TRANSCRIPT
- The Australian Federal Police investigates the role of foreign interference in antisemitic attacks
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong says she has received assurances on the future AUKUS from the Trump administration
- In Tennis, world number one Aryna Sabalenka on her strategy to win a third straight Australian Open title
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says more information cannot be publicly released at this time about the claim that overseas parties are paying people in Australia to carry out antisemitic attacks.
The Australian Federal Police is investigating whether foreign actors paid local criminals cryptocurrency to carry out antisemitic attacks in Australia.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw told leaders at yesterday's National Cabinet meeting that investigators are working with Five Eyes countries to establish whether this is in fact happening.
Mr Albanese says any further public comment at this stage may tip off wrongdoers.
"The point is, is that when you have an investigation, sometimes it's a really good idea not to tell the people whom you are investigating all of that detail. And ghat is what is going on here. Nothing more, nothing less."
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described her meetings with officials from the new Trump administration as productive and constructive.
Having attended Trump's inauguration, Ms Wong has now met with the new secretary of state, Marco Rubio.
She says she secured assurances about the future of AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US - which was also reinforced in the meeting beforehand of foreign ministers from the Quad countries.
"AUKUS is an investment in security and stability in the region. It's a demonstration of the way in which partnerships can be utilised to improve and enhance the security of the region, and of the countries involved. And I think it has been really clear that the Trump administration understands the strategic imperative around AUKUS, which is why the government is so committed to it."
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Germany says it will lobby the United States to reverse its decision to withdraw from the World Health Organisation.
The withdrawal was one of the many executive orders new US President Donald Trump signed on his first day in office.
Mr Trump cited the WHO's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a major reason for the withdrawal.
German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach says the announcement is a serious blow to the international fight against global health crises.
The European Commission's Eva Hrncirova says the pandemic is the perfect reason why the US should stay in the WHO.
"There is no better example than the COVID pandemics. We have learned our lesson. We have seen that virus doesn't stop at the border and that we need a global co- operation in the health area."
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The UN's humanitarian co-ordinator for Gaza, Muhannad Hadi, says the situation there is rapidly improving.
Nearly 900 trucks worth of aid have entered since the ceasefire came into effect.
Mr Hadi says people in Gaza want to get back to normal, with a particular emphasis on getting the economy going again.
He says this has been one of his greatest days in the job.
"When I entered Gaza this morning, it felt like this is probably one of the happiest days of my professional life over a period of humanitarian journey of 35 years. I entered Gaza. It was totally different to the many times I entered Gaza in the past 10,11 months. The people I met had a different, a different attitude. It made me very happy to see that people already started moving, some of them going back to their places of origin."
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In Tennis, world number one Aryna Sabalenka says as she feels mentally stronger this year as she pursues a third straight Australian Open title.
The last time that accomplishment was achieved was 26 years ago - by Martina Hingis.
The 26-year-old's title hopes were hanging by a thread at moments in the two-hour match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova , before she came back to wrap up a 6-2 2-6 6-3 win.
Sabalenka faces Paula Badosa in the semifinals.
She says she won't be letting their friendship get in the way of her quest for a third successive Australian Open title.
"I know that if I will be able to bring my best Tennis on each game. If not the best tennis, but the best fight spirit then I know that I am capable of doing that. And I am trying to focus on myself and bringing my best tennis every time on that day."
