Donald Trump lashes out at Australia's ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd; The head of UNWRA blocked from entering the Gaza Strip; And in sport, Queensland pressing on with preparations for the 2032 Olympics, amid a rumoured push to cancel the event.
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- In this bulletin;
- Donald Trump lashes out at Australia's ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd;
- The head of UNWRA blocked from entering the Gaza Strip;
- And in sport, Queensland pressing on with preparations for the 2032 Olympics, amid a rumoured push to cancel the event.
TRANSCRIPT
Donald Trump has attacked former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in an interview on British network GB News.
The interview was conducted with high-profile British conservative Nigel Farage, who said he wanted to ask about AUKUS and Rudd on behalf of Sky News Australia.
Now Australia's ambassador to the United States, Mr Rudd has previously described Mr Trump as a "destructive president" who is "a traitor to the West".
In response to Nigel Farage's questions about their potential professional relationship if Mr Trump were re-elected, the former president has suggested Mr Rudd's tenure in the position would be brief.
FARAGE: "Would you take a phone call from him?"
TRUMP: "He won’t there be long, if that is the case. I don’t know much about him. I heard he was a little bit nasty. I heard he’s not the brightest bulb. I don’t know much about him, but he won’t be there long if he is at all hostile."
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The head of the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees has been refused entry to the Gaza Strip.
UNWRA director-general Philippe Lazzarini says he was singled out as he attempted to enter Rafah to check on the deterioriating conditions there, ahead of an Israeli assault.
"I hear that, we, that the COGAT, said that, it has been denied just because we have not filled the right form. Or at least that was the public explanation but, be reassured that, all the members of my delegation were authorised to enter, except the commissioner general."
Mr Lazzarini alleges that Israel blocked him as retaliation for alleging publicly that he believe's Israel's aim is to destroy the agency, long at the forefront of relief efforts and education in Gaza.
But Defense ministry body COGAT has maintained he did not follow the necessary "coordination processes and channels" when requesting entry.
COGAT has called the incident "another attempt" by the agency to "blame Israel for their own mistakes".
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The Foreign Minister has signalled her intention to raise the case of an imprisoned Australian writer during her talks this afternoon with her Chinese counterpart.
Dr Yang Hengjun faces life in prison after his two-year death sentence was suspended over national security charges the writer and the Australian government have always denied.
Some commentators say there is unlikely to be any headway in the case as there was with detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei who was released by China last year, because of the basis of the writer's charges.
But the Minister says these are issues the parties agreed to discuss during their last meeting.
"You and I also agreed on the importance of dialogue between our two countries, not just to take forward our shared interests, but also to exchange views on the issues that matter to us, and to navigate wisely any differences we have."
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The federal government has pushed back against opposition claims they are making it impossible to reach a bipartisan consensus on religious discrimination laws.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton and Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer have both said they are yet to see the content of two bills that have been drafted on the planned changes.
Mr Dutton has even accused Labor of positioning the opposition as a scapegoat if the legislation is stalled or thwarted.
But Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says those fears have no basis.
"This is something that Australians have been talking about for a very long time. There have been some ten inquiries since 2016. It's something that we've been consulting with the community about, with faith leaders about, for a very long time. And we are looking forward to working constructively with the opposition. We are aiming to reach a bipartisan outcome."
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To sport,
Queensland says it's pushing ahead with plans for the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, amid reports the state government sought advice on cancelling the event.
Premier Steven Miles has denied a Nine News report that it had considered cancelling the games because of venue costs and waning public support.
He says the government will be spending $1.6 billion on a Suncorp Stadium upgrade for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre for track and field events.
