Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update.
Scott Morrison has said he believes Donald Trump is facing a “pile-on” after meeting the former US president in New York this week.
Announcing the meeting with a beaming photo before the famous gilded elevator at Trump Tower alongside Trump himself, Morrison said the pair discussed China and the Australia-US alliance and said Aukus was met with a “warm reception” from Trump. He thanked the presidential candidate for his time, “especially given the pile on he is currently dealing with in the US”.
Trump is embroiled in several legal matters including a criminal trial over hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and cases related to his handling of classified documents and alleged election interference.
Asked on Thursday if Morrison could be “a useful diplomatic tool in a Trump presidency,” Anthony Albanese responded, “I will leave diplomacy, funnily enough, to diplomatic endeavours”.
Top news
Australia’s unemployment rate rises to 4.1% | Australia’s jobless rate rose more than expected last month as more people sought work, easing risks of another Reserve Bank rate hike. The participation rate – a measure of those looking for work – ticked higher to 66.7% last month. Economists had expected it would hold steady at 66.6%.
Murder charge dropped against 12-year-old | A girl accused of killing a woman in Melbourne’s inner west will no longer face a charge of murder. Prosecutors applied to withdraw the charge against the girl on Thursday but did not give a reason why. The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was accused of fatally stabbing a 37-year-old woman at Footscray in November.
Anthony Albanese defends evicting tenant from his Sydney property | The prime minister has defended his decision to evict Jim Flanagan saying he has been “more than fair” as a landlord but his impending marriage means he wants to sell the Dulwich Hill home. According to News Corp newspapers, Flanagan is asking to stay, saying eviction “will kill me, it’s a crippling blow”.
Australia confirmed as 2026 Women’s Asian Cup hosts | The Matildas will get another chance to thrill local football fans on home soil with Australia named as the host nation for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup. Matches will take place in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia, while Victoria did not express interest for 2026 tournament.
University of Melbourne cancels classes as activists defy orders | Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters flooded a University of Melbourne building and unofficially renamed it “Mahmoud’s Hall” after a Palestinian who was killed with his family in Gaza before he could start his studies in Australia. About 100 students camped in the building overnight, ignoring the university’s request for them to leave by Wednesday afternoon. Students at Melbourne’s Deakin University also defied a second order to disband their camp.
Walkleys end media awards sponsorship deal with Ampol | The Walkley Foundation will not renew its major sponsorship deal with the fossil fuel giant after changing its donation policy to sever ties with companies whose dealings “offer no tangible benefit to humanity”.
Putin meets with Xi as China state visit gets underway | Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing early on Thursday for talks with Xi Jinping that the Kremlin hopes will deepen a strategic partnership between the two countries. Chinese state media confirmed the Russian president’s arrival for what it described as a state visit from an “old friend”. Follow our live blog for updates.
Hundreds of French police deployed amid New Caledonia riots | Armed forces were protecting New Caledonia’s two airports and port and hundreds of French police were on their way to the Pacific territory after a third night of violent riots that have killed four people. Read our explainer on the riots here.
Slovakia prime minister Robert Fico ‘will survive’, says deputy | While there has been no official update on the condition of the Slovakian PM following an assassination attempt on Thursday, late on Wednesday the deputy prime minister, Tomáš Taraba, told the BBC he believed Fico was “not in a life-threatening situation at this moment”.
In pictures
No increase to base jobseeker rate in budget means Centrelink payment remains below poverty line
Australia’s unemployment payments are hundreds of dollars a week below the poverty line and were not increased in the federal budget, explains Guardian Australia’s Josh Nicholas.
What they said …
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“Just because it’s an organic thing doesn’t mean it always goes in the organic bin” – waste management company Veolia’s chief executive, Dr Richard Kirkman
Survey results commissioned by the waste management company Veolia show 80% of Australians do not know how to dispose of dead pets. Only one in five answered correctly that dead animals are supposed to be disposed at special collection points provided by local councils.
“When I speak to my operatives on the line, they tell me they get snakes, donkey heads, a dead cow cut in half, dead pets and all sorts of weird animals coming through the recycling,” Kirkman said.
In numbers
Demand for the crisis support service increased from about 17,000 calls in 2022 to 25,000 calls in 2023. In 2022, 16% of callers cited racism as the reason for their distress, rising to 19% in 2023. Currently, it sits at 26% in the calendar year to date.
Before bed read
My first time at a sound bath: ‘As the music becomes louder, my first thought is, ‘Danger, danger’
In her fortnightly review of fitness and wellbeing activities, comedian Jennifer Wong comes for a session of gentle meditative yoga – and stays for the crystal singing bowls.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: MIN. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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