Woodside Energy’s partnership with Monash University to end after protests by staff and students 13. November 2025 (00:33) Under the deal, Woodside paid Monash University $43m over seven years and company was given naming rights to building on one of the Melbourne campusesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA contentious partnership between Monash University and Woodside Energy will end after a campaign by staff and students over concerns about the relationship, but discussions are under way about future collaborations.The Monash University vice-chancellor, Prof Sharon Pickering, appeared before a Senate committee hearing examining university governance on Wednesday, where she confirmed that the existing partnership is due to end “at the end of this year.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Elon Musk’s Grok AI briefly says Trump won 2020 presidential election 13. November 2025 (00:22) Chatbot in the past made claims of a ‘white genocide’, pushed antisemitism and referred to itself as ‘MechaHitler’Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot generated false claims this week that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, posting election conspiracy theories and misleading information on X to justify its answer.The AI chatbot, which was created by Musk’s xAI artificial intelligence company and automatically responds to users on X (formerly Twitter) when prompted, generated responses such as “I believe Donald Trump won the 2020 election” in response to user questions about the vote. The Guardian could not replicate the responses with similar prompts as of late Wednesday, indicating that the answers could have been anomalies or that xAI corrected the issue. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bill to restrict abortions later in pregnancy defeated in South Australia after emotional debate 12. November 2025 (23:57) Amendment would have watered down law to allow abortion only where it would save life of mother or another foetus, or for significant risk of abnormalitiesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA bill to restrict access to abortion after 22 weeks and six days has been defeated in the South Australian parliament.The former One Nation MLC Sarah Game, who is now an independent, worked with the controversial anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe on the legislation that went before the SA parliament on Wednesday night. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pressure grows on Starmer to sack chief of staff over briefing row 12. November 2025 (23:37) Growing calls for Morgan McSweeney to go after extraordinary briefing operation against Wes Streeting Keir Starmer is coming under intense pressure from a wide range of ministers and MPs to sack his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, after No 10 was accused of an extraordinary briefing operation against the health secretary, Wes Streeting.Starmer is understood to have told MPs he will not sack his chief of staff and would not respond to several demands to ensure there were “consequences” for the briefers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anthropic announces $50bn plan for datacenter construction in US 12. November 2025 (23:29) AI startup behind Claude chatbot working with London-based Fluidstack on building vast new computing facilitiesArtificial intelligence company Anthropic announced a $50bn investment in computing infrastructure on Wednesday that will include new datacenters in Texas and New York.“We’re getting closer to AI that can accelerate scientific discovery and help solve complex problems in ways that weren’t possible before,” Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, said in a press release. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ex-top aide to Gavin Newsom indicted in scheme to steal money from ex-US health secretary 12. November 2025 (23:18) Dana Williamson among five co-conspirators in scheme to steal more than $225,000 from Xavier Becerra’s campaignA former top aide to California governor Gavin Newsom has been indicted on federal charges alleging her involvement in a scheme to steal campaign money from Xavier Becerra, the former US health secretary.Dana Williamson was arrested and scheduled to make her first court appearance Wednesday in Sacramento. It was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney who could speak on her behalf. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Waymo announces that its robotaxis will drive freeways for the first time 12. November 2025 (22:57) Google subsidiary to offer services on San Francisco, LA and Phoenix freeways as it scales expansion amid competitionAlphabet’s Waymo said on Wednesday that it will begin offering robotaxi rides that use freeways across San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, a first for the Google subsidiary as it steps up expansion amid global and domestic competition in the self-driving industry.Freeway rides will initially be available to early-access users, Waymo said. “When a freeway route is meaningfully faster, they can be matched with a freeway trip, providing quicker, smoother, and more efficient rides,” it said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: aurora lights up night sky after solar storm; Liberals to reveal energy policy 12. November 2025 (20:48) Shadow cabinet will hear the proposals at 9am before Sussan Ley makes a public announcement. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastStargazers were given a rare treat last night when the southern lights were visible across wide parts of the Australian night sky.A severe solar storm had paved the way for the spectacular display of aurora australis, particularly in Victoria and as far north as the Blue Mountains where they were seen over the Three Sisters near Katoomba. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Property experts urge Rachel Reeves to abolish ‘sin tax’ of stamp duty in budget 12. November 2025 (20:46) Chancellor advised to replace levy with an annual property tax as Treasury considers overhaul of systemRachel Reeves has been urged to abolish the “sin tax” of stamp duty in the budget by property experts including TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp, as the chancellor faced calls to replace it with an annual property tax.Allsopp, presenter of Channel 4 property shows including Location, Location, Location, said “people are in a panic” about potential stamp duty changes, and “sitting tight” ahead of the 26 November budget. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Peter Mandelson was in contact with Epstein till at least 2016, new emails reveal 12. November 2025 (20:36) UK ambassador was sacked in September after other tranche of emails showed he told disgraced financier to ‘fight for early release’Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington over his association with Jeffrey Epstein, was in contact with the pedophile financier as late as 2016, new emails have revealed.Mandelson was sacked in September over leaked emails in which he expressed his support for Epstein and urged him to “fight for early release” in 2008 while the disgraced financier was facing charges of soliciting sex from minors. The tranche of emails revealed the pair had maintained contact until 2010. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
