DPD temporary workers may have missed out on sick pay and pensions, internal documents show

Missing payments suggest employment laws may have been breached by recruitment agencies used by courier company

Low-paid temporary workers at one of the UK’s top courier businesses have missed out on entitlements to sick pay and pension contributions, internal documents suggest.

The payments – typically included in the “charge rate” that large brands pay recruitment companies to supply them with temporary workers – are missing from internal spreadsheets calculating the cost of employing thousands of transient staff working at DPD.

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Sydney gardener fined almost $200,000 for removing 287 trees to improve harbourside mansion’s water views

Local council described incident as ‘worst act of environmental vandalism in Lane Cove history’

It began with a gardener being hired to trim grass at a harbourside mansion in Sydney – and escalated to payments being left in a shoe for the unlawful felling of hundreds of native trees in protected bushland.

Now a court has fined Yi Wang $187,500 for his role in organising and carrying out the destruction of 287 trees from council-owned foreshore bushland at Woodford Bay in Longueville in late 2023.

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Labor open to ‘sensible amendments’ on gambling reforms, minister says – as it happened

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Coalition demands NDIS changes focus on fraud, corruption

Liberal frontbencher Tim Wilson also called on the government to focus more on fraud and corruption issues in the NDIS, as the Coalition and Labor negotiate on changes to the disability scheme.

We have people who are awarding either packages to people when they shouldn’t be used, we’re having people taking advantage of the system and we know this is being exposed.

And so as a consequence we’ve seen this massive growth continue to go on and we need to make sure that that’s the focus, not the targeting of the clients. You know, if you go out to voters in Australia, there are a lot of people who are on disability support packages who are very nervous about their future and it’s because of how this government has looked at reforms and they feel like they’re being targeted, not the fraudsters.

We’re not wowsers, we do believe in protecting children, particularly from harm.

Under the government’s proposed bill, it doesn’t limit the capacity to advertise to children and that’s something that I’m concerned about, making sure that we’ve got the measures that are consistent, appropriate, and also reflecting the changing nature of technology

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How a Drone ‘Hellscape’ Might Stop a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan – The New York Times

  1. How a Drone ‘Hellscape’ Might Stop a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan  The New York Times
  2. Test Marks Big Step in Taiwan’s Bid To Challenge Beijing as World’s Leading Drone-Maker  nysun.com
  3. Koo calls for Legislature to back Cabinet's unmanned systems bill  Focus Taiwan
  4. Taiwan's Sea Drone Order May Signal Shift in Maritime Defense Strategy - Subscription Growth Report  dars.gov.et
  5. Taiwan advances efforts to become global drone hub with non-China supply chain edge  digitimes
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Labor open to ‘sensible amendments’ to gambling laws after inquiry hears alcohol and cocaine offered to punters

Sources say Albanese government willing to tighten rules on betting inducements but less likely to budge on TV and online advertisements

The Albanese government is prepared to tighten rules on gambling inducements, but is less likely to budge on advertising rules, as negotiations continue on wagering legislation, which so far has lacked the support needed to pass parliament.

Federal Labor is open to considering amendments to its legislation from the Coalition when MPs return to Canberra this week, sources say.

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Iran issues tough demands to reopen strait of Hormuz as deal still out of reach – The Guardian

  1. Iran issues tough demands to reopen strait of Hormuz as deal still out of reach  The Guardian
  2. Iran makes dramatic new demands around Strait of Hormuz  Politico
  3. Talks with US won't happen while interim deal is breached, Iranian minister says  Reuters
  4. Live updates: US-Iran war news: Iran insists on US concessions before opening Strait of Hormuz  CNN
  5. Iran Issues List of Demands, Dampening Hopes of Reopening Strait of Hormuz  The New York Times
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‘Not enough air traffic controllers’: safety concerns at Sydney airport after Jetstar and Qatar planes involved in near-miss

Planes narrowly avoid collision on tarmac with Jetstar A320 forced to ‘brake firmly’ as Qatar Boeing 777 towed into its path

Two planes have narrowly avoided a collision on the tarmac of Australia’s busiest airport as it struggles with staff shortages.

