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Some rental platforms encourage hopeful tenants to share ‘excessive’ amount of information, Consumer Policy Research Centre review findsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSo-called “RentTech” companies may be circumventing new Victorian laws designed to protect tenants’ personal data by asking for information outside the rental application process, a review as found.The Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) identified rental platforms that encouraged hopeful tenants to share an “excessive” amount of personal information, or asked them questions that were “completely outside” the new rules. Continue reading...

• A New York Fed report indicates that consumers are increasingly concerned about their personal finances and job security. • Federal Reserve policymakers are currently maintaining the benchmark overnight interest rate in the 3.50%-3.75% range to combat inflation that exceeds their 2% target. • These economic pressures create uncertainty for borrowers and investors regarding whether interest rates will rise or fall.

• The luxury retail sector in the Asia Pacific region is integrating artificial intelligence to transform product discovery, personalization, and purchasing decisions. • AI-powered shopping advisors and digital clienteling tools are being deployed to redefine the premium shopping experience for high-net-worth consumers. • This shift matters as it allows luxury brands to scale hyper-personalized services and improve client engagement in a highly competitive digital landscape.

• The luxury travel industry is shifting from traditional five-star hospitality toward an "Ultra-Private Luxury Travel Experiences Market" focused on extreme exclusivity and personalization. • This emerging trend emphasizes complete guest control over the journey, prioritizing unmatched privacy and bespoke services over standardized high-end amenities. • The shift matters as affluent travelers increasingly seek secluded, tailor-made environments to escape public visibility and conventional tourism.

Reform MP seeks to heap pressure on Tory leader amid confusion around details of meeting with Giorgia MeloniRobert Jenrick has accused Kemi Badenoch of telling “a pack of lies” about her meeting with the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, as he launched a deeply personal attack on his former boss.The Reform UK MP sought to heap pressure on the Conservative leader amid confusion about whether Meloni had used a meeting in Rome with Badenoch to urge her to “be her own woman” and resist doing a deal with his party. Continue reading...

Even products labeled ‘eco’, ‘green’ or ‘natural’ can contain dangerous compounds including PfasCommon personal care products widely contain unlabeled toxic chemicals, results from a new peer-reviewed study suggest. The testing of more than 110 items ranging from shampoo to baby lotions found evidence of unlabeled toxic chemicals in about 85%.Many contained multiple ingredients known to be carcinogens or health hazards, and even 26% of products labeled “eco”, “green” or “natural” contained at least one dangerous compound. The products averaged more than three times as many chemicals than were listed on labels. Continue reading...

• Merck and Moderna announced Wednesday that a personalized mRNA-based cancer vaccine successfully extended the lifespan of melanoma patients in a large, late-stage trial. • The companies intend to present the trial data at an upcoming international medical meeting to begin discussions with regulators regarding official filing submissions for approval. • This development is significant as it demonstrates the potential of personalized mRNA technology to treat aggressive cancers more effectively than traditional methods.

Former 2GB and 2UE radio broadcaster is facing 22 indecent assault and sexual touching charges. Jones, 85, has pleaded not guiltyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlan Jones allegedly kissed his driver, a young man, inside a walk-in wardrobe in James Packer’s personal suite at the Crown Towers hotel in Melbourne, a court has been told.Complainant C said he and a friend went for a drink in Jones’s room when they were visiting Melbourne for a sporting event and they knew it was “nice” because it was Packer’s personal suite. Continue reading...

James Green’s oyster company owns a chunk of Whitstable’s shoreline but success has not brought affection from residentsThe clink of glasses and the lapping of the tide was punctuated by giggling toddlers and the slurp of oysters at tables populated by people gently sizzling on a baking day on the Kent seaside.But James Green, of the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company, had the demeanour of a man who had found grit in his mollusc. “I don’t like to use the term but it is nimbyism,” he said. “Why did it become personal? I don’t know really. Because we’re a family business, it’s a relatively small town?” Continue reading...

Loyalist sworn in after Senate voted narrowly in favor of his confirmation Saturday morningTodd Blanche has been sworn as US attorney general, cementing Donald Trump’s installation of his former personal attorney in charge of the Department of Justice.Blanche, who has been serving as acting attorney general since April, was confirmed in his new position during a ceremony at the White House on Monday. Continue reading...

Chloe Moffat, 26, killed herself after disciplinary proceedings which coroner found be to be flawedThe Treasury “materially contributed” to the death of Chloe Moffat, a 26-year-old personal assistant who took her own life after facing disciplinary proceedings, a coroner has found.Anna Crawford also found there was a risk of future deaths within the civil service from flawed handling of disciplinary proceedings. She said she would send a prevention of future deaths report to the head of the civil service, the Treasury, and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas). Continue reading...

• Singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile has announced the rescheduling of her upcoming tour dates across the U.K. and Europe. • The artist stated she has "no choice" but to postpone the performances due to unspecified "personal circumstances." • This sudden change disrupts the planned international itinerary, leaving fans awaiting new dates for the postponed shows.

Government ‘urgently’ identifying men convicted in historic cases who could be freed in scheme loopholeUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham’s government is “urgently” identifying any grooming gang perpetrators who may still be eligible for early prison release after concerns were raised about a potential loophole in the system.The prime minister has “personally intervened” after men convicted of assaulting children in Bradford were expected to be freed from prison early despite a promise earlier this week that they would remain behind bars. Continue reading...

California governor and wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, release 2022-2024 filings amid Trump investigationGavin Newsom and his wife made from $1.7m to $2m annually from 2022 through 2024, and paid about half a million a year in federal and state taxes, according to tax returns released by his office.The California Democratic governor’s office released more than 700 pages of tax filings spanning four years for reporters to review, offering a window into Newsom’s finances as he prepares to leave office and considers a 2028 presidential bid. Newsom’s office did not release returns for 2025, because the couple filed for an extension and will complete those returns in October. Continue reading...

