Institute of Public Affairs Associate Fellow Dr Sherry Sufi says while Australia is “not a perfect country” there is “a lot of positive”. Dr Sufi has recently written a book titled ‘Australia on Trial: Accusations and Defence’. “The book, from my point of view, is fairly uncontroversial,” Dr Sufi told Sky News Australia. “It makes three claims: that we’re not a fundamentally racist country, we weren’t built on stolen land, and we do have a way of life worth defending. “Look, we’re not a perfect country. “We weren’t a perfect country when we started off; we still aren’t a perfect country, but there is a lot of positive that we should spend more time celebrating rather than constantly talking about the bad things that happened.”

Sky News host Rita Panahi has questioned whether Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is “ok” after she lost it at a rally in the Bronx. “Talking about losing your grip on reality and sanity, bartender turned congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and a couple of far-left Democrats held a rally in the Bronx,” Ms Panahi said. “The Democrats’ rally sadly … only had a few hundred in attendance, and they were treated to this absolute cringefest. “Ask yourself: is AOC ok?”

Institute of Public Affairs Associate Fellow Dr Sherry Sufi says Australia is “not” a “racist country”. Dr Sufi has recently written a book titled ‘Australia on Trial: Accusations and Defence’. “The book, from my point of view, is fairly uncontroversial,” Dr Sufi told Sky News Australia. “It makes three claims: that we’re not a fundamentally racist country, we weren’t built on stolen land, and we do have a way of life worth defending. “They’re the three claims that I’m making in this book.”

Crawford School of Public Policy Professor Warwick McKibbin says the “key problem” in Australia’s cost-of-living crisis is “low productivity”. The Reserve Bank held rates at 4.35 per cent at its June meeting. “We have a lot of demand in the economy,” Mr McKibbin told Sky News Australia. “Inflation is the result of demand being in excess of supply. “We have no productivity growth, which is the core problem behind our cost-of-living crisis. “The key problem in this cost-of-living crisis is low productivity.”

Crawford School of Public Policy Professor Warwick McKibbin says Australia needs a “comprehensive report” on nuclear before it is implemented as it is a “big step to take”. Opposition leader Peter Dutton announced the Coalition’s nuclear plan last week. “I think the cost advantage has moved towards renewables since we did that report, and I think the delays have reduced in terms of construction,” Mr McKibbin told Sky News Australia. “I think it just needs a comprehensive report before you go down this road because it is a big step to take.”

Former ANSTO Chief Executive Dr Adi Paterson says Australia “can’t afford” to not take on nuclear power. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced the Coalition’s nuclear policy last week, including the seven proposed sites for the nuclear reactors. “We can’t afford not to be a nuclear power,” Dr Paterson told Sky News Australia. “The big challenge we’re now facing is … how we can get electrons from solar panels and wind turbines, both of which I worked on … and came to the conclusion that they would not work. “Everybody thinks that solar panels are new – the first solar panel revolution happened 20 years ago, and it failed.”

UK Professor and Academic Matthew Goodwin says the UK Conservative party is “putting themselves” ahead of the country. The UK general election is set for July 4 The UK Conservative party is being investigated by Britain’s gambling regulator following allegations of bets placed on the date of the general election before it was announced. “This is classic Tory behaviour,” Mr Goodwin said. “They’re putting themselves and the party ahead of the country. “There’s also a deeper question here with regard to Rishi Sunak and his administration. “What does Rishi Sunak stand for?”

Sky News host Rita Panahi says she likes Opposition leader Peter Dutton of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a “man-child”. Mr Dutton labelled Mr Albanese a ‘child in a man’s body’ at the Liberal Party’s federal council on Saturday. “I like that a lot; man-child Albo,” Ms Panahi said. “Airbus Albo out, man-child Albo in.”

Sky News host Rita Panahi has blasted Queensland Opposition leader David Crisafulli for seeming determined to “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory”. “He [David Crisafulli] seems determined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory,” Ms Panahi said. “[He is] amongst Liberals across the country who have shown zero party discipline, shown zero vision … in immediately pooh-poohing this plan. “I am so thoroughly sick of these state Liberal Parties.”

