Erin Patterson appeals guilty verdicts over deadly mushroom lunch that killed three 04. November 2025 (00:36) Lawyers lodge challenge to conviction of triple murderer who served relatives beef wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms in regional AustraliaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTriple murderer Erin Patterson has filed an appeal against her conviction for killing three relatives with poisoned beef wellingtons, but will not appeal against her sentence.Lawyers for Patterson, 51, signalled they would be appealing last month, but the deadline for her to lodge the challenge to the court of appeal passed late yesterday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ten arrested as police pepper spray protesters who tried to blockade Sydney weapons expo 04. November 2025 (00:35) Palestine Action Group angry that Israeli weapons companies attending, while NSW premier Chris Minns says ‘I’m not responsible for the invitations’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAt least 10 people have been arrested after hundreds gathered to protest a state government-sponsored defence conference in Sydney, amid criticism that Israel’s largest weapons companies were attending the event.Protesters were left coughing and wiping their eyes after police used pepper spray on Tuesday morning after some people tried to break through metal barricades outside the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Darling Harbour. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US mass murderer George Banks dies in prison 43 years after rampage 04. November 2025 (00:10) Banks was convicted of killing 13 people, including his own children, in 1982 shooting in Wilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniaGeorge Banks, one of the most notorious mass murderers in the US, has died.Banks, 83, died on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix state prison in Pennsylvania, the state department of corrections said. Banks died of complications from renal neoplasm, or kidney cancer, said Montgomery county coroner Dr Janine Darby. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Americans ‘dumbfounded by cruelty’ of Trump officials slashing Snap benefits 04. November 2025 (00:07) Those among the 42 million enrolled in the program worry that cutoff of the benefit will send their lives into a tailspinAcross the country, Americans who depend on government help to buy groceries are preparing for the worst.As a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, Donald Trump has threatened to, for the first time in the program’s more than 60-year history, cut off benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (Snap). A federal judge last week prevented the US Department of Agriculture from suspending Snap altogether, but the Trump administration now says enrollees will receive only half of their usual benefits. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pornography depicting strangulation to become criminal offence in the UK 03. November 2025 (23:30) Legal requirement to be placed on tech platforms to prevent users from seeing such ‘choking’ materialPorn featuring strangulation or suffocation – often referred to as “choking” – is due to be criminalised, with a legal requirement placed on tech platforms to prevent UK users from seeing such material.Possessing or publishing porn featuring choking will become a criminal offence under amendments to the Crime and Policing bill tabled in parliament on Monday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Diane Ladd, Oscar-nominated actor of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, dies aged 89 03. November 2025 (21:59) The death of the three-time Oscar nominee, whose starred in films including Chinatown, was announced by her daughter Laura DernOscar-nominated actor Diane Ladd has died at the age of 89.The actor, whose credits included Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Chinatown and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, died at her home in Ojai, California. The news was announced in a statement shared by her daughter, Oscar-winning actor Laura Dern. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Activists could be jailed for six months for protesting outside MPs’ homes 03. November 2025 (21:10) Law aimed at tackling harassment will criminalise protests outside homes of MPs in England and Wales amid rise in complaintsActivists could be jailed for up to six months for protesting outside MPs’ homes in England and Wales under a new law aimed at tackling harassment of politicians after a surge of intimidation complaints.The law would criminalise protests outside the homes of MPs, peers and councillors as well as others who have stood for public office – and is likely to draw further criticism that the government is squeezing the right to protest. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump approval rating falls to second-term low of 37% 03. November 2025 (20:32) New CNN/SSRS survey shows decline in president’s popularity as 68% of respondents say things going badlyDonald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to one of its lowest points, with only 37% of Americans expressing approval of his performance as president.The new CNN/SSRS survey released on Monday shows a sharp decline in Trump’s approval ratings compared to the early days after he began his second term in January, when his approval stood at 47% by mid-February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chile to end Pinochet henchmen’s pampered prison life of tennis and barbecues 03. November 2025 (20:23) Punta Peuco – where military human rights offenders enjoy privileged conditions – set to join public prison networkInmates at an infamous high-security military prison in Chile, which houses the perpetrators of dictatorship-era human rights crimes, are set to lose their privileged conditions under plans to incorporate the prison into the public prison network.President Gabriel Boric announced on Monday that Punta Peuco is being transformed into a regular prison to help deal with overcrowding in the penitentiary system. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
What does Faragenomics look like? – podcast 03. November 2025 (20:14) Nigel Farage promised to set out his fiscal stall in a major speech in the City of London, but what did he actually say? Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey discuss Farage’s retreat from its election promise to cut £90bn of taxes, his failure to commit to the pensions triple lock and his desire to woo the wealthy.Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves continues to labour on the autumn budget. What’s going on behind the scenes?Send your thoughts and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com Continue reading...(The Guardian)
