Premier Chris Minns says the Metro West tunnel project is close to completion. But his government has come under fire for renewing a private bus contract after prior promises to return it to public ownership.

Parramatta

The Metro West project in Parramatta has achieved a significant milestone, with 90% of tunnel boring now finished. Adjustments were made to the tunnel's depth to address concerns about proximity to a Telstra exchange, but officials state there is no delay to the project's timeline.

Meanwhile, political debate has intensified over the NSW government's decision to extend a private bus contract in the inner west. Despite pre-election commitments to return bus services to public control, the government is negotiating an extension with Transit Systems until 2028, aligning expiry dates with other regions. The Premier defended the move, citing the complexity and cost of reversing privatisation, and pointed to a taskforce recommendation that public control should only be restored if private operators fail to meet obligations.

Metro West tunnel project reaches home stretch

Taking a peek at progress beneath Parramatta as the final push begins on Metro West. We can announce today that 90% of the tunnel boring for this magnificent piece of transport infrastructure has now been completed. Twin breakthroughs this month after concerns about proximity to a Telstra exchange. The tunnels are now slightly deeper. But there's no overall delay or change in the timeframe for the program. A focus on the future as the opposition digs into the Premier's past. They put up a huge song and dance before the election about privatised bus services but they've been caught out in the inner west renewing a private bus contract for two years. The government is negotiating an extension to 2028 with Transit Systems, aligning the contract's new expiry with other bus regions. The union was expecting a return to public hands. If the Premier Ms Minns doesn't want to bring them back to public hands, well how does he expect to fix it? They didn't put it to tender, they haven't been open with the public. Having opposed the contracts before polling day. Bus drivers deserve better than this government. The Premier posted after his victory, privatising our buses destroyed local services so we're launching a taskforce to undo the damage this privatisation caused. But that taskforce didn't recommend restoring public control, rather only should an operator demonstrably fail to meet its contractual obligations. He denies he's broken his word. No I haven't and Lachie you'll remember I was the shadow minister for transport when the privatisations went through and I said repeatedly at the time these are almost impossible contracts to get out of and the best thing to do when it comes to privatisation is not to do it in the first place. Arguing it now costs too much to restore a public operator. If a private operator can make money out of it, why can't the government make money out of it?

Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials will resume talks in Stockholm to try to tackle longstanding economic disputes at the center of a trade war, aiming to extend a truce by three months and keeping high tariffs at bay.

Stockholm

Middle East Conflict

U.S.-China trade truce extension seen, may ease way for Trump-Xi meet

A train derailment in southern Germany killed at least three people and injured others. The cause is under investigation, with weather possibly a factor.

Riedlingen

German train derails, killing at least three people

Israel has agreed to limit fighting in parts of Gaza and would allow more aid into the region, but both moves are facing criticism for being too little too late.

Jerusalem

Israel announces daily pauses in Gaza fighting as aid trickles in

Abnormally high temperatures combined with heat and drought have fuelled destructive wildfires in parts of Europe, forcing thousands to be evacuated.

Athens

Heat fuels destructive wildfires in parts of Europe

Michigan officials say they will file terrorism charges and 11 charges of assault with intent to murder against the man who allegedly carried out a knife attack at a Walmart on Saturday. Lana Zak reports.

Garfield Township

Suspect in Michigan stabbing rampage to face terrorism charges

FAA investigators are in Denver after passengers and crew aboard an American Airlines flight were forced to evacuate when a tire blew during takeoff and the plane's rapid deceleration caused a brake fire, the airline said. Elise Preston reports.

Denver

Passengers evacuate burning plane in Denver

President Trump announced Sunday that the U.S. and European Union have come to a trade agreement after high-stakes meetings in Scotland. Weijia Jiang reports.

Edinburgh

Global Tariffs

Trump announces trade agreement with the European Union

Israel says it will now establish secure routes through the war zone in Gaza so aid convoys won't be shot at or looted. Elizabeth Palmer reports.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel says it will establish secure routes for Gaza aid

U.S. President Donald Trump played golf Saturday at his course on Scotland's coast while protesters around the country took to the streets to decry his visit and accuse United Kingdom leaders of pandering to the American president.

