2GB’s Ben Fordham pulls out of Liberal event, saying he didn’t realise it was fundraiser for party

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Nine radio star says he speaks to political organisations, Scouts, charities and preschools but draws the line at political promotion

Nine’s 2GB radio host Ben Fordham has pulled out of a Liberal party fundraiser in Kirribilli, saying he did not realise the event was raising money for the political party when he accepted the invitation to speak.

“Kirribilli Branch is honoured to be joined by Ben Fordham, Sydney’s No.1 radio presenter,” the invitation said. “Ben will provide a review of the major stories he has uncovered and covered this year and the very important election year on the horizon.”

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Drilling for Sydney to Newcastle high-speed rail begins but Labor accused of uncosted ‘fantasy project’

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Two drill rigs, installed on barges, have started work on the Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn and at Brisbane Water near Gosford

Drill rigs have started boring into rocks and riverbeds to determine the best route for the tunnelling megaproject needed for a high-speed rail line between Sydney and Newcastle, but the fast train’s future is far from certain amid questions about its cost.

Almost three years after Labor came to power on a promise to build the fast train, two drill rigs have begun geotechnical examinations on the Central Coast of New South Wales, the Albanese government announced on Tuesday, as its newly formed High-Speed Rail Association (HSRA) works on a business case for the project’s first stage.

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Employers shortchanged Australian workers a record amount of super last year, tax office says

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The dollar figure of superannuation that went unpaid after recovery efforts rose to $5.2bn from $4.8bn in 2022-23

Australian workers missed out on a record $5.2bn of superannuation that employers failed to pay last financial year, according to the Australian Taxation Office.

The ATO has released the data on the superannuation “gap” in its annual report, which also reveals that $1.4bn is likely to go unpaid because it is owed by insolvent companies.

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Media hysteria around Sofronoff report fuelled ‘mob mentality’, Bruce Lehrmann prosecutor Drumgold says

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Exclusive: Former ACT director of public prosecutions plans to return to NSW bar after painful experience of losing his ‘dream job’

The ACT’s former director of public prosecutions Shane Drumgold believes “something went terribly wrong” with the Sofronoff report on Bruce Lehrmann’s prosecution, which resulted in Drumgold losing his “dream job”, a court battle over its findings and a subsequent integrity commission investigation.

Drumgold says media “hysteria” into the report’s findings fuelled a mob mentality against him, in what he described as a “terribly painful process”.

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Paris drivers warned of fines as city begins limiting traffic in parts of centre

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Three-month ‘educational phase’ begins for scheme it is hoped will reduce through-traffic and improve air quality

Paris authorities have begun limiting traffic in a large zone of the city centre, with police alerting drivers that they are now banned from driving through the French capital’s central four arrondissements and risk a fine if they do so after next spring.

The so-called “limited traffic zone” (ZTL), home to about 100,000 people and 11,000 businesses, is part of a broader push by the socialist mayor, Anne Hidalgo, to restrict traffic and encourage cycling and public transport use across the car-clogged city.

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Swedish court jails far-right leader who burned Qur’an

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Danish politician Rasmus Paludan sentenced to four months for incitement against ethnic group

A far-right Danish-Swedish politician has been sentenced to prison on charges of incitement against an ethnic group for burning copies of the Qur’an and making offensive statements about Muslims.

Rasmus Paludan was the first person to go on trial in Sweden – and is now the first to be sentenced – for burning the Qur’an during an organised demonstration.

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Belgian comic book withdrawn amid outrage over racist depictions

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Publisher ‘profoundly sorry’ for hurt caused by Spirou and the Blue Gorgon as it recalls 30,000 copies from shops

A comic book has been withdrawn from sale by its Belgian publisher after an outcry over racist depictions of black people and “hyper-sexualised” images of women.

The publisher Dupuis announced that its graphic novel, Spirou and the Blue Gorgon, would be removed from shops after the book caused a storm on social media.

