Government freezes controversial levy for farmers in budget update
The Victorian government has backed down on key parts of an unpopular tax used to fund the state’s emergency services as part of its budget update. ⌘ Read more

How Oscar Piastri went from ‘dead last’ to the brink of F1 glory
After finishing dead last in his first ever race, Oscar Piastri has risen from humble beginnings to the brink of Australian sporting history as he chases his first F1 world title. ⌘ Read more

Ian Thorpe signs up for debut Sydney-Hobart race on board supermaxi
Olympic legend Ian Thorpe will make his Sydney to Hobart debut in 2025, sailing aboard one of the fleet’s most impressive supermaxi yachts. ⌘ Read more

Man alleged to have stood on 4yo has charge upgraded to murder
Bo Popowski’s defence lawyer told the courtroom this was the first time he had heard the word murder used for the case and that he would need time to speak to his client. ⌘ Read more

How to follow Oscar Piastri during the F1 title decider this weekend
The Formula 1 world drivers’ championship has gone down to the wire, with three drivers set to battle it out for glory at the season-finale Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. ⌘ Read more

RoboCop Statue Rises In Detroit
alternative_right quotes a report from the Guardian: The statue looms and glints at more than 11 feet tall and weighing 3,500 pounds, looking out at the city with, how to put it … a characteristically stern expression? Despite its daunting appearance and history as a crimefighter of last resort, the giant new bronze figure of the movie character RoboCop is being seen as a symbol of hope, drawing fan … ⌘ Read more

Ayers Rock Resort operation being sold to US company
A deal for the sale of operations at Ayers Rock Resort, near Uluru, and the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre, in Far North Queensland, is one step closer after the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation reached an agreement with Journey Beyond, an Australian-based “experiential tourism” company owned by an American private equity firm. ⌘ Read more

Man killed in ‘targeted attack’ south of Brisbane
Police say the 41-year-old man was transported to hospital in a life-threatening condition and was declared dead on arrival. ⌘ Read more

Breaking: SA Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia steps down from leadership
South Australian Liberal leader Vincent Tarzia will step down from the leadership, just three months out of the next state election. ⌘ Read more

US Probes Reports Waymo Self-Driving Cars Illegally Passed School Buses 19 Times
U.S. regulators are pressing Waymo for answers after Texas officials reported 19 instances of its self-driving cars illegally passing stopped school buses, including cases that occurred after Waymo claimed to have deployed a software fix. Longtime Slashdot reader BrendaEM shares the report from Reuters: In a Novemb … ⌘ Read more

Breaking: Search for alleged police killer Dezi Freeman focused on finding body
Victoria Police says a targeted search has focused on locating evidence or the body of fugitive Dezi Freeman, four months after he allegedly fatally shot two police officers in Porepunkah, in north-east Victoria. ⌘ Read more

Fare-free travel introduced for summer evenings as ACT cuts some bus services
The ACT government says the bus network will change from term 1 next year as it flags major disruption from work on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge. ⌘ Read more

Miners build massive gold stockpiles at Perth Mint amid record prices
WA gold miners are stockpiling millions of dollars worth of the precious metal, believing it is more valuable than cash in the current environment. ⌘ Read more

Live: Fires, heatwaves strike across Australia with extreme warnings issued
A broad heatwave is expected to spread across Australia, with short and sharp bursts of heat throughout the southern states. Follow live. ⌘ Read more

Microsoft Faces New Complaint For Unlawfully Processing Data On Behalf of Israeli Military
Ancient Slashdot user Alain Williams shares a report from Al Jazeera: The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has announced it filed a complaint against Microsoft, accusing the global tech giant of unlawfully processing data on behalf of the Israeli military and facilitating the killings of … ⌘ Read more

The XMPP Standards Foundation: The XMPP Newsletter November 2025

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Welcome to the XMPP Newsletter, great to have you here again!
This issue covers the month of November 2025.

The XMPP Newsletter is brought to you by the XSF Communication Team.

Just like any other product or project by the XSF, the Newsletter is th … ⌘ Read more

Breaking: US military says it killed four men in strike on suspected drug vessel
The US military says it has killed four men in a strike on a suspected drug vessel in international waters in the Eastern Pacific ⌘ Read more

Behich, Socceroos eyeing rematch against World Cup giants
The Socceroos cannot wait to learn who their opponents will be at the upcoming World Cup, especially if it allows them to handle some unfinished business. ⌘ Read more

Plane Crashed After 3D-Printed Part Collapsed
A light aircraft crashed in Gloucestershire after a 3D-printed plastic air-induction elbow softened from engine heat and collapsed, cutting power during final approach and causing the plane to undershoot the runway. Investigators say the part was made from “inappropriate material” and safety actions will be taken in the future regarding 3D printed parts. The BBC reports: Followin … ⌘ Read more

Australia’s red-tipped bananas go viral after cheeky social media post
Red-tipped bananas are not new to Australian consumers, but they have gone viral on social media this month after an inquisitive post from two bewildered British backpackers. ⌘ Read more

Breaking: Police on scene after reports of Sydney public place shooting
Police are swarming on a shopping centre in Western Sydney after shots were fired near a gym. ⌘ Read more

Residents told to stay away as fire on Tasmania’s east coast remains active
Evacuated residents of a beachside community on Tasmania’s east coast are warned it is unsafe to return to their homes as a bushfire remains active. ⌘ Read more

Lyon ‘absolutely filthy’ as English star says shock dropping helped his rhythm
Nathan Lyon speaks during an awkward TV interview as Zak Crawley says the spinner’s omission helped the English batter find his rhythm. ⌘ Read more

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