Latest from 7NEWS
7NEWS
4 hours ago
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Former US President Barack Obama issues blunt message to Democrats
Former US President Barack Obama issued a call to action for Democrats at a private fundraiser in New Jersey on Friday evening, urging those frustrated by the state of the country under President Donald Trump to 'stand up for the things that you think are right.' 'I think it's going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in foetal positions. And it's going to require Democrats to just toughen up,' Obama said at the fundraiser, according to excerpts of his remarks exclusively obtained by CNN. 'You know, don't tell me you're a Democrat, but you're kind of disappointed right now, so you're not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something,' he said. 'Don't say that you care deeply about free speech and then you're quiet. No, you stand up for free speech when it's hard. When somebody says something that you don't like, but you still say, 'You know what, that person has the right to speak.' … What's needed now is courage.' Obama's comments come as the Democratic Party searches for its path forward in the second Trump term and beyond. Many in the party's base have called for a more forceful response from Democratic leaders at a time when the party is locked out of power. As Democrats debate who should lead the party, Obama encouraged them to channel their energy into the governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia, saying the off-year elections could be 'a big jumpstart for where we need to go.' 'Stop looking for the quick fix. Stop looking for the messiah. You have great candidates running races right now. Support those candidates,' Obama said, calling out the New Jersey and Virginia elections, according to the excerpts of his remarks. 'Make sure that the DNC has what it needs to compete in what will be a more data-driven, more social media-driven cycle, which will cost some money and expertise and time,' he continued. Obama spoke at a private fundraiser hosted by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy Murphy, at their home in Red Bank, New Jersey. The intimate dinner drew in US$2.5 million ($3.8m) through in-person and online donations for the Democratic National Committee, a source familiar with the event said. A portion of the haul will be allocated to Democratic efforts in the governor's race in New Jersey. The Democratic nominee, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and DNC Chair Ken Martin were on hand for the event. Obama described Sherrill and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor in Virginia, as 'powerful spokespersons for a pragmatic, commonsense desire to help people and who both have remarkable track records of service.' 'The most important thing you can do right now is to help the team, our candidate to win,' he said. 'And we've got to start building up our coffers in the DNC.' Obama also argued that Democrats need to focus on how to 'deliver for people,' acknowledging the different views within the party about how best to do that. 'There's been, I gather, some argument between the left of the party and people who are promoting the quote-unquote abundance agenda. Listen, those things are not contradictory. You want to deliver for people and make their lives better? You got to figure out how to do it,' he said. 'I don't care how much you love working people. They can't afford a house because all the rules in your state make it prohibitive to build. And zoning prevents multifamily structures because of NIMBY,' he said, referring to 'not in my backyard' views. 'I don't want to know your ideology, because you can't build anything. It does not matter.' Obama has spoken selectively since Trump's return to power in January. He has criticised the president's tariff policy and warned the White House was infringing on Americans' rights. Last month, Obama warned the country was 'dangerously close' to a more autocratic government. At the closed-press fundraiser on Friday, the former president said he has not been 'surprised by what Trump's done' or that 'there are no more guardrails within the Republican Party.' He repeated his calls for institutions, including law firms and universities, to push back on intimidation efforts by the Trump administration. 'What's being asked of us is make some effort to stand up for the things that you think are right. And be willing to be a little bit uncomfortable in defence of your values. And in defence of the country. And in defence of the world that you want to leave to your children and your grandchildren,' he said. 'And if we all do that, if we do our jobs over the next year and a half, then I think we will rebuild momentum and we will position ourselves to get this country moving in the direction it should.'
7NEWS
4 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Australian held over Stone of Destiny 'disturbance'
A man has appeared in court charged with 'malicious mischief' following reports a glass case containing the Stone of Destiny in Scotland was broken. It follows an incident at Perth Museum on Saturday afternoon, where visitors reported a man in a kilt attempting to smash through the case containing the ancient artefact, which has long been associated with the monarchy. Police said they had arrested and charged someone following a 'disturbance' at the museum, which has the sandstone block as its centrepiece exhibition. On Monday, 35-year-old Arnaud Harixcalde Logan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court facing a single charge of malicious mischief. His address was listed as Sydney, Australia. No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody, with the next appearance due to take place in eight days. In Scots law, malicious mischief is an offence which deals with behaviour which damages or destroys the property of another, similar to vandalism. The artefact, also known as the Stone of Scone, was moved to Perth Museum in 2024 after a £27 million ($A55 million) redevelopment. It has been associated with the Scottish and United Kingdom monarchies for centuries. The Stone of Destiny was used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and also in the coronation of the King in 2023. It was formally returned to Scotland in 1996 to go on display at Edinburgh Castle.
