China sharpens its language on Taiwan as part of ‘longer-term’ strategy 12. November 2025 (01:59) A series of statements, articles, photos and even a new national holiday indicate a shift in Beijing’s stance over the island, analysts sayIn recent weeks China has released a series of statements, articles and photos, that analysts say signal an escalation in the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s approach to Taiwan.Beijing claims Taiwan as a province and has vowed to annex it under what it terms “reunification”. China’s military is not believed to be capable of a full invasion yet, but senior officials have recently started using sharper language. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia’s high court bid over Canberra embassy fails but Australian government to pay costs 12. November 2025 (01:14) Court rules 2023 cancellation of $2.75m 99-year lease was legal but Russia must be compensatedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRussia has failed in a high court bid to build a new embassy in Canberra, but the federal government will have to pay compensation for cancelling its lease, and cover the costs of the case.The high court ruled in a majority decision that it was legal for the lease to be cancelled in 2023. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Up in smoke’: Liberal MPs flying to Canberra for net zero meeting forced back to Adelaide 12. November 2025 (01:04) Leah Blyth, Andrew McLachlan and Tony Pasin were onboard a QantasLink flight from Adelaide when crew detected smoke in cabinFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA group of Liberal politicians headed to Canberra for a party room meeting on net zero emissions policy has been forced to return to Adelaide after smoke was detected on their Qantas flight.Senators Leah Blyth and Andrew McLachlan, as well as lower house MP Tony Pasin, were onboard QantasLink flight 1972 from Adelaide when the crew saw smoke in the cabin, prompting the plane to fly back to Adelaide. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tech companies and UK child safety agencies to test AI tools’ ability to create abuse images 12. November 2025 (01:01) New law will allow technology to be examined and ensure tools have safeguards to stop creation of materialTech companies and child protection agencies will be given the power to test whether artificial intelligence tools can produce child abuse images under a new UK law.The announcement was made as a safety watchdog revealed that reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material [CSAM] have more than doubled in the past year from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British music industry adds record £8bn to UK economy, according to UK Music 12. November 2025 (01:01) Taylor Swift’s Eras tour among the big events driving spending, as British artists perform well overseas and job numbers riseThe music industry contributed a record total of £8bn to the UK economy in 2024, powered in part by Taylor Swift’s Eras tour and Take That’s stadium run.According to figures in the annual report from UK Music, the umbrella organisation encompassing a range of bodies including the BPI and PRS for Music, the figure is a 5% rise from the £7.6bn contributed to UK GDP in 2023. As well as tours generating revenue through ticket sales, tourism and more, the £8bn figure also factors in revenue from recorded music, whether via sales, streaming, commercial deals and other sources. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Private care providers in three English regions make £250m in three years 12. November 2025 (01:01) More than third of profits analysed went to firms owned by private equity or based in tax havens, research findsPrivate companies operating care services in just three regions of England have taken more than £250m in profits in three years, with more than a third going to providers owned by private equity firms or companies based in tax havens.New analysis by Reclaiming Our Regional Economies warned that public money is being rapidly funnelled out of the care system into the hands of private companies, rather than reinvested to improve services. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
All schools in England to be given AI-generated pupil attendance targets 12. November 2025 (01:01) Unions decry move, saying it will put more pressure on headteachers without tackling absence from classroomsEvery school in England is to be issued with an AI-generated target for minimum pupil attendance, the government has announced, as part of its continuing efforts to tackle absence in the country’s classrooms.Headteachers will be given the targets this month in an effort to boost attendance rates, which remain stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Part of the joy economy’: adult buyers add to bumper year for toy sales 12. November 2025 (01:01) Some of this year’s Christmas must-haves are also expected to appeal to UK’s growing number of ‘kidults’There could be tug of war under the Christmas tree this year owing to the growing trend of adult toy collectors, a rundown of the season’s must-haves suggests.Singing Wicked 2 dolls, manga-themed Lego, a Pokémon game and a mini-fridge playset are among the items on the annual DreamToys selection that experts say are as likely to feature on the wishlists of adults as children. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One-third of museums lost government funding since Trump took office, survey says 12. November 2025 (00:58) Report including responses from more than 500 museum directors finds median loss of $30,000 in grants or contractsOne-third of US museums have lost government grants or contracts since Donald Trump took office, according to a new survey.The findings, released by the American Alliance of Museums on Tuesday and based on responses from more than 500 museum directors across the US, shed new light on the challenges cultural institutions are facing under the Trump administration. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California governor calls Trump ‘an invasive species’ at Cop30 climate talks 12. November 2025 (00:56) Gavin Newsom is most senior US politician at annual talks, heading alternate delegation in Trump’s absenceCalifornia governor Gavin Newsom has said Donald Trump is an “invasive species” whose dismissal of the climate crisis is an “abomination”, in a fiery attack at the UN climate talks in Brazil – from which Trump and his administration have been completely absent.Newsom is the most senior American politician at the Cop30 summit in Belém, after Trump took the unprecedented step of not sending a delegation to the talks. Newsom sought to fill the notable void of official US activity by lambasting the president for tearing up climate policies and pushing for burning more of the fossil fuels that have caused dangerous global heating. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
