The Kremlin has accused Australia of fuelling anti-Russian paranoia after a couple were charged for espionage. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hit back telling Russia to stop meddling in Australia's affairs. It follows the arrest of Australian Defence Force member Kira Korolev and her husband Ivan on spying allegations.

Canberra

Prime Minister Responds to Espionage Allegations

The Prime Minister has criticized Russia following the arrest of the Korolevs, Russian-born Australian citizens accused of espionage. The Prime Minister condemned Russia for interfering in the domestic affairs of sovereign nations and expressed disdain for the Kremlin's disregard for international law. The Russian embassy in Australia has rebutted these claims, suggesting the arrest was motivated by anti-Russian sentiment.

Kira and Igor Korolev, before moving to Queensland, resided in Western Australia where they worked as security guards. Kira Korolev also had a career in the theatre industry. The couple was under surveillance by ASIO and federal police before their arrest. This case has sparked discussions on the Australian Defence Force's vetting process, as Kira Korolev had access to highly classified information. The Defence Force's plan to recruit foreign citizens is now under scrutiny, with calls for a reevaluation of recruitment sources.



War of words between Kremlin and Australian PM

In inner Brisbane this morning, the Prime Minister was all smiles, taking selfies... Oh, come on! ..before taking a swipe at the Kremlin. Russia can get the message back off, and how about you try to stop interfering in domestic affairs of other sovereign nations? Following the arrest of Kira and Igor Korolev, the Russian-born Australian citizens accused of espionage and handing over state secrets to their homeland. This is a country that has no respect for international law and they should be regarded with contempt, which is what I have for them. The Russian embassy in Australia was quick to respond, saying the arrest was clearly intended to launch another wave of anti-Russian paranoia in Australia. Theatrical tricks were used, like talking to imaginary Russian spies presumed to be all around. If there's any driver in anti-Russian sentiment in Australia right now, it wouldn't be this case, it would be the actions of the Russian government in general itself. And tonight, we're learning more about Kira and Igor Korolev. Before moving to Queensland, the married couple called Western Australia home. Both worked as security guards, while Kira was also employed in the theatre industry. It's understood the Korolevs who lived here in this Brisbane apartment complex were first pinged by ASIO. That led to the establishment of a task force with federal police, with the couple being monitored for months in the lead-up to their arrest. This, of course, would just be the tip of the iceberg, but this would not be the only case or alleged case of espionage happening in Australia. Questions have also been raised around the ADF's vetting process and how exactly Kira Korolev, who was an Australian army private, managed to evade any suspicion while having access to highly classified information, including encrypted communications. If an audit process shows that there is some sort of chink in the armour, then maybe we do need more money. Perhaps we do need to strengthen it. And I have every faith in our national security agencies like I have every faith in our Australian Defence Force. With calls to rethink the Defence Force's plan to open its ranks to foreign citizens from next year. I think we need to very much, in the light of what's happened, look at where we are getting our recruits from. Matthew Karstunen for 10 News First.

An Israeli airstrike hit Palestinians near a medical center in Gaza on Thursday, killing 10 children and six adults, local health authorities said, as ceasefire talks dragged on with no immediate deal expected. This report contains graphic and disturbing images.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike kills children near medical clinic in Gaza

Russian strikes against Ukraine persisted overnight and reportedly injured at least nine people and caused damage to a maternity hospital, according to officials. This comes as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with European allies in Rome.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia launches more strikes, damages Ukraine maternity hospital

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is returning to Israel without a ceasefire deal with Hamas despite optimism from the Trump administration. CBS News' Elizabeth Palmer reports.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu returns to Israel without Gaza ceasefire deal

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in California turned violent after protesters clashed with agents from the Trump administration carrying out an operation at a Camarillo farm.

Camarillo

Protesters clash with ICE agents over immigration operation

CNN’s Isa Soares explains how a crippling 50% tariff on goods from Brazil may not be all about the economy.

Washington

Global Tariffs

Trump targets Brazil with 50% tariff

Volunteers in Texas are searching for flood victims and combing through debris along a 30 mile stretch of the Guadalupe River. CNN’s Ed Lavandera spoke with Texans who are coming together to bring closure to their community.

Center Point

Urgent search operations for flood victims stretch miles in Texas

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would impose a 35% tariff on imports from Canada next month and planned to impose blanket tariffs of 15% or 20% on most other trade partners.

Trump puts 35% tariff on Canada, eyes 15%-20% levies for others

Volunteers in Comfort, Texas, are digging through debris with heavy equipment and cadaver dogs, searching for flood victims. U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit Friday, raising questions about his plan to scale back federal disaster relief.

