Australia news LIVE: PM heads to Washington to meet Trump; Israel halts aid to Gaza in clash with Hamas over breaking ceasefire

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) business Zip Co has beaten market expectations with its latest numbers, which showed its earnings soaring thanks to much higher revenue in the critical United States market.

Zip, which is listed on the ASX and competes with Afterpay, said earnings before tax, depreciation and amortisation rose 98 per cent in its first quarter, to $62.8 million.

The company lifted its outlook for US transaction growth, after its revenue from the world’s biggest economy grew by 55.1 per cent compared with the same quarter last year.

In Australia and New Zealand, Zip said its total transaction volume had increased 11.1 per cent and the arrears rate was 3.3 per cent in September, slightly lower than in previous months.

Zip is focused on the US and Australia and New Zealand after jettisoning global growth plans several years ago, and its shares have jumped more than 50 per cent in the last year.

“We are committed to delivering exceptional experiences for our customers, with engagement deepening across both markets,” said chief executive Cynthia Scott.

Zip shares were 4.9 per cent higher in early trading.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has criticised violent counter-protesters who attacked police in Melbourne’s CBD yesterday, resulting in the hospitalisation of two officers.

Police spent hours on Sunday afternoon trying to keep anti-immigration protesters and counter-protesters apart. The counter-protesters were accused of fuelling the violence, although they disputed that claim on Sunday night.

Police said protesters had pelted officers with bluestone rocks, similar to those found on railway tracks, and bottles filled with glass shards, set bins on fire and threw a cantaloupe as tensions boiled over at the rallies.

Speaking at a press conference in Melbourne today, Allan praised Victoria Police for “keeping the community safe and dealing swiftly with this group of protesters who were choosing to use violence”.

“It was unacceptable what we saw that was perpetrated on the men and women of Victoria Police who were there to keep the community safe. And it is my expectation that the full force of the law will be brought to those who perpetrated this violence, which subsequently has been identified and are being investigated by Victoria Police.”

“I’m absolutely clear that what happened with Melbourne was a violation of that obligation that everyone has in a democratic society that should you choose to protest, you must do so peacefully. What happened yesterday wasn’t just unacceptable, it violated that principle, and as I said, Victoria Police dealt with it, and they dealt with it swiftly, and they shouldn’t have had that level of violence.… It was just disgraceful,” said Allan.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is being urged to be firm but polite when he meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office tomorrow, as the government hopes for a smooth meeting without fireworks.

Albanese flew out of Brisbane on Sunday after spending a week in the island nation of Palau on a break. His televised talks with Trump at the White House are scheduled for Tuesday at 2am.

AUKUS and peace in the Indo-Pacific region were at the top of an agenda released by the government on Sunday. With Australia still subject to steel tariffs and the US demanding more military spending, the government is bracing for the prospect of an argument with the erratic president. However, most in the government expect the event to be warm.

A Resolve Political Monitor survey of 1800 voters showed 48 per cent wanted Albanese to “be polite to Trump but firm in representing Australia’s values”. A quarter of those surveyed urged a more aggressive approach to “tell Trump that Australia is unhappy with his conduct”.

The Resolve survey showed mixed feelings about hosting US nuclear-powered submarines, which may have nuclear weapons attached to them, off the coast of Western Australia.

Nationals leader David Littleproud has denied he is in a feud with Barnaby Joyce, but insisted the New England MP must accept the fact he has been shunted to the backbench.

Joyce wrote to branch members on the weekend claiming he was forced to stand down at the next election and quit the Nationals party room, due to a personality clash with Littleproud, his relegation from shadow ministry to the “far corners” of parliament’s backbench and his opposition to net zero, which the country party has not yet formally ruled out.

“Obviously, the relationship with David was less than spectacular,” Joyce told ABC radio.

Littleproud said he had no intention to seek Joyce’s expulsion from the party, despite his strident criticism of the Nationals’ current direction.

“My hand’s always out, my phone’s always on and my door’s always open, the party room’s door is open when Barnaby reconciles what he wants to do,” Littleproud told Sky News.

Joyce has refused to rule out speculation he will switch to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

However, Littleproud noted that Barnaby had not yet quit the Nationals, rather just stated he would not contest his seat at the next election due in 2028 – a move he encouraged him to reconsider.

He said Joyce must fall into line with the party’s policies.

“You have to accept the decision of the leader and who’s in the shadow cabinet,” Littleproud said.

Afghanistan and Pakistan, embroiled in fighting that has killed dozens of people and injured hundreds, pledged on Sunday to respect a ceasefire.

