Key Netanyahu aide Ron Dermer quits as Israel’s strategic affairs minister 12. November 2025 (14:05) Departure of figure who led talks that culminated in Gaza ceasefire follows weeks of speculation in Israeli mediaIsrael’s strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, a key aide of Benjamin Netanyahu, has announced his resignation after weeks of media speculation.One of the most influential members of the country’s rightwing government, Dermer led months of intense negotiations before the US-led Gaza ceasefire deal that came into effect last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican disquiet over hemp ban threatens passage of bill to end shutdown 12. November 2025 (14:00) Kentucky trio oppose provision restricting hemp-derived products, with House to vote on Wednesday on funding billA last-minute provision in the federal spending bill heavily restricting hemp-derived products such as CBD and THC drinks could lead some Republicans to vote against the spending bill which, if passed, could end the government shutdown as early as Wednesday.Kentucky is one of the largest producers of hemp in the country, and Republicans in the state have shown strong support for the hemp industry. Jonathan Miller, an advocate for the hemp industry and former Kentucky state treasurer, said that “Kentucky is really ground zero for the rebirth of hemp” – a niche industry until the 2018 farm bill allowed a much wider variety of legal products. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keir Starmer says any No 10 briefings against ministers ‘unacceptable’ 12. November 2025 (13:48) Starmer defends Wes Streeting at PMQs but dodges question on his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeneyUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has condemned as “completely unacceptable” any briefings against cabinet ministers from inside Downing Street as he tried desperately to close a rift at the top of government.Questioned by Kemi Badenoch at prime minister’s questions, Starmer defended Wes Streeting, the health secretary, who was the apparent target of a pre-emptive No 10 push against a feared imminent leadership challenge against the prime minister. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ONS to cut reports on health and crime to improve quality of core data 12. November 2025 (13:40) UK’s statistics agency announces ‘recovery’ plan after concerns raised over reliability of its dataThe UK’s statistics agency has announced plans to scrap some of its publications on health, crime and the regions of Britain as part of its “recovery” plan to boost the reliability of its core data.Under pressure over the quality of its data, the Office for National Statistics said it would reduce the number of reports it produces each year by about 10% in 2026 to help it prioritise resources. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ferry company apologises after children left ‘screaming’ by pornographic film 12. November 2025 (13:22) DFDS says film was broadcast mistakenly to passengers who had been watching F1 race on France-UK serviceA ferry company has apologised after children were left “screaming” when a pornographic film was played on one of its ships from France to Sussex.DFDS said it was “very sorry” over the incident, which happened onboard the ferry from Dieppe in France to Newhaven. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Streeting says Starmer should sack aides responsible for hostile briefings against him – UK politics live 12. November 2025 (11:41) The health secretary said he ‘cannot see circumstances’ in which he would challenge Starmer for leadershipThe No 10 briefing row is not the only story around this morning. Amy Sedghi is writing a live blog about the ongoing turmoil at the BBC and she has details of Donald Trump saying he has an “obligation” to sue the BBC.In a related development, Reform UK has pulled out of a BBC documentary about the party amid a row over the broadcaster’s editing of the Trump speech. Robyn Vintner has the story. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine suspends justice minister amid energy corruption scandal – Europe live 12. November 2025 (11:39) Prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the decision to suspend German Galushchenko had been taken at an emergency government sessionSeparately, Kazakhstan’s parliament passed a bill to ban the promotion of what it calls “non-traditional sexual orientation” in public spaces and the media, a copycat of Russia’s anti-LGBTQ laws, AFP reported.Rights groups described the measure, which needs to be approved by the upper house, as discriminatory and said it would increase the vulnerability of LGBTQ people in the Central Asian Muslim-majority country, an ally of Russia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Donald Trump says he has ‘obligation’ to sue BBC over speech edit 12. November 2025 (11:33) US president sets Friday deadline for corporation to respond to billion-dollar legal threatTrump to sue BBC – latest updatesDonald Trump has said he feels he has “an obligation” to sue the BBC over its editing of one of his speeches, as a deadline looms for the corporation to respond to his billion-dollar legal threat.The US president accused the broadcaster of having “defrauded the public” with an edition of Panorama last year that spliced together two parts of a speech he made on 6 January 2021 and has given it until Friday to respond. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Venezuelans sent by Trump to El Salvador endured systematic torture, report finds 12. November 2025 (11:00) Human rights groups accuse Trump officials of complicity and draw comparison with scandal at Abu Ghraib prisonMore than 252 Venezuelans expelled to El Salvador under Donald Trump’s mass deportation policy suffered systematic and prolonged torture and abuse, including sexual assault, during their detention, according to a report published on Wednesday.The report, compiled jointly by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Cristosal – a group investigating violations in Central America – says conditions at El Salvador’s sprawling “terrorist continent center” (Cecot) breached the UN’s standard minimal rules for the treatment of prisoners. It cites “inhumane prison conditions, including prolonged incommunicado detention, inadequate food” and other shortcomings. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Actor Allison Mack reveals role in Nxivm sex cult in new podcast: ‘I was abusive’ 12. November 2025 (11:00) Smallville actor, released from prison two years ago, tells how she helped coerce women for cult leader Keith RaniereThe Smallville actor Allison Mack says she was once riveted by the influence she wielded through her role in the Nxivm sex cult – though it eventually sent her to federal prison, and she now realizes it was “abusive”.“I was excited by the power that I felt having these young, beautiful women look to me and listen to me,” Mack, 43, maintains in a new podcast series titled Allison After Nxivm, which contains her first public remarks since her release from prison about two years ago. “And – yes – the sexuality of it was exciting.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