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North Korea fires barrage of missiles into the sea before US election – New York Post

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  1. North Korea fires barrage of missiles into the sea before US election  New York Post
  2. North Korea told the UN point-blank that it's speeding up nuclear weapons development  Business Insider
  3. North Korea fires a barrage of ballistic missiles toward the sea ahead of US election  The Associated Press
  4. North Korea launches short-range ballistic missile hours before US election  Fox News
  5. North Korea Tests New Solid ICBM Probably Intended for MIRVs  38 North
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Why have five been arrested over leaked Hamas documents in Israel? – Al Jazeera English

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  1. Why have five been arrested over leaked Hamas documents in Israel?  Al Jazeera English
  2. Netanyahu aide charged for leaking secret documents, accused of sabotaging hostage deal  USA TODAY
  3. Worker in Netanyahu Office Accused of Leaking Classified Documents in Israel: What to Know  The New York Times
  4. Israel leaks scandal: Netanyahu aide arrested over Gaza hostage talks stories  NBC News
  5. Theft of sensitive IDF intel, transfer to ‘people at PM’s office’ called ‘systematic’  The Times of Israel
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Iran-backed Iraqi militia attacks Haifa, Israel with drones – Fox News

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  1. Iran-backed Iraqi militia attacks Haifa, Israel with drones  Fox News
  2. Iraq trying to reel in Iran-backed groups to prevent confrontation with Israel  The Times of Israel
  3. Islamic Resistance in Iraq ready to intensify attacks against Israel - report  The Jerusalem Post
  4. Iraqi Pro-Iran Groups Claim Drone Attack On South Israel  Barron's
  5. Coming from Iraq | Four drones violate Golan’s airspace and Israel Forces attempt to intercept them  المرصد السوري لحقوق الانسان
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Migrant workers exposed to deadly 45C temperatures in Gulf – report

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Research and undercover interviews reveal reality of extreme heat exacerbated by abusive working conditions

Migrant workers across the Gulf are risking their lives by being forced to work up to 14 hours a day in deadly temperatures, according to human rights researchers.

Equidem, a human rights organisation, interviewed more than 250 migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE between 2021 and May 2024 for a new report on the conditions they were facing including their exposure to extreme heat and long working hours.

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Germany arrests eight over alleged neo-Nazi government takeover plot – Euronews

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  1. Germany arrests eight over alleged neo-Nazi government takeover plot  Euronews
  2. Eight suspected members of far-right terror cell arrested in Germany  The Guardian
  3. Germany arrests suspected members of right-wing group plotting revolt  Reuters
  4. Eight members of far-right group arrested in Germany and Poland  Al Jazeera English
  5. Germany arrests eight over alleged far-right coup plot  BBC.com
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Russia behind plot to plant bombs on cargo planes, Western official says – NBC News

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  1. Russia behind plot to plant bombs on cargo planes, Western official says  NBC News
  2. U.S., Europe investigating devices detonated at air DHL cargo hubs in U.K. and Germany  CBS News
  3. Incendiary device plot targeting UK may have been dry run for US and Canada  The Guardian
  4. Russia suspected of plot to send incendiary devices on planes: Sources  ABC News
  5. Russia suspected in plot to target cargo planes in Europe and the U.S.  The Washington Post
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Iran Rejects Nuclear Weapons but Will ‘Defend Itself by All Means’ – Newsweek

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  1. Iran Rejects Nuclear Weapons but Will 'Defend Itself by All Means'  Newsweek
  2. Iran is now dangerously vulnerable to the consequences of another attack on Israel  Business Insider
  3. Israeli restraint suggests Iran’s strategic leverage  Hindustan Times
  4. Iran’s top diplomat says Tehran would respond to Israel’s strike in a ‘measured’ way  The Associated Press
  5. Israel's strikes on Iran spark interest in air-launched ballistic missiles  Reuters
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