An analysis of Victorian auditor-general data found that 48 per cent of state-managed roads were in poor or very poor condition in 2024, up from 39 per cent in 2021. The findings come as the government promises to repair 500,000 potholes this financial year and opposition criticism intensifies.
Residents of Piddington voted overwhelmingly in a nonbinding referendum to symbolically secede from the United Kingdom, protesting plans for an asylum reception center at a nearby former military base. The proposal remains under review, while officials and ministers say military facilities could help replace asylum hotels.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under growing pressure after the CDU’s defeat in Saxony-Anhalt and weak polling ahead of an election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Despite criticism over communication and policy, all eight CDU state premiers have declared their support, while no broadly accepted successor has emerged.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is seeking a “unique alliance” with the European Union as Canada looks to deepen ties beyond its existing trade agreement. Areas under discussion include defense, technology, energy, critical minerals and infrastructure, though experts say the partnership is unlikely to involve Canadian membership of the EU single market.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing growing doubts after the CDU’s defeat in Saxony-Anhalt and weak polling in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Government officials have criticized the coalition’s lack of public trust, but the CDU and CSU have no broadly supported alternative and all eight CDU state premiers have publicly backed him.
The United States has used its Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time since it was created, deporting Afghan permanent resident Nazira Haji Zada after she waived an appeal. Legal experts and her attorneys questioned the court’s secrecy and said its constitutional validity remains untested.
The Centre for a Better Britain is reportedly preparing proposals to abolish inheritance tax, phase out capital gains tax and reduce financial-sector regulation. The thinktank says reports based on an early draft contain inaccuracies and insists its final document will not propose unfunded tax cuts.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing renewed doubts after the CDU’s defeat in Saxony-Anhalt and weak polling ahead of a state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Despite criticism within the governing coalition, the party has no broadly supported successor and all eight CDU state premiers have publicly backed him.
All eight CDU state premiers and Bavaria’s Markus Söder have backed Chancellor Friedrich Merz after the party’s poor election result in Saxony-Anhalt. The governing coalition is also considering rapid measures to ease record fuel prices, though parties remain divided over the form of assistance.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under growing pressure after the CDU’s poor result in Saxony-Anhalt and weak polling in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Yet party figures have offered no broadly supported alternative, while eight CDU state premiers publicly backed him and urged unity.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union could create an associate-member status for Canada, whose prime minister was attending her address. The proposal comes as both sides seek closer cooperation on security, trade, raw materials and other strategic issues.
A bill advancing in the US House would give President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas. DW says the measure could put pressure on India-US relations because India is a major consumer of Russian energy.
Charlotte Knobloch, president of Munich’s Jewish community, told DW that the AfD’s strong showing in Saxony-Anhalt had revived fears among Jews about their future in Germany. She urged established parties to unite against the far-right party and said she had recently received death threats linked by a spokeswoman to the election result.
Victoria’s royal commission into alleged corruption on major infrastructure projects will hold its opening hearing next Wednesday in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. The hearing is expected to set out the inquiry’s terms of reference and next steps, with the commission due to report to the state government by August next year.
More than 79,000 working holiday visas were granted to British citizens in 2024–25, but the removal of Australia’s specified-work requirement has changed how many use the scheme. Employers and tourism operators in regional areas say fewer British visitors are travelling north, while cities such as Sydney attract more workers seeking jobs and longer-term opportunities.
Former ASIO director-general Dennis Richardson says Australian media failed to report some antisemitic incidents after the October 7 Hamas attacks. He called for discussion of extremist Islamism while warning that Australia’s broader Muslim community should not be targeted.
ACT Greens leader Jo Clay says the party has ended its confidence and supply agreement with ACT Labor for the rest of the parliamentary term, citing stalled negotiations over priority issues. The Greens will not form a government with the Liberals and will support the upcoming budget, leaving Chief Minister Andrew Barr’s minority government to negotiate votes issue by issue.
A judge has ordered the Department of Homeland Security not to make additional threats against David Streever after ICE agents visited his home over a harsh email to an ICE official. The available account does not provide further details about the ruling or the email.
Snowtown killer James Vlassakis is expected to move to Adelaide’s pre-release centre before beginning parole under strict conditions, including curfews, movement restrictions and random drug testing. The SA Parole Board chair said he would likely return to prison if he failed a drug or alcohol test.
