Brexit Deal ‘Down to Political Will’ From UK, Says Irish PM
The prime minister of Ireland—where the impact of a Brexit deal will be felt most keenly within the European Union—says he hopes the outline of a free-trade deal between the UK and the EU will emerge by the end of the week. The fate of the deal rests on UK political will, he said. Talks started up again on Monday, albeit online, with the EU’s chief negotiator saying that “fundamental divergences remain.” In just six weeks the UK will sever ties with the trading bloc, regardless of whether a deal has been struck or not. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said he had received a sense of progress from both negotiating teams. “I would be hopeful that, by the end of this week, that we could see the outlines of a…
A 31-year-old Sydney man who reportedly staged his own kidnapping has been caught by police relaxing with friends in a Sydney caf茅.
NSW police were searching far and wide for the missing Toongabbie man after receiving reports that he had been kidnapped and assaulted shortly after 5 am on Tuesday.
Officers from the state crime command鈥檚 robbery and serious crime squad joined forces with the local police to carry out the mission, only to find him safe and sound at a Brighton le Sands caf茅 about 7 hours later.
He was in the company of two men aged 28 and 27 and a 24-year-old woman, all of whom were arrested and taken to St George Police Station for questioning.
Detectives accused the 31-year-old man of giving false information resulting in a police investigation and using carriage service to menace; a term refers to the act of harassing using emails, text messages, phone calls or social media.
Police say he was trying to extort money from people known to him while falsely claiming to be a victim of an assault and kidnapping.
Refused bail, the man, will be taken to Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday.
The two other men and woman were released without charge.
Focus News: Sydney Man Alleged to Have Faked Own Kidnapping, Busted at Beachside Caf茅
Kirkup to Step up as the Youngest Leader of WA Liberals
The 33-year-old Member of Parliament Zak Kirkup will become the youngest West Australian Liberal leader in 20 years as his rival pulled out shortly before the party room meeting. Kirkup’s opponent, former cabinet minister Dean Nalder, announced his withdrawal in a statement released on Tuesday, saying it was clear that the numbers were not on his side, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. “It has become apparent that I don’t have the majority support of my parliamentary colleagues and therefore will clear a path for the new leader,” Nalder told AAP. “I have been humbled at the level of support from my electorate and the wider community.” Kirkup’s victory means the Liberal party would welcome its youngest leader since Matt Birney’s short-lived reign in the mid-2000s. “I think anyone should judge a…
