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Commissioner Karen Webb says targeted hits are sad indictment' on city as investigators work to bring situation under control

Taskforce Magnus to investigate links between the shootings stretching back to Bondi Junction last month. Follow live news updates today

Security guard at Odesa port killed after Russian strike; Zelenskiy visits Dnipro in southeastern Ukraine

Former Smiths frontman writes impassioned screed on his website, criticising media and record labels for lack of support for O'Connor during her lifeMorrissey has written a vociferous tribute to the late Sinead O'Connor, decrying the media and music industry over a lack of support for the singer.Praising her proud vulnerability", he writes on his website: There is a certain music industry hatred for singers who don't fit in' (this I know only too well), and they are never praised until death - when, finally, they can't answer back [...] You praise her now ONLY because it is too late. You hadn't the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you. Continue reading...

Police confirm body found among debris off Watsons Bay a week after accident that also killed art dealer Tim Klingender

First-half results will anger consumer groups that have campaigned over treatment of vulnerable customersBritish Gas has reported its highest ever first-half profits, of almost 1bn, after the energy watchdog let it claw back more money from household bills.The UK's biggest energy supplier reported profits of 969m for the first six months of 2023, up nearly 900% from 98m in the same period last year. Continue reading...

Acoba chair Eric Pickles says new rules should be made in time for Rishi Sunak's next reshuffleNo 10 should bring in new fines for ex-ministers who break the rules on lobbying in time for Rishi Sunak's next reshuffle and tighten restrictions on former civil servants, the government watchdog has said.Eric Pickles, the head of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), said it should be possible to draw up new rules in time for the autumn - a time when prime ministers typically shake up their top teams. Continue reading...

Police say the 24-year-old men allegedly fired at eight transformers in Gippsland in 2021

NSW premier has cast doubt over future of project but federal Labor MP for Parramatta says it needs to happen'

Victorian boxing regulator says treatment of head injuries should be based on medical assessments of individuals and their capability to heal'

In today's newsletter: The twisty tale of Nigel Farage's dispute with the NatWest-owned bank has led to the resignation of its CEO, Alison Rose. A timeline of the drama and why it matters Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.It has been almost a month since Nigel Farage launched an almighty tirade against NatWest-owned Coutts - a British private bank and wealth manager whose elite client list includes King Charles and most of the royal family. It was relatively unknown to most people until it attracted the ire of Farage, who first claimed the closures were linked to his status as a politically exposed person (PEP) and claims in the Commons that he had received payments from Moscow's state-funded broadcaster Russia Today.Music | Sinead O'Connor, Irish singer of the 1990 hit Nothing Compares 2 U, has died aged 56. Her death has stunned Ireland and the music world, and came 18 months after her 17-year-old son Shane died after leaving a hospital while on suicide watch. O'Connor had three other children. The musician, also a vocal activist, experienced mental and physical health problems, which she chronicled in social media posts and interviews.Africa | Soldiers in Niger say they have removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power, after armed troops earlier blockaded the presidential palace in Niamey, the capital. A group of soldiers made the announcement on the west African country's national television late on Wednesday. Niger is considered a linchpin for western-aided efforts to stabilise the Sahel region.MeToo | Kevin Spacey has been cleared of sexual assault in one of the UK's most high-profile #MeToo trials. The 64-year-old Oscar-winning actor wept as he was found not guilty on Wednesday of sexually assaulting four men after a four-week trial at Southwark crown court, in London.Environment | 2022 was the warmest year on record in the UK, the Met Office has confirmed, with experts warning the unprecedented heat is a sign of things to come. The news comes after former Conservative minister Zac Goldsmith said Michael Gove is a monster" if he continues to rubbish green policies while fully understanding the urgency of the climate crisis.US | The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, briefly left his own press conference on Wednesday after stopping his remarks mid-sentence. McConnell appeared to freeze and stared off into space for 20 seconds. He returned and answered questions from the press. Asked later about what happened, McConnell said he was fine". Continue reading...

Daily press conference held in Beijing saw more than 20 questions from the media about Xi Jinping's former protegeChina's ministry of foreign affairs faced a barrage of questions on Wednesday, over the disappearance and dismissal of foreign minister Qin Gang but refused to answer any of them.The daily press conference held in Beijing saw more than 20 questions from the press about Qin, a former protege of president Xi Jinping, but none were printed in the subsequent official record. Continue reading...

Claim was not related to scandal involving misuse of confidential government tax plans, ATO says

Scottsdale man, 36, taken into custody as police investigate disappearance of Shyanne-Lee Tatnell, who was last seen in Launceston in April

Opera company will leave capital by March 2029 and develop artistic programme for new baseThe English National Opera (ENO) will receive an extra grant of 24m from April 2024 to March 2026 and more time to leave London, Arts Council England (ACE) has announced.The ENO will now move to a base outside the capital by March 2029 - three years after originally envisaged. Before then, it will develop an artistic programme in its new city, while transitioning to a new business model that allows it to deliver a substantial opera season every year in the capital. Continue reading...

