\n<\/p>\n
Anthony Albanese<\/strong> was asked whether he was any closer to locking in a meeting time with Donald Trump<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Speaking in Shanghai just now, the PM replied that he was focused on China \u2013 and called for a \u201cbit of perspective\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI will no doubt have meetings. I do note that in the Financial Review today, the comments saying I\u2019ve been to the United States five times, I\u2019ve been to China twice. Tony Abbott<\/strong> visited Beijing before Washington after his election, as did Malcolm Fraser<\/strong>, as did Kevin Rudd<\/strong>,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n I think there needs to be a bit of perspective here<\/strong>, as much as I understand the fascination.<\/p>\n I look forward to a constructive engagement with President Trump. We have had three constructive phone conversations.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.06 EDT<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/span>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n A mother has broken down in court while recounting the desperate messages she sent her daughter, believing the young woman had taken her own life, reports AAP<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Instead, Lachlan Young<\/strong> was the one sending the texts from Hannah McGuire\u2019s<\/strong> phone after he allegedly murdered the 23-year-old and burned her body in a ute in remote bushland in Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat.<\/p>\n Young has admitted to killing his former partner and sending the fake suicide note to her mother.<\/p>\n But the 23-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murder, claiming it was a spontaneous incident.<\/p>\n McGuire\u2019s mother, Debbie<\/strong>, today told the Victorian supreme court she woke about 3.40am on 5 April 2024 to a text purporting to be from her daughter.<\/p>\n It stated Hannah was sorry and she thought it was the right decision.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried messaging Lach but he doesn\u2019t want anything to do with me now,\u201d the message shown to the jury continued.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease check in on him \u2013 this is going to break his heart.\u201d<\/p>\n Debbie McGuire\u2019s series of responses were shown to the jury, where she repeatedly asked where her daughter was and urged her not to do \u201canything silly\u201d. She broke down as she read aloud some of her responses, telling the court Hannah\u2019s messages \u201cdidn\u2019t feel right\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.53 EDT<\/p>\n Jordyn Beazley<\/span><\/p>\n Hannah Thomas was punched in the face by a police officer, her lawyers claim<\/strong><\/p>\n Body-worn camera footage shows a police officer punched the former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas<\/strong> in the face during a pro-Palestine protest, her lawyers have claimed, resulting in \u201cextensive and serious injury to her eye\u201d.<\/p>\n Thomas\u2019s lawyers at O\u2019Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors have said the 35-year-old will sue the state of New South Wales and called for police to withdraw the two criminal charges against her.<\/p>\n <\/span>Hannah Thomas in hospital. She is being treated for \u2018extensive and serious injury to her eye\u2019.<\/span> Photograph: Hannah Thomas’ Instagram<\/p>\n Thomas was arrested at a protest in Sydney on 27 June that was attended by about 60 people. She was taken to hospital and last week underwent a second round of surgery amid fears she could lose sight in her right eye.<\/p>\n As a Greens candidate, Thomas ran against Anthony Albanese<\/strong> in the seat of Grayndler at the federal election.<\/p>\n Her lawyers said they had taken the unusual step of commenting on the case while criminal proceedings against their client were under way after viewing the footage. <\/em>Thomas has been charged with resisting police and refusing or failing to comply with a direction.<\/p>\n Read more here:<\/p>\n ShareJosh Taylor<\/span><\/p>\n Data breach affects federal government\u2019s migration agents registry<\/strong><\/p>\n The federal government\u2019s registry authority for migration agent services has suffered a data breach after its own search tool returned results of internal documents about specific agents.<\/p>\n The authority said it became aware on 6 May of the issue affecting the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority<\/strong> (OMARA) portal that made the internal documents available for view and download when an agent\u2019s name was searched.<\/p>\n The authority shut down the portal immediately and said the breach was a \u201csmall and isolated event\u201d that was not the result of a malicious or criminal attack.