Rachel Reeves ‘planning pay-per-mile tax for electric vehicles in budget’ 06. November 2025 (09:42) EV drivers would face 3p-a-mile charge on top of other road taxes to offset falling revenue from petrol and diesel cars Rachel Reeves is drawing up plans for a new pay-per-mile tax for electric vehicles to announce in this month’s budget worth an extra £250 a year on average, according to reports.Under the plans expected to be announced on 26 November, EV drivers would face a new charge of 3p a mile on top of other road taxes to offset falling revenue from petrol and diesel cars as drivers switch to greener options. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Illegal tobacco burns $3.3bn hole in Australia’s tax revenue, crime agency says 06. November 2025 (09:30) ACIC report says total impact of illicit trade on economy amounted to $4bn in a year amid debate over cigarette exciseGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe illegal tobacco market has left a $3.3bn hole in the federal government’s finances, with Australia’s national criminal intelligence agency warning organised crime’s dominance of the market is continuing to grow.The Australian Taxation Office believes the illegal trade now accounts for one in five tobacco sales, which has led to reduced tax revenues despite the government’s excise on legal cigarettes reaching almost $30 for a pack of 20 sticks in September. The excise has increased almost eightfold since 2006, when it was $4.65. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Inquest finds German backpacker Simone Strobel killed by homicide - but can’t say who attacker was 06. November 2025 (09:22) Latest inquest rejects previously found ‘very strong suspicion’ that a member of Strobel’s traveling party was involved in her death near a Lismore campground Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn inquest has found German backpacker Simone Strobel died by homicide in northern New South Wales, but was unable to say who killed her. It has recommended police undertake further analysis of two unmatched DNA samples recovered during the original investigation.The NSW state coroner, Teresa O’Sullivan, delivered her findings on Thursday into Strobel’s 2005 death in Lismore in the state’s northern rivers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Vibe coding’ beats ‘clanker’ to be Collins dictionary’s word of the year 06. November 2025 (08:51) AI-inspired word joins ‘biohacking’, ‘Henry’ and ‘broligarchy’ on tech-heavy 2025 list“Vibe coding”, an emerging software development that turns natural language into computer code using artificial intelligence, has been named Collins dictionary’s word of the year for 2025.Lexicographers at Collins monitor the 24bn-word Collins Corpus, which draws from a range of media sources, including social media, to create the annual list of new and notable words that reflect our ever-evolving language. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bob Katter painted in flattering light as portrait unveiled after 50 colourful years in politics 06. November 2025 (08:22) PM says permanent display of the veteran member for Kennedy’s likeness will ensure ‘a corner of this Parliament House that is forever Bob Katter’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast“Kennedy is a peculiar electorate,” veteran MP Bob Katter said with a smile, standing next to the shrouded frame of the near-lifesize portrait he still hadn’t seen yet.The peculiarity he spoke of, in his far north Queensland home, was to do with its characters and its history, but it could also extend to Kennedy’s predilection for Katters; Thursday’s portrait unveiling honoured Bob’s 50 years in politics, including 12 consecutive federal terms since 1993, coming after Kennedy elected his father, Bob Sr, for 10 terms between 1966 and 1990. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pollution from Ineos’s Antwerp plastic plant ‘will cause more deaths than jobs created’ 06. November 2025 (08:00) Lawyers challenge €4bn Project One development, saying emissions and health impacts vastly underestimatedThe deaths from pollution caused by Europe’s biggest plastic plant, which is being built in Antwerp, will outstrip the number of permanent jobs it will create, lawyers will argue in a court challenge issued on Thursday.In documents submitted to the court, research suggests the air pollution from Ineos’s €4bn petrochemical plant would cause 410 deaths once operational, compared with the 300 permanent jobs the company says will be created. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sam Groth’s ambition to be premier meant articles on relationship with wife ‘not idle gossip’, News Corp claims 06. November 2025 (07:05) Court told new privacy laws shouldn’t apply to Herald Sun stories alleging Victorian MP’s wife, Brittany, was underage at start of relationshipFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNews Corp stories alleging Sam Groth began dating his wife, Brittany, while she was underage were far from “idle gossip” given the claims were being “weaponised” by rivals of the Victorian Liberal MP, who aspires to become premier, the publisher has told a court.The Herald and Weekly Times (HWT), reporter Stephen Drill and Herald Sun editor Sam Weir are being sued in the federal court over a series of articles published in July. Groth is suing for defamation while his wife has launched the first test case of new laws for serious invasions of privacy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Garden shed of vaccine pioneer Edward Jenner added to heritage at risk register 06. November 2025 (07:00) Hut where father of immunology trialled first smallpox vaccine among 138 additions to Historic England listA rustic, ordinary-looking English garden hut regarded as the birthplace of immunology – revolutionising global public health and saving countless lives – has been added to the nation’s heritage at risk register.The hut belonged to Edward Jenner (1749-1823), regarded as someone who has saved more lives than any other human. It was there that he first trialled a vaccine for smallpox in the late 18th century. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
China-critical UK academics describe ‘extremely heavy’ pressure from Beijing 06. November 2025 (06:00) Reliance on overseas students’ tuition fees under scrutiny as scholars describe chilling effect of being targetedUK academics whose research is critical of China say they have been targeted and their universities subjected to “extremely heavy” pressure from Beijing, prompting calls for a fresh look at the sector’s dependence on tuition fee income from Chinese students.The academics spoke out after the Guardian revealed this week that Sheffield Hallam University had complied with a demand from Beijing to halt research about human rights abuses in China, which had led to a big project being dropped. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Belgium to hold security meeting after drone sightings at airports and military bases 06. November 2025 (06:00) Source says Russia ‘very probably’ responsible amid surge in incursions into European airspace since mid-SeptemberBelgium’s national security council will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday after drone sightings at airports caused chaos for travellers and raised security concerns.Arrivals and departures were halted for several hours on Tuesday evening at Belgium’s busiest airport, Brussels, leading to the cancellation of dozens of flights. The skies were also closed over Liège airport, an important hub for freight transport, leading to further cancellations, delays and diversions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