The UK is discussing membership of the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank, which supporters say could help governments secure cheaper loans for military projects. Treasury officials stressed that no decision has been made, while membership would require an estimated £870m investment over three years.
North Queensland fishers are backing an independent assessment they say shows their gillnet fishery could meet international sustainability standards. The Queensland government says it will conduct a robust review after receiving the full report, while the planned June 2027 ban remains in place.
The Kennedy Center board voted to close most of the Washington arts complex for safety repairs after a judge again blocked efforts to add President Donald Trump’s name to the building. Trump said the $257m renovation would depend on recognising his role, while the Justice Department appealed.
A US judge has barred the Kennedy Center board from adding President Donald Trump’s name to the Washington arts institution, while the board voted to close it for two years. The decision faces a separate court block requiring the center to remain open as litigation continues, according to BBC News.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is travelling to Europe as Ottawa seeks closer trade, investment and security links with the EU. A Canadian official told the Associated Press that talks could include easier work and residence access, but Canada is not pursuing EU membership or an associate-membership model.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised relief for motorists as fuel prices rise, but the government has not agreed on specific measures. Coalition partners differ over possible tax breaks, direct payments, price caps and an excess-profits tax, while officials cite international tensions and limited budget space.
Charlotte Knobloch told DW that the AfD’s strong performance in Saxony-Anhalt had unsettled Jewish people and led some to consider leaving Germany. She urged established parties to oppose the party together, after receiving death threats reportedly linked to the election result.
Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria, told DW that the AfD’s strong result in Saxony-Anhalt had revived fears among Jewish people and prompted some to consider leaving Germany. She urged established parties to oppose the party and said she had recently received death threats linked to the election result.
Reform UK's Dan Thomas has resigned as leader of the party in Wales, citing personal reasons after saying he was reported to police over the weekend. Thomas said he was released without charge and insisted he had done nothing wrong.
Donald Trump criticized the Supreme Court after it declined to lift an order blocking his proposed restrictions on mail-in and absentee ballots. The ruling leaves the limits on hold ahead of November’s midterm elections, while civil rights groups welcomed the decision.
Hockey star Alexander Ovechkin appeared in a campaign video supporting Russia’s ruling United Russia party before returning to the United States for the NHL season. The appearance renews scrutiny of his longstanding public support for President Vladimir Putin, despite his claim that he is not involved in politics.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Premier Manuela Schwesig is presenting herself as the main barrier to an AfD victory in the state election. DW reports that the SPD has narrowed the polling gap while Schwesig distances herself from Berlin and argues that the far right threatens the state’s economy and social cohesion.
A Bangladesh court sentenced seven former Awami League figures to death in absentia for crimes against humanity linked to the deadly suppression of the 2024 uprising. The verdict, which includes asset seizures for victim compensation, brings the number of death sentences in related cases to 22, according to the supplied report.
The Supreme Court has allowed states to continue sending mail ballots under procedures used for years, rejecting Donald Trump’s bid to impose new restrictions during the midterm election period. Democratic election officials said the ruling would let them proceed without disrupting established systems, while Utah’s Republican chief election officer said the election would proceed normally.
The Left Party, CDU and AfD are closely matched ahead of Berlin’s state election, according to an infratest dimap poll cited by DW. Housing is central to the campaign, with the Left Party backing a 2021 referendum on transferring large landlords’ properties into public ownership.
Ahead of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s September 20 election, Premier Manuela Schwesig is presenting herself as the main barrier to the far-right AfD. DW reports that the AfD leads the polls, while Schwesig has gained ground by emphasizing opposition to its rhetoric and distancing herself from Berlin’s unpopular coalition government.
Trade union delegates have unanimously backed a motion urging ministers to retain the five-year route to permanent residence for workers and withdraw changes affecting migrants already in the UK. The government says it is considering 200,000 consultation responses, while ministers have defended longer waits as a response to high migration.
A court in Santa Ana has sentenced a 39-year-old man to life in prison for killing his neighbor, in what prosecutors described as El Salvador’s first life sentence for femicide. The conviction came 42 days after the August stabbing and follows legal reforms that expanded the use of life imprisonment.
A government review has judged the former Help to Buy programme to be “very high value for money”, estimating £25bn in social value in the last financial year. The findings may revive debate within Labour over a new first-time buyer scheme, although the government says there are no current plans to introduce one.
The US Supreme Court has denied the Trump administration’s request to impose new requirements on mail ballots ahead of the midterm elections. The ruling allows states to continue using existing procedures, while two justices dissented and another left open the possibility of supporting the restrictions in a future case.
