News and politics live updates: Minister demands Wong act over Albanese’s Japanese PM ‘melons’ gaffe

At least 111 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, knocking down buildings across several cities and leaving others trapped in the rubble.

The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4800 people in the Choco region about 400 km west of Bogota, the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s counterpart reported.

It struck at a depth of 107 km. The quake also was felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama, though minimal damage was reported there.

The death toll from the earthquake has risen to at least 111, the newly sworn-in president Abelardo de la Espriella said in a national address.

“The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed,” he said.

“The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble.”

The leader added that 87 people had been injured, with dozens of buildings downed.

The president declared an emergency, which will expedite funding for the quake recovery, and said he would visit the disaster zone, centred around the rural region of Choco.

​Read more.​

​

​

US President Donald Trump has escalated his war of words with Iran by demanding Tehran compensate victims of conflicts, attacks and protests he blamed on the Islamic Republic, as expectations of a quick agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz dimmed.

The fresh demand came after Iran called on the US to satisfy a series of conditions before the crucial shipping route could reopen, including compensation for damage inflicted since the US and Israel began striking Iranian territory more than five months ago.

“I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts, for which they are famous,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social.

​Read more.​

Shadow Foreign Minister Ted O’Brien has remained tight-lipped on whether the Coalition will back Labor’s proposed gambling reforms, with the Opposition set to discuss its position further in the party room on Tuesday.

Talks between Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor are expected to continue after the Prime Minister signalled there could be movement on tightening rules around inducements used to lure punters.

Mr O’Brien said the Coalition would weigh the “importance of personal choice” against protecting children and cracking down on “any predatory illegal behaviour”.

“They are some of the basic principles that my colleagues and I will be applying as we continue to engage constructively with the government and discuss the matters internally.”

Environment Minister Murray Watt says the Federal Government is considering expanding the use of bird flu vaccinations as Australia’s outbreak continues to spread, warning the country is facing a “very serious risk”.

Speaking to ABC 7.30, Mr Watt said the government would rely on expert advice as it weighs whether vaccinations should be used more broadly across birds and poultry.

“That is something we are giving consideration to,” mR Watt said of vaccinations.

“Over the last couple of years, we have undertaken some trials of vaccinations when it comes to endangered species in a captive setting. We are giving consideration to whether that should be expanded. And as with all of these issues, we’ll be relying on the expert advice we receive from those who know even more about this than ministers of a government.”

The fallout from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s “melons” gaffe continues, with Liberal frontbencher Michaelia Cash demanding Foreign Minister Penny Wong address the controversy.

Speaking to Nine, the Shadow Attorney-General branded the gesture “dirty” and “crude” and argued the backlash would have been far greater had a Liberal prime minister made the remarks.

“I want to hear directly from our foreign minister. Did you raise this personally with Mr Albanese? Have you raised it with the Japanese government?” she told Nine.

“But more than that, did you tell your prime minister to apologise of his crude and dirty comments that just haven’t embarrassed him, they have now embarrassed Australia.”

Good morning and welcome to The Nightly’s rolling coverage of the latest news and updates.

There’s plenty on the agenda today, with the President of Vietnam in Canberra for talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

All eyes will also be on the Reserve Bank ahead of its highly anticipated interest rate decision later today.

And tonight, millions of Australians will sit down to complete the 2026 Census.

Stay with us as we bring you all the latest throughout the day.