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Decline in clearing of trees and shrubs offset by sharp jump in clearing of non-woody vegetationFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlmost 90 rugby league fields’ worth of woody habitat were bulldozed in New South Wales every day in 2024, according to new government data which shows the state has failed to rein in high rates of clearing.Clearing of vegetation across the state increased by 16% in 2024, reaching 81,293 hectares (200,879 acres) in total – an area more than 275 times the size of the Sydney CBD. The increase was due to a sharp jump in clearing of non-woody vegetation, up 70% on the previous year. Continue reading...

New report denounces Havana and claims ‘campaign of subversion’ has infiltrated highest levels of US governmentAs part of the Trump administration’s continuing attack on left-leaning groups, the US state department has listed several activists and organizations as “front groups and fellow travelers” for Cuba, including Hasan Piker and Amazon Labor Union founder Chris Smalls.In a 100-page report released on Monday, the state department denounces Cuba as the “capital of 21st-century communism”, accusing the Cuban government of carrying out a “campaign of subversion” that has “infiltrated the highest reaches of the US government, recruited and cultivated generations of American activists [and] backed an unprecedented wave of leftwing terrorism on American soil”. Continue reading...

HHS failed to respond to Foia request following claims of fraud against Somali childcare providers and DemocratsCivil rights groups have sued the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) after the agency failed to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request regarding the Trump administration’s restrictions on federal childcare and family assistance following claims of fraud against Somali childcare providers and Democratic state officials.The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Illinois, the ACLU of Colorado, the National Women’s Law Center, and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, are seeking correspondence between federal officials and far right social media influencer Nick Shirley. Continue reading...

• BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) shares are trading lower today due to a broader decline in the resource sector and weakening sentiment surrounding iron ore. • The stock is under pressure from concerns over Chinese steel demand and a 0.51% dip in copper prices, both of which are critical earnings drivers for the company. • This volatility is part of a complex 2026 market backdrop influenced by US monetary policy, Chinese economic activity, and energy market disruptions.

Exclusive: Grants are part of controversial package criticised as misuse of public money to influence European politicsDonald Trump’s state department intends to allocate $12m to organisations in the UK founded by the prominent Conservatives Jacob Rees-Mogg and Toby Young, the Guardian can reveal.The intended grants, revealed in US government documents, are part of a package of support for European groups viewed favourably by the Trump administration. Some former US officials have criticised the funding as a misuse of public money to seek influence over foreign politics. Continue reading...

Aid workers are first known people to quarantine at facility, which sparked huge opposition in Kenya Seven American aid workers who had been in Congo to fight the Ebola outbreak are quarantining at a new isolation facility in ⁠Kenya after the US government introduced travel ⁠restrictions, the head of a US charity ​employing them told Reuters.The aid workers are the first known people to quarantine at the facility, which has sparked huge opposition in Kenya and is at the heart of a legal case in which a court has ordered the work to be ⁠suspended. Construction continued however, according to US officials and satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters. Continue reading...

Many hoarders are scared to seek help but one UK housing association is taking a more empathetic approachAt one end of the table sits Tony*, who showers at his local leisure centre in Birkenhead every day. His landlord won’t fix his bathroom because of his hoarding. Then there’s Sarah*, who ended up homeless with her three teenagers after their landlord evicted them because of hoarding. In her new home the problem has started again, but she says she’s petrified to ask for help in case she loses her property.Sian Cowley, 35, who has struggled with hoarding for decades, says: “I’ve lived without central heating for two years. A lot of us live without the basics like hot water, heating and cooking because we are too scared to get people in to do repairs because of the threat of eviction.” Continue reading...

• New York Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted the first state-wide moratorium on large-scale data center construction, delivering a significant blow to the AI industry. • The move comes as AI companies intensify their efforts to influence policymaking, including the April launch of a bipartisan PAC funded by voluntary employee contributions. • This regulatory setback highlights the growing tension between rapid AI infrastructure expansion and state-level governance regarding land use and energy.

Lawsuit alleges administration coordinated with online surveillance groups to ‘criminalize solidarity with Palestine’Mahmoud Khalil filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Trump administration officials and several pro-Israel groups, accusing them of conspiring to target him and others as punishment for their support of Palestinian rights.The former Columbia University graduate student became the face of the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestine speech after he was detained last year. A permanent US resident, Khalil is also fighting in court against the government’s effort to deport him. Continue reading...

• The Oxford Vaccine Group has launched the world's first Phase I clinical trial for a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo ebolavirus. • The initiative is being supported by India's Serum Institute to develop a viable immunization strategy against this specific strain. • This trial is critical for expanding global preparedness against Ebola outbreaks and developing targeted vaccines for diverse virus variants.

In six months last year, more than 2,000 such complaints were made to eSafetyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA new report by Australia’s online safety regulator has found “significant gaps” in how major tech platforms tackle online sexual extortion and child sexual exploitation, as “reports of this abuse continue to rise”.The findings come from eSafety’s latest transparency report, examining how tech companies – including Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Snap, Discord and WhatsApp – are addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse. Continue reading...

• The White House has appointed Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb to lead a new government study group focused on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFOs. • Loeb intends to apply the same scientific rigor and unbiased analysis to the study of UAPs as he does in his established field of astrophysics. • This appointment signals a shift toward a more formal, academic approach to investigating unexplained aerial phenomena within the U.S. government.

• Citigroup Inc. is preparing for its next earnings cycle amidst a complex macroeconomic environment and a broad global banking footprint. • The company is currently undergoing a significant organizational restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiency and simplifying its business model. • These strategic shifts are critical for investors as they determine the bank's ability to manage costs and increase profitability in a volatile market.

