Politics
Breaking: ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry resigns from cabinet
ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry resigns from cabinet after 'serious corrupt conduct' findings in her portfolio Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 3:29pm ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry has resigned from cabinet after the Integrity Commission made "serious corrupt conduct" findings against two senior public servants in her portfolio. The Integrity Commission found the former head of the ACT Education Directorate and Ms Berry’s then-chief of staff "dishonestly provided a back door" for the strategic...
Breaking: Serious corruption findings against former ACT government officials
ACT Integrity Commission Campbell Primary contract investigation finds 'serious corrupt conduct' Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 11:09am A years' long ACT Integrity Commission investigation has made findings of serious corrupt conduct by two former territory government officials. The investigation surrounded the awarding of a multi-million-dollar tender for the refurbishment of Campbell Primary School between 2019 and 2020. The contract was awarded to Lendlease, despite a bid by local firm Manteena being...
Pete Hegseth asks US Senate for 'urgent' Iran war funding increase
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People with secret ‘safe phones’ advised to turn off devices during national test of AusAlert emergency warning
Ten-second ‘siren’ to blare on most phones on Monday as part of national test despite reservations from some statesAn unsilenceable siren will blare out of most phones in Australia on Monday afternoon for ten seconds, with the federal government confirming a national test of the new AusAlert emergency alert will go ahead despite reservations from some state governments. Domestic violence campaigners and the National Emergency Management Agency have also repeated advice that people who may...
Breaking: National emergency warning system in doubt as states raise concerns
AusAlert emergency rollout buy-in from states and territories in doubt Wed 22 Jul 2026 at 8:05am , updatedWed 22 Jul 2026 at 8:13am State and territory representatives are expected to voice significant concerns about the rollout of the national emergency warning system AusAlert when they meet with the federal emergency minister in Melbourne this morning.
Emergency farm law adopted: conditional return of two pesticides
The law confirms that, by way of exemption, permission may be granted to use two controversial pesticides: acetamiprid, harmful to pollinators, and flupyradifurone, likely to be sold as treated seeds. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had promised farmers he would find solutions to their problems with their “means of production”. Senators backed the bill by 214 votes to 111.
Judge approves Anthropic's record-breaking $1.5 billion settlement for AI copyright lawsuit
Judge approves Anthropic's record-breaking $1.5 billion settlement for AI copyright lawsuit Writers sued Anthropic in 2024 for using pirated copies of their work to train Claude. Anthropic's record-breaking $1.5 billion settlement for an AI copyright lawsuit filed by writers has been approved by a federal judge in San Francisco. The company was sued by a group of authors in 2024, who accused Anthropic of using pirated copies of their work to train its Claude large language models.
Andy Burnham promised urgent action on the cost of living; the heat is now on chancellor John Healey to deliver it | Alfie Stirling
The PM and the new boss at the Treasury face an even trickier task than their predecessors. They need a good plan, and we have oneAlfie Stirling is an economist and director of policy at the Joseph Rowntree FoundationAs Keir Starmer found, it takes more than words alone to warm a tepid bath. Voters reserve the greatest punishment for the politicians they think acted too little, or too late, to prevent them getting poorer.
Emergency farming law: reintroduction of two banned pesticides splits political parties
A year after mass protests against the Duplomb law, Parliament is again debating bringing back acetamiprid and flupyradifurone. Essential for some, intolerable for others, the move is splitting political parties and civil society alike. French MPs are due to vote on Monday evening on the emergency agriculture bill, whose final version was approved last Thursday by a joint committee (CMP).
Breaking: Andy Burnham becomes British PM after 'kissing hands' with King Charles
Andy Burnham becomes British PM after 'kissing hands' with King Charles III Mon 20 Jul 2026 at 9:33pm , updatedMon 20 Jul 2026 at 9:34pm Andy Burnham has officially become the United Kingdom's prime minister after King Charles III invited him to form a government during a meeting at Buckingham Palace. Unlike in Australia, British prime ministers are not sworn in. Instead, they meet the monarch to take part in an ancient ritual called "kissing hands" (once there was actual kissing, but these...
