Australia news live: Optus fined $800k over phone scam; NSW targets ‘dehumanising’ work systems such as Amazon’s 18. November 2025 (20:50) The telco pays up after scammers exploited ID check weakness at subsidiary Coles Mobile. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFollows on from previous postThe proposed reforms to work health and safety laws clarifies the responsibility around the use of these systems and will allow union representatives to gain access to the algorithms behind the systems so they can fully understand how they are impacting workers – and take action to enforce labour standards, if required.As digital systems become more common in workplaces, the Minns Labor government is making sure that these systems help businesses without undermining the health and safety of workers. This is about protecting workers’ mental health, preventing harm before it occurs, and giving everyone confidence that workplace technology is used responsibly. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Judge rejects ‘racially gerrymandered’ maps in Texas that gave Republicans extra districts 18. November 2025 (20:31) Federal judge instructed state to use older maps, with Republicans likely to appeal decisionUS politics live – latest updatesNew maps that added five Republican districts in Texas hit a legal roadblock on Tuesday, with a federal judge saying the state cannot use the 2025 maps because they are likely “racially gerrymandered”.The decision is likely to be appealed, given the push for more Republican-friendly congressional maps nationwide and Donald Trump’s full-court press on his party to make them. Some states have followed suit, and some Democratic states have retaliated, pushing to add more blue seats to counteract Republicans. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US must face ‘same consequences’ as former prince Andrew over Epstein, congressman says 18. November 2025 (20:26) Thomas Massie urges accountability as House moves to release Epstein files amid renewed calls for Mountbatten-Windsor to testifyThe “same kind of consequences” faced by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein must be inflicted on “perpetrators of heinous crimes” linked to the disgraced financier in the United States, a congressman has said.Thomas Massie, a Republican representative, also pointed to the sacking of Peter Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to Washington, as an example of the fallout faced by those with ties to the late pedophile. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukrainians working for Russia were behind rail blasts, alleges Polish PM 18. November 2025 (20:21) Donald Tusk says two saboteurs crossed border from Belarus hoping to cause divisive ‘catastrophe’Polish authorities have identified two Ukrainian men, allegedly working for the Russian intelligence services, as the key suspects in two cases of rail sabotage, the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has said.The men are alleged to have planted a military-grade explosive device and attached a steel clamp to rail tracks in two incidents on a strategic rail route used for aid deliveries for Ukraine. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
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)
