Thinktanks urge Rachel Reeves to overhaul ‘broken’ tax system 05. November 2025 (07:00) Coalition says ‘arbitrary and nonsensical’ rules are penalising work and discouraging investmentThinktanks from across the political spectrum are urging Rachel Reeves to use this month’s budget to overhaul the “broken” tax system, including abolishing stamp duty and merging income tax and national insurance.The group, which ranges from the rightwing Adam Smith Institute to the leftwing New Economics Foundation, published proposals for sweeping “pro-growth reforms” the chancellor could introduce to “tax all income from work equally”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Low-income areas in England and Wales face worst air pollution, analysis finds 05. November 2025 (07:00) Exclusive: Experts say impact on people of colour and those who do not drive is ‘grave environmental injustice’Air pollution in England and Wales has fallen, but the poorest neighbourhoods are still exposed to the most extreme levels of toxins, new analysis has found.Experts have called this a “grave environmental injustice” as the inequality around who is exposed to air pollution has dramatically grown in the last decade. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Academics say their net zero costing is being ‘misrepresented’ after Nationals repeat $9tn claim 05. November 2025 (06:37) Researchers behind report cited by some in the Coalition say their work is based on various assumptions – largely involving cost to overseas customers, not AustraliansFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereUniversity energy researchers say their modelling of the economics of Australia reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions – used by the Nationals and some Liberal MPs as part of a justification to drop the goal – has been misrepresented.The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has repeatedly claimed that reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions would “cost Australians $9tn”, pointing to the work of Net Zero Australia (NZA). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shock as Orbán allies take ownership of Hungary’s most-read newspaper 05. November 2025 (06:00) Blikk, a tabloid with about 3 million online monthly readers, bought by pro-Orbán media group IndamediaJournalists at Hungary’s most-read newspaper have expressed shock after a media group seen as close to nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán’s party, Fidesz, bought the tabloid from its previous Swiss owners.The purchase, which comes as Hungary gears up for crucial elections next year in which Orbán faces an unprecedented opposition challenge, is widely seen as another attempt to increase government influence on the media. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Prop 50: Californians pass redistricting measure that helps Democrats flip up to five House seats 05. November 2025 (05:07) Approval of measure could determine if Republicans keep full control of government in next year’s midterm electionsVoters in California on Tuesday approved a high-stakes redistricting measure that could determine if Donald Trump and Republicans maintain full control of the federal government in next year’s midterm elections.It was a decisive victory for Democrats in deep-blue California, which had raced to counter a gerrymander in Texas, engineered at the US president’s behest, to carve out new safe Republican districts. In approving the measure, voters chose to toss out the work of California’s independent redistricting commission and temporarily adopt maps drawn by the state legislature to help Democrats pick up five additional seats in the US House of Representatives. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Liberal women react with ‘horror’ to abortion comments from Coalition colleagues 05. November 2025 (05:06) Jane Hume says politicians should not be using straightforward legislation as a ‘Trojan horse’ for personal opinionsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastConcerns from conservative Coalition MPs including Andrew Hastie and Barnaby Joyce about paid parental leave applying to late-term abortions elicited “a bit of horror” from women in the party, according to Jane Hume, as Sussan Ley and senior figures rejected the claims from rightwing figures.Ley branded as “insensitive” concerns raised by some colleagues about the potential for women to seek late-term abortions in order to access paid parental leave. The shadow minister for women, Melissa McIntosh, said: “I’ve never heard of a woman doing that.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democrat Mikie Sherrill elected governor of New Jersey 05. November 2025 (04:46) Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli in race that suggests Democratic resilience amid Trump’s second termUS politics live – latest updatesDemocratic nominee Mikie Sherrill was elected on Tuesday to be the 57th governor of New Jersey, defeating Jack Ciattarelli, a former state representative and Republican, in a race that suggested the resilience of the party after Donald Trump’s return to office.The Associated Press called the race for Sherrill, a 53-year-old congresswoman from New Jersey’s 11th congressional district, just two hours after polls closed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Canada budget adds tens of billions to deficit as Carney spends to dampen Trump tariffs effect 05. November 2025 (04:43) Budget envisions significant increase in defence spending, cuts to civil service and ‘generational investments’A protracted trade war with the United States and a weakening domestic economy has forced Mark Carney to run a deficit tens of billions larger than initially forecast in his first-ever federal budget.The spending plan, titled “Canada Strong” envisions significant new defence spending, a reduction of the country’s civil service and “generational investments” that would reshape the nature of the country’s economy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Investigators board Coral Adventurer cruise ship after passenger dies on remote Australian island 05. November 2025 (04:42) Maritime authority officers investigating the death of Suzanne Rees, 80, board the ill-fated ship on its return to CairnsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Coral Adventurer has been boarded by investigators after returning to Cairns more than a week after one of its cruise passengers was left behind and died alone on a remote Great Barrier Reef island.Suzanne Rees, 80, from Sydney, died after leaving her hiking group on Lizard Island during an excursion on day two of a planned 60-day luxury circumnavigation of Australia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Typhoon Kalmaegi: death toll rises to 52 as widespread flooding hits central Philippines 05. November 2025 (04:03) Six people were killed in a separate incident when a Philippine air force helicopter crashed in the southern province of Agusan del SurTyphoon Kalmaegi has left at least 52 people dead with 13 others missing in the central Philippines, mostly in widespread flooding that trapped people on their roofs and swept away scores of cars in a hard-hit province still recovering from a deadly earthquake, officials said on Wednesday.Six people were killed in a separate incident when a Philippine air force helicopter crashed in the southern province of Agusan del Sur on Tuesday while en route to help provide humanitarian help to provinces battered by Kalmaegi, the military said without providing other details, including what could have caused the crash. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
