Anthony Albanese to sign a treaty with Fiji as Australia limits Chinese influence; at least two killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City; Socceroo Patrick Beach shares how the team is recovering after its World Cup exit.
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TRANSCRIPT:
- Anthony Albanese to sign a treaty with Fiji as Australia limits Chinese influence
- At least two killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City
- Socceroo Patrick Beach shares how the team is recovering after its World Cup exit
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Social media giant Meta is next in line to be quizzed at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
Two representatives from the company will appear this morning as the inquiry continues to dig deeper into the drivers of antisemitism and other forms of hateful speech online.
Representatives from Kick Streaming are also due to testify; as well as Cyberwell, which keeps a database of online antisemitism.
Various researchers have found that hate surged online in the aftermath of the Bondi shooting in December, when 15 people were killed in an attack on a Jewish festival, prompting the royal commission.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived in Fiji for a three-day trip that will also include a visit to the Solomon Islands.
He is set to meet with Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, and finalise negotiations on a bilateral security agreement known as the 'Vuvale Union'.
Mr Albanese will then travel to Honiara to meet with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale as the country holds Independence Day celebrations.
In a statement, Mr Albanese has said the trip is an opportunity to deepen partnerships, with the aim of fostering a safe and resilient region.
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The finalists for the NAIDOC Awards have been announced, as the nation marks the 50th year of a week-long celebration for First Nations culture.
The finalists across nine award categories have been revealed ahead of the awards ceremony in Mparntwe/Alice Springs next month.
Rhoda Roberts has been named the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, while the Person of the Year Award finalists include Aunty Pat Turner, Dr Lana Leslie-Henfling and Timmy Duggan.
This year's theme of '50 Years of Deadly' honours the First Nations Elders, organisers, artists and communities who have built and sustained the NAIDOC movement over five decades.
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Health officials say an Israeli air strike has killed at least two Palestinians in Gaza City.
Medics say the two people were killed in a strike that hit a group of people at the Omar Al-Mokhtar road in the heart of the city, in the north of the enclave.
Israel has repeatedly carried out strikes on the Gaza Strip since a US-mediated ceasefire with Hamas was reached in October last year, saying that it is targeting militants threatening its soldiers in the enclave or those who took part in the 2023 attack.
Meanwhile Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected suggestions Israel is locked in a permanent state of war, telling Fox News that he expects more countries to establish ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
"We're not in a permanent state of war. I myself, with President Trump, we brought forth for peace deals. That's what we did. The Abraham Accords and I believe with, the weakening of Iran, which has been achieved by our common action, our common military action, I think we're going to get more because, because countries would like to align with us, and to protect their future and also their prosperity."
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Massive fires have burnt through 42,000 acres of land across Portugal, Spain, France and Greece; forcing thousands from their homes.
As well as evacuations, the fires have led officials to ban spectators from the Tour de France cycling race.
Hundreds of firefighters are battling the wildfires in southern Europe, with temperatures in the region predicted to reach 40 degrees in some parts.
In Greece, 18-year-old Charis has said the spread was faster than they had anticipated.
“I saw it (the fire), the moment it started. We thought it could be brought under control in time, but it appears it has escalated.”
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Socceroo Patrick Beach says he is immensely proud of the team after their exit from the World Cup in a penalty shootout with Egypt on Saturday.
Tony Popovic's 26-man squad is the second-youngest Australia has taken to the tournament, with an average age of 26.8 years old.
Beach has told SBS that the players on the team built a strong connection during the preparation for the World Cup, and it has set the stage for what comes next.
"It was devastating. You know a lot of the boys. It is really emotional in there (locker room). We've given everything. Nearly all of us have been here for two months in the US, preparing. everything has been together. So it has been close in there. We have been emotional, like I said, but real positive as well. Looking forward we've got a young team; and we've shown a lot of positivity and growth through this tournament. And just what exactly Australian football has - and will become. A lot to look forward to. Really proud of the whole team; and the staff, and everyone involved, because we gave it one hell of a shot."