Andy Burnham to become UK prime minister — live updates
LONDON — Britain gets (another) new prime minister Monday: Andy Burnham. The former mayor of Greater Manchester — who succeeded Keir Starmer as leader of the U.K.’s governing Labour Party last week — will enter No.10 Downing Street this lunchtime and start naming his top team. Starmer — who was ousted by his own party despite winning a landslide majority just two years go — will make a farewell speech in front of No.10 before heading to Buckingham Palace to meet King Charles III and formally...
Faishal Ibrahim resigns: Key developments and live updates
live Singapore Faishal Ibrahim resigns: Key developments and live updates Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said investigations found the acting minister's interactions with a woman had fallen short of the standards expected of political office holders. SINGAPORE: Singapore's political landscape was jolted on Monday (Jul 20) with the shock announcement that Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim had resigned from the Cabinet, Parliament and the People's Action Party....
Chinese President Xi Jinping wants emergency response systems to keep AI in check
ASIA IN BRIEF Chinese President Xi Jinping has delivered a major speech on AI, which he thinks has enormous potential – for good and evil. Xi’s speech called for AI development to “adhere to the principle of openness.” “As a new engine of world economic growth and an accelerator for the shift of growth drivers, AI is moving from the digital world into the physical world.
Arthur's Seat fire live: Emergency services battle huge blaze at iconic UK city site
Arthur's Seat fire live: Emergency services battle huge blaze at iconic UK city site A picture of the fire taken from the Scottish Parliament shows a large plume of thick smoke billowing from the area A large blaze has broken out on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh as fire crews have been battling a number of wildfires around Scotland. The fire, located next to the Palace of Holyrood House, started around 6.30pm today. Four fire engines from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance.
'Risk of attacks...': Why Germany raised its security alert to 'high threat level'
Germany has upgraded its national security posture from an "abstract threat level" to a "high threat level" following an increase in intelligence reports pointing to potential attack plans, interior minister Alexander Dobrindt has said. In an interview with the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag, published on Saturday, Dobrindt said the revised assessment reflected growing concerns over threats targeting the country. "The increased volume of reports and intelligence has prompted me to classify...
Travel alert level for Laos raised as distillery owner charged
Australian government warns about risk of methanol poisoning and crime in Laos Sat 18 Jul 2026 at 11:51am In short: The Australian government has raised its travel advice for the country of Laos, with authorities citing concerns about methanol poisoning and the justice system. The change comes as a distillery owner in Laos has been charged in relation to a mass methanol poisoning event in 2024.
Magnitude 7.3 quake hits Mexican coast near Guatemala, triggering tsunami alert
Magnitude 7.3 quake hits Mexican coast near Guatemala, triggering tsunami alert A powerful earthquake struck the southern Mexican Pacific coast on Friday, prompting residents to evacuate buildings in neighbouring Guatemala and El Salvador – and triggering an alert from the US Tsunami Warning System. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near the coast of Mexico's southernmost state of Chiapas on Friday, triggering a tsunami...
Hong Kong welcomes US move to let national emergency declaration expire
The Hong Kong government on Friday welcomed the Trump administration’s decision to allow a national emergency declaration concerning the city to expire, a potentially significant reversal of US policy imposed after Beijing enacted the national security law in 2020. The declaration, which underpinned Washington’s decision to end Hong Kong’s preferential treatment in areas including trade and export controls, expired this week after US President Donald Trump did not renew it for another year.
‘Offer he can’t refuse’: Is Italy’s mafia law breaking crime or families?
‘Offer he can’t refuse’: Is Italy’s mafia law breaking crime or families? The Italian government can now offer children and wives of mafia bosses a way out of the family business. Italy’s mafia clans have kept the family business alive for generations, passing criminal empires from fathers to sons in a cycle that has endured for centuries.
