Tech company Meta on trial over child safety and social media addiction; The government's NDIS bill passes the Senate; And in cricket, Jake Weatherald pays the price for Australia's shock loss to Bangladesh.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Tech company Meta on trial over child safety and social media addiction
- The government's NDIS bill passes the Senate
- Jake Weatherald pays the price for Australia's shock loss to Bangladesh
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A landmark trial that could force major changes to Facebook and Instagram is underway in California.
A bipartisan group of 29 US states accuses Meta of deliberately designing its platforms to hook children; and of collecting data from under-13s without parental consent.
Meta rejects the claims, saying it has spent years developing protections for teenagers.
Parents and campaigners gathered outside the Oakland courthouse, including Lennon Torres.
"Behind us justice is going to be served. The courtroom doors are open and it is time that the public see what the executives at Meta have known all along. That their products are designed to addict and harm children."
Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify during the trial, which is expected to run for several weeks.
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Dozens of last-minute amendments to a controversial bill designed to reduce disability spending have passed the upper house, despite outcry from advocates.
Labor negotiated a deal with the Coalition to pass the bill in the Senate, which includes 63 amendments.
They include a new escalation pathway for high-risk participants to apply for a plan variation, more details about eligibility requirements, and new criminal and civil penalties for providers who offer or provide kickbacks.
Disability and NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister says she understands that there is unease and anxiety among members of the disability community, but argues the changes are needed to ensure the NDIS' sustainability.
"And we do have time to work through this, with experts and the disability community to make sure that we do put in place in a fair and transparent way of establishing access. From January 2028, participants will begin to go through prospective functional capacity assessment. New participants on entry and existing parents will be reassessed over time. And as part of this, participants will be required to meet the definition of substantially reduced functional capacity and other access changes as set out in this bill."
The legislation now returns to the lower house, where it is expected to pass with Labor's majority.
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A longtime public anti-gambling advocate says the federal government's new gambling laws will not achieve what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was setting out to do.
The government and opposition have struck a deal to allow the legislation through parliament.
The new laws will put stricter restrictions on gambling advertising on television, particularly around sport, streaming, and children's programming, as well as more restrictions around inducements that bookmakers can offer gamblers.
But the Reverend Tim Costello, from the Alliance for Gambling Reform, says the laws do not do enough to decouple gambling and sport, or protect children.
"Look, it's stronger legislation, thanks to the amendments from the Liberals, and much stronger than the bill before the Senate inquiry occurred, showing predatory targeting of gamblers. But it's not going to achieve the ends, and is a missed opportunity."
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Donald Trump has escalated his claim on the Strait of Hormuz, posting a map labelling the strategic waterway as new US territory.
The US President says the strait is open and operating, but Iran insists it will stay closed until Washington meets its demands.
Tehran has ridiculed Mr Trump's territorial claim, with a senior Iranian official calling it a delusion and insisting control remains with Iran.
Qatar says reopening the strait could unlock fresh talks between Iran and the US, but Mr Trump says no negotiations are planned.
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The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says its inspectors have found nuclear material in Syria.
Rafael Grossi praised the decision by Syrian authorities for Damascus's "courageous decision" to report an undisclosed site, which dates back to the rule of ousted former leader Bashar-al-Assad.
That site and one in Deir Ezzor were examined by inspectors.
Mr Grossi says Syrian authorities will work together with experts from his agency to safely store the materials.
"We're talking about a few tons of nuclear material that could be put to bad use and Syria has decided to open up this site to the inspectors of the IAEA and this material will be accounted for, will be put within the international safeguard system."
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To sport, and in cricket, Australian opening batsman Jake Weatherald has paid the price for Australia's shock defeat in the first Test match against Bangladesh.
Weatherald has been dropped for the second Test match, replaced by Queenslander Matt Renshaw.
It's the only change to the 13-man Australian squad.
Weatherald, who was already under pressure for his place in the team, only scored 23 runs across his two innings in the first Test.
Renshaw has played 14 Test matches for Australia, the most of recent of them in 2023.
The second and final Test starts in Mackay on Saturday.