Texas

Volunteers dig through Texas flood wreckage ahead of Trump visit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have held rare face-to-face talks on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting in Malaysia, discussing the war in Ukraine, as well as developments in Iran and Syria.

Kuala Lumpur

Top U.S., Russia diplomats discuss Ukraine on ASEAN sidelines

Russia has intensified its aerial attacks on Ukraine, using upgraded drones designed to cause more damage and evade air defences. In Kyiv, a young woman captured video of the drones overhead — just before explosions echoed through the city.

Russia’s upgraded drone tactics bring intensified attacks across Ukraine

The Ventura County Fire Department said they responded to calls of people having breathing problems at a farm in Ventura County, California, after federal agents appeared to deploy tear gas canisters into the crowd.

Ventura County

Intense standoff in California between protesters, federal agents

A federal judge has green-lit a class action lawsuit challenging President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship and issued a preliminary injunction blocking the order.

Judge blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order

A partial tunnel collapse in Los Angeles temporarily buried 31 workers in Los Angeles, California. CBS News' Carter Evans reports on the rescue operation.

Los Angeles

31 trapped workers rescued after tunnel collapse

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed “disappointment and frustration” over continued Russian attacks on Ukraine and said new sanctions on Russia are a “real option.” Kylie Atwood has more details from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Rubio: New Russia sanctions a ‘real option’

With Russia again bombarding Ukraine with drones, U.S. President Donald Trump says he’s considering sending another missile defence system to Ukraine.

Trump muses missile defence system for Ukraine

Officials in Texas are promising to address concerns about flood warnings in parts of the state, but say the ongoing search-and-rescue efforts must be complete first.

Texas officials to address flood warnings after search complete

Linda Yaccarino is stepping down as CEO of X after two years leading Elon Musk's social media company. Yaccarino's departure comes one day after the company's Grok chatbot began pushing antisemitic tropes in responses to users.

San Francisco

Yaccarino steps down as CEO of Elon Musk's X

Parts of Ukraine were on fire overnight after Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the war unfolded. Just hours earlier, Trump directly called out Vladimir Putin for stalled peace talks.

Moscow

Trump calls out Putin for stalled peace talks

The Trump administration branded the event as one of the steps it is taking to reshape its relationship with the African continent.

Five African leaders have lunch with Trump

The search continues in central Texas for the more than 160 people still missing from the deadly floods that hit over the Fourth of July. CBS News reporter Karen Hua has more.

Kerr County

Recovery operations ongoing in Texas as more than 160 still missing

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that he issued tariff letters to Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova and the Philippines.

Trump sends tariff letters to six more countries

Video released by the Houthi media center shows the bulk carrier ‘Magic Seas’ being attacked and later sinking in the Iran-backed rebel group’s first attack this year on a commercial shipping vessel in the Red Sea.

Sana'a

Houthi rebels claim responsibility for attack on ship in Red Sea

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled Russia violated international law in Ukraine and was responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

Top European court rules Russia violated international law in Ukraine

The death toll from the July Fourth flash flood that ravaged a swath of central Texas Hill Country rose on Tuesday to at least 109, many of them children, as search teams pressed on through mounds of mud-encrusted debris looking for scores of people still missing.

Texas flood death toll hits triple digits, tally of missing tops 180

U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back during his Cabinet meeting about a question regarding Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ claims Epstein had no list of clients, which is drawing criticism from some of the president's supporters.

Trump questioned over report saying Epstein didn't have client list

The copper industry is facing new uncertainty after U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose 50 per cent tariffs on all copper imports. More than half of all Canadian copper exports go to the U.S.

Ontario

Trump threatens 50% tariff on copper imports

CNN’s Josh Cambell reports on questions over a lack of flood warning signals and lagging investment in river gauges in Kerr County after deadly floods killed over 100 people in Central Texas.

Officials face questions over preparedness for Texas floods

Hundreds of firefighters battled a fast-moving wildfire that reached the outskirts of the southern French city of Marseille on Tuesday, forcing people to stay indoors and the nearby airport to close.

Marseille

France wildfire shuts down Marseille airport

Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota was probably speeding when the Lamborghini car he was driving crashed in northwestern Spain, killing him and his brother, police said in a preliminary report.

Cernadilla

Liverpool's Jota likely speeding when car crashed, police say

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Britain on Tuesday for a state visit mixing royal pageantry with thorny political talks about stopping migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats.