Writing the summary…
Universal early childhood education better than baby bonus to increase Australia’s birthrate, Labor says
Source: The Guardian
Original reporting
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NPR
What to know as world leaders converge at the United Nations this week
United Nations head António Guterres returns to New York for his final U.N. General Assembly as diplomacy falters over wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the global body faces deep divisions.
NPR
German chancellor stands his ground after his party loses in state elections
German Chancellor Freidrich Merz conceded that the night spells "disaster" for the political center, but assured the public he'd push ahead with his federal agenda of tax and welfare reforms.
The Guardian
Merz insists he will stay as German chancellor despite heavy losses in state elections – Europe live
CDU suffered heavy losses in two regional elections, including in home state of former leader Angela Merkel, where it polled just 4.9% Good morning and welcome to our Europe live blog, where we’ll start in Germany after a bruising night for Friedrich Merz’s party. The German chancellor is staring down pressure over his leadership and authority after the CDU suffered heavy losses in two regional elections. For the first time in 77 years, it’s failed to enter a state parliament, in the former East German state of Mecklenburg- Vorpommern. This was the home state of former CDU chancellor Angela Merkel; the party there last night pulled just 4.9% of the vote, losing more than half of its support. Continue reading...
BBC News2 outlets
German Chancellor Merz calls state election a 'disaster' for his party but vows to stay on
Far-right AfD wins in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and leftwing Die Linke on course for victory in Berlin Germany’s embattled chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has vowed to stay in office and fight for future-proofing economic changes despite heavy losses for his conservatives in two state elections, one to the far right and the other to a leftwing party. Preliminary results indicated Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) tallied just 4.9% in the coastal region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, below the 5% threshold needed to enter the state parliament and indicating they may be excluded altogether. It would be the CDU’s worst-ever state score, which Merz called a “disaster”. Continue reading...
The Guardian
Boy, 11, in serious condition after being shot in face and neck in Sydney home
Five other people in house at the time of the shooting were unharmed, police say Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast An 11-year-old boy has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after being shot in a home in Sydney’s north-west. Emergency services responded to reports of a shooting at a property in Norwest at about 5pm on Monday. Continue reading...
Al Jazeera
Russia election results show Putin’s party winning: What we know
With more than 90 percent votes counted, Putin's United Russia appears poised for a landslide win.