TRANSCRIPT
- Anthony Albanese heads to the G7 meeting, with no confirmation of a meeting with Donald Trump
- Iran strikes Israel in retaliatory strikes as Israeli strikes hit Tehran
- American Sam Burns leads the US Open, but Aussie Adam Scott isn't far behind
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has left Fiji and is on his way to the G7 meeting in North America, where all eyes will be on whether he will have a one-on-one meeting with US President, Donald Trump.
Mr Albanese is expected to meet business leaders in Seattle before heading to Canada for the G7 meeting, to which Australia has been specifically invited by Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney.
Independent MP Zali Steggall has told the Nine Network it's important Mr Albanese meets with Mr Trump, because many Australians are wondering whether Australia can still trust the US as a close ally.
"Well, that is a very big question at the moment... the actions of the US under Trump... a lot of nations, I think, are asking that question. We saw that interaction with the Ukrainian President. So, a lot of questions are being raised about that reliability. And so, it's important for Prime Minister Albanese to have that meeting with the President. Also, tariffs... there are a number issues afoot that need to be discussed."
Mr Albanese has one-on-one meetings at the G7 organised with his British, South Korea, Japanese, and Canadian counterparts.
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A New South Wales inquiry has found more than 40,000 people, mainly migrant workers, are trapped in modern slavery.
The inquiry says migrant workers in industries like agriculture, horticulture, and meat processing are highly vulnerable to exploitation, violence, punishing hours, poor pay, poor housing, and restricted movements.
Four people are going to the New South Wales Anti-Slavery Commissioner each week.
The federal government’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility, or PALM, scheme, is facing heavy scrutiny, with workers' inability to change employers seen as a factor in their vulnerability.
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Israel and Iran are both launching air strikes at each other after Israel launched its biggest-ever offensive against Iran.
Air raid sirens have sounded across Israel, and explosions have been heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Iranian media says several explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran.
Iranian officials say the Israeli strikes killed at least 78 people and wounded more than 320, mostly civilians.
Iran claims it's launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, but Israel says it was fewer than 100, and most were intercepted or fell short.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Israel is fighting not just for itself, but also Iranians.
"The Islamic regime, which has oppressed you for nearly 50 years threatens to destroy my country, the State of Israel. The objective of Israel's military operation is to remove this threat- both the nuclear threat and the ballistic missile threat to Israel. And as we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your objective, which is freedom."
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The International Atomic Energy Agency says Israel's initial strikes have destroyed the above-ground uranium enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site.
Reaction to the strikes at the United Nations has been furious, with Iran accusing Israel and the United States of inciting the aggression.
Iran has been backed in their condemnation by Russia and China, with Russia accusing the West of propagating anti-Iran hysteria for months.
The UK says it has spoken to both sides and is urging restraint, a call largely echoed by the UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo.
"I reiterate the call by the Secretary-General to both sides to show maximum restraint at this critical moment and to avoid, at all costs, a descent into deeper and wider regional conflict. We must, at all costs, avoid a growing conflagration that would have enormous global consequences."
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To Golf now, American Sam Burns is leading at the halfway mark of this year's third men's major tournament, the US Open, but Australian Adam Scott isn't far behind him.
Only three players have below-par scores after two rounds at the notoriously difficult Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh.
Burns is in the lead by one shot, at three-under-par overall, after posting the best performance of round two, a five-under-par 65.
Scott is tied for fourth at even-par, after posting back-to-back scores of 70.
Burns says the difficult nature of the course means the best way to play is aggressively.
"I think, for this golf course, you really just have to free it up. It's too hard to try to guide it around here. You're going to hit some in the rough; you're going to hit some in some bad spots; you might as well do it with authority. It's going to be a fun weekend."
Australian Jason Day had the second-best performance of round two, shooting a 67 to be six shots back of the lead.
Weather interrupted play very late in the day.
