Louvre jewel heist by petty criminals, not organised professionals, says Paris prosecutor 02. November 2025 (18:07) Laure Beccuau said ‘upper echelons of organised crime’ unlikely to be involved as one perpetrator remains at largeThe brazen daytime heist at the Louvre was carried out by petty criminals rather than professionals from the world of organised crime, the Paris prosecutor has said, describing two of the suspects as a couple with children.The assertion comes two weeks after thieves parked a stolen truck outside the world’s most-visited museum, used a furniture lift to reach the first floor, then smashed their way into one of the museum’s most ornate rooms. Less than seven minutes later, they escaped on scooters with crown jewels worth an estimated €88m (£76m). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rachel Reeves’s 5% VAT cut on electricity bills will backfire, experts say 02. November 2025 (17:58) Critics believe cut would mostly benefit better-off people with larger homes and increase carbon emissionsProposals being considered by Rachel Reeves to cut tax on electricity bills will backfire, experts have warned, resulting in a giveaway to richer homeowners and undermining the UK’s climate commitments.The chancellor is understood to be looking at plans to eliminate the 5% VAT charge on electricity bills as a fast and simple way to reduce bills for consumers and ease the cost of living pressures that have aided the rise of Reform UK. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pregnant British teen accused of drug-smuggling moved to baby unit in Georgian prison 02. November 2025 (17:57) Mother of Bella May Culley, 19, awaiting sentencing on Monday, says conditions have improved after transfer to new jailA pregnant British teenager accused of drug-smuggling has been moved to a mother-and-baby unit in a Georgian prison, her mother said.Bella May Culley, 19, who is reported to be eight months pregnant, was arrested at Tbilisi airport in May. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘It felt like forever’: passengers recount mass stabbing on Cambridgeshire train 02. November 2025 (17:48) Some initially assumed the commotion was a Halloween prank, but soon realised something awful was unfoldingCambridgeshire train stabbing: latest updatesTwo men in police custody after mass stabbing on LNER trainExplainer: Cambridgeshire train attack – what we know so farThe Saturday evening train to London was crowded but on time. Those heading to the capital had less than an hour left as it pulled out of Peterborough station, at shortly after 7.30pm.But the unremarkable scene soon turned to horror, as bloodied passengers fled through carriages and sought refuge in toilet cubicles. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Richard Gott, former Guardian journalist and historian, dies aged 87 02. November 2025 (17:36) Charismatic figure of the left is remembered as one of the most informed commentators on Latin American affairsThe former Guardian journalist and historian Richard Gott has died aged 87.Gott’s career at the Guardian began in 1964 and included spells as foreign correspondent, leader writer, features editor and literary editor. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FBI fires top official amid Kash Patel’s outrage over reports of agency jet use 02. November 2025 (17:25) Patel reportedly became furious after stories revealed he flew to visit girlfriend and fired official who oversees fleetA top FBI official with 27 years standing has reportedly been fired by the bureau after its director, Kash Patel, became enraged by press stories revealing he had used a government jet to travel to see his girlfriend sing the national anthem at a wrestling match.Steven Palmer, who had worked at the bureau since 1998, was fired as head of the FBI’s critical incident response group which is responsible for handling major security threats as well as overseeing the agency’s fleet of jets. He was the third head of the unit to be dismissed since Patel became the second Trump administration’s FBI director in February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
California set to approve Prop 50 as voters signal displeasure with Trump 02. November 2025 (17:00) Voters set to accept new maps to help Democrats counter Republican gerrymandering – and check president’s powerCalifornia’s Proposition 50 began as a warning from the nation’s largest blue state to its largest red one: don’t poke the bear. But when Texas moved ahead with a rare, mid-decade gerrymander, pushed by Donald Trump as Republicans seek to shore up their fragile House majority in the midterm elections, California made good on its threat.Now, California voters appear poised to approve a redistricting measure placed on the ballot in August by Democrats and the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, who have cast it as a chance to check Trump’s power. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Paintings by UK pioneer of abstract art to be displayed in West Country 02. November 2025 (17:00) Large-scale William Scott works feature in exhibition that tells story of artist’s friendship with Mark RothkoThe story of how one of the UK’s great abstract painters was inspired by ordinariness – and the extraordinary meeting he had with an American artistic giant – is being told in a new exhibition in the West Country.Three large-scale paintings by William Scott (1913 –1989) have been loaned to the Museum of Somerset in Taunton, not far from the artist’s home and studio in the countryside south of Bath. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
No one hurt after ‘intentional’ explosion at Harvard medical campus, officials say 02. November 2025 (16:25) Officers did not find additional devices in a sweep of building, authorities sayThere was an explosion early Saturday at Harvard University’s medical school that appears to have been intentional, but no one was injured, authorities said.Police at the Massachusetts Ivy League university said in a statement that an officer who responded to a fire alarm encountered two unidentified people and tried to stop them. But they ran from the campus’s Goldenson building before the officer got to where the alert was triggered by an explosion, police said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ATO is paying private debt collector $42m to pursue taxpayers, including welfare recipients 02. November 2025 (15:00) The tax office’s increased reliance on Recoveriescorp has coincided with a spike in complaints to the watchdogGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian Taxation Office has awarded the private debt collector Recoveriescorp more than $42m in contracts as part of a hard-edged campaign to pursue some taxpayers, including welfare recipients.The size of the contracts, published on the government’s tender portal, shows how much the ATO has come to rely on the third-party collector in recent years, which has coincided with a spike in complaints to the watchdog. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
