Australia to deploy specialist drone operators to Nepal, The Coalition announces plans to cut the tobacco excise by 80 per cent, Aussie hopeful Alex de Minaur advances to round two of the US Open.
Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
- Australia to deploy specialist drone operators to Nepal..
- The Coalition announces plans to cut the tobacco excise by 80 per cent...
- Aussie hopeful Alex de Minaur advances to round two of the US Open...
Australia will deploy a team of specialist drone operators in coming days to contribute to Nepal’s search and rescue effort, as 38 Australians remain missing in the floodzone.
The team, including members of Fire and Rescue New South Wales and the Queensland Fire Department is part of a 15-person Disaster Assistance Response Team.
The Federal Government has also increased in humanitarian aid for support of the disaster by $3 million, totalling $11 million so far.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Agency is reporting* 1,204 confirmed deaths and 4,216 missing persons, including 583 foreigners.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will deliver a new upgrade to Palau's battery storage, to support the country's renewable energy transition.
The battery upgrade is part of a $16.4 million dollar investment Australia has made in Palau's energy grid.
Mr Albanese says the upgrade will increase renewable energy by 25 per cent of Palau's total electricity generation, and reduce the country's reliance on diesel.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Junior said the project is more than a decade in the making.
"And so this project wouldn't be possible, really, without the relationship between solar pacific, AIFFP and most importantly the Australian Government and the Australian tax payers for your commitment to the Pacific and partnerhip, to make sure we are able to transition."
The Prime Minister is in Palau for the final day of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting, where he also announced a $25 million dollar package to advance climate and environmental priorities in the Pacific.
The United States has dismissed claims it is hijacking Venezuelan resources, after signing a major oil deal with the country.
The deal grants the US control of about one-fifth of the South American country's reserves.
Venezuela's Interim President Delcy Rodriguez insists the controversial deal will benefit Venezuelans, by increasing oil production and bringing jobs and higher wages.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the US has no intention to steal Venezueala's oil.
"The resources, the oil in Venezuela is indeed owned by the people of Venezuela. All of the production contracts of the private companies, including the one the United States government is participating in, they're all agreements with the government of Venezuela on certain revenue splits for the production. Private companies are bringing the money to produce the oil. But the benefits, the royalties and the taxes all go to the government of Venezuela and the people of Venezuela."
The Coalition says it plans to cut the tobacco excise by 80 per cent, as part of it's plan to tackle the growing illicit tobacco market.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says the plan would slash the tax on a standard pack of 20 cigarettes from around $30 to $6, to reduce the price advantage of selling illicit tobacco.
The Australian Taxation Office says the illicit tobacco trade in Australia has expanded rapidly since 2020, and government revenue from the tobacco excise has plummeted.
Speaking with Channel 7, Mr Taylor says the government's approach is allowing organised crime to thrive.
"The current policy has failed. It's supporting rising crime, cheap smokes, and frankly, it is supporting organised crime in this country on a scale, that we should be deeply concerned about. We see new arson attacks every day."
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said earlier this week the government is not considering a cut to the excise, and its focus is on compliance.
Public health authorities say the excise deters people from smoking by making cigarettes more expensive, and warn cutting it back could undermine efforts to reduce smoking rates.
The 13th edition of the Queer Screen Film Festival has begun in Sydney.
The week-long celebration of the LGBTQI+ community features a program of 28 unique stories from international and local filmmakers.
French animation film Jim Queen, directed by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané opened the festival on Wednesday night.
Queer Screen CEO Benson Wu says the festival celebrates sexuality and gender identity through queer storytelling on screen.
"When you look at mainstream of mainstream film festival, often they kind of focus on more revenue driven content or identity. So I think for us to exist is to kind of tackle every different queer community Lgbtqia+ and pansexual, intersex, transgender storytelling. I think those are so important. Often they've been overshadowed."
To sport and in tennis,
Alex de Minaur is holding up Australia's title hopes at the US Open, putting away Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri in straight sets in the first round.
The world number seven has advanced with a 6-2 6-2 6-4 victory to set up a second-round clash with Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp late today.
Former champion Daniil Medvedev and US contender Alex Michelsen are already safely through to round three.
