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Exclusive: allowing firms to dodge biodiversity protections by paying into levy will harm nature and economy, say 100 experts in letterThe UK government has been accused of “rushing through” planning changes that could give developers permission to “trash” nature for as little as £1.A letter signed by more than 100 conservationists, scientists, celebrities and businesses, including the actor and writer Stephen Fry and the broadcaster Chris Packham, has urged the incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, to immediately halt the rollout of environmental delivery plans (EDPs). Continue reading...

• Scientists have developed a new theoretical framework that expands the application of thermodynamics to dynamic, ever-changing black holes. • Previously, these laws were primarily applicable to perfectly stable black holes, limiting the scope of astrophysical models. • This upgrade is significant as it allows for a deeper understanding of complex phenomena, including black hole mergers and the process of evaporation.

• Investigative reporter Ese Olumhense examines how former President Donald Trump's false claims regarding the 2020 election have triggered a surge in restrictive election crime laws. • The report details how these legislative efforts, fueled by the events surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach, are actively reshaping voter access across the United States. • This trend is significant as it highlights a systemic shift in how election integrity is defined and enforced, potentially limiting the ability of citizens to vote.

• On July 14, 2026, Donald Trump withdrew a proposal to implement a transit fee for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. • The decision follows discussions regarding the operational mechanics of other critical global waterways, including the Suez and Panama Canals. • This move is significant as it aims to reduce economic tension and avoid potential disruptions to global shipping and energy markets.

• A federal court dismissed a lawsuit filed against the IRS by plaintiffs associated with Donald Trump, ruling that the parties "acted in bad faith." • The judge described the legal action as a "sham lawsuit" designed to fleece taxpayers rather than address legitimate legal grievances. • The case centered on challenges to OMB rules regarding federal funding, which critics argued could destabilize nonprofits and allow political pressure over $1 trillion in annual funding.

• A federal judge issued a scathing ruling rejecting former President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). • The court characterized the legal action as an improper exercise in self-dealing, citing concerns over the defendants' actions as directed by the Department of Justice (DOJ). • The ruling emphasizes the critical need for an independent DOJ, referencing historical legislative consensus from both political parties to ensure impartial law enforcement.

Kathleen Williams sanctions president’s lawyers and says $10bn suit against IRS was brought for ‘improper purpose’A federal judge on Monday nullified an agreement the government reached with Donald Trump and his sons over the leak of his tax returns. The judge lambasted the government and president’s lawyers for using the judicial process to try to concoct a beneficial arrangement for the president.The ruling from US district judge Kathleen Williams in the southern district of Florida blocks a widely criticized arrangement the government and the president’s attorneys reached earlier this year to resolve a $10bn lawsuit by Trump and his sons over the leak of the president’s tax returns. The government never responded to the lawsuit and then announced it was settling the suit by creating a $1.8bn slush fund to compensate victims of “government weaponization” and giving the president, his family, and related entities immunity from tax audits. Continue reading...

A bipartisan group argue in lawsuit that $110bn merger would hurt competition and lead to thousands of job lossesA bipartisan group of US state attorneys general are seeking to block the $110bn merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery, arguing in a lawsuit filed on Monday that it would hurt competition and lead to higher prices for consumers.The coalition behind the lawsuit is led by the California attorney general, Rob Bonta, who has been a staunch critic of the merger since it was agreed to in February after a bidding war between David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance and Netflix. Continue reading...

Anthony Albanese will deliver a landmark speech on AI this week as MPs are torn between attracting datacentre investment and protecting the rights of creativesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesWhen Anna Funder stood before a pack of journalists at Parliament House this month, she presented herself not just as a writer but also a “victim of crime”.The Stasiland author was using the analogy to illustrate how technology companies have flagrantly “hoovered up” her literary works for their own profit. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Documents show $117,455.50 was spent in a single legal fight over laws rushed through after Bondi attackGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales government has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees to unsuccessfully defend constitutional challenges against protest laws that were expected to be struck down.The costs, outlined in documents obtained by Guardian Australia via freedom of information legislation, include $117,455.50 of taxpayers’ money on a single challenge to controversial public assembly restriction declaration (Pard) laws. Those laws were enacted following the Bondi beach terror attack and were in place during a now infamous rally against the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, in February. Continue reading...

