PM

In the UK, counter terrorism police are investigating after a van ploughed into a crowd near a London mosque, killing at least one person and injuring others. One man has been arrested. Muslim leaders have called it a hate crime and they're demanding extra security at mosques across the UK.

The Federal Education Minister, Simon Birmingham is locked in negotiations with the Senate crossbench, as the Government and Opposition continue to fight over the future of school funding. The Government hopes to get its Gonski 2.0 school funding plan through the Senate this week with the help of the crossbench. But the Minister Simon Birmingham is also facing pressure from within the Coalition over the impact on the catholic education sector, and the perception of negotiating with the Greens.

There's been a showdown in the Victorian Court of Appeal over whether three Federal Government Ministers should be charged with contempt. The Ministers - Greg Hunt, Alan Tudge and Michael Sukkar - have refused to apologise for comments they'd made to The Australian newspaper this week criticising the state's judiciary over terror sentencing. The trio did eventually withdraw their more controversial criticisms and expressed regret, but only after sustained questioning from the bench. The Judges have reserved their decision over whether to charge the men with contempt of court.

The ABC is in damage control mode this afternoon, apologising for airing an interview in which a radio host asks his guest 'what's the deal with Asians' and if she was 'yellow'. The interview between Melbourne breakfast radio host Red Symons and ABC radio national producer Beverley Wang, host of the RN podcast It's Not a Race, went to air on Monday on local radio in Melbourne. This afternoon part of the interview which was used on the podcast, was removed from the corporation's website after a public outcry. PM speaks to Elizabeth Wing, acting president of the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Board.

Australia's major banks are among the most profitable in the world, but that hasn't stopped some of the country's most powerful bankers crying foul over a 0.06 percentage point levy set to be applied from the 1st of July. They fronted a Senate Economics Committee complaining they weren't adequately consulted about the new levy, and argue the levy will make Australia's financial system uncompetitive. However, interestingly, not all banks are against the levy.

The country's spy agency ASIO has declared the threat of espionage and foreign interference in Australia is extreme. The agency says it warrants expanded questioning and detention powers. In particular ASIO wants to be able to question and detain people suspected of spying and political interference without charge and it wants to be able to question suspects as young as 14.

The first VFL gay Pride match is being played in south-west Victoria this weekend. A man who grew up in the town of Hamilton organised the event in support of his gay twin brother. The town has embraced the theme of supporting the LGBTQI community.

After a lengthy investigation, the ACCC is taking federal court action against Thermomix for allegedly breaching Australian Consumer Law. The consumer watchdog claims the company failed to report serious injuries from its machines in the required timeframe and engaged in misleading conduct regarding the safety one of its models. It also alleges Thermomix misled consumers about their guarantee rights, forcing them to sign confidentiality agreements prior to receiving refunds.

Unions say contractors working for the National Broadband Network are taking short cuts on in-home installations. They point to low pay and pressure on the workers to complete jobs quickly. An 80-year-old Sydney woman feels she's been misled, after her NBN installation involved running a cable along her hallway - creating a trip hazard.

Australia is near the bottom of the class when it comes to quality education. A new report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) ranked Australia 39th out of 41 wealthy countries in the category as part of a report into child-relevant sustainable development goals. Over 18 per cent of Australian 15 year olds are not hitting international baseline standards in readings, maths and science.