TRANSCRIPT
- A bipartisan pledge announced to find a new owner for Port Darwin
- At least 17 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza's Khan Younis
- The Matildas kick off the Asian Cup with a win against South Korea
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to find a new owner for Port Darwin, currently leased to a Chinese company.
Mr Albanese shared this plan when he dialed into a Darwin radio station on Friday afternoon, as members of the coalition were en route to the Northern Territory for an election announcement on Saturday.
This plan was reported on by News Corp shortly after the Prime MInister's announcement, revealing a coalition government would recruit a specialist adviser to find a new operator for the port and would move to buy the lease back if one could not be found within six months.
Mr Albanese indicated Labor was similarly prepared to use taxpayer funds if a private buyer could not be found.
The port has been a point of concern for almost a decade since it was leased to Chinese-owned Landbridge Group in 2015 for more than $500 million.
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong says it's vital Australia continues to have dialogue and manage disagreement with China.
Speaking to SBS' Chinese program, Minister Wong also called for more Chinese-Australians in public roles.
"China is a very important country to Australia, they are a great power in the world. We won't agree on everything and we must manage that disagreement wisely, but we can also cooperate in many areas. And you've seen with our government a lot of dialogue, much more cooperation."
Ms Wong added that she has met with China's Foreign Minister nine times, while the Prime Minister has gone to Beijing twice.
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Australia's largest superannuation fund is assuring its customers their accounts are secure, after a cyber attack on major superannuation funds.
Some of the 3.4 million customers of AustralianSuper are seeing a balance of zero in their accounts, and some can't log in at all, as the company struggles to cope with demand after news of the attack on several big funds broke.
AustralianSuper says it is working hard to resolve the problem.
Other funds targeted in the attack last weekend, using stolen passwords to try and get lump sum withdrawals, include, Hostplus, Rest, Insignia Financial, and Australian Retirement Trust.
Those who have had funds stolen will be contacted.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the incident is a reminder to everyone to be very careful.
"The cybersecurity centre is all over that, working closely with the members of the Council of Financial Regulators as well. These are very concerning developments. We encourage people to show even more diligence when it comes to their superannuation accounts online."
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New research from the national science agency, the CSIRO, shows Australian beaches are getting cleaner.
It says coastal litter is down by one-third in the last decade, and there's been a 16 per cent jump in areas totally free from plastic waste.
Most states and territories have phased out single use plastics, but food packaging and other plastics remain the most prevalent kind of rubbish on beaches, with flexible plastics considered particularly dangerous to wildlife.
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At least 17 people, including members of the same family, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis early Friday.
A three-storey building was hit, injuring 16 others, according to hospital staff.
Among the dead were relatives of Ismail Al-Aqqad.
"Has the occupying state, Israel, become the rightful owner, and we are not the rightful owners? We are terrorists, and Israel who kills children and women, isn't a terrorist? The biggest terrorists are Israel and America, and the Arab countries support them, and the Islamic countries support them. Foreigners stand with us, and the Arabs are against us."
Since the ceasefire collapsed last month, around 280,000 Palestinians have been displaced.
A month-long blockade on food, fuel and aid has created a deepening humanitarian crisis, a tactic the United Nations human rights chief says may amount to a war crime.
Hamas says it will release the remaining 59 hostages, 24 believed to be alive, only if Israel withdraws from Gaza, frees more Palestinian prisoners, and agrees to a lasting ceasefire.
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Crowds gathered in central Seoul on Friday to celebrate the constitutional court’s unanimous decision to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office.
The ruling ends Mr Yoon’s turbulent presidency, four months after he plunged the nation into crisis by declaring martial law.
A new presidential election will be held within two months.
Hundreds of anti-Yoon protesters waved placards and sang in celebration, among them, Inja Cho.
“We are so happy. We are excited. As soon as we heard (about) the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol we were so crazy and dancing. So happy.”
However, deep divisions over Mr Yoon’s removal may complicate South Korea’s ability to navigate pressing issues, including U-S tariffs and America First trade policies.
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And in sport, the Matildas have kicked off their 2026 Asian Cup preparations with a 1-0 win on home soil over South Korea.
Australia broke the deadlock at Allianz Stadium by way of an own goal in the 54th minute on Friday night before withstanding a late South Korean challenge in front of more than 37,000 fans.
Their victory over the world No.19 side is their first of the year following a disastrous SheBelieves Cup campaign in February.
