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☆ Britain lagging in delivery of new hospitals, watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The National Audit Office (NAO) said only 32 of 40 hospitals promised by former PM Boris Johnson were due to be completed on schedule by 2030. "Delivery so far has been slower than expected," said Gareth Davies, the head of the non-partisan NAO. The promise of 40 new hospitals in England by 2030 has been criticised as some of the proposals were for renovations of existing hospitals. Including those projects, there would be 40 new hospitals by the end of the decade, a health ministry spokesperson said. "Patients and clinicians are going to have to wait much longer than they expected before their new hospitals are completed."

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Dan Kitwood, Rishi, Boris Johnson, Gareth Davies, NAO, Sunak, Johnson, Meg Hillier, Alistair Smout, William Schomberg Organizations: British, Hospital, REUTERS LONDON, Audit, New, Labour Party, of Health, Social, Thomson Locations: Cambridge, United Kingdom, England

☆ The European Parliament is auditing years of its Google ads following a report that alleged YouTube misled advertisers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The European Parliament said it's auditing its YouTube advertising from 2020 to date. The European Parliament is auditing its Google advertising going as far back as 2020 following a report that alleged YouTube placed ads on third-party sites that violated its own standards. This evaluation process is still ongoing," said a European Parliament press representative in an emailed statement. From its initial assessment, the use of the GVP Network by the European Parliament was "residual," the representative said. The European Parliament has been put under pressure to suspend all of its Google advertising.

Persons: TrueView skippable, Adalytics, Marvin Renaud, Renaud, Roberta Metsola, Pravda.ru, monetization, Adweek, Ruben Schreurs Organizations: Google, YouTube, Fortune, Partner, GVP, GVP Network, US Treasury, Street Journal, Ebiquity Locations: TrueView, Russia, Russian, Ukraine

☆ UK lawmakers launch inquiry into sexism in finance
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) - British lawmakers have launched a fresh inquiry into sexism in the country's finance industry, parliament's influential Treasury committee said in a statement on Friday. The inquiry will assess issues including progress made in removing gender pay gaps, how best to support diversity and combating sexual harassment and misogyny, the committee said. The move comes amid renewed scrutiny of sexual misconduct in finance, after hedge fund founder Crispin Odey was ousted from his firm in June after allegations of sexual misconduct jointly reported by the Financial Times and Tortoise Media. The average gender pay gap across 20 of the biggest finance employers was 30.1% in favour of men in 2022, a Reuters analysis in April showed, compared to the UK average of 8.3%. This is a subject of marked importance to our Committee and we look forward to beginning work on this important topic," said Harriett Baldwin, chair of the Treasury committee.

Persons: Crispin Odey, Odey, Harriett Baldwin, Iain Withers, Josie Kao Organizations: Financial Times, Tortoise Media, Treasury, Thomson

Lawmakers and member countries will now negotiate the final text, aiming for a deal before EU Parliament elections in 2024. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol"Restoring nature brings numerous benefits to farmers," EU lawmaker Mohammed Chahim said. Lawmakers and scientists have rejected the EPP's claims, accusing the group of using misinformation to court votes ahead of EU Parliament elections next year. "This is a law on behalf of nature, not against any person whatsoever." EU lawmakers voted earlier this week to weaken another law to cut pollution from farms.

Persons: Cesar Luena, Manfred Weber, Remy, Pascal Rossignol, Mohammed Chahim, Luena, Greta Thunberg, Kate Abnett, Marine Strauss, Bart Meijer, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Mark Potter, Devika Syamnath, Ed Osmond Organizations: European, European People's Party, EPP, EU Parliament's, REUTERS, EU, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Europe, Neuville, France, Brussels

ZURICH, July 11 (Reuters) - A rare Swiss parliamentary investigation due to start this week aims to establish what went wrong before the dramatic fall of Credit Suisse, once Switzerland's second biggest bank. It was apparent that Credit Suisse was in difficulties over the last two years after a string of scandals, with customers withdrawing money on a massive scale at the end of 2022. Could the central bank have done more, for example by promising Credit Suisse unlimited liquidity to reassure customers and stem the outflow of funds? It is unclear whether Credit Suisse and UBS executives are obliged to appear if asked, but they are expected to do so due to intense political and public pressure. POSSIBLE OUTCOMESWhile some experts have said the inquiry offers the Swiss authorities an opportunity to redeem themselves, others have warned it could simply become political theatre.

