Housing crisis turns caravan park owners into ‘landlords’ of last resort
The housing crisis is landing at the doorstep of caravan parks and owners like Greg Homer, who says the transition from tourism operator to landlord is taking a toll. ⌘ Read more

Russia Blocks Roblox, Apple’s FaceTime
Russia has blocked Apple’s FaceTime and the gaming platform Roblox as part of a broader crackdown on foreign tech platforms. CBC News reports: Both restrictions are part of an accelerating clampdown on foreign tech platforms: In the case of FaceTime, Russian authorities allege it is being used for criminal activity, while Roblox was accused of distributing extremist materials and “LGBT propaganda.” Th … ⌘ Read more

Officer’s claim about search for woman killed by partner tested at watchdog hearing
A Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is examining why it took police officers nearly an hour to respond to a Triple Zero (000) call about an assault which left Lindy Lucena dead at the hands of her partner. ⌘ Read more

Will Oscar play kingmaker? Piastri ducks big F1 title question
Oscar Piastri dodges the question of whether he might help Lando Norris lift the world F1 title in Abu Dhabi, saying McLaren has not discussed the issue. ⌘ Read more

Fishers say WA ban will bring an end to ‘decent fish and chips’
New fishing rules come into effect in Western Australia next month, significantly reducing the amount of local fish available in the state. ⌘ Read more

EU Hits Meta With Antitrust Probe Over Plans To Block AI Rivals From WhatsApp
The EU has opened an antitrust investigation into Meta over a new WhatsApp policy that could block rival AI assistants from accessing the platform. Complaints from smaller AI developers triggered the probe, which could lead to fines of up to 10% of Meta’s global revenue if the company is found to have abused its dominance. … ⌘ Read more

Pentagon review finds areas to put AUKUS on ‘strongest possible footing’
The review has “identified opportunities to put AUKUS on the strongest possible footing”, the Pentagon says. But a congressman who has seen the report says it “fully endorses” the pact. ⌘ Read more

Compressed air energy storage is coming, but how does it work?
Broken Hill will be the location of Australia’s first large-scale compressed air energy storage system. What is it and how does it work? ⌘ Read more

Australian-backed bid gathers pace to restart Tahmoor mine
A local consortium is rushing to put forward a bid for the mothballed Tahmoor coal mine, saying it wants the site reopened quickly to protect hundreds of jobs. ⌘ Read more

Live: ASX to rise, as Facebook’s owner backs away from Metaverse
It has been a relatively calm day on Wall Street overnight, with Australian stocks set to follow. Follow the day’s events and insights as they happen with our business reporters on the ABC News live markets blog. ⌘ Read more

Scientists say golf course wetlands are the future for breeding threatened native fish
Golf courses around the world feature picturesque water ponds as a challenging hazard for players to avoid, but scientists are diving right in. They say golf club wetlands are an ecological safe haven to repopulate threatened native fish. ⌘ Read more

Live: Social media platforms must ‘get their act together’ ahead of ban, minister says
Mark Butler says social media platforms have five days to “get their act together” amid reports some children are already evading the upcoming social media ban. Follow live. ⌘ Read more

Bending Spoons Buys Eventbrite For $500 Million
Longtime Slashdot reader williamyf writes: The Italian company Bending Spoons seems to be on an acquisitions spree. Their recent acquisitions of AOL and Vimeo are not yet finalized, yet on Dec. 2 they announced they are buying Eventbrite, a company specializing in publicizing and organizing local events, for just half a milliard USD. Bending Spoons’ portfolio also includes other c … ⌘ Read more

‘Marnus tried to tackle him’: Carey shakes off Labuschagne’s hard tag for classic catch
Alex Carey’s phenomenal catch late on day one at the Gabba would have been special all on its own, but it was made even more impressive after he had to “out-body” his own teammate. ⌘ Read more

Manhunt underway in Adelaide for man in cuffs and hospital gown
Police are looking for a man who escaped custody in a medical gown and handcuffs in Adelaide’s western suburbs, and are warning the public not to approach him. ⌘ Read more

From 99 to 15 cases: How outback region reduced preventable disease
A lack of access to clean clothes and sheets led to high rates of heart disease in this outback Queensland town. But an Indigenous-led washing initiative is changing health outcomes in the region. ⌘ Read more

Curling’s most unlikely fairytale on the cusp of Olympic spot
The idea of the Philippines curling team reaching the Winter Olympics has a hint of Cool Runnings about it, while one team member, Alan Frei, has more than a suggestion of Eddie the Eagle. But at the heart of this story is a genuine sporting fairytale that is one step away from becoming an Olympic legend. ⌘ Read more

