As the highly anticipated Ashes series approaches, tensions between former England spinner Monty Panesar and Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith have escalated, with both cricketers trading pointed remarks. The verbal sparring began when Smith, during a pre-match press conference in Perth, mocked Panesar’s 2019 appearance on the BBC quiz show ‘Celebrity Mastermind,’ where the Englishman famously struggled with general knowledge questions. Smith quipped, ‘Anyone who believes Athens is in Germany or Oliver Twist is a season shouldn’t be taken seriously.’ Panesar, however, fired back by referencing Smith’s involvement in the 2018 ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal, which led to his temporary removal as Australia’s captain. ‘I made my mistakes on a quiz show; he made his on a cricket field,’ Panesar remarked in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live. The former England bowler also suggested that Smith’s focus on his quiz show performance might indicate that England is already ‘in his head.’ Panesar, who played 50 Tests for England, expressed surprise at Smith’s decision to bring up the Mastermind episode, expecting a more measured response. He speculated that the Australian’s reaction could open the door for England to exploit psychological vulnerabilities during the series. The first Ashes Test begins on Friday at Perth Stadium, with Smith leading Australia in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is sidelined with a back injury. The exchange has added an extra layer of intrigue to the storied rivalry between the two cricketing nations.
标签： Oceania
大洋洲
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US congress calls Australia’s internet regulator to testify
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, is under scrutiny from US Republican Congressman Jim Jordan, who has requested her testimony before the US Congress. Jordan, chair of the Committee of the Judiciary, expressed concerns that Australia’s Online Safety Act (OSA) enforcement is impinging on free speech in the United States. In a letter to Inman Grant, Jordan criticized her as a ‘noted zealot for global takedowns’ and accused her of overreaching by applying Australian laws extraterritorially, which he claims threatens American citizens’ speech rights. He has demanded her appearance by December 2, just before Australia’s social media ban for under-16s takes effect. A spokesperson for Inman Grant stated that she is considering the request, emphasizing that her role is to enforce Australian laws and that she is accountable to Australia’s Minister for Communications and Parliament. The spokesperson also clarified that eSafety’s actions do not restrict American companies from displaying content to Americans. Jordan’s letter referenced Inman Grant’s past legal actions against Elon Musk’s X platform, where she sought the removal of videos depicting a Sydney church stabbing, deemed a terrorist incident, from global users. Although X initially refused to comply, it later blocked the videos in Australia. Jordan also accused Inman Grant of collaborating with pro-censorship entities in the US to promote ‘global censorship regimes’ and criticized her speech at Stanford University, labeling it as ‘troubling’ and indicative of efforts to censor lawful American speech. He warned that such global content takedown orders could set a dangerous precedent for other governments to follow.
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Turkey set to host COP31 after reaching compromise with Australia
In a surprising turn of events, Turkey has been selected to host the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, following Australia’s decision to withdraw its bid. The announcement came during the ongoing COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, where negotiations led to an unprecedented compromise. Under UN regulations, the hosting rights for COP31 were to be awarded to a group of countries including Western Europe and Australia, but neither party was initially willing to concede. After intense discussions, Australia agreed to support Turkey’s bid in exchange for its climate minister, Chris Bowen, chairing the talks. This arrangement marks a departure from the traditional practice of the COP president being from the host country, raising questions about how this partnership will function in practice. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the agreement as an ‘outstanding result,’ emphasizing the importance of Pacific issues in the global climate agenda. However, some Pacific leaders, including Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko, expressed disappointment over Australia’s withdrawal. The compromise ensures that a pre-COP meeting will be held on a Pacific island, while the main event takes place in Turkey. The decision has been welcomed by delegates at COP30, who were concerned about the potential embarrassment of failing to reach an agreement. Turkey’s bid was bolstered by its decision to step aside in 2021, allowing the UK to host COP26 in Glasgow. If no compromise had been reached, the event would have been held in Bonn, Germany, the headquarters of the UN’s climate body. The agreement is expected to be ratified by the 190+ countries attending COP30, with no significant objections anticipated.
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Tennis Australia and playersâ association near deal
In a significant development for the world of tennis, Tennis Australia (TA) and the Professional Tennis Players’ Association (PTPA) are reportedly close to reaching a settlement in a high-profile lawsuit filed earlier this year. The PTPA, co-founded by Novak Djokovic in 2020 to advocate for player rights, initiated legal action against the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, and the four Grand Slam tournaments, accusing them of anti-competitive practices and neglecting player welfare. The lawsuit, lodged in March 2025, seeks to dismantle what the PTPA describes as ‘monopolistic control’ over the sport, particularly concerning prize money caps and tournament scheduling. In September, the case expanded to include the French Tennis Federation, the All England Club, and the US Tennis Association, which oversee the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, respectively. A recent letter to the United States Southern District Court in New York revealed that TA and the PTPA are engaged in ‘substantive and productive bilateral settlement discussions,’ prompting a request to pause proceedings against TA while negotiations continue. However, the lawsuit remains active against the other defendants. The PTPA has emphasized its preference for an out-of-court settlement, aiming to reform the sport rather than prolong litigation. The ATP and WTA have dismissed the lawsuit as ‘baseless’ and ‘without merit,’ arguing that it distracts from their mission to support players and grow the sport. With the Australian Open set to begin on January 12, 2026, the potential settlement could mark a turning point in the ongoing battle for player rights and governance in professional tennis.
