Latest / NewsCard® Australia Daily News / US beef ban lifted, Telstra nationwide outage, Gaza petition tabled in parliament
Transcript
- [warm] This is NewsCard Daily for Friday July 24, 2026 ... the biggest stories from Australia and around the world in just minutes. — — [serious] We begin in Canberra where the federal government is under pressure on two fronts... trade and Gaza. Australia has fully lifted its ban on imported US beef as it pushes for relief from American tariffs, a move that signals a fresh round of diplomacy with Washington. At the same time, more than 65,000 Australians have signed a petition calling for stronger action on Gaza, and it is now being tabled in parliament. The pressure on the government is growing... both at home and abroad. — — [serious] In national news, Telstra is working through the aftermath of a major outage that hit mobile and data services across the country. The disruption affected emergency calls, rail operations and payment systems... a sharp reminder of how much everyday life depends on the network staying up. Telstra says there is no sign of a cyberattack, but customers and businesses are still counting the cost. — — [curious] In Canberra again, the Albanese government is moving to tighten the border experience for travellers. Digital passenger cards are being rolled out to international airports and seaports after a trial on Qantas flights into major cities. Officials say the change should cut paperwork and speed up arrivals... as Australia keeps modernising its borders and travel systems. — — [serious] In economic news, several new federal changes are now feeding into household budgets. The minimum wage has risen to $26.44 an hour, superannuation is being paid at the same time as wages, and the lowest tax rate has fallen to 15 per cent for millions of workers. There is also a new $1,000 instant tax deduction for work-related expenses... welcome relief for some families, but a sign that employers and payroll systems need to adjust quickly. — — [serious] Overseas in the United States, tensions with Iran are escalating after fresh American strikes and reports of retaliation against US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. The conflict is raising alarm across global shipping routes and energy markets... with spillover risks that can be felt well beyond the Middle East, including here in Australia. — — [urgent] Now to Europe... where diplomatic and security pressure is also building as governments watch the wider conflict and its impact on trade, fuel prices and regional stability. For Australians, that means more uncertainty in the global outlook... from supply chains to the cost of living. — — [warm] That's NewsCard Daily. For more top stories and quick summaries that keep you informed in minutes, download NewsCard ... available in the App Store.