Republicans urge investigation into two men accused of abuse by Epstein assistant

• A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, resulting in at least 73 deaths and the collapse of numerous buildings. • In the Middle East, Iran's president reported that the supreme leader is calling for national "unity" to withstand the pressure of U.S. sanctions.

• Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reshuffled Iran's military leadership, announcing six new senior appointments. • The leadership shake-up occurs as diplomatic talks regarding the Strait of Hormuz appear to have stalled.

• Oil prices have climbed following Iran's signal that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed despite a potential management agreement with Oman. • Iran stated that reopening the vital waterway is contingent upon the United States meeting a specific list of conditions.

Anthony Albanese facing criticism after appearing to joke on a podcast about a gift of melons from Sanae TakaichiAustralian prime minister Anthony Albanese has rejected calls to apologise to Japan’s prime minister over a joke he made about melons on a satirical podcast, amid a media frenzy and accusations of sexual innuendo.Government MPs have defended the prime minister as criticism mounted over last month’s remarks, branded by the Coalition opposition as “grubby”. Assistant minister Pat Gorman told media: “I don’t know why we’re still talking about this”. Continue reading...

Apollo, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and KKR among those working with chipmaker to fund infrastructureNvidia ⁠has partnered with six major Wall Street financial institutions to raise ⁠more than $500bn (£370bn) capital for artificial intelligence infrastructure.The Nvidia chief executive, Jensen Huang, said on X that the company has ⁠the option to backstop up to $125bn, or 25% of the potential deals. Continue reading...

Barclays says survey shows people feel more secure in jobs and have more leeway to spend on non-essentialsBusiness live – latest updatesConsumer confidence hit its highest level in almost two years in July, according to research that indicated the closing stages of the men’s football World Cup and more people holidaying in the UK lifted summer spending.A truce in the Middle East conflict in June and the arrival of a new prime minister in No 10 also gave a lift to consumers after a long period of heightened uncertainty. Continue reading...

Some Liberal and National MPs warned against over-regulation in party room discussion, while others argued for more stringent rulesCoalition MPs have warned the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, not to overreach in talks with Anthony Albanese on Labor’s gambling advertising crackdown, insisting rules that are too stringent would not strike the right balance on personal responsibility.The prime minister and the opposition leader continued talks on Tuesday over a deal to advance Labor’s legislation to limit online gambling advertising, with betting inducements and more restrictions on advertising hours among possible avenues for movement. Continue reading...

In today’s newsletter: As we enter our fifth summer heatwave, Andy Burnham’s government is looking at what the UK should do with its remaining North Sea oil and gasGood morning. What a difference a new job can make. “To have a shot at staying within 1.5C global warming, we can’t have any new oil or gasfields … It’s irresponsible and shortsighted to be funding new #fossilfuels when we need to be getting to #NetZero.” This was the 2022 message from Miatta Fahnbulleh, now the secretary of state for energy security and net zero. It’s a testament to her remarkable rise that Fahnbulleh wasn’t even an MP when she posted it four years ago. Today, she is in the cabinet, facing (or is the face of, at least) one of the most challenging, and potentially controversial questions looming for the new government: to drill or not to drill, baby?Two sites are the focus of fierce debate. Yesterday, a public consultation on whether to greenlight extraction at one of them – Jackdaw – closed. Next Monday, it’ll be the same for the other, Rosebank. Andy Burnham has been silent about the climate crisis since taking office. As we enter yet another heatwave, what his government does next will be a defining signal of intent on the issue.Colombia | More than 100 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, collapsing and severely damaging scores of buildings in major cities including Cali and Pereira.UK weather | Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought, with four more regions officially declared, and as much of Europe braces for its fifth climate crisis-driven heatwave this summer.Crime | Police are investigating whether Joshua Kerry, the man charged with the murder of the former Reform UK and Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe, had any role in an attempted burglary last year at the then London home of Nigel Farage.China | More than a million people were moved to safety across eastern China by Sunday evening as powerful Typhoon Dolphin made landfall amid fears torrential rain would cause flooding and landslides.Ukraine | Russia has banned voting against the war in September’s elections, after the supreme court upheld a suit brought by a small pro-Kremlin nationalist party, and stripped voters of their last option on the ballot: Yabloko, the country’s only remaining anti-war party. Continue reading...

Consultant Jeremy Greenwood gives evidence to Independent Commission Against Corruption as it investigates allegations linked to Christian Liberal groupFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA former lobbying firm which allegedly accepted illegal donations to fund factional Liberal party work created a fake administrative assistant called “Jessica”, an inquiry has heard.Consultant and lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood gave his second day of evidence to the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (Icac) Operation Rosny on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Parent-carers of disabled children are exposed to chronic levels of extreme stress and often reach crisis point before help is available – then they face a ‘fight for basic support’, experts say. This is Matilda Davis’s storyTwo days before she died, Matilda Davis issued a plea on Facebook. Sharing a study that found more than 40% of parent-carers had considered suicide, she called for “greater awareness, action and change” in Britain’s broken social care system. “This speaks the words I can’t,” she wrote.Matilda, known as Tilly to her family and friends, had spent years battling for support in a regime that close observers and those who rely on it often say is increasingly confusing, fragmented and difficult to navigate. Continue reading...

Supply in nine blocks in Tower Hamlets affected with some residents suspecting nearby building developmentsThey cannot even flush their toilets: life in east London blocks where taps often run dryHundreds of residents in blocks of flats in east London have been left without regular running water for more than seven months after development in the area may have left it without an adequate supply.Taps have been running dry in nine blocks in Tower Hamlets, where residents have been forced to use bottled water while their landlord, the housing association Poplar Harca, delayed works to solve the problem. Continue reading...

Former 2GB and 2UE radio host, now 85, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touchingFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn alleged victim of Alan Jones told his older brother, after the broadcaster was arrested, that his indecent assaults weren’t “too bad” but involved Jones grabbing his penis, a Sydney court has heard.The witness on Tuesday was asked by the trial prosecutor Georgina Wright to describe what his younger brother, known as complainant J, told him during a meeting at a McDonald’s. Continue reading...