Rebuilding ‘human-made abyss’ in Gaza will cost at least $70bn, UN says 25. November 2025 (16:04) Report says Israel’s operations ‘significantly undermined every pillar of survival’ and reduced the economy by 87%Israel’s war in Gaza has created a “human-made abyss”, and reconstruction is likely to cost more than $70bn (£53bn) over several decades, the United Nations has said.The UN’s trade and development agency (Unctad) said in a report that Israel’s military operations had “significantly undermined every pillar of survival” and that the entire population of 2.3 million people faced “extreme, multidimensional impoverishment”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Italian man ‘dressed as dead mother in order to claim her pension’ 25. November 2025 (15:42) Man from Borgo Virgilio investigated for benefit fraud and hiding body since woman’s death in 2022An Italian man is under investigation for benefit fraud and hiding a body after allegedly dressing up as his dead mother – including mimicking her hairstyle with a wig and wearing makeup and jewellery – in order to claim her pension.The man, from Borgo Virgilio close to the northern Italian city of Mantua, allegedly claimed thousands of euros in pension payments after the death of his mother in 2022. Instead of reporting her death, he allegedly hid her body in his home. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Food influencer known as ‘dine-and-dash diva’ arrested in Brooklyn 25. November 2025 (15:31) Pei Chung allegedly ate at multiple fancy restaurants around New York City and then skipped out on payingA would-be food influencer known online as the “dine-and-dash diva” has been jailed in Brooklyn, New York, after multiple previous arrests for allegedly skipping out on the bill at high-end restaurants.Pei Chung, 34, is said to have developed a habit of going to fancy restaurants around New York City, ordering extensively off the menu – and then trying to get out of paying. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican Jim Justice to pay $5m in back taxes following government lawsuit 25. November 2025 (15:02) Lawsuit filed in West Virginia maintained that Justice and his wife received notice of the funds due since 2009 but didn’t payJim Justice, the Republican US senator, and his wife have agreed to pay more than $5m that the couple owes in back taxes shortly after they were sued over the 16-year-old debt by the federal government.The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in their home state of West Virginia, maintained that the Justices had received notice from the US treasury department of the funds due since 2009 but had “neglected or refused to make full payment of those assessments”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labor better on economy and Dutton least popular major party leader since 1987, ANU poll finds 25. November 2025 (15:00) Voters thought ‘leadership qualities Dutton most lacked were inspiration, closely followed by compassion’, co-author of Australian Electoral Study saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVoters backed Labor as the party best placed to manage the economy at the federal election, with Peter Dutton’s decision to oppose tax cuts seeing the Coalition squander a nearly 40-year advantage.The collapse in support on economic policies – revealed in the latest instalment of the Australian Electoral Study (AES), released on Wednesday – contributed to the former opposition leader’s historic unpopularity with voters and Labor’s thumping win. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Worker at Australian Taxation Office call centre takes court action demanding ‘same job, same pay’ 25. November 2025 (15:00) Fair Work Commission application comes amid scrutiny of ATO’s use of for-profit call centresGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA worker at one of the Australian Taxation Office’s outsourced call centres is pursuing a “same job, same pay” order that threatens to unravel the agency’s extensive use of third-party contractors.The Fair Work Commission application comes amid heightened scrutiny of the ATO’s use of for-profit call centres, where workers have complained about low pay, poor conditions, insufficient training and extreme staff turnover rates. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guardian Essential poll: only a quarter of older Australians believe climate change can be prevented 25. November 2025 (15:00) Results show a ‘general sense of gloom’ as fewer Australians now believe climate change is caused by humans compared with MarchFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwice as many older Australians than young adults believe the world cannot do anything to prevent the worst effects of our rapidly heating climate, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll.The poll of 1,020 Australians last week,also found just 53% of people think climate change is happening and is caused by human activity. That has declined one point from March 2025, when 54% of respondents said the same. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Officials at US-Mexico border seize $10.3m in meth hidden in lettuce shipment 25. November 2025 (14:38) CBP press release calls seized drugs and lettuce ‘a salad unfit for this year’s Thanksgiving table’Officials at Texas’s border with Mexico seized roughly $10.3m worth of methamphetamine hidden in a lettuce shipment on Friday, according to US Customs and Border Protection.A press release from CBP officials called the seized drugs and lettuce “a salad unfit for this year’s Thanksgiving table”, adding that the 500 packages of meth in question weighed about 1,153lbs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US brokers Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi as Trump tries to push through deal 25. November 2025 (14:32) Spokesperson for US army secretary says discussions with officials from Kyiv and Moscow are going wellEurope live – latest updatesDiscussions involving US, Russian and Ukrainian officials are taking place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the latest step in the Trump administration’s attempts to push through a peace deal to end the conflict in Ukraine.The US army secretary, Dan Driscoll, met a Russian delegation on Monday night in the Gulf emirate, and talks continued into Tuesday. “The talks are going well and we remain optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronised with the White House ... as these talks progress,” his spokesperson told Reuters. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FCA makes inquiries into WH Smith accounting error that wiped almost £600m off value 25. November 2025 (14:15) Regulator assessing whether firm breached UK disclosure rules for listed companies, but is yet to launch formal investigationBusiness live – latest updatesThe City watchdog has contacted WH Smith to find out more about its accounting error that wiped almost £600m off the company’s stock market value overnight and led to the departure of its chief executive.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it had started making inquiries to assess whether the company had breached UK disclosure rules for listed companies, but was yet to launch a formal investigation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
