Who is Kellie Sloane, the new NSW Liberal leader – and can this first-term former journalist save the party? 20. November 2025 (23:19) Former television reporter and presenter, now the member for Vaucluse, praised for her ‘enormous potential’Kellie Sloane elected NSW Liberal leader unopposed, replacing Mark SpeakmanFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn a video posted to Facebook this week, the ousted New South Wales opposition leader Mark Speakman made a not-so-subtle dig at his challenger Kellie Sloane’s credentials.“We focus so much these days on the performer, not so much on the performance,” he said.Penry Buckley is a reporter for Guardian Australia Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kellie Sloane elected NSW Liberal leader unopposed, replacing Mark Speakman 20. November 2025 (23:11) Former journalist and first-term MP had Speakman’s endorsement and support across the factionsWho is Kellie Sloane, the new NSW Liberal leader – and can this first-term former journalist save the party?Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastKellie Sloane has become the third woman to lead the New South Wales Liberal party after a party room meeting agreed on Friday morning to make her leader of the opposition.The right’s Alister Henskens, the shadow attorney general, did not stand. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bay Area’s poverty soared, data shows, as California’s top earners saw windfalls 20. November 2025 (23:04) Poverty rate jumped from 12.2% to 16.3% in 2023 in state, Tipping Point Community report findsNewly released data found that the San Francisco Bay Area’s poverty rate soared from 12.2% to 16.3% in 2023, with an approximate total 1.02 million residents in this six-county region considered impoverished by year’s end.Another 12.5% of residents – about 790,000 people – hovered on the brink of poverty, meaning that about three in 10 Bay Area residents struggled to cover basic expenses. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keir Starmer defends trip to South Africa for G20 summit as budget looms 20. November 2025 (23:00) PM says he aims to secure investment to help deal with cost of living and shore up support for UkraineKeir Starmer has defended his decision to travel to South Africa for the G20 summit days before the budget and despite the planned absence of Donald Trump.The prime minister will arrive in South Africa on Friday morning for two days of summit discussions and bilateral talks on topics including sustainability and economic growth. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tears and solemnity at Cheney funeral – but no memorial for those killed in Iraq 20. November 2025 (22:44) Great and good pay tribute in Washington but honouring of former vice-president was an exercise in omissionYou suspected that Maga had not conquered the Washington national cathedral when Bill Kristol was spotted at a men’s urinal conversing with Chris Wallace. You knew it for sure when James Carville, Anthony Fauci and Rachel Maddow were seen sitting close to one another in the nave.The funeral of the 46th US vice-president, Dick Cheney, who died earlier this month aged 84, was a throwback to a less raucous and rancorous time. Ex-presidents and vice-presidents, Democratic and Republican, made small talk, but Donald Trump, who spent Thursday crying treason and calling for Democrats to be put to death, and his deputy JD Vance were not invited. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Justice department investigates handling of Adam Schiff’s mortgage fraud case 20. November 2025 (22:24) Inquiry centers on whether two Trump allies influenced the Schiff mortgage investigation as prosecutors struggle to build the caseUS politics live – latest updatesThe justice department is investigating how two Trump allies handled the investigation into whether California senator, Adam Schiff, committed mortgage fraud, according to a copy of a subpoena obtained by the Guardian and a person familiar with the matter.The office of the deputy attorney general Todd Blanche is overseeing the inquiry, which appears to have developed as an offshoot of the main case into Schiff – a notable development since the justice department is essentially investigating activities of two close allies of the president. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
