Hundreds of jobs to go at Whyalla steelworks; More than one-and-a-half million Australians face cuts to private health insurance rebates; And Alexander Zverev claims the men's US Open title.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Hundreds of jobs to go at Whyalla steelworks
- More than one-and-a-half million Australians face cuts to private health insurance rebates
- Alexander Zverev claims the men's US Open title
Hundreds of people at the Whyalla steelworks in South Australia are expected to lose their jobs, following a decision to permanently shut down its blast furnace.
Approximately 500 workers will lose their jobs, as well as more than 100 contractors working at the site — located about 380 kilometres north of Adelaide.
Whyalla steelworks went into administration in February last year, but the steelworks' blast furnace hasn't been operating since April, adding to the company's cash flow issues.
It's understood that workers at the Whyalla steelworks have been informed about the decision this morning.
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The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Poland have warned of Russia's growing threat to European security after a drone strike suspected of targeting EU officials.
The Russian drone hit a passenger train near Ukraine's border with Poland overnight.
The train had left just minutes after another train carrying top European security advisers, as well as former UK and Swedish Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Carl Bildt.
There were no casualties, with passengers having been evacuated as the drone approached.
In social media post, Carl Bilt said the train carrying officials had deliberately left the station early.
In a media conference with his Polish counterpart, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the attack an escalation.
"Russian strikes are now hitting right next to the Ukrainian-Polish border; specifically, a strike was carried out today near the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border crossing point. (Russian President, Vladimir) Putin’s terror is literally knocking on the doors of the European Union and NATO. That is precisely why partial measures are insufficient today. Strong sanctions, continued military support for Ukraine, and maximum pressure on Russia are required."
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Three MPs have launched a protest in Canberra over the government's plans to cut private health insurance rebates for retirees, in order to supplement its aged care spending budget.
Figures from the Parliamentary Budget Office suggest there are 1.6 million Australians that will be impacted by the reforms, with around 44,000 expected to dump their private health coverage once the rebate cuts come into effect.
Groups like Private Health Australia argue the change will put more pressure on the public hospital system, as people lose private access to common life-enhancing procedures like cataract operations to improve vision and hip and knee replacements to reduce pain and improve mobility.
MP Monique Ryan — along with Jacqui Lambie and Anne Ruston — says it's not fair to them for the government to change the system now.
"These are people who have in many instances for decades put money into their private health insurance, which they regard as a non-discretionary expenditure, because they want to have the certainty of having private health insurance in their retirement, when they're on a low and relatively fixed income.".
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Two Indigenous teenagers have been recognised for their bravery after helping save their friend from a near-fatal shark attack on Thursday Island.
Titus Joseph and Yenick Aniba have received the Queensland Ambulance Service's Young Hero of the Year Award for their actions when their friend Sam Nai was attacked while the boys were swimming last October.
Titus, who was just 11 at the time, went into the water to help Sam to safety, while Yenick ran to get help.
Sam's mother Shanna Mosby says the boys' survival skills helped save his life.
"Living in a remote area you teach them survival skills and they've done exactly what they've been taught to do and Sam is still here today because of that, so very grateful."
Sam underwent more than 20 operations and spent months in hospital, but is now back home, back at school and even back swimming in the ocean.
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And in sport, Alexander Zverev wins his second major championship, beating Ben Shelton in four sets in the US Open finals in New York.
The No. 1 seed in the Grand Slam, Zverev, also won this year's French Open finals.
Shelton was hoping to claim the first title by an American man since Andy Roddick won in 2003.
If the No. 8 seed had won, he would have also become the first Black player to win the men's crown since Arthur Ashe in 1968.
Shelton says he will come back stronger from the loss.
“Oh, yeah, I'm motivated. Disappointed with how today went. Happy with how I fought throughout the week, two weeks. Excited with the progress that I feel that I've made, but yeah, this one stings 100 percent. Yeah, it's on to the next. Try to keep getting better and show up in Australia even stronger than I showed up here."
