Australia’s Labor party has promised a free medical advice line and expanded Medicare funding as cost-of-living pressures dominate the election campaign.
Australia’s Labor government has pledged to strengthen the country’s universal healthcare system with a free medical advice line and telehealth service if it wins the May 3 general election, where cost-of-living pressures are a key issue.
Centre-left Labor traditionally champions the protection of Australia’s Medicare system, setting itself apart from the conservative Liberal-National opposition, which emphasizes economic management and border protection.
The government has made Medicare a core election issue, pledging an extra $5.43 billion for the program in February amid concerns about declining bulk billing — a system where doctors bill Medicare directly, leaving patients with no out-of-pocket costs.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the new hotline would provide 24-hour access to medical staff for urgent care needs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to formally announce the policy on Sunday in Sydney, a critical election battleground.
Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberal-National coalition and Albanese’s main rival, has pledged $5.76 billion in Medicare funding if his coalition wins on May 3.
Early voting began Tuesday, with polls showing Labor holding a narrow lead. The campaign has been dominated by cost-of-living promises and competing plans to boost housing affordability.
U.S. officials have privately expressed frustration over Australia’s decision to send 49 retired M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, as the first vehicles begin their journey to Europe amid growing concerns about their battlefield effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
Australia has confirmed that a fleet of retired U.S.-made Abrams tanks promised to Ukraine is finally on the way, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in Rome on Sunday, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has downplayed the likelihood of significant progress on a free trade agreement with the European Union during his meeting with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Rome.
Anthony Albanese has secured a second consecutive three-year term as Australia’s prime minister, becoming the first leader to do so in 21 years, in a victory hailed as historic for the center-left Labor Party.
Voting has concluded in Australia’s eastern states, including Sydney and Melbourne, in a general election marked by economic concerns and foreign policy anxieties. With two hours of voting still remaining in Western Australia, early indications point to a close race.
Azerbaijani presidential climate envoy Mukhtar Babayev is set to participate in the Astana International Forum 2025, focusing on global challenges and future cooperation.
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, covering trade, investment, culture, and global challenges. Both sides signed a Cooperation Program for 2025-2026 to deepen their partnership.
As of May 19, 2025, Romania's interim President Ilie Bolojan has authorized the military to shoot down unauthorized drones entering the country's airspace.
The UK and the European Union have reached their most significant post-Brexit agreement yet, resetting trade and defence ties amid rising global instability and U.S. President Donald Trump’s disruption of the global order.
EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 20th May. The upcoming Foreign Affairs Council will be chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
Southeast Asia is witnessing a renewed surge in COVID-19 infections, with Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Thailand all reporting sharp increases, raising concerns about a possible new wave of the virus across the region.
In January 2025, the CIA made headlines by revising its position on the origins of COVID-19, now favoring the laboratory leak theory over natural origins.
Matcha and coffee have both surged in popularity as go-to beverages for energy and potential health benefits. While coffee has long dominated the morning routine of many people worldwide, matcha-a powdered form of specially grown green tea-has emerged as a compelling alternative.
WHO Chief sounds alarm over widespread treatment gaps amid funding cuts.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid, but with specific conditions limiting its use to certain groups.
Azerbaijani presidential climate envoy Mukhtar Babayev is set to participate in the Astana International Forum 2025, focusing on global challenges and future cooperation.
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London to discuss strengthening bilateral relations, covering trade, investment, culture, and global challenges. Both sides signed a Cooperation Program for 2025-2026 to deepen their partnership.
As of May 19, 2025, Romania's interim President Ilie Bolojan has authorized the military to shoot down unauthorized drones entering the country's airspace.
The UK and the European Union have reached their most significant post-Brexit agreement yet, resetting trade and defence ties amid rising global instability and U.S. President Donald Trump’s disruption of the global order.
EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on 20th May. The upcoming Foreign Affairs Council will be chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
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