Weather tracker: US hit by exceptional early winter cold spell 14. November 2025 (13:11) Midwest struck by extreme snowfall and 80 southern weather stations tied or broke low-temperature recordsThe eastern half of the US has been gripped by an exceptional early winter cold spell this week, breaking a multitude of low-temperature records. Eighty weather stations across the deep south either tied or broke their daily minimum record on 11 November. Jacksonville in northern Florida experienced temperatures as low as -3C early on Wednesday morning, 17C below the average minimum for the time of year.The cold outbreak also brought extreme snowfall to parts of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Areas along the southern and western coasts of Lake Michigan experienced a phenomenon known as lake effect snow on Monday. This develops when cold air – which covered the US this week – moves over the relatively warm water of a lake or inland sea. This produces convection and heavy showers that move inland downwind of the lake, and can continue for hours or even days on end. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Texas professors arrested at campus protest sue university, alleging retaliation 14. November 2025 (13:00) Ben Wright and Rosemary Admiral say UTD severely restricted campus access after arrests at peaceful protest As the Trump administration and Texas governor Greg Abbott restrict free speech on college campuses, two professors at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) are suing the university for retaliation stemming from 2024 arrests at a peaceful campus protest.History professors Ben Wright and Rosemary Admiral argue they should not have been arrested in the first place at the 1 May 2024 demonstration, where they were standing between their students and heavily armed law enforcement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Justice department allegedly investigating debunked 2020 Georgia election fraud claims 14. November 2025 (13:00) Claim, by election deniers, would signal latest step by DoJ in moving away from protecting Americans’ voting rightsMembers of Georgia’s election denial movement have claimed in recent weeks that the justice department is investigating debunked fraud claims in the state stemming from the 2020 election.The development would be just the latest in a series of moves by Trump acolytes at the DoJ who are transforming the voting section of the agency from an office focused on protecting Americans’ voting rights to one that is in lockstep with an election denial movement that incessantly demands investigations and drastic reductions in access to the polls based on Donald Trump’s lies about elections. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Union demands removal of Sir Robbie Gibb from BBC board 14. November 2025 (12:37) Bectu, which is the biggest union in the BBC, has warned Sir Robbie’s position is ‘a distraction and is untenable’ following the Tim Davie crisis.(London News)
London judge rules BHP Group liable for Brazil’s 2015 Samarco dam collapse 14. November 2025 (12:33) About 600,000 people seeking compensation a decade on from disaster that killed 19 and devastated villagesThe global mining company BHP Group has been found liable for the deadly 2015 collapse of a Brazilian dam, in a landmark ruling that could pave the way for a multibillion-dollar payout.The high court in London on Friday ruled that BHP was responsible for the collapse of the Fundão dam in Mariana 10 years ago, which led to the country’s worst environmental disaster. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anger in South Africa after Palestinians held on plane for 12 hours 14. November 2025 (12:32) Authorities held 153 passengers, including children and a heavily pregnant woman, over travel documentsSouth African authorities are facing heavy criticism after they held more than 150 Palestinians, including a woman who was nine months pregnant, on a plane for about 12 hours because of problems with their travel documents.A pastor who was allowed to meet the passengers while they were stuck on the plane said it was extremely hot and that children were screaming and crying. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Treasury considering lowering thresholds for higher rates of income tax in budget – UK politics live 14. November 2025 (11:51) A source told the Guardian that plans to break the manifesto pledge on income tax had been ditched by the chancellorThis is from Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank, on the market reaction to the chancellor’s reported budget U-turn.Investors will have 2 broad concerns about news that Chancellor won’t increase income tax rates1. Does it signal less willingness to do politically difficult thingsBritain’s long-term borrowing costs were sent soaring as reports suggested the latest U-turn would leave Rachel Reeves scrambling to fill a gaping black hole in the nation’s finances just two weeks before the 26 November budget.Yields on 30-year UK government bonds, also known as gilts, jumped as much as 14 basis points in early trading, and the yield on 10-year gilts also shot up 12 basis points – rising the most since July. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
