TRANSCRIPT:
- The Prime Minister in Vanuatu meeting with Pacific leaders
- The ANZ bank to cut jobs
- And in footbal, Ange Postecoglou tipped to return to the English Premier League
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has landed in Vanuatu for a bilateral meeting with the Pacific island's Prime Minister Jotham Napat.
The two leaders were widely expected to sign a landmark economic and security agreement but the deal is now unlikely to be finalised during this visit.
In a joint news conference with Prime Minister Napat, Mr Albanese said he is confident the pact will be signed soon but it is important to ensure the agreement upholds the sovereignty of both countries.
"It is important that processes be respected, and I respect the prime minister's processes - we have our own respectively. This is an agreement that will also, importantly respect sovereignty of Vanuatu, but one as well that respects sovereignty of Australia. This is in the interests of both of our nations and is a very positive agreement going forward."
After the visit, the Prime Minister will travel to the Solomon Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum.
ANZ chief executive Nuno Matos says the decision to cut thousands of jobs at the bank is not about increasing profit.
Some 500 staff and 1000 contractors will be laid off by September next year, as part of a $560 million restructure overseen by Mr Matos, just four months into his leadership.
Mr Matos says the jobs will not come from customer-facing roles, and have, quote, absolutely nothing, to do with artificial intelligence.
The national President of the Finance Sector Union Wendy Streets has called the decision unhinged, after the bank posted a half-year cash profit of $3.6 billion in May.
Mr Matos says the job cuts about improving the bank's operations.
"This is not about profits. This is about getting the things right, the basic things a bank needs to do, right, this is about again avoiding duplication and complexity, which is very important in a company that needs to simplify its operation."
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says a bill to permanently enshrine the state's First People's Assembly will help ensure government money is spent more effectively.
She says it's important that government listens directly to First Nations people on matters that affect them, and that's what the voice-style body will do.
Legislation is being introduced to Victoria's parliament today and will mean the Assembly must be consulted on laws and policies that affect First Nations people.
The Assembly would also oversee an ongoing truth-telling process, manage some statutory appointments, and develop an educational institution as the state pursues a treaty process.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says the reforms will help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
"Now, I want to be also clear that none of these changes that are in the bill that we're introducing to the parliament today, or indeed in the treaty agreement itself, none of these changes are about taking anything away from anyone. It's simply about improving services, improving the lives for Aboriginal Victorians, and it will be doing so over a period of time, because treaty lays out some very clear rules around how together we will achieve this change - and change is very much needed."
Nepal's government has lifted a ban on social media platforms, a day after violent street protests that left 19 people dead.
Platforms including Facebook, X and YouTube were blocked last week, with the government citing concerns about fake news and fraud.
The ban sparked a massive protest rally in the capital Kathmandu which descended into chaos as protesters stormed the parliament building .
Nineteen people were killed and more than 100 injured when police opened fire on demonstrators.
This morning the apps became available again, with the Prime Minister saying, the protest deaths will be investigated.
Authorities have also imposed an indefinite curfew within the Kathmandu city area.
The Murdoch family has reached a deal that will see Rupert Murdoch's son Lachlan cement control of the family media empire, which includes Fox News and the Wall Street Journal.
Fox Corp says it has reached a mutual resolution on the legal proceedings related to the Murdoch Family Trust, resulting in the termination of all litigation.
A new family trust will be established to benefit James Murdoch, Grace Murdoch and Chloe Murdoch.
The Murdoch children will be beneficiaries of a new trust.
The amount of the payment was not disclosed.
Ange Postecoglou is being tipped to return to the English Premier League following Nuno Espirito Santo's sacking as Nottingham Forest coach.
Despite only being given a new contract in June after guiding Forest into the Europa League last term, Nuno has been axed three games into the new season.
Postecoglou, who was sacked in June by Tottenham after winning the Europa League, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace him, with several reports in the UK suggesting Postecoglou is the club's No.1 target.
