In this bulletin;
- The multi-billion-dollar cost of espionage and foreign interference targeting Australia revealed;
- Australia's largest Indigenous gathering begins in northeast Arnhem Land;
- And in golf, Grace Kim among nine Australians competing at the Women's British Open in Wales.
The director-general of Australia's domestic intelligence agency says foreign espionage is costing the economy at least $12.5 billion a year.
Delivering the University of South Australia’s Hawke lecture, Mike Burgess says ASIO has stopped 24 foreign intelligence operations in the last three years.
He says China, Russia and Iran are the main countries behind espionage in Australia, but said a number of others are using similar tactics.
"24 major espionage and foreign interference interruptions in the last three years alone. More than the previous 8 years combined. They are just the major disruptions. There have been many other cases. Spies have successfully recruited a security clearance holder who handed over official documents on free trade negotiations. In another case they hacked into the systems of a law firm involved in a sensitive government litigation. ASIO investigated all these plots. They are just the tip of an espionage iceberg."
—
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is travelling to the Northern Territory to attend Australia's largest Indigenous gathering.
The Garma Festival is held over the next four days in remote northeast Arnhem Land - on the land of the Yolngu people.
Yothu Yindi Foundation hosts the Garma Festival, and the foundation's chief executive, Denise Bowden, told NITV this year celebrates 25 years of the event.
"I think when those Yunupingu men first hatched the Garma idea, I do think they did understand it would be nationally siginificant. But maybe it needed some years to brew a little. Just imagine how incredibly difficult it is, given its very remote location and the logistics of barging supplies to Gove. And I am very pleased to say the 25th anniversary - it really is quite an honour."
—
Students have welcomed the passage of legislation to reduce student debt.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare says the passage of the legislation would see those affected save an average of $5,500.
The change will take a few months for the Australian Tax Office to implement, with HECS balances expected to be updated by the end of the year.
The students in Melbourne say it is welcome relief, but more needs to be done to help alleviate the cost-of-living pressures.
Female student: "HECS is a very pressing issue that we all think about. So it is great that it has gone through.
Male student 1: Yeah, I think the big thing is reversing the changes that were introduced by the Liberal-National government a few years back. The Jobs Ready Scheme package. I know that has had a big impact on access to education.
Male student 2: It is a big issue for students, particularly because a lot of students are either working full-time or part-time - without more support going into student state of living then it could be a little bit difficult."
—
The United States Special Envoy to the Middle East is to travel to Gaza today to inspect the food aid delivery situation.
This comes as Gaza is experiencing its worst period of starvation in the conflict, and as a global hunger monitor says famine is unfolding in the Strip.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports 154 people, including 89 children, have died of malnutrition since the start of the conflict - most in the last few weeks alone.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the US Special Envoy to the Middle East is travelling to Gaza to inspect the aid distribution process and present a plan to President Trump to deliver more food to Gazans.
"Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee had a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other officials today in Israel on the topic of delivering much-needed food and aid to Gaza. President Trump is a humanitarian with a big heart and that's why he spent sent special envoy Witkoff to the region in an effort to save lives and end this crisis."
—
In golf, Australian Grace Kim is hoping follow her Evian Championship success with a win at the Women's British Open in Wales.
She is among nine Australians competing at the event, including Hannah Green and Minjee Lee - who is in pursuit of a win at the tournament, the only major she is yet to win.
Kim says she has prepared well and now it is time to see how it all unfolds in the competition.
"It is the last major of the season. But yeah, I am going to try and carry on the mentality that I had which was worry-free. And I know my game is good enough. My team has been put into a lot of effort into my own game. My physical, everything behind the scenes. So hopefully, we just showcase that."
144 competitors will be playing for the champion's title which carries with it $A2.2 million in prize money.