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Good morning!
After two weeks in the U.S., I have a newfound appreciation for Australian coffee.
Not only was the coffee consistently terrible, but in some places, it cost $AU14.
Anyway, I can stop talking about my overseas trip now. (I'll probably bring it up again tomorrow.)
I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “Frankly outrageous and racist.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns’ description of leading One Nation candidate Stuart Bonds’ comments at a rally on Sunday. Bonds referenced a conspiracy theory that immigration will “replace” the Australian population.
The stat: 3,000. The approximate number of tarantulas that a group of men allegedly tried to smuggle out of Peru earlier this month. Local wildlife authorities intercepted the men at the airport in Lima.
The big question:
How often do you drink coffee?
Yesterday’s results: 85% of you support a four-day work week, 9% don’t, and 6% aren’t sure. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [3,039 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 and a half years behind bars. The British actor and comedian was found guilty last week of raping a woman in 2009, as well as sexually assaulting female TV and radio workers between 2004 and 2009. He was acquitted on two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. In the judge’s sentencing, he labelled Brand a “sexual predator”. Justice Joel Bennathan said: “The whole episode reeks of casual disrespect and your belief that fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live.” For more on the trial of Russell Brand, listen to TDA’s podcast episode on it here.
Embattled retailer David Jones says it’s seen “record levels” of in-store and online sales in the days since the department store’s collapse. The 188-year-old company went into voluntary administration on Thursday, after years of mounting losses and following a breakdown of talks with its landlords. The announcement prompted an outpouring of support from consumers, leading to soaring sales and foot traffic. Receivers FTI Consulting said the interest has reinforced “the public’s love for David Jones and support for an iconic Australian brand”.
Together with AAP.
Recommendation of the day
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I’ve got 1 minute
NASA is recruiting a new class of astronauts who could help build and eventually live and work at its planned moon base.
The base is planned for the moon’s South Pole, with NASA aiming to establish a sustained human presence there in the coming years.
Background
This year, NASA announced a three-phase plan to establish a permanent base near the moon’s South Pole.
The first phase will focus on research and testing, with NASA and its commercial partners sending robotic missions and rovers to explore the lunar surface.
The second phase will see astronauts make more regular visits to the moon and begin building infrastructure, including power systems and habitats.
The final phase involves establishing a sustained human presence, with astronauts living and working on the moon for longer periods.
Candidates
NASA is now recruiting a new group of astronauts to train and participate in its three-phase plan.
Their work will include testing new spacecraft and habitats, developing technology and helping prepare the infrastructure needed for a permanent lunar base.
Successful candidates could also join crews living and working on the moon, with future missions to Mars also part of NASA’s long-term plans.
“The people we select could walk on the moon, live and work at the Moon Base, and help pioneer the systems and operations that will ultimately carry crews to Mars.” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and meet one of several education or experience requirements.
These include a master’s degree in a relevant science or engineering field, a qualifying medical doctorate, or specialised test pilot training.
Applications close on 3 December, with NASA expecting to announce its final selections by late 2027.
The successful candidates will then undergo around two years of training before becoming eligible for spaceflight assignments.
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, features editor Emma explains the dangers facing delivery drivers. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.
💶 Could there be a class action against a data centre company? You can sign up to TDA Finance here to make sure the explainer is in your inbox on Wednesday morning.
Good Finds
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I’ve got 2 minutes
The CEO of one of the world’s biggest tech companies has been romantically linked to a suspected Chinese spy.
International media reports Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, had a relationship with a tech executive the U.S. suspects of spying for the Chinese Government.
While the Nvidia CEO has not publicly confirmed that relationship, he has admitted to being unfaithful to his wife.
In response, Nvidia’s board said it will launch an independent investigation, and members of the U.S. Congress have asked Jensen Huang to brief them on the relationship.
Nvidia
Nvidia is a U.S. tech company that started out making graphics cards for video games. It now makes the computer chips used to power most of the world’s AI systems.
It is the second most valuable company in the world, behind Apple, and is currently valued at $US4.5 trillion ($AU6.6 trillion).
Since 2022, the U.S. has restricted which Nvidia chips can be sold to China, over concerns they could strengthen its military and technology capabilities.
Trump
Nvidia and Huang have built a close relationship with the Trump administration since the 2024 election.
Nvidia donated to Trump’s inauguration celebrations and the new White House ballroom, and Trump appointed Huang to his science and technology advisory council in March.
Affair
On 29 October, The New York Times (NYT) reported that U.S. intelligence officials believe Alice Huang, an executive at Megaspeed (a customer of Nvidia), is a Chinese spy.
The NYT cited unnamed officials as saying she had grown “close” to Jensen.
A day later, China’s foreign ministry said the reports were “unsubstantiated” and “nothing but smears against China”.
On 6 November, the Financial Times reported that internal U.S. government documents described Jensen and Alice’s relationship as romantic.
On Sunday (U.S. time), Jensen sent an email to Nvidia employees confirming he had been “unfaithful” to his wife, though he did not name Alice.
In a separate statement, Nvidia’s board said Jensen would support and cooperate with an independent investigation into the reports that he was a “target of a foreign intelligence effort”.
Nvidia’s board says it has no reason to believe any “secrets were compromised”.
Govt response
Three senior Republican lawmakers have asked Huang to attend a private meeting to discuss the relationship and potential espionage.
Separately, Democratic Senator Chris Coons said his party would investigate “the Trump Administration, Chinese spies, and AI billionaires” when it takes power in January.
After the initial report, Trump said: “I have a lot of respect for Jensen. I didn’t know about the specific thing.”
What’s next
Jensen Huang will remain as CEO while the investigation is underway.
Trump is taking a trip to Asia next week. When asked whether Jensen Huang will join him, Trump said: “I don’t know, but I’d certainly take him.”
The President also said he believes Jensen “probably has an excuse for” the relationship with Alice.
Reporting by Adam Wan.
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Give me some good news
Archaeologists in Pompeii have opened a wardrobe that sat sealed for nearly 2,000 years, revealing a rare snapshot of life in the Roman city before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.
The cabinet was found in a house on one of Pompeii’s busiest streets and held a pair of tweezers, a perfume bottle, an incense burner, a bronze lamp, and a stash of 38 coins. The standout find was a necklace of at least 24 tiny charms, including deities, hands and bunches of grapes. Romans often gave such necklaces to children for protection. Officials from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii say the “fragments bring us closer to their daily life”.
Reporting by Emma Gillespie.
TDA titbit
Photo: Facebook
In perhaps the biggest win of the Democrats’ blue wave at the U.S. midterm elections last week, one candidate won despite having suspended his campaign two months ago.
Eric Armstrong paused his election bid for a seat in Iowa’s lower house in September due to health concerns, but never removed his name from the ballot.
Despite dropping out, he still won the seat with 55% of the vote.
Reporting by Lucy Tassell.
TDA asks
