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Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown to be recalled while Labor presses Liberal deputy Stuart Ayres to appear

Defense department’s Ely Ratner says such incidents represent ‘one of the most significant threats to peace and stability in the region’

Police fired teargas in a bid to stop crowds who entered parliament waving flags, taking photographs, chanting and cheeringHundreds of supporters of powerful Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr danced and sang in parliament after storming Baghdad’s high-security Green Zone in protest at a rival bloc’s nomination for prime minister.Police fired barrages of teargas in a bid to stop the protesters from breaching the gates of the heavily fortified Green Zone, but the crowds surged forward and entered parliament. Continue reading...

Industrial action will see rubbish bins go uncollected on Spring, Flinders, Victoria and Spencer streets

Parliament ratifies powers that allow the military to detain people, limit public gatherings and search private propertyTwo activists who helped lead mass demonstrations that toppled Sri Lanka’s president have been arrested, police said, as parliament extended tough emergency laws imposed to restore order.Then acting-president Ranil Wickremesinghe had declared a state of emergency on 17 July. It allows for the military to be given powers to detain people, limit public gatherings and search private property. The emergency ordinance would have lapsed on Wednesday if it had not been ratified by parliament. Continue reading...

Dow, who appeared in hundreds of episodes, helped shape the image of the mid-20th-century teenagerTony Dow, who as Wally Cleaver on the sitcom Leave It to Beaver helped create the popular and lasting image of the American teenager of the 1950s and 60s, died Wednesday. He was 77.Frank Bilotta, who represented Dow in his work as a sculptor, confirmed his death in an email to the Associated Press. Continue reading...

Deborah Glass says she’s ‘not prepared to spend further public resources on these matters’

Amendment would include duty for employers to provide reasonable adjustments for menopausal employeesMPs have called for menopause to be a protected characteristic and for a special ambassador to keep women in the workplace, after a report showed the UK is currently “haemorrhaging talent”.Employers’ lack of support for menopausal symptoms is pushing “highly skilled and experienced” women out of work, according to the cross-party women and equalities committee. Continue reading...

War in Ukraine, lockdowns in China and chip shortages among factors slowing recovery in sector already hit by CovidThe UK car industry has said it will not be able to produce a million vehicles a year until 2025, two years later than expected, after the global sector was hit by a string of crises.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Covid-19 lockdowns in China and continued shortages of computer chips have all combined to stall the recovery in car-making, leaving manufacturers unable to supply enough cars to willing buyers. Continue reading...

Government says extra day off if Lionesses achieve football glory against Germany this Sunday would come with costsThe country should get an extra bank holiday if the England women’s football team win in the Euro final, Keir Starmer has said.The Labour leader reportedly backs a “day of celebration” if the Lionesses claim victory at a sold-out Wembley Stadium on Sunday. It comes after they beat Sweden, the highest-ranked team in the Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 competition, 4-0 in the semi-final on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Offer also seeks return of US executive Paul Whelan and is a reversal of previous US policy resisting such dealsThe Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, ex-US marine Paul Whelan, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Wednesday.In a sharp reversal of previous policy, Blinken also said he expects to speak with his Kremlin counterpart for the first time since before Russia invaded Ukraine. Continue reading...

Tory leadership hopefuls set out plans to tackle violence against women and girls, as Labour’s Stella Creasy welcomes Truss U-turn

Extension is to enable parents of boy, 12, to make application to European court of human rightsThe parents of a 12-year-old boy, who doctors have said is showing “no signs of life”, have been granted a further 24 hours to appeal against a decision to end his life support treatment.The extension is to enable Archie Battersbee’s parents to make an application to the European court of human rights (ECHR) but they said their preferred option is to take the case to the United Nations convention on the rights of people with disabilities (UNCRPD). Continue reading...

Aslef members voted for action in August, while the RMT chief, Mick Lynch, called for a general strikeUnions warned the UK could face a general strike this year as rail workers voted for fresh action set to deepen a summer of industrial unrest.The vote for further transport strikes came as Keir Starmer sacked shadow transport minister Sam Tarry who conducted broadcast interviews alongside striking RMT workers at Euston station - a move that is likely to fuel divisions between Labour and trade unions. Continue reading...

Labour MP removed from role as shadow transport minister after ignoring warning not to join picket lines

Treasurer will use state of the economy speech to trim 2021-22 growth to 3.75% and provide new inflation, wage and unemployment forecasts

Sunwater says documents confidential after right-to-information request reveals dealings with mining giant

Analysis: Inflation optimists look to falling global supply chain pressures but spiking energy prices suggest we haven’t reached a plateau yet

Former Liberal MP Andrew Olexander says he is ‘angered’ and ‘disappointed’ with party

Labour leader fires Sam Tarry from frontbench; Aslef announces drivers will strike again over pay

Latest updates: thinktank says plan would not help poorest least able to cope with rise in costsLiz Truss, the foreign secretary and frontrunner in the Tory leadership contest, has said she would order the police to cut homicide, serious violence and neighbourhood crime by 20% from 2019 levels by the end of this parliament. Danny Shaw, the former BBC home affairs correspondent, says such a generalised target is unrealistic.This is from ITV’s Anushka Asthana, who has dug out what Rishi Sunak said in the Commons in February when he explained why he was opposed to calls (from Labour, and some Tory MPs too) for a cut in VAT on fuel bills. Continue reading...

