Death toll passes 1,000 in devastating floods across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand | First Thing 01. December 2025 (13:02) Hundreds remain missing in Indonesia and Sri Lanka as rescue efforts continue. Plus, law changes could bring cheap balcony solar to millions of AmericansDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.Sri Lanka and Indonesia have deployed their militaries to help victims of floods that have killed more than 1,000 people in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia in recent days.How many people remain missing? 508 people are missing in Indonesia and 366 in Sri Lanka. Our liveblog will bring you latest updates as rescue efforts continue.How do Ukraine’s European allies view the peace talks? There’s frustration that Europe is being excluded, with the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, saying “the Ukrainian are there alone”. But she called for the bloc to continue piling the pressure on Moscow via sanctions and giving Ukraine “military, financial and humanitarian support”. For the latest, head to our liveblog. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
St Lucia votes in election dominated by economy, crime and passport sales 01. December 2025 (12:37) Philip Pierre hopes to fend off challenge from former PM Allen Chastanet amid tense relations with USVoters in St Lucia have gone to the polls to elect a new legislature and choose their prime minister, in a race dominated by debates over economic management, violent crime and passport sales.The Labour party, led by the prime minister, Philip Pierre, is seeking to fend off a challenge from the conservative opposition leader, Allen Chastanet, who preceded Pierre as prime minister of the island of 180,000 people. Labour holds a strong majority in both of St Lucia’s legislative chambers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sri Lanka braced for more damage after torrential rain kills hundreds across Asia 01. December 2025 (12:32) Meanwhile, Iran grapples with one of worst droughts and temperatures fall 10C below normal in USMore heavy rainfall is expected in Sri Lanka in the coming days, likely resulting in further damage across the country. It comes after torrential rainfall in south-east Asia triggered catastrophic flash floods and landslides that have affected millions, killing more than 300 people in Indonesia and 160 in Thailand, with hundreds more still missing.Parts of North Sumatra, Indonesia, were hit with rainfall totals of 800mm over four days, with other areas also experiencing heavy rainfall. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labor rejects standalone AI legislation with plan that offers to help ‘unlock’ public and private data 01. December 2025 (12:30) Roadmap focuses on technology’s ‘economic benefits’ and says existing laws will cover the fast-growing new technologyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Albanese government has decided against legislation to manage artificial intelligence, with a new national roadmap emphasising Labor’s focus on the technology’s economic benefits and plans to “unlock” vast datasets held by private companies and the public service to help train AI models.Supporting and reskilling workers affected by AI in their jobs, boosting investment in datacentres, and sharing the productivity benefits across the economy are key components of the Labor government’s National AI Plan, launched on Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hong Kong arrests 13 on suspicion of manslaughter over apartment fires 01. December 2025 (12:12) Authorities face growing criticism for detaining at least two civilians who have called for accountabilityAuthorities in Hong Kong have arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to last week’s devastating fire, as they face growing criticism from residents over the arrests under national security laws of at least two civilians calling for accountability.Emergency services continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po on Monday, days after the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise further as the search continues. About 40 people are still missing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Luigi Mangione hearing tests legality of evidence in healthcare CEO murder case 01. December 2025 (12:00) Alleged gunman faces nine charges including second-degree murder in New York state caseLuigi Mangione is due to appear in Manhattan state court on Monday for the first day of a potentially weeklong proceeding to weigh the legality of evidence gathered during his arrest after the killing of a prominent healthcare executive.Mangione was apprehended last December in the murder of senior United HealthCare figure Brian Thompson last December. In addition to state-level charges, he faces a Manhattan federal court case. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zelenskyy meets with Macron, as US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner head to Moscow – Europe live 01. December 2025 (11:42) Ukrainian president embarks on busy week of diplomacy as US ups pressure to end warOver the past week, there has been a flurry of diplomatic activity to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. As Kyiv battles to minimise Vladimir Putin’s maximalist demands, including the cessation of territories in the east, the Guardian’s Russian affairs reporter, Pjotr Sauer, explains why despite some advances, the agreement to a peace deal still appears unlikely. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Rage bait’ named word of the year by Oxford University Press 01. December 2025 (11:26) Existence of phrase – to describe content intended to make you angry – shows people are aware of manipulation tactics used online, says Oxford Dictionary publisherGood news for those who find their blood pressure rising as they scroll through their online news feeds: the Oxford English Dictionary’s publisher has highlighted the term they might need to describe how they often feel, naming “rage bait” as its word of the year.According to the Oxford University Press’ analysis, use of the phrase has tripled in the past 12 months. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Accenture dubs 800,000 staff ‘reinventors’ amid shift to AI 01. December 2025 (10:52) Consultancy’s move to embrace artificial intelligence follows Disney’s use of the term ‘imagineers’ Business live –latest updatesAccenture has reportedly begun calling its 800,000 employees “reinventors”, as the consultancy tries to position itself as a leader in artificial intelligence.The consultancy’s chief executive, Julie Sweet, has already started referring to staff by the new label and the business is now pushing for the term to be used more widely, the Financial Times reported, citing people at the company. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