• Indonesia is experiencing a revival of authoritarian and strongman politics, driven by the rise of personalistic political parties that prioritize individual leaders over institutionalized competition. • This shift undermines the country's democratic framework by displacing structured electoral processes in favor of loyalty to powerful political figures. • The trend is significant because it suggests that democratic backsliding is not merely the result of individual presidential agendas, but a systemic evolution of the party system.

Robert Assaf separately tells anti-corruption inquiry money funnelled through lobbying firm to create ‘maximum benefit from a tax perspective’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA group of young conservative Liberal power brokers accused of soliciting illegal donations used some of the funds to pay for a bucks night, one of its members has told a corruption inquiry.The Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Friday heard again from Robert Assaf, who this week was the first witness from the conservative right Liberal factional group the Reformers to give evidence. Continue reading...

• The European Union is implementing new salary transparency rules to combat a gender pay gap where women earn an average of 11.1% less per hour than men. • Several major economies, including Germany, France, Spain, Austria, and the Netherlands, have missed the deadline to put implementing legislation into force. • Brussels has signaled that infringement proceedings may follow for countries that fail to comply with the transparency mandates.

Hackers access Australian customers’ names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and some bank account details, company saysOrigin Energy customers’ addresses, phone numbers and partial bank account data have been accessed in a hack, the company has confirmed.The company has 4.8m customer accounts in Australia, providing electricity, natural gas, LPG, and internet services to homes and businesses. Continue reading...

Royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion hears from professor whose office was occupied by protesters Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Jewish professor has told the royal commission into antisemitism the University of Melbourne needs to show it doesn’t “tolerate misbehaviour” after the expulsion of two pro-Palestine student activists who occupied his office was overturned.Steven Prawer, a professor of physics, said on Tuesday that he had not known at the time if it was a “terrorist attack”. Continue reading...

• MHProNews is drafting a report titled “American Freedom and Housing at 250” to coincide with the United States' 250th anniversary. • The analysis utilizes research from R. J. Rummel on democide and Thomas Sowell’s critiques of big government to argue that the modern regulatory state has stifled prosperity. • A primary focus is the "man-made" U.S. housing crisis, which the publication attributes to restrictive zoning laws and financing barriers that prevent affordable homeownership.

• HTF Market Intelligence has released a comprehensive study on the Asia Pacific Personal Luxury Goods Market, forecasting trends from 2025 to 2032. • The report highlights a shift toward data-driven strategies, noting that industry giants like LVMH and Kering SA can no longer rely solely on historical sales data to maintain competitiveness. • This evolution matters as the luxury sector becomes increasingly competitive, requiring brands to leverage real-time insights to capture the booming Asia Pacific consumer base.

• India has emerged as the leader in AI adoption within the Asia Pacific region, according to the 16th annual Adobe AI and Digital Trends Report published on June 25. • A significant 60% of Indian consumers expressed a desire to build their own personal AI agents to manage complex tasks. • This trend highlights a shift toward "agentic AI," where systems move beyond simple responses to autonomously executing sophisticated workflows.

Buckingham Palace says move is bid to increase ‘clarity and accessibility’ relating to monarchy’s financesKing Charles will become the first head of state to reveal their personal tax bill in what the palace says is a bid to enhance transparency around royal finances.Charles, 77, will publish his financial details as his royal household seeks to increase “clarity and accessibility” around the monarchy’s finances by producing a new report on the subject. Continue reading...

The process to renew Daca immigration status used to take a few weeks – now it drags on for monthsIt’s been six months since Claudia first applied to renew her US immigration status – a process that, for the last 14 years, would only take a few weeks.But now, the prolonged delay has put her life on hold. Claudia, who moved to the US when she was four, has maintained legal status as a “Dreamer” with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) program, which was created in 2012 to protect undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children from deportation. Continue reading...

Ben Black’s lawyers deny relationship with disgraced financier, but DoJ records reveal years of interactionsSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailBen Black, the head of a little-known government investment agency funded by billions of dollars from US taxpayers, had personal and business ties to Jeffrey Epstein, according to emails and business filings released by the Department of Justice.His father, Leon Black, had once been the disgraced financier’s highest paying client – calling on the convicted sex offender for tax advice and to orchestrate payments to women, according to the New York Times and Bloomberg. Continue reading...

Senate committee also hears Murray Watt needed personal security after sending the union into administrationGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government has paid millions of dollars in personal protection for the administrators of the CFMEU, and had to organise security for minister Murray Watt after he introduced the legislation that placed the union into administration, it has been revealed.Under questioning from Liberal senator Jane Hume in the Senate committee on education and employment legislation, it was revealed that the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) has paid millions of dollars to keep the administrators safe. Continue reading...

• French philosopher, sociologist, and former Resistance fighter Edgar Morin has passed away at the age of 105, having lived from 1921 to 2026. • A pioneer of "complex thought," Morin's intellectual work reshaped modern approaches to education, knowledge, and human understanding across global platforms. • His legacy is highlighted through his significant contributions to the intellectual circles of Paris and his extensive global work with UNESCO.

Phone company launched by Donald Trump’s family says names and contact details appear to be affected, but not credit card or banking informationA phone company launched by Donald Trump’s family business is investigating a potential security flaw on its website that appears to have exposed the personal details of an estimated 27,000 people who sought to buy a gold-coloured smartphone.Trump Mobile said in a statement that it was investigating the issue – “with the assistance of independent cybersecurity professionals” – in which the full names, addresses and phone numbers of people who filled out preorder forms appeared to be exposed. Continue reading...