The truce, mediated by Qatar and Turkey, came into effect immediately and is intended to pause hostilities.

Violence has escalated between the neighbours since earlier this month, with each country saying it was responding to aggression from the other. Afghanistan denies harbouring militants who carry out attacks in border areas.

Pakistan is grappling with militancy that has surged since 2021, when the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan and returned to power.

The Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, gave a positive response to the outcome of the talks that took place in the Qatari capital, Doha, a day earlier. He said both countries had signed a bilateral agreement.

“It has been decided that neither country will undertake any hostile actions against the other, nor will they support groups carrying out attacks against Pakistan. Both sides will refrain from targeting each other’s security forces, civilians or critical infrastructure.”

A mechanism would be established in the future, “under the mediation of intermediary countries”, to review bilateral claims and ensure the effective implementation of the agreement.

AP

National Party Leader David Littleproud has confirmed he had a conversation with MP Barnaby Joyce about his decision to step away from the party – which Joyce has said was largely influenced by the breakdown of the relationship between the two men.

“It’s up to him in terms of where he wants to go next. We made it very clear he’s welcome. We’re going to have some policy discussions that I thought he would probably want to be part of in the near future. So it’s a decision for Barnaby, the ball is in his court,” Littleproud told Sky News this morning.

He also said the two had spoken since the news broke about his potential defection to One Nation over the weekend. “We’ve had a discussion, definitely, but I’m not going to go into the details,” Littleproud said.

“I don’t intend to get caught up in a melodrama. I’m simply going to get on with the job, make sure the boundaries are clear and let him be aware that if he wants to be part of the party room while he’s still a member, he is more than welcome to participate like everybody else that’s in that party room… Until he resigns as a member of the National Party he is treated as a member of the National Party.”

Responding to Joyce’s claims that one of the reasons he was stepping away from the party was because of “irreparable” damage to their relationship, Littleproud said it was “disappointing, but comes with the job of being leader”.

“You’ve got to make decisions. Some of those decisions don’t necessarily mean that those that are in your party room get everything they want.”

Despite Joyce’s comments, Littleproud insisted that there was “no animosity” between the two.

Police have sharply criticised protesters in Melbourne’s CBD after two officers were taken to hospital and rocks, glass and rotten fruit were thrown at officers during violent scuffles.

Police spent hours on Sunday afternoon trying to keep anti-immigration protesters and counter-protesters apart. The counter-protesters were accused of fuelling the violence, although they disputed that claim on Sunday night.

A visibly frustrated Commander Wayne Cheesman said protesters had pelted police with bluestone rocks, similar to those found on railway tracks, and bottles filled with glass shards, set bins on fire and threw a cantaloupe as tensions boiled over at the rallies on Sunday.

“Melbourne has had a gutful,” Cheesman said moments after holding up a large rock, which he said had been thrown at police. “The disruption to Melbourne, to the general public who want to come into our fine city, the disruption to businesses … we really need to find an answer of what we do. Enough is enough.

“It appalls me, really. This could kill someone. That’s the bottom line.”

“It’s a bad day for Victoria Police. It’s a bad day for Melbourne. It’s a bad day for the community,” Cheesman said.

Nationals MP Michael McCormack says he hopes Barnaby Joyce remains with the party, following this masthead’s revelation at the weekend that Joyce was in advanced talks about defecting to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

“Well, I messaged Barnaby last night. I said, I honestly hope he remains with the Nationals, whether that’s as a National Party member, or whether that means as an active member, remains to be seen,” McCormack told Sky News this morning.

“I think it’s important that he does remain with the Nationals as part of his legacy as well, he’s done some great things for regional Australia… He stood up loudly and passionately and proudly for the interests of country Australians for many, many years. I’d like to think that that legacy won’t be trashed by him moving away from the party.”

A breakdown in the relationship between Joyce and Nationals leader David Littleproud was one of the reasons Joyce cited for his decision to step away from the party. Asked about tensions between the two, McCormack said it was important to focus less on individuals, and more on how the party can serve the interests of everyday Australians.

“I appreciate that David’s out there, he’s leading the party. We need to get back to talking about the things that matter to the people who vote for us, and that is cost of living, cost of energy, cost of groceries, cost of petrol. People are hurting right here, and that’s what we should be focused on, not about individuals, not about ourselves,” he said.

This morning, Joyce revealed he had spoken with Hanson on the phone over the weekend, but has refused to answer questions about whether he plans to shift to One Nation.