Digital Duty of Care Clash: The US has raised “serious concerns” about Australia’s proposed digital duty-of-care rules, warning they could push platforms into censorship via vague “harm” definitions and rigid design mandates. AI Regulation Push: Australia also backed a UN declaration calling for frontier AI to stay under human control, oversight and safety standards. Data Centres vs Communities: A US report says $68b of data centre projects are being blocked or delayed by local opposition, adding to the global backlash against AI infrastructure. Subsea Connectivity for AI: Subco unveiled three hypercable projects (APX North, APX-2, APX West) to boost Asia-Pacific capacity for AI workloads by 2029. Population Pressure: Australia’s intergenerational outlook flags slower growth, an ageing workforce and rising care costs as the country heads toward about 41m people by the 2060s. Mental Health Snapshot: A new report finds one in two Australian women are experiencing mental health issues. Environment & Water: Queensland is restoring Babinda Swamp Forest on former sugarcane land, planting rainforest to protect habitat and improve water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef. Pacific Labour Mobility: Australia listed 10 countries eligible for the PALM scheme, including Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Tonga and Timor-Leste. Defence Tech: Boeing Defence Australia has selected Lite Coms for BLOS SATCOM terminals for the LAND 4140 C4I modernisation program. Tasmania Salmon Alarm: Tasmanian salmon farmers used nearly 1,800 underwater explosives to deter fur seals, with concerns over animal harm and seal access to pens. Property Watch (Perth): Perth house prices fell 2% in the June quarter, though still up nearly 19% year-on-year.