TRANSCRIPT
- Anthony Albanese begins campaign tour targetting key marginal seats.
- Donald Trump says he won't rule out using the military to acquire Greenland after saying he wants Canada too.
- In Boxing, Opetaia and Nyika face off ahead of world title clash.
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With a federal election due before the 17th of May, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has launched an unofficial campaign tour through Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia.
In north Queensland, Labor is targeting the seat of Leichhardt, held by retiring Liberal MP Warren Entsch on a 3.4 per cent margin.
Mr Albanese began his day in Cairns, appearing on the ABC to promote funding for housing and infrastructure while contrasting his policies with the Coalition’s.
"At the next election, people will have a choice between Labor addressing cost-of-living pressures or Peter Dutton, who will cost Australians more."
The prime minister is set to visit Mount Isa before heading to the remote Northern Territory community of Alpurrurulam.
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Donald Trump says he will not rule out using military force to acquire Greenland as it would serve America's security interests.
The extraordinary statement came as Mr Trump outlined an expansionist agenda, two weeks before he is sworn into office at the 20th of January inauguration in Washington.
He cites the presence of Chinese and Russian ships off the shores of Greenland as a threat.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
But Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, says Greenland is not for sale.
"Of course I want to put some words to the situation taking place in Greenland right now. I will make it very clear, that seen with the eyes of the Danish government, Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. It is a proud people, a language and culture, that is their own. And as stated before by the chairman of the Greenlandic parliament, Mute Egede, Greenland is not for sale."
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Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there is not "a snowball's chance in hell" that Canada will become the 51st US state.
Mr Trudeau's statement came as Donald Trump continues to taunt Canada, suggesting it be annexed by the US when he returns to the White House on the 20th of January.
Trump has mockingly referred to Mr Trudeau as the governor of the Great State of Canada.
The incoming president suggested he could use "economic force" to annex Canada during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago but ruled out military action against the country.
Reporter:"You said you were considering military force to acquire Panama and Greenland. Are you also considering military force to annex and acquire Canada?"
Trump: "No. Economic force because Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like. And it would also be much better for national security. You don't forget, we basically protect Canada."
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More than 130 Israel Defence Forces soldiers have signed a letter opposing Israel’s war strategy, arguing it won't result in the release of hostages.
At a Tel Aviv conference, soldiers criticised orders and actions in Gaza, including the burning of buildings, and called for a ceasefire.
While the movement is small, the soldiers say they hope it will encourage more people to speak up and pressure the government into a ceasefire.
Knesset member Ofer Cassif says it is a moral obligation to refuse to participate in what he calls a genocidal war.
"We're gathering here in order to call and support those who refuse to serve in their genocidal war in Gaza. This is not only a light, a consciousness, right? But this is actually a duty and moral obligation to refuse to take part in the atrocities that Israel is responsible for in Gaza."
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In boxing,
Jai Opetaia and David Nyika have set the stage for their trans-Tasman world title clash with a tense 45-second face-off on the eve of their fight.
Opetaia will defend his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles against New Zealand's David Nyika at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre tonight.
During Tuesday's event at the venue, the pair pressed foreheads in a dramatic showdown, evoking the intensity of Brahman bulls.
This is what Opetaia had to say.
"This feels like another day in the office for me to be here. You know we've done our apprenticeship. This is just all fruit of the labour, you know what I mean, we've built this division on my back, you know, on a means. It's good, I'm ready, and I'm sick of these interviews I just want to fight."
But Nyika says he won't be backing down.
"I've got just as much dog as Jai, and he knows that. He knows that I come to fight, it's, it's whatever he wants to do whatever, whatever transpires on the night. I'm here for it. This is this is this is going to be an instant classic, I believe."