Police named Saudi Arabian sisters found dead inside Canterbury unit

Police have named two Saudi Arabian sisters found dead in a unit in Sydney's south-west last month, as the mystery over their "unusual" deaths continues.

Key points:

The bodies of the two sisters were found during a welfare check on June 17

They arrived in Australia from Saudi Arabia in 2017

Police have called their deaths "unusual"

Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, were found dead in separate beds at their Canterbury unit during a welfare check at 9.30am on Tuesday, June 7.

Police said the women, who arrived in Australia from Saudi Arabia in 2017, had been dead for "some time".

Despite speaking with community members and neighbours and undertaking extensive investigations, detectives have been unable to determine the circumstances surrounding their "unusual" deaths.

Police say they have not yet ruled out homicide or suicide as investigations continue.

In a renewed effort for clues, police have released a picture of the pair and asked for any information on the women.

A post-mortem examination has been conducted but police are yet to receive the coroner's report or toxicology results.

"The bodies were there for some time, so that is problematic," Detective Inspector Claudia Allcroft said.

She said the pair mostly kept to themselves.

"Detectives are interested in speaking with anyone who may have seen the women or have information about their movements in the days and weeks prior to their deaths — which we believe occurred in early May," Detective Inspector Allcroft said.

"Extensive inquiries have been made … however, we have been unable to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Asra and Amaal's death."

She said police were in contact with their family who remain in Saudia Arabia.

Police will not release information on what the women did for work or why they left their home country.

Detective Inspector Allcroft said police were contacted by the sisters' building manager to conduct a welfare check on the women in mid-March.

"I believe food had been left out in the common areas and he was concerned for their welfare," she said.

But, the women "appeared fine" and no further action was required, Detective Inspector Allcroft said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-27/saudi-sisters-deaths-a-mystery-two-months-on-/101273186

Climate bill to write 43 per cent emissions target into law introduced to parliament

The government has introduced a bill on its first full sitting day that would legislate a requirement for Australia to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.

Key points:

The government has introduced a bill to legislate its 2030 climate target

It does not yet have the support needed to pass the upper house

The Climate Change Minister says he is prepared to dump the bill if it won't succeed

But Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has also threatened the government will walk away from the legislation if it can't find broader support for the proposed law.

The government has already notified the United Nations of its updated climate targets, but argues writing them into law would send a strong signal to investors and other nations.

Introducing the bill to the lower house, Mr Bowen said enough time had been wasted delaying action on climate change.

"2030 is 89 months away; we don’t have long to achieve these goals," Mr Bowen said.

The legislation needs the backing of the Greens and at least one other senator to pass the upper house, unless the opposition decides to support it.

But the Greens are not committing to supporting the bill, saying the target is "weak" and will be unachievable unless the government also rules out approving any new coal or gas projects.

The Climate Change Minister said he would take on "sensible, good faith" suggestions, but he was prepared to drop the legislation if it could not be passed.

"We've been very clear that this legislation is not essential, it's desirable, it's best practice," Mr Bowen told ABC News Breakfast this morning.

"We can, if you like to use those terms, walk away, if absolutely essential. But that's not our intention.

"Our intention is to work cooperatively across the parliament for good climate laws."

Mr Bowen said if the government could not legislate the emissions target, it would still hold itself to that standard, which was binding under the terms of the UN Paris climate agreement.

The proposed laws would also require the Climate Change Minister to provide annual updates on its progress towards the target, as well as obliging the Climate Change Authority to provide regular advice on updating future climate targets — but it does not enforce the target.

Greens leader Adam Bandt said the government must be prepared to compromise on its bill.

"You've got roughly a third of the country voted for the government, a bit less, roughly a third voted for the opposition, and roughly a third voted for someone else," Mr Bandt said.

"Power is now shared, especially in the Senate, and we've all got to work together and that means giving a bit."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-27/emissions-target-bill-introduced-to-parliament/101272486

Aus is more fucked

Pennsylvania: GOP Senate Candidate Dr. Oz Throws Support To Pro Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Oz believes same sex couples should have the same freedom to get married as straight couples.

Republican Senate candidate nominee Mehmet Oz indicated he would support codifying same-sex marriage into law.

“Dr. Mehmet Oz believes that same sex couples should have the same freedom to get married as straight couples,” Oz’s campaign told The Hill on Tuesday.

The campaign responded to a request for comments on whether Oz would support the “Respect for Marriage Act”, a bill that passed through the house last week seeking to enshrine same-sex marriage.

The “Respect for Marriage Act” was supported unanimously by House Democrats with 47 Republicans crossing party lines to vote with the Left.

Oz’s comments come as Senate Republicans are beginning to publicize they would vote “yes” on the bill if it came to the Senate floor. With 50 Republicans in the Senate, only 10 are needed to vote in favor of same-sex marriage for the bill to pass.

As National File previously reported, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) suggested last week he would bring the bill to the floor, adding he was “really impressed” by the 47 House Republicans who voted in support of the bill.

“I want to bring this bill to the floor, and we’re working to get the necessary Senate Republican support to ensure it would pass,” Schumer added.

With pressure mounting on the GOP Senators, the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, Matt Rinaldi, called on the GOP to vote against the same-sex marriage bill but also take steps to fix the recent “societal decline” in America.

Speaking exclusively with National File, Rinaldi recalled just how quickly the Republican party’s stance on gay marriage has shifted. “47 Congressional Republicans voted affirmatively to redefine marriage in a way that even Democrats opposed just a decade ago,” the party chairman noted.

https://nationalfile.com/pennsylvania-gop-senate-candidate-dr-oz-throws-support-to-pro-same-sex-marriage-bill/