The Guardian · 5 Aug, 05:54
The New South Wales Liberal leader, Kellie Sloane, has deferred a decision on the future of frontbencher Damien Tudehope after he admitted to leaking a confidential report to a colleague. Tudehope has stepped aside from his shadow cabinet roles during an Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) inquiry into allegations of branch stacking and soliciting illegal donations.
The Icac inquiry heard that Damien Tudehope, the NSW shadow attorney general, had leaked a confidential draft report from a parliamentary inquiry to another member of the Reformers group, Jeremy Greenwood, in February 2023. Tudehope has stepped aside from his shadow cabinet roles during the inquiry. The inquiry is investigating allegations that members of the Reformers group, including Jean-Claude Perrottet, solicited or accepted illegal donations for the recruitment or renewal of members to the Liberal party. Jean-Claude Perrottet, the younger brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, told the inquiry that he had done factional work during his office hours while employed in Tudehope's electoral office.
Why it matters: The Icac inquiry is significant because it is investigating allegations of corruption and branch stacking within the NSW Liberal party. The inquiry's findings could have implications for the party's leadership and potentially lead to disciplinary action against those involved. The deferral of a decision on Tudehope's future by Kellie Sloane suggests that the party is taking a cautious approach to addressing the allegations.
The Guardian · 5 Aug, 04:58
Jetstar will charge passengers a fee to store carry-on luggage in overhead lockers, starting in February 2027. The airline will remove the 7kg weight limit for carry-on bags, but base ticket fares will only include one underseat bag.
Jetstar announced that it will change its carry-on luggage policy, effective February 2027. The airline will remove the 7kg weight limit for carry-on bags, but will only include one underseat bag in the base ticket fare. Passengers will be required to pay an extra fee to store luggage in overhead lockers. The fee, called "Priority Carry-on", will vary depending on the length of the flight.
Why it matters: This change is significant because it marks a shift in Jetstar's carry-on luggage policy, aligning it with other low-cost carriers. The move is expected to generate additional revenue for the airline through ancillary fees, but has also raised concerns about transparency and consumer rights.
"By giving customers an underseat bag with the option to add Priority Carry-on, we can make better use of overhead locker space, streamline boarding and help more flights depart on time," said Stephanie Tully, the CEO of Jetstar.
The Guardian · 5 Aug, 05:54
An estimated 72,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on the tip of Morocco last week, with most heading back home within 24 hours, and at least 88 people dying in the attempt. The incident has sparked calls for greater security across Europe's borders and has been seized upon by right-wing voices to justify draconian policies.
Last week, an estimated 72,000 migrants began crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on the tip of Morocco. Most of them had headed back home within 24 hours. At least 88 people died after attempting the crossing, according to local officials. A social media hoax seemed to have played a pivotal role in encouraging the crossings, with Instagram posts, TikTok videos, and Facebook users spreading misinformation about Spain's border with Morocco being open. The EU has increasingly outsourced border policing to non-EU countries, which has given countries like Morocco a means of exerting pressure on European states.
Why it matters: The incident in Ceuta has sparked calls for greater security across Europe's borders and has been seized upon by right-wing voices to justify draconian policies. The EU's hardline stance on migration since 2015 has paradoxically helped to create some of the problems that politicians say they're trying to solve, including forcing people into taking illegal and unsafe routes. The events in Ceuta have given the right a powerful new argument for why hardline immigration policies are common sense.
72,000, 88, 2015, $90bn, £67bn, 10,000, 2020, 2021
The claim that this is some kind of invasion of Europe is entirely untrue.
Ars Technica · 4 Aug, 21:27
The Trump administration was forced to reinstate a broadband grant program after a court ruling, despite previously announcing its termination. The program, part of the Digital Equity Act of 2021, aims to close gaps in broadband access.
The Trump administration had announced in May 2025 that it would end the grant programs under the Digital Equity Act of 2021, claiming the act itself is racist and unconstitutional. However, a court ruling led the administration to reconsider and announce in a court filing that it plans to start taking applications for grants in December. The administration won a partial victory as the judge ruled that the government cannot allocate money based on the race or ethnicity of people who would benefit from grants, but can still award grants based on factors such as income, age, and disability.
Why it matters: This is significant because the Digital Equity Act of 2021 aims to close gaps in broadband access, and the reinstatement of the grant program will allow for continued efforts to provide broadband access to underserved communities. The program's focus on income, age, and disability, rather than race or ethnicity, may impact which communities receive funding.
$2.75 billion, $60 million, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026
Ars Technica · 4 Aug, 20:34
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared a moratorium on new power grid connections for data centers until developers provide more information about their projects' potential impacts on the grid and communities. This move comes as Texas is expected to surpass Virginia as the largest US data center market.
Governor Greg Abbott directed regulators to perform a comprehensive verification and audit of all data centers advancing through ERCOT's interconnection process. This effectively halts new data center connections to the power grid in Texas. The decision was made due to overwhelming demand and concerns about the impact of data centers on the grid and communities. Texas has been aggressively courting data center development with cheap land, abundant energy resources, and state incentives.
Why it matters: This moratorium is significant because it highlights the strain that the rapid growth of data centers is putting on Texas' power grid. It also underscores the state's efforts to balance economic development with the need to ensure reliable energy supply. The move may have implications for the US data center market, as Texas is expected to become the largest market in the near future.
Ars Technica · 4 Aug, 21:52
US senators have written to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) demanding a crackdown on prediction markets that allow betting on wildfires. The senators argue that such markets minimize communities' suffering for the profit of the wealthy and powerful.
A group of US senators from Oregon, California, Nevada, Minnesota, and New Hampshire have written a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). They are inquiring about the agency's plans to regulate prediction markets that offer contracts for betting on wildfires. The senators specifically mentioned that Polymarket hosted bets in January 2025 on the wildfires in Los Angeles, and another website accepts simulated bets exclusively on California wildfires.
Why it matters: The senators believe that allowing bets on destructive wildfires trivializes the suffering of affected communities and allows the wealthy and powerful to profit from such disasters. This issue is significant as it highlights concerns about the ethics and potential consequences of prediction markets related to serious events like wildfires.
"Offering bets on destructive wildfires threatens to minimize communities' suffering, all so the rich and powerful can profit."
NPR News · 5 Aug, 04:00
Summary not available.
NPR News · 5 Aug, 00:30
Summary not available.
NPR News · 4 Aug, 22:02
Summary not available.