Max MaddisonUpdated July 21, 2026 — 7:33am,first published 7:20amWhat you need to know todayBy Max MaddisonWelcome to our rolling live coverage of all the latest news and developments around Australia and the world this Tuesday, July 21.Here is what’s making news today.One Nation and Barnaby Joyce are back in the headlines. In an interview with the ABC on Monday night, Joyce took a moment from a question about whether he was comfortable with party leader Pauline Hanson’s policy positions, to chastise his dog off-camera. Meanwhile, right-wing Liberal senator Alex Antic’s declaration of One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts’ as a “clear thinker” and “decent bloke” has brought his future in the party under a cloud. Federal opposition leader Angus Taylor has spent the week highlighting Roberts’ antisemitic and fringe views.Israel is seeking to water down criticism of the Jewish state and settler violence in the West Bank in Labor’s draft policy platform, ahead of the party’s National Conference this weekend. With Labor MPs and delegates converging on Adelaide to debate party policy, the Israeli embassy has argued the party’s draft platform is one-sided against Israel, while going easy on Hamas and other Palestinian factions.A Herald investigation reveals some of Aland Group — one of Sydney’s largest private developers and construction companies — developments have been blighted by serious defects, massive fines and legal troubles. The revelations have prompted questions about why Premier Chris Minns and Building Commissioner James Sherrard boosted the image of a development company that had, just days earlier, responded to a series of show-cause notices from the Building Commission.British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed “to bring back hope” after delivering his first remarks as leader outside 10 Downing Street. The country’s seventh leader since 2016, Burnham said his generation of politicians needed to “raise our game and rise to the new challenge”.Latest Posts7.33amBarnaby barks at dog during interviewBy Alexander DarlingBarnaby Joyce was about to answer a question on the ABC about whether he was comfortable with where his party leader, Pauline Hanson, was taking him, when he roared at a dog off-camera.It wasn’t clear how close the dog was or what it was doing to raise his ire, but the strange outburst proved the climax of a live nine-minute interview during which he claimed Channel Seven had suggested Hanson meet with British right-wing agitator Tommy Robinson, and appeared to suggest that One Nation could try to identify illegal immigrants using the medical system and parking fine data.Joyce roars at the offending dog.ABCWhen he composed himself, Joyce said he had changed his views the way that many other Australians had.When journalist Sarah Ferguson asked if he had set a limit on how far he was willing to go in defence of Hanson, Joyce didn’t answer directly.7.28amIsrael criticises draft policy platform ahead of Labor conferenceBy Matthew KnottIsrael is seeking to water down criticism of the Jewish state in Labor’s policy platform, which is set to call out settler violence in the West Bank, condemn a controversial new death penalty law and back two international courts considering genocide and war crimes charges against Israel.As Palestinian advocates call for Labor to go further by banning defence exports to Israel and imposing sweeping sanctions, the Israeli embassy in Canberra argued Labor’s draft national platform is one-sided against Israel while going easy on Hamas and other Palestinian factions for failing to advance the peace process.Israel’s embassy, led by ambassador Hillel Newman, is pushing Labor to change its policy platform.Alex EllinghausenWith Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seeking to project party unity under his leadership, Labor’s three-day national conference in Adelaide is unlikely to feature lively debates on contentious issues such as AUKUS, after senior ministers spent months settling arguments behind the scenes to avoid public brawls on the conference floor.But debate could flare up over the Middle East, with the draft policy platform going into more detail on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute than past manifestos and pro-Palestinian activists on the march after Albanese last year decided to recognise Palestinian statehood.The draft platform does not contain accusations of genocide over the way Israel fought the war in Gaza or call for restrictions on arms sales to Israel, but party activists are pushing behind the scenes to make it tougher.Read more: Israel blasts Labor’s ‘one-sided’ policy platform as Palestinian advocates push further7.26amUS launches new strikes after Iran-backed Houthis declare blockade of another key oil routeBy The US have launched another round of strikes against Iran after one of the regime’s allies said they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis made their announcement despite signs that Tehran and Washington want to resume diplomacy to halt a worsening cycle of attacks that has all but wrecked a fragile interim agreement signed last month.Oil prices rose briefly after the Houthi statement, but later fell back as traders held out hope of a diplomatic breakthrough. The insurance cost of shipping goods through the Red Sea rose on the increased risks for merchant shipping.Even so, the US President Donald Trump ordered a new round of strikes against Iran – the 10th consecutive night of attacks – that started about 6am on Tuesday (AEST).