The Jetstar and Qatar Airways planes almost collided at Sydney airport at 7am on Sunday.

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Missile Barrages Against Ukraine, Switching Off Crimea, Russia’s Military Reshuffle and Preparing for War in Taiwan. The Big Five, 9 August edition – Futura Doctrina | Mick Ryan

  1. Missile Barrages Against Ukraine, Switching Off Crimea, Russia’s Military Reshuffle and Preparing for War in Taiwan. The Big Five, 9 August edition  Futura Doctrina | Mick Ryan
  2. What is the Patriot missile system and why are supplies depleted worldwide?  Reuters
  3. Retired Army colonel explains why Patriot missiles are so valuable and in short supply  PBS
  4. U.S. Patriot shortage raises air-defense concerns in South Korea  upi.com
  5. The soaring demand for Patriot missiles, from the Middle East to Ukraine  NPR
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Thailand school shooting toll rises to nine after 12-year-old dies, police say

Teenage girl treated in hospital after Friday’s school shooting has died, police say

The death toll from a school shooting in Thailand rose to nine on Saturday, after police said a 12-year-old girl caught up in Friday’s incident had died.

Police at the Plai Bang Police Station in Nonthaburi Province said the girl, who had been treated at hospital with critical wounds, had died, a day after a 14-year-old boy allegedly shot his grandparents and then killed more people at his school before turning the gun on ⁠himself.

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Fires seen in Russia’s Belgorod amid reported Ukrainian drone attack – The Kyiv Independent

  1. Fires seen in Russia's Belgorod amid reported Ukrainian drone attack  The Kyiv Independent
  2. Russia’s Belgorod comes under drone attack as explosions and fires reported  Українська правда
  3. ‘A playground, a beach, a home’: UNICEF demands end to child deaths in Russia-Ukraine war  UN News
  4. 3 Killed in Ukrainian Drone Attack on Belgorod, Russia Says  The Moscow Times
  5. 13 people injured in Belgorod drone attack  Breakingthenews.net
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Yemen’s Houthis say they attacked Saudi Aramco Jazan refinery, fire extinguished – Reuters

  1. Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Saudi Aramco Jazan refinery, fire extinguished  Reuters
  2. Yemen's Houthis claim attack on Aramco oil facility in Saudi Arabia, and other Middle East news  NPR
  3. Oil Ships Signal Egypt and Suez to Mask Saudi Red Sea Loadings  Bloomberg.com
  4. Saudi Arabia says fire extinguished at Aramco facility in Jizan  Al Jazeera
  5. Houthis Threaten to Expand Red Sea Attacks, and Claim Strikes on Saudi Tankers  The New York Times
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British Columbia wildfire forces more than 20,000 to flee, destroys homes – Al Jazeera

  1. British Columbia wildfire forces more than 20,000 to flee, destroys homes  Al Jazeera
  2. ‘Explosive’ wildfire forces 20,000 people to flee as British Columbia declares state of emergency  The Guardian
  3. A fast-moving wildfire forces more than 20,000 people to evacuate in western Canada  CNN
  4. State of emergency declared as fast-moving Canada wildfire doubles in size  BBC
  5. Wildfires force 20,000 to flee as British Columbia declares state of emergency  ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
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Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 8, 2026 – Institute for the Study of War

  1. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, August 8, 2026  Institute for the Study of War
  2. 'Winter is coming': Ukraine fears its toughest test since Russia's full-scale invasion  CNBC
  3. Wes Streeting: Allies must step up to help Ukraine weather winter  The Times
  4. Ukraine energy chief says infrastructure attacks will shape war’s outcome  politico.eu
  5. Kyiv may come under new ballistic attack overnight  Breakingthenews.net
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