Your afternoon Briefing: RBA makes first back-to-back cuts since 2012

Your 2-minute digest of the day’s top stories.

Hello readers. The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates for the second time in two months, and the PM has warned his partyroom religion shouldn’t be an issue that divides Australians.

Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe speaks during a CEDA event at the Adelaide Convention Centre in Adelaide, Thursday, June 20, 2019. (AAP Image/James Elsby) NO ARCHIVING

RBA makes first back-to-back cuts since 2012

The Reserve Bank of Australia has delivered a second interest rate cut in two months, reducing the official cash rate to a record low of 1 per cent in another attempt to kick start the economy and drive unemployment lower amid a deteriorating outlook driven by a global trade spat.

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PM Scott Morrison congratulates Tony Smith being elected as Speaker again, after being sworn in at the start of the 46th Parliament, in the House of Representatives Chamber, at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Religion shouldn’t divide us: PM

Scott Morrison has warned the Coalition partyroom religion should not be an issue that divides Australians, as Attorney-General Christian Porter prepares to run religious freedom “workshops” for backbench MPs.

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Police at unit 11 no 65 Chiswick rd Greenacre after they raided it in the early hours looking for evidence in terror related activities .picture John Grainger

IS supporters ‘planned Sydney attacks’

Police believe three western Sydney men arrested this morning were supporters of the Islamic State who allegedly planned to carry out terrorist attacks on several targets including police stations, embassies, courts, and churches in the Sydney CBD.

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Smith exits 2GB

Macquarie Media’s 2GB and Chris Smith have ended their relationship, with the broadcaster to leave the station on July 31.

After a week of negotiations, 2GB and Smith confirmed the decision, announcing they had “agreed to end their working relationship”.

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EPSOM, ENGLAND - JUNE 03: Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum attend Derby day at Epsom Derby festival at Epsom Downs on June 3, 2017 in Epsom, England. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

Runaway princess

The wife of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has reportedly fled the UAE and is living secretly in England while seeking asylum.

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