The Guardian · 10 Jul, 06:00
Derryn Hinch, a former Australian senator and journalist, has died at the age of 82. Telstra is facing potential penalties of up to $30m for a nationwide outage that affected triple zero calls and other services.
Derryn Hinch, a well-known Australian journalist, broadcaster, and former senator, has died at the age of 82. He was known for his candid and controversial commentary on radio and television. Separately, Telstra is facing potential penalties of up to $30m for a nationwide outage that affected triple zero calls, train services, and payment systems. The outage has been fully resolved, and the company has provided formal notice to the triple-zero custodian.
Why it matters: Derryn Hinch's death marks the end of an era for Australian journalism and politics. The Telstra outage highlights the importance of reliable telecommunications infrastructure and the need for companies to be held accountable for their services.
82 (Derryn Hinch's age at death), $30m (potential penalties for Telstra), 41,000 (Hinch's Facebook followers)
He got his wish and passed away in his own bed. To every one of his online friends and followers he loved the interaction and looked forward to every post. As he would say, 'That's Life' - Annette, Derryn Hinch's personal assistant
The Guardian · 10 Jul, 05:30
The New South Wales government and police have spent almost $500,000 on legal fees for cases they lost against pro-Palestine protest groups, including challenges to controversial public assembly restriction laws.
The New South Wales government and police spent nearly $500,000 on legal fees for cases they lost against pro-Palestine protest groups. The cases involved challenges to public assembly restriction laws, including a law that was struck down by the Court of Appeal for impermissibly burdening the implied constitutional right to freedom of political communication. The government spent $117,455.50 on one challenge to the laws, and police spent over $91,600 on external barristers and solicitors to fight an application for a pro-Palestine protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Why it matters: This is significant because it highlights the substantial costs incurred by the government and police in defending laws that were ultimately found to be unconstitutional. The cases also demonstrate the tension between the government's efforts to maintain public safety and the rights of protesters to freedom of political communication.
$490,000 (total spent by NSW government and police on lost cases), $117,455.50 (spent on one challenge to public assembly restriction laws), $96,400 (spent on barristers and solicitors fees in another case), $184,584 (paid in costs to Palestine Action Group's lawyers), $91,600 (spent by police on external barristers and solicitors), $59,500 (spent by police on legal fees in another case), $87,099.29 (spent on successfully contested cases)
“this huge waste of money shows the desperate lengths Chris Minns has been prepared to go to, in order to rip up our democratic rights” - Josh Lees, organiser for the Palestine Action Group
The Guardian · 10 Jul, 05:07
Abuse survivors are seeking to transfer their compensation claims to Edmund Rice Education Australia, an entity that benefited from the Christian Brothers' wealth, as the Christian Brothers face financial difficulties and hundreds of abuse cases worth $774m.
The Christian Brothers, a Catholic church entity with a history of clergy abuse, is facing hundreds of current and future abuse cases estimated to be worth $774m. However, the order recently told a court it was going broke and proposed a scheme to sell off its remaining properties and divide the proceeds among creditors. Abuse survivors are now seeking to transfer their claims to Edmund Rice Education Australia, an entity that received vast land and property transfers from the Christian Brothers for nominal amounts. The first case to attempt this appeared in the Victorian supreme court, with the Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia opposing the move.
Why it matters: This case is significant because it could have far-reaching consequences for the compensation of abuse survivors and the liability of entities that benefited from the wealth of the Christian Brothers. If successful, it could also impact the proposed property sell-off scheme and reduce the liability on the Christian Brothers. The case is being closely watched by other survivors in Victoria and interstate.
$774m (estimated value of abuse cases), $217m (value of Christian Brothers' remaining properties), $2.3bn (Edmund Rice Education Australia's net assets), $345m (Edmund Rice Education Australia's cash holdings as of December 2024), 36 (number of properties to be sold by Christian Brothers), 2007 (year Edmund Rice Education Australia was created)
Ars Technica · 9 Jul, 21:56
A diarrheal parasite outbreak in Michigan has grown to 1,251 cases as of July 9, with 44 hospitalizations reported. The outbreak, which began on June 22, is centered in the southeastern part of the state.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported an explosive outbreak of a diarrheal parasite, with cases skyrocketing from 2 initial reports on June 22 to 1,251 cases as of July 9. The outbreak is centered in the southeastern corner of the state, where health officials are working to identify and interview cases to track the source of the parasite. Of the total cases, 44 have been hospitalized. Neighboring Ohio has also reported over 500 cases.
Why it matters: This outbreak is significant because it is spreading rapidly and has already resulted in hospitalizations. The fact that the parasite spreads through food and water makes it a potential risk to public health if not contained.
1,251 cases (as of July 9), 44 hospitalizations, 2 initial cases (reported on June 22), 572 cases (reported on July 4), 239 cases (reported on July 8), over 500 cases (reported in Ohio)
Ars Technica · 9 Jul, 20:52
Microsoft released a patch for a zero-day vulnerability in its Defender security engine, tracked as CVE-2026-50656, which could allow attackers to gain administrative control of Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines. However, the patch may cause Windows machines to write large files that consume available disk space.
A zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft's Defender security engine, tracked as CVE-2026-50656, was publicly disclosed in June by a researcher named NightmareEclipse. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to gain administrative control of Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines, even when real-time protection has been disabled. Microsoft released a patch for the vulnerability on Wednesday, which will automatically be downloaded and installed. However, the patch may cause Windows machines to write files large enough to completely consume available disk space.
Why it matters: This vulnerability is significant because it allows attackers to gain administrative control of Windows machines, potentially leading to serious security breaches. The patch, while necessary, may also cause issues with disk space, highlighting the need for careful testing and deployment.
CVE-2026-50656, June 2026
Ars Technica · 9 Jul, 21:25
OpenAI has released ChatGPT Work, a new tool designed to automate tasks and workflows, allowing users to work with the AI to complete complex projects. The tool can perform tasks for hours, automate workflows, and integrate scheduled tasks.
OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Work, a tool that can work on tasks for hours and automate entire workflows. The tool allows users to give it a task, such as analyzing a budget or preparing a sales meeting, and can perform repetitive tasks on a schedule or in response to events. ChatGPT Work also integrates with Scheduled Tasks, which can be monitored from a phone.
Why it matters: This release is significant because it addresses previous limitations of OpenAI's automation tools, which tended to stop after a few minutes. ChatGPT Work has the potential to greatly increase productivity by automating complex tasks and workflows, while still requiring user approval for important actions.
NPR News · 10 Jul, 02:52
Summary not available.
NPR News · 10 Jul, 01:03
Summary not available.
NPR News · 10 Jul, 00:44
Summary not available.