Spread

Whistleblower suggests internal security services deployed spyware from 2017 against key domestic and foreign targetsA former member of Morocco’s domestic intelligence service has helped to provide an unprecedented insight into how the north African state used hacking software – including Pegasus spyware – to target journalists, human rights defenders, French politicians and Spanish cabinet ministers and police officers.Pegasus, which is manufactured by the Israel-based NSO Group, allows its operator to access everything on a target’s mobile phone, including emails, text messages and photographs. It can also activate the phone’s recorder and camera, turning it into a listening device. Continue reading...

• SK Hynix shares plunged over 12% in Seoul on July 13, triggering a circuit breaker, while Samsung Electronics saw a decline of more than 8%. • The sell-off spread to Taiwan's market, causing memory chip stocks like Nanya Technology and Winbond to reverse their initial gains and turn negative. • The crash stems from intensifying investor concerns regarding stretched valuations and the potential for a memory chip oversupply.

Scientists worry that current eradication efforts won’t be able to contain parasitic infestation pushing into USWhen conservationists set up cameras in remote regions of Central American forests, they wanted to monitor illegal cattle movement, which can lead to deforestation. But in recent months, they discovered another alarming development: wildlife rapidly infected with the new world screwworm.It’s a warning sign of how the fly could spread in the US – and it signals new difficulties in pushing it back south, a process that will probably take years, experts say. Continue reading...

• The second Music Awards Japan (MAJ) ceremony was recently held, bringing together A-list musicians to recognize their achievements and elevate their international profiles. • The event serves as a strategic platform to promote Japanese pop and broader Asian musical talent to global audiences. • This initiative matters as it seeks to increase the overseas reach and commercial viability of the region's music industry.

• Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire with Iran is "over" following a series of new attacks. • Despite the termination of the ceasefire, Trump indicated that diplomatic negotiations may still continue. • Internal conflict is rising within the Maine Democratic Party regarding Graham Planter.

The network disruption – which brought trains, traffic lights and Eftpos payments to a halt – raises questions about the resilience of servicesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWednesday’s national Telstra mobile outage serves as another stark reminder of how reliant on connectivity Australia now is, and how single points of failure can have widespread consequences across the country.The nearly five-hour outage – which brought train lines to a halt, affected traffic lights, stopped Eftpos payments and even people being able to charge their electric vehicles – was caused by what Telstra chief financial officer Michael Ackland said was time-keeping servers that feed out up-to-date information to the rest of the network. Continue reading...

• U.S. special forces soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke is facing insider trading charges for allegedly betting on the outcome of a planned operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. • Prosecutors claim Van Dyke used classified, advance knowledge of the imminent operation to place profitable bets on prediction markets. • This case highlights growing concerns over the rise of prediction markets and the potential for individuals with state secrets to exploit non-public information for financial gain.

• South Korea is amending its communications act to implement stricter regulations and clamp down on individuals and entities spreading false information online. • The move aims to curb the proliferation of "fake news," though critics argue the legislation could threaten freedom of speech and press liberties. • This shift is significant as South Korea has maintained one of Asia’s most open media landscapes since transitioning from authoritarian rule in the late 1980s.

• U.N. experts reported on Thursday that all parties involved in the conflict in eastern Congo are violating peace terms and committing widespread abuses. • The report, seen by The Associated Press, highlights a deteriorating security situation as warring factions ignore established agreements. • These violations matter as they undermine diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis for civilians.

• A deadly heatwave is sweeping across Europe, triggering widespread wildfires, including a blaze in the pine forests of the tourist island of Vis. • Emergency crews, including dozens of firefighters and four aircraft, are currently working to contain the fires on Vis. • The heatwave is impacting several major nations, with France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Britain all experiencing similar extreme conditions.

• A severe heatwave across Europe has resulted in over 1,300 deaths as of June 30, 2026. • The extreme weather has triggered widespread wildfires across the Balkans and placed the Ukrainian power grid under significant strain. • These events highlight the escalating impact of climate extremes on public health and critical infrastructure in the region.

Firefighters are battling the blaze in Fishlake national park that was stoked by strong winds and low humidityHundreds of firefighters in Utah have struggled to suppress a wildfire that scorched an additional 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares) as of Saturday, as low humidity and strong winds accelerated the fire spread, according to state officials.The Cottonwood fire erupted on Monday in the Fishlake national forest, located in central Utah. The blaze intensified overnight, growing from about 70,000 acres (28,000 hectares) to more than 92,000 acres (37,000 hectares) on Saturday morning, according to the US Forest Service. The fire is at a 0% containment level and is the largest blaze currently burning in the US, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Continue reading...

• President Trump has halted the signing of a bipartisan housing affordability bill, demanding that Congress first pass the SAVE America Act, which he has labeled a "national emergency." • Europe remains on high alert as a deadly heat wave continues to spread across the continent, while a flu outbreak has triggered the implementation of new military vaccine rules. • Economic data indicates that while energy costs drove overall gains, monthly expenses for housing and health care have seen an increase.

• Asian markets experienced a sharp decline on Friday, driven by a global technology sell-off fueled by concerns over AI valuations, rising chip costs, and quarter-end profit booking. • South Korea's KOSPI plummeted 8.2%, leading authorities to halt program trading for 20 minutes, while Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 5%. • Other regional losses included Hong Kong's Hang Seng falling 2.4%, China's CSI300 slipping 2.9%, and the Shanghai Composite losing over 2%.

