The Triple Zero Custodian is testing whether people could text Triple Zero when a voice call is not possible or practical. Accenture Australia is running the trial in a simulated environment, so the public cannot access the service and the live system is unaffected. The testing runs alongside an interim review of Triple Zero regulations, which sets out eight key themes for possible reform. Minister for Communications Anika Wells said about 85 per cent of Triple Zero calls are now made from mobile devices. The final review report is due next year.
Microsoft has proposed voluntary buyouts to approximately 60,000 staff across Canada, India, the UK and the US. Executive vice president Amy Coleman framed this as an opportunity for eligible employees to transition out of the company with support. The move follows recent cuts to 4,800 roles and restructuring in the Xbox division. This initiative aligns with broader tech sector adjustments as AI investment drives up costs. Microsoft's global workforce stood at 223,000 as of June 30.
Xpeng Motors Australia expects to have 66 retail locations across every state and territory by the end of 2026. The mid-size L03 SUV, priced from $41,900 before on-road costs, is due in showrooms before year's end. The company says it has processed more than 1400 customer enquiries and resolved 250 cases linked to promotional offers from its former distributor, TrueEV. Customers who bought through TrueEV and were promised offers can contact Xpeng ANZ, which says it is backing its vehicles with seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranties.
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Elon Musk promised an AI-generated version of The Odyssey that would be historically accurate. Months later, xAI's Grok Imagine released a seven-minute episode, produced by Wonder Studios X, that drew sharp criticism for its poor animation and pacing. Asked to evaluate it, Grok said the episode was not historically accurate, noting modern English dialogue and cavalry in a battle scene. The episode received far less engagement on X than Musk's other recent posts.
Microsoft has said it will offer voluntary buyouts to eligible employees in select parts of the company. CNBC reports the offer will reach about 60,000 staff, roughly a quarter of the global workforce. The company describes it as a chance for employees already considering moving on from Microsoft. The offer extends to qualifying staff in the United States, India, Canada and the United Kingdom. It follows a voluntary retirement package offered in April and Xbox layoffs in July, with about 30 percent of eligible staff accepting the earlier offer.
Mini has unveiled the Lucky 13 Edition, an Australian-exclusive limited-run model based on the John Cooper Works three-door hatch. It honours the 1966 Bathurst 500 victory by Rauno Aaltonen and Bob Holden in a factory-backed Morris Mini Cooper S. The special edition's name comes from Mr Holden drawing number 13 from a hat and adopting it as his lucky number. Design cues include white bonnet stripes, a white roof and circular 13 decals. Just 26 cars will be built for Australia, with arrival expected in the first quarter of 2027. Pricing starts at $71,990 before on-road costs.
BYD's premium brand Denza says the Z9 GT electric wagon will not reach Australia until the first half of 2027. A spokesperson said the company is juggling priorities and does not want to launch simply to meet a date. Denza had earlier planned a launch in the third quarter of 2026. The Z9 GT has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 2.7 seconds and a 1036km electric range under the CLTC cycle. Pricing for the Australian market has yet to be announced.
Porsche Cars Australia is recalling 77 of its 911 and 718 sports cars made in 2023 and 2024. A manufacturing defect in the centre-lock wheel nuts may cause a wheel to loosen and detach while driving. The recall covers several 911 and 718 models from the 992 and 982 generations. Porsche will contact owners and ask them to book a free repair at an authorised Porsche Centre. The 911 was previously recalled in March 2025 over a seatbelt issue.
Lotus Australia has issued a nationwide safety recall for 114 Lotus Elise sports cars made between 2014 and 2021. A manufacturing defect may deform the low-pressure fuel pump impeller, causing the fuel pump to fail and the engine to stall. The company warns that a sudden loss of power while driving may increase the risk of an accident causing injury or death. Owners will be contacted by their Lotus dealer to book a free repair appointment. The Elise was last recalled in 2020 over a fuel rail issue.
Doctors removed a set of adult worms from a man's eyes, ending his infection without the need for antiparasitic medication. The worms spread through flies that feed on tears and secretions from infected eyes. Flies carry the larvae from one eye to another, where the larvae mature and mate. Female worms release coiled larvae that burst out of the flies after they were pulled from the man's eyes. At a follow-up two months later, all of his eye symptoms had resolved and no worms remained.