<\/p>\n The authority determined a small number of documents concerning six people were affected, and included their names, registration number, business contact details, and commentary about the agents that was collected as part of the authority\u2019s work.<\/p>\n The portal is back online after resolving the issue, which has been reported to the Australian privacy commissioner.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.29 EDT<\/p>\n Census trial will include new questions on sexuality and gender before full survey in 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n The first census questions on sexual orientation and gender will be sent out to thousands of households as part of a practice version of the 2026 nationwide survey, AAP<\/strong> reports.<\/p>\n More than 60,000 homes have been chosen by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to take part in a test census in August in order to make sure the real event runs without incident. The test will include questions set to be in the 2026 census, including the first set of questions in a national census about sexual orientation and gender for people over 16.<\/p>\n <\/span>Homes in Melbourne and Perth (pictured) as well as locations in regional Queensland, NSW and WA have been chosen for the voluntary test run.<\/span> Photograph: Westend61\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Questions about sexuality were to be scrapped from the questionnaire, but the federal government backtracked on the decision in 2024 after criticism from LGBTQI groups. Census general manager Jenny Telford<\/strong> said of the test participants:<\/p>\n By taking part, you\u2019re helping us to improve the next census for everyone and ensure it produces high quality statistics.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.09 EDT<\/p>\n Thank you, Nick Visser<\/strong>. I\u2019m Daisy Dumas<\/strong> and I\u2019ll be at the helm of our live news coverage for the remainder of the day.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.05 EDT<\/p>\n Jonathan Barrett<\/span><\/p>\n What exactly <\/strong>are \u2018green iron\u2019 and \u2018green steel\u2019?<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s been discussion today during the prime minister\u2019s visit to China about \u201cgreen steel\u201d and \u201cgreen iron\u201d, but what exactly are they?<\/p>\n The prime minister has been accompanied to China by representatives of Australia\u2019s biggest iron ore miners, as part of a push to promote the sector\u2019s decarbonisation plans.<\/p>\n The Fortescue executive chair, Andrew Forrest<\/strong>, said in Shanghai today that he would like to see a bilateral agreement that would \u201cgenerate a serious jobs boom in both China for green steel, and particularly for Australia in green iron\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/span>Albanese has been accompanied to China by representatives of Australia\u2019s biggest iron ore miners, as part of a push to promote the sector\u2019s decarbonisation plans.<\/span> Photograph: Lukas Coch\/EPA<\/p>\n Green iron refers to iron produced using renewable energy, rather than relying on coal and coke \u2013 the latter is derived from coal \u2013 in the production process.<\/p>\n Fortescue\u2019s Christmas Creek green metal project is designed to use renewable energy and green hydrogen technology, along with an electric smelting furnace, to produce it.<\/p>\n The ultimate goal is to achieve the production of carbon-neutral iron on an industrial scale.<\/p>\n The metal would be sent offshore, mainly to China, to feed industrial plants that would also utilise renewables to make and power the production of green steel.<\/p>\n That steel would underpin the construction sector.<\/p>\n Forrest has previously warned that Australia\u2019s iron ore-rich Pilbara risks becoming a wasteland if it doesn\u2019t transform, given China\u2019s push to clean up its steel-making processes.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.53 EDT<\/p>\n Queensland police appeal for information after drowning death of young child<\/strong><\/p>\n Police in Queensland have asked the public for any information after a seven-month-old baby drowned in the rural area of Chatswood on Saturday.<\/p>\n Officials said emergency services were called to a park about 10.40am amid reports the young boy was found unresponsive. He was transported to hospital for treatment, but was pronounced dead later that night.<\/p>\n The mother and father of the child are assisting police with their inquiries. Officials have asked anyone who was at the park off Gympie Curra Road between 9-11am on 12 July to contact police.