Ukraine corruption scandal threatens Zelenskyy’s special relationship with top aide 28. November 2025 (12:02) Police raid at the home of Kyiv’s main peace negotiator is causing shock waves across Ukraine’s political sceneThe revelations that anti-corruption police are searching the property of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, could have huge repercussions for the Ukrainian political scene and possibly for peace negotiations as well.It is hard to overstate the significance of Yermak in the Ukrainian political system. He combines multiple roles for Zelenskyy: most trusted sounding board, domestic political enforcer, controller of access to the president, main point of contact for foreign politicians and chief peace negotiator. Yermak is such a powerful chief of staff that people who know how the president’s office operates describe his relationship with Zelenskyy as symbiotic. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alabama priest leaves clergy after woman alleges ‘private companionship’ beginning when she was 17 28. November 2025 (12:00) Robert Sullivan’s self-imposed removal comes after accusations he provided financial support in exchange for arrangement which included sexA longtime Roman Catholic priest in Alabama has voluntarily left the clergy after a woman alleged to his superiors that he provided her financial support in exchange for “private companionship” including sex beginning when she was 17.Robert Sullivan’s self-imposed removal from the priesthood – known as laicization – was announced Wednesday, the day before the US holiday of Thanksgiving, in a public statement from Birmingham, Alabama, by Bishop Steven Raica. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Snowfall cuts power in Poland and flooding devastates Sri Lanka 28. November 2025 (11:37) Temperatures dip to -8.5C in Poland and 250mm of rain falls in 24-hour period across Sri Lanka Temperatures plummeted this week across the eastern half of Europe, with the Alps dipping as low as -20C and to -8.5°C in the Polish town of Zakopane in the Tatras Mountains.Heavy snow also affected other parts of Poland with 15-20cm of snow falling in much of the central swathe of the country and more than 40cm in the south towards the mountains. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Africa’s forests transformed from carbon sink to carbon source, study finds 28. November 2025 (11:00) Alarming shift since 2010 means planet’s three main rainforest regions now contribute to climate breakdownAfrica’s forests have turned from a carbon sink into a carbon source, according to research that underscores the need for urgent action to save the world’s great natural climate stabilisers.The alarming shift, which has happened since 2010, means all of the planet’s three main rainforest regions – the South American Amazon, south-east Asia and Africa – have gone from being allies in the fight against climate breakdown to being part of the problem. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US regulators ‘taking seriously’ allegations of bankers’ support for Epstein 28. November 2025 (11:00) Exclusive: It follows calls from US senator Elizabeth Warren to investigate bank executives including ex-Barclays boss Jes StaleyUS regulators say they are taking allegations that top banks may have facilitated Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activity “very seriously”, as they faced calls to investigate executives including the former Barclays boss Jes Staley.In correspondence seen by the Guardian, bosses from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said they had reviewed a letter from the Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren, which raised concerns over bankers’ alleged support for the convicted child sex offender Epstein. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies search home of Zelenskyy’s chief aide 28. November 2025 (10:59) Investigators focus attention on to Andriy Yermak as part of inquiry into nuclear energy kickback scandalEurope live – latest updatesUkraine’s anti-corruption agencies have said they are conducting searches at the home of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s powerful chief aide and lead negotiator in the latest round of peace talks, Andriy Yermak.Journalists filmed about 10 investigators entering Kyiv’s government quarter in a widening of the investigation into a nuclear energy kickback scandal allegedly run by an associate of the Ukrainian president who has fled the country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour MPs attack Starmer U-turn over workers’ rights as ‘complete betrayal’ 28. November 2025 (10:00) Former minister says ditching plan for day-one protection against unfair dismissal ‘definitely is a manifesto breach’Keir Starmer is facing backbench anger after ministers abandoned plans to give workers day-one protection against unfair dismissal, a U-turn that breaches the Labour manifesto.MPs including a former minister who spearheaded the employment rights bill with the former deputy leader Angela Rayner have voiced concerns over the climbdown announced by the government. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
St Vincent opposition party celebrates historic election win 28. November 2025 (09:58) New Democratic party victory is crushing defeat for Unity Labour, which has held power since 2001The New Democratic party (NDP) in the Caribbean country of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is celebrating a historic landslide victory, taking 14 of 15 seats, according to preliminary results.The decisive vote was a crushing defeat for the Unity Labour party (ULP), which has been in power since 2001. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
JP Morgan boss gave go-ahead for new £3bn tower in London after UK assurances 28. November 2025 (09:53) Decision by US bank’s CEO Jamie Dimon followed trip to New York by top adviser to Keir StarmerThe boss of JP Morgan Chase signed off on a new £3bn tower in London after a trip to New York by a top adviser to the UK prime minister to give assurances about the government’s pro-business policies, it has emerged.The Wall Street bank, which along with Goldman Sachs announced substantial investment plans in the UK hours after they were spared tax increases in Rachel Reeves’s autumn budget, only signed off on the plan for its new UK headquarters last Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rescue operations at Hong Kong apartment complex ‘almost complete’, as death toll reaches 128 28. November 2025 (08:42) Firefighters comb through high-rises with as many as 200 people still missing, officials announceAnger swelling in Hong Kong over deadliest fire in more than 70 yearsHow the Hong Kong fire unfolded – visual guideThe death toll from the Hong Kong apartment complex fire that began on Wednesday has risen to 128 with as many as 200 missing, officials have said, as rescue operations were declared over.Firefighters were combing through the high-rises on Friday morning, attempting to find anyone alive after the massive fire that spread to seven of eight towers in one of the city’s deadliest ever blazes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
