Cop30 live: US looms over talks despite absence as protests at venue continue 12. November 2025 (14:46) Day three at the Belem summit is expected to see more protests as crucial climate negotiations begin in earnestA fluvial adrenalin rush flooded into the COP30 host city of Belém on Wednesday morning with the arrival of a flotilla of dozens of boats, carrying indigenous activists, forest defenders and other civil society campaigners.Singing, chanting and waving flags and banners declaring “Fight for the Right to Life” and “No to Soy!”, the demonstrators made their presence evident on the river as they are expected to do on the streets in the coming days. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
House set to vote on deal to end shutdown amid Democratic splits – US politics live 12. November 2025 (14:35) Democrats have vowed to vote against the proposal after a faction of senators broke with party to pass a compromiseFull report – House to vote on bill that could end government shutdownA last-minute provision in the federal spending bill heavily restricting hemp-derived products such as CBD and THC drinks could lead some Republicans to vote against the spending bill which, if passed, could end the government shutdown as early as today. Kentucky is one of the largest producers of hemp in the country, and Republicans in the state have shown strong support for the hemp industry. Jonathan Miller, an advocate for the hemp industry and former Kentucky state treasurer, said that “Kentucky is really ground zero for the rebirth of hemp” – a niche industry until the 2018 farm bill allowed a much wider variety of legal products. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s name to be hyphenated, as decreed by late queen 12. November 2025 (14:29) Palace announcement of ex-prince’s new name missed out hyphen used by other descendants of Elizabeth IIEver since the former Prince Andrew was demoted to plain Mr Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, royal observers and historians have scratched their heads over his missing hyphen.Buckingham Palace’s official statement announcing his new commoner status was clear, in black and white, that aside from losing his HRH and princely title and dukedom, he was also to be deprived of a punctuation mark that had been officially decreed by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Key Netanyahu aide Ron Dermer quits as Israel’s strategic affairs minister 12. November 2025 (14:05) Departure of figure who led talks that culminated in Gaza ceasefire follows weeks of speculation in Israeli mediaIsrael’s strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, a key aide of Benjamin Netanyahu, has announced his resignation after weeks of media speculation.One of the most influential members of the country’s rightwing government, Dermer led months of intense negotiations before the US-led Gaza ceasefire deal that came into effect last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican disquiet over hemp ban threatens passage of bill to end shutdown 12. November 2025 (14:00) Kentucky trio oppose provision restricting hemp-derived products, with House to vote on Wednesday on funding billA last-minute provision in the federal spending bill heavily restricting hemp-derived products such as CBD and THC drinks could lead some Republicans to vote against the spending bill which, if passed, could end the government shutdown as early as Wednesday.Kentucky is one of the largest producers of hemp in the country, and Republicans in the state have shown strong support for the hemp industry. Jonathan Miller, an advocate for the hemp industry and former Kentucky state treasurer, said that “Kentucky is really ground zero for the rebirth of hemp” – a niche industry until the 2018 farm bill allowed a much wider variety of legal products. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Keir Starmer says any No 10 briefings against ministers ‘unacceptable’ 12. November 2025 (13:48) Starmer defends Wes Streeting at PMQs but dodges question on his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeneyUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has condemned as “completely unacceptable” any briefings against cabinet ministers from inside Downing Street as he tried desperately to close a rift at the top of government.Questioned by Kemi Badenoch at prime minister’s questions, Starmer defended Wes Streeting, the health secretary, who was the apparent target of a pre-emptive No 10 push against a feared imminent leadership challenge against the prime minister. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ONS to cut reports on health and crime to improve quality of core data 12. November 2025 (13:40) UK’s statistics agency announces ‘recovery’ plan after concerns raised over reliability of its dataThe UK’s statistics agency has announced plans to scrap some of its publications on health, crime and the regions of Britain as part of its “recovery” plan to boost the reliability of its core data.Under pressure over the quality of its data, the Office for National Statistics said it would reduce the number of reports it produces each year by about 10% in 2026 to help it prioritise resources. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ferry company apologises after children left ‘screaming’ by pornographic film 12. November 2025 (13:22) DFDS says film was broadcast mistakenly to passengers who had been watching F1 race on France-UK serviceA ferry company has apologised after children were left “screaming” when a pornographic film was played on one of its ships from France to Sussex.DFDS said it was “very sorry” over the incident, which happened onboard the ferry from Dieppe in France to Newhaven. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Streeting says Starmer should sack aides responsible for hostile briefings against him – UK politics live 12. November 2025 (11:41) The health secretary said he ‘cannot see circumstances’ in which he would challenge Starmer for leadershipThe No 10 briefing row is not the only story around this morning. Amy Sedghi is writing a live blog about the ongoing turmoil at the BBC and she has details of Donald Trump saying he has an “obligation” to sue the BBC.In a related development, Reform UK has pulled out of a BBC documentary about the party amid a row over the broadcaster’s editing of the Trump speech. Robyn Vintner has the story. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine suspends justice minister amid energy corruption scandal – Europe live 12. November 2025 (11:39) Prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the decision to suspend German Galushchenko had been taken at an emergency government sessionSeparately, Kazakhstan’s parliament passed a bill to ban the promotion of what it calls “non-traditional sexual orientation” in public spaces and the media, a copycat of Russia’s anti-LGBTQ laws, AFP reported.Rights groups described the measure, which needs to be approved by the upper house, as discriminatory and said it would increase the vulnerability of LGBTQ people in the Central Asian Muslim-majority country, an ally of Russia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