<\/p>\n Det Insp Craig Mansfield<\/strong> told the media this morning homicide investigators had been called in to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, which he described as \u201cunexplained\u201d, but not suspicious.<\/p>\n No one has been charged in the matter.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.39 EDT<\/p>\n Josh Butler<\/span><\/p>\n Israeli ambassador says it is \u2018essential\u2019 for Australia to adopt definition of antisemitism<\/strong><\/p>\n Israel\u2019s ambassador to Australia said it is \u201cessential\u201d for the federal government to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance\u2019s definition of antisemitism.<\/p>\n Amir Maimon<\/strong> posted on X that the IHRA definition of antisemitism was needed for \u201cclearly identifying and combating hatred against Jews in modern society.\u201d He wrote:<\/p>\n It provides a framework that recognises harmful stereotypes, double standards, and new forms of prejudice\u2026 No other definition so clearly ensures that contemporary antisemitism is named, understood and confronted wherever it arises.<\/p>\n <\/span>\u2018No other definition so clearly ensures that contemporary antisemitism is named, understood and confronted wherever it arises,\u2019 Amir Maimon wrote.<\/span> Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/EPA<\/p>\n That definition is contested in some quarters, with concerns it was increasingly being used to conflate antisemitism with criticism of Israel. However it was endorsed by Anthony Albanese<\/strong> when he was opposition leader, as well as Scott Morrison<\/strong> when he was prime minister.<\/p>\n Guardian Australia has reported Labor MPs and rank-and-file members are concerned about the wider adoption of this definition, after antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal<\/strong>\u2019s plan last week outlined a recommendation to \u201crequire\u201d its broader take-up by governments and public institutions.<\/p>\n A 2023 open letter from more than 100 Israeli and international civil society organisations \u2013 including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union \u2013 asked the United Nations to reject the IHRA definition because it is being \u201cmisused\u201d to protect Israel from legitimate criticism.<\/p>\n Maimon\u2019s post today on X continued:<\/p>\n In 2021, the Australian Labor Party joined key democratic allies including the US, UK, Canada, Germany and France in endorsing IHRA.<\/p>\n It uniquely affirms Jewish self-determination and closes loopholes exploited to reinvent antisemitism in modernity.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.26 EDT<\/p>\n Aus shares flat as traders assess threat from Trump\u2019s latest tariff pronouncements <\/strong><\/p>\n The local share market has clawed back its morning losses to move slightly into the green despite more tariff threats from Donald Trump<\/strong>, AAP reports.<\/p>\n The benchmark S&P\/ASX200 index was up 2.7 points, or 0.03%, at 8,582.8 about midday on Monday, having been down as many as 21.8 points in the first few minutes of trading.<\/p>\n At the weekend, the US president posted on social media that he would impose 30% tariffs on the European Union and Mexico from 1 August \u2013 but leaders of the EU and Mexico said they would keep negotiating with Trump, so the threat might be a negotiating tactic.<\/p>\n <\/span>Trump this weekend said he would impose 30% tariffs on the European Union and Mexico from 1 August.<\/span> Photograph: David Ramos\/Getty ImagesShareJonathan Barrett<\/span><\/p>\n City auction markets stay strong<\/strong><\/p>\n The Reserve Bank<\/strong> decision to hold interest rates steady last week has not dampened enthusiasm for property auctions, with the market recording another strong weekend.<\/p>\n Clearance rates across the state capital cities held above 70% for the fifth consecutive week, with Sydney (76.2%), Adelaide (75.6%) and Melbourne (70.5%) recording very strong results, according to Cotality data.<\/p>\n Clearance rates refer to the percentage of properties sold at auction compared to the total number of properties listed to go under the hammer, with results above 70% viewed as an indicator of strong buying demand.<\/p>\n <\/span>Auctioneer Jesse Davidson presides over a property auction in Homebush, in Sydney in May.<\/span> Photograph: Dan Himbrechts\/AAP<\/p>\n The clearance rate across state capitals was 72.2%.<\/p>\n The auctions occurred just days after the RBA held rates steady at 3.85%, in a surprise decision that denied further mortgage relief for millions of households.<\/p>\n Most economists expect the RBA will still need to lower rates as early as next month as long as inflation continues to moderate.<\/p>\n Home prices in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin are at peak levels, while Melbourne and Hobart are also rising again.