• As of June 18, 2026, a measles outbreak in the U.S. has reached 2,104 confirmed cases across 41 different jurisdictions. • The CDC has issued a warning that increased summer travel may accelerate the spread of the virus, posing a significant risk to families. • This surge highlights a critical public health challenge as officials urge vaccination and awareness to contain the outbreak.

• European companies, including Siemens, Renault, and Orange, are diversifying their AI strategies by integrating models from the US, China, and Europe. • This shift follows export restrictions imposed by US-based Anthropic, which highlighted the vulnerability of relying on remote proprietary services. • The move aims to mitigate strategic risks and avoid over-dependence on a single foreign provider or region for critical AI infrastructure.

• U.S. government restrictions on AI services are forcing major European companies to diversify their providers to mitigate operational risks. • Specifically, San Francisco-based Anthropic was ordered to suspend access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for foreign nationals due to national security concerns. • This shift highlights a growing vulnerability for European firms relying on American technology and underscores the urgent need for domestic AI alternatives.

• U.S. government restrictions on access to certain artificial intelligence services are forcing major European companies to diversify their technology providers. • These curbs, which include orders affecting San Francisco-based AI firms, are driving a strategic shift to avoid over-reliance on a single American source. • The situation underscores a critical need for the development of domestic European AI alternatives to ensure technological sovereignty and operational stability.

Twelve animal cases have been confirmed so far among cattle, goats, sheep and a dog in Texas and New MexicoScrewworm cases are rising in the US as the outbreak spreads beyond the initial contamination zones.Twelve animal cases have been confirmed so far, a significant increase from the first case detected in a calf in south Texas on 3 June. The growing number of infections has alarmed agricultural experts, who warn that a wider outbreak could have serious consequences for the Texas beef industry. Continue reading...

• The 2026 World Cup is projected to be the largest in history, creating a high-risk environment for the transmission of infectious diseases due to massive global crowds. • Health experts warn that pathogens such as measles and norovirus could spread rapidly among fans and athletes traveling across host cities. • This risk is significant because large-scale international gatherings facilitate the movement of viruses across borders, potentially leading to localized outbreaks.

• A World Health Organization (WHO) expert warned on Friday, June 12, that "blind spots" in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be hiding the true scale of the current Ebola outbreak. • The expert suggests that the spread of the deadly disease could be significantly wider than what is currently reflected in official estimates. • This gap in data is critical because it hinders the ability of health agencies to accurately track and contain the virus's transmission.

• On June 11, the World Bank lowered its global growth forecast for 2026 to 2.5%, the lowest projection since the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic. • The downgrade is primarily driven by the war in the Middle East, which has severely impacted energy exports for countries like Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. • The bank warns that growth could plummet further to 1.3% if energy supply disruptions worsen and trigger substantial stress in global financial markets.

Governor urges public to report fake images posted on X of him and Reform UK leader in fake Question Time clashThe Bank of England has warned the public against falling for AI-generated scams after deepfake videos of Nigel Farage fighting its governor spread online.Andrew Bailey, the head of the BoE, said AI-generated content related to central banks was spreading and urged people to be “vigilant”. Continue reading...

Prediction market apps are doubling down on paid content creators denying election results, asking them to remove posts or lose sponsorshipPopular online prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket will prohibit paid creators and affiliates from denying election results, NPR reports, as online creators spread misinformation about California’s election.In a social media post, Bobby Allyn, NPR technology reporter, reports: “Kalshi now says it prohibits paid creators from calling into question the integrity or accuracy of an election, legal ruling or official determination in connection with an election. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Analysis shows 72.5% of 91 judgments in England and Wales contained judicial victim-blaming, with mothers scrutinised more intenselyA report has found “widespread and concerning evidence” of bias and victim-blaming in the family courts – primarily disadvantaging women.The report, Scratching the Surface: Victim-Blaming and Bias in Family Court Judgments, by the nonprofit organisation Right to Equality, will be shared with MPs on Tuesday at an event in parliament. Continue reading...

Record numbers linked to warming waters is mixed news for fishers, with shellfish catches down but octopus catches boomingRecord numbers of octopuses found off the south-west coast of England last year have now spread as far as Scotland and Wales and are transforming the fishing industry and the marine ecosystem, according to a study.The surge in sightings of one of the world’s most intelligent invertebrates was first recorded in 2025 off the south coast of Devon and Cornwall. Continue reading...

Technology secretary Liz Kendall says she is ‘very concerned’ about role of social media but will not be ‘bullied off’ XThe government is considering fresh action to halt the spread of misinformation during public crises, Liz Kendall has said, insisting she will not be “bullied off” Elon Musk’s X.The technology secretary was speaking after rioting broke out in Southampton over the police response to the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak, a case about which Musk has repeatedly posted. Continue reading...

Modelling from US CDC shows Ebola spread could be on ‘dangerous trajectory’, but experts warn outbreaks can be very hard to predictCentral Africa’s Ebola outbreak could spread to be similar in scale to the worst outbreak in history, west Africa’s 2014-2016 outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people, according to a new analysis by US health officials.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday published a range of scenarios generated by computer models, from 10,000 cases to more than 20,000. In the west Africa outbreak, more than 28,000 cases were reported. Continue reading...