“The strikes are designed to further degrade Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command said in a statement.7.14amMinister brands climate conference hotels report a ‘media beat up’By Jack GramenzDefence Industry Minister Pat Conroy is this morning defending his cabinet colleague Chris Bowen in the face of a “media beat-up” about $4.2 million in accommodation costs for an upcoming climate conference.The Australian newspaper reported the figure, saying it was to “lock in accommodation for foreign bureaucrats”, referring to AusTender contracts that set aside up to $4,217,040 to host delegates at a pre-COP31 meeting in Fiji in early October.Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa, one of the hotels cited in the report.The report notes the figures “represent the upper end of what the government could pay”.Conroy says the ultimate cost will be disclosed “in the normal course”.7.08amAnalysis: The reflecting pool saga is a metaphor for the Trump presidency itselfBy Michael KoziolWashington: Recently, Pete Hegseth paid a visit to my local park. The US defence secretary was there to praise the National Guard for helping make Washington safe. He had to speak loudly into the microphone to overcome noise from nearby protesters.“It’s the sound of ingrates, of ingratitude,” Hegseth said. “People who are so blinded by ideology, they can’t see law and order and common sense in front of them.”Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in front of the Meridian Hill park water fountain.BloombergThey gathered at Meridian Hill Park, just two blocks from my apartment, because it has become something of a symbol of President Donald Trump’s drive to beautify the nation’s capital.The park features the longest cascading water fountain in North America, with 13 basins running down the hill. Each one is wider than the step before, making it look longer from the bottom.For people who live in this dense, concrete-laden area of Washington, this patch of green – also known as Malcolm X Park – is a beloved respite, especially in the unrelenting heat of summer.Read more: The reflecting pool saga is a metaphor for the Trump presidency itself6.50amTwo US soldiers killed in Jordan identifiedBy Two US soldiers killed in Jordan by Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks were identified on Monday (US time), the first troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.The Defence Department said in a statement that First Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, were killed in Jordan.They were deployed to support a US mission against the Islamic State group, the statement said.The US military says 17 service members have been killed in the war with Iran.US President Donald Trump took to social media on Monday to warn that “every time Iran kills an American Soldier” going forward “they will pay for that killing many times over”.Trump offered no further details but said his directive has been relayed to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, and other US military leaders.APPinned post from 6.48amWhat you need to know todayBy Max MaddisonWelcome to our rolling live coverage of all the latest news and developments around Australia and the world this Tuesday, July 21.Here is what’s making news today.One Nation and Barnaby Joyce are back in the headlines. In an interview with the ABC on Monday night, Joyce took a moment from a question about whether he was comfortable with party leader Pauline Hanson’s policy positions, to chastise his dog off-camera. Meanwhile, right-wing Liberal senator Alex Antic’s declaration of One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts’ as a “clear thinker” and “decent bloke” has brought his future in the party under a cloud. Federal opposition leader Angus Taylor has spent the week highlighting Roberts’ antisemitic and fringe views.Israel is seeking to water down criticism of the Jewish state and settler violence in the West Bank in Labor’s draft policy platform, ahead of the party’s National Conference this weekend. With Labor MPs and delegates converging on Adelaide to debate party policy, the Israeli embassy has argued the party’s draft platform is one-sided against Israel, while going easy on Hamas and other Palestinian factions.A Herald investigation reveals some of Aland Group — one of Sydney’s largest private developers and construction companies — developments have been blighted by serious defects, massive fines and legal troubles. The revelations have prompted questions about why Premier Chris Minns and Building Commissioner James Sherrard boosted the image of a development company that had, just days earlier, responded to a series of show-cause notices from the Building Commission.British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed “to bring back hope” after delivering his first remarks as leader outside 10 Downing Street. The country’s seventh leader since 2016, Burnham said his generation of politicians needed to “raise our game and rise to the new challenge”.1 of 1