Million-dollar public servants: 11 staff at Australia’s Future Fund paid significantly more than the PM

• Washington and Beijing are exploring a new framework to manage their rivalry as Donald Trump considers his second-term diplomacy. • The U.S. is weighing the costs of prolonged confrontation, including trade uncertainty and China's control over critical minerals.

• The DID Press Agency reported that the security and political order of the Middle East is undergoing a significant transformation due to recent regional conflicts. • The agency cited the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation, direct confrontations between Iran and Israel, and Ansarullah's influence over Red Sea security as primary drivers of this change.

• The 81st United Nations General Assembly met in New York to address the breakdown of multilateralism and the paralysis of the Security Council. • The assembly focused on the structural stagnation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the lack of binding laws for disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence.

• Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik criticized the UN General Assembly for its inability to address escalating conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, Palestine, and Sudan. • UN development programme administrator Alexander De Croo described the current global state as a series of crises piling up on one another.

• A Group of Friends of the Process has proposed the Muscat Process to address international diplomacy during a period of geopolitical fragmentation. • The initiative focuses on the economic dimensions of diplomatic crises, specifically targeting impacts on energy prices, shipping, insurance, and supply chains.

• Acting UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov reported that Palestinians in Gaza are seeking a return to normal life. • The UN is currently working to overcome major challenges regarding humanitarian access, the restoration of essential services, and reconstruction efforts.

President also doesn’t rule out declaring state of emergency before midterms and deflects responsibility for Iran warDonald Trump deflected responsibility for misleading Americans about the length of the Iran war, dismissed low poll ratings as “fake numbers” and refused to rule out the possibility of declaring a state of emergency before the midterms, in a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine.When confronted with questions about the length of the Iran war, the US president blamed the media for reporting his remarks in which he said the conflict was projected to last “four to five weeks”, in March. Continue reading...

Alternative ways being used to move fuel out of Gulf region, but flows of refined products such as diesel still constrainedExports of crude from the strait of Hormuz have largely returned to levels seen before the outbreak of the Iran war, as oil producers and the shipping industry have found alternative ways of transporting crucial fuel out of the Middle East.Pipeline exports and ship-to-ship transfers are among the methods being used, according to analysts tracking the situation, while the US military continues to escort some vessels. However, flows of refined products such as diesel remain constrained, pushing prices higher. Continue reading...

West Ham co-owner and former pornographer lodges high court claim over episode, in which several women accused him of abusing powerDavid Sullivan is suing the BBC for £150m over multiple claims of sexual misconduct made in a documentary.Lawyers acting for Sullivan, who remains West Ham United’s co-owner, have lodged a high court claim against the corporation over its Panorama investigation “Predator: The Billionaire Football Boss”, which was broadcast in June. Continue reading...

Reform UK leader tells supporters PM’s move has ‘opened up a huge flank to us’UK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage has claimed that Andy Burnham has given him “the biggest boost in my career” by reviving the Brexit debate, which the Reform UK leader said had reopened a “huge flank” to his party.The prime minister’s pledges to the Labour conference and admission on Wednesday that rejoining the EU was among options the government would look at had put “put me back into the debate”, he said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Climate Change Authority chair says planning commission did not account for climate-related economic damage in NSWSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereA senior Albanese government climate adviser has challenged the state approval of the largest coalmining development in New South Wales’ history, arguing “climate change isn’t someone else’s problem”.Matt Kean, the chair of the Climate Change Authority and a former NSW treasurer and energy minister, questioned why the state Independent Planning Commission had not weighed the economic cost of climate change caused by burning the coal from the Hunter Valley Operations mine before giving it the green light to run until 2045. Continue reading...