Trump urges Republicans to vote for release of Epstein files in surprise U-turn 17. November 2025 (11:31) US president says he backs efforts to release documents related to late sex offender because ‘we have nothing to hide’US politics live – latest updatesHow the Epstein row plunged Maga world into turmoil – a timelineEpstein emails: key takeaways from 20,000 pages of newly released filesDonald Trump has told his fellow Republicans in Congress to vote for the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in a sudden reversal of his earlier position.The US president’s post on his Truth Social website came after the House speaker, Mike Johnson, said previously that he believed a vote on releasing justice department documents in the Epstein case should help put to rest allegations “that he [Trump] has something to do with it”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death for crimes against humanity 17. November 2025 (11:05) Hasina sentenced in absentia by court in Dhaka over deadly crackdown on student-led uprising last yearBangladesh’s deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to death in absentia by a court in Dhaka for crimes against humanity over a deadly crackdown on a student-led uprising last year.A three-judge bench of the country’s international crimes tribunal convicted Hasina of crimes including incitement, orders to kill and inaction to prevent atrocities, as she oversaw a crackdown on anti-government protesters last year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Charlotte reels as immigration raids bring North Carolina city to a ‘standstill’ 17. November 2025 (11:00) Thriving business districts in North Carolina city now at a ‘standstill’ after at least 81 were arrested over the weekendMany communities in Charlotte, North Carolina, were reeling after federal Customs and Border Protection teams descended on the city at the weekend and arrested at least 81 people – while normally-thriving immigrant enclaves and business districts came to a standstill.Federal agents were deployed in what the Department of Homeland Security, the parent agency of Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calls Operation Charlotte’s Web, sparking protests. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘His role is to recruit’: the Sheffield-based propagandist for Sudan’s RSF militia 17. November 2025 (10:13) Abdalmonim Alrabea has appeared in hundreds of videos in which he expresses support for paramilitary group accused of committing genocideA British citizen based in Sheffield appeared in a TikTok live broadcast laughing along while a notorious fighter from Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces group boasted about participating in mass killings in the city of El Fasher.The video, broadcast on 27 October, is just one of hundreds posted to social media in which 44-year-old Abdalmonim Alrabea expresses support for the RSF and the ethnically targeted atrocities it has committed in Sudan’s western Darfur region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Asylum seekers’ jewellery could be seized to pay for processing costs, says Home Office minister 17. November 2025 (09:52) Idea borrowed from Denmark is latest attempt to reduce number of people seeking asylum in UKAsylum seekers could have jewellery or other valuables taken to pay for the costs of processing their cases, a Home Office minister has said, in another detail of changes to migration policy likely to cause concern among Labour MPs.Speaking to broadcasters before the formal announcement of sweeping changes to asylum policy on Monday, the Home Office minister Alex Norris said while this would not involve seizing wedding rings, jewellery without sentimental value could be taken. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thames Water bidder says it is offering £1bn extra cash injection 17. November 2025 (09:47) Castle Water says restructuring plans do not go far enough and extra funds will help resolve pollution crisisBusiness live – latest updatesA bidder for Thames Water has said it would inject £1bn more into the struggling utility company than rival proposals if it gained control.John Reynolds, the chief executive of the independent water retailer Castle Water, said the current plans under discussion with creditors to rebuild Thames Water’s finances does not go far enough and does not properly address its environmental crisis. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Damned if we do but completely stuffed if we don’t’: heatwaves will worsen longer net zero is delayed 17. November 2025 (09:00) A new study suggests heatwaves will not revert back towards preindustrial conditions for at least 1,000 years after emissions target reachedSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereHeatwaves will become hotter, longer and more frequent the later net zero emissions is reached globally, new research suggests.Scientists at the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather and Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO, simulated how heatwaves would respond over the next 1,000 years, examining the differences for each five-year delay in reaching net zero between 2030 and 2060. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brad Battin faces spill after group of Victorian Liberal MPs say they have lost confidence in his leadership 17. November 2025 (08:35) Sources say shadow treasurer Jess Wilson has received enough support to test leadership of the party a year out from state pollGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA group of Victorian Liberal MPs have told the party leader, Brad Battin, they no longer have confidence in his leadership, paving the way for a vote on whether to replace him.The intervention on Monday afternoon – delivered almost one year before the state goes to the polls – could trigger a ballot on his position as early as Tuesday morning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former police officer’s destruction of body-worn video and use of excessive force was serious misconduct, report finds 17. November 2025 (08:30) Four NSW officers who failed to report former constable’s confessions also found to have engaged in serious misconduct, independent commission saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA former NSW constable who used excessive force on six separate occasions and destroyed incriminating body-worn video evidence has been found to have engaged in serious misconduct, alongside four officers he confessed to who didn’t report him.The findings, released by the state’s independent Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (Lecc) on Monday, could lead to a criminal investigation and potential jail time for the former New South Wales police officer. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
At least 98 Palestinians have died in custody since October 2023, Israeli data shows 17. November 2025 (08:00) Exclusive: Real toll likely substantially higher as hundreds of detainees from Gaza are missing, says NGO Physicians for Human Rights - IsraelIsraeli data shows at least 98 Palestinians have died in custody since October 2023, and the real toll is likely substantially higher because hundreds of people detained in Gaza are missing, an Israel-based human rights group has said.Physicians for Human Rights – Israel (PHRI) tracked deaths from causes including physical violence, medical neglect and malnutrition for a new report, using freedom of information requests, forensic reports and interviews with lawyers, activists, relatives and witnesses. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