A newly published register identifies more than 100 historic Tory and Whig MPs as investors in Britain’s slave trade. The Guardian reports that both parties supported the system for much of its history, although Whigs increasingly backed abolition while Tory governments delayed it.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson apologised if her description of Indigenous Australians as “primitive” caused offence, while saying she had not intended to hurt people. She also expressed regret if comments about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s late mother were offensive, as politicians and Indigenous leaders condemned her statements.
NSW Police says an intelligence-led operation across 14 licensed premises produced 28 drug detections and 12 fines. A Sydney MP is referring the raids to the police watchdog after club-goers said the presence of officers made them feel targeted and intimidated.
The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s request to impose new mail-ballot requirements while voting was already underway. The decision preserves states’ existing procedures, which election officials said could not be overhauled without disrupting ballot distribution.
The US supreme court denied the Trump administration’s request to enforce new Postal Service requirements for mail ballots during the 2026 midterm elections. The unsigned ruling said the government was unlikely to prevail in its challenge to a lower-court injunction, while Justices Alito and Thomas dissented.
The Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s request to revive restrictions on mail-in voting before the November midterms. Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the proposal might ultimately be lawful but could not reasonably be implemented in time, while Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.
The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s request to permit mail-in voting restrictions under a U.S. Postal Service plan for this year’s midterm general election, NPR reports. The supplied material does not provide details about the court’s reasoning or the proposed restrictions.
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump said Umar Kremlev, a Russian businessman, paid for portions of celebrations held in the Bahamas after their May wedding. The couple described the spending as a generous gift from a friend, while Kremlev’s Kremlin ties and past scrutiny of Trump Jr.’s Russia connections have drawn attention.
The ACT government has proposed mandatory account-based cashless gaming, limits on machine operating hours and a staged reduction in poker machines. The package includes 15-minute breaks for continuous players, but excludes mandatory bet limits and centrally enforced bans on individuals.
One Nation MP David Farley says the party may reduce family reunion visas for skilled migrants while pursuing a plan to cut temporary migration by 750,000 places over three years. A former Immigration Department official says visas for partners and dependent children of Australian citizens and permanent residents cannot legally be capped, although successive governments have limited numbers administratively.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says two £36m donations to his party comply with current law, while declining to say whether they would meet proposed restrictions on overseas donors. Ministers are seeking a £100,000 annual cap, with the legislation applying retrospectively from 25 March 2026.
Lord Wormald received nearly £860,000 in contractual compensation and severance after leaving as cabinet secretary and head of the Civil Service in February. Cabinet Office accounts say much of the payment protected the value of his pension after his early departure, while Conservative opposition figures criticised the cost.
German federal prosecutors have charged a 57-year-old Berlin businesswoman with allegedly supporting a Russian intelligence officer. They accuse her of using political and military contacts to arrange access, seek information on German defense policy and identify potential recruits.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on his Christian Democratic Union to remain focused and disciplined after its poor election result in Saxony-Anhalt. Senior Social Democrats said their coalition participation was not personally tied to Merz, while other politicians urged the government to end the leadership speculation and govern.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has cancelled engagements on Monday and Tuesday after the death of his father, Roy. Burnham has spoken publicly about Roy’s Alzheimer’s disease and linked his experience to his plans for reforming adult social care in England.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed military support for Ukraine after the AfD called for peace talks and renewed Russian gas supplies. The party’s strong result in Saxony-Anhalt has highlighted declining support for Berlin’s policy, particularly in eastern Germany, although experts differ on whether this reflects pro-Russian sentiment or fear of escalation.
About one-quarter of Berlin’s residents cannot vote in the city-state election because they lack German citizenship, according to the report. It is the largest proportion of residents excluded from the election so far, prompting dissatisfaction among many affected people.
Burnham says the UK needs a change in its approach to business and argues that government should support those willing to take risks. His government has faced criticism over measures that have increased business costs.
Israel’s upcoming election is being portrayed as a pivotal contest over the country’s direction. Benjamin Netanyahu’s former military chief is gaining support as a leading challenger seeking to end the prime minister’s tenure.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is seeking a “unique alliance” with the European Union. His comments followed a report that Ottawa was considering associate membership in the bloc.
The Christian Democrats finished as the strongest party in Lower Saxony’s local elections. The result was closely monitored for indications of support for the far-right AfD, which placed third.