TRANSCRIPT
- Anthony Albanese defends the decision to attend a UK Labour Party conference
- Moldovans vote in a high-stakes parliamentary election
- Indigenous athlete Kirra Wright wins Australia's first medal at the World Para Athletics Championships
The Prime Minister has defended the use of taxpayer funds to attend a UK Labour Party conference.
Anthony Albanese is set to deliver a speech at the party's annual conference in Liverpool in the coming hours.
The engagement has been criticised by federal Opposition leader Sussan Ley, who says he should not use his official overseas visit to the UK to attend a domestic political event.
Mr Albanese says the trip to Liverpool is in line with his intention to hold various meetings to deepen engagement, including one that he had with the leader of UK's Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch.
"We have a relationship with the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has a free trade agreement with Australia. That is really important. It is about Australian jobs. Our economic benefit we receive from that free trade agreement - from this engagement. The AUKUS arrangements mean that we need to engage with the UK government and accepting the invitation of Prime Minister Starmer to meet not just with him, but with all of his ministers - is important. It is a part of my job."
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Moldovans are casting their votes to determine which MPs will form the new 101-seat legislature.
The election is viewed by many as a choice between Moldova’s continued path toward European Union membership or closer ties with Russia.
The Head of the European Parliament election observation delegation says there has been ample evidence of Russian interference in the Moldovan election in the lead-up to voting day.
Iulian Groza is the executive director of the Institute for European Policies and Reforms. He says the stakes are very high.
"Moldova has now set a clear way towards becoming member of the European Union despite various elections we had in Moldova, Moldova managed to advance into accession negotiations. And we understand that and we are aware about the fact that Russia is looking at these elections as their ultimate probably battle."
Opposition parties have dismissed claims of Russian interference, calling it a "political show".
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Healthcare workers in Gaza say they are facing a mounting crisis, as Israel continues its offensive and fuel supplies run low in Gaza City.
The director of Al-Shifa hospital, Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, says if the hospital goes out of service, it will be catastrophic and thousands will die.
"We are still providing medical services to the people of Gaza City despite the ongoing invasion, the tanks approaching the hospital, and the continuous shelling. Our teams are committed to their duty."
Gaza's health authorities say the death toll in the strip has risen to nearly 66,000 (65,926), with over 167,000 injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on October 7, 2023.
That toll includes 77 people killed and another 256 injured in the past 24 hours.
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Patients have welcomed the listing of a breast cancer treatment on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Truqap is used to treat locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that cannot be removed by surgery.
The treatment will be on the government-subsidised list of medicines from Wednesday, coinciding with the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Without the subsidy, patients were facing costs of $100,000 for a course of treatment on Truqap. Under the listing, they will pay a maximum of $31.60 per script.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says the listing is expected to boost the survival rate outcomes for those with metastatic breast cancer.
"We think that only about 1 in 3 women with metastatic breast cancer will go on to survive 5 years or more. This new listing, Truqap, will provide that additional hope to - we think - about 3,000 women and a few men as well, every single year. Making a very big dent in some of the challenges we have around the survivability and quality of life for women with metastatic breast cancer."
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To sport and in athletics, First Nations athlete Kirra Wright says she is excited to win Australia's first medal on the opening day of the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.
The 17-year-old won a silver medal in her global debut - competing in the Women's Shot Put F36 event.
Wright says the result brings her a step closer to achieving her dream of representing Australia at the Paralympic Games.
"Pretty unreal. I didn't think it was going to happen. I think the biggest thing for me was going out there and you know talking to different people and meeting new people. A medal wasn't even on the cards. So trying to calm the nerves. I was feeling pretty nervous going out there. So I think working on the nerves - but also staying calm and collected at the same time."
