Trump-Xi meeting: US president says rare earths deal and tariff cut agreed 30. October 2025 (09:20) Donald Trump hails ‘amazing’ trade talks with Chinese counterpart, with ‘no roadblock at all on rare earth’Trump meets Xi in South Korea – live updatesDonald Trump has described crucial trade talks with the Chinese president in South Korea as “amazing”, saying their dispute over the supply of rare earths had been settled and that he would visit China in April.Xi Jinping has not commented on Thursday’s discussions but noted that the economic and trade teams from both countries had “reached a basic consensus on addressing our respective major concerns” during recent talks in Kuala Lumpur, according to Chinese state media. That had “provided the necessary conditions” for their meeting on Thursday, he added. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Virgin Trains on track to challenge Eurostar cross-Channel monopoly with access to key depot 30. October 2025 (09:14) UK rail regulator approves Richard Branson firm’s application to use Temple Mills site in LondonBusiness live – latest updatesRichard Branson’s train company is a step closer to challenging Eurostar’s monopoly on transporting passengers across the Channel after the UK rail regulator approved Virgin Trains’ application to use a key depot in east London.The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) approved Virgin’s application to use the Temple Mills depot in Leyton – which is used for maintaining and storing trains. It said the move would unlock £700m of investment in new services and create 400 jobs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
State disability ministers threaten Butler with boycott over two-minute speaking limit in NDIS meeting 30. October 2025 (08:53) State and territory ministers say they will reconsider their attendance to the meeting next Friday if they get at least 10 minutes eachState and territory disability ministers have threatened to boycott an upcoming NDIS meeting with the Albanese government after being given just two minutes to contribute to discussions.In a joint letter from all jurisdictions sent on Thursday to the health and disability minister, Mark Butler, and NDIS minister, Jenny McAllister, ministers warned they were “no longer able to confirm” their attendance at the meeting next Friday unless given the opportunity to “meaningfully contribute”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Five new suspects arrested over Louvre robbery, French radio reports 30. October 2025 (08:43) Latest arrests made in Paris region but no indication of whether crown jewels worth £76m have been recoveredFive new suspects have been arrested in connection with the Louvre robbery in Paris, in which thieves stole crown jewels worth an estimated €88m (£76m), French media have reported.Citing judicial sources, RTL radio said on Thursday the arrests had been made in connection with the heist, the most spectacular robbery in France in decades. BFMTV previously reported one new suspect had been arrested. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK woman who booked Oslo flight but did not fly loses child benefit ‘because she emigrated’ 30. October 2025 (08:00) Exclusive: HMRC told Lisa Morris-Almond there was no record of her return to UK, but she did not take the tripA woman who booked a flight from London to Oslo but never checked in or travelled has had her child benefit stopped by the UK government. Tax authorities told her their records showed she had emigrated.Lisa Morris-Almond is one of thousands of people who have had their child benefit frozen as part of a botched crackdown on benefit fraud. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Business and charity leaders urge ministers to lead England’s transition to four-day week 30. October 2025 (08:00) Open letter signed by more than 100 leaders comes after local government secretary criticised a council for switching to shorter weekAnalysis: Benefits of a four-day week are ever clearer, despite Steve Reed’s stanceMore than 100 business and charity leaders have called on ministers to “lead the country’s transition toward a shorter working week”, after the local government secretary criticised a council for shifting to a four-day work pattern.Steve Reed wrote to South Cambridgeshire district council, the first English council to trial a four-day week, raising concerns about performance and value for money, and expressing his “deep disappointment” over the policy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Benefits of a four-day week are ever clearer, despite Steve Reed’s stance 30. October 2025 (08:00) Housing secretary’s criticism of trial in South Cambridgeshire council ignores its many positivesBusiness and charity leaders call on ministers to lead England’s transition to four-day weekIn his stern letter to South Cambridgeshire district council, the housing secretary, Steve Reed, criticised the decline in “key housing-related services including rent collection, reletting times and tenant satisfaction with repairs” during its trial of a four-day working week.The independent report he refers to is a dense 104-page document packed with tables, graphs and complex terminology, but its findings are not too difficult to decipher – the vast majority of the council’s services were not adversely affected by the trial. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘They killed civilians in their beds’: chaos and brutality reign after fall of El Fasher 30. October 2025 (07:00) Thousands have fled the North Darfur city in terror with stories of the Rapid Support Forces attacking and killing civiliansHundreds reportedly killed at Sudanese hospital as evidence of RSF atrocities mountsNawal Khalil had been volunteering as a nurse for three years at El Fasher South hospital when the city was captured on Sunday by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). She was busy treating patients, including an elderly woman who needed a blood transfusion, when the attack began.“They killed six wounded soldiers and civilians in their beds – some of them women,” she says. “I don’t know what happened to my other patients. I had to run when they stormed the hospital.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘White-knuckled wolf spider’ thought lost is rediscovered on Isle of Wight 30. October 2025 (06:00) Conservationists hail ‘remarkable’ rediscovery after 40 years, at nature reserve only accessible by boatA tiny spider thought to have vanished for ever from the UK has been rediscovered on a remote area of a nature reserve accessible only by boat.The Aulonia albimana, a member of the wolf spider family with orange legs, was found on the Isle of Wight in a spot grazed by a flock of Hebridean sheep. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queensland to create public register of sex offenders as Daniel Morcombe’s parents ‘hope it will go national’ 30. October 2025 (03:53) Bruce and Denise Morcombe call on other states to act as LNP looks set to pass ‘Daniel’s law’, allowing public naming of some child sexual abusersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastQueensland parliament is expected to pass laws creating a public register of some child sexual abusers, with the new legislation to be named in memory of child murder victim Daniel Morcombe.The decision adds momentum to a campaign by Daniel’s parents, Bruce and Denise Morcombe, for a national register. The couple founded the child safety education charity the Daniel Morcombe Foundation after the murder of their 13-year-old son in 2003 by paedophile Brett Peter Cowan. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
