Police and crime commissioners to be abolished 13. November 2025 (16:37) Home secretary says PCCs, in England and Wales, were ‘failed experiment’ – and scrapping them will save £100m over this parliamentUK politics live – latest updatesMinisters will abolish elected police and crime commissioners, declaring them to be an expensive failure, with a large proportion of people unaware of them.Under the system, introduced under the Conservatives in 2012, all 43 police forces across England and Wales had to answer to an elected official. It was supposed to boost the accountability and performances of police forces. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Row over definition of ‘gender’ hangs over Cop30 plans to support women 13. November 2025 (16:19) Advocates say conservative states’ push to define gender as ‘biological sex’ would backslide on decade-old language within the UNA row over the definition of the term “gender” threatens to bog down pivotal talks at the Cop30 climate summit.Before the UN talks in Brazil, hardline conservative states have pushed to define gender as “biological sex” over their concerns trans and non-binary people could be included in a major plan to ensure climate action addresses gender inequality and empowers women. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather warnings as Spain’s Storm Claudia reaches UK on Friday 13. November 2025 (15:19) Risk of flooding in parts of England and Wales as storm that has battered Canary Islands makes landFlooding could hit parts of the UK with forecasters issuing an amber warning for rain.Storm Claudia, which was named by the Spanish meteorological service, will bring heavy downpours and strong winds on Friday for much of the country. Some areas could have up to 8cm of rain, with deep flood water posing a danger to life. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
State-sanctioned fuel smuggling cost Libya $20bn over three years – report 13. November 2025 (15:02) Policy body calls for western-backed investigation into oil officials known to be at heart of illegal enterpriseA surge in state-sanctioned fuel smuggling between 2022 and 2024 cost the Libyan people about $20bn (£15bn) in lost revenue – an alarming sum that demands decisive international sanctions against those responsible, according to the most comprehensive report published on how Libya’s primary revenue source has been systematically pillaged.The report by the investigative and policy body the Sentry states that “politicians and security leaders who claim to serve the public and fight organised crime have, in fact, acted as the chief architects of Libya’s fuel-smuggling industry, often with backing from foreign states”. Some of the imported fuel has also been smuggled into Sudan, where it has prolonged that country’s civil war. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Will Victoria’s new youth crime laws be tough on crime or just a coward punch? 13. November 2025 (15:00) Jacinta Allan’s Labor government takes a leaf out of the playbook of conservative oppositions: focus on crime and hope voters see them as knights in shining armourGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTo put it in language those in the Victorian government who are enamoured of tabloid newspapers and talkback radio will understand: are these new laws tough on crime, or merely a coward punch?A decision by the Victorian government to introduce adult crime, adult time laws has been widely condemned as an easy way out, getting in first with a cheap shot rather than having to duke it out on youth crime with a rabble of a Coalition at next year’s state election. It may work politically, but will it work as policy? Continue reading...(The Guardian)
At least 30,000 graduates lose qualifications in Australia’s vocational education crackdown 13. November 2025 (15:00) Since late 2024, registrations of 11 VET organisations have been cancelled, voiding diplomas, certificates and statements of attainmentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAt least 30,000 people have lost their qualifications in the past year as the regulator cracks down on Australia’s shonky vocational education and training providers.Since late 2024, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has cancelled the registrations of 11 training organisations and voided diplomas, certificates and statements of attainment that providers had issued. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The Coalition believes pursuing net zero will increase power bills – but the IEA tells us the opposite is true 13. November 2025 (15:00) The International Energy Agency, once known for an anti-renewables bias, now says a more ambitious transition will lower pricesSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereJust as the Liberal party walked away from a firm net zero emissions target, the International Energy Agency report told the world that a more ambitious clean energy transition means lower household power bills.The timing is exquisite. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
SA attorney general refers anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe’s fundraiser ‘game’ for investigation 13. November 2025 (15:00) Bingo card-style game, where supporters encouraged to ‘buy’ words and phrases linked to contentious abortion bill, condemned by crossbench MLCs as a ‘grift’ that trivialised debateFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA “fun little game” launched by the anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe to raise funds during an emotional debate over late-pregnancy abortion in South Australia has been referred for investigation.Howe, who has worked with conservative politicians to introduce various state and federal bills to water down abortion rights, said the bingo card-style game was a fundraiser for an anti-abortion war chest. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Liberty Steel being investigated in Romania for embezzlement 13. November 2025 (14:39) Metals firm denies allegations as more problems emerge for founder Sanjeev Gupta after loss of key UK operationSanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Steel is under investigation in Romania for embezzlement and tax evasion, adding to the metals tycoon’s difficulties after the loss of his key British operation.Romania’s prosecutor’s office said in a statement last week that they raided seven homes and the registered office of an unnamed company. The office published a video – blurred to make identification more difficult – which appeared to show officers in helmets and body armour entering a property at night. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Trumpist’ Czech PM-elect refuses to sell business empire amid conflict of interest row 13. November 2025 (14:27) Billionaire populist Andrej Babiš insisting he will meet legal obligations before taking officeAndrej Babiš, the self-proclaimed “Trumpist” billionaire who won last month’s Czech election, has refused to sell his huge business empire, but insisted he will resolve a conflict of interest that threatens to bar him from becoming prime minister.Babiš, whose ANO party finished a comfortable first in the October vote but failed to secure a majority in parliament, said in a social media post on Thursday he would not sell his Agrofert farming, food processing and chemicals conglomerate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
