TRANSCRIPT
- Donald Trump's presidential campaign says it has been hacked
- The National Indigenous Music awards celebrates 20 years of First Nations musical excellence
- Australia's chef de mission defends B-girl Raygun after viral Paris debut
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign says it had been hacked.
Spokesperson Steven Cheung says he believes Iranian actors may be behind the stealing and distributing sensitive internal documents.
He provided no specific evidence of Iran's involvement, but the claim comes a day after Microsoft issued a report detailing foreign agents' attempts to interfere in the US campaign in 2024.
Responding to the Microsoft report, Iran’s United Nations mission denied it had plans to interfere or launch cyberattacks in the US presidential election.
A spokesperson for the US National Security Council says it takes any report of improper foreign interference "extremely seriously" and condemns any government or entity that attempts to undermine confidence in US democratic institutions.
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The head of Australia's national security agency, ASIO, says at least three foreign countries have been caught interfering in Australian domestic affairs, including Iran.
Mike Burgess says he is able to name Iran because that has been made public by former Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil in February 2023, when she said an Iranian surveillance plot foiled by ASIO.
Speaking on the ABC Insiders program, Mr Burgess says espionage and foreign interference remain a major concern.
"In diaspora communities (in Australia), there are multiple countries that attempt to threaten and intimidate Australians living in this country. Iran is one of them that we have caught doing that. And when we catch that - that gets dealt with effectively. I can think of at least three or four that we've actually actively found involved in foreign interference in Australian diaspora communities. David Speers: And some of them would surprise us? Mike Burgess: Some of them would surprise you. Some of them are also our friends."
Earlier this week, the agency raised the national terrorism threat level for the first time in a decade.
The threat level is now at "probable" - level three of the five-tier system.
ASIO says that means there is a greater than fifty per cent chance of an onshore attack or attack planning in the next twelve months.
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First Nations rapper Barkaa has won artist of the year at the National Indigenous Music awards.
This year is the award ceremony in Darwin celebrated 20 years of honouring First Nations musical brilliance.
Barkaa also took home the accolades for Artist Of The Year and Film Clip Of The Year for her track 'We Up'.
First Nations hip hop collective 3% won the Song Of The Year award for their track 'Our People'.
Dan Sultan’s self-titled album was crowned Album Of The Year.
Sammy Butcher was added to the Hall of Fame.
And the Language Award was shared between Rrawun Maymuru and Electric Fields, with both recognised for their contributions to preserving and celebrating Indigenous languages through music.
Electric Fields vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding says it is an honour to be recognised.
"This award is so beautiful and we have got so many beautiful languages here in Australia - 300 over. And I hope this award just encourages everyone to look after your song lines. And this is why we won this and this belongs to Mimili community (in South Australia). And I am so honoured to share this with you guys. But please if you got them song lines that are open - that is going to save your integrity, that is going to be part of your identity - and you need to look after that. Can you do that for yourself? I said: Can you do that for yourself. (Crowd cheers) Thank you guys, so much!"
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International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has announced he will not seek to extend his time in the role when his second term expires in 2025.
Doing so would require a change in the Olympic charter rules that he himself helped to write, which limit the president's term to a maximum of 12 years, a first eight-year term and a second four-year term.
Bach says he was asked to continue, but he has decided not to.
"I strongly believe that after 12 years in the office as IOC president our organisation is best served with a change in leadership. I have always followed the mantra: change or be changed. This mantra also applies to me. And now it is again up to you to change before we are being changed by the digital revolution."
The IOC is expected to vote on a new President for the organisation next March in Athens, with Bach stepping aside in June 2025.
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The Australian Olympic team's chef de mission, Anna Meares, has issued a strong defence of the team's Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn after her debut performance at the Paris Games.
Breaking or break dancing was added to Olympic schedule for the first time at the Paris Games.
B-girl Raygun's performance across three battles scored zero from the judges, but went viral on social media with memes comparing her dance moves to a kangaroo hop, the sprinkler, and trying to get the quilt off the bed.
Anna Meares condemned the trolls on social media, saying Rachel Gunn's courage and dedication in a male-dominated sport should be applauded.
"If you don't know Rachel's story. In 2008, she was locked in a room crying, being involved in a male-dominated sport as the only woman. And it took great courage to continue on and fight for her opportunity to participate in a sport that she loved. Now, you look at the history of what women athletes have faced - in terms of criticism, belittlement, and comments like they shouldn't be there. And Raygun is absolutely loved member of this Olympic team."