Breaking: Moira Deeming ousted as Liberal candidate after apology stand-off
Moira Deeming ousted as Liberal candidate after apology stand-off Fri 17 Jul 2026 at 5:46pm In short: Moira Deeming's Liberal candidacy has been revoked by the party's Victorian state executive after the upper house MP refused to apologise over allegations she made against her parliamentary colleague. Mrs Deeming is separately facing possible bankruptcy proceedings, which could force her removal from parliament. Mrs Deeming remains a member of the Liberal Party and an MP in the parliamentary...
Andy Burnham set to become UK Labour leader — live updates
Andy Burnham will become the next leader of Britain’s governing party Friday, before replacing Keir Starmer as British prime minister early next week. At a special conference in London, the Makerfield MP — who returned to parliament last month after nine years as Greater Manchester mayor — will be elected unopposed as Labour’s next leader. No other Labour MP received the required nominations after an overwhelming majority of the parliamentary party endorsed Burnham’s candidacy, which...
'We are reaching breaking point in this country' - Green Party leader
The Green party leader speaks to BBC Breakfast ahead of Andy Burnham's speech.
Trump’s speech rumored to feature elections or Iran after president teases ‘really big news’ – live updates
Speculation surrounding tonight’s address has mounted since Trump promised big announcement without being specificTrump to deliver TV speech amid speculation over elections announcementSign up for the Breaking News US emailCBS, which is now owned by the Trump supporter David Ellison, will air Donald Trump’s primetime address live, unlike the rival networks ABC and NBC, which have decided to relegate the president’s remarks to their streaming platforms. CNN has also decided to not confront...
Trump’s speech rumored to feature elections or Iran after president teases ‘really big news’ – live updates
Speculation surrounding tonight’s address has mounted since Trump promised big announcement without being specificTrump to deliver TV speech amid speculation over elections announcementSign up for the Breaking News US emailWhile the president aims for wall-to-wall primetime coverage, some TV networks are playing it safe in an effort to avoid giving Trump airtime to spout more unproven or debunked conspiracy theories to the viewing public. At least for traditional TV viewers. Brian Stelter,...
Breaking: Tim Mander reinstated as Qld Olympics minister after AFP probe
Tim Mander reinstated as Queensland Olympics minister after AFP investigation Thu 16 Jul 2026 at 10:37am Queensland state MP Tim Mander has been reinstated as the Olympic and Paralympic Games Minister following an investigation by the Australian Federal Police. Mr Mander stood aside from cabinet after he was referred to police by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) in May. In April, it was revealed Mr Mander had enrolled to vote at the address of a staff member.
Treasury ‘key blocker’ of UK-led debt relief programmes to help developing countries
Advocacy groups tell The Independent that growing support from MPs and ministers for more ambitious UK-led debt relief is being held back by resistance from the Treasury.
Breaking: UK counter-terrorism police now leading Widdecombe murder investigation
Counter-terrorism police officers are now leading the investigation into the suspected murder of former British government minister Ann Widdecombe. The counter-terrorism unit has taken charge of the case due to "new information and evidence" on Ms Widdecombe's "horrific murder", British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said. "The police are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.
UK govt mulls emergency law to deport grooming gang ringleader to Pakistan
Labour is considering bringing emergency legislation to deport the Pakistan-born ringleader of a Rochdale grooming gang. Alex Norris, minister for border security and asylum, when asked in the House of Commons whether govt could fast-track legislation to pave the way to deport Shabir Ahmed, said “all options are on the table”. Ahmed (73), known as “Daddy” to his victims, was released last week after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence for 30 child rape offences.
U.K. Live Updates: Farage Says He Will Resign as Lawmaker, Setting Off Special Election
Nigel Farage speaks to the news media at the Havering Town Hall after the results of the local elections in the London Borough of Havering, Britain, in May.