Your noon Briefing: Boris majority cut to one

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

Hello readers. Boris Johnson sees his majority cut to just one after losing a crucial by-election and Mike Atherton on Steve Smith’s gritty ton.

Ballot papers are counted during the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election count at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, Wales on August 2, 2019. - Britain's Boris Johnson faces his first test at the ballot box Thursday in a by-election that could reduce his parliamentary majority to just one, as his new government vowed to double funding for a possible no-deal Brexit. Johnson's Brexit plan could also become harder to enact as his governing Conservative Party looks set to lose the Welsh seat of Brecon and Radnorshire to a pro-Europe candidate on Thursday. (Photo by Isabel INFANTES / Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty Images / AFP)

Boris’ majority cut to one

Boris Johnson has failed his first major test as British PM, with his majority cut to just one losing a crucial by-election.

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Australia's Steve Smith acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the field after being bowled by England's Stuart Broad for 144 on the opening day of the first Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England on August 1, 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 strength of character

The opening day of the Ashes belonged to Steve Smith after an emotional hundred on his return to Test cricket restored a competitive edge to the day after Australia’s top order had wilted in the face of some high-class swing and seam bowling, writes Mike Atherton.

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A general view of Liddell power station in Muswellbrook, in the NSW Hunter Valley region, on Sunday, April 22, 2018. Hong Kong based company Alinta Energy has made a $250m offer to AGL to buy the ageing power plant. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING

Liddell closure shelved

AGL has pushed back the planned closure of its Liddell coal-fired power plant for a year.

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What the nation's lawyers are earning.

What the nation’s lawyers are earning

Partners at big firms in one city pocket an average $1.35m — eclipsing everywhere else.

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Shipping containers from China and Asia are unloaded at the Long Beach port, California on August 1, 2019. - President Donald Trump announced August 1 that he will hit China with punitive tariffs on another $300 billion in goods, escalating the trade war after accusing Beijing of reneging on more promises. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP)

ASX tanks on US tariff move

Donald Trump’s threatened tariff increase on China goods will bring a risk to the global economy warns Simon Birmingham.

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18/7/2019Dir of First Nations Homelessness Project Jennifer Kaeshagen and Senior Outreach Tenancy Support worker Mona Yarran of First Nations Homelessness Project.Cleaning of a house in Belmont where the person has been evictedpic Colin Murty The Australian

The long read: Out of house and hope

Homelessness is at the core of the toughest issues facing the west’s indigenous population, writes Victoria Laurie.