Morning Mail: fired FBI chief's Trump testimony … Iran parliament terror attack … UK general election

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Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Thursday 8 June 2017 g Former FBI chief reveals concerns about Trump Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Mail. Among the stories leading our website this morning: The former FBI director James Comey, fired by Donald Trump, has publicly revealed how the US president put pressure on him to shut down an investigation into a senior adviser's links to Russia. In his statement offered to Congress, Comey describes a meeting in which Trump asked him to drop his inquiry into Michael Flynn: "I hope you can let this go". That plea from Donald Trump will be at the core of James Comey's testimony to Congress about the Flynn-Russia investigation and the influence Trump allegedly tried to impose. You can read Comey's full statement here – it's pretty devastating. The White House's greatest threat ahead of Comey's testimony? Trump, of course. Russia and Trump: the chronicle of a scandal Keep reading for the rest of the top stories this morning, with more news from around Australia and the world.

Headlines Iranian military blames Saudis after 12 killed in Tehran terrorist attack Islamic State claims responsibility for attacks on parliament and revolutionary leader's tomb which left dozens injured Trump taps former justice department official Christopher Wray to lead FBI After firing James Comey, president calls Wray a 'man of impeccable credentials' as Paul Ryan says: 'I don't know the guy' Election 2017: parties enter final hours of personalised and bruising campaign – live Labour and Lib Dems reject Theresa May's vow to 'rip up' human rights laws to crack down on terror suspects Uluru arrives on Google Street View, giving online experience of sacred area Collaboration with Anangu of the central desert aims to introduce foreign visitors to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Aboriginal lore Tony Abbott warns against low emissions target ahead of Finkel review Former PM says he is concerned by reports that Finkel review is aiming towards 70% renewables by 2030 Australian news and politics Gillian Triggs says Australia's politicians leading 'assault' on democratic ideals Human Rights Commission president says right to advocate and freedom of speech threatened by governments Indigenous people victims of 'green' fight against Adani mine, says Marcia Langton Academic uses mining industry lecture to accuse 'cashed-up green groups' of harming native title ambitions in campaign to stop Carmichael mine Prince Harry wades through wet Sydney to launch Invictus Games – in pictures Prince Harry, who is patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, is on a two-day visit to Sydney for the launch of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 Mother of Melbourne siege victim says she 'hates' man who murdered her son Kai Hao's mother says she moved to Melbourne to be with her son in her old age, but would now be taking his remains back to China Brett Forte funeral: thousands turn out to praise Queensland 'guardian angel' Policeman, 41, who was fatally shot by criminal Rick Maddison, honoured at public service attended by Annastacia Palaszczuk and police commissioner Australians want government to focus on renewables even if it costs more: poll Lowy Institute polling also finds 57% of people consider climate change to be a 'critical threat' Man stabbed to death on birthday during brawl in New South Wales park Charlie Larter, 46, was killed and his teenage son knifed in the chest after a fight broke out in Murwillumbah Around the world Qatar: UAE and Saudi Arabia step up pressure in diplomatic crisis Countries say ties will not be restored until Gulf state breaks links with extremists while UAE threatens jail for sympathisers French parliamentary election polls point to Macron landslide First-round results for overseas voters have La République En Marche candidates ahead in 10 out of 11 constituencies Pressure builds in Italy after G7 leaders fail to tackle refugee crisis Taormina summit did not prove a turning point, and populist movements are growing more vocal as elections approach Paris police shoot man who attacked officer outside Notre-Dame Cathedral Suspect shot and injured by police after trying to attack officer with hammer outside cathedral in French capital Canada pledges investigation into why rape victim was held in jail with attacker Woman, who later died in unrelated shooting, was attacked by convicted sex offender in what Alberta's justice minister says was a 'disturbing and tragic case'

One last thing Oldest Homo sapiens bones ever found shake foundations of the human storyThe extraordinary discovery of 300,000-year-old fossils – recovered from an old mine on a desolate mountain in Morocco – have rocked one of the most enduring foundations of the human story: that Homo sapiens arose in a cradle of humankind in East Africa 200,000 years ago.  Have an excellent day and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter at @earleyedition.

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