
BREAKING NEWS Penny Wong's tough message to Iran as it launches strikes on US bases
'Australia condemns Iran's strikes on US bases in Qatar and Iraq,' she said.
'We do not want to see further escalation. A full-scale war in the Middle East would be devastating for the people of the region and the world.
'Australia continues to call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy.'
Closure to airspace around transit hubs in the Middle East could impact flights globally, she warned.
'Australians travelling should seek updates from their airlines and follow @Smartraveller.'
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The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Hamas agrees to new Gaza ceasefire deal
Hamas has announced its acceptance of a new ceasefire proposal put forward by Arab mediators for the Gaza Strip. Gaza's Health Ministry reports the Palestinian death toll from the conflict has surpassed 62,000, with over 156,000 wounded. US President Donald Trump expressed doubt about the ongoing negotiations, saying that the remaining hostages held by Hamas would only be returned once the group is 'confronted and destroyed'. Israel said its positions on the ceasefire talks remain unchanged, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to continue the war until all hostages are returned and Hamas is disarmed. Concerns about a worsening humanitarian catastrophe persist, with Amnesty International accusing Israel of a deliberate starvation campaign. Hamas says it accepts new ceasefire deal as Palestinian death toll surpasses 62,000


The Guardian
2 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Empty corridors and a quiet hum: if there were fireworks at Albanese's economic roundtable, they were well hidden
'What's on your agenda this week?' 'Hanging out for three days while we wait.' So went a conversation overheard in Parliament House, between two people from organisations represented at the government's economic reform roundtable, just before the three-day meeting kicked off. Rome wasn't built in a day, and Australia's economy won't be fixed in three days (although with productivity gains, who knows how we could have supercharged the Roman construction sector). Government sources were quick to stress the 'constructive' atmosphere in the room; in a rosy five-line statement after the first day's activities, an upbeat Jim Chalmers described the vibe as 'outstanding', 'promising', 'productive', 'constructive' and 'consensus building' – proving, if nothing else, productivity is high among his media team. But those of us stuck outside the cabinet room – that is, everyone but the 30-odd participants – were left waiting and wondering what the economic inner circle were discussing. Parliament House wasn't exactly abuzz – more a quiet hum as staffers of interest groups drifted the halls like tumbleweed, trying to fill in time between sessions. Aussies cafe, usually the spot to see and be seen in Parliament, lay near-empty. Journalists skulked around the ministerial wing, trying to learn any scraps from inside; while shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien, the Coalition's sole invitee, bustled out during the lunch break, appearing to take a phone call but perhaps just hoping to avoid questions. Nationals senator Matt Canavan, taking advantage of an unexpected lull in the middle of the day, set up a real-life version of the 'change my mind' meme on the front lawn of the building, spruiking his own pirate version of a roundtable on Tuesday. A special media space set up for press conferences lay mostly empty, barely used beyond quick stand-ups from one business group and one union secretary, where each criticised the other over an ACTU push for employers to pay a levy to train workers. Industry leader Innes Willox reportedly called that idea a 'crock of shit'. ACTU assistant Secretary Liam O'Brien said these weren't 'new tensions', but said the summit was helping thorny issues get 'surfaced in a productive way.' In public comments, at least, participants played nice, saying compromises were being found. But on the outside, like waiting for chimney smoke from the papal conclave, we were left to interpret the smallest signals emanating from the cabinet room. Phones and smart watches had to be surrendered at the cabinet room door, the tech devices of the nation's key policy minds left stranded in little plastic boxes. Sadly the large 'no mobile phones' sign didn't include a warning to switch them to silent, leaving one smart watch to ring deafeningly during Chalmers' opening address and spotlight moment, prompting a mad scramble from the staffers in the lobby. We managed to nip inside the cabinet room as Anthony Albanese and Chalmers made their opening addresses to the roundtable (it was an oval table), to check out the seating plan. Flanking the PM were treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson, and Chalmers (on Albanese's left this time, not his right-hand man). Sitting directly opposite, Productivity Commission chief Danielle Wood, former treasury secretary Ken Henry, and Commonwealth Bank boss Matt Comyn. Sitting on the far rounded edge of the cabinet table, as far from Albanese as would be possible, was Ted O'Brien. Albanese said he didn't expect participants to agree on every issue. With unions, business groups, environment leaders and politicians in one room, it's probably hard to agree on the coffee order, let alone the future economic direction of the country. But in the spirit of consensus (a word you're hearing a lot this week, alongside 'constructive') the PM invited all the roundtable members to drinks at the Lodge on Wednesday night. It will follow a key economic summit of another kind on Monday night at the PM's house. Chalmers, in business-casual mode, in a quarter-zip jacket meeting Albanese… and his dog, Toto. 'I'm delighted at how specific people's ideas have been and how constructively participants have worked together,' Chalmers said after day one, praising participants for having 'risen to the occasion' with 'a lot of consensus building'. But with business groups and unions expecting a key confrontation on AI and regulation on day two, let's check back tomorrow to see if the smoke signals are quite as positive.


Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Calls for Channel Nine to pull episode of The Block off the air - as critics say it features a segment 'glamourising guns'
The Block has been hit with demands to pull its Tuesday night episode before it can go to air, as critics claim it will 'glamourise guns' with a shooting competition. The episode, which will air at 7.30pm on Channel Nine and 9Now, sees Blockheads visit Clunes Field & Game for a clay target shooting challenge. However, Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell took to Instagram in support of a petition demanding the segment be pulled. 'Tonight's episode of The Block features Clunes Field & Game, a group that promotes recreational shooting (including of native animals),' Purcell wrote on Tuesday. Purcell added that guns, 'have no place on family TV. This sends a dangerous message to children.' She then added, 'We're calling on Channel Nine to pull the episode now,' and provided a link to a petition for followers to voice their concerns. The petition says the Tuesday night episode of the Scott Cam-hosted show should be pulled 'for giving a national platform to the Clunes Field & Game Branch'. It claims the business 'promotes recreational hunting—killing animals for sport', and raises concerns about it being aired on family TV. 'Featuring them on a prime-time, family-friendly show normalises gun[s]...' the petition reads. When Daily Mail reached out to Nine for comment, a spokesperson said the clay shooting challenge was conducted safely, but did not reveal if the network had considered pulling the episode in response to the concerns. 'The Clay Shooting challenge to feature on The Block was an activity conducted under strict professional supervision, ensuring our contestants were kept safe at all times,' they said. According to the Field & Game Australia website, the organisation 'provides a range of activities and benefits' relating to 'conservation, hunting, and clay target sports'. The challenge segment on The Block episode in question will only be related to the clay target sports activities provided at the Clunes facility and will not include the recreational hunting of animals. Field & Game Australia also claims to promote 'conservation through pest animal hunting' and 'sustainable and ethical game hunting', among other things. Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell took to Instagram in support of a petition demanding the segment be pulled Clunes Field & Game recently revealed the branch would be featured on the reality renovation show. 'Clunes Field & Game Branch will be featured on the hugely popular show "The Block" next Tuesday (August 19th) at 7:30 PM!' the business wrote on Instagram. 'Whether Clunes is your branch or not, don't miss the chance to see the club in action on national television!' The hashtags '#TheBlock #FGAlife #Hunting #Conservation #ClayTargetShooting' were also added to the caption.