In this bulletin;
- Pressure mounts for prime minister Albanese to meet with US President Trump after new steel tariffs announced;
- The New South Wales government and rail union strike a deal in the Fair Work Commission;
- And in sport, Alexei Popyrin reaches the final 16 in the French Open for the first time.
The Coalition has said it's imperative Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets personally with US President Donald Trump after Mr Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on steel.
In a statement, opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan says the tariffs are concerning for Australian jobs, and the Coalition does not agree with the policy.
Mr Trump announced plans to increase tariffs on foreign imports of steel from 25 to 50 per cent, saying it would strengthen the steel industry in the United States.
Mr Hogan says the Coalition expects the United States to honour its obligations under both nations' free trade agreement, and urges Mr Albanese to meet with Mr Trump on the sidelines of the G7 in Canada in a few weeks time.
—
The United States is urging Indo-Pacific countries to increase defence spending to counter military and economic pressure from China.
Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington will bolster its defenses overseas to counter what he described as rapidly developing threats from Beijing, particularly in its stance toward Taiwan.
China has conducted numerous exercises to test what a blockade would look like of the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as its own and the US has pledged to defend.
Mr Hegseth says countries in the region should increase defence spending to levels similar to the 5% of GDP that NATO members are pledging to spend.
"I urge all of our allies and partners to seize this moment with us. Our defense spending must reflect the dangers and threats that we face today. Because deterrence doesn't come on the cheap, just ask the American taxpayer. Time is of the essence. We must step up and move out with urgency. And it's hard to believe a little bit, after some trips to Europe that I'm saying this, but thanks to President Trump, Asian allies should look to countries in Europe as a newfound example."
—
The New South Wales government and the state's rail union have struck a deal in the Fair Work Commission.
Following almost a year of industrial action disputes between the union and state government over pay conditions, the deal gets workers a 12 per cent pay rise over three years.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union initially sought a 32 per cent pay rise over four years and a 35-hour working week, while the government offered a 15 per cent figure over the same time frame.
Transport Minister John Graham told the ABC the result is a win for his government, labelling it a "fair and reasonable" wage rise they had promised to deliver.
"One of the reasons this deal has landed is that we were one per cent apart when it came to the February negotiations. The government has paid that full one percent to land this deal, we see that as a fair arrangement, it's an investment in reliability. We need a more reliable train service in Sydney, and working with the workforce rather than fighting against them is how we do that."
—
Eleven Sudanese migrants and a Libyan driver have been killed in a car crash.
It's understood the accident between the migrants’ vehicle and a truck happened in the desert, 90 kilometres north of the Libyan town of Kufra.
It is the latest deadly incident involving Sudanese migrants in the Libyan desert.
Earlier this month, seven Sudanese were found dead after their vehicle broke down in the desert on a path used by traffickers between Chad and Libya, stranding 34 migrants on board for several days.
—
Alexei Popyrin has reached the final 16 at the French Open for the first time after beating Portuguese Nuno Borges in a three hour match.
He's now the last Australian man standing after the shock early exit of Alex de Minaur.
Australia’s number two ranked player is yet to lose a set on his way to the quarter finals.
He says his aim ahead of his next match with American 12th seed Tommy Paul is to keep his mind on his own game.
"For me, it's very important to just focus on myself, not try and focus on how he's feeling or what he's doing on the other side of the court. I know he's one of the fittest players on tour, and the way he works in the gym, and you can really tell on the court he's really quick, he's really fit. And the fact that he's been able to get through two five setters back to back."
