Commonwealth of Australia — a nation and federation of states and territories
Reservoirs across southern and eastern England remain critically low after a record-hot summer, with the Environment Agency classing regions as in severe drought. Water firms are tightening controls, daily monitoring is underway, and officials emphasise that public supplies will not be disrupted as rainfall remains uncertain.
England launches STRIDE-RCT, a government-funded trial assessing multi-cancer blood tests at about 200 GP surgeries. The study aims to detect abdominal cancers earlier in adults aged 45-plus, using proteins and DNA markers to guide urgent investigations.
The High Court is hearing challenges to Australia’s Online Safety Act ban that bars children under 16 from holding social media accounts on major platforms. Government argues the measure is modest but necessary for safety; challengers say it infringes political expression and privacy. Verdicts are expected in coming months.
England faces a selection rethink as scrum-half Alex Mitchell is ruled out of the Nations Championship due to a hamstring injury. Northampton’s Archie McParland is also sidelined, prompting Ben Spencer or Harry Randall to join Jack van Poortvliet on the bench for the Australia clash. Fin Smith’s calf recovery is also in focus.
The Guardian and BBC reports show England and Australia naming their squads for upcoming World Cup fixtures, with heritage-based selections and debuts for several players. The Guardian notes changes in Wales and Australia XIII selections, while BBC coverage highlights England’s half-back choices ahead of Perth clashes. The tone remains focused on squad depth and upcoming tests as the tournament begins.
Airbnb has updated its policy to limit tasks guests can be asked to perform, especially chores that cleaners typically handle. The new framework standardises house rules into seven categories and requires all requests to be listed in the listing. The changes, effective Nov. 20, respond to widespread complaints about cleaning fees and onerous duties, while allowing exceptions in bear-country or drought situations.
India has clinched the five-match T20I series in New Zealand after winning the first three matches. India chased down competitive totals in close finishes in the opening games, dominated Wellington with a 13.2-over chase led by Abhishek Sharma (113) and 15‑year‑old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (45), and New Zealand responded in the fourth match with Glenn Phillipscentury but still lost the series earlier. Eden Park is sold out for the fourth match; India has rotated its side ahead of the final fixtures.
Ofcom reports nine months after the Online Safety Act’s safety duties began that harmful content exposure among children is unchanged, with personalised feeds driving much of the risk; regulators warn enforcement must tighten to protect youngsters.
New Zealand has crushed Fiji 66-6 on the Gold Coast with several players sidelined by injuries and suspensions. Kalyn Ponga is training and could be involved in the semi-final; Crossland returns from suspension. Australia and Samoa/Tonga loom in the other semi-final path.
South Africa has beaten Australia by 176 runs at Newlands to win the three-Test series 2-1. Simon Harmer has taken a career-best 6-16 to collapse Australia to 111, Kagiso Rabada has reached 350 Test wickets fastest in history, and the Proteas have moved to first in the ICC Test rankings and into the top two in the World Test Championship race.
Victoria’s Court of Appeal has dismissed Erin Patterson’s appeal against her murder convictions and ruled that she should never be released, keeping her in prison for life. The decision upholds a 33-year non-parole period as invalid for release and focuses on the calculated nature of the crimes tied to a death-cap mushroom lunch.
Hyrox world champion Joanna Wietrzyk has apologised for continuing to race in Beijing after falling ill, and organisers have updated rules to allow removal of athletes for contamination risks. She is preparing to return to competition in Hamburg amid ongoing backlash and calls for accountability.
The US has cancelled the traditional group photograph at the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta after several European countries, the UK, Australia and others refused to be photographed with Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has opened talks urging cooperation on trade, energy and food-security threats as divisions threaten a joint communique.
Point of Law has won the Melbourne Cup after a late surge from mid-pack to overtake Royal Supremacy in an Australian record field. Jockey Ethan Brown has celebrated a comeback win, while Ciaron Maher secures a historic trifecta with three boats in the top three. The race reveals the resilience of Brown after a life-threatening fall in 2023.
New Zealand’s Kaipo Olsen-Baker has been named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year after the Black Ferns swept a home series against France. Elinor-Plum King is named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year. France pushed the Ferns in a tight first half before NZ’s pack and backline shifted the balance to finish 36-7.
The Swift Observatory, a 3,200-pound space telescope, has ceased observations and is now re-entering Earth's atmosphere. NASA and the US Space Force estimate a low risk to people on the ground, with most debris burning up and a few heavier fragments possibly reaching the surface. Predictions place reentry in the early morning hours as the craft descends from low-Earth orbit.
Italy-born chef Davide Tamburella has been dismissed from La Costa in Brisbane after repeatedly refusing to serve pineapple on ham-and-pineapple pizzas, citing cultural insult. The Fair Work Commission has heard the case, noting multiple refusals and business disputes tied to visa sponsorship. The restaurant closed in July amid rising costs.