Government rules out public inquiry into Birmingham pub bombings 30. October 2025 (17:15) Ministers suggest independent commission set up to investigate deaths related to Troubles could look into 1974 attackMinisters have ruled out establishing a public inquiry into the IRA’s 1974 Birmingham pub bombings.On 21 November 1974, 21 people were killed and 220 injured when bombs were detonated at the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs in Birmingham, in an attack widely believed to have been orchestrated by the Provisional IRA. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Will the real De Blasio please stand up? A lesson from a UK newspaper’s gaffe 30. October 2025 (17:01) The Times thought they were interviewing ex-NYC mayor Bill de Blasio. They were actually talking to a wine importerIt was a hell of a scoop.Here was Bill de Blasio, the progressive former mayor of New York who has been an enthusiastic supporter of Zohran Mamdani, suddenly turning on the man whom many expect to be elected as the next mayor next month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Prince and Princess of Wales win privacy case against Paris Match 30. October 2025 (16:30) French magazine publishes judicial notice after using paparazzi images of family holiday in AlpsThe Prince and Princess of Wales have won a privacy case against a French magazine after it published paparazzi photographs of them and their children on a private family ski holiday, Kensington Palace said.William and Catherine launched legal action after their break was featured in Paris Match magazine in April, with a series of images documenting their activities with their children at a French resort in the Alps. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ex-EPA head urges US to resist Trump attacks on climate action: ‘We won’t become numb’ 30. October 2025 (15:55) Expanded climate action from cities and states could slash planet-heating pollution despite Trump working against itAhead of next month’s major United Nations climate talks in Brazil, Gina McCarthy, the former Environmental Protection Agency head, said US cities and states were keeping the climate fight alive despite an all-out assault from the Trump administration.“We will not allow our country to become numb or debilitated by those who are standing in the way of progress,” she said on a press call early on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Novo Nordisk bids $9bn for obesity drug maker Metsera in challenge to Pfizer 30. October 2025 (15:39) US biotech viewed as lucrative target partly because of its promising pipeline of weight-loss drugsNovo Nordisk has launched a surprise $9bn (£6.9bn) offer for the US obesity-focused biotech firm Metsera that could gazump an existing bid from Pfizer as the pharmaceutical giants fight for dominance in the weight-loss market.The bid comes weeks after Metsera agreed to a $7.3bn takeover from the US group Pfizer. Denmark’s Novo Nordisk, which owns the weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, lost out in a competitive auction processin September. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rob Jetten: anti-Wilders, ‘yes we can’ candidate poised to be next Dutch PM 30. October 2025 (15:12) As liberal-progressive D66 party makes huge gains in election, former junior athlete with ‘positive story’ and ‘vision’ leads race for powerRob Jetten, a former junior athlete, was pictured last month in a sports magazine running merrily past the Dutch prime ministerial office in The Hague. The 38-year-old could be forgiven on Thursday for wondering when he will get the keys.Such is the nature of Dutch politics that confirmation will not come for weeks or even months. But after a general election in which Jetten’s liberal-progressive D66 party made huge gains, he appears almost certain to be the Netherlands’ next prime minister. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lebanese president orders army to confront Israeli incursions after deadly raid 30. October 2025 (15:11) IDF says it was attacking Hezbollah infrastructure when it fired at a ‘suspect’ and the incident is under reviewIsraeli troops have killed a Lebanese municipal worker while carrying out a raid in the south of the country, prompting Lebanon’s president to order the army to confront future incursions.Lebanese state media identified the slain man as Ibrahim Salameh, an employee of the Blida municipality, a village near the border with Israel. The Israeli military confirmed the raid and said it was attacking Hezbollah infrastructure when it fired at a “suspect”. It said the incident was under review. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Minns admits mining and power projects can be fast-tracked under contentious NSW approval laws 30. October 2025 (15:00) Premier has been spruiking to business how changes will facilitate investment in major projects in NSWGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Minns Labor government has admitted its wide-ranging changes to planning laws, promoted as measures to speed up housing approvals, will also apply to mining and power projects, clearing the way for new mines and wind and solar farms to be fast-tracked.The expansive nature of the changes has drawn widespread criticism from environmental groups and led to the Greens trying to amend it, causing the government to accuse the minor party of filibustering the reforms. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ken Henry warns Labor’s nature laws ‘are worthless’ unless minister tightens ‘national interest’ exemptions 30. October 2025 (15:00) Exclusive: ‘Every project developer is absolutely convinced that their project is in the national interest,’ Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation boss saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe former Treasury secretary Ken Henry says “a conga line of developers” would lobby the environment minister for special carve outs unless the Albanese government clarifies the types of projects that could be granted exemptions under its new nature laws.While welcoming the overall package of laws introduced to parliament on Thursday, Henry said the vague drafting of the “national interest” exemption and the failure to close loopholes for native forest logging and land clearing were problems that needed to be fixed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
What if the next move in interest rates is up? Australia’s shock inflation news raises an unwelcome question 30. October 2025 (15:00) One economist warns if inflation is hotter than expected in the December quarter, the RBA could hike in FebruaryGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThere’s a new and unwelcome question being kicked around in offices, cafes and kitchens: what if the next move in interest rates is up?Two weeks ago we got news that unemployment had jumped and it seemed the Reserve Bank of Australia was a sure thing to cut rates on Melbourne Cup day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
