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The state suffered country’s sharpest economic slowdown due to long lockdowns, requiring bigger fiscal repair job, one expert says

NSW health department’s concerns revealed in report released by WaterNSW

After two years of eating in silence, survey by mother finds 90% of schoolchildren want to converse againMost children in Japan long for a return to the days when they could chat to their classmates over lunch – a pleasure they have been denied during the coronavirus pandemic.After well over two years of eating in near silence to prevent the spread of the airborne virus, schoolchildren say they want their classrooms to reverberate to more than the sound of cutlery and crockery at lunchtime. Continue reading...

Darebin council has denied ALP accusation of ‘blatant political interference’ in the tightly contested seat of Northcote

A potential late-night sitting session next week is likely to overturn the 16-year-old federal ban

Thinktank finds restrictive stance on migration would repel more voters than it would attract for Conservatives and LabourKeir Starmer and Rishi Sunak could adopt a more open approach to migration without damaging their electoral prospects, according to a study by a left-of-centre thinktank.Data on voting intentions and attitudes to immigration examined by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) suggests that a more flexible approach would attract many more swing voters than it would repel for Labour. Continue reading...

New national guidance includes measures to support and retain staff and ‘break the stigma’ of menopauseMenopausal women working in NHS England will be able to work flexibly should they need to under new guidance.Launching the first-ever national NHS guidance on menopause, the NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, has called on other employers to follow suit to help “break the stigma”. Continue reading...

RMT union announces two lots of 48-hour strikes for mid-December and two more in the new yearRail passengers will face more disruption in December and January across Britain after the RMT union announced a fresh series of 48-hour strikes.Thousands of members of the RMT working for Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will strike on 13-14 and 16-17 December, causing disruption in the run-up to Christmas. There will be a further two strikes on 3-4 and 6-7 January. Continue reading...

Independent assessor deeply critical of proposals to discard up to 4,000 pieces of EU-derived legislationThe plans for discarding EU-derived laws following Brexit have been called “not fit for purpose” by the government’s own independent assessor.Under new legislation that was the brain-child of the former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, thousands of laws copied from the EU to Britain’s statute book will be “sunsetted” by the end of next year if they are not each signed off by ministers to be kept. Continue reading...

Politician says no one will be allowed to ‘insult our anthem and flag’ as loyalist media vent fury over protests during England gameIran’s footballers could face reprisals if they fail to sing the national anthem in their remaining World Cup group games, after a politician said the country “will never allow anyone to insult our anthem”.The football team stayed silent while the anthem was played before their 6-2 defeat to England on Monday, in a symbolic show of support for the protest movement that has roiled Iran since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in September. Continue reading...

Campaigners call for more access after analysis reveals public cannot access huge chunks of many parksThe majority of many of the national parks in England and Wales are shut off to walkers, analysis by campaigners has found, as they ask for larger areas to be opened to the public.Research by the Campaign for National Parks shows that just 10% of the Pembrokeshire coast is open to the public. Only 36% of land is accessible in the Peak District, which was the first designated national park, and given the status in 1951 after protests over the right to freely roam in the countryside, most notably the Kinder trespass. Continue reading...

Lord Bracadale, leading inquiry into Bayoh’s death in custody in Fife, says abuse ‘may amount to hate crime’The chair of the public inquiry into the death in police custody of Sheku Bayoh has condemned as “despicable” the racist abuse directed towards the family of the deceased man.In his opening remarks as the inquiry entered its second stage on Tuesday morning, Lord Bracadale said: “Recently it has been reported to me that the family of Sheku Bayoh and their solicitor have been subjected to racist abuse. I am sure that everyone associated with this inquiry will agree with me that such behaviour is despicable and entirely unacceptable. In some instances, it may amount to hate crime.” Continue reading...

Tensions rise over plans to fine ethnic Serbs in Kosovo who refuse to surrender Belgrade-issued platesA row over car number plates in Kosovo is threatening to erupt into open unrest and one of the most serious regional crises in years as tensions between Serbia and its breakaway former province continue to mount.The EU, US and Nato have expressed alarm after more than eight hours of emergency talks in Brussels on Monday failed to resolve the dispute over Kosovo’s plans to fine ethnic Serb residents who refuse to surrender their Belgrade-issued plates. Continue reading...