Panel awards Allison Bailey payout in row over trans rights but rejects her claim against StonewallA barrister who tweeted criticism of the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall’s position on trans rights was unlawfully discriminated against and victimised as a result of her views, an employment tribunal has found.Allison Bailey, a founder of the gender-critical group LGB Alliance, sued Garden Court Chambers (GCC) and Stonewall, claiming that the latter had instructed or induced discrimination by her chambers. Continue reading...

Shadow transport minister defies leader and says he is ‘on side of members not establishment’Keir Starmer is under pressure over his stance on Labour MPs joining picket lines after a shadow minister defied orders not to join the striking workers, saying he was “on the side of the members not the establishment”.The Labour leader is now facing a dilemma over whether to sack the shadow transport minister Sam Tarry, who joined rail workers outside Euston station in London. Continue reading...

‘Landmark moment for open justice’ comes after long campaign by BBC, ITN and SkyThe Old Bailey will be opened up to cameras on Thursday as sentencing remarks from a crown court case in England and Wales are broadcast for the first time.The move, which comes after a change in the law, is intended to help the public get a better understanding of how sentencing decisions are taken. Previously, proceedings have only been broadcast at the supreme court (since its 2009 inauguration) and the court of appeal (since 2009). Continue reading...

Exclusive: Equalities committee chair Caroline Nokes joins international outcry after UK dilutes commitment to women’s rights without consultationA senior Conservative MP has asked the foreign secretary, Liz Truss, to explain why the UK government appeared to perform a “sudden backtracking on women’s rights” after commitments to abortion and sexual health rights were removed from an official multi-nation statement on gender equality.Caroline Nokes, who chairs the women and equalities select committee, has written to Truss, who is also the minister for women and equalities and a Tory leadership contender, asking why the key phrases relating to reproductive rights were deleted. Continue reading...

Travel disrupted for millions amid worsening row with rail firms over jobs, pay, pensions and conditions

Footballer and campaigner says he ‘jumped at chance’ to edit comic, with 20p from each sale donated to free books schemeMarcus Rashford has guest-edited a special edition of the Beano, as well as appearing on the comic’s front cover.The special edition of the comic comes after the publication of the England and Manchester United footballer’s book You Can Do It: How to Find Your Team and Make a Difference, which was written with Carl Anka. Continue reading...

Officials say the Line will be 200 metres wide, 100 miles long and the world’s most livable city ‘by far’A futuristic Saudi megacity is to feature two skyscrapers extending across a swathe of desert and mountain terrain, according to the latest disclosures on the project by the kingdom’s de facto ruler.The parallel structures of mirror-encased skyscrapers extending more than 100 miles, known collectively as The Line, form the heart of the Red Sea megacity Neom, a plank of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s effort to diversify the Gulf state’s oil-dependent economy. Continue reading...

Price jumps by fifth to £1.19 with immediate effect and other increases will follow as costs soarMcDonald’s has announced a supersized price increase, putting up the price of a cheeseburger by a fifth to £1.19 with immediate effect.The chain blamed its first cheeseburger price hike in 14 years on soaring costs and said other big price increases were on the horizon. Continue reading...

Thomas Gottstein steps down in latest high-level departure and will be replaced by Ulrich KörnerThe chief executive of Credit Suisse has resigned after a tumultuous two-year tenure during which the Swiss lender was beset by a string of scandals and financial losses.The bank confirmed on Wednesday that Thomas Gottstein was stepping down and would be replaced by the head of its asset management division, Ulrich Körner, in an a move intended to solidify the bank’s strategic shift away from investment banking. Continue reading...

Brad Beddoes tells inquest he thought there were only two people in the car and told relative the investigation was ‘completed’

Ex-president fled the crisis-hit country earlier this month after protesters took over his house and offices, demanding he resignSri Lanka’s beleaguered former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country after mass protests and resigned this month, is expected to return home, according to a cabinet minister.Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka under the cover of darkness in a military jet earlier this month after protesters took over his house and presidential offices, demanding he resign. Continue reading...

Cryptic clues about man found on an Adelaide beach in 1948 spawned theories of jilted lovers and cold war spies – but the truth may open up even more questionsA South Australian academic’s claims to have identified “Somerton man” as a 43-year-old electrical engineer from Melbourne could finally provide answers in one of Australia’s most infamous cold cases.For 73 years, the identity of a well-dressed man found slumped by a sea wall of Somerton beach, south of Adelaide, in 1948 has been a mystery – leaving room for theories featuring jilted lovers and cold war spies. Continue reading...

Dozens injured after tremor hit mountainous area of Abra province, causing extensive damage to some homes and buildingsA strong earthquake left at least two people dead and injured dozens in the northern Philippines, where the temblor set off small landslides and damaged buildings and churches and prompted terrified crowds and hospital patients in the capital to rush outdoors.The 7-magnitude quake centred in the province of Abra in a mountainous area, said Renato Solidum, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Continue reading...

