News worth talking about.
The day’s news from outlets across the spectrum, side by side. Follow what you care about, vote on what matters and have your say.
▶Trump weighs Iran strikes as Badenoch warns Britain is unprepared
France faces debt questions over school loans, while Dior filmmakers deny using AI and Taiwan unveils an AI film platform.
SpaceXAI brings Grok tools to Google Workspace apps
- Grok is free to add to Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.
- It can draft text, build decks and analyse spreadsheets.
- Review permissions carefully before connecting it to work files.
SpaceXAI has released a free Google Workspace add-on that brings its Grok chatbot into Docs, Sheets and Slides. It opens in a side panel and can draft documents, create slide decks, analyse spreadsheet data and make edits, giving Workspace users an alternative to Google’s built-in Gemini. The add-on…
Donald Trump offers UFC chief Dana White press secretary job in bizarre replacement for fired Katie Zacharia
- Trump has offered Dana White the press secretary job.
- White has not said whether he will accept.
- Trump also named several UFC fighters as assistants.
The article reports that Donald Trump has offered UFC chief Dana White the White House press secretary role, and named several UFC fighters as possible assistants. White’s response is unclear, so the offer has not established who will take charge of presidential briefings. Trump made the offer in…
Love it or hate it, AI will change gaming forever, so I spoke with an expert who argues the future might be brighter than you think
- AI made Starkey’s upcoming game possible.
- He says close direction can help avoid generic results.
- He accepts that some players may reject AI-made games.
Dr Andy Starkey argues that AI could help people make games that would otherwise be beyond their reach, though its use is already provoking strong reactions from players. The article centres on his upcoming game, Omnipresent 2, and his view that careful, hands-on use of AI can support…
‘Full House’ Star Jodie Sweetin Says She Had ‘$190 in My Bank Account’ Before Filming ‘Fuller House’: ‘I Had to Borrow Money the First Week’
- Sweetin had about $190 in her bank account before her first Fuller House pay cheque.
- She borrowed money during her first week filming the reboot.
- She took non-Hollywood work to cover bills and support her children.
Jodie Sweetin says she was nearly out of money when she began filming the 2016 reboot Fuller House, despite having been famous as Stephanie Tanner on Full House. She had to borrow money during her first week and received her first pay cheque with about $190 in her…
Iconic Hollywood eatery marks anniversary with 87-cent deal on signature menu item
- Pink’s marks 87 years with 87-cent chili dogs.
- The 87-minute offer starts at 8 p.m. on 8 November.
- All proceeds from the deal will go to charity.
Pink’s Hot Dogs will sell its signature chili dogs for 87 cents on 8 November to mark 87 years in business, with all proceeds going to charity. The limited-time offer celebrates the Hollywood stand’s history and features the original recipe that helped make it famous. The promotion starts…
How do you broker UN climate talks when your own country is a big coal and gas exporter? Chris Bowen is about to find out
- Australia is leading Cop31 negotiations while exporting large amounts of coal and gas.
- The proposed 2035 goal would raise electricity’s share of global energy use to 35%.
- A fossil fuel transition plan is absent from the official agenda.
Australia has been urged to use its role in leading negotiations at the UN’s Cop31 climate summit to push for a global agreement to move away from fossil fuels. Climate minister Chris Bowen will seek consensus among nearly 200 countries, despite Australia’s large coal and gas export industries,…
Big Build inquiry opens as findings threaten to hurt Ben Carroll’s campaign
- The Big Build royal commission starts during Victoria’s election campaign.
- Carroll called the inquiry, but its findings could hurt Labor.
- Early scrutiny includes project decisions and CFMEU conduct.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll is facing a politically difficult election campaign as a royal commission into the state’s Big Build begins public hearings on Monday. The inquiry was his first major decision as premier and helped distinguish him from his predecessor, Jacinta Allan, who had resisted calls for…
Dropout’s Vic Michaelis Wants to Toss Their Star Wars Character Out a Window
- Vic Michaelis makes their video game debut as Runa Blask.
- Runa’s jokes were written or pitched by the game’s writers.
- The adviser is safe from the game’s permadeath system.
Vic Michaelis, known for Dropout, voices Runa Blask in the video game *Star Wars Zero Company*. The role marks their first video game performance, and Michaelis said they were initially nervous about both the format and joining the Star Wars universe. Runa is a wise-cracking adviser who stays…
Quentin Tarantino’s Favorite “Character Study Ever” Is Officially Streaming
- *Taxi Driver* is now streaming free on Pluto TV.
- The 1976 film stars Robert De Niro and was directed by Martin Scorsese.
- Quentin Tarantino called it the greatest first-person character study.
Martin Scorsese’s 1976 film *Taxi Driver*, starring Robert De Niro, has been added to free streaming service Pluto TV. Its arrival gives new viewers access to a landmark of American cinema that helped establish Scorsese and made De Niro a star. Written by Paul Schrader, the film follows…
Companies offer children phones with parental controls and limited features
- Kid-focused phones limit apps, web access or online risks.