7NEWS
5 hours ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Family speaks out after beloved grandfather dies following medical episode as union slams ambulance response time
A well-respected South Australian man and beloved grandfather has died after a medical episode behind the wheel. Robert Tancock had only minutes to receive vital help that may have seen him survive his medical episode. Unfortunately, paramedics couldn't get there in time. WATCH ABOVE: Ambulance Union calls for action on Adelaide's ambulance ramping. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Emergency services were called to Main South Rd at Sellicks Hill about 10.15am on Saturday but Tancock couldn't be revived. Friends told 7NEWS that he was 'selfless and always gave back to the community.' The ambulance union claims he would have had a better chance of survival if crews responded to jobs faster. 'Time is valuable and every minute counts,' they told 7NEWS. 'They performed CPR but unfortunately, with a very lagged downtime without oxygen to the brain, the outcome was unfortunate.' There is an ambulance station on Port Rd at Aldinga, minutes from where the crash happened. Tancock was triaged as category 1, which is meant to have a response time of eight minutes. 7NEWS understands it took about 15 minutes for paramedics to arrive at the scene and to begin crucial CPR. The survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Australia is about 10 per cent of patients surviving to hospital discharge or 30 days after the event. SA Health Minister Chris Picton, however, said that the eight-minute response time doesn't apply in the regions and the Aldinga ambulance was detained at another job. 'Our crews did everything possible to get to that case as soon as possible,' he told 7NEWS. 'The only potential ambulance station that could have been closer, that ambulance was out in the community helping someone else at the time.' 7NEWS spoke with Tancock's widow, who said she was happy with the care her husband received. The union blames ramping at Flinders Medical Centre and said paramedics can't respond to emergencies if they're stuck at hospitals. 'When they're stuck on a ramp, then obviously, we can't free them up to respond to the community,' they said. The government has defended its health system, while South Australia battles more than 2000 flu cases, the highest weekly number since 2019 with 164 hospitalisations. The Australian Medical Association SA said on July 4 that the ramping was at record levels. 'This pressure is reflected in our emergency departments. The latest ambulance ramping figures show 5382 total hours lost in June – making it the second-worst month ever recorded,' associate professor Peter Subramaniam said. Shadow Minister for Health Ashton Hurn said South Australians are sick of waiting and sick of this government's failure to deliver on its clear promise to fix ramping. 'This is more than just data released each month, it represents sick South Australians stuck outside of our hospitals, desperate to get in,' Hurn said. 'It also impacts our paramedics who have to endure being ramped for hours and hours.'
7NEWS
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Kanye West fans chant for refund at chaotic comeback show
Fans of Kanye West chanted for a refund at the rapper's concert in the Chinese city of Shanghai after he turned up more than 40 minutes late. The controversial rapper took to the stage at Shanghai Stadium on Saturday night and was reported by The Global Times to not only have been significantly delayed getting onstage, but his set was plagued by technical difficulties, with some fans even taking to social media to complain about the lack of production. A clip has gone viral online of the moment the 70,000-strong crowd erupted and demanded a refund. What's more, one fan accused him of lip syncing. 'Mostly lip syncing,' they wrote on X. 'His microphone must have been up less than 20 per cent of the time.' The same user also claimed Kanye left the stage for 20 minutes during the encore as his music played over the sound system. 'For the encore, he disappeared for over 20 minutes at one point as tracks like Wolves just played out with him nowhere in sight,' the disappointed gig-goer wrote. 'I could have just played your music at home man. Came to see u perform???? (sic)' The concert marked West's first since September 2024. West has only played a handful of gigs in recent years and has lost brand deals and been dropped by huge names since making a series of anti-Semitic outbursts.
7NEWS
7 hours ago
- Politics
- 7NEWS
Mark Latham denies abuse claims made by former partner Nathalie Matthews
Former Labor leader turned One Nation firebrand Mark Latham has been accused by a former partner of forcing her into degrading sexual acts as part of an application for a domestic violence order. The allegations, first reported by The Australian on Monday night, were made by Latham's former long-term partner and Liberal Party member Nathalie Matthews. Both The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald reported the complaints had been detailed in documents filed with the NSW Local Court. Both mastheads reported Matthews as claiming Latham had engaged in a 'sustained pattern' of abuse, alleging he had pressured her into having sex with other people and driven his car at her. Latham took to X on Monday night to deny the allegations, which he called 'false and ridiculous'. 'The Australian newspaper has published a story based on allegations from Nathalie Matthews which are comically false and ridiculous,' he wrote. 'I have scores of documents to show that and will rely upon them to defend myself. As the old saying goes, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. 'The story says that Matthews went to the police and they did not do anything. They certainly haven't contacted me. 'In the current environment, that says a lot. She told me in April she had been to police seeking an AVO against another man and complained that they did nothing.' Latham become leader of the Australian Labor Party in 2003, losing the following year's federal election to John Howard. He resigned from Labor in 2005 and after a number of controversial incidents he joined Pauline Hanson's One Nation party as its NSW state leader in 2018. Less than a year ago he was forced to pay NSW MP Alex Greenwich $140,000 over a series of homophobic tweets.