UK Professor and Academic Matthew Goodwin says there will be a “prolonged civil war” within the UK Conservative Party. The UK general election is set for July 4 “I think what we’ve got here is the beginning of a prolonged civil war between the established British Tory right and a new generation of national conservatives represented by the likes of Farage,” Mr Goodwin says. “Here’s my prediction – we’re going to have a really big Labour majority government, probably the biggest Labour majority in this country since 1997. “There’s this big battle for the right.”

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s nuclear announcement “overshadowed” Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Australia. “Peter Dutton’s nuclear announcement overshadowed what would otherwise clearly have been the biggest story of the week – the first visit by a Chinese leader to Australia in seven years,” Mr Clennell said. “Premier Li Qiang’s trip did not come without protests and controversy – with the Australian PM having to have words with the Chinese leader after an embassy official tried to block Sky News journalist and former detainee Cheng Lei at an event. “But, overall, the government is seeing the visit as something that will lead to positive results. “There is a belief that the lobster sanctions on Australian farmers will be pushed out of the way in coming weeks and that there could be some clemency when it comes to Australians in China on death row.”

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says the Albanese government went “straight into scare campaign mode” after the Coalition announced its nuclear plan. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced the Coalition’s nuclear plan last week. “Seven uncosted government-owned nuclear power plants, Peter Dutton said would be built – one in every mainland state – should he be elected,” Mr Clennell said. “But he is holding back on the details of the cost of his promise, with the capital cost alone expected to exceed $8 billion per plant. “The Labor Party went straight into scare campaign mode, and the PM Anthony Albanese found himself defensive after his MPs put cartoons of fish with three eyes on social media, in a dig at contaminated water that supposedly would come from the plants.”

On the heels of the first tropical storm of what's predicted to be an overactive hurricane season in the United States, alarm bells are ringing over America's Emergency Management funds. Some are worried that the money could run dry as storms continue to roll in. Along the Texas coast, Tropical Storm Alberto brought torrential rains and storms.

US residents are facing severe heatwaves. The heatwave may be the longest New York City has seen in June. Senior residents in Tennessee have found a way to deal with the heat.

Southeastern Australia endured some of the coldest temperatures in years this week. Fire authorities have taken the opportunity to remind families to keep fire safe when warming up their homes. They are also urging families to put together a home fire escape plan.

Australian businesses are facing even longer delays of goods from Europe as the war between Israel and Hamas affects a major cargo shipping route. A voyage through the Red Sea would normally take two days, but under siege by Houthi rebels, it can now take up to ten days. Cargo ships between Asia and Europe are being rerouted with Houthi rebels making the area Rea Sea a no-go zone amid the conflict in Gaza. Vessels are now forced to bypass the Red Sea to avoid the militant group and instead make the long journey around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Adding thousands of kilometres and causing heavy congestion at the Port of Singapore, the major freight hub between Asia and Australia.

Queensland could host one of the smallest summer Olympics in a century, overshadowed by grand plans in Paris and now Los Angeles. LA 2028 organisers have revealed arenas with capacities twice the size of Brisbane. With an October state election approaching, neither the government nor the opposition is willing to commit to plans for a new stadium.

Queenslanders believe fixing the Bruce Highway should be the top road priority ahead of the state election in October. The 1673-kilometre highway has been identified as the number one issue for motorists. The federal and state governments have boosted funding for the Bruce Highway. However, residents want a long-term plan for repairs and upgrades. Safety is a significant concern, as about 45 per cent of the highway has been rated two out of five stars for road infrastructure safety.

Kiwi navy vessels will be based in Tokyo as New Zealand does more to monitor illigal nuclear activity in North Korea. A tanker ship will be based in Tokyo this year, helping with replenishment in the international waters of North Asia. Japan and New Zealand have both flagged their interest in joining the Pillar Two technology-sharing component of the AUKUS security pact.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has finished negotiating a top-secret information security agreement with his Japanese counterpart Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The Kiwi leader is in Tokyo on a three-day trade tour, during which regional security was top of the agenda. Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern began negotiating the security agreement when she was in office.