Image of man in underwear, blindfold and bound to iron rod has been widely shared on social mediaMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesAn Israeli soldier’s photo of a Palestinian man from Gaza stripped to his underwear, blindfolded and bound face-down to an iron rod corroborates extensive reporting on Israeli torture of Palestinians in detention and itself may constitute a war crime, rights groups have said.The image was shared on a now-deleted personal social media account, with the Hebrew-language caption “good morning”. It was brought to wider public attention by a Palestinian writer and activist who goes by Tamer. Continue reading...

• South Korea began enforcing a new law on Tuesday that allows for steep punitive damages against news outlets and social media influencers who spread false information. • Journalist groups have raised alarms that the legislation could invite state censorship and chill public discourse by penalizing critical reporting. • The law arrives amid high political polarization, with critics citing figures like Yoon who have used unsubstantiated election fraud claims to rally conservative supporters.

• South Korea has implemented a new law targeting "fake news" following a surge in online misinformation, including false claims of Chinese interference in the electoral system after the failed 2024 martial law attempt. • Under the new regulations, repeat offenders whose content is ruled illegal by the courts can face significant financial penalties of up to 1 billion won (€573,000). • Journalists' groups have raised concerns that the law could be weaponized to stifle press freedom and suppress legitimate reporting through legal intimidation.

• Over 100 international organizations are calling for stricter AI safety measures to protect children, arguing that AI companies—rather than parents—should bear the primary responsibility for safety. • The demand comes ahead of an upcoming United Nations summit, where the groups aim to influence global policy and regulatory frameworks regarding artificial intelligence. • This initiative highlights a growing concern over the potential risks AI poses to minors, including exposure to harmful content and data privacy violations.

• South Korea began enforcing a new law on Tuesday that allows for steep punitive damages against news outlets and social media influencers who spread false information. • The legislation targets "fake news" by imposing significant financial penalties on those found to be disseminating misinformation. • Journalist groups have raised alarms, warning that the law could invite government censorship and chill public discourse.

• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published "The Mills Review," a comprehensive report detailing the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on retail financial services. • The review highlights a systemic shift from traditional human-led models toward AI-enabled, continuous, and delegated services, specifically emphasizing the role of "agentic AI." • The report advocates for the development of a trusted, public-interest AI-enabled financial capability service to ensure consumers are protected and supported during this transition.

• A coalition of 11 environmental groups has formed a legal alliance to end bottom trawling in the European Union's protected marine areas. • The group argues that while strict nature laws exist, lax enforcement allows heavy nets to continue damaging seabeds within Natura 2000 sites. • Formal complaints have already been filed with the EU Commission against six nations: France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Hundreds of masked members of the white supremacist organization marched and chanted in the US capitalHundreds of masked men carrying banners, including the Confederate flag, marched through Washington DC on the Fourth of July, the 250th anniversary of the US’s inception.The group appeared to be led by Thomas Rousseau, founder of the neo-fascist, white supremacist organization Patriot Front. Members of the group wore white masks and gathered in front of DC’s Union Station. They later marched towards Capitol Hill, WTOP reported. Continue reading...

• Global central banks are redefining reserve management strategies to prepare for a shifting financial system and a potential move away from U.S. dollar dominance. • The World Bank and central banks are increasingly integrating AI to accelerate document analysis and extract insights from unstructured data to improve policy decision-making. • AI-powered supervisory technologies are becoming critical for monitoring faster payment systems and digital financial services, especially within emerging economies.

• A new Large Language Model (LLM) called Flint has been developed to combat "groupthink" by providing a wider variety of responses to open-ended questions. • Unlike mainstream LLMs that often produce predictable or obvious answers, Flint is specifically trained to offer more diverse and creative suggestions. • This development matters as it pushes chatbot technology away from homogenized outputs, potentially improving the utility of AI for brainstorming and discovery.

Zoe Watts and Amanda Stanhope launched network after being repeatedly assaulted by partners while unconsciousTwo women who were drugged and raped by their partners while they were unconscious have said hundreds of people – including about 80 in the UK alone – have come forward to a support group for victims of the crime.Zoe Watts and Amanda Stanhope, who were both repeatedly assaulted by their partners while unconscious, are calling for tighter laws to stop men sharing images and videos of sexual assaults and rape online. Continue reading...

• The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has launched a financial investigation into a now-defunct far-right political group within the European Union. • Rather than focusing on political ideology or debate, the probe specifically targets the group's balance sheets and the potential misuse of funds. • This action signifies a shift toward using legal and financial accountability to dismantle far-right organizational structures in Europe.

• Frasers Group has agreed to sell 100% of its interest in Sports Direct Malaysia to its strategic partner, MAP Active. • The deal is part of a broader effort to streamline operations and unlock efficiencies across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. • This transaction matters as it deepens the existing collaboration between the two companies to strengthen their regional market presence.

Law comes into effect that critics fear will further erode rights of Uyghurs and Tibetans, as well as allow Beijing to pursue dissidents abroadA new ethnic unity law has come into effect in China despite warnings from Taiwan, the United Nations and rights groups that it could threaten freedoms, especially for minorities.The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress aims to forge a “shared” national identity among ethnic groups, for example by strengthening the status of Mandarin as the official language. But overseas campaigners have argued it will further degrade the rights of ethnic minorities, such as Uyghurs and Tibetans, that Beijing is accused of persecuting. Continue reading...

• Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini exhibit a "groupthink" tendency, often producing predictable patterns rather than true randomness, such as frequently selecting the number 7 when asked for a random digit. • A new startup is developing technology to break these repetitive behavioral grooves and improve the diversity and unpredictability of AI outputs. • This issue matters because systemic biases and predictability in LLMs can limit creativity and lead to skewed results in data generation and problem-solving.