Amazon launches robotaxi service in San Francisco in challenge to Google’s Waymo 18. November 2025 (19:51) Amazon’s Zoox will give free rides in parts of the city in attempt to counter Waymo’s early lead in self-driving taxisAmazon’s Zoox is launching its robotaxi service in San Francisco, offering free rides through parts of the city as it accelerates its attempt to challenge Waymo’s early lead in the race to transport passengers in self-driving vehicles.The expansion, announced on Tuesday, will be confined to a few major San Francisco neighborhoods and limited to people who signed up on a waiting list to ride in Zoox’s gondola-shaped robotaxis, which have no steering wheel. The San Francisco launch comes less than three months after the Amazon-owned robotaxi company launched its first ride-hailing service along the Las Vegas strip. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Out of touch’ hereditary peers criticised for voting against workers’ rights 18. November 2025 (19:46) Lords look ‘undemocratic and firmly against interest of working people’, say senior trade union and Labour figuresDozens of hereditary peers – including the Duke of Wellington, landed aristocrats and millionaire business leaders – have been criticised for battling to unpick Labour’s plans to boost workers’ rights.The Lords voted to support a string of Conservative-backed amendments to the employment rights bill late on Monday for the third time running. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Texas governor Abbott designates Cair and Muslim Brotherhood terrorist groups 18. November 2025 (19:32) Greg Abbott’s move heightens the clash with Muslim groups and usurps federal authorityTexas governor Greg Abbott declared the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) and the Muslim Brotherhood to be “foreign terrorist organizations” on Tuesday, prohibiting them from acquiring property in the state and authorizing legal action to shut down affiliated entities.The move marks a massive escalation in Abbott’s confrontation with Muslim organizations and communities in Texas, though states have no authority to designate foreign terrorist organizations on behalf of the US. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘I’m missing so much of my son’s life’: the families split by Labour’s asylum crackdown 18. November 2025 (19:17) As the government imposes stricter rules for families of asylum seekers coming to the UK, one mother tells how her son is growing up without her“My son says ‘I miss you, when am I seeing you?’ Sometimes I lie to give him false hope. There’s a growing detachment there, because he knows I have lied to him.”Kim is an asylum seeker based in Yorkshire, England. The 35-year-old, who has asked to use only a pseudonym out of fears for her safety, is among those in the UK who do not know when – or if – they will be able to see their children again, as the Labour government cracks down on the asylum system. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU confirms it wants UK to pay into its budget in exchange for closer ties 18. November 2025 (19:17) ‘Politically realistic’ for UK to make financial contribution so it can access European single market, Irish minister saysThe UK must pay into the EU budget for future participation in the European single market in electricity, it has been confirmed, in what could become a major test for the post-Brexit reset.Ireland’s Europe minister, Thomas Byrne, said EU member states had decided the UK should make a financial contribution for closer ties: “Ireland wants to see Britain getting the benefit of closer engagement with the European Union. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man pours liquid on woman and sets her on fire on Chicago subway 18. November 2025 (18:55) Victim is hospitalized and suspect fled the scene following an argument on the city’s train system A woman is currently hospitalized after being set on fire on the Chicago train system, according to police.At around 9.25pm on Monday, a 26-year-old woman was riding the Chicago Transit Authority system’s Blue Line near the Clark/Lake station when she got into an argument with an approximately 45-year-old man. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pension changes row threatens Germany’s coalition government 18. November 2025 (18:53) Youth wing of conservatives say younger people will be left carrying can for older generation A row over pension changes is threatening the future of the German coalition government, with a youth wing of the conservatives of the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, gaining support for an attempt to block legislation which they argue will leave younger Germans carrying the can for the older generation.An 18-strong group of young MPs, the Junge Union, has been accused of holding Merz’s coalition government to ransom over its demands to revise proposed pension changes, which would guarantee pension increases for the next six years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sheinbaum again dismisses Trump’s threat of sending troops to Mexico: ‘We do not want intervention’ 18. November 2025 (18:46) Mexico’s president responds to Trump’s latest warning that he could authorize strikes against drug cartels in countryMexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has again dismissed Donald Trump’s threat of military action against drug cartels inside her country, telling reporters: “It’s not going to happen.”Sheinbaum made the comments on Tuesday morning in response to the US president’s latest warning that he could authorise strikes in Mexico. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