US stocks closed higher on Monday after two weeks of declines, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq lifted by optimism around AI companies. Anthropic disclosed steep losses and rapid revenue growth in its filing for a US initial public offering. Semiconductor firms helped drive the gains, while Meta plans to raise up to $US95 billion in equity to fund its AI expansion. Investors are watching the Federal Reserve's policy statement on Wednesday and a busy week of earnings reports.
Apple has rolled out its 27.2 updates for iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS. The iOS 27.2 update gives Siri a memory feature that can recall past conversations. Siri can also now draw on more data sources, such as voicemails and Messages attachments. A new Excluded Apps option lets users choose which apps Siri, Search and suggestions can access. Siri AI now supports French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, though it remains unavailable in Europe and mainland China. Other additions include new Apple Music branding and Apple Pencil support on the iPhone Duo foldable.
Apple's second-generation AirTags are currently discounted by 20 per cent, according to a WIRED deals report. The coverage comes from Louryn Strampe, a product writer and reviewer at the outlet who has covered shopping holidays and discounts since 2013. The piece focuses on the price reduction rather than on the product's features or performance. Readers interested in the offer should check the retailer directly for current pricing and stock, as sale terms can change.
Apple has unveiled an updated iPad mini with a larger OLED screen and a base price of $699. The base model includes 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi connectivity, while higher storage tiers cost $100 and $300 more. Only the 512GB version gets the dual 16-core Neural Engine found in the iPhone 18 Pro. The front camera has moved to the long edge of the tablet, which may take some adjustment for FaceTime users. Preorders open October 28, with devices arriving November 6.
More than 80,000 Victorian Year 12 students are sitting final exams, with warnings that AI technology could make cheating easier. La Trobe University academic Therese Keane said exams must ensure students' work is their own, as technology evolves. She stressed the importance of maintaining confidence in the VCE system's integrity and transparency. While AI poses risks, it can also be a useful study tool when used responsibly, Keane said.
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Five emerging innovators have been selected for the evokeAG 2027 Groundbreakers Program. Their projects target rural workforce shortages, high chemical spray costs and livestock disease. Bovision is developing computer vision technology to monitor cattle health in feedlots, while WeedSelector uses cameras to spot spray target weeds. Agriculture Jobs Auswide connects job seekers with primary producers. Over four months, the group will receive leadership development and networking before presenting at the national evokeAG event in Adelaide.
Hundreds of Boston Dynamics staff have signed a petition urging executives to cancel a sale of the firm's robot dogs to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The contract, awarded through a Connecticut firm called Radeco for $1.3 million, covers four modified Spot robots marketed as Cerberus. Company leaders have backed the deal, saying the machines will not be weaponised. Employees argued that the association could damage the company's reputation and make it harder to recruit and keep staff. The petition, containing more than 300 signatures, cited concerns about enforcement raids and deportations linked to the agency.
The Fitbit Edge's 1.34-inch display gives it a clear advantage over the screenless Air, particularly during outdoor workouts. Wearers can check metrics, control music and follow Google Maps directions from the wrist. The reviewer found the Performance Loop band could pop loose during adjustment, and a stuck locking button needed fixing. The Edge offers up to seven days of battery life and works with both iOS and Android. It is also Fitbit's first repairable tracker, with a replaceable battery. Added health features include monthly blood pressure and insulin resistance trends, and ECG with atrial fibrillation detection.
Thieves are using digital methods to steal trucks carrying data centre equipment worth millions of dollars, according to NBC News. Thieves hack freight brokers' accounts, post fake shipments to attract bids, and send malicious links to trucking companies. They then take control of accounts and bid on real loads. In one of the largest thefts, tracking coordinates were spoofed to avoid monitoring. Some stolen equipment has been recovered, but in two of the largest cases none was found, and off-duty police escorts were targeted in hit-and-run incidents.
Researchers measured speeds at 33 roadside sites across southeastern Queensland. Speeding fell from 55 per cent of drivers to 26 per cent after an alert appeared on the Waze app. The biggest drop was in 100km/h zones. Once the alert passed, drivers who had slowed down could speed again. The researchers say the findings suggest police should rethink how road enforcement works in a connected world, rather than ban these apps.
