Foreign Minister to push for full tariffs exemption on US trip
In this bulletin;
Albanese says the government will continue to push for a full exemption from US tariffs;
Two firefighters killed in a sniper attack in the US state of Idaho;
And in Rugby, two star players announced for Maroons series decider against New South Wales. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government will continue to push for a full exemption from US tariffs for Australia, as Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong heads to the US for talks. Senator Wong flies to Washington today for a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with her counterparts from India and Japan. The UK was able to strike a deal to ensure steel and aluminium exported to the US are subject to 25 per cent levies, rather than the 50 per cent tariff rate applied to the same goods from other US trading partners, including Australia. Mr Albanese says Senator Wong will make the case for the US to drop its tariffs on Australian exports entirely. "It shouldn't be 10 (per cent), it should be zero. That is what a reciprocal tariff will be. We have a US free trade agreement of course, and we've put forward our arguments very clearly. And we will continue to do so." US President Donald Trump says buyers have been found for social media platform TikTok, but says he won't reveal who they are for another few weeks. TikTok is owned by China-based company ByteDance and a federal law requiring that it be sold or banned was due to take effect the day before Mr Trump's inauguration. After extending the deadline for sale, Mr Trump told reporters he has a 'soft spot' for TikTok and has now, for a third time, extended the deadline again. He says while buyers are ready, he may need approval from China first. 'We have a buyer for TikTok, by the way. I think I'll need probably China approval. And I think President Xi will probably do it. (Who's buying it?) I'll tell you in about two weeks. (A big technology company?) Very, very wealthy people. It's a group of very wealthy people.' In May, Mr Trump said a group of purchasers was ready to pay ByteDance "a lot of money" for TikTok's US operations. Police have found the body of a man believed responsible for shooting dead two firefighters in the US state of Idaho. Kootenai County Sheriff Richard Norris says police believe the man was the only person involved in ambushing the firefighters with a rifle as they responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain, an area that is popular with hikers near the city of Coeur d'Alene. Governor Brad Little says multiple firefighters were attacked with a barrage of gunfire over several hours in what he called a "heinous" assault, prompting a shelter-in-place order for the area. Sheriff Norris says the full circumstances of the incident remain unclear. "Do not come to the area. Stay away from the area. This is going to be - if these individuals are not neutralised quickly, this is going to likely be a multi-day operation." US authorities have lifted the lockdown at the scene of the attack, after the body of a man suspected to be the shooter was found with a firearm nearby. The New South Wales State Emergency Service is warning east coast residents to prepare for damaging winds and heavy rain, as a rapidly developing pressure system builds off the coast. Almost 400 State Emergency Service volunteers along with high-clearance vehicles and aerial support have been pre-positioned along the coast, which is forecast to begin impacting parts of coastal areas of New South Whales between Coffs Harbour in the north and Bega in the south this evening. It will be an especially anxious wait for residents on the NSW mid-north coast, who are still recovering from record floods in May that claimed the lives of three people and damaged hundreds of properties. NSW SES deputy commissioner Debbie Platz says it's important to be ready for anything. "This weather will include damaging surf coastal erosion, significant moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms along with damaging winds. As I said, this is a very dynamic and fast moving system. Very different to the systems that we have seen in recent times." Queensland coach Billy Slater has named Gehamat Shibasaki and Josh Papali'i as Maroons players for the series decider against New South Wales, to be played next Wednesday night in Sydney. It'll be Brisbane Broncos journeyman Shibasaki's Origin debut, and Papalii's first State of Origin match since 2022. Canberra Raiders star Papali'i retired from State of Origin before the 2023 season, after 23 matches and six series wins. Slater says bringing the veteran player back has been in the back of his mind for years.
"He doesn't say a lot big papa, but his actions do the talking for him. And yeah, you're right. I've played alongside the big fella. I've coached the big fella, and I'm looking forward to seeing him again. He puts a smile on your face every time you talk to him on the phone."
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