Legislation enacting royal commission’s recommendations for sector expected to pass parliament despite opposition’s accusation of ‘playing politics’

Deputy premier Steven Miles tells estimates the total government spend for isolation facility exceeded $200m

England’s 4-0 victory over Sweden at Bramall Lane in Sheffield means they will face either France or Germany at Wembley on SundayEngland’s women have united the nation and the front pages after their thumping 4-0 win over Sweden in the semi-final of Euro 2022 prompted spontaneous celebrations.The victory at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on Tuesday night means the Lionesses have the chance to go one better than their male counterparts 12 months ago and become European champions when they face either France or Germany at Wembley on Sunday. Continue reading...

Organisers apologise to tens of thousands of music festivalgoers who were left bogged, stranded and out of pocket

Electoral commission – controlled by President Kais Saied – says 95% voted yes in constitutional referendum, which was boycotted by opposition groupsTunisian president Kais Saied has celebrated the almost certain victory of the yes vote in a referendum on a new constitution that hands him wide-ranging powers and risks the return of authoritarian rule in the birthplace of the Arab spring.Preliminary results for the vote, held a year to the day after Saied sacked the government and froze parliament in what rivals have called a coup, were due late on Tuesday, with a full tally not expected until next month. However, according to an exit poll taken by the Sigma Conseil institute, an overwhelming 92-93% of those who voted on Monday supported the new constitution. Continue reading...

Draft guidelines aim to improve obstetric and gynaecological care for trans and gender-diverse peopleTransgender men who choose to “chest-feed” their babies should be offered a greater level of support, a royal college has advised in new draft guidelines.The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) says trans men should be asked about their preferred manner of feeding before their baby is born and those who opt to chest-feed should be offered “chest-feeding support in the same manner as for cis-women”. Continue reading...

Committee calls for ‘breathing space’ for millions whose universal credit is docked to repay advances, debts or overpaymentsMinisters’ policy of clawing back hundreds of pounds a year from benefits has been criticised by MPs, who say it has tipped low-income families into destitution.About 2.4 million households – nearly half of all claimants on universal credit – have on average £62 docked each month to repay benefit advances, tax credit overpayments and debts owed to landlords and utility companies. Continue reading...

Team Truss calls out ‘shouty’ opponent amid calls by women for end to patronising behaviour from menOf the many blows traded between Tory leader wannabes Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, perhaps the most surprising has been accusations of “aggressive mansplaining” by the former chancellor from the foreign secretary’s camp.Sunak’s interruptions in Monday night’s head-to-head debate, his speaking over Truss, his general “shouty private school behaviour” was condemned as “desperate” and “unbecoming” by Truss supporters. Continue reading...

RMT union members will stop work on 19 August in dispute with TfL over ‘pensions, jobs and conditions’London Underground workers are to stage a fresh strike in a long-running dispute over jobs and pensions.Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will stay off work on 19 August. Continue reading...

Bosses may transfer popular podcasters to BBC’s commercial arm after loss of big names including Emily Maitlis and John SopelThe salaries of some of the BBC’s top radio presenters could be hidden from public view, as part of a plan that would allow the corporation to pay more money to the stars of its leading podcasts.BBC bosses are reviewing whether to transfer the employees who make many of its public service radio programmes and podcasts into the BBC’s for-profit commercial division. Continue reading...

Protesters and United Nations personnel among dead after incidents that left about 50 injuredAt least 15 people were killed and about 50 wounded during a second day of violent anti-United Nations protests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern cities of Goma and Butembo, authorities have said.The dead included demonstrators and UN personnel as UN sites were attacked by crowds. Continue reading...

The massacre of 18 people in the Highlands confirmed fears that an outdated electoral roll and lack of security could lead to troubleVoting in Papua New Guinea’s elections has been overshadowed by outbreaks of violence including the massacre of 18 people in the Highlands and a group of men attacking people with machetes outside a counting centre in Port Moresby.Voting began at the beginning of July and continues until the end of the month. But what has caused the violence and what can be done to stop it? Continue reading...

Exclusive: organisers claim petition has nearly 14,000 signatures but CCHQ sampling found fewer than half were party membersSenior Conservatives have privately voiced scepticism about a poll demanding party members be given a vote on the removal of Boris Johnson, after the party’s headquarters found fewer than half of a sample of signatories were party members.The authors of the petition have said addresses and membership numbers provided by the signatories are undergoing stringent checks and that Conservative campaign headquarters (CCHQ) has not yet received the vast majority of the signatories. The website Conservative Post, which organised the petition, said it was being overseen by a team of experienced professionals. Continue reading...

Judge upholds ruling that Supt Robyn Williams was unfairly dismissed over unsolicited WhatsApp message as supporters say force ‘needs to accept they got it wrong’The high court has thrown out the Metropolitan police’s latest attempt to sack a decorated senior black officer, with a judge branding one of its arguments “hopeless”.The ruling was a victory for Supt Robyn Williams, who the Met dismissed and then had to reinstate when a tribunal ruled the force’s leaders had been wrong to take her job away. Continue reading...