s failings are threat to healthCommunities across south-east England are filing the first coordinated legal complaints that sewage pollution by Thames Water negatively affects their lives.Thames Water failed to complete upgrades to 98 treatment plants and pumping stations which have the worst records for sewage pollution into the environment, despite a promise to invest in them over the last five years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We have to rebuild from scratch’: Sri Lankans relive the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah 02. December 2025 (01:01) Many uncertain about the future after losing everything in the country’s deadliest natural disaster for yearsWhen the rains began, Layani Rasika Niroshani was not worried. The 36-year-old mother of two was used to the heavy monsoon showers that drench Sri Lanka’s hilly central region of Badulla every year. But as it kept pounding down without stopping, the family started to feel jittery.Some relocated to a relative’s house, but her brother and his wife decided to stay behind to collect the valuables. As they were inside, a landslide hit the family home. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lammy lambasts ‘courts emergency’ as he prepares to face MPs over plans to slash jury trials 02. December 2025 (01:00) Justice secretary expected to announce plans to tackle backlog of cases as he says system has been pushed to brink of collapse A “courts emergency” that will surpass 100,000 outstanding cases without radical reforms is leaving victims waiting years for justice, David Lammy has said as he prepares to face MPs over plans to drop thousands of jury trials.The justice secretary proposed last week to reduce the 78,000 outstanding cases in England and Wales by allowing jury trials only for serious crimes such as murder, rape and manslaughter. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NSW considering plan to halve power and top speed of ebikes as rider dies in collision with garbage truck 02. December 2025 (00:27) Police plead with parents to buy only safe, unmodified ebikes as Christmas presentsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew South Wales is considering a plan to halve the maximum power and top speed of ebikes, after a rider died in a collision with a garbage truck in central Sydney.NSW police also issued a plea for parents who were considering buying an ebike for their child as a Christmas present to stick to legal bikes rather than more powerful and dangerous models. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Teenage girl killed after minibus crash in North Yorkshire 02. December 2025 (00:00) Police appeal for witnesses after collision near Tadcaster grammar schoolA teenage girl has been killed after the minibus she was travelling in collided with a car in North Yorkshire.The crash occurred just before 12.30pm when the minibus, carrying the girl and eight other passengers aged 16 to 18, collided with a Hyundai i10 at a junction on Toulston Lane in Tadcaster, close to Tadcaster grammar school. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US north-east braces for ‘significant’ snowfall after storm hits midwest 01. December 2025 (23:53) Prediction for New England area comes after travelers experienced disruption over Thanksgiving holiday weekend A winter storm is expected to slam much of the north-east United States with rain, ice and heavy snow on Monday night through Tuesday, forecasters have said, with millions of Americans under winter storm advisories.The bulk of the storm is expected to arrive in the region later on Monday, with the system forecast to develop over the Gulf states then move up the eastern seaboard. Most of the heaviest snowfall is expected to end by Tuesday night, with conditions clearing by Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Children reaching UK by small boat face sim card mouth searches 01. December 2025 (23:30) Home Office accused of putting criminality before dignity with rule seeking intelligence on people-smugglersChildren who arrive in the UK on small boats could be searched to check if they are concealing phone sim cards in their mouths under new Home Office rules.New measures will allow immigration enforcement officials to seize phones at the border if it is believed they contain useful intelligence about people-smugglers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British public’s verdict is in: Die Hard is not a Christmas movie 01. December 2025 (23:30) Survey also reveals Britons’ favourite festive film, views on tear-jerkers and family cinema tripsWhen Macaulay Culkin recently said he didn’t consider Die Hard to be a Christmas film – wading into one of pop culture’s most heated holiday debates – he was booed by a live audience.But it looks like the British people are behind the actor, with a survey revealing that Home Alone is the UK’s favourite festive film, while Die Hard has officially been voted not a Christmas movie. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs decries Netflix series by 50 Cent as ‘shameful hit piece’ 01. December 2025 (22:42) Disgraced and incarcerated music mogul claims footage in docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning was stolenSean “Diddy” Combs has taken issue with a splashy new Netflix docuseries on his life and many legal troubles, that is executive produced by his longtime rival 50 Cent.The former Bad Boy Records executive and hip-hop star, currently serving a four-year sentence for prostitution-related charges, blasted Sean Combs: The Reckoning as a “shameful hit piece”, and accused Netflix of incorporating stolen footage. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
