Top World News
Northern Irish Town To Drop Ex-Prince Andrew From Street Name Over Epstein Ties
King Charles III formally stripped his younger brother's titles over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
"Chennai Got 220,000 H-1B Visas": US Economist's "Fraud" Allegation
America's H-1B visa programme is once again in hot water after an economist accused the system of fraud, alleging that the Chennai district in India obtained more than twice the total number of visas allowed nationwide.
Trump Saves 2 Turkeys From Thanksgiving Table, Pardons 'Waddle' And 'Gobble'
Donald Trump turned Washington's fluffiest tradition into something a little tougher to carve on Tuesday -- swapping holiday cheer for political score-settling as he pardoned two turkeys in the annual White House Thanksgiving ceremony.
US Families 'Adopting' Turkeys Instead Of Eating Them On Thanksgiving
An increasing number of farm animal sanctuaries across the country have started promoting this alternative version of Thanksgiving in which families "adopt" turkeys and donate money to their lifelong care.
How Tulsi Gabbard's 'Hunters' Pounced On Secret CIA Warehouse For Kennedy Files
Donald Trump issued an order in January instructing Tulsi Gabbard to declassify records related to the Robert F Kennedy, John F Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr assassinations.
New Zealand Woman Who Stuffed Children's Bodies In Suitcases Jailed For Life
A woman in New Zealand who was convicted of murdering her two children and leaving their bodies in suitcases for years before they were discovered will spend at least 17 years in prison, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Nov 26, 2025
Ethiopian Hayli Gubbi Volcano Eruption Subsides
Wednesday briefing: What may be in – and out – of Rachel Reeves’s ‘hokey cokey’ budget
In today’s newsletter: As the chancellor prepares to deliver one of the most heavily briefed budgets ever, tax rises, the two-child benefit cap and a ‘mansion tax’ are all on the table• Don’t get First Edition delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning. If you haven’t noticed, the lead-up to this year’s budget has been unusually chaotic and drawn-out, with plenty of behind-the-scenes briefings and a whirlwind of speculation about what taxes will be hiked.The challenge facing the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is plugging a financial hole of around £20bn and raising money to fund the services voters demand, while also keeping taxes at an acceptable level. (If you think you’ve got what it takes, try our brilliant interactive budget game). The political backdrop to this budget is also significant – the prime minister is under siege, and needs to present something that will be well received by MPs.Budget | Rachel Reeves’s plan to cut cash Isa limits by 40% could raise mortgage rates, according to finance bosses. The chancellor is expected to cut the maximum amount people can put into tax-efficient cash individual savings accounts from £20,000 to £12,000 in Wednesday’s budget.Politics | Three more school contemporaries who claim to have witnessed Nigel Farage’s alleged teenage racism have rejected the Reform UK leader’s suggestion that it was “banter”, describing it as targeted, persistent and nasty.Ukraine | Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff advised a senior Kremlin official on how Vladimir Putin should pitch a Ukraine peace deal to the president, according to a transcript of their discussion published by Bloomberg.Criminal justice | Jury trials for all except the most serious crimes such as rape, murder and manslaughter are set to be scrapped under radical proposals drawn up by David LammyMedia | The BBC has been pulled into a fresh row over its treatment of Donald Trump after a Reith lecturer accused the broadcaster of censoring his remarks on the US president. Rutger Bregman, a Dutch author and historian, said the BBC removed a “key line” from a flagship address it had invited him to deliver. Continue reading...
Trump envoy Witkoff reportedly advised Kremlin official on Ukraine peace deal
Steve Witkoff spoke to Yuri Ushakov on territorial control and suggested congratulating Donald Trump and framing talks more optimistically, audio recording suggestsDonald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff told a senior Kremlin official last month that achieving peace in Ukraine would require Russia gaining control of Donetsk and potentially a separate territorial exchange, according to a recording of their conversation obtained by Bloomberg.In the 14 October phone call with Yuri Ushakov, the top foreign policy aide to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, Witkoff said he believed the land concessions were necessary all while advising Ushakov to congratulate Trump and frame discussions more optimistically. Continue reading...
Taiwan plans extra $40bn in defence spending to counter China’s ‘intensifying’ threats
President Lai Ching-te declared there was ‘no room for compromise on national security’ in face of escalating harassment and espionageBeijing’s threats to Taiwan are “intensifying” and its preparations to invade are speeding up, Taiwan’s government has said while announcing a $40bn special defence budget and a swathe of measures to counter Chinese attacks.The Taiwan president, Lai Ching-te, said there was “no room for compromise on national security”, and he was committed to boosting Taiwan’s defences in conjunction with US support. Continue reading...
Reserve Bank could raise interest rates as early as May after inflation climbs to 3.8%
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says government deciding on energy rebate extension in ‘next few weeks’ as cost of living continues to biteFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Reserve Bank of Australia could be forced to hike interest rates as early as May, economists say, after inflation climbed to 3.8% in the year to October, from 3.6% in the month before.The latest bad news on cost of living was accompanied by a shocking 37% annual jump in power bills as generous state government subsidies rolled off, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed. Continue reading...
NSW storms leave man dead and thousands without power as temperatures soar into 30s
Total fire bans are in place and schools closed as parts of state face worst fire danger in two yearsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA man has died and thousands have been left without power after New South Wales was hit by damaging wind gusts and thunderstorms.Temperatures in parts of the state soared into the 30s on Wednesday, prompting authorities to raise bushfire alerts to their highest levels in more than two years. Continue reading...
‘Unavoidably unfair’: the secret courts system hearing part of Palestine Action case
The CMP system means Huda Ammori will not be allowed to know what allegations were made against herAt some point in the challenge to the ban on Palestine Action beginning on Wednesday, the co-founder of the direct action group will be asked to leave courtroom five at the Royal Courts of Justice, as will her legal team and most others present. Then the case will continue without them.When Huda Ammori returns to the room, the special advocate – a security-cleared barrister – who represented her interests in her absence will not be allowed to tell her or her legal team what evidence was presented against Palestine Action. If Ammori asks what allegations were made directly against her, the special advocate must not tell her, even though that means she will have no chance to rebut them. Continue reading...
