The federal government announces Australia will start making missiles in 2025, Donald Trump wins the Iowa caucuses, World-number-one Iga Swiatek beats former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The federal government announces Australia will start making missiles in 2025.
- Donald Trump wins the Iowa caucuses.
- And in tennis, World-number-one Iga Swiatek beats former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
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The federal government has announced Australia will start making missiles in 2025.
Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy has revealed a $37 million contract has been signed with the United States.
The agreement aims to improve capability by making an initial batch of missiles with U-S defence contractor Lockheed Martin in western Sydney.
Mr Conroy says the long-term aspiration for domestic manufacturing of missiles would require a purpose-built facility down the track.
"The long-term goal is to establish a facility when we're manufacturing at scale. And we will initially start with assembling of subcomponents provided by the United States. And then the long-term aspiration is to develop the capability to build all aspects of the missile round in Australia."
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In the United States, Donald Trump has won the Iowa caucuses.
The victory, which was called by the Associated Press, comes as Mr Trump continutes to face major legal challenges that could complicate his bid to return to the White House.
The results are the first in what will be a months-long effort for Mr Trump to secure the GOP nomination for a third consecutive time.
Associated Press reporter Meg Kinnard is in Iowa.
She says the win has offered Mr Trump and his supporters a significant boost in morale ahead of upcoming votes.
"This win, the Trump campaign hopes, will give him momentum building into the states that follow like New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina."
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In Mexico, authorities have revealed at least three transgender people have been killed the first two weeks of 2024.
The recent killings have sparked outrage among many in the LGBTIQ+ community, who have held protests in Mexico City calling for justice and for more comprehensive laws around hate crimes.
Gay and transgender people are regularly attacked and killed in Mexico, a nation marked by its macho and highly religious population.
Activist Alejandra Salazar was among those protesting.
"We are women because we decided so, because we want so. Stop deriding us, stop using us to make news headlines. We are women and that's it. We love, we feel, we cry and we feel. Just like many women, we have families to take care of, that's why we are here raising our voice and shouting loud."
Law enforcement say they will investigate the violent deaths, but activists say they doubt anything will come of the cases.
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Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says although she has no plans to introduce pill testing, she is seeking advice from the health department on the issue.
Calls for pill testing to be introduced at music festivals have been renewed after a mass overdose at a recent music event in Melbourne.
By using a free drug-checking service, festival goers would be able to make informed decisions from healthcare workers who can provide harm minimisation support.
Premier Jacinta Allan says the state government currently has no plans to change policy.
"There are no currently plans to change the government's policy settings on drug checking. However, I am seeking and waiting for further advice from the Department of Health because we saw the weekend before last a number of people hospitalised after attending a music festival in Melbourne. We need to get the results of that Department of Health investigation into the circumstances behind what happened at that event. And also to consider that in the context of other evidence and advice from experts."
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In tennis,
World-number-one Iga Swiatek has successfully negotiated a tricky first-up assignment against 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin to advance to the second round at Melbourne Park.
The Polish superstar extended her winning streak to 17 matches - including an unbeaten run at the United Cup - with the 7-6 6-2 triumph.
Kenin served for the opening set in the 10th game but was unable to press home the advantage, leaving the door open for the free-swinging Polish four-time grand slam champion to take control of the match.