Persons: Peter V Kunz, Isabelle Chassot, Franziska Ryser, John Revill, Tomasz Janowski, Alexander Smith Organizations: Credit Suisse, UBS, Bern University, Swiss, Swiss National Bank, Suisse, Swiss People's Party, Social Democrats, Greens, Green Liberals Party, Thomson Locations: ZURICH, Swiss, Switzerland, Mitte

☆ UK government offers concessions over contested immigration plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government offered concessions on Monday to members of parliament's upper house after they inflicted a series of defeats on highly contested legislation to make it easier to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. There has already been a protracted legal fight over the plan, which has been criticised by some opposition politicians as inhumane and cruel. The House of Lords, Britain's unelected upper chamber in parliament, approved 20 amendments last week to water down the government's legislation. One government amendment will limit the detention of unaccompanied children to eight days rather than the previously proposed 28 days. The government is appealing a Court of Appeal ruling last month that the plan was unlawful.

Persons: Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, Andrew MacAskill Organizations: British, European, of Human, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: Rwanda, Britain, East, France

☆ Israeli lawmakers give first nod to new judicial overhaul bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, July 4 (Reuters) - Israeli lawmakers on Tuesday gave an initial nod to a bill that limits Supreme Court power to rule against the government after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would press on with contentious changes to the justice system. In a stormy session broadcast live, Parliament's constitution committee, dominated by Netanyahu's nationalist-religious ruling coalition, voted in favour of the bill that limits "reasonableness" as a standard of judicial review. At present, the Supreme Court can rule against government and elected officials' decisions if they are deemed unreasonable. After the committee vote, the shekel weakened by 0.3% against the dollar. Netanyahu has defended the changes as restoring balance between branches of government and redressing what his coalition allies see as judicial overreach.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu, Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, Critics, Steven Scheer, William Maclean, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Netanyahu's, Israel's Ben, Washington, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Israel's Ben Gurion

☆ UK banks asked by lawmakers if they're 'exploiting' savers with low rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Iain Withers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - British banks faced fresh criticism on Monday for the savings rates they offer to cash-strapped customers, in the latest intervention by parliament's influential Treasury Select Committee. British banks have come under pressure from lawmakers and consumer campaigners for not passing on the extent of higher Bank of England rates to savings customers. Finance minister Jeremy Hunt also said last week banks were too slow to pass on increases in central bank rates to savers and that the problem needed to be resolved. Top executives from the banks were grilled by the Treasury committee on savings rates during a session in February. "Savings rates have increased and we always encourage people to shop around for the product and interest rate that is suited to their needs," the spokesperson added.

Persons: Harriett Baldwin, Jeremy Hunt, Baldwin, Iain Withers, Jason Neely, David Holmes Organizations: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, Bank of, Treasury, Finance, Financial, Authority, Thomson

Sunak responded by defending his record and framing the resignation as a consequence of Goldsmith's reluctance to apologise for remarks criticising a parliamentary committee over its investigation of former prime minister Boris Johnson. In his resignation letter, Goldsmith said Britain had "visibly stepped off the world stage and withdrawn our leadership on climate and nature". When Sunak was serving as finance minister, Britain won international plaudits in 2021 for brokering a global climate pact at the COP26 summit in Glasgow. However shortly after becoming prime minister, Sunak said he would not attend the 2022 COP summit, before changing his mind when faced with criticism. On Friday, shortly after Goldsmith's resignation, the government announced a new multi-million pound fund to create and restore wildlife-rich habitats.

