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City residents had accused council of giving ‘free rein’ to campaign promoting England flags Birmingham city council is seeking an injunction to stop members of an anti-migrant group from erecting flags, including union jack and St George’s flags, on public infrastructure across the city.A nationwide campaign to give prominence to the England flag, which resulted in thousands of St George’s crosses being flown from lamp-posts, roundabouts and other public infrastructure, is believed to have started last summer in Birmingham. Continue reading...

• Ollama has launched a new proxy that allows Claude Desktop to run open-weights models, including Qwen, DeepSeek, and Kimi. • This update follows a failed initial integration attempt and is designed to bypass the model restrictions that caused the first version to stall. • The release comes shortly after Ollama secured a $65 million funding round in July to expand the accessibility of open models.

• Democratic-controlled states have filed a lawsuit to block an executive order from President Donald Trump that seeks to limit mail-in voting for the upcoming midterm elections. • The legal challenge follows Trump's long-standing efforts to restrict mail voting, which he falsely claims contributed to his 2020 election loss. • This move is significant as Trump has attempted to assert federal authority over election rules and suggested that Republicans should oversee vote counting in Democratic districts.

As photojournalist sentenced to 15 years, rights groups warn law would turn civic engagement into security crimeIran has taken the first step towards criminalising contact with foreign media, in a move human rights groups have said attempts to “sever the entire Iranian society from the rest of the world”.For journalists, researchers and even ordinary citizens, the proposed law being discussed by Iranian lawmakers this month could make speaking to international audiences and groups a potential criminal act and restrict coverage of events such as January’s mass anti-regime protests. Continue reading...

The state department will revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, whose holders have sought or are now seeking asylumDonald Trump’s administration said on Monday it planned to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the US, marking its latest step in a sweeping immigration crackdown.A state department spokesperson said it was coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security “to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently”. Continue reading...

Prime minister will use national cabinet meeting to assuage premiers over new AI law as AEMO forecasts seven-fold rise in datacentre power useGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese will seek to use Wednesday’s high-stakes talks with premiers to quell growing unhappiness about national controls on datacentre developments, promising new approval laws will complement state rules.Faced with growing opposition from conservative governments in Queensland and the Northern Territory, Albanese will tell national cabinet he plans a major piece of legislation next year to ensure the economic benefits of AI are shared widely. Continue reading...

Attorney general considering appeal after justice Desmond Fagan knocks back terror order request for Mohommed Farhat who wrote ‘Fuk Israel’ on carsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales government could appeal a supreme court judge’s controversial decision to refuse its request for a terror order over a Sydney man convicted of writing “Fuk Israel” on cars and setting another vehicle alight in late 2024.Justice Desmond Fagan this week found disparaging Israel was “political comment” not antisemitism. He rejected the state’s application that Mohommed Farhat be subjected to a one-year extended supervision order under the Terrorism Act when released from prison. Continue reading...

• The rapid growth of AI is reshaping the European data center landscape, driving a shift in where infrastructure is developed. • New hyperscale projects are increasingly being constructed outside of traditional data center hotspots to accommodate expanding capacity needs. • This trend matters as it decentralizes digital infrastructure, potentially reducing pressure on power grids and land availability in saturated urban hubs.

• AI data centre developers in Europe are shifting away from major cities toward rural locations in regions like northern Sweden and Spain to secure cheaper energy and faster land access. • Data from DC Byte reveals that of nine proposed gigawatt-plus capacity projects, only one is planned near a major city (Paris), highlighting a broader trend toward decentralized infrastructure. • This shift is driven by the immense power requirements of AI, though developers are facing increasing opposition from local residents over environmental concerns.

• Pakistani authorities have petitioned the Supreme Court to review or withdraw a mandate requiring imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to undergo a medical examination at a private hospital. • Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that while the government does not object to Khan receiving medical care, it challenges the specific requirement to use a private facility over prison-regulated treatment. • The government argues that health issues should remain separate from political disputes and maintains that Khan will continue to be treated according to established prison rules.