Central banks will need to adjust rates more often to respond to unpredictable levels of inflation, Philip Lowe says

Defender tweeted he went from crying all day to playing in World Cup gameThe defender Neco Williams has revealed he played in Wales’ stirring opening World Cup match against the US the day after his grandfather died.Williams, 21, said he managed to get though the 1-1 draw thanks to the support of his team mates and family. Continue reading...

Office for National Statistics says refugees face difficulties due to lack of guarantors or referencesUkrainian refugees in the UK are experiencing difficulties accessing private rented accommodation because they are unable to secure guarantors or references, the Office for National Statistics has revealed.The ONS surveyed nearly 3,000 Ukrainians who fled Russia’s invasion of their country to live in the UK under two visa schemes. Continue reading...

Finlay Fisher, who has cerebral palsy, thanks England footballer for keeping promise to celebrate goal with special danceA young football fan with cerebral palsy said seeing Jack Grealish perform their special goal celebration was “a dream come true” – and urged the England star to do “the Finlay” each time he scores.Grealish had promised Finlay Fisher he would perform the shoulder waggle celebration after the 12-year-old wrote to him upon learning that the player’s sister Holly also has cerebral palsy. True to his word, the Manchester City forward pulled out the dance after scoring the sixth goal in England’s 6-2 win against Iran at the World Cup in Qatar on Monday. Continue reading...

Online electrical store is cutting costs but faces ‘tough environment’ and supply chain problemsThe online electrical goods retailer AO World has reported bigger half year losses as it has been hammered by the cost of living crisis and supply chain problems.AO, which sells kitchen appliances, mobile phones and laptops for home delivery, warned of tough times ahead, but raised its full-year earnings guidance after closing loss-making divisions and its German business. This drove its shares 15% higher, but they are down more than 40% so far this year. Continue reading...

Offered opportunities to attack in Sky News debate, Daniel Andrews and Matthew Guy each sought to be more civil than the other

Apparent vacating of Home Office site follows series of concerns including over outbreak of diphtheria

Watchdog finds ‘severe weaknesses’ at Good Energy, Outfox, So Energy, TruEnergy and UtilitaEnergy companies are failing vulnerable customers, Britain’s energy watchdog said, calling for urgent improvement ahead of a cold winter.Ofgem told all 17 energy suppliers in its third review into the sector to improve their support for customers, in particular vulnerable ones. It found “severe weaknesses” in five suppliers – Good Energy, Outfox, So Energy, TruEnergy and Utilita. Continue reading...

A number of MPs say they will not claim for festive gatherings, with foreign secretary calling guidance ‘stupid’

The painter known for his vivacious Australiana prints accepted the award with a 10-minute speech that elicited laughter and some uncomfortable silences

Crossbench senator David Pocock says the two extra sitting days approved by the Senate to pass legislation is ‘a start’ but more time is neededThe Albanese government has fast-tracked a final vote on the territory rights bill in a bid to shore up its chances of passing industrial relations law changes this year.The Senate has approved a plan for two extra sitting days this Friday and next and a final conscience vote on the bill to restore territories’ ability to legalise voluntary assisted dying on Thursday 1 December – a key demand of crossbench senator David Pocock. Continue reading...

Number of visitors to £120m Unboxed project, under investigation by spending watchdog, well below 66 million aspirationA national festival celebrating British creativity that cost taxpayers £120m has attracted audiences of 18 million since it opened in the spring, but with only 2.8 million attending live events, according to its organisers.The headline figure includes the television audience of a special edition of the BBC programme Countryfile broadcast last month, which included a 15-minute segment of content created by Unboxed. Countryfile has an average weekly audience of 6 million. Continue reading...