Persons: Goldsmith, Sunak, Johnson, Zac Goldsmith, Britain, Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, Goldsmith's, William James, Farouq Suleiman, Sarah Young, Philippa Fletcher, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Johnson LONDON, Conservative Party, State, Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Britain, Thomson Locations: British, Glasgow

☆ Russia's Prigozhin was told he would no longer fight in Ukraine -lawmaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, June 29 (Reuters) - Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was told that his Wagner group would no longer fight in Ukraine as he had refused to sign contracts to bring his mercenaries under the sway of the defence ministry, a senior lawmaker said on Thursday. "As you know, a few days before the attempted mutiny, the defence ministry said that all formations performing combat tasks must sign contracts with the defence ministry," said Kartapolov. Prigozhin said on June 11 that his Wagner fighters would not sign any contract with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, adding that Shoigu was unable to manage military units. Kartapolov said that after Prigozhin's refusal to sign the contracts he had been told that his mercenaries would no longer fight in Ukraine and thus would not receive state money. As a result, the lawmaker said, Prigozhin, committed treason due to "exorbitant ambitions", money and what he cast as an "excited state".

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Andrei Kartapolov, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Kartapolov, Alexander Marrow, Gareth Jones Organizations: Defence, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Ukraine

☆ Corruption inquiry in Australia uncovers China links to state lawmaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SYDNEY, June 29 (Reuters) - The former premier of Australia's most populous state engaged in corrupt conduct involving another lawmaker with whom she was in a secret romantic relationship, a years-long corruption inquiry that examined business dealings with China said on Thursday. The inquiry said Maguire sought to use his government office to "create a network between China and Australia and to make a commission in multiple ways". The commission found Maguire engaged in "serious corrupt conduct" between 2012 and 2018 for the migration scheme and other misconduct. It said he misused his role as chairman of the New South Wales Parliament's Asia Pacific Friendship Group to advance the commercial interests of a Chinese business association in South Pacific nations. The commission said it would seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether further prosecutions should be commenced into Maguire.

Persons: Gladys Berejiklian, Daryl Maguire, Maguire, Berejiklian, Barry O'Farrell, Kirsty Needham, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, New South Wales Independent, Corruption, New, Liberal, Australian Council, Australia, Pacific Friendship Group, New South Wales, Public, Maguire, Thomson Locations: Australia's, China, New, New South Wales, Berejiklian, Australia, South Pacific, Beijing, Sydney, Liaoning, New South

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred questions about Surovikin to the defence ministry, which has so far made no statement about him. Asked by reporters if the Kremlin could clarify the situation with Surovikin, Peskov said: "No, unfortunately not. "So I recommend that you contact the defence ministry; this is its prerogative." Questions about "structural units within the ministry," Peskov said, should be addressed to the defence ministry. The Kremlin said Putin also chaired a meeting about the development of tourism in the region.

Persons: Wagner, Prigozhin, Sergei Surovikin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Surovikin, Dmitry, Peskov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia's, PUTIN, Alexander Lukashenko, Andrei Kartapolov, Kartapolov, Guy Faulconbridge, Alexander Marrow, Andrew Osborn, Gareth Jones, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: General Staff, Kremlin, Reuters, Thomson Locations: St Petersburg MOSCOW, Ukraine, Russian, Soviet, Kala, Moscow, St Petersburg, Russia, Belarus, Concord

☆ Corruption inquiry in Australia's NSW state uncovers China links to lawmaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 29 (Reuters) - The former premier of Australia's most populous state engaged in corrupt conduct involving another lawmaker with whom she was in a secret romantic relationship, a years-long corruption inquiry that examined business dealings with China said on Thursday. Maguire told the inquiry he had received envelopes full of thousands of dollars in cash at his parliament office as part of a scheme for Chinese nationals to fraudulently acquire visas. The commission found Maguire engaged in "serious corrupt conduct" between 2012 and 2018 for the migration scheme and other misconduct. Maguire also misused his office by receiving a fee to introduce the party secretary of Liaoning province in China to then NSW premier Barry O'Farrell at parliament in 2012, it said. The commission said it would seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether further prosecutions should be commenced into Maguire.