- Parental controls can manage contacts, screen time and location.
- Prices and monthly costs vary across the options.
Companies are offering phones designed to give children ways to communicate while limiting exposure to online risks and distractions. The devices range from modified smartphones with parental controls and monitoring to simpler phones focused on calls and texts, reflecting parents’ concerns about unrestricted smartphone access. Bark scans messages…
Keira Knightley and ‘Black Doves’ Creator Joe Barton Why Helen Should Have Been the One to Kill [SPOILER], That Oner and Hopes for Season 3
- Knightley wanted Helen to kill Dani.
- Barton kept Dani alive because her story could continue.
- Season 2 mixes spy action with family life and political drama.
In a discussion about the second season of spy thriller “Black Doves”, Keira Knightley said she wanted her character, Helen Webb, to kill Dani, but creator Joe Barton chose a different outcome. Barton said Helen could not plausibly reach Dani at that point in the story, and he…
How a bottleneck calculator for your GPU and CPU works
- Calculators estimate CPU and GPU balance.
- Scores rely on specifications, not live testing.
- Use performance monitoring for more reliable results.
Bottleneck calculators estimate whether a computer’s CPU or GPU is likely to limit the other component’s performance. They can help people plan a PC build or decide what to upgrade, but their scores are only rough guidance and should not be treated as a diagnosis. These tools compare…
Macklemore claims ‘Free Palestine’ tour blocked from 9 major US arenas
- Macklemore says nine US arenas rejected his benefit tour.
- He says the decisions followed disclosure of the shows’ purpose.
- He plans to hold more events supporting Palestine.
Macklemore says nine major US arenas declined to host his planned “Free Palestine” benefit tour after learning the shows would raise money for Palestine. He casts the refusals as an attempt to silence artists who speak publicly in support of Palestinians, and says he will continue organising shows.…
Luke Bryan Isn’t Apologizing for His Dancing and Has a Message for Those Who Judge Him
- Bryan says his dancing is part of having fun with fans.
- “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” helped shape his public image.
- The song earned US diamond certification, with over three million units sold.
Luke Bryan says he will not apologise for dancing on stage, even though some people make fun of his moves. He sees performing as a chance to have fun with his audience, and says the response to “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” helped define his public image.…
Russia, Ukraine unleash missile and drone barrages days before Trump-brokered peace talks
- Russian strikes killed six people in the Kyiv region.
- Ukraine hit a major Russian oil refinery.
- Peace talks are scheduled for 10 and 11 November.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged large missile and drone attacks on Saturday, days before negotiators from both countries and the United States are due to meet in Abu Dhabi. The strikes underline the difficulty of pursuing peace talks while attacks continue, and have sharpened Ukrainian concerns that wider European…
Quickest way to complete FC 27 Road to the Knockouts: Tiago Djalo Evolution
- The objective has five tasks and rewards an 84-rated Djalo card.
- A squad meeting multiple requirements can speed up completion.
- Djalo may be upgraded based on Besiktas’s results.
The Road to the Knockouts: Tiago Djalo Evolution objective in FC 27 offers a free Djalo promo item alongside packs and other rewards. It has five tasks, and using a squad that meets several requirements at once is presented as the quickest way to complete them. The article…
Marco Rubio warns top staff against conflicts of interest as he tightens control of state department after midterms: report
- Rubio has tightened control over State Department decisions.
- Senior staff were warned about conflicts of interest and coordination.
- Political staff travel now requires approval from Rubio’s office.
Marco Rubio has tightened his oversight of the US State Department, warning senior officials to avoid conflicts of interest and stay within their responsibilities. The move follows concerns raised by reports about former ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle and comes as Republican leaders respond to midterm losses and the start…
Saudi-led strikes kill at least 27 in Yemen’s Sanaa, Houthis say
- Houthis report 27 killed and 36 wounded in Sanaa province.
- The coalition says it intercepted a missile aimed at Riyadh province.
- Yemen’s rival forces traded accusations as fighting intensified.
The Houthis said Saudi-led air strikes killed at least 27 people in Al-Shariya village in Yemen’s Sanaa province, with women and children making up most of the dead. The reported casualties come amid escalating fighting, with competing claims about attacks and military operations across Yemen and into Saudi…
5 things you didn’t know Steam’s overlay could do
- Steam’s overlay includes tools beyond chat and friends.
- Players can browse guides, take notes and set timers in-game.
- Screenshots and supported co-op sessions can be shared.
Valve’s redesigned Steam overlay offers far more than quick access to friends while playing. Its tools let players look up help, keep notes and manage playtime without leaving a game, making it useful for people who want to stay focused or fit gaming into short breaks. Opened with…