Victorian court of appeal also to consider whether triple murder and attempted murder convictions should be quashedErin Patterson argues mushroom murder convictions should be quashed due to ‘catastrophic’ failure of justiceGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWelcome to day two of our live coverage of Erin Patterson’s appeals. We are expecting today’s hearing to begin at 10.15am.Yesterday, the Victorian court of appeal heard the seven grounds of appeal Patterson’s legal team is arguing against her convictions for three murders and one attempted murder. Continue reading...

Senator Jon Ossoff, who is up for re-election, came up with arguably the standout line of the midterm elections so farHello there,Jon Ossoff really struck a nerve. That much is clear. Continue reading...

• Primary elections are taking place on Tuesday across Florida, California, Wyoming, and Alaska, with Florida specifically seeking a successor for Governor Ron DeSantis. • In these contests, the four candidates receiving the most votes will advance to the November general election. • High-profile races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and governor are particularly crowded, with more than a dozen candidates competing in each.

Network wants to serve Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr after president sues over January 6 documentaryThe BBC is trying to subpoena Donald Trump’s children as it builds its defense against the president’s defamation lawsuit centered on a documentary on the January 6 insurrection.In a motion filed Friday, the BBC sought authorization to serve Trump’s two eldest children, Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, with subpoenas for testimony and their records on the events of 6 January 2021. Continue reading...

• Chinese AI models, including DeepSeek V4 Pro, Kimi K3, MiniMax H3, and DeepSeek V4 Flash, launched a major open-weight offensive in the summer of 2026. • This surge in open-source capabilities has caused significant panic within the U.S. AI industry, signaling a shift toward open weights as the mainstream development path. • The trend highlights a critical tension between accessibility and security, as open-weight models are more susceptible to jailbreak attacks and governance risks compared to closed-source models like those from Anthropic.

• The European Union is pursuing financial sovereignty by developing alternatives to US-dominated card networks through initiatives like the digital euro and private interoperability. • Two major payment ecosystems have emerged: EuroPA, which integrates solutions like MB WAY (Portugal), Bizum (Spain), and Blik (Poland), and EPI, which operates the Wero brand across Germany, France, and the Benelux region. • This strategic shift aims to secure payment autonomy for EU citizens both domestically and internationally, reducing reliance on non-European financial infrastructure.

• Millions of tourists, astronomers, and eclipse chasers are flocking to Spain to witness a total solar eclipse, seeking the clearest skies for the two minutes of totality. • While Spain offers the best view, tens of millions more people across western Europe—including the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland, and northern Italy—will experience a partial blockage of the sun. • The event is significant as it draws massive crowds to specific geographic paths to witness a rare celestial alignment.

• Former President Trump is exploring legal strategies to preserve key policy goals following adverse Supreme Court rulings regarding tariffs, birthright citizenship, and Federal Reserve independence. • Legal experts suggest these efforts do not represent outright defiance of the judiciary but are designed to test the boundaries and limits of the court's decisions. • The moves matter as they highlight a continuing tension between executive ambitions and judicial oversight over significant economic and immigration mandates.

• DeepSeek claims its refreshed V4-Flash model outperforms the V4-Pro preview in coding tasks while costing only a third of the price. • In a real-world test involving three coding jobs, V4-Flash proved to be the superior model in terms of performance. • Despite the lower per-token cost, V4-Flash consumed significantly more tokens than V4-Pro, resulting in nearly identical final bills.

