Pakistani parliament votes to give army chief new powers and legal immunity 12. November 2025 (18:05) Critics say constitutional amendment, which will also limit supreme court’s independence, is ‘funeral for democracy’Pakistan’s parliament has passed a controversial amendment to its constitution that will expand the powers of the army chief and grant him lifelong legal immunity while limiting the independence of the supreme court, in a move critics described as a “funeral for democracy”.Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s powerful army chief who is widely seen as a de facto ruler of the country, was the main benefactor from the 27th constitutional amendment, which was passed by the parliamentary lower house on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Helen Newlove, victims’ commissioner and peer, dies after short illness 12. November 2025 (17:36) Lady Newlove, a campaigner for victims of crime, was a ‘committed and passionate advocate’, her office has saidHelen Newlove, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, has died after a short illness, her office has said.Lady Newlove, a Conservative life peer, was reappointed commissioner in October 2023 after two earlier terms in the role, and was due to serve until the end of this year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kim Kardashian’s Skims valued at $5bn after raising new funding 12. November 2025 (17:35) Skims plans to use new capital to broaden its intimates lines, and expand further into apparel and activewear Skims, founded by reality TV star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian along with CEO Jens Grede, said on Wednesday it had raised $225mn in new capital, valuing the shapewear label at $5bn.Kardashian’s ventures, including her cosmetics brand SKKN, have attracted young shoppers and benefited from her vast social media following. Similarly, other celebrity-backed brands have also drawn venture capital investment, as firms bet on the marketing power and built-in audiences of high-profile founders to drive consumer demand. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mike Johnson to swear in Democrat who could force Epstein vote after weeks-long standoff 12. November 2025 (17:34) Arizona representative-elect Adelita Grijalva to be sworn in Wednesday after House speaker prevented her from taking her seatMike Johnson, the US House speaker, is expected to swear in Democratic representative-elect Adelita Grijalva on Wednesday afternoon, ending a seven-week standoff that prevented the incoming Arizona legislator from taking her congressional seat and clearing the path for a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.Johnson’s office announced Grijalva will take the oath of office at approximately 4pm EST on the House floor, ahead of a vote to reopen the federal government. The ceremony comes 49 days after Grijalva won a late September special election to succeed her father, longtime congressman Raúl Grijalva, who died in March. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mike Graham sacked from TalkTV after ‘failure’ to assist inquiry into racist post 12. November 2025 (17:34) Broadcaster suspended presenter last month over Facebook post he said happened after account was hackedThe presenter Mike Graham has been dismissed from Rupert Murdoch’s digital channel TalkTV, after the company said he had failed to cooperate with an investigation into a racist post that appeared on one of his social media accounts.Graham, 65, was suspended by the broadcaster, owned by Murdoch’s News UK, after concerns were raised about the message, which was posted on his Facebook account last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Abuse by UK’s ‘most prolific sex offender’ was ignored at Medomsley detention centre, report finds 12. November 2025 (17:33) Neville Husband committed hundreds of offences while working at facility in County Durham from 1969 to 1985A man who worked as a prison officer and caterer in a youth detention centre was able to rape and torture boys for three decades while the abuse was “ignored and dismissed”, according to a report labelling him as possibly Britain’s worst ever sex offender.Neville Husband carried out at least 368 sexual offences against young men and boys between 1969 and 1985 while working at Medomsley detention centre in County Durham, but is believed have committed hundreds more crimes, which would take the total past the 450 committed by Jimmy Savile. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Northern lights visible across US as geomagnetic storm lights up skies 12. November 2025 (17:23) Aurora borealis reported in over a dozen states, stretching from New York to Texas and TennesseeA powerful geomagnetic storm lit up skies across much of the US late Tuesday and early Wednesday, giving people in dozens of states a rare chance to see the northern lights, and forecasters say that more auroral activity could be visible on Wednesday night too.The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, was reported in more than a dozen states, stretching from New York to Washington state to Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Photos of the glowing colorful skies also poured in on social media from Nevada, Massachusetts, Georgia, Alabama, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nebraska, Iowa, Idaho, South Dakota and more. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Canada pushes to join Eurovision: ‘This is about protecting our identity’ 12. November 2025 (17:07) Country explores taking part in the glitzy song contest as it distances from the US and seeks to deepen ties with EuropeWhen Canada released its federal budget this month, much of it was standard fare, from the plans to downsize the public service to the boost in defence spending.But one line tucked in the nearly 500-page document has captured imaginations on both sides of the Atlantic: a mention that the government is working with Canada’s national broadcaster to explore participation in the Eurovision song contest. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The EU invited Ukraine to join the club, but will it ever happen? 12. November 2025 (16:53) Zelenskyy wants admission before 2030, but with a growing far-right, anti-enlargement contingent and budgetary fears mounting, some countries are hiding behind a Hungarian veto• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereVolodymyr Zelenskyy may be a wartime leader, but he is fighting to deliver peacetime ambitions, too: he wants Ukraine to become an EU country – soon.Ukraine’s tireless president is ramping up pressure on EU governments to accelerate the slow process of joining: he sees the collective sacrifice of his people as a struggle “for the Ukrainian future, the future of Ukraine in the European Union”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Stakes rise as Trump deploys world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean 12. November 2025 (16:38) Expert says military action may be ‘imminent’ in Venezuela, while others suspect deployment is a negotiating tacticWhen Donald Trump started sending warships, marines and reaper drones to the Caribbean in August to torment Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, the US’s former ambassador in Caracas, James Story, suspected the deployment was largely for show: a spectacular flexing of military muscle supposed to force the authoritarian leader from power.But in recent days, as the world’s largest aircraft carrier and its strike group powered towards the region and the US president continued to order deadly airstrikes on alleged narco-boats, the diplomat’s thinking has shifted. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
