Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has apologized for feeding a Dorito chip to a social media influencer who dropped to her knees after Roman Catholic organizations accused the Democratic politician of insulting their religion by mocking the sacrament of communion. “I would never do something to denigrate someone’s faith,” Whitmer said in a statement that her…
Local councils would be forced to set deadlines for deciding on housing development applications and lose approval rights if they cannot stick to them, under a proposal from the national peak body representing big business. The Business Council of Australia (BCA) is urging state governments to force local councils to consult housing development proponents and…
Sky is likely to appeal against a planning decision blocking the expansion of its film studios, amid signs that the Labour government is willing to allow building on the green belt to prioritise economic growth. Sky Studios Elstree already has a new state-of-the art film and TV studio in Hertfordshire with 12 sound stages across…
The business secretary has said Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise national insurance applied to employees but he did not rule out raising employers’ contributions in the budget. Speaking on Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Jonathan Reynolds was asked if the pledge applied both to employees’ and employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs). He replied:…
I have always been drawn to growth. I love the opportunities that growth creates, as well as the chance to have a positive impact on so many people, not just your customers, but your employees. When Keir Starmer asked me to become his government’s investment minister, it was his clear focus on growth that made…
Premier Steven Miles has promised free school lunches for every Queensland primary school student, just one day before polls open in the state election campaign. The Labor leader made the announcement in front of party faithful, at the Labor election campaign launch in North Lakes on Sunday. It’s the second cost-of-living promise of the weekend.…
The centuries-old mystery over Christopher Columbus’s nationality has been revealed by scientists in a Spanish TV documentary after using DNA analysis. The 15th explorer was Jewish and from Spain, according to Columbus DNA: His True Origin, a programme broadcast on national broadcaster RTVE on Saturday to mark Spain celebrating its national day and commemorating Columbus’s…
Police have been required to break up a group of white supremacists demonstrating in a small town on the New South Wales-Victoria border. About 50 people were demonstrating in Corowa, on the Murray River, on Saturday afternoon before police split them up. A group of balaclava-wearing men were spotted huddled under a sign that read…
Russia and China blocked a proposed consensus statement for the East Asia Summit drafted by south-east Asian countries, mainly over objections to language on the contested South China Sea, a US official said on Saturday. A draft statement arrived at by consensus by the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations was put to the 18-nation…
On the morning of the final day in Nedd Brockmann’s quest to run 1,000 miles (1,609.3km) in 10 days, the loneliness of Australia’s favourite long-distance runner could be felt by all. The former tradie turned endurance athlete was in agony. Brockmann, 25, from the New South Wales central west, had already covered 1,271.26km in nine…
