Australia calls for de-escalation in the Middle East; India and New Zealand elevate bilateral relations; Spain beats Belgium to book their spot in the World Cup semifinals.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The Australian government calls for de-escalation in the Middle East
- India and New Zealand elevate bilateral relations
- And in the FIFA World Cup, fans celebrate Spain’s win against Belgium, which books them a spot in the semifinals
The Australian government says no decision has been made at this stage to potentially extend the temporary fuel excise cut due to the escalation in hostilities in the Middle East.
Mediators have been working to de-escalate and get talks on track, after strikes between the US and Iran this week.
A three-month cut to the fuel excise ended on June 30, with the decision made to extend it for this month at a lower discount, before it is removed completely.
Education Minister Jason Clare says the Australian government is monitoring developments in the Middle East and wants to see a de-escalation to limit the cascade of impacts.
"That's a decision the government would make closer to that time. I guess what is clear is that even though there are bombs dropping on the other side of the world, it is having an impact on Aussies right here and now. We want to see the ceasefire continue. We want to see the war end. We want to see the strait open. And we want to see things get back to normal as soon as possible."
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New Zealand and India have announced a "strategic partnership" covering defence, trade, diplomacy, culture, sport and science.
The countries also pledged to deepen cooperation on combating counter-terrorism and cyber crime.
India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is visiting New Zealand as part of tour that has also included Australia and Indonesia.
It's the first visit to New Zealand by an Indian prime minister in 40 years.
Mr Modi described the agreement as a milestone that would inspire "greater energy and confidence".
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says this new pact builds on a bilateral free-trade deal signed in April.
"This is really about us saying that as we take the three pillars of our relationship: economics and trade, defence and security; and obviously people-to-people links. Think culture, sport, tourism, education. This is in the defence and security pillar to say: look we're going to share our assessments of terrorism in different parts of the world that we operate in. That would be quite normal and a good advice that we do exactly that."
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Darwin has marked NAIDOC week with a march through the city, where the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Yanyuwa Garrwa woman Malarndirri McCarthy addressed the crowd.
Ms McCarthy urged people to speak up and stay united, suggesting that currently, there are forces trying to promote division, angst and anxiety.
She says the NAIDOC march is about celebration; a sentiment captured by this year's theme '50 Years of Deadly', paying tribute to five decades of the movement to nationally celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievement.
The chief executive of the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Michael Rotumah, has told NITV, he thinks there should be a national public holiday to mark the importance of NAIDOC Week.
"We don't celebrate formally in the sense of a national public holiday, you know so. One day for 65,000 years in history, surely governments around the country – through national cabinets and states and territories get on and support a national public holiday."
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Fellow passengers have pulled a man back into a plane when he was partially sucked out through a dislodged window on a Ryanair flight departing the city of Thessaloniki in northern Greece.
A Greek hospital official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says the 61-year-old sustained neck and shoulder injuries, as well as friction burns.
Passengers told Greek media they heard a loud bang before oxygen masks dropped and the plane began losing altitude.
Ryanair acknowledged the incident in a statement but has not said what caused the window to dislodge.
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And now to sport.
In the World Cup, fans supporting Spain are celebrating after the team beat Belgium 2-1 to book a semifinal clash against France.
Mikel Merino scored Spain's second goal in the 88th minute to achieve the result.
These fans at the Los Angeles Stadium say they feel euphoric.
FAN ONE: "We are very, very, very happy because Spain won."
FAN TWO: "Go up. Go forward. Spain. We are going to win the World Cup. We are going to win. Thank you."
And that’s the latest from the SBS Newsroom.
I’m Tee Mitchell.
