Sri Lanka and Indonesia deploy militaries as Asia flood toll nears 1,000 01. December 2025 (06:30) Separate weather systems brought torrential rainfall to Sri Lanka and large parts of Indonesia’s Sumatra, southern Thailand and northern Malaysia How cyclones and monsoon rains combined to devastate parts of Asia – visual guide Sri Lanka and Indonesia have deployed military personnel to help victims of devastating flooding that has killed nearly 1,000 people across four countries in Asia in recent days.Separate weather systems brought torrential, extended rainfall to the entire island of Sri Lanka and large parts of Indonesia’s Sumatra, southern Thailand and northern Malaysia last week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Old tensions simmer just below surface as Tusk and Merz to meet in Berlin 01. December 2025 (06:00) Ukraine will top agenda, but meeting comes as positive sentiment towards Germany in Poland hits near record lowsWhen the Polish and German governments meet on Monday for annual political talks in Berlin – the first since Friedrich Merz became chancellor – the headlines are likely to be dominated by Ukraine.Amid growing US pressure for a peace deal with Russia, Warsaw and Berlin will want to send a signal of support for Kyiv and of unity between central Europe’s largest – and militarily strongest – countries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wood-burning stoves to face partial ban in Labour’s updated environment plan 01. December 2025 (06:00) Exclusive: Pollution targets set out alongside nature recovery projects to allay concerns over housebuildingWood-burning stoves are likely to face tighter restrictions in England under new pollution targets set as part of an updated environmental plan released by ministers on Monday.Speaking to the Guardian before the publication of the updated environmental improvement plan (EIP), the environment secretary, Emma Reynolds, said it would boost nature recovery in a number of areas, replacing an EIP under the last government she said was “not credible”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rising levels of hate forcing women out of Swedish public life, says equality agency 01. December 2025 (06:00) Country seen as champion of equal rights faces reckoning after senior politician says she felt compelled to quitIncreasing hate, threats and harassment against female politicians are scaring women away from public life and forcing them to censor themselves, the Swedish government’s equality agency has said, warning that this poses a “big threat to democracy.”Women’s safety in politics has come under heightened scrutiny in the Scandinavian country since October, when Anna-Karin Hatt resigned as leader of the Centre party after only five months in office, citing hate and threats. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Schools urged to trial four-day week to ease pressure on teachers in England and Wales 01. December 2025 (06:00) Advocacy group tells education secretary ‘working smarter’ can protect staff wellbeing and help studentsCampaigners have urged the government to pilot four-day working weeks in schools in England and Wales saying it would boost teacher wellbeing, retention and recruitment rates.The 4 Day Week Foundation has written to the education secretary calling for greater autonomy for schools to pilot shorter working weeks, saying the government will not be able to meet its manifesto pledge of recruiting 6,500 new teachers without change. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump confirms he recently spoke with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro 01. December 2025 (01:16) Trump remained tight-lipped on details of call with Venezuelan president as tensions rise between countriesDonald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, but he did not provide details on what the two leaders discussed.“I don’t want to comment on it. The answer is yes,” the US president said when asked if he had spoken with Maduro. He was speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Special forces chief tried to cover up concerns about SAS conduct in Afghanistan, inquiry told 01. December 2025 (01:01) Whistleblower says chain of command failed to stop extrajudicial shootings, including of children, after alarm was raisedThe former director of UK special forces and other senior military officers tried to cover up concerns that SAS units were carrying out unlawful killings in Afghanistan, an inquiry has heard.A senior special forces whistleblower said the chain of command failed to stop extrajudicial shootings, including of two small children, after the alarm was first raised in early 2011. That failure allegedly allowed them to continue until 2013. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump invites families of national guard members who were shot to White House 01. December 2025 (00:29) President plans to honor Sarah Beckstrom, who was fatally shot, as well as Andrew Wolfe, who is in critical conditionDonald Trump said on Sunday that he invited the family of a national guard member fatally shot last week to the White House, adding that he spoke to her parents and they were “devastated”.US army specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed in a shooting on Wednesday in Washington DC. Her fellow service member, US air force staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Vigils across West Virginia have taken place in their memory. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: activists lock onto Newcastle coal loader; energy regulator warns about stability of grid if Eraring closes in 2027 30. November 2025 (23:58) Aemo report says investment needed in country’s main electricity grid over the next decade. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIs McLaren costing Oscar Piastri the F1 title, department asked at Senate estimatesIt’s a strong start to Senate estimates this morning, with Nationals senator Matt Canavan asking the department of infrastructure secretary, Jim Betts, about the F1 results from Qatar overnight.It’s been a bit of a frustrating night for some Australians … you deal with transport and cars, so do you think McLaren is biased against Oscar Piastri and costing him the world championship?I definitely think he’s copped some raw decision [making] this year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer leads fightback as budget row rumbles on for Reeves 30. November 2025 (23:30) The prime minister is keen to change the conversation after the Tories called his chancellor’s ethics into questionThe political fates of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are intertwined. Allies say that if one goes, the other is likely to follow.This is why, in the wake of the budget, the Conservatives have attempted to focus their response on the chancellor’s personal ethics, accusing Reeves of lying about the rationale behind her record-breaking tax rises. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
