Labor’s nature laws risk collapse with deal yet to be struck on eve of parliament’s final sitting day
Greens expected to sign on to 11th-hour compromise after Labor offers new concessionsAnthony Albanese is yet to land a deal to rewrite federal nature laws ahead of parliament’s final sitting day of the year, leaving the long-promised reforms at risk of collapse for the second time in 12 months.But political, industry and environment movement sources expect the Greens will eventually accept an 11th-hour compromise after Labor offered new concessions to secure the minor party’s support. Continue reading...
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At least 10 people killed in Indonesia floods, landslides
Rescuers in Sumatra are racing to find survivors after floods and landslides killed at least 10 people.
Protesters worldwide demand end to violence against women
The UN finds home most dangerous place for women, with about 50,000 of them killed by partners or family last year.
Trump's envoy to have Ukraine peace plan talks at Kremlin next week
Russia confirms the US president's close aide will travel to Russia, hours after Trump tasked him with meeting Putin.
Italy now recognizes the crime of femicide and punishes it with life in prison
Italy's parliament on Tuesday approved a law that punishes femicide with life in prison. The vote coincided with the international day for the elimination of violence against women.
Southern Thailand floods kill 13, leave thousands stranded
Floods have left thousands of people stranded and large areas under water in southern Thailand and northern Malaysia.
Watch: Moment researcher finds rare flower after 13-year search
Researcher Septian Andriki collapsed in tears upon discovering the rare Rafflesia hasseltii plant in Indonesia.
Victorian government sets date for formal apology to First Nations people – as it happened
This blog is now closedNSW storms leave man dead and thousands without power as temperatures soar into 30sGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe treasurer, Jim Chalmers, who’s doing the media rounds this morning, is next to defend the “savings” the departments have to come up with.On the Today show, he is asked: is the government being hypocritical here, considering the criticism they hurled at the Coalition for their proposed public servant cuts during the election?What the Coalition was proposing was to cut tens of thousands of jobs. What we are proposing or what we’re asking departments to suggest is ways to reprioritise their lower priority spending so that we can invest it in higher priority areas.There’s absolutely areas in the public service where we do need to think about making sure that we’re spending taxpayers money wisely.[There’s a] trillion dollars worth of debt, $50,000 in interest repayments every single minute of every single day because they refuse to make the tough decisions and now you’ve got Christmas job cuts on the table that they’re saying won’t be cuts. Continue reading...
Wednesday briefing: What may be in – and out – of Rachel Reeves’s ‘hokey cokey’ budget
In today’s newsletter: As the chancellor prepares to deliver one of the most heavily briefed budgets ever, tax rises, the two-child benefit cap and a ‘mansion tax’ are all on the table• Don’t get First Edition delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning. If you haven’t noticed, the lead-up to this year’s budget has been unusually chaotic and drawn-out, with plenty of behind-the-scenes briefings and a whirlwind of speculation about what taxes will be hiked.The challenge facing the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is plugging a financial hole of around £20bn and raising money to fund the services voters demand, while also keeping taxes at an acceptable level. (If you think you’ve got what it takes, try our brilliant interactive budget game). The political backdrop to this budget is also significant – the prime minister is under siege, and needs to present something that will be well received by MPs.Budget | Rachel Reeves’s plan to cut cash Isa limits by 40% could raise mortgage rates, according to finance bosses. The chancellor is expected to cut the maximum amount people can put into tax-efficient cash individual savings accounts from £20,000 to £12,000 in Wednesday’s budget.Politics | Three more school contemporaries who claim to have witnessed Nigel Farage’s alleged teenage racism have rejected the Reform UK leader’s suggestion that it was “banter”, describing it as targeted, persistent and nasty.Ukraine | Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff advised a senior Kremlin official on how Vladimir Putin should pitch a Ukraine peace deal to the president, according to a transcript of their discussion published by Bloomberg.Criminal justice | Jury trials for all except the most serious crimes such as rape, murder and manslaughter are set to be scrapped under radical proposals drawn up by David LammyMedia | The BBC has been pulled into a fresh row over its treatment of Donald Trump after a Reith lecturer accused the broadcaster of censoring his remarks on the US president. Rutger Bregman, a Dutch author and historian, said the BBC removed a “key line” from a flagship address it had invited him to deliver. Continue reading...
Taiwan’s President to Seek an Extra $40 Billion for Military
President Lai Ching-te says the spending, which must be approved by the island’s legislature, would fund purchases of arms from the United States.