Prosecutor will not charge Kyle and Jackie O and Mamamia with contempt over Erin Patterson comments 12. November 2025 (06:52) Kyle Sandilands said ‘just lock that bitch up’ on air during the high profile mushroom murder trial, which prompted the referralFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions will not charge Kyle and Jackie O or Mamamia with contempt for potentially prejudicial comments made during the trial of mushroom triple-murderer Erin Patterson.In July, Patterson was found guilty of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder a fourth with a deadly beef wellington lunch laced with death cap mushrooms that she served in 2023. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Atrocious on every level’: sex case findings shame New Zealand’s senior police culture 12. November 2025 (06:39) Inspector general will be inaugurated to oversee service after report on how top officers steered investigation of Jevon McSkimming, who went on to become deputy commissionerNew Zealand’s government will take the unprecedented move of appointing an inspector general of police after a damning report found “significant failings” in the way senior police officers handled serious sexual complaints against a former high-ranking officer.The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a 135-page report on Tuesday detailing allegations made against the former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming and the police’s response to them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The man on a mission to save Mauritania’s ‘city of libraries’ from encroaching desert sands 12. November 2025 (06:00) Desert settlement of Chinguetti faces rising sands, dwindling tourism and insecurity due to conflict in neighbouring MaliOn a recent afternoon, 67-year-old Saif Islam made his way into the courtyard of a library in Chinguetti, a tiny desert settlement nestled in the Sahara in Mauritania.Decked in a flowing boubou gown striped in two shades of blue, his steps unsteady but his presence still commanding, he sat on a handwoven mat stroking his grey beard, with his black croc sandals neatly placed to the side. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Worth a shout? Yelling is best way to deter gulls, UK study suggests 12. November 2025 (06:00) Animal behaviourists tested 61 gulls in Cornwall to find most effective method of countering feathery threat Some people respond to the unwanted attentions of a gull eyeing up a bag of chips or a Cornish pasty by frantically flapping their hands at the hungry bird while others beat a rapid retreat into the nearest seaside shelter. But researchers have found that a no-nonsense yell – even a relatively quiet one – may be the best way to get rid of a pesky herring gull.Animal behaviourists from the University of Exeter tried to establish the most effective method of countering a feathery threat by placing a portion of chips in a place where gulls were bound to find them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Supply boom in cheaper renewables will seal end of fossil fuel era, says IEA 12. November 2025 (06:00) Watchdog’s flagship report says rise in low-carbon electricity will make transition ‘inevitable’, despite Trump’s calls to carry on drillingRenewables will grow faster than any major energy source in the next decade, according to the world’s energy watchdog, making the transition away from fossil fuels “inevitable”, despite a green backlash in the US and parts of Europe.The world is expected to build more renewable energy projects in the next five years than has been rolled out over the last 40, according to the flagship annual report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Japan’s new PM faces sumo-sized dilemma: will Takaichi defy the sport’s ban on women? 12. November 2025 (05:13) Women are banned from entering the ‘sacred’ dohyo. Sanae Takaichi is undecided on whether to attend a trophy presentation later this monthAnticipation is building among sumo fans in Japan as they wait to discover if the country’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, will defy centuries of tradition and step into the sumo ring to present a trophy later this month.With 11 days of the current 15-day tournament in Fukuoka, south-west Japan, remaining, government officials have left the sport’s devotees guessing with vague comments over the likelihood of clash between Takaichi and the Japan sumo association. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former CFMEU boss John Setka charged with threatening and harassing union administrator 12. November 2025 (05:11) Victoria police charge 61-year-old with seven counts of ‘using a telecom communications device to menace, harass and offend’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFormer construction union boss John Setka has been arrested and charged by Victoria police after allegedly sending threatening and harassing emails to a union administrator.The 61-year-old was arrested at a home in Footscray about 6.40am on Wednesday. Police searched the property and seized a mobile phone and an iPad. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Minns says his office possibly not notified of neo-Nazi rally because it was held on the weekend 12. November 2025 (05:05) List of those who were told in advance grows to include police, parliamentary security, lower house speaker and upper house presidentFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe NSW premier, Chris Minns, says staff in his office may not have been notified in advance about Saturday’s neo-Nazi rally by parliamentary security “because it was on the weekend”.The premier said his department’s secretary would look into changes to security procedures after it emerged other senior parliamentary figures and police were warned about the rally on Macquarie Street. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian government could explore using AI for cabinet submissions despite security concerns 12. November 2025 (05:03) Finance minister Katy Gallagher says the public service is building its own artificial intelligence program and spruiks productivity benefitsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government could “explore” using artificial intelligence programs to write sensitive cabinet submissions or business cases, as part of a major initiative to embed AI across the public service, despite concerns about the technology increasing risks of security and data breaches.The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, also announced on Wednesday the public service would build its own special AI program for government workers, spruiking productivity benefits for rolling out generative programs such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini to departments. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Borderline ambiguity: How Google Maps removes disputed Western Sahara border for Morocco users 12. November 2025 (04:29) The tech giant has released a statement acknowledging the use of different border displays between Western Sahara and MoroccoThe dotted lines illustrating the border between Western Sahara and Morocco, indicating the former’s disputed territory status, have never been visible to people using Google Maps in the latter.After media reports last week highlighted the discrepancy, tying it to the UN security council endorsing the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, the tech company released a statement acknowledging it has always displayed the border differently depending on the search region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
