Australian politics live: Marles defends Isaac Herzog visit and says he is ‘confident’ in security arrangements
Israeli president to arrive in Australia next week. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastACTU calls for capital gains tax reformThere’s plenty of momentum for outside parliament for a change to the capital gains tax discount – including from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).When John Howard brought in capital gains tax 26 years ago, the average wage of a worker, it would be six times more, to buy a house. Now, it’s nearly twice that, it’s 11.It’s 1%, like, 1% of the wealthiest Australians, the ones benefiting from this [CGT discount]. I think it’s not just us, it’s like across the community, people like [independent MP] Allegra Spender, everyone saying that this needs to change and clearly it does. I do think the Government is listening to that and we’re going to just keep pushing because it’s the right thing to do. Continue reading...
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Israel Launches Deadly Strikes on Gaza, Saying Militants Attacked Its Soldiers
Gaza officials said the Israeli airstrikes killed at least 21 Palestinians. Israel said one of its soldiers was critically wounded in the attack by Palestinian gunmen.
Democrats say ‘dramatic changes’ needed for immigration enforcement as DHS funding negotiations continue – live
Trump’s stopgap bill funds the department of homeland security until 13 FebruaryWhite House border czar says 700 federal agents will leave MinnesotaTom Homan, the president’s so-called “border czar” is set to speak to reporters in Minneapolis shortly.A reminder that Homan took over the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota from senior border official Gregory Bovino, just days after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and the mounting backlash in the Twin Cities. Continue reading...
Two Quit Human Rights Watch Over Shelved Report Criticizing Israel
Omar Shakir and Milena Ansari said they had quit over the stalled publication of a report that concludes it is a crime against humanity to deny Palestinians the ability to return to the territory that is now Israel.
DWP chief accused of overseeing ‘culture of complacency’ that led to carer’s allowance scandal
Commons committee chair says DWP repeatedly failed to prioritise the vulnerable and was slow to fix errorsThe government’s most senior welfare official has been accused of presiding over a “culture of complacency” that led to thousands of unpaid carers inadvertently running up huge benefit debts.Debbie Abrahams, the chair of the work and pensions select committee, said the Department for Work and Pensions had repeatedly failed to prioritise vulnerable people, was unwilling to learn from its mistakes, and slow to fix errors. Continue reading...
Russian Comedian Accused of Making a Joke About Veterans Gets Prison Time
The comedian, Artemy Ostanin, was convicted of “inciting hatred” by making a joke during a stand-up routine in March.
Starmer faces rising anger over Mandelson as MPs agree to release files to security committee – as it happened
Starmer faces criticism from MPs on all sides of the CommonsThis liveblog is now closed. Read the politics team’s report on today’s developments herePMQs is starting soon. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.The Reform UK MP Lee Anderson has dismissed claims that his party’s plan to support the pub industry would cost far more than the £3bn it claims.To be honest with you, we’re not interested in who you’ve been talking to. We’re more interested who we’ve been talking to, and we’ve been talking to landlords and small businesses up and down the country, and every landlord that I speak to … they want this VAT cut.We can go on all day about the numbers. I’m not interested in the numbers that the BBC have sourced. You’re hardly a bastion of truth at the BBC when it comes to things like this.This doesn’t add up. This is an unfunded tax cut which also pushes hundreds of thousands of children into poverty.Reform says that reinstating the two-child limit for most, but not all, families would save £2.29bn in 2026/27. The party claims its package of tax cuts would also cost £2.29bn – making it cost neutral – with the bulk coming from a proposal to halve VAT on hospitality, which it estimates would cost £1.7bn. Continue reading...
Wes Streeting to offer resident doctors bigger pay rise to end dispute
Health secretary to increase pay offer and guarantee working conditions for resident doctors only Wes Streeting is to offer resident doctors a bigger pay rise than other NHS staff as part of a new package of measures to try to end their long-running dispute.The health secretary also plans to guarantee resident doctors in England that hospitals will be fined if they do not give them good working conditions, such as rest areas and access to hot food. Continue reading...
Labour MPs say Starmer’s days as PM are numbered amid fury over Mandelson
MPs say release of papers on Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador could trigger leadership challengeLabour MPs have warned that Keir Starmer’s days as prime minister are numbered after a day of fury over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.The government was on the brink of a defeat in the Commons until a mid-debate amendment brokered by Meg Hillier and Angela Rayner to force the release of documents about Mandelson’s appointment and the depth of his relationship with the convicted child sex offender. Continue reading...
Some in Israel question its influence over US as Iran war decision nears
Israelis wonder whether US will favour its own geopolitical priorities over Israel in its decision over Iran attack.