Labor looks to negotiate with the Coalition to get several pieces of legislation through parliament. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGovernment listening to ‘money and power’ on gambling says independent MPKate Chaney, who was on the inquiry with the late Labor MP Peta Murphy that handed down the landmark ‘you win some, you lose more’ report on gambling harm, says so far it seems the talks between the Coalition and Labor on a gambling reform package are “disappointing”.In 2017, when the last round of partial restrictions came in, the money just moved around. And for example, gambling ads after 8:30 more than doubled, increased 131%. And I suspect that that’s what we’re going to see here too: is the money moving around.I think it is about the government listening to the money and the power, not the people. The gambling companies make big political donations. They are present lobbyists in this building. We’re hearing their talking points coming out of the Prime Minister’s mouth. And the media companies and the sports codes make a lot of money out of gambling too. Unfortunately, Australians pay the cost for that. And the average Australian household loses more in gambling than they pay for in electricity. So this is our blind spot.I think that that whole interview was pretty cringe. Let’s face it, the Prime Minister didn’t really cover himself with glory with that And it’s disturbing to hear that the the Japanese government has expressed some concerns about it.We’re talking about a a really special gift that the Japanese state has given to the country. And if I was the PM, I’d pick up the phone to the Japanese Prime Minister and apologise to her on on this one.When the the Prime Minister’s crude and dirty podcast banter is formally raised by the Japanese government. Anthony Albanese just has an embarrassed himself. He’s embarrassed Australia. This is now a a diplomatic incident because of the the appalling behaviour of the Prime Minister. Continue reading...

• Thai Deputy PM Anutin is advocating for stricter gun laws and increased checkpoints following a shocking school shooting in Nonthaburi. • The proposed measures include rigorous inspections and severe legal charges for individuals carrying firearms in public without official authorization. • This move aims to curb public violence and enhance school safety in response to the recent tragedy.

Exclusive: Hamish Falconer wants ‘sense of renewed pace’ in post-Brexit talks while staying within Labour’s red linesThe UK will move faster and be more ambitious on achieving closer ties with Europe under Andy Burnham’s government, his new chief post-Brexit negotiator has said..Hamish Falconer, the new cabinet minister in charge of the EU reset talks, said there was “room to be ambitious” within Labour’s red lines on Europe, which exclude reopening discussions on the single market and customs union, and he would look at the “art of the possible”. Continue reading...

Figure raises questions about deal with France despite UK ministers insisting repeat arrivals will be removedAlmost 50 asylum seekers deported using the “one in one out” scheme have been recorded as returning to the UK a second time, the Guardian has learned.It is believed that in addition to the 49 returnees detained by the Home Office, an unknown number are likely to have arrived in the UK undetected. Continue reading...

• Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar's military-backed government, has arrived in Thailand for an official visit. • The visit follows Hlaing's swearing-in as president in April, after phased elections held in December and January. • The trip is seen as an attempt to gain political legitimacy and rehabilitation, despite critics dismissing the recent elections as a sham to maintain military control.

• Former junta chief and current Myanmar president, installed in April after disputed elections, is visiting Thailand for the first time as a civilian leader. • The visit occurs as fighting between the Myanmar military and rebel factions spills over the border, impacting Thailand, which hosts millions of refugees. • Thailand is currently leading efforts to normalize relations with Myanmar both bilaterally and through the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

• Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar's military-backed government, has arrived in Thailand for an official visit to seek political legitimacy. • The visit follows Hlaing's appointment as president in April, following a series of phased elections held in December and January. • Critics and observers have dismissed these elections as a sham intended to consolidate military power under the guise of restoring civilian rule.

• Over 1,290 employees from frontier AI labs signed an open letter urging for a more paced approach to artificial intelligence development. • Nvidia established the Open Secure AI Alliance, notably excluding major industry players such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic from the initial launch. • Cybersecurity experts warned that while individual AI agent techniques are mundane, their autonomous speed and scale create a dangerous new class of threats.

• EU interior ministers held an emergency meeting to support Spain and ease diplomatic tensions following a crisis involving Morocco. • The gathering was prompted by a broad Europe-wide backlash against the migration policies implemented by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. • Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner emphasized that the meeting's primary goal was to stabilize the situation and provide collective backing to Spain.