Persons: Gladys Berejiklian, Daryl Maguire, Maguire, Berejiklian, Barry O'Farrell, Kirsty Needham, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, New South Wales Independent, Corruption, NSW, Liberal, NSW Parliament's, Pacific Friendship Group, Public, Maguire, Thomson Locations: Australia's, China, New, Berejiklian, Shenzhen, South Pacific, Australia, Beijing, Sydney, Liaoning

☆ Britain tightens planned tech law to stop children viewing porn
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Britain said on Friday it had tightened protections in its Online Safety Bill that will prevent children from viewing pornography in an update to long-delayed legislation that is being closely watched by the tech industry. Britain, like the European Union and other countries, has been grappling over how to protect social media users, and in particular children, from harmful content without damaging free speech. "To prevent any further tragedy and build a better future for our children, we are acting robustly and with urgency to make the Online Safety Bill the global standard for protecting our children." The tech industry including firms like Apple (AAPL.O) have criticised sections of the Online Safety Bill, particularly provisions that could be used to make messaging services break end-to-end encryption in order scan for child abuse material. Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Alison Williams;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Paul Scully, Sachin Ravikumar, Alison Williams Organizations: European Union, Apple, Thomson Locations: Britain

☆ EU nature law on knife-edge after losing first vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The bill to revive ailing environments - which aims to restore nature on 20% of EU land and sea - is facing a political backlash from the European People's Party group in the EU Parliament, which has called for its rejection. In a tight vote, 44 lawmakers voted for the law and 44 against, meaning it failed to win majority support. The bill now heads to a full EU Parliament vote on July 11, where failure to win majority support would kill off the proposal. Supporters from other parliament groups said they would try to club together to find a compromise deal ahead of the full parliament vote. Despite that, EU countries agreed a position on the nature bill last week - weakening some targets and asking for more EU money to support farmers in restoring nature, but backing its overall aims.

Persons: Anne Sander, Cesar Luena, parliament's, Kate Abnett, Bart Meijer, Frank Jack Daniel, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Union, European People's Party, European Commission, EPP, Thomson Locations: Hymettus, Athens, Greece, BRUSSELS, Brussels, Ireland, Belgium

☆ Thailand's Pita says he has 'enough support' from Senate to become prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Thailand is awaiting the formal appointment of Pita Limjaroenrat as its new Prime Minister after his Move Forward Party swept the Thai elections in May. Thailand's leading prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat said on Tuesday he has enough support in the upper house to become the country's next premier, just days ahead of the new parliament's first session. When asked on Tuesday how much Senate support he had secured, Pita said: "enough for me to become prime minister." Doubts have lingered over whether Pita has enough support because of his party's controversial proposal to amend Thailand's strict royal insult law or lese majeste. After convening on July 3, parliament is expected to vote on a prime minister on July 13.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Thailand's, Pita, Thais Organizations: Forward Party, Party Locations: Thailand

☆ Thailand's Pita says 'enough support' from Senate to become PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, attends a press conference following the general election, at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, May 15, 2023. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File PhotoBANGKOK, June 27 (Reuters) - Thailand's leading prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat said on Tuesday he has enough support in the upper house to become the country's next premier, just days ahead of the new parliament's first session. When asked on Tuesday how much Senate support he had secured, Pita said: "enough for me to become prime minister". Doubts have lingered over whether Pita has enough support because of his party's controversial proposal to amend Thailand's strict royal insult law or lese majeste. The party was in the process of explaining its position to senators ahead of the July parliamentary vote, said Pita.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Athit, Pita, Thais, Chayut Setboonsarng, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Forward Party, REUTERS, Party, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK

