Morning News Bulletin 13 July 2025

SBS Australia

2 days ago

TRANSCRIPT
Europe reacts to newly-announced tariffs by the United States
Families of the Air India crash victims call for justice as a preliminary investigation is handed down
Iga Swiatek wins the women's final at Wimbledon, in an astounding show on centre court From August, European and Mexican imports to the United States will be subject to a 30 per cent tariff. The news has come via letters from US President Donald Trump, posted to the Truth social and each addressed to Mexican and EU leaders. European Union president Ursula Von der Leyen has returned her own statement - expressing concern with the move and its impact on global trade. She writes that the EU is open to negotiate in coming weeks, while raising the threat import penalties could be laid on American goods coming into Europe. "We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required. Meanwhile, we continue to deepen our global partnerships, firmly anchored in the principles of rules-based international trade."
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Pro-Palestine protesters have marched in the wake of a contentious plan to combat antisemitism. Rallies have been held across the country in response to the report by Australia's Special Envoy to combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, which suggests axing support for publicly funded institutions and festivals that promote or fail to effectively deal with hate speech. Criticism of the report largely focuses on Ms Segal's recommendation Australia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism, some arguing that it will lead to heavy-handed silencing of free speech and a conflation of antisemitism with criticism of Israel and Zionism. Ben Saul – chair of international law at the University of Sydney, and U-N special rapporteur on human rights and counter terrorism – has told SBS News the definition is inappropriate, vague and overbroad. "The real concern lies with some of the examples given under the IHRA definition, which really conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. So I think this approach is counterproductive because when the definition is so divisive, it's not going to be a unifying force to build consensus in the community on what is antisemitism." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says his country is ready to promote a comprehensive strategic partnership with Australia through a more proactive approach. He says that includes working with Australia to prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges, and properly managing their differences. Wang has made the remarks during a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in the Malaysian capital, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Minister Wong says Australia is also committed to developing a positive and pragmatic relationship. The families of the Air India crash victims are calling for justice, as a preliminary investigation into the events reveals confusion in the cockpit shortly before impact. A 15-page report, issued by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on Saturday, has revealed both pilots questioning a fuel switch setting that was turned off, starving the engines shortly after take-off. The preliminary report does not say how the switch could have flipped to the cut-off position on the June 12 London-bound flight from the Indian city of Ahmedabad. But father of plane crash victim, Naresh Maheswari, says those responsible must be held accountable. "We want the investigation to be neutral and the perpetrators to be punished. We have lost what we were destined to lose, but we want no one else to die due to such carelessness." Iga Swiatek has become the first Polish player to win a Wimbledon singles title, thrashing American Amanda Anisimova in just 57 minutes. It's the first time a Wimbledon final has been won 6-0 6-0 in 114 years, the win earning the Polish 24 year old her sixth grand slam title. Swiatek dropped only two games in her semi-final against Belinda Bencic, and was even more ruthless in the final, clinching victory with a backhand winner. Having never gone beyond the Wimbledon quarter-finals before this year, despite winning four French Open crowns, she says the result has come as a shock. "Honestly, I didn't even dream (of winning Wimbledon) because for me it was just way too far... I feel like I'm already an experienced player after winning the Slams before but I never really expected this one."