Key Points
- Google threatens to sue Australian Government over social media ban
- Australians being provided consular assistance after boat intercepted off Gaza
- Kaden Groves wins latest stage at Tour de France
TRANSCRIPT
Google says it will launch legal action against the Australian government if it includes YouTube in its social media ban for children under age 16.
The video platform was exempted from rules when the bill was discussed in parliament last year, but in June, the eSafety Commissioner advised the Communications Minister it should also be included.
Nationals leader David Littleproud told Channel Ten while he wants to understand why there are changing stances on YouTube, he thinks social media platforms can do more to protect children who use them.
"I think these big social media companies have not covered themselves in glory for a long time. And it's time for them to catch up. They had the technology at their fingertips to help us with this, and help families with this, and they straight their way around with legal threats is not how I think good corporate citizen should interact."
The federal government hasn't confirmed whether it will include YouTube in the social media ban, which will be enforced in December.
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirms two Australians were on board a boat, seized by Israeli military off the Gaza coast.
A spokesperson confirms there were 21 members on the boat when it was intercepted, including Australian journalist Tania Safi and human rights activist Robert Martin.
The spokesperson says Australian officials in Tel Aviv are liaising with authorities, and consular officers stand ready to offer assistance to affected citizens.
The Guardian reports Ms Safi and Mr Martin were travelling with the pro-Palestinian activist group, Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
The boat was intercepted by Israeli troops when it was about 100 kilometres west of Gaza.
The Israeli foreign ministry claims the boat illegally entered the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza, while the activist group says its crew have been subjected to what it called unlawful detention while attempting to transport aid to the area.
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Trade Minister Don Farrell is defending the decision to lift restrictions on importing US beef to Australia, rejecting claims the call was made under pressure as tariffs are negotiated.
But Mr Farrell later confirmed that the U-S president Donald Trump had raised the issue of importing US beef to Australia during his phone call with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Mr Farrell earlier said the decision was made as part of an independent review process before U-S President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Australian imports.
He told Sky News allowing US beef into the country will not compromise national biosecurity.
"This is an independent process the agriculture department undertakes. They made decisions based on all the scientific evidence as to whether is on a biosecurity basis, it's appropriate to allow our overseas products to come into Australia. On this occasion, they have made that decision."
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her U-K counterpart David Lammy have stressed the importance of women's roles in the defence force.
Ms Wong and Mr Lammy are visiting the HMS Prince of Wales this afternoon in Darwin, the site of the Talisman Sabre.
The pair are promoting the UK's Carrier Strike Group's upcoming involvement in Australia's annual war games.
Ms Wong says both Australia and the UK are committed to continue progressing the Women, Peace and Security agenda developed by the U-N Security Council in 2000.
"We know the importance of women in our armed forces to our security, and we thank those behind us and all women who serve in our defence forces for their contribution to our security, to peace, in our region and beyond. We also know the importance of having women involved in peace settlement and peace negotiation."
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In cycling, Australia's Kaden Groves has won stage 20 of the Tour de France - his maiden stage win at the race.
His late solo breakaway left the big two of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard trailing in the pouring rain of northern France.
The 26-year-old from the Sunshine Coast was able to demonstrate his bike-handling skills as he managed to stay up when other cyclists skidded out of control in front of him on a wet descent - 21 kilometres from the finish.
He says it is hard to describe his emotions right now.
"There's so many emotions to win here. The team, we come here with so many different plans with Jasper (Philipsen) and Mathieu (van der Poel), and in the end, I get my own opportunities, and they haven't gone the right way, but today, I mean, yeah, I had super legs. I mean, I just suffered to the line and in reward, we get a tour stage."
The result completes the set of grand tour stage wins for Groves - including two stage wins at the Giro d'Italia; and seven at the Spanish Vuelta.
