TRANSCRIPT:
- Bill Shorten announces his retirement from politics;
- The UK Prime Minister says sorry after a damning report in the 2017 Grenfell disaster;
- The last Australian eliminated from the men's singles at the U-S Open.
Former Labor Leader Bill Shorten is stepping down from politics after an almost two decade long career.
The current Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme won't contest the next election.
Mr Shorten served as leader of the Labor Party in opposition for six years, taking over from Kevin Rudd following the ALP's 2013 election loss.
He has also played a key role in creating the NDIS under the Gillard government, returning to the portfolio in this term.
Shorten says it's now time to walk away.
"I genuinely consider myself to be one of the luckiest people in politics. I have been the member for Maribyrnong. It is a community that I love so much. I've had the privilege to serve in portfolios that I care about."
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Authorities say parts of Australia are at risk of an early start to the fire season, thanks to unseasonal rainfall and higher average temperatures.
The forecast, released by national fire and emergency services council AFAC, says record rain has lifted fuel loads in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Parts of western Victoria and eastern South Australia are also at an increased risk of an early start, while authorities have warned Tasmania could follow suit if warm and dry conditions continue.
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologised to those affected by London's 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster for the string of failures that led to the fatal fire.
The P-M has signalled his support for calls that the companies involved in the disaster be banned from receiving government contracts, and said the government would support the police's investigation into the blaze which killed 72 people.
Mr Starmer's apology follows publication of the final report of the inquiry into the disaster, led by retired judge Martin Moor-Bick.
"I'm afraid there's no way of repeating this that won't be painful, he said the simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable... Mr Speaker, today is a long-awaited day of truth, but it must now lead to a day of justice."
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A fourteen year old boy accused of a deadly shooting at a Georgia high school in the US will be tried as an adult.
The teen killed two students and two teachers during the rampage at Apalachee High School, weeks after classes began in the new school year.
Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Chris Hosey says the teen is speaking with investigators, but they have declined to say if they knew what motivated him.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith says they will do their best to find answers.
"I don't know why it happened. I may not ever know. We may not ever know... And that again, we do not let this hateful event prevail."
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There is concern that Australia's slowing economic growth is negatively impacting women, who still struggle to achieve financial equality with men.
The latest Financy Women's Index shows setbacks in employment outcomes for women relative to men, particularly in monthly hours worked and underemployment.
Financy chief executive Bianca Hartge-Hazelman says women are bearing the brunt of the current financial uncertainty due to occupying more flexible and insecure forms of employment like part-time and casual roles.
She also says while women continue to make strides in labour market participation and on the sporting field, as shown at the Paris Olympics, persistent gender norms remain a stubborn influence on the gap between women and men.
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The federal government has released a voluntary framework for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence as it works towards implementing a mandatory code.
The framework focuses on high risk use of A-I in business, and businesses supplying A-I in Australia.
Ten guardrails have been established as part of the voluntary code, and consultation on the mandatory framework is open for the next four weeks.
Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic says regulating A-I is challenging.
"This is probably one of the most complex policy challenges facing the government world over. And the Australian government is determined that we put in place the measures that provide for the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence in this country."
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In tennis news,
The last Australian has been eliminated from the men's singles at the U-S Open.
Alex de Minaur has been eliminated by Britain's Jack Draper in straight sets.
It's believed a flare up to the hip injury that had sidelined him since Wimbledon ultimately robbed him of any realistic chance to reach his maiden grand slam semi-final.