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Chalmers says \u2018of course\u2019 government interested in ways to simplify the tax system<\/strong><\/p>\n At his presser earlier, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers,<\/strong> said both he and the prime minister, Anthony Albanese,<\/strong> had made their stances on GST changes \u201cpretty clear\u201d but did not rule out hearing ideas on the matter at a productivity roundtable next month. Chalmers said:<\/p>\n Both the prime minister and I have made it pretty clear when it comes to the GST, we had a view about that historically and that view hasn\u2019t changed. We have tried not to artificially limit the ideas of the states or others that [they] will bring to the roundtable. We\u2019ve tried to have a relatively open mind, but you have all heard me talk about the GST before.<\/p>\n <\/span>Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers.<\/span> Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAP<\/p>\n Chalmers also spoke about the complexity of the tax system, saying the government was \u201cof course\u201d interested in ideas about how it could be simplified.<\/p>\n When it comes to \u2026 [the] complexity and the tax system, of course we are interested in ways to simplify the tax system. When we speak with tax experts and people that have a view about tax reform, they\u2019re interested in efficiency and equity and simplicity, and other design principles like that. \u2026<\/p>\n The views we have expressed publicly, is if there are ways we can simplify and consolidate regulations in our economy, then that would be a good thing for productivity as well so long as we don\u2019t trade away reasonable standards and protections for people.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.36 EDT<\/p>\n Henry Belot<\/span><\/p>\n Authorities investigating video of a person claiming credit for vandalism of cars outside defence industry business linked to Israel<\/strong><\/p>\n The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team<\/strong> is investigating a video of a person claiming credit for the vandalism of three cars outside a defence industry business linked to Israel, while clad in a black balaclava and standing in front of a Palestinian flag.<\/p>\n The video, first reported by Guardian Australia last week, included a claim that an \u201canonymous cell\u201d torched three cars at Lovitt Technologies. The company supplies parts to the global F-35 joint strike fighter program.<\/p>\n The anonymous group claims Lovitt Technologies was targeted due its support of the joint strike fighter program. The jets are used by Israeli military and their global supply chain has been subject to fierce political debate in Australia and a major legal challenge in the UK.<\/p>\n <\/span>Police CCTV shows cars set on fire and graffitied in Melbourne \u2013 video<\/span><\/p>\n The anonymous group has also shared videos of the vandalism and that appear to have been filmed by one person wearing a GoPro camera. The videos match CCTV footage released by police earlier this week.<\/p>\n A police spokesperson said \u201cat this time there have been no links established between this incident and several others which occurred on the same weekend including a fire at an East Melbourne synagogue and an affray at a CBD restaurant\u201d.<\/p>\n The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team includes representatives from the national spy agency, Asio. The spokesperson said:<\/p>\n The matter is now being investigated by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes personnel from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.<\/p>\n Investigators are aware of a video which has been circulating where a group has claimed responsibility for the incident. This video is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.26 EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PM says he is focused on China but \u2018will no doubt have meetings\u2019 with Trump Anthony Albanese was asked whether he was any closer to locking in a meeting time with Donald Trump. Speaking in Shanghai just now, the PM replied that he was focused on China \u2013 and called for a \u201cbit of perspective\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[3896,346,3897,680,132,3899,582,150,3858,1456,3898,81],"class_list":{"0":"post-10784","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-albanese","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-bit","11":"tag-calls","12":"tag-live","13":"tag-loom","14":"tag-meeting","15":"tag-news","16":"tag-perspective","17":"tag-talks","18":"tag-timing","19":"tag-trump"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10784\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}