Charles Perrottet repeatedly denies taking payments from developer for political outcomes in Icac hearing

• At the 2026 SCO Summit, member states issued the Bishkek Declaration, which explicitly rejects unilateral sanctions and the application of "double standards" regarding global terrorism. • The declaration supports a negotiated two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict, though it contains less detailed language on Gaza's humanitarian crisis and ceasefires compared to the 2025 Tianjin declaration.

• Recent Ipsos research indicates that a significant majority of Italians, approximately 79%, oppose the conflict involving Iran. • The data reveals a strong preference among the Italian public to avoid direct involvement in Middle East tensions to prevent further escalation.

• On September 2, Democrats accused a politically appointed panel of delaying decisions regarding the security detail for the Golan Heights. • In separate developments, the US president declined to provide a timeline for the end of the current war and expressed understanding toward unarmed Iranian protesters.

• Recent attacks across Ukraine, specifically targeting Kyiv and Odesa, have resulted in significant civilian casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure. • Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale highlighted a concerning pattern of strikes on energy grids, railway systems, warehouses, and shopping malls.

• Hilroy issued a formal apology after its notebooks were found to be missing Newfoundland and Cape Breton from their maps of Canada. • In a separate legal matter, a bus driver is facing charges following a severe crash in 2025 that resulted in injuries to 33 passengers.

• Renewed fighting in West Asia highlights a global trend of instability and imprudent escalation. • Iran is reportedly collaborating with Russian missile specialists to develop a ramjet propulsion system for faster anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles.

• On Monday, August 31, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that India cannot unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. • The five-member tribunal issued a unanimous decision rejecting all arguments presented by New Delhi since April 2025 to justify the suspension.

Misfits Together, by Bastille’s Dan Smith and To Kill a King’s Ralph Pelleymounter, is set amid the 1950s’ ‘red scare’It was lampooned as the union of the “hourglass” and the “egghead” – the marriage, in the summer of 1956, between Hollywood superstar Marilyn Monroe and Pulitzer-winning playwright Arthur Miller. Now, a new stage musical is to give a nuanced and intimate portrait of that famous relationship, treat each as trailblazers in their own way and reveal parallels between the volatile state of the US during the 50s “red scare” and now.The production, which opens next autumn at Leicester’s Curve, is called Misfits Together, a reference to the film Miller wrote for Monroe that was released shortly after their divorce in 1961. It is a foray into musical theatre by two indie musicians, Dan Smith of the band Bastille and Ralph Pelleymounter from To Kill a King, who have recorded the score as a studio album. The first track, Oh America, is out on Thursday. Continue reading...

Case is latest in string of post-Brexit deportations from country, which has been criticised for high refusal rate for British people to remainThe wife of a British man detained by police in Stockholm on Tuesday ahead of a threatened deportation has pleaded with Andy Burnham to get involved in the Brexit catastrophe unfolding for many British citizens in Sweden.Charles, who does not want to be fully identified, and his Swedish wife, Lily, were summoned to the police station at 10am on Tuesday, where he was told he would be held at a detention centre and deported within the next two weeks. Continue reading...

Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan claim drastic cut to price of cigarettes and moves to legalise vapes will combat illicit tobacco tradeLeading public health experts, the Australian Medical Association and Labor have rejected Angus Taylor’s plan to cut tobacco excise by 80%, labelling the move to curb soaring illegal cigarette sales as a backward step on tobacco control.Taylor and Nationals leader Matt Canavan on Thursday announced plans for an 80% cut to excise, as well as moves to legalise and regulate vapes and nicotine pouches. The announcement comes weeks after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson proposed a 75% cut. Continue reading...

Wayve robotaxis added to Uber app and will have human in front ready to take over if needed – but only 15 cars licensedLondoners are now able to hire self-driving taxis for the first time, after rides in Wayve’s autonomous vehicles were added to the Uber app on Thursday.The chances of landing a robotaxi on request immediately are slim, with only 15 vehicles so far licensed. That contrasts with the more than 100,000 private hire vehicles in the capital – roughly the same number of Uber customers who have registered to take autonomous rides. Continue reading...