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Saudi-led naval coalition prepares to secure Red Sea waterways
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ADF member ‘person of interest’ after video recorder found in HMAS Leeuwin women’s showers
Vice Admiral Buckley calls incident an ‘act of sexual violence’ and a ‘despicable betrayal of trust’ The defence department says a member of the Australian Defence Force is a “person of interest” in investigations after a video recording device was found in a bathroom on HMAS Leeuwin, in what the chief of Navy called a “despicable betrayal of trust”. A day after senator Jacqui Lambie told the Senate that a hidden camera had been found in a female shower facility onboard the naval ship, docked in Cairns, navy chief Matt Buckley confirmed a “video recording device” had been located in one of the ship’s bathrooms. Continue reading...

ADF member ‘person of interest’ after ‘despicable betrayal of trust’ on Navy ship where camera found in women’s shower – as it happened
This blog is now closed Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Private health insurance changes ‘recalibrating precious taxpayer dollars’, says Wells The health minister, Mark Butler, yesterday promised to reintroduce a bill to reduce private health insurance rebates for over-65s, after it was thrown out of the Senate by the crossbench and Coalition. It’s really important we reintroduce it, because we need to raise the level of support and resourcing for aged care. I was the aged care minister before being the communications minister, we need to work urgently. There’s not enough beds being built for older Australians who need that support. It’s recalibrating precious taxpayer dollars. Continue reading...
From Morocco to South Africa, Israel election watched closely across Africa
October 27 vote could test whether Israel's ties with African countries withstand the fallout from the war on Gaza.

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Doctors treating Elizabeth Struhs recommended involuntary mental health assessment of her mother, coroner hears
Inquest into death of Queensland girl denied insulin by her religious parents is told Kerrie Struhs believed God would heal her daughter Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Doctors were so concerned about the religious beliefs of Elizabeth Struhs’ mother they recommended she be subjected to an involuntary mental health assessment because she delusionally believed her daughter would be healed from type 1 diabetes, a coroner has heard. Child safety officers, nonetheless, decided to return the eight-year-old home to live with her mother, Kerrie Struhs, over the objections of Brisbane-based doctors , in 2019. Continue reading...
G20 finance ministers, central bankers gather amid fallout from Iran war
Officials meet in Thailand as conflict drives energy prices higher and casts uncertainty over global economy.