Protesters in Scotland take to the streets to decry Trump's visit

Following four days of border clashes which have left over 30 people dead, the two sides have agreed to Malaysia acting as a mediator in the conflict.

Kuala Lumpur

Thailand, Cambodia to meet in Malaysia for ceasefire talks

Protesters gathered in front of the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh to oppose President Trump's visit to Scotland. Mr. Trump plans to host the U.K.'s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, for trade talks at his personal properties.

Demonstrators protest Trump's visit to Scotland

The Israeli military said Saturday that it will resume aid airdrops into Gaza and open humanitarian corridors for United Nations convoys amid increased international pressure and accounts of starvation-related deaths in the territory.

Israel says airdrops of aid into Gaza will begin

Tens of thousands flee as border fighting between Cambodia and Thailand intensifies — with no ceasefire in sight.

Preah Vihear Province

Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand

Typhoon Co-May has moved away from the Philippines but many low-lying areas are still severely flooded. Three storms dumped a months’ worth of rain in a span of a week on nearly the entire country.

Manila

At least 30 killed in Philippines typhoon

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said she will meet US President Donald Trump on Sunday in Scotland to "discuss transatlantic trade relations."

Glasgow

Ursula von der Leyen to meet Donald Trump to discuss trade

President Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at dramatically changing how the U.S. approaches homelessness.

Washington

Trump signs executive order changing U.S. approach to homelessness

Typhoon Co-May has left a trail of destruction across the Philippines, making landfall in the country's northwestern region. Torrential rains and strong winds have battered towns and cities, damaging homes, roads, and farmland. At least 25 people have been reported dead.

Pangasinan

Philippines hit hard by Typhoon Co-May, dozens killed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Palestinian militant group Hamas, a day after withdrawing their delegations from talks.

Netanyahu, Trump appear to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations

U.S. President Donald Trump is spending five days in Scotland visiting his luxury golf resorts. While the White House touts the economic impact, some locals say the developments have scarred the land and stirred controversy.

Trump visits Scotland to tour golf courses amid protests

The U.S. Department of Justice is set to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's convicted accomplice, amid mounting political pressure on President Donald Trump over his administration's handling of the Epstein case.

Ghislaine Maxwell to meet with U.S. Justice Dept. amid Epstein probe

Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday (July 25) as their worst fighting in over a decade intensified and spread to new areas, despite international calls for a ceasefire.

Bangkok

Thailand, Cambodia exchange heavy artillery

France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the UN General Assembly, President Emmanuel Macron said in hopes of bringing peace to the region, but the plan drew angry rebukes from Israel and the United States.

Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved a draft bill to restore the independence of anti-corruption agencies, following nationwide protests and EU concerns over recent reforms that threatened their autonomy.

Ukraine Invasion

Zelensky approves anti-corruption bill after protests

Chinese and European Union leaders have met in Beijing for their first in-person summit since 2023, addressing a range of contentious issues amidst growing trade tensions. The talks, led by Chinese President Xi Jinping and EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, highlighted the complex nature of China-EU relations.

Beijing

China-EU summit ends in climate deal, talks strain over Ukraine

The United Kingdom and India have signed a trade agreement that will reduce tariffs on goods from textiles to whisky, cars and spices and allow more market access for businesses. British PM Keir Starmer hailed the agreement as a “landmark moment” for both countries.

London

UK, India sign free trade agreement during Modi visit

President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell had a disagreement almost immediately as the two men set foot in the Fed's headquarters in Washington to survey an extensive renovation project on two of the reserve's buildings. Nancy Cordes has more.

Trump, Powell clash during tour of Federal Reserve renovations

Hulk Hogan, the legendary professional wrestler whose real name was Terry Bollea, died on Thursday at the age of 71, according to World Wrestling Entertainment.

Clearwater

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dead at the age of 71, WWE says

At least 12 were killed as a Thai-Cambodian border dispute escalated into deadly clashes on Thursday (July 24).

Surin

Thailand bombs Cambodian targets as border clash escalates

According to preliminary data, 43 passengers, including five children, and six crew members were on board.

Tynda

Passenger plane crashes in Russia, killing all 49 people on board

Pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died, World Wrestling Entertainment said in a statement on social media. He was 71. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more.

Breakdown