• Pennsylvania's voting laws could undergo significant changes if Democrats secure a "trifecta" by winning control of the state Senate, state House, and the governorship in the 2026 midterms. • Current efforts for bipartisan election solutions have stalled, as a legislative advisory board meant to find common ground remains idle. • A Democratic sweep would allow Governor Josh Shapiro and the legislature to bypass current gridlock and prioritize new election policies.

• The $2 trillion global cryptocurrency market faces a growing security threat as quantum computing and AI breakthroughs accelerate the timeline for hackers to break current blockchain encryption. • In response to these risks, U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued executive orders aimed at strengthening the quantum capabilities of the United States. • To mitigate vulnerabilities, some blockchain developers and crypto firms are beginning the complex process of upgrading networks with quantum-resistant cryptography.

Ethics and integrity commission chief says overhaul is crucial to help restore trust in standardsAll lobbying of government ministers, aides and senior officials should be publicly declared – from WhatsApp chats to party conference meetings – in a fundamental shake-up of transparency laws, the government’s ethics watchdog has said.A review led by Doug Chalmers, the head of the ethics and integrity commission, has called for a new register to highlight who is lobbying, which policies they are seeking to influence and who in government they are meeting. Continue reading...

Suit stemmed from 2023 Post article that said bank with ties to the porn industry helped fund Trump’s media operationA federal judge in Florida has thrown out Donald Trump’s $3.8bn defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post over an article that said a bank with links to the pornography industry helped fund his fledgling social media operation.In a brief order granting summary judgment to the newspaper, Tampa district court judge Thomas Patrick Barber, a Trump appointee, said the Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) had “failed to present evidence that would allow a jury to find by clear and convincing evidence” that the Post acted with actual malice, the benchmark for such an action to succeed. Continue reading...

Duke of Sussex and other prominent figures sued Associated Newspapers alleging it sourced stories using unlawful methods• Prince Harry court case - latest updatesThe Duke of Sussex and six other prominent figures have lost their attempt to sue the publisher of the Daily Mail over claims it sourced stories using an array of unlawful methods over two decades.In a ruling that is likely to signal an end to new litigation relating to the phone-hacking scandal, the high court dismissed all the claims, stating the claimants had not proved information had been obtained unlawfully. Continue reading...

Passengers say they paid extra for outside views but were seated beside blank cabin walls insteadA federal judge on Monday rejected United Airlines’ bid to dismiss a lawsuit ⁠by passengers who complained they paid extra money to sit in window seats – only to discover their seats ⁠had no actual windows.US district judge ​James Donato in San Francisco rejected United’s defense that “window” referred to the location of a seat relative to the ⁠cabin wall and aisle, and the carrier also contended it never contractually promised that seats in the window position would have views outside. Continue reading...

• SBS's revenge action thriller *Agent Kim Reactivated* has achieved a 21.6% nationwide viewership rating in South Korea after only four episodes. • As of July 6, 2026, the series has also become a global hit on Netflix, ranking No. 1 in 26 different countries, including Japan, Thailand, and the UAE. • The show's rapid growth in popularity is driven by positive fan reception and strong performance across both traditional television and streaming platforms.

Queensland premier vows to imprison more youth offenders at party state conference. Follow today’s news liveDavid Crisafulli has vowed to imprison more youth offenders.In a keynote speech to the Liberal National party’s state conference on Sunday, the Queensland premier said his government would create and legislate a new offence by the end of the year, carrying a mandatory sentence – yet to be set – for repeat offenders who commit serious crimes while on bail.We’re heading in the right direction and we’ve heard from Queenslanders who are telling us to keep going, and we will with reforms to Labor’s weak bail laws.This is a further step to make already harsh bail laws harsher. Continue reading...

• Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Tehran for the second day of Supreme Leader Khamenei's funeral, with crowds reportedly larger than the previous day. • High-ranking officials, including the head of the IRGC and the Quds Force chief, attended the event where calls for Donald Trump's death were met with cheers. • Separately, Hamas announced it will stall for time in negotiations regarding Gaza's future and intends to reject any concessions.

• New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivered a nearly 13-minute address criticizing "blind patriotism" for ignoring systemic inequality and the nation's flaws. • Mamdani argued that America's greatest strength is its constant evolution and diversity, rather than a fixed identity. • The speech served as a critique of Donald Trump’s political movement, which Mamdani claims relies on a static notion of Americanism that marginalizes immigrants.

Fifty-six state branches want the laws reviewed, while gambling, Aukus and Palestine are also on the agendaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFifty-six Labor branches have passed motions to the New South Wales state conference calling for controversial anti-protest laws to be repealed or reviewed, with the entire left faction backing a motion for two of the laws to be repealed.Gambling reform, Aukus and Palestine were also among the top issues in motions submitted by branches to the conference, the last before the March election and which is key in informing policy. Continue reading...

• The US Men's National Team (USMNT) drew a record-breaking television audience for their World Cup victory over Bosnia. • The match attracted a combined average of over 30 million U.S. viewers, marking a historic peak for the team's visibility. • This viewership level places the event among the most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts of the year, rivaled only by the State of the Union address and NFL playoffs.

• The Israel Embassy in India faced social media backlash after posting a recruitment notice for a six-month unpaid Political Intern. • The role requires the selected candidate to monitor political developments, analyze legislation, and track geopolitical trends to support the embassy's Political Department. • Critics have questioned the ethics of the internship terms, specifically the lack of financial compensation for professional diplomatic work.

Scandal has engulfed the state party as Deeming resists calls to apologise to fellow MP Matthew Guy over an assault allegationA Liberal MP has launched an 11th-hour court challenge against her own party before a meeting to decide her fate after she made an assault allegation against a former leader.Moira Deeming has lodged a legal action against Victorian Liberal party state president, Brian Loughnane, which is listed to be heard in the Victorian supreme court on Friday morning. Continue reading...

Home Office assessment shows new limits on human rights route based on family ties could result in another 11,700 claims turned downMore than half of the people whose asylum and visa claims will be rejected under tightened human rights laws will continue to live in the UK, according to the Home Office’s own assessment.Documents released on Tuesday show that plans to set new limits on article 8 of the European convention on human rights are expected to result in another 11,700 people having their claims rejected. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court has loosened campaign finance laws by eliminating limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates. • The ruling is expected to primarily benefit Republicans, who initiated the legal challenge and rely more heavily on contributions from large donors. • Reform advocates, including Issue One's Michael Beckel, argue the decision follows a "disastrous" trend started by Citizens United that grants wealthy donors and special interests outsized influence.

Justices voted to overturn judgements issued by lower courts in favor of trans students who sued after being barred from competing in West Virginia and IdahoUS supreme court decisions – live updatesThe US supreme court has upheld laws in two conservative states excluding transgender girls and women from competing in female sports in a far-reaching ruling certain to impact trans rights throughout the US.The court’s nine justices voted to overturn previous judgements issued by lower courts in favor of two trans students who had sued after being barred from competing in West Virginia and Idaho respectively. Continue reading...

FBI veterans believe director may have flouted legal rules by prematurely divulging details of UFC attack plot inquiryKash Patel may have flouted legal constraints and the FBI’s disciplinary code in prematurely divulging arrests in an alleged plot to attack this month’s Ultimate Fighting Championship bout at the White House, bureau veterans have alleged. Continue reading...