Can Keir Starmer save Rachel Reeves? – podcast 01. December 2025 (16:54) Pippa and Kiran discuss the prime minister’s speech on Monday and ask whether it will take attention away from allegations that the chancellor misled the public with her budget statements. Plus: chaos at Your Party’s first conference Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two Met officers running spycops unit were ‘incredibly racist’, inquiry told 01. December 2025 (16:48) Undercover unit monitored Stephen Lawrence’s family, as well as thousands of mainly leftwing political activistsTwo senior officers who supervised an undercover Scotland Yard unit spying on political campaigns were “horribly and incredibly” racist, a whistleblower has told a public inquiry.Peter Francis, a former member of the unit, testified that one regularly used the “N-word”, while the other used a repertoire of explicit racist slurs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California police plead for details on shooting at child’s party with suspect unknown 01. December 2025 (16:31) Search continues after four people, including three children, were killed and 11 were injured in StocktonAuthorities in California urged witnesses of a deadly shooting at a child’s birthday party to come forward as the search for a suspect stretched into another day.Three children ages eight, nine and 14 and a 21-year-old were killed on Saturday when gunfire broke out at a banquet hall in Stockton, in northern California. At least 100 people were gathered at the celebration, said the San Joaquin county sheriff, Patrick Withrow. Detectives believe the gunfire continued outside and there may have been multiple shooters. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump says he’ll release MRI results but has ‘no idea’ which body part was scanned 01. December 2025 (16:20) US president, who is 79, spoke about scan amid concerns over his cognitive abilities and mental fitnessUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump said he will release the results of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan conducted during his surprise “semiannual physical” in October – but was unable to tell reporters what part of his body was under investigation.The oldest-ever US president faced questions over the procedure on Air Force One as he traveled back to Washington DC on Sunday night after a Thanksgiving break in Florida. It is the latest episode of recurring concern about the cognitive abilities and mental fitness of the 79-year-old, who insisted he had “aced” earlier tests relating to his brain functioning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s former lawyer Alina Habba serving unlawfully as US attorney, says appeals court 01. December 2025 (16:18) Habba disqualified from serving as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, appeals court saysDonald Trump’s former personal lawyer Alina Habba, whom his administration has maneuvered to keep in place as New Jersey top federal prosecutor, is disqualified from serving in the role, an appeals court said Monday.A panel of judges from the third US circuit court of appeals sitting in Philadelphia sided with a lower court judge’s ruling after hearing oral arguments at which Habba herself was present on 20 October. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Five South Africans in court over alleged recruitment for Russia’s war in Ukraine 01. December 2025 (15:43) Suspects arrested after tipoff over accusation that 17 South Africans were tricked on to frontlines of the conflictFive South Africans have appeared in court on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia in its war with Ukraine, amid allegations that 17 South Africans had been tricked on to the frontlines of the conflict.A female suspect was arrested on Thursday on her return to South Africa at OR Tambo international airport outside Johannesburg, police said. Three suspects were arrested at the airport on Friday and another on Saturday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Swiss prosecutors file charges against Credit Suisse and UBS over ‘tuna bonds’ scandal 01. December 2025 (15:23) Banks accused of ‘organisational deficiencies’ relating to scam that crashed Mozambique economy nearly a decade agoBusiness live –latest updatesSwitzerland’s federal prosecutor has filed charges against the failed bank Credit Suisse and its new owner, UBS, over the long-running “tuna bonds” loan scandal that crashed Mozambique’s economy nearly a decade ago.The Swiss attorney general said on Monday that it had brought money-laundering charges against an unnamed employee of Credit Suisse, but was also taking action against the lender and its rival-turned-owner UBS. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Get shucking: South Australians urged to eat oysters and donate shells for reef restoration project 01. December 2025 (15:00) Shrimp soundtrack will be played under water to lure baby oysters in program aimed at fighting algal bloomsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSouth Australians are being urged to feast on local oysters and then donate the shells to restore native reefs, which will filter ocean water and help fight harmful algal blooms.The program will also involve lumps of limestone being sunk in the ocean, with a soundtrack of snapping shrimp playing on underwater speakers to lure baby oysters in. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Victoria could become first Australian state to ban unnecessary surgery on intersex children 01. December 2025 (15:00) Exclusive: Legislation would prohibit deferrable, irreversible procedures until child can give informed consent, bringing state in line with ACT Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVictoria will become the first Australian state to ban unnecessary surgeries on intersex children, with legislation to be introduced to parliament to ensure procedures are deferred until patients are old enough to consent to them.The health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, will on Tuesday introduce the health safeguards for people born with variations in sex characteristics bill, which if passed would prohibit deferrable, irreversible procedures and treatments on intersex infants and children until they can provide informed consent. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Instagram’s age verification identified a moustachioed adult as over 16 – but how did it go with a 13-year-old? 01. December 2025 (15:00) Meta platform allows users under 16 in Australia to change their date of birth – but only after clearing a ‘video selfie’ or providing government IDFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastInstagram’s process for determining whether a user is over 16 is relatively quick and painless if you’re clearly an adult – but how does it work if a 13-year-old tries to change their account’s date of birth to make them appear grown up?Meta in November began notifying Instagram and Facebook users whose date of birth is set as under 16 – or who the platform understands to be under 16 – that their accounts will be deactivated as part of Australia’s social media ban for children. The ban takes effect on 10 December, but Meta has said it will start removing access to users under 16 from 4 December. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