Does working from home impact mental health? Here’s what 16,000 people say
Working from home can positively impact the mental health of Australian men and women in different ways, according to a new study of more than 16,000 people. ⌘ Read more

Living with ADHD and how I make my life easier
International Day of People with Disability scholar Mark du Potiers shares how attention deficit hyperactivity disorder impacts him day-to-day and what he does to make life more manageable. ⌘ Read more

Queensland government raking in billions as land tax net widens
Thousands more properties have fallen under Queensland’s land tax regime, as the state is projected to raise hundreds of millions in extra revenue each year from the charge. ⌘ Read more

Hundreds of unexploded bombs are found every year. Here’s what to do if you see one
The Australian Defence Force’s bomb disposal squad responds to about 500 unexploded ordnance incidents a year, with many of the devices washing up on beaches. ⌘ Read more

Broad heatwave spreads across the state, hottest summer on the cards
Just days into summer and a broad heatwave is already spreading across the country. ⌘ Read more

Saved by Starc, Australia’s selection gamble exposes its underbelly
A day of tough, fluctuating Test cricket kickstarts the Ashes series at last as Mitchell Starc and Joe Root carry their sides despite concerns about what lies beneath. ⌘ Read more

Microsoft ‘Mitigates’ Windows LNK Flaw Exploited As Zero-Day
joshuark shares a report from BleepingComputer: Microsoft has silently “mitigated” a high-severity Windows LNK vulnerability exploited by multiple state-backed and cybercrime hacking groups in zero-day attacks. Tracked as CVE-2025-9491, this security flaw allows attackers to hide malicious commands within Windows LNK files, which can be used to deploy malwar … ⌘ Read more

Pentagon watchdog releases report on Hegseth’s use of Signal app
The 84-page report finds US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated policy and could have put American troops at risk when he used the Signal app to discuss military strikes in Yemen. ⌘ Read more

Israel-aligned anti-Hamas militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab killed
Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab, whose anti-Hamas group had been supported by Israel, has been killed after an attack in southern Gaza. ⌘ Read more

Thousands have left Pacific worker scheme and are stuck in visa limbo
Pacific Islanders have been leaving Australia’s guest worker scheme, a decision that breaches their visa conditions and leaves them “extremely vulnerable”. ⌘ Read more

This 18-year-old is the first badged netball umpire in a wheelchair
Brodie Taylor has changed the game of netball by overturning disability preconceptions to become the first person in a wheelchair to attain national netball umpiring accreditation. ⌘ Read more

‘Irresponsible and harmful’: News Corp attacked by school leaders over NAPLAN
Forty-one signatories to an open letter say they are “dismayed” and that school rankings cause “harm to our communities”. ⌘ Read more

Concern about bushfire ‘apathy’ after town is almost destroyed
A fast moving grass fire almost burned through the southern NSW town of Corowa last week. Despite the extreme fire danger rating, residents say they weren’t prepared for such an intense fire so early in the season. ⌘ Read more

Weekly news quiz: Blacked-out raccoon, poor strategy call and the PM’s wedding
Think you have had your ears to the ground? It’s time to test your knowledge of the week that was. ⌘ Read more

Bootleggers, gangsters and a massacre: Why America’s Prohibition backfired
Prohibition was officially repealed on December 5, 1933. But the beginning of its end can be traced back years earlier — to a highly-publicised massacre by firing squad. ⌘ Read more

The Studio to The Golden Bachelor: Our favourite new TV shows in 2025
From a send-up of Hollywood studios to a chilling depiction of violence and masculinity to an age-appropriate reality TV romance, these are our favourite TV shows of 2025. ⌘ Read more

RAM Is So Expensive, Samsung Won’t Even Sell It To Samsung
A severe spike in global DRAM prices has pushed Samsung Semiconductor to refuse a long-term RAM order from its own sibling, Samsung Electronics. The move is forcing the smartphone division into short, expensive renegotiations, which will likely mean higher costs for consumer devices. PCWorld reports: Samsung subsidiaries are, naturally, going to look to Sa … ⌘ Read more

AUKUS will survive Trump, says former defense minister Smith
The trilateral agreement has come under significant scrutiny, but Australia’s top diplomat in London says he believes its future is assured. ⌘ Read more