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Instagram owner Meta tells Australian teens accounts will close
In a bold move to protect younger users, Australia has introduced a pioneering social media ban targeting individuals under the age of 16. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, has begun notifying users aged 13 to 15 that their accounts will be deactivated starting December 4, ahead of the nationwide enforcement on December 10. The ban extends to other major platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the initiative’s goal to ‘let kids be kids,’ despite opposition from tech companies. Meta, while complying, advocates for a law requiring parental consent for under-16s to access social media apps. The Australian internet regulator estimates that 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram users fall within the affected age group. Meta has urged young users to update their contact details to receive notifications when they become eligible to reopen accounts. Users can download their content before deactivation. To challenge the restriction, teens can submit a ‘video selfie’ for facial age verification or provide government-issued identification. However, a report by the UK-based Age Check Certification Scheme (ACCS) noted that no single verification method is universally effective. Platforms failing to enforce the ban face fines of up to A$50 million. Roblox, a gaming platform, has preemptively restricted under-16s from chatting with adult strangers to avoid inclusion in the ban. The e-Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, highlighted the ban’s aim to shield teens from online risks. The list of impacted platforms includes Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, while Discord, WhatsApp, and YouTube Kids remain unaffected.
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Scot dies after surfing accident in Australia
The Aberdeen community is preparing to bid farewell to Calum McCombie, a 36-year-old local who tragically lost his life in a surfing accident off the coast of Frankston, Victoria, Australia. The incident occurred on October 22 during severe weather conditions, when McCombie’s surfboard snapped approximately 33 miles (54km) from Melbourne. Despite the swift response of rescue teams, who managed to retrieve both McCombie and his 43-year-old friend from the water, their lives could not be saved. McCombie’s funeral is set to take place on November 24, as announced by his family in a heartfelt social media tribute. ‘Calum will be sorely missed and be forever in our hearts,’ the statement read, reflecting the profound loss felt by those who knew him. The tragedy has left the Aberdeen community in mourning, as they remember a life cut short far from home.
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Meet Australia’s deadly-accurate ‘hired assassin’
Scott Boland, affectionately known as ‘Barrel’ since his teenage years, has emerged as one of Australia’s most reliable fast bowlers, defying expectations and carving out a remarkable career in cricket. Boland’s journey to the pinnacle of the sport is a testament to his resilience, discipline, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
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Roblox blocks children from chatting to adult strangers
Roblox, one of the world’s most popular gaming platforms, is rolling out mandatory age verification for users accessing its chat features as part of a significant expansion of its safety measures. Starting in December, accounts in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands will undergo age checks, with global implementation set for January. This move comes amid growing criticism and legal challenges in the U.S., where Roblox faces lawsuits in Texas, Kentucky, and Louisiana over child safety concerns. The platform, which averaged over 80 million daily players in 2024—40% of whom are under 13—has been accused of exposing young users to inappropriate content and interactions with adults. The new system uses facial estimation technology to estimate a user’s age through their device’s camera. Images are processed by an external provider and deleted immediately after verification. Users will be categorized into age groups, and chat access will be restricted to peers within similar age ranges, except for trusted connections. Under-13s will still require parental permission for private messages. Roblox’s Chief Safety Officer, Matt Kaufman, claims the technology is highly accurate, estimating ages within a one-to-two-year margin for users aged 5 to 25. The platform’s efforts have been welcomed by child safety advocates, though groups like ParentsTogether Action and UltraViolet are staging a virtual protest within Roblox, demanding stronger measures to protect children from online predators. The changes align with global regulatory trends, including the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mandates tech firms to prioritize child safety. Roblox’s initiative marks a significant step toward creating a safer digital environment for young users, with the company urging other platforms to adopt similar measures.
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‘It felt like God’s hand on my brain’ – the day England were humbled by teenager
The Ashes series, cricket’s most storied rivalry, has witnessed countless moments of brilliance and drama. Among these, Ashton Agar’s debut in the 2013 Ashes stands out as a remarkable chapter. At just 19 years old, Agar, an almost unknown spinner, was thrust into the spotlight in a manner that would etch his name into cricketing folklore.
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Jurors in high-profile Australian trial visit beach where murder victim found
In a significant development in the high-profile murder trial of Toyah Cordingley, jurors were taken to the remote Wangetti Beach in northern Queensland, where the 24-year-old’s body was discovered in 2018. The visit aimed to familiarize the jury with key locations in the case, though no official evidence was presented during the trip. The jury, consisting of ten men and two women, along with three backup jurors, accompanied the judge and barristers to the site, marking the second week of the trial. The tropical conditions prompted an unusual courtroom attire, with Justice Lincoln Crowley opting for a T-shirt, sports shorts, and trainers instead of traditional robes. The prosecution alleges that Rajwinder Singh, a 41-year-old former nurse, repeatedly stabbed Ms. Cordingley with a sharp object and buried her in a shallow grave, leaving her with ‘little or no hope of surviving.’ Singh, who fled to India shortly after the murder, denies the charges. The prosecution has presented circumstantial evidence, including DNA from a stick at the scene, which is 3.8 billion times more likely to belong to Singh than a random individual. Additionally, the movements of Ms. Cordingley’s phone after the killing reportedly matched those of Singh’s blue Alfa Romeo. The defense has yet to present its case but has described Singh as a ‘placid’ and ‘caring’ man who was in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time.’ The trial is set to resume in the conventional courtroom setting on Tuesday.