NT police service ‘needs to be able to deal with badness in itself’, coronial inquiry into police shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker told

Exclusive: grassroots group launches fundraiser with membership down a third from Corbyn yearsMomentum’s future is at risk from serious financial challenges, the group will warn its supporters this week, amid an exodus of leftwing members from Labour.The grassroots group, which emerged from Jeremy Corbyn’s 2015 leadership campaign, has launched a fundraiser with a plea to supporters, titled “Keep Up Momentum”. In a video posted on social media alongside the campaign, the group says: “We can’t let everything we’ve built disappear.” Continue reading...

The 78-year-old was left bloodied after police sought to take him into custody at the Queen Victoria Building

Fire broke out in district in Anyang city, in central China, at company specialising in industrial goodsThirty-eight people have died after a fire at a company dealing in chemicals and other industrial goods in central China, local authorities said.The fire broke out in Anyang city, in the central Henan Province about 4.30pm on Monday and it took firefighters about three-and-a-half hours to bring the blaze at the premises of Kaixinda Trading Co under control, the local Wenfang district government said. Continue reading...

In China’s capital, cases have hit a record high, testing a recent government commitment to ease its zero-Covid policyBeijing shut parks and museums on Tuesday, and more Chinese cities resumed mass testing for Covid-19, as China fights a fresh nationwide spike in cases that has deepened concerns about its economy.China reported 28,127 new local cases nationally for Monday, nearing its daily infection peak in April, with cases in the southern city of Guangzhou and the southwestern municipality of Chongqing accounting for about half of the total. In the capital, Beijing, cases have hit a fresh record high, prompting calls for more residents to stay put. Continue reading...

Barry Charles says a car careered towards a group of men one night in Rushcutters Bay in the 1990s, sending them fleeing

Asked if police had conducted a risk assessment, constable tells court he did not need to know Gomeroi man’s ‘life story’

Investigation won in 2021, but Walkley foundation reviewed it after Nine News withdrew allegations and apologised to former Liberal National MP

Shallow quake hits near Malango in the Solomon Islands, triggering a warning for the country’s coastline, Papua New Guinea and VanuatuA tsunami warning has been issued after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck just off the coast of Solomon Islands on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey said.The US tsunami warning system said waves between 30cm and one metre could hit Solomon Islands, with waves of up to 30cm possible for Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Continue reading...

Warmer and drier conditions forecast for early weeks of summer after wet and gusty spring

Comedian was injured while working underneath a car but is expected to make a full recoveryJay Leno has been released from hospital and is “looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with his family” after being treated for serious burns sustained in a recent petrol fire accident.The former host of The Tonight Show was said to be thankful for the care he had received following the incident and “very appreciative of all the well wishes”. Continue reading...

Guardian Australia brings together all the figures on Covid-19 cases, as well as stats, charts and state-by-state data from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA, WA, Tasmania, the ACT and NT. Here you can also find the numbers on the vaccine rollout and fourth dose booster vaccination rates.

Labour leader to tell CBI conference that UK’s low-pay economy and reliance on immigration must endKeir Starmer will say that UK businesses must wean themselves off “cheap labour” and that a low-pay model for growth is no longer working for the British people.The Labour leader is expected to say to the Confederation of British Industry conference that his party will be “pragmatic” about the shortage of workers and not ignore the need for skilled migrants – but stressed that any changes “will come with new conditions for business”. Continue reading...

Only 17% of 370 top-rated schools kept their ranking after many years of exemption from oversight by education watchdog OfstedHundreds of schools in England have been downgraded by Ofsted after being reinspected for the first time in years.According to the watchdog, only 17% of 370 “outstanding” schools kept their grade when they had a full reinspection in 2021-22. Continue reading...

