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Four-Person Custom Bicycle Challenges Australia in Charity Ride

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According to ABC News on October 3, 2025, a custom four-person bicycle named Ruby has recently captured the attention of Australia’s cycling community. Four female teachers are riding the bike from Perth in Western Australia to Sydney, covering more than 4,000 kilometers to raise funds for the suicide prevention charity Gotcha-4-Life.

Ruby was designed and manufactured by a company in Oregon, USA. It measures 3.8 meters in length, weighs 33 kilograms, and features four seats, eight pedals, and a 22-speed gear system controlled by the rider at the rear. Its wheels have a special 40-spoke design to distribute the weight from four riders pedaling simultaneously, ensuring stability.

The bike was originally used in a 2023 charity cycling race in Canada and is extremely rare, with only a few in the world. Due to its large size and unique structure, Ruby faces numerous challenges while riding. Louise Ginn, riding in the front, said that turning is difficult due to the large turning radius, and crosswinds are hard to control, requiring full-body tension to maintain balance. The four-person design means each rider’s position affects the others, so they typically do not switch seats.

Maintenance during the long journey is also challenging. Ginn said they have already replaced three rear wheels, and the chain and gears have been damaged by the combined pedaling effort. One spoke even broke. Many bike shop technicians were surprised and unsure how to repair such a rare bike, sometimes needing to move it outside the shop for repairs.

This cross-country charity ride tests the riders’ endurance while attracting public attention. The four teachers hope that Ruby’s unique appearance and the long-distance challenge will raise awareness and support for suicide prevention.

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ACCC Sues Microsoft for Misleading Australian Consumers

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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) recently filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, accusing the company of misleading approximately 2.7 million Australian personal and household users after integrating the AI assistant Copilot into Microsoft 365 subscription plans on October 31, 2024.

The ACCC stated that Microsoft’s promotion only informed users that they would need to accept the new Copilot-inclusive plan and pay a higher fee, or cancel their subscription. It did not clearly indicate that users could retain the original “Classic Plan” without Copilot. This option was only presented when users started the cancellation process, leading many consumers to upgrade or cancel without full knowledge.

Microsoft responded that it will carefully review the ACCC’s claims, emphasizing that consumer trust and transparency are priorities and that it will cooperate with regulators to ensure all practices comply with legal and ethical standards.

The ACCC is seeking court orders, including fines, injunctions, consumer compensation, and litigation costs. Experts say that if Microsoft is found guilty of misleading behavior, it could face significant fines and set an important precedent for transparency in subscription services and AI promotion globally.

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Australian Government Refuses Copyright Exemption for AI Training

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The Australian government recently stated it will not grant copyright exemptions to AI companies, prohibiting the use of local creative works for AI model training without authorization. This position responds to opposition from the creative industries to the Productivity Commission’s proposal, which suggested that allowing AI to perform “text and data mining” could potentially generate up to AUD 116 billion in economic growth.

The government emphasized that copyright protection remains a cornerstone for safeguarding creators’ income and the creative ecosystem. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland noted that while Australia will explore adjustments to AI and copyright laws, it will not currently consider any exemption for AI training. She also revealed a dedicated taskforce has been established to assess AI’s potential impact on the creative industry and economy, seeking to balance innovation with protection of creators’ rights.

Creators and artists welcomed the move, saying it prevents large tech companies from exploiting copyrighted content without compensation. However, some tech companies and industry observers warned it may slow AI development and place Australia at a disadvantage in the global AI competition.

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Jacinta Nampijinpa Price Defends Herself in Federal Court Defamation Case

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Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price recently appeared in the Federal Court in Darwin to defend herself regarding a press release she issued in July 2024.

The press release accused Central Land Council (CLC) CEO Lesley Turner of losing support among colleagues and called for a leadership change to ensure the council could more effectively represent Indigenous community interests.

During two days of cross-examination, Price was questioned by lawyers on whether she had adequately verified the claims in the press release. She denied that the claims were false or maliciously defamatory and emphasized that her statements were based on information and reports available at the time. Turner’s lawyers pointed out that Price had previously sent letters accusing the CLC of not giving her the opportunity to respond during the “Voice to Parliament” debates and questioned whether her actions were contradictory.

The court will examine whether the press release constitutes defamation, whether it is protected under public interest, and whether the senator followed reasonable verification standards. Both parties are expected to make closing submissions next Tuesday, after which the judge will make a ruling.

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