Ex-top aide to Gavin Newsom indicted in scheme to steal money from ex-US health secretary 12. November 2025 (23:18) Dana Williamson among five co-conspirators in scheme to steal more than $225,000 from Xavier Becerra’s campaignA former top aide to California governor Gavin Newsom has been indicted on federal charges alleging her involvement in a scheme to steal campaign money from Xavier Becerra, the former US health secretary.Dana Williamson was arrested and scheduled to make her first court appearance Wednesday in Sacramento. It was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney who could speak on her behalf. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Waymo announces that its robotaxis will drive freeways for the first time 12. November 2025 (22:57) Google subsidiary to offer services on San Francisco, LA and Phoenix freeways as it scales expansion amid competitionAlphabet’s Waymo said on Wednesday that it will begin offering robotaxi rides that use freeways across San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, a first for the Google subsidiary as it steps up expansion amid global and domestic competition in the self-driving industry.Freeway rides will initially be available to early-access users, Waymo said. “When a freeway route is meaningfully faster, they can be matched with a freeway trip, providing quicker, smoother, and more efficient rides,” it said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: aurora lights up night sky after solar storm; Liberals to reveal energy policy 12. November 2025 (20:48) Shadow cabinet will hear the proposals at 9am before Sussan Ley makes a public announcement. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastStargazers were given a rare treat last night when the southern lights were visible across wide parts of the Australian night sky.A severe solar storm had paved the way for the spectacular display of aurora australis, particularly in Victoria and as far north as the Blue Mountains where they were seen over the Three Sisters near Katoomba. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Property experts urge Rachel Reeves to abolish ‘sin tax’ of stamp duty in budget 12. November 2025 (20:46) Chancellor advised to replace levy with an annual property tax as Treasury considers overhaul of systemRachel Reeves has been urged to abolish the “sin tax” of stamp duty in the budget by property experts including TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp, as the chancellor faced calls to replace it with an annual property tax.Allsopp, presenter of Channel 4 property shows including Location, Location, Location, said “people are in a panic” about potential stamp duty changes, and “sitting tight” ahead of the 26 November budget. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Peter Mandelson was in contact with Epstein till at least 2016, new emails reveal 12. November 2025 (20:36) UK ambassador was sacked in September after other tranche of emails showed he told disgraced financier to ‘fight for early release’Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington over his association with Jeffrey Epstein, was in contact with the pedophile financier as late as 2016, new emails have revealed.Mandelson was sacked in September over leaked emails in which he expressed his support for Epstein and urged him to “fight for early release” in 2008 while the disgraced financier was facing charges of soliciting sex from minors. The tranche of emails revealed the pair had maintained contact until 2010. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israeli president condemns ‘serious’ attack by settlers on West Bank villages 12. November 2025 (20:26) Isaac Herzog makes rare statement on often-ignored violence as settlers injure Palestinians and attack soldiersDozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, injuring four Palestinians and attacking Israeli soldiers in the latest incident of rising settler violence.The settlers attacked the Palestinian villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf, setting vehicles on fire and damaging property belonging to a Bedouin community, with charred remains of cars left behind the next day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Briefing war spotlights relationships between three of Labour’s most senior figures 12. November 2025 (20:14) Rift said to be driven between Keir Starmer and Morgan McSweeney even before attacks on Wes StreetingOne way to flush out a leadership challenger, according to Gordon Brown’s one-time enforcer, is to push them over the edge.In his chronicle of his time at the centre of power, Damian McBride wrote that the New Labour darling David Miliband had a “tendency to treat rebellion like a reluctant bather inching his way into the sea at Skegness”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour infighting puts chancellor’s budget plan to reassure bond markets at risk 12. November 2025 (20:11) It was hoped manifesto-breaking tax rises might bring down borrowing costs – but party turbulence is likely to spook investorsThere is one narrow, perilous route by which Rachel Reeves can successfully deliver her 26 November budget, and it runs right through government bond markets.But the current outbreak of Labour infighting – driven by a flurry of pugilistic briefings from inside No 10 – risks cutting that route off with two weeks still to go before budget day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Epstein emails thrust Trump back into spotlight over past ties 12. November 2025 (20:11) Newly released emails from Epstein’s estate reignite scrutiny of the US president’s old links to the sex offenderThe release of previously unseen emails sent by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has thrust Donald Trump back into the center of the long-running Epstein controversy that has plagued his administration for months, inflamed parts of his own political base and offered Democrats an ongoing line of political attack.On Wednesday, Democrats on the House oversight and government reform committee released email exchanges from 2011, 2015 and 2019 that they say were provided by the estate of the late Epstein, who died by suicide in federal prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex-trafficking minors. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Common cents: US Mint to press its final penny 12. November 2025 (20:01) Last one-cent coin to be pressed in Philadelphia as Trump ordered them to be canceled, citing rising production costsThe US Mint in Philadelphia is set to strike its last circulating penny on Wednesday as Donald Trump has canceled the one-cent coin.The US president has ordered its demise as costs climb to nearly four cents per penny and the one-cent valuation becomes somewhat obsolete. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
