
Damien Tudehope admits leaking draft parliamentary report during ICAC hearing
Former NSW finance minister Damien Tudehope admitted during an ICAC hearing to leaking a draft parliamentary report on branch stacking, imperilling his political career.

Former NSW finance minister Damien Tudehope admitted during an ICAC hearing to leaking a draft parliamentary report on branch stacking, imperilling his political career.

NSW opposition upper house leader Damien Tudehope admitted to leaking a confidential parliamentary inquiry draft report to a conservative Liberal faction member during an Icac corruption watchdog hearing.

A parliamentary inquiry into Labor's gambling legislation heard allegations that problem gamblers received cocaine and sex workers, which Sportsbet and Tabcorp denied.

India's BJP accused the opposition Congress party of disrupting parliamentary sessions and forcing bills through without discussion. Meanwhile, Assam flood deaths reached 87, and Bangladesh urged India to clarify its stance on an upcoming virtual speech by ousted leader Sheikh Hasina.

Anti-gambling campaigners Tim Costello and Luke Bateman alleged at a parliamentary inquiry that betting firms Sportsbet and Tabcorp supplied vulnerable customers with cocaine, alcohol and sex workers. The firms deny the claims, saying they have no evidence.

New Zealand parliament passes a bill making English an official language alongside te reo Māori and sign language, drawing criticism from linguists, legal experts, and opposition MPs who call the legislation pointless and ideological.
A parliamentary panel in India recommended lowering the minimum age for managing directors from 21 to 18 and raising the maximum age to 75. The committee also proposed measures for reverse-flipping of foreign companies and dedicated NCLT benches.
Opposition parties in India's Parliament demand discussions on Ram temple donations and a student crackdown, risking a washout of the monsoon session as bills pass amid disruptions.
Meta apologised to an Indian parliamentary panel for temporarily removing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video, citing an error. The panel, led by Nishikant Dubey, demanded a personal apology from Mark Zuckerberg and threatened to withdraw safe harbour protection, raising concerns over content moderation and national security.

Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' film faces right-wing backlash, led by Elon Musk, over perceived 'wokeness' and historical inaccuracies, particularly the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy. The author argues critics miss the film's core message: an allegory for the necessity of a rules-based international order, rooted in the ancient concept of 'xenia'.

Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin has fled to Paris, citing intensified Kremlin pressure and the risk of imprisonment. His departure follows his designation as a "foreign agent" and being barred from participating in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Over 50 international observers from CIS and CSTO will monitor Kazakhstan's parliamentary elections scheduled for August 23. The CEC has accredited 155 observers from various countries and organizations, with accreditation continuing until August 17, for the new 145-seat unicameral parliament.

Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, is under investigation by parliament's standards watchdog for a potential undeclared interest related to a debate on UK democracy and Israeli influence. This adds to ongoing scrutiny of Reform UK, including probes into leader Nigel Farage and party funding.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced new rules requiring government approval for non-EU investors acquiring over 10% of French companies in sensitive sectors listed outside the EU, aiming to safeguard strategic interests amid geopolitical tensions.

Ruben Rubinyan, candidate from the ruling Civil Contract faction, has been elected Speaker of the 9th convocation of the Armenian Parliament with 63 votes in favor, despite opposition from the Armenia and Strong Armenia factions.

The article reviews Robert Service's book "The August Coup," detailing the swift collapse of Marxist-Leninist rule in Russia in August 1991. It highlights Mikhail Gorbachev's failed reforms, the KGB-led coup's incompetence, and Boris Yeltsin's pivotal role in resisting the plotters, leading to the Soviet Union's demise.

New Zealand's parliament passed a bill making English an official language, joining te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. The legislation, part of a coalition deal, drew derision from linguists and legal experts, and a viral rebuke from a Māori MP who called it “pathetic.”
The Opposition plans a protest at Parliament's Makar Dwar on Monday, demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on police action during a July 20 demonstration and raising the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft row. The Monsoon Session continues amid legislative agenda and expected confrontations.

Former rugby league player Luke Bateman alleged to a parliamentary inquiry that gambling companies supplied him with cocaine and alcohol, leading to a $1 million gambling addiction. He detailed VIP managers offering illicit drugs and personalized betting inducements, urging the Albanese government to implement tougher gambling advertising limits.
An Indian parliamentary panel has proposed a new statutory framework for "inward re-domiciliation," allowing overseas companies to migrate to India while retaining their legal identity. This initiative, to be recommended in an upcoming report, aims to simplify the relocation process for Indian-origin firms and update corporate law.
Congress has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of avoiding Parliament while the Opposition raises the Ayodhya donation scam issue. MP Pramod Tiwari demanded a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe, vowing to take the matter to the public and persist in the fight.
Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane is under increasing pressure as the ICAC's Operation Rosny inquiry, investigating alleged corruption linked to the Liberal party, implicates two of her shadow ministers. Former shadow attorney-general Damien Tudehope and shadow industry minister Eleni Petinos face scrutiny, with the inquiry's timing proving challenging for the opposition.

Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan has appointed Nikol Pashinyan as prime minister following the Civil Contract party's victory in the June 7 parliamentary elections, where they secured 49.75% of votes.
Independent MP Pappu Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, and Awadhesh Prasad face FIRs in Varanasi and Delhi after a Parliament skit depicted alleged embezzlement of Ayodhya Ram Mandir donations. Yadav remains defiant, stating he is ready to face death to protect people's faith.