Major outage hits Telstra mobile network as thousands report they can’t make calls or access internet

• Iran's foreign ministry rejected claims that the U.S. can dictate the "timing of war and peace," countering assertions by Donald Trump that Tehran had requested negotiations. • The statement follows efforts by mediators to revive a collapsed interim deal and restore diplomatic relations between the two nations.

• Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan would go to war against India if its water security is threatened. • The threat is tied to the potential suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of river waters between the two nations.

• The Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen has escalated attacks to exploit a period of vulnerability within Saudi Arabia. • The group aims to leverage this conflict to secure significant political concessions regarding the ongoing war in Yemen.

• A new war in Yemen is looming, with signs indicating a re-eruption of conflict is imminent. • Recent developments have strengthened anti-Houthi forces in the country, potentially altering the balance of power.

• Intensified hostilities in Ukraine and surrounding areas are devastating civilians and threatening global food security, according to senior UN officials. • The conflict has led to a 20 per cent spike in wheat prices since the start of July, as well as attacks on third-party merchant vessels.

• UNESCO has identified six World Heritage sites at risk due to conflict, insecurity, and environmental pressures. • The Palestinian site is under threat from the ongoing Middle East conflict, development, and plans for a national park that may divide the property.

• The Houthi threat to Saudi oil exports is worsening the energy crisis in Asia. • Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines are already reeling from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating the issue.

• Tensions exist between Armenia and Azerbaijan over a disputed border region. • A joint declaration of peace has been agreed upon, along with a request to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group.

Historically Black institution withdrew more than 500 first-year students for missed tuition paymentsNew York residents who were unenrolled from Washington DC’s Howard University have been offered a reprieve after the historically Black institution withdrew more than 500 first-year students for missed tuition payments in late July. On 27 July, Kathy Hochul, New York’s governor, announced that affected New Yorkers can seek admission at the City University of New York (Cuny) and the State University of New York (Suny) for the fall 2026 semester.Students will be offered expedited late admissions review at the Suny campuses at Buffalo, Albany, Buffalo State University, Binghamton, Oneonta, Stony Brook and New Paltz, with other schools assessing capacity. Continue reading...

Ruby Rippey writes in Vanity Fair of relationship with then San Francisco mayor and appears to contradict his accountA former aide to Gavin Newsom has publicly shared for the first time her full account of their affair, which took place more than two decades ago when Newsom was mayor of San Francisco.In a new essay published in Vanity Fair on Tuesday, Ruby Rippey writes about her struggles with alcoholism, substance abuse and her relationship with Newsom while she worked as his appointments secretary and was married to his deputy chief of staff and later the manager of the mayor’s re-election campaign. Continue reading...

Former PM says ousted Victorian premier was ‘courageous in combating misogyny’ and was a trailblazer for other women. Follow updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFormer union boss and former leader of the Labor party Bill Shorten has leant his support behind newly crowned Victorian premier Ben Carroll’s announcement he will call a royal commission into the construction sector.Shorten told 7.30 last night:He wants to act with integrity, and he wants to act in everyone’s interests.I think he understands [what] people will be assessing: is he serving the people or is he just playing politics? So I thought he was very straight. He’s in there for Victorians, not trying to just tick the box and get particular interest groups on side.I think the national mood or the state mood was there for it. I just think that the costs of construction … there may be exaggerations, but there is something rotten going on in construction, and people want to see it can be dealt with. This is public infrastructure, so it’s taxpayer money.There is no doubt that as the second woman to lead the state, she has been subjected to vile sexism.She has been courageous in calling it out and combating this misogyny. As a result, she has made it easier for the women that follow.I know how hard working he is and how much he cares about ensuring every child gets the best possible start in life. I wish him and his team well in the months to come. Continue reading...

Cole Gray pleaded guilty to 55 counts, including murder, for shooting at Apalachee high school in 2024Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA US judge on Tuesday sentenced a teenager who killed two students and two teachers in a shooting at Apalachee high school in Georgia to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.Colt Gray, 16, had pleaded guilty on Friday to 55 counts, including murder, in the 4 September 2024, shooting at the school about 45 miles (73 kilometers) north-east of Atlanta. Gray, who was 14 at the time, was charged as an adult. Continue reading...