Housing secretary says landlords have been ‘defensive’ over dangerous conditions, after death of Awaab IshakMichael Gove has accused social landlords of complacency and putting bureaucracy above tenants, as he stepped up his demands for higher standards after the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from long-term exposure to mould.The housing secretary told MPs too many landlords had shown “defensive behaviour” when receiving complaints about squalor, but also admitted the extent of dangerous conditions was so great that more funding may be needed fix the problem – potentially setting up a clash with the chancellor.He and the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, have commissioned a review of council tax, which he described as the “second most unpopular tax in the country”. He promised more detail in the new year.The government’s target to end rough sleeping is in doubt, with Gove describing it as “a big worry”.Families hosting refugees from Ukraine will hear within weeks whether they will get continuing payments.Disabled people in high-rise buildings should have personal evacuation plans, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower public inquiry, despite the Home Office rejecting the call. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Darebin council in Melbourne accused of ‘blatant political interference’ for removing signs in state seat of Northcote

While Mediterranean countries basked in unseasonal warmth, parts of northern Europe were in the grip of premature coldThere were strong temperature contrasts across Europe over the past few days, with parts of the Mediterranean basking in unusual warmth while a blast of cold air from Siberia brought freezing conditions to northern parts of mainland Europe.Greece and southern Italy saw temperatures peaking at 25C or 26C on Friday, around 7 degrees above the November average. Meanwhile, Poland, the Czech Republic and parts of Germany were up to 10 degrees colder than average over the weekend, with the temperatures remaining widely below zero through the day and dropping below -10C in places overnight. The warmth experienced by the Mediterranean transferred north-eastwards later in the weekend, across the Black Sea into southern and eastern Ukraine and south-west Russia. Temperatures across these regions have reached the low 20s Celsius in places, while northern and western parts of Ukraine are under the influence of the colder airmass, which had meant that they saw temperatures widely remaining below freezing. Continue reading...

Proposal follows outrage after pregnant US tourist was denied abortion despite partial miscarriage and threat to her healthMalta’s government has published a draft law that would ease the country’s strict abortion laws by allowing the termination of pregnancies if the mother’s life or health are at serious risk.The proposed change in the law follows an outcry over the treatment of a pregnant American tourist in June, a case that sparked headlines worldwide. Continue reading...

Rishi Sunak’s visit to CBI conference found old allies keen to mend fences, but impeded by hard politics of immigrationAmid the steady grey Birmingham drizzle, Britain’s leading business lobby group tried to walk a careful path on immigration.Members of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), present in greater numbers than in recent years at its annual conference, have been clamouring for more flexibility on hiring foreign workers, as a tight labour market wreaks havoc on their businesses and drives up wages. Continue reading...

Footballer denies seven counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault against six young womenJurors in the rape trial of Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy have been told to question the credibility of their accusers.Lisa Wilding KC, in her closing defence speech on behalf of Mendy’s friend and co-accused, Louis Saha Matturie, highlighted the evidence of one complainant, a 19-year-old woman, who told jurors from the witness box that both men had raped her. Continue reading...

RMT poised to announce industrial action while track, signal and bridge repairs scheduled for festive seasonRail passengers can expect more disruption next month with one union poised to announce more strike dates on Tuesday and Network Rail revealing it will carry out 300 engineering projects around Christmas.The RMT said train operating companies and Network Rail had failed to come up with promised written offers at the end of a fortnight of talks after the union suspended strikes scheduled for the beginning of November. Continue reading...

Elizabeth May, who led party between 2006 and 2019, to replace Annamie Paul, who quit following 2021 electoral routWhen Canada’s Green party wanted fresh leadership, it turned to a Princeton educated lawyer and adviser at the international criminal court who became the first Black and Jewish woman to ever lead a federal party in Canada.But after less than a year of legal feuds, infighting and an electoral rout Annamie Paul stepped down, calling her time as leader “the worst period of my life”. Continue reading...

Pundit opts to wear OneLove armband in apparent gesture of solidarity with LGBTQ+ people in QatarThe BBC pundit Alex Scott wore a rainbow armband as she presented coverage of England’s first match of the Qatar World Cup, in an apparent gesture of solidarity with LGBTQ+ people in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal.Her decision to wear the OneLove armband – which officially represents a stand against all forms of discrimination – came hours after the England and Wales teams decided not to wear the same armbands after being informed that players could receive yellow cards for breaching Fifa rules on clothing. Continue reading...

Standards commissioner finds David Warburton violated code of conduct twice but accepted his agreement to rectify the breaches

Russian forces launched almost 400 strikes on Sunday, Zelenskiy says; UN nuclear watchdog to assess Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant