The Guardian · 31 Jul, 05:31
The 2026 Australian Census will take place on August 11, 2026, and will include new questions about gender and sexuality, making it 'probably the most progressive census Australia has ever seen'. The census is a compulsory national population count that provides a comprehensive snapshot of Australia's demographics.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will conduct the 2026 Census on August 11, 2026. The census is a compulsory national population count that occurs every five years. This year's census will include 66 questions and will be available online and on paper. The ABS will deploy 30,000 field staff to reach every person in Australia, including those in remote communities and people experiencing homelessness.
Why it matters: The census provides a comprehensive snapshot of Australia's demographics, which informs planning and strategy at all levels of government across health, education, transport, infrastructure, and social services. The data has far-reaching implications and will help governments support the community's needs. The census also helps to identify the needs of diverse communities and ensures that everyone is counted.
2026, 115 years, 66 questions, 30,000, 80%, 63%, 7 years, 2027
Imagine being born into a body or orientation that you have absolutely no control over and yet you are forced to put yourself in a box you simply don’t fit in.
The Guardian · 31 Jul, 06:00
Iran launched drone strikes targeting US military facilities in Kuwait, while US President Donald Trump claimed a deal has been reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza.
Iran's military launched drone strikes targeting US military facilities in Kuwait on Friday, in response to recent US attacks on Iran. The strikes targeted fighter aircraft shelters, satellite communications systems, and equipment storage facilities at Ahmad al-Jaber air base in Kuwait. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed a deal has been reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, but many hurdles and conditions remain. Senior Hamas officials have reportedly agreed to the plan, but the question of whether the group disarms before or after Israel's withdrawal from Gaza has already emerged as a point of contention.
Why it matters: The drone strikes by Iran and the claimed deal on Gaza are significant developments in the ongoing Middle East crisis, which is showing signs of escalating across the region. The conflict has the potential to disrupt oil shipments and impact the global economy, with analysts expecting major oil companies to report large profits due to impeded petroleum shipments.
25, 2, 14, 43%, $22bn
We will not take any action regarding disarmament prior to Israel’s withdrawal from the Strip, - Ghazi Hamad
The Guardian · 31 Jul, 04:45
Integrity expert Geoffrey Watson SC claims that nobody from the Victorian Labor government has contacted him about his report alleging corruption in the construction union, which estimated that taxpayers lost at least $15bn. The report's findings have significant implications for the construction industry and the Labor government.
Integrity expert Geoffrey Watson SC appeared before a Queensland inquiry into the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) and stated that despite the Victorian government's public criticism of his report, nobody from the Labor party has contacted him to discuss his findings. Watson's report, 'Rotting from the Top', alleged corruption in the CFMEU and estimated that taxpayers lost at least $15bn. The Victorian government has made public comments about the report, but Watson claims they have not sought to understand his methodology or findings.
Why it matters: The report's findings have significant implications for the construction industry and the Labor government, particularly in light of the recent resignation of Premier Jacinta Allan and the commitment to a royal commission into the construction industry. The allegations of corruption and the estimated loss of $15bn highlight the need for greater scrutiny and accountability in the industry.
$15bn
Nobody from the Labor party has contacted me at all
NPR News · 31 Jul, 05:40
The death toll from a southwestern Japan earthquake has risen to 34. Searchers are working in the affected Kumamoto area, including at the site of a collapsed mall.
A southwestern Japan earthquake caused significant damage and loss of life in the Kumamoto area. The death toll has climbed to 34. Searchers are working to find anyone who may still be trapped, including at the site of a collapsed mall where serious damage was recorded. The earthquake caused an explosion at the AEON Mall in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Why it matters: The rising death toll and significant damage from the earthquake make it a major disaster for the affected area. The ongoing search efforts are crucial to finding and assisting any remaining survivors. The incident highlights the vulnerability of the region to seismic activity.
34, July 31, 2026
NPR News · 31 Jul, 05:20
President Trump announced a deal for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, but many hurdles and uncertainty remain.
President Trump announced a deal for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. However, many hurdles, conditions, and long timelines remain to wind down the war in the Palestinian territory. The details of the deal are not clear, but it is reported that there are many conditions that need to be met before the agreement can be fully implemented.
Why it matters: This development is significant because it could potentially bring an end to the conflict in Gaza, but the uncertainty and hurdles that remain raise questions about the feasibility of the deal. The situation in Gaza has been a longstanding issue, and any progress towards peace is noteworthy. However, the complexity of the situation means that a resolution is far from certain.
NPR News · 30 Jul, 20:37
The recent Senate hearing with Dr. Anthony Fauci has raised concerns among experts that it may have a 'chilling effect' on public health staffing and infrastructure in the U.S.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently testified at a Senate hearing. During the hearing, Fauci faced accusations, which has led to concerns among experts. These concerns center around the potential erosion of public health staffing in the U.S. The accusations against Fauci have sparked worries about the impact on public health infrastructure.
Why it matters: The pursuit of Fauci and the accusations against him are significant because they may further weaken public health staffing and infrastructure in the U.S. Experts are concerned that this could have a lasting impact on the nation's ability to respond to public health challenges. A weakened public health system could leave the country more vulnerable to future health crises.
Ars Technica · 30 Jul, 15:59
IBM has announced three new entries in its quantum advantage tracker, demonstrating that quantum computers can outperform classical ones with trustworthy results.
IBM has launched a quantum advantage tracker to demonstrate the capabilities of quantum computers. The company has announced three new entries that show a quantum advantage, using different approaches to overcome errors and validate quantum results. These results are significant because they demonstrate that quantum computers can generate results that are out of reach for classical computers, and that these results can be trusted.
Why it matters: This is significant because it addresses a major challenge in the field of quantum computing: demonstrating that quantum computers can outperform classical computers with trustworthy results. This is a crucial step towards realizing the potential of quantum computing, as it allows for the generation of results that are beyond the capabilities of classical computers.
"Trusted computing when you can do classical simulations is irrelevant," IBM's Jay Gambetta told Ars. "Trusted computing when you can't do classical simulations is a big deal."
Ars Technica · 30 Jul, 14:53
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) has released a major update, making its protocol core stateless, which is expected to address barriers to scalability and enterprise adoption.
The Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open-source standard for AI system interactions with external tools and data sources, has undergone its largest update since its introduction. The update makes the MCP protocol core stateless, meaning requests are no longer dependent on a session tied to an individual server instance. This change aims to address long-standing barriers to scalability. The update was announced by lead maintainers David Soria Parra and Den Delimarsky in a blog post.
Why it matters: This update is significant because it has the potential to overcome major hurdles to enterprise adoption of MCP by improving scalability. The stateless protocol core allows for more flexible and efficient interactions between AI systems and external tools and data sources. This development could facilitate broader adoption of MCP in enterprise environments.