TRANSCRIPT
- Australia urged to follow the UK and secure an exemption from higher US steel tariffs
- A no-confidence motion moved against the Tasmanian Premier
- Calls to adjust scheduling at the French Open so more female players are featured in marquee night sessions
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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order doubling tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.
He says the measures are due to come into effect today - and are intended to secure the future of the American steel industry.
Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt says Trump administration officials have sent a letter to countries on the country-specific tariffs announced on April 2nd, reminding them that the 90-day pause is about to expire this week; and they should be putting forward their best offers.
"Well, look, the president has been very direct to our trading partners in his conversations with them and with foreign leaders directly that they need to cut deals with the United States of America. The tariff agenda of this president, he believes very strongly in it, and as you've all seen, he's unafraid to use tariffs to protect our industries and protect our workers, but he wants to see these tailor-made deals be signed."
The executive order says the UK will be spared from the tariffs increase, with the levy to remain at 25 per cent.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says Australia should work to achieve the same outcome.
She says the Coalition stands ready to work with the Albanese government to secure that outcome - as it is in the national interest.
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In Tasmania, Labor has moved a motion of no confidence against Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff in the state parliament.
Opposition Leader Dean Winter has defended his actions to the House of Assembly, saying he brought the motion out of a sense of responsibility to the people of the state over concerns that include the Premier's financial management and recent cost blowouts for a new AFL stadium in Hobart.
"I wish I could stand here and say everything was fine but I owe Tasmanians more than that. I owe them more than false comfort. I owe them the truth and the commitment to act on it. If I just sit back and let this chaos continue I am just as complicit as the Premier, and that goes for the House."
The motion has been moved for debate after the Tasmanian Greens confirmed they would support it.
But government leader of the house Eric Abetz has reacted angrily, telling the Parliament that Mr Winter just wants to create chaos but not govern.
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South Korea has a new president, with opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung winning the country's snap election.
It comes six months after his predecessor's martial law bid failed.
In a speech to supporters, Mr Lee urged South Koreans to move forward with hope - and he vowed he would not forget the duty of a president to unite the people.
"In this election, which served as a judgment on the insurrection crisis, the opposition should have won by a landslide. So while I’m pleased with the result, the fact that the margin wasn’t overwhelmingly large also reminds me that we still face many challenges ahead. It’s a day that brings both joy, but at the same time it is a day that calls for renewed determination."
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The Matildas' 2023 World Cup quarter-final triumph against France, which ended with a history-making penalty shootout, will be commemorated with an artwork at the National Portrait Gallery.
The Matildas' 7-6 triumph on penalties made them the first Australian football side to reach the final four of a World Cup, capturing the attention of a nation and changing the perceptions of women in sport.
Sydney-based artist and filmmaker Angela Tiatia has asked the World Cup squad of 23 Matildas to relive the tension of the 10-round shootout for the video artwork.
She says some of the players had never rewatched those nail-biting moments.
Matildas defender Courtney Nevin says the project has a special place in her heart.
"Seeing Australia come together in the way they did to support us is so surreal and amazing to see. Just the impact that we had on Australia and everyone just coming together and supporting us is incredible."
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In Tennis, world number one Aryna Sabalenka says the match scheduling at the French Open should be adjusted to feature female players in the night sessions.
She says organisers could do better, after her quarter-final match against Zheng Qinwen was played in front of a small crowd on Tuesday at 11am local time.
Much of the 15,000-seat stadium remained empty.
Sabalenka says it makes sense to have high-profile matches moved to later time slots to showcase them better.
"We deserve the equal treatment, like you said. There was a lot of, like, great battles, a lot of great matches, which would be cool to see as, like, night session, just more people in the stands watching these incredible battles. And just to show ourselves to more people. So, yeah, I definitely agree that we deserve to be put in a bigger stage - like better timing, more people watching."
The tournament's scheduling decisions have come under a harsh spotlight again this year - with no women's match featured in the evening sessions.
French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said last week that it is unfeasible to have a womens match in the night sessions - as the mens best-of-five-set format is likely to offer more time on court for ticket-buyers than the best-of-three setup for women.
And that's the latest from the SBS newsroom.
