The Guardian

Almost 145,000 Australians will lose support for autism under NDIS reforms, documents reveal

Internal estimates show 144,600 people will be taken off the scheme by 2030, many of them under 18Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlmost 145,000 Australians receiving support for autism on the national disability insurance scheme (NDIS) are expected to be removed by the end of the decade, internal estimates show, as the federal government moves ahead with plans to narrow the focus of the “diluted” $52bn scheme toward those with significant and complex needs.From 2028,

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Albanese’s AI plan is admirable – but will face tech giants more powerful than most national governments

Challenges of regulating social media or stopping hate speech show these firms can set their own terms and prices for countries like AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese took a trip back in time during his much anticipated speech on artificial intelligence on Wednesday.Seeking to harness the momentous change bearing down on our lives, the prime minister told an audience at the University of Sydney that his government would keep pace with AI, even s

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Albanese’s AI blueprint sparks calls for datacentre moratorium until new regulations in place

Prime minister’s plan will create energy regulations for datacentres in AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEnvironmental and community groups have called for a pause on datacentre development until new regulations are in place after Anthony Albanese promised “greater clarity and speed” over their approval.In his landmark speech on artificial intelligence at the University of Sydney on Wednesday, the prime minister said Australia would create a legal obligation fo

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Trump endorses MyPillow founder Mike Lindell in Minnesota governor’s race

The Republican Trump ally has spent years promoting discredited claims about the 2020 electionDonald Trump has endorsed Mike Lindell’s bid for Minnesota governor, calling the MyPillow founder “one of America’s greatest and most hard working Patriots” in a Truth Social post Wednesday.Trump described Lindell as someone who has “sacrificed” more than almost anyone else “in fighting for our country, especially when it comes to Election Integrity”, invoking Lindell’s years spent promoting discredited

general  Jul 15, 2026

BBC World

Special police team to investigate killing of an anti-migrant leader in South Africa

The March and March provincial leader died of his injuries in hospital several days after being shot.

general  Jul 15, 2026

NY Times World

Wildfires Rage in Ontario as Smoke Affects Toronto’s Air Quality

Air quality in Canada’s largest city was at times the worst in the world on Wednesday, as wildfires across Ontario sent smoke drifting into New York City and beyond.

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Ilhan Omar introduces resolution urging US to join international criminal court

Exclusive: bill from Democratic lawmaker comes two days after Marco Rubio vowed to dismantle war crimes tribunalDemocratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution Wednesday urging the United States to join the international criminal court (ICC), marking the first congressional pushback against the Trump administration’s pledge to “systematically disable” the war crimes tribunal through sanctions and diplomatic pressure.Omar’s bill came two days after Marco Rubio, the US secretary of sta

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

As Russia’s assault continues, Ukraine’s politics shift and an old alliance begins to fray

Beneath the ​drone strikes and ​talk of ceasefires lies a battle over history that is testing ​Kyiv’s chances for an end to the conflict• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereI’ve just come back from a trip to Kyiv, where after more than four years of war, it can feel like the political and diplomatic news agenda has become cyclical: a suggestion that some kind of peace deal could be around the corner, followed by the swift intervention of reality that the Kremlin has no

general  Jul 15, 2026

NY Times World

Iran War Live Updates: U.S. and Iran Exchange Strikes for Fifth Straight Day

The United States launched new attacks against Iranian targets on Wednesday, hours after Iran targeted American military sites in the region. Neither side has shown signs of backing down as they enter a new stage of the war.

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

South Texas braces for more flooding after US storms strand motorists

Up to 16in of rain fell in some areas as forecasters warn another foot could fall, prompting rescues and road closuresSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailHeavy rains in south Texas have washed out highways and stranded motorists, with forecasters warning that more severe weather could bring dangerous flooding to already drenched counties near the border with Mexico.On Tuesday, storms dumped up to 16in of rain in some rural areas of the state, leading to the dispatch of emergency cre

general  Jul 15, 2026

NY Times World

Brazen Japanese Bears Are Breaking Into Homes and Raiding Pantries

Climate change and shifting demographics are driving the country’s Asiatic black bears closer to humans.

