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Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Russia ‘attacking civilian infrastructure and people,’ Zelenskyy’s top aide says Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office, just posted a social media update calling out Russian attacks overnight: In Sumy, a Russian Shahed drone struck a hospital. Russia is … Read more

The New South Wales parliament will hold an upper house inquiry into “who knew what and when” about the caravan that was found laden with explosives on the outskirts of Sydney ahead of controversial legislation passing parliament. The motion for the inquiry – which was moved by independent MP Rod Roberts and supported by the … Read more

Santander is to close a fifth of its branches in the UK as part of an overhaul of its network, putting 750 jobs at risk. The retail bank said it would shut 95 out of its 444 high street outlets, and reduce the services or hours at a further 50-plus branches, by June to “better … Read more

Independent senator David Pocock says the use of encrypted messaging platforms by politicians to avoid scrutiny is damaging to Australian democracy, urging the government to act on recommendations from the information commissioner and the National Archives that such messages should be retained. In a report on Wednesday from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner … Read more

Good morning. After weeks of leaks and speculation, in parliament yesterday the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, set out the government’s plan to cut the benefits bill. Her announcement covered a lot of ground, and she said that it was necessary to fix a system that is “failing the very people it is supposed … Read more

Turkish police on Wednesday arrested Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, state-run media reported, as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and terror links. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that prosecutors also issued warrants for 100 other people. Authorities closed several roads around Istanbul and banned demonstrations in … Read more

A Sydney hospital could not follow through on a significant expansion of its mental health beds due to shortages of psychiatrists, a court has heard. Dr Brett Oliver, director of medical services for the South Western Sydney Local Health District, appeared on Wednesday as a witness for NSW Health on day three of its arbitration … Read more

Protesters charged with non-violent offences should not be forced to disavow their motives when defending themselves at trial or seeking mitigation on their sentences, academics have said. In a challenge to the current approach to protest trials, a study argues courts should allow defendants to explain the reasons for their actions as a defence, and … Read more

It is a casualty rate that would have unimaginable before the start of the Israel-Hamas war. More than 400 Palestinians have been reported killed after 10 hours of resumed Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday, including, according to one early report, at least six members of one family in an attack on a car east of Khan … Read more

The architect of global Magnitsky sanctions – which punish human rights abusers and corrupt officials – has warned Peter Dutton’s desire to bring back a controversial “golden ticket” visa scheme would be “a big mistake”. The significant investor scheme allowed foreign nationals who invested $5m in Australia access to a four-year visa that could be … Read more