One Nation, six farcical explanations and no clearer understanding of its housing policy 05. June 2026 (10:21) Hanson’s party is leading in the polls, but it has a long way to go before being recognised as a serious political outfitGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen sent out to do a cleanup job, it usually helps to not make the mess even worse.It took One Nation six separate attempts over nearly 24 hours to clarify the basic details of their policy on foreign ownership of housing. Between Thursday night and Friday afternoon, the story turned from bizarre to farcical, with attempts to clarify the policy just making the situation murkier as Australians watched:a Barnaby Joyce interview;a quick do-over on Sky News on Thursday;a Pauline Hanson social media update on Friday morning;a Sean Bell interview, again on Sky, on Friday;and then a 2GB spot;before a written press release from Bell on Friday afternoon Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Family values’ African charter condemned by rights groups as regressive and dangerous 05. June 2026 (10:00) Draft treaty claims sexual and reproductive health and rights are an existential threat to the African familyAn African treaty that rejects longstanding international human rights obligations moved a step closer to becoming policy this week as governments across the continent met in Ghana.The draft African charter on family, sovereignty and values, seen by the Guardian, asserts that African values and culture are under attack from “foreign ideologies” and urges states to withdraw from any agreements that do not align with the principles of the charter, including the 2003 Maputo protocol, which promotes gender equality and protects the reproductive and health rights of women and girls. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Woman illegally strip-searched by police ‘reasonably thought’ officers would call her a liar, judge says 05. June 2026 (09:33) NSW seeking leave to appeal against successful class action including aggravated damages of $20,000 awarded to woman strip-searched at music festivalGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe woman awarded $93,000 after an illegal strip-search by NSW police thought until “just before” the trial that she would be called a liar in the proceedings by the officers who conducted the search.
This was despite the officers submitting statements 12 months before her appearance that they had no recollection of the woman or the search, a court was told on Friday.Lawyers acting for the woman, Raya Meredith, and 6,000 music festivalgoers appeared before the NSW court of appeal on Friday in the final day of a two-day hearing where NSW is seeking leave to appeal after losing a class action over unlawful strip-searches conducted at music festivals between 2018 and 2022. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK house prices fall for third successive month amid Iran war uncertainty 05. June 2026 (09:27) Unexpected monthly drop of 0.1% in May leaves price of typical home at £298,806, says lender HalifaxBusiness live – latest updatesUK house prices fell unexpectedly in May as rising mortgage rates fuelled by the war in Iran affected affordability and homebuyer demand.The average price of a typical UK home fell by 0.1% in May to £298,806, the third consecutive monthly drop recorded by the lender Halifax. Analysts had been expecting a return to growth, with a consensus of a 0.1% rise forecast for May. The monthly drop followed falls of 0.1% in April and 0.5% in March. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ANU scandals during Julie Bishop’s tenure caused $100m in reputational damage, university estimates 05. June 2026 (09:06) Interim vice-chancellor tells senate estimates of ‘very significant’ effect on donor pipeline and enrolmentsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA series of high profile scandals and governance failures has cost the Australian National University $100m in reputational damage, the interim vice-chancellor, Rebekah Brown, has told a parliamentary committee.Fronting senate estimates on Friday – a day after a scathing audit report found the ANU approved a controversial $250m cost-cutting program without clear evidence – Brown acknowledged it had been a challenging time for the university. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New claimants seek to sue Elon Musk’s xAI after Labour MP’s test case 05. June 2026 (08:00) Jess Asato’s lawyer says others want to take action over demeaning sexualised material created by Grok AI toolNew claimants have come forward to take legal action against Elon Musk’s company xAI after the Labour MP Jess Asato launched a test case against the firm over demeaning sexualised material created by its Grok AI tool.A handful of complainants contacted Asato’s lawyer on Thursday in response to coverage of the MP’s decision to sue Musk’s company for damages over its creation and circulation of fake images of her in a bikini and an AI-created video that she said showed her “being chloroformed and prepared for a sexual assault”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
James Handy, known for roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Jumanji, dies at home after fatal stabbing 05. June 2026 (07:43) Son of actor’s girlfriend arrested after 81-year-old found unconscious in his front yard in Tarzana, Los AngelesVeteran actor James Handy has died at his home in Los Angeles after a fatal stabbing, allegedly by his girlfriend’s son.The 81-year-old actor was found in the front yard of his home in Tarzana, California, at 9.30am on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles police department. He was unconscious and had multiple stab wounds to the chest. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tech companies invoke possibility of Trump’s wrath in fight against Labor’s media laws 05. June 2026 (07:37) Tech giants claim Australia’s free trade agreement with US will be violated as they try to kill a proposal to force them to pay news companiesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTech companies are invoking Australia’s free trade agreement with the US and threats of Trump administration retaliation in an attempt to kill off the federal government’s proposal to force them to pay news companies.The news media bargaining incentive is designed to force Meta, Google and TikTok to make commercial deals with Australian media outlets or pay a dedicated 2.25% levy on local revenues. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK shoppers return to high street as warm weather brings respite from shadow of war 05. June 2026 (07:00) British Retail Consortium figures show footfall rose in May, with consumer confidence improving after spending squeezeGreater numbers of consumers went shopping last month as spring sunshine brought welcome relief to retailers, which have faced a squeeze on spending since the US-Israel war on Iran.Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and a separate survey by the accountancy firm BDO showed a bounce-back in footfall during May, reversing a sharp decline in April. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
A uni professor admitted using AI to write an opinion piece. Here’s what it revealed about trust in the technology 05. June 2026 (06:49) Without disclosing that work has been generated using the technology, faith in existing industries will continue to be undermined Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcasWhen a pro vice-chancellor at a university this week admitted to using AI in writing an opinion piece for a major Australian masthead, but did not disclose that use prior to publication, it highlighted the growing gap between people’s use of AI and trust in the technology.Data from Roy Morgan this week showed 13.6m or 58% of the population older than 14 now use AI each month, with ChatGPT being the most popular, followed by Google’s Gemini and Microsoft Copilot. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