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Dale Vince to get damages from Daily Mail publisher over misleading article

Court of appeal rules Labour donor suffered ‘obvious injustice’ over photo next to the words ‘sex harassment’The green energy entrepreneur and Labour donor Dale Vince is in line to receive damages from the publisher of the Daily Mail after claiming it used his picture to mislead millions of readers.Vince, who has given more than £5m to Labour over several years, took legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over an article, published in June 2023, headlined “Labour repays £100,00

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Tripling US union membership would shift $1.2tn to workers annually – report

More density would also narrow racial pay gaps, while a decline in density correlated to surges in wealth inequalityTripling union membership in the US would lead to a 14.5% raise for the median US worker, shifting $1.2tn to workers annually and significantly narrowing racial wage gaps, according to a new report released Wednesday.The report from the Economic Policy Institute notes that union membership rates across the workforce, also known as union density, was once three times as high as it i

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Former Obama White House counsel to face House questioning over Epstein ties

Kathryn Ruemmler welcomes closed-door interview and says she had no knowledge of ongoing criminal activityKathryn Ruemmler, who served as White House counsel under Barack Obama, is set to testify on Wednesday before the House committee on oversight and reform about her ties to Jeffrey Epstein as part of the panel’s investigation into the convicted sex offender.Ruemmler came under scrutiny earlier this year after her name appeared thousands of times in the records related to Epstein that were rel

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Trump says ICE should continue traffic stops after two men killed

Comment comes after homeland security sources say federal officers told to temporarily stop pulling drivers overDonald Trump said on Wednesday morning that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should continue making traffic stops, just one day after the homeland security department (DHS) said they’d be halting them in the wake of recent stops that left two men killed in the space of a week.Federal officers across the US had been told to temporarily stop pulling drivers over on Tuesday, home

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Utah bans Stephen King novella collection from public schools

Different Seasons, which incudes stories that inspired films such as Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption, judged to contain ‘objective sensitive material’Stephen King is the most banned author in US schools, according to reportA collection of Stephen King novellas that inspired classic films including Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption has been banned from Utah public schools.Published in 1982, the collection, titled Different Seasons, contains four novellas: Rita Hayworth and Shawsha

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

US civil rights leaders plan march on Washington for voting protections

Rev Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III to lead August march after court rulings weakened voting rightsA coalition of civil rights leaders have announced plans to march on Washington in defense of voting rights following a string of federal and supreme court rulings that have weakened protections against racial discrimination in US elections.Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network is leading the 28 August action, joined by Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters ​King, and several civil

general  Jul 15, 2026

NY Times World

France Is Set to Allow Assisted Dying

Lawmakers were expected to approve a bill that would allow doctors to help terminally ill patients to die. If the law passes, the country would join a small group of nations that permit the measure.

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

Extreme temperature warnings in place as ‘heat dome’ bakes US

Americans warned to be on alert for heat-related illness as parts of country experience record high temperaturesExtreme heat warnings are in place for large swaths of the United States this week, as an unusual weather pattern eclipses record temperature highs.In Billings, Montana, residents experienced a sweltering 111F (43.9C) on Sunday, the hottest day in its history. Salt Lake City in Utah also hit an all-time record high on Sunday at 109F (42.8C). Boston has seen more 90F (32.3C) days than a

general  Jul 15, 2026

The Guardian

‘They want to break our will’: Gaza flotilla activist tells of rape in Israeli detention

Anna Liedtke files criminal complaint in Israel over alleged attack by female guards and says abuse was intended to silence campaignersThe third time Anna Liedtke was subjected to an illegal strip-search in Israeli detention, female prison guards forced her on to her knees, covered her mouth to stop her screaming and raped her, according to interviews and a criminal complaint filed in Israel.She described hearing male guards laughing during the attack, which she believes they watched and may hav

general  Jul 15, 2026