EU court rules non-alcoholic drinks cannot be called gin 13. November 2025 (17:56) Judges in Luxembourg say EU law prohibits use of term ‘non-alcoholic gin’, in case brought by German lobby groupThe makers of spirits may be raising a toast to the European judges of Luxembourg after the EU’s court ruled that non-alcoholic drinks cannot be called gin.Only spirit drinks based on ethyl alcohol flavoured by juniper berries with a minimum alcoholic strength of 37.5% by volume can be known as gin, the court said in a judgment issued on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cop30 live: calls for ‘just transition’ plan grow as report warns world on track for 2.6C of heating 13. November 2025 (17:51) Climate Action Tracker report finds pledges made in past year have not cut the forecast for global heatingMore than half of all delegation members at Cop30 have withheld or obscured details of their affiliations, potentially concealing conflicts of interest and undermining trust in the Cop process, warns Transparency International.According to the campaign group’s examination of the UNFCCC’s official list of registered participants, 54% of participants in national delegations either did not disclose the type of affiliation they have or selected a vague category such as “Guest” or “Other”.Yet, at Cop30, thousands of delegates still do not share enough information, most from within national delegations. If Cop30 is indeed the Cop of truth, the lresidency and the UNFCCC Secretariat should now commit to reviewing and strengthening participant disclosure rules ahead of future summits, ensuring integrity and accountability at every level. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump faces prospect of congressional vote on releasing Epstein files 13. November 2025 (17:49) President’s attempts to press two female members of Congress to withdraw backing for vote appear to have failedDonald Trump is facing the prospect of a politically damaging congressional vote on releasing the Jeffery Epstein files after attempts to press two female members of Congress to withdraw their backing for it appeared to have failed.The reported refusal of Lauren Boebert, a Republican representative from Colorado, and Nancy Macy, from South Carolina, to remove their names from a discharge petition to force a vote leaves Trump exposed on an issue that carries the possibility of turning segments of his Maga base against him. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
People held in ‘decrepit’ California ICE facility sue over ‘inhumane’ conditions 13. November 2025 (17:20) Lawsuit against US government alleges ‘life-threatening’ medical neglect and says residents frequently go hungrySeven people detained at California’s largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center have sued the US government, alleging they have been denied essential medications, frequently go hungry, and are housed in a “decrepit” facility.The federal class-action complaint filed against ICE on Wednesday challenges the “inhumane conditions” at the California City detention center, which opened in late August inside a shuttered state prison. The suit alleges “life-threatening” medical neglect, with the plaintiffs saying they have been denied cancer treatment, basic disability accommodations and regular insulin for diabetes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds of thousands to lose heat pump subsidies in Reeves’s budget plan 13. November 2025 (17:14) Exclusive: chancellor plans to fund energy efficiency levies via warm homes plan as part of drive to lower energy billsHundreds of thousands of homeowners will lose their right to subsidies for eco-friendly heat pumps as a result of government plans to bring down energy bills at the budget.Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, is planning to announce a series of measures to bring down energy bills amid concerns the country’s stubbornly high cost of living is driving millions of voters to Reform UK. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Major US broadcasters sit out Cop30 climate talks: ‘They’re missing a lot’ 13. November 2025 (17:00) Figures show none of US ‘big four’ – CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox – appear to have sent teams to cover summit in BelémThousands of media professionals are at the United Nations climate talks in Brazil. Almost none of them appear to be from the four major US broadcasters.Nearly 4,000 members of the media registered to attend the global climate conference, known as Cop30, according to a preliminary list released by the United Nations climate body on Tuesday. But none of the “big four” US broadcasters – CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox – appear to currently have teams present at the talks. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Two-thirds of women in UK military sexually harassed in past year, survey finds 13. November 2025 (16:41) MoD survey also finds nearly one in 10 have been subject to non-consensual sexual activity and a third have been groped or touchedNearly one in 10 women serving in the British military have been subjected to an assault or other non-consensual sexual activity in the past year, according to the first official survey of sexual harassment across the armed forces.A third said they had been groped or touched in a way that made them feel uncomfortable, according to the Ministry of Defence, and two-thirds reported at least one form of sexual harassment or sexualised behaviour – proportions significantly higher than among their male counterparts across the army, navy and air force. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
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)