Twelve people have died in suspected e-bike and e-scooter blazes since 2020 in UKE-bike and e-scooter batteries should be regulated in the same way as fireworks after a spate of fatal fires in the UK, a safety charity has said.Lithium-ion cells that power the increasingly popular vehicles should be approved before sale to prevent greater loss of life, said Electrical Safety First (ESF). At least 12 people have died in suspected e-bike and e-scooter blazes since 2020 in the UK. Continue reading...

The EPA had charged RG Programs and Services with failure to comply with information gathering notice

Melbourne magistrates court told the 66-year-old may escape a criminal conviction after two other charges were dropped

Electoral commission argued authorisation line on former Hughes MP's advertising was too small but judge found it was reasonably prominent' in broad daylight

Around 50,000 fans to cram into Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for Australia's second round match against Nigeria

Brisbane-based company oversees UK's floating barges that are to accommodate asylum seekers and which have drawn protests and raised concernsAn ethical fund manager will sell its stake in Corporate Travel Management over concerns the burgeoning Brisbane-headquartered company is profiting from the mandatory detention of asylum seekers in the UK.CTM gained recent prominence after securing a A$3bn (1.6bn) contract overseeing the UK's new asylum accommodation ships, including a 222-cabin barge moored in the port of Portland, Dorset. Continue reading...

Holidaymakers on the Greek island of Rhodes found themselves evacuated from hotels and sleeping in school halls as wildfires raged nearby. As they make plans to return home, residents and business owners are counting the cost of what will be an expensive recovery. Rachel Hall reportsThousands of British travellers landed in Rhodes expecting a holiday of sun, sea and relaxation in the warmth of one of Greece's most popular tourist islands. Instead they found themselves evacuated from five-star hotels and sleeping in school halls as firefighters battled with raging wildfires.The Guardian's Rachel Hall reports from Rhodes, where tourists are finding their way on to return flights and local residents and business owners are beginning the long and costly journey to recovery. Many are bemoaning what they describe as a slow response from the Greek authorities as volunteers step in to plug the gaps. Continue reading...

Latest victim is fifth person shot this week, fanning fears city's underworld gang wars are escalating

Ukrainian official says every type of weapon in use, including US cluster munitions, as troops push forward

Military group declares end to the regime', citing deteriorating security situation and bad governance'Soldiers in Niger say they have removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power, after armed troops earlier blockaded the presidential palace in Niamey, the capital in one of the world's most unstable nations.A group of soldiers appeared on the west African country's national television late on Wednesday, a few hours after the president had been detained. Continue reading...

Report says John Woodman bought influence' on Casey council and via donations to then Labor MPs Jude Perera and Judith Graley

Lewis, whose family owns Tottenham Hotspur FC, is accused of brazen' insider tradingLawyers for the British billionaire Joe Lewis have accused prosecutors of making an egregious" mistake, as the 86-year-old pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of securities fraud and conspiracy.Lewis, who heads the family that owns Tottenham Hotspur FC, was arraigned on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court with 16 counts of securities fraud and three of conspiracy to commit fraud, which prosecutors called a brazen" insider trading scheme to enrich his friends, lovers and employees, including two private jet pilots. Continue reading...

Esperanza Koren told London court she didn't know whereabouts of Bosco Sodi's paintingAn art dealer has been ordered to pay 111,000 over a missing abstract painting compared to a giant burnt digestive biscuit" by a judge in a London courtThe court heard that the piece by the Mexican artist Bosco Sodi - a round painting with a cracked surface built up using natural pigment, sawdust, wood pulp, natural fibres, water and glue - went missing after being loaned to the London art dealer Esperanza Koren in 2012. Continue reading...

Surrogacy is already illegal in Italy, while IVF is only available for heterosexual couplesThe Italian parliament has approved a bill criminalising people who go abroad to have children via surrogacy, a measure described as a disgrace".The bill, passed in the chamber of deputies with 166 votes in support and 109 against, is aimed only at Italians and envisages fines of up to 1m (856,690) and jail terms of up to two years for those who break it. Continue reading...

Court rules all potential victims must be assessed for support, after policy disqualified people with criminal convictionsA high court judge has ordered the home secretary to change a key part of a trafficking policy introduced just months ago.In an urgent hearing on Wednesday, lawyers representing trafficking victims said they were at risk of human rights violations such as slavery, servitude and forced labour if the policy continued. Continue reading...

Will Kerr has been suspended from duty with criminal and disciplinary investigations under wayThe chief constable of Devon and Cornwall is under criminal investigation over serious allegations of sexual offences, the police watchdog for Northern Ireland has announced.Will Kerr has been under investigation for several months over allegations dating back to his time as a senior officer in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). He is understood to have denied any wrongdoing. Continue reading...