☆ Berlin plans to spend 8 billion euros in package for 60 Boeing Chinook helicopters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, June 23 (Reuters) - Germany aims to purchase 60 Chinook helicopters from Boeing (BA.N) in a package that would cost up to 8 billion euros ($8.71 billion), including necessary infrastructure for the aircraft, a parliamentary source told Reuters on Friday. The sum includes the procurement of the CH-47 heavy-lift helicopters for 6.27 billion euros, 700 million euros for service, 240 million euros for national contracts and 750 million euros for the infrastructure, the source said, confirming reports by other media. Germany announced its intent to buy 60 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from Boeing (BA.N) last year to replace its ageing CH-53 fleet. Originally, six billion euros had been budgeted for the helicopters. Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz shifted policy in February 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, sharply increasing defense spending and committing 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr, Germany's armed forces.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Sabine Siebold, Maria Sheahan, Tom Sims Organizations: Boeing, Bundeswehr, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Meta to pull news from Facebook and Instagram in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Hayden Field | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Meta has announced it would shut down access to news on Facebook and Instagram in Canada after the country's federal government passed the Online News Act, or Bill C-18, a law mandating that tech companies pay content fees to domestic media outlets. In response, Meta took a similar path to its current approach in Canada, blocking users from seeing or sharing news content on Facebook. Within a week, Meta relented and came to a deal with the Australian government, via amendments to the law allowing tech companies two months to negotiate with media outlets. Meta said it would remove news from Facebook and Instagram if the law passed in California, similar to its current strategy in Canada. "While these product tests are temporary, we intend to end the availability of news content in Canada permanently following the passage of Bill C-18," Meta wrote in the statement.

Persons: Meta, Bill C Organizations: Facebook Locations: Canada, Australia, California, U.S

☆ Countries back weakened EU nature law, seek more biodiversity funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Germany, Lithuania and Romania were among countries that had raised concerns over funding. POLITICAL PUSHBACKEU climate chief Frans Timmermans told reporters he was not worried by countries' tweaks to make the law more flexible. But he criticised lawmakers in the European Parliament who are trying to block the law and are refusing to negotiate. EU countries and the European Parliament must both approve the final bill. A motion by EU lawmakers to reject the entire proposal last week failed by a razor-thin margin, ahead of a full EU Parliament vote in July.

Persons: Eamon Ryan, Christianne van der Wal, Frans Timmermans, Timmermans, Kate Abnett, Jonathan Oatis, Gareth Jones Organizations: Sierra, EU, Union, European Commission, Reuters, EU Parliament's, Thomson Locations: Andalusia, Nieves, Brussels, LUXEMBOURG, Germany, Lithuania, Romania, Ireland, Netherlands

☆ UK lawmakers set to back report that Boris Johnson misled them over 'partygate'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - British lawmakers are expected to back a report on Monday that said former Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled parliament over rule-breaking parties at the heart of government during coronavirus lockdowns. "Obviously, this is a matter for the House (of Commons), not for the government," Sunak told ITV when asked how he would vote. "This committee was established under the former prime minister ... Labour leader Keir Starmer challenged Sunak to show up for the vote, saying he has to "show leadership". "What his predecessor got up to was unacceptable," Starmer told the BBC.

Persons: Boris Johnson, coronavirus, Johnson, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Keir Starmer, Starmer, Sachin Ravikumar, Kylie MacLellan, Ed Osmond Organizations: Conservative Party, Times, ITV, Labour, BBC, Thomson Locations: London

☆ Netanyahu seeks 'active steps' on Israel judicial overhaul this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, June 18 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he would pursue "active steps" on a contested judicial overhaul this week after what he described as months of wasteful compromise talks with the political opposition. The proposed legislation set off unprecedented street protests, with critics of Netanyahu - who is on trial on corruption charges he denies - accusing him of trying to curb judicial independence. "We gave a month and then another month and then another month - three months. "Most of Israeli society understands that there need to be changes in the judicial system," he said. "That's why we will meet this week and commence with active steps ... in a measured way commensurate with the mandate we were given."