Breaking: Israel to perform at Eurovision 2026, prompting some nations to boycott
Israel’s participation at next year’s event has prompted a number of countries to withdraw from the event and one to announce it will not broadcast it. ⌘ Read more

30% of Doctors In UK Use AI Tools In Patient Consultations, Study Finds
An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Guardian: Almost three in 10 GPs in the UK are using AI tools such as ChatGPT in consultations with patients, even though it could lead to them making mistakes and being sued, a study reveals. The rapid adoption of AI to ease workloads is happening alongside a “wild west” lack of regulat … ⌘ Read more

Subaru Owners Are Ticked About In-Car Pop-Up Ads For SiriusXM
Subaru owners are reporting full-screen SiriusXM pop-up ads appearing on their infotainment systems while driving – sometimes even overriding Apple CarPlay. Subaru says the ads appear only twice a year, but frustrated drivers argue the practice is distracting, unsafe, and a sign of an industry trend that’s likely to get worse. The Drive reports: At le … ⌘ Read more

New York Times sues the Pentagon over press access restrictions
The US publication has filed a lawsuit over a new policy requiring journalists to sign a pledge to refrain from reporting information not authorised for release by the Pentagon. ⌘ Read more

What does Vladimir Putin want from India?
The Russian leader’s first state visit to India in nearly four years is expected to focus heavily on trade amid a backdrop of international sanctions and Donald Trump’s tariff policy. ⌘ Read more

Meta Poaches Apple Design Exec Alan Dye
Apple’s longtime human-interface chief Alan Dye is leaving to lead a new creative studio at Meta’s Reality Labs, where he’ll shape AI-driven design for devices like smart glasses and VR headsets. Dye will be replaced by Steve Lemay, who has had “a key role in the design of every major Apple interface since 1999,” according to a statement Apple CEO Tim Cook gave Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. TechCrunch … ⌘ Read more

New Homes In London Were Delayed By ‘Energy-Hungry’ Data Centers
A London Assembly report warns that surging demand from “energy-hungry” data centers is straining the electricity grid and delaying new housing developments. With data-center electricity use expected to rise up to 600% by 2050, officials fear London’s housing crisis could worsen without coordinated action. The BBC reports: According to the report ( … ⌘ Read more

Breaking: FBI arrests suspect over pipe bombs planted ahead of 2021 US Capitol riot
The FBI has made an arrest in its nearly five-year investigation into who placed pipe bombs in Washington on the eve of the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol, a Justice Department official says. ⌘ Read more

‘End-To-End Encrypted’ Smart Toilet Camera Is Not Actually End-To-End Encrypted
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Earlier this year, home goods maker Kohler launched a smart camera called the Dekoda that attaches to your toilet bowl, takes pictures of it, and analyzes the images to advise you on your gut health. Anticipating privacy fears, Kohler said on its website that the Dekod … ⌘ Read more

‘Read the fine print’: Insurers are short-changing patients, doctors say
A new report from Australia’s peak doctors’ body says private health insurance is increasingly failing to deliver value to the roughly 15 million Australians who hold a policy. ⌘ Read more

Putin bears ‘moral responsibility’ for 2018 poisoning of UK woman, UK inquiry finds
A UK public inquiry has concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin “must have” ordered the Novichok nerve agent attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in 2018. ⌘ Read more

It’s a ‘Yes’. Hobart’s AFL stadium gets final parliamentary approval
A roofed $1.13 billion stadium on the edge of the Hobart CBD has been approved by Tasmania’s upper house and will be built, satisfying a key condition for the state’s AFL licence. ⌘ Read more

Five quick hits: Root hits landmark ton despite horror run-out as Starc shines again
Joe Root overcomes a horror mix-up to notch a long-awaited first Test century in Australia, while Australia’s seamers largely struggle without the dropped Nathan Lyon. Here are the quick hits from the first day of the pink-ball Ashes Test in Brisbane. ⌘ Read more

Top Journal Retracts Study Predicting Catastrophic Climate Toll
Nature has retracted a headline-grabbing climate-economics study after critics found flawed data that massively inflated its predicted global economic collapse. The New York Times reports: The decision came after a team of economists noticed problems with the data for one country, Uzbekistan, that significantly skewed the results. If Uzbekistan wer … ⌘ Read more

Man accused of partner’s murder granted bail one day after extradition
Peter Scammell, who is facing a murder charge over the death of his partner Katrina Hawker five years ago, was granted bail just over 24 hours after being extradited from Victoria. ⌘ Read more