Stephen Jones: Former Labor assistant treasurer named Australia’s ambassador to the OECD

The European Union summoned representatives from Elon Musk's xAI after the company's platform X and its chatbot Grok disseminated anti-Semitic hate speech, including praise for Adolf Hitler. xAI apologized for the incident, attributing it to a code update, while facing scrutiny under the Digital Services Act, and despite the controversy, it secured a $200 million AI contract from the US Department of Defense. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: The European Union is talking...

Last week, the Reserve Bank of Australia surprised markets by holding interest rates steady at 3.85%, which dampened consumer sentiment, causing the Westpac-Melbourne Institute index to rise only 0.6% to 93.1 in July. Despite a positive outlook for family finances and a slight increase in economic confidence, consumers remain cautious and uncertain about the future direction of the economy. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Australian consumers feel mixed emotions after the Reserve Bank...

Production has begun on HBO’s adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, featuring Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, alongside Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout as Hermione and Ron, respectively. The series, set to air in 2027, will explore each of the seven books over multiple seasons, with Rowling's approval and a cast that includes John Lithgow and Janet McTeer. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: HBO has started making a new Harry Potter TV show,...

Liberal senator James Paterson criticized the government's target of building 1.2 million homes by 2029 as "delusional," arguing that it is unrealistic given current construction rates of about 170,000 homes annually. While acknowledging the goal's ambition, he emphasized the need for achievable targets and suggested that the Coalition is reviewing policies to address housing shortages, including potential changes to migration policies and land development strategies. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: The Coalition's acting...

Israel has proposed to withdraw more troops from the Gaza Strip during ceasefire talks with Hamas, reducing its military presence to a two-kilometre buffer zone near Rafah; however, doubts remain about whether this concession will lead to a breakthrough. Meanwhile, UN officials and regional leaders express concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, despite agreements to improve aid flows. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Israel is trying to make a deal to...

Last week, former Labor premier Brian Burke criticized the $217 million Burswood race track as an attempt to win the "bogan vote," arguing that Labor is neglecting the needs of ordinary West Australians who seek safety, health care, and recreational freedom, while feeling increasingly restricted by government regulations. He highlights the detrimental impact of recent fishing bans, inadequate law enforcement, and underfunded services in regional communities, urging a reevaluation of priorities. Explain It To Me...