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In this bulletin;
- The PM responds to accusations he's been silent over Islamophobic attacks;
- Dismay over the closure of four UN agency schools in East Jerusalem;
- And in sport, Australia's Adam Scott weighs into the debate about the PGA reunifying with LIV Golf.
Anthony Albanese has labelled two Islamophobic attacks on women at a Melbourne shopping centre outrageous, almost a week after the assaults.
He says attacks on people for who they are and the basis of their race or religion are un-Australian.
Mr Albanese has also denied that Australians view Islamophobia differently to anti-Semitism, following an accusation by Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja that he had been silent over Islamophobic attacks and favoured other faiths.
But the Prime Minister says that is not true.
"I take all attacks on the people on the basis of their faith seriously and they should all face the full force of the law. We have appointed a special envoy on Islamaphobia. That's an important step forward, and I am someone who celebrates our diversity and who respects people regardless of their faith."
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Donald Trump has pushed back against Ukraine's objections to being excluded from talks aimed at bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.
He says that Ukraine has had years to bring an end to the war but have not, while also echoing his frequent claim that he could have prevented the conflict.
The US President has also seemed to suggest that Ukraine was to blame for the war which began after Russia invaded the country.
"I think I have the power to end this war and I think it's going very well. But today I heard 'well we weren't invited'. Well, you've been there for three years. You should have ended it three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal."
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The United Nations says it is dismayed by the apparent forcible closure of four schools in East Jerusalem being run by its agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA.
UNRWA says police entered one of the schools - the Qalandiya Training Centre - by force, firing tear gas and sound grenades and ordering its 350 students and 30 staff to evacuate.
Israeli police spokesman Dean Elsdunne says police did not enter the UN buildings and that Jerusalem municipal authorities carried out the closures.
But UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric says the raids are a clear violation of international law in any circumstance.
"The use of tear gas and sound bombs in educational environments while students are learning is both unnecessary and unacceptable. This is a clear violation of Israel’s obligations under international law, including obligations concerning the privileges and immunities of the UN and its personnel. The inviolability of United Nations premises must be respected at all times."
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A First Nations group says the federal government must rebalance and re-prioritise social and economic policy to help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous opportunities and outcomes.
The First Nations Projects Group director Rekeesha Fry says the focus on social policy has come at the detriment of economic policy.
The group wants an office to be established for the Indigenous economy and an Indigenous investment and trade hub.
Ms Fry says a First Nations peak body to help traditional owners and Indigenous businesses secure equity participation in major projects on their land would help them gain equity positions in major projects on their Country.
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To sport,
Australia's Adam Scott says he'll understand if there's still bad feelings from PGA Tour players about the prospect of reunifying with those who defected to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf tournament.
Rory McIlroy has said he believes reunification is what's best for the PGA Tour membership and everyone has got to "get over it" and move forward.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan says reunification is a priority in the tour's negotiations with the Public Investment Fund, of Saudi Arabia.
Australia's 2013 Masters winner has been thrust into the forefront of these discussions since joining the PGA Tour board at the start of 2024.













