Your afternoon Briefing: Palmer caves on $66m worker payouts

Your 2-minute digest of the day’s top stories.

Hello readers, here’s your 2-minute digest of the day’s top stories.

Clive Palmer leaves Supreme Court.Wednesday July 24, 2019. (AAP image, John Gass)

Palmer caves on $66m worker payouts

Clive Palmer has settled another chunk of his $200 million lawsuit over the collapse of Queensland Nickel, agreeing to repay $66 million in taxpayer funds used to pay sacked workers.

A person is reflected in a window as stock prices are seen at the Australian Securites Exchange (ASX) in Sydney, Thursday, October 11, 2018. Australian shares have recorded their worst day in eight months following Wall Street stocks falling on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and the Dow dropping due to the prospect of rising interest rates. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

Yuan sparks $38bn wipe-out

Trade war fears and concerns that China is weaponising its currency have wiped $38 billion in value off the market on Monday, amid a broad regional sell-off.

HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 3: Protesters take part in a march during a demonstration on August 3, 2019 in Hong Kong, China. Pro-democracy protesters have continued rallies on the streets of Hong Kong against a controversial extradition bill since 9 June as the city plunged into crisis after waves of demonstrations and several violent clashes. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam apologized for introducing the bill and declared it "dead", however protesters have continued to draw large crowds with demands for Lam's resignation and completely withdraw the bill. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***

Hong Kong protests inspirational: Howard

Australia should stick to its values, back the US and not be ‘mesmerised’ by China, former Prime Minister John Howard says.

Front page of newspaper the New York Post on Monday 5 August, calling on US President Donald Trump to ban assualt rifles after a spate of mass shootings in America over the weekend. Picture: NY Post

Ban guns, NY Post tells Trump

The New York Post has called on US President Donald Trump to ban assault weapons following two mass shootings within 24 hours.

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Australia's Steve Smith celebrates reaching his century during play on the fourth day of the first Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England on August 4, 2019. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB

Smith’s genius stumps weary England

The problem posed by the former captain is obvious enough. The solution for England, whose bowlers were battered into submission by his unwavering excellence, remains unclear, writes Mike Atherton.

* Don’t miss our live blog tonight of the final day of the First Test of The Ashes from Edgbaston, with the Aussies poised to pull off an unlikely victory.