Liberals to target international students and skilled migrants in proposed cuts to immigration 18. November 2025 (08:45) The Coalition is preparing to thrash out the design of a policy to significantly reduce immigration placesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLiberal MPs say skilled migration and international student numbers must be cut to reduce overseas arrivals into Australia, but have warned colleagues against demonising multicultural communities ahead of the next election.The Coalition is preparing to thrash out the design of a policy to significantly cut immigration places, as the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, struggles to keep moderates and conservatives united. Ley and shadow ministers Jonathon Duniam and Paul Scarr want the policy debate before the end of the year, and could link places for overseas arrivals to capacity for home construction and health and education funding. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MoD identifies possible UK sites for making explosives and ammunition 18. November 2025 (08:00) Disused refineries and chemical plants considered as part of a multibillion-pound investment in defenceDefence officials have identified at least a dozen disused oil refineries and chemical plants as possible sites to make explosives and ammunition, including Grangemouth, Southampton and Teesside.The Ministry of Defence has been scouring Britain for places to build at least six new munitions factories as part of a £6bn programme to increase its supplies as part of a Nato-wide rearmament push. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cold Arctic air and wet weather to bring icy patches to UK 18. November 2025 (07:56) The Met Office has issued multiple yellow weather warnings for snow and ice affecting parts of Scotland and northern England from Monday to Thursday.(London News)
Chinese travellers estimated to have cancelled 500,000 flights to Japan amid rising tensions 18. November 2025 (07:42) Diplomatic dispute over Japan’s stance on Taiwan continues to rumble after Senae Takaichi’s commentsChinese travellers are estimated to have cancelled hundreds of thousands of flights to Japan amid reports of suspended visa processing and cultural exchanges as a diplomatic dispute over Japan’s stance on Taiwan continues.Under pressure from business groups, Japan has sent a senior diplomat to Beijing in an attempt to calm tensions after Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said her country could get militarily involved if China attempted to invade Taiwan. Her comments prompted fury from China’s government, which issued warnings against Chinese travellers and students going to Japan. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sand play products now ‘high risk’ and need to be tested before coming into Australia, border force says 18. November 2025 (07:41) Suppliers would not have previously been obliged to test the products at any point in the supply chain, ABF confirmedFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColoured sand products which have been contaminated with asbestos and used widely in Australian schools were not required to undergo any testing for the hazardous material before they were imported, border officials have confirmed.The Australian Border Force (ABF) on Tuesday said it would now consider sand products designed for children’s sensory play to be high risk, meaning they will require proof they are asbestos-free before they are allowed into the country. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Freddie Mercury celebrated on Royal Mint collectable coins 18. November 2025 (07:31) The Queen singer’s sister Kashmira Bulsara visited the Royal Mint to strike the first coin, saying it was an ’emotional and proud moment’.(London News)
One of the oddest UN resolutions in history seeks to solidify shaky Gaza ceasefire into an enduring peace 18. November 2025 (07:27) The hazy UN resolution dictates that Trump’s ‘board of peace’ will supervise an International Stabilisation Force, whose membership is as yet undeterminedThe resolution passed by the UN security council on Tuesday evening, aimed at turning the precarious Gaza ceasefire into a real peace plan, is one of the oddest in United Nations history.It puts Donald Trump in supreme control of Gaza, perhaps with Tony Blair as his immediate subordinate in a “board of peace”, which will oversee multinational peacekeeping troops, a committee of Palestinian technocrats and a local police force, for a period of two years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
