Poland says ‘everything indicates’ Russia was behind rail sabotage incidents – Europe live 18. November 2025 (12:04) Security spokesperson says the incident at the weekend was a terrorist attack ‘initiated by special services from the East’Heads up: Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk will address the Polish parliament around 1pm local time (midday UK) to give lawmakers an update on the latest on the rail sabotage incidents over the weekend.I will bring you all the key lines here. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform’s plan to cut EU citizens’ benefits would risk trade war with Europe, Labour claims – UK politics live 18. November 2025 (12:03) As Reform announces what it claims are £25bn in savings through cuts, Labour says ‘Farage’s fantasy numbers don’t add up’ Back at the Reform UK press conference, Zia Yusuf, the party’s head of policy, has just finished outlining his plan to cut spending on foreignersAs he finished, Yusuf claimed this was “treachery”.Labour is making the conscious and deliberate decision to continue funding extortionate amounts to foreign nationals, to the detriment of British citizens.And I don’t know what to call that. Frankly, my view is treachery. I think it’s appalling. British people are sick and tired of it.Just a few months ago, Rachel Reeves was saying she couldn’t afford to scrap the two-child benefit cap. Now it looks like becoming her latest U-turn.This isn’t because the economic circumstances have improved. Quite the opposite. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s focus on race backfires as voters punish economic failings 18. November 2025 (12:00) The Maga base rallied on inflation and racial grievances, but stressing race over the economy is costing the US presidentDonald Trump’s 2024 campaign strategy leaned heavily on two sources of grievance among the Maga base. The first was the rising cost of living, propelled by the sharp burst of inflation that peaked at 9% a year in July 2022. Though inflation had receded to 2.7% by election day, frustration over prices convinced many voters that Trump would be a superior steward of the economy. The other theme was race.The strategy won the presidency. Then, Trump made a mistake: focusing relentlessly on hostility towards immigrants and the diverse citizens of urban America, the president pretty much ignored – nay, worsened – his supporters’ economic woes. In elections earlier this month, US economic grievances came back to bite him. Pummeled by voters, Trump is now trying to recover his economic narrative. But it may be too late. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The Congo basin may be the world’s most important rainforest – why is it the least researched? 18. November 2025 (12:00) It is the second-largest tropical forest on Earth, and one of the most vital carbon sinks, but is losing out when it comes to climate policy and fundingIn October 2023, leaders, scientists and policymakers from three of the world’s great rainforest regions – the Amazon, the Congo, and the Borneo-Mekong basins – assembled in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo. They were there to discuss one urgent question: how to save the planet’s last great tropical forests from accelerating destruction.For those present, the question was existential. But to their dismay, almost no one noticed. “There was very little acknowledgment that this was happening, outside of the Congo basin region,” says Prof Simon Lewis, a lecturer at the University of Leeds and University College London, and co-chair of the Congo Basin Science Initiative (CBSI). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
House of Representatives to vote on release of Epstein files after Trump U-turn – US politics live 18. November 2025 (12:00) Move comes after Donald Trump dropped his opposition to a vote on releasing files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey EpsteinFull report: House set to vote on release of Epstein documentsExplainer: what to know about the US House voteThis is one of the emails released last week by Democrats which have put attention back on Trump and his history with Epstein. In it, Epstein wrote that Trump “knew about the girls”.In another email, Epstein wrote that Trump “spent hours” with one of the victims at his house, and another email referred to the president as “dirty.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Energy price cap in Great Britain expected to fall in January – but higher bills loom 18. November 2025 (11:48) Cap on dual-fuel bills forecast to decrease by £22 to the equivalent of £1,733 a year for a typical householdBusiness live – latest updatesBritish households will have a brief reprieve from rising gas and electricity costs this January, before the cost of the government’s energy policies piles another £75 a year on to bills by the spring, according to a leading forecaster.The regulator’s cap on dual-fuel bills is expected to fall by 1% from January to the equivalent of £1,733 a year for a typical household – a £22 drop – because of lower wholesale gas prices, Cornwall Insight said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Crest Nicholson plans job cuts and warns on profits, blaming budget uncertainty 18. November 2025 (11:48) Housebuilder’s autumn selling season was wiped out by speculation about new property taxes, says analystBusiness live – latest updatesThe housebuilder Crest Nicholson has warned of job cuts and worse than expected profits after a summer of “subdued” sales amid uncertainty around the possible property taxes in the budget.The Surrey-based company said it planned to close one divisional office and cut 50 roles, including staff at that site and “selective other roles” across the business. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