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yair Lapid, Lapid, Dan Williams, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Thomson Locations: Israel

☆ Israel could accept U.S.-Iran nuclear 'understanding', senior lawmaker says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM, June 17 (Reuters) - Israel could find acceptable an understanding between its arch-foe Iran and the United States if it includes rigorous supervision of Tehran's nuclear programme, a senior lawmaker said in comments aired on Saturday. According to Iranian and Western officials, Israel's main ally Washington is holding talks with Iran to sketch out steps that could include limiting the Iranian nuclear programme. No agreement with Iran would obligate Israel, which will do everything required to defend itself. "Our opposition to the deal - a return to the original (2015) deal - is working, I think." The U.S. government has dismissed reports it is seeking an interim deal with Tehran, which denies seeking the bomb.

Persons: Donald Trump, Yuli Edelstein, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Edelstein's, Netanyahu, Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel didn't, Hanegbi, Israel Hayom, Ron Dermer, Joe Biden's, Dan Williams, David Holmes Organizations: U.S . Congress, parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence Committee, Press ., Israel, Strategic, AJC Global, Thomson Locations: Israel, Iran, United States, Washington, Tel Aviv, U.S, Tehran

The referendum, which comes amid a wider reckoning over race relations, proposes to change the constitution and establish an advisory body called the Indigenous Voice to Parliament to give Indigenous Australians a direct say in policies that affect them. Five of those polled were funding or planned to fund the "Yes" campaign, while none endorsed nor were contributing to "No". Commonwealth Bank told Reuters it plans to fund the "Yes" campaign and had hosted two panel discussions with Indigenous speakers. Rio Tinto, which faced criticism in 2020 for destroying Indigenous rock shelters, said the Voice would bring an "additional lens" to government decision-making. Aurora Milroy, a lecturer in Indigenous affairs at the University of Western Australia, said supporting the Voice was easy publicity for companies.

Persons: Rita Wright, Loren Elliott, Anthony Albanese, Intifar Chowdhury, Albanese, Meg O'Neill, Ross Piper, Baker McKenzie, Thomas Mayo, Kate Gillingham, Peter Dutton, Coles, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, Aurora Milroy, Byron Kaye, Praveen Menon, Melanie Burton, David Crawshaw, Devayani, Anant Chandak, Veronica Khongwir, Sujith Pai Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Australia's, BHP, Rio Tinto, Woodside Energy, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Labor, Voice, National, Nine Entertainment, Reuters, Commonwealth Bank, Ethical Investment, Qantas, Australian Financial, Liberal, Fair Australia, Miners, Fortescue Metals, University of Western, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Rio, Western Australia, Woodside, Queensland, University of Western Australia, Melbourne

☆ Australian senator asked to resign after allegations of misconduct
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 16 (Reuters) - Australia's main opposition Liberal Party leader asked a senator to resign on Friday following allegations of sexual misconduct against him by female senators, which he has denied. The accusations against Liberal Party Senator David Van follow numerous previous complaints about the culture in Australia's parliament house, which led to an inquiry in 2021 that found one in three people working there had experienced sexual harassment. Earlier this week Thorpe, speaking under parliamentary privilege, said she had been sexually assaulted by Van in the previous parliamentary term, which Van immediately denied. Following Thorpe's comments, former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker said in a statement that Van inappropriately touched her at a party in 2020 by squeezing her bottom twice. A third allegation has also emerged against senator Van, opposition Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton told the media on Friday, without giving details.

Persons: David Van, Thorpe, Van, Amanda Stoker, Peter Dutton, Dutton, Scott Morrison, Morrison, Praveen Menon, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, Liberal Party, Liberal, Nine Radio, Thomson

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