Australia rejects the US case for higher tariffs; Queensland records its first suspected case of a deadly bird flu strain; Collingwood charges towards the AFL finals with a sixth straight win.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Australia rejects the US case for higher tariffs.
- Queensland records its first suspected case of a deadly bird flu strain.
- Collingwood charges towards the AFL finals with a sixth straight win.
The Trump administration has raised tariffs on Australian exports from 10 to 12.5 per cent, with the new rate taking effect this afternoon.
The White House says the increase is part of a broader move - targeting 60 economies, which Trump claims have not done enough to prevent goods made with forced labour from entering their supply chains.
Federal Trade Minister Don Farrell - rejects the claim, insisting Australia has some of the world's strongest laws against modern slavery.
"Australia does take the issue of slavery, modern slavery seriously and we will continue to do that. But we think and we believe, the Albanese government believes this imposition of higher tariffs on Australia is completely unjustified."
Mr Farrell says the government will continue to lobby the US to remove all tariffs on Australian goods.
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A small group of protesters has gathered outside Labor's National Conference in Adelaide this morning, calling for the AUKUS security pact to be scrapped.
They say the agreement with the U-S and Britain is a misuse of taxpayer money - and puts U-S interests ahead of Australia's.
The group wants the federal government to address concerns about AUKUS during the conference - and answer questions about the agreement.
Nearby, another group carrying Palestinian flags - called on the Labor government to end its support for Israel as the war in Gaza continues.
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning the Middle East is on the brink of a much wider conflict.
Addressing the U-N Security Council, Mr Guterres said the crisis was spiralling and each new escalation risked triggering another.
"The situation is getting out of control. It's teetering on the edge of the unimaginable. The region is being pulled into an ever-widening circle of confrontation. One crisis feeds another. One escalation triggers the next."
Meanwhile, U-S Central Command says it has begun a 13th straight night of strikes on Iran, after President Donald Trump ordered an escalation in military operations.
The latest attacks follow Houthi strikes on two Saudi oil tankers near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, prompting Mr Trump to threaten Iran and its allies with what he called “major military punishment.
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The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion - will examine the relationship between police and Jewish security groups, amid calls for governments to fully fund security for the community.
The inquiry yesterday heard that Jewish families, schools, places of worship and community organisations - continue to bear much of the cost of protecting themselves.
The commission was also told government funding since 2023 - has covered only about half of the security costs incurred by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Liberal MP Julian Lesser - is due to give evidence today on the impact of rising anti-Semitism and hate speech on Australia's Jewish community.
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Queensland has recorded its first suspected case of the deadly H5 strain of bird flu.
A dead petrel found on Moreton Island returned an initial positive result at a state government laboratory.
Samples have now been sent to the CSIRO for confirmation.
Australia has recorded 17 confirmed cases in wild seabirds since June, but Queensland authorities say there have been no detections in poultry and chicken meat and eggs remain safe to eat.
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It's a big weekend for AFL and NRL, with the codes each fielding blockbuster clashes tonight in the lead up to their respective grand finals.
In AFL, Collingwood has won six consecutive games, the latest against Adelaide, beating the Crows by 34 points on Thursday night.
AFL commentator Matthew Richardson told Sunrise the team is defying expectations and he believes the side are contenders for the finals.
"At the start of that run, people were questioning whether Collingwood were going to participate in the finals this year. Well I certainly think they are now. It was a terrific win last night. A high pressure game over there in Adelaide. Look, Adelaide started really well in this game, three quick goals to Collingwood just before half time kept them in the game. And then after half time it was just a totally different contest."
