Latest / NewsCard® Australia Daily News / Chinese Spies Charged in Australia, Protests Over Herzog Visit, Trump Tariff Threat
Transcript
- [warm] This is NewsCard Daily for Thursday February 12, 2026 ... the biggest stories from Australia and around the world in just minutes. — — [serious] We begin in Canberra where police charge two Chinese nationals with foreign interference. Authorities accuse them of spying on a prominent Chinese-Australian dissident. The pair face court today ... charged under tough new laws aimed at protecting national security. This case highlights growing tensions with Beijing ... and underscores Australia's crackdown on covert operations. Families of diaspora communities breathe a sigh of relief ... but warn more threats lurk. — — [curious] In Sydney and Melbourne ... mass protests erupt over Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit. Thousands rally against him ... chanting for Palestine and accusing him of Gaza complicity. Police deploy helicopters and heavy patrols at Town Hall and Flinders Street. The trip follows PM Albanese's invite ... to show solidarity after the Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting. Clashes mark deep divisions here at home ... as Aussies grapple with the Middle East conflict's shadow. — — [urgent] Storm warnings ramp up across eastern Australia today. Thunderstorms brew in Queensland's southwest ... with flash flooding risks spreading to Darling Downs and Brisbane. New South Wales faces severe storms in the Blue Mountains and Hunter ... packing heavy rain ... damaging winds ... and large hail. Tasmania sees snow down to 1000 metres amid biting winds. Brisbane hits 35 degrees ... humid air clashes with cold fronts. Stay safe ... check warnings ... as wet weather disrupts lives from Cairns to the ACT. — — [serious] We move west where drier conditions finally ease Western Australia's misery. The Wheatbelt and Goldfields shake off cold ... wet days ... welcoming warmer winds. Showers linger in the Goldfields ... but Pilbara stays mostly dry. Central Australia holds humid ... with storms edging east. This shift brings relief to farmers ... eyeing the weekend's sunnier skies. — — [serious] Overseas now ... in the United States ... Donald Trump pushes aggressive trade tariffs on China and Mexico. The moves aim to boost American jobs ... but economists warn of higher prices for Aussie exports like beef and wine. Markets jitter ... our dollar dips in response. This hits home ... as farmers watch global ripples. — — [hopeful] In Europe ... a breakthrough eases Ukraine tensions. Russia pulls back troops from key borders ... after NATO pledges more aid. Diplomats hail progress ... stock markets climb. For Australians with ties there ... it's a glimmer of peace amid endless war. — — [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.