Swedish government says Russia-backed actors' attempting to damage country's bid to join NatoSweden has been the target of a disinformation campaign by Russia-backed actors" attempting to damage the image of the Nato candidate country by implying it supported recent burnings of the Qur'an, its government has said.Sweden is right now the target of influence campaigns, supported by states and state-like actors, whose purpose is to harm Sweden and Swedish interests," the prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Former intelligence official says information came from multiple colleagues but couldn't go into specifics' at Congressional hearing into cover-up claimsFull report: US conducted multi-decade secret UFO program'Congressman Tim Burchett, who is co-leading the UFO investigation, also thanks the three witnesses slated to appear at today's hearing. We owe them a debt of gratitude," he says. Applause follows.Burchett goes on to say that the devil has been in our way through this hearing", and that he has run into roadblocks" from members of the intelligence community.This is an issue of government transparency. We can't trust a government that does not trust its people.We're not bringing little green men or flying saucers into the hearing. Sorry to disappoint about half y'all. We're just going to get to the facts. We're going to uncover the cover-up. Continue reading...

Ozempic and Saxenda among drugs being reviewed after reports of suspected adverse reactions in patientsA popular weight-loss drug is among those being reviewed in the UK after being linked to reports of suicidal or self-harming thoughts within patients.Reuters reports that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said in the statement that it was reviewing a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, sold by the company Novo Nordisk.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

PM offered neither new information nor commitments to victims and bereaved families of infected blood scandal'Victims and family members have expressed frustration and dismay with Rishi Sunak for not committing to a compensation framework for those affected by the contaminated blood scandal.Before the prime minister's appearance on Wednesday at the public inquiry into the unparalleled treatment disaster, there were protests by campaigners carrying photos of bereaved loved ones and banners saying: Dying for Justice." Continue reading...

Domestic intelligence agency claims responsibility for first time for sabotage operation that damaged Kerch Bridge in October 2022

London-based free newspaper saved from administration by multimillionaire businessman

Shadow chancellor says Treasury should tackle cost of living crisis instead of attacking Dame Alison Rose, while Labour leader says she was right to resignQ: What is your view on the government's decision to put a barge for asylum seekers in Portland? It could deter tourists from visiting the town. Will you stop this, as they did in London?Starmer says he understands the concerns raised by the caller. Continue reading...

Events from first tweet by Nigel Farage to final announcement by bank chairman Howard Davies

Premier Peter Malinauskas says he is no longer willing to accept industry's assurances following footage allegedly showing man kicking and punching dog

Vault Cloud CEO tells inquiry whole-of-government tech contracts rigged in favour of multinationals

Chris Minns stands firm in refusing to commit to rail project as Labor claims costs will blow out by $17bn

Changing demographics are affecting nearly every part of society, while efforts to turn around the decline have so far had little impactEvery one of Japan's 47 prefectures posted a population drop in 2022, while the total number of Japanese people fell by nearly 800,000. The figures released by the Japan's internal affairs ministry mark two new unwelcome records for a nation sailing into uncharted demographic territory, but on a course many other countries are set to follow.Japan's prime minister has called the trend a crisis and vowed to tackle the situation. But national policies have so far failed to dent population decline, though concerted efforts by a sprinkling of small towns have had some effect. Continue reading...

Rare footage of mammals grouping offshore before they beached east of Albany sets event apart from previous strandings, experts say

Billionaire allegedly gave friends, employees and romantic partners information on companies in which he was investorThe billionaire owner of Tottenham Hotspur football club was charged with orchestrating brazen" insider trading by US federal prosecutors on Tuesday.According to Damian Williams, the US attorney for the southern district of New York, Joe Lewis gave friends, including his personal pilots, assistants and romantic partners, inside information from companies in which he was an investor. Continue reading...

Rise in ownership among pupils has sparked a wave of research into pros and cons of mobiles in education

Analysis finds isometric exercises that involve engaging muscles without movement the most effective for reducing blood pressureFor most people the very thought of doing a plank raises the blood pressure. But a study suggests it is actually the most effective way to reduce it.Researchers at Canterbury Christ Church and Leicester universities compared the efficacy of different forms of exercise on reducing blood pressure and found that isometric exercises" - which involve engaging muscles without movement such as wall sits and planks - were almost twice as effective compared with the government recommended exercise guidelines. Continue reading...

Trevor Reed has been taken to Germany for treatment; UN human rights chief rejects claims a US-supplied HIMARS missile from Ukraine was responsible

Country failed to collect and share data, masking issues and inequalities, according to editorial in British Medical JournalProminent public health experts have called on Canada to launch an inquiry into its Covid response, arguing that the country's failure to collect and share data masked issues and inequalities that - if properly addressed early on - could have saved lives.The call to action came alongside a scathing editorial in the British Medical Journal, titled The world expected more of Canada", which argues that Canada's overall impression of adequacy" conceals important inequalities. Continue reading...

After supreme court struck down affirmative action, legacy admissions scrutinized as race-based discriminationThe US Department of Education has opened an investigation into Harvard University's policies on legacy admissions, which give an edge to applicants with family ties to alumni.Top colleges' preferential treatment of children of alumni, who are often white, has been facing new scrutiny since the supreme court last month struck down the use of affirmative action as a tool to diversify college campuses. Continue reading...