TRANSCRIPT
- An Australian woman loses her drug smuggling appeal in Japan
- The President of the State of Palestine addresses the UN General Assembly
- Lions co-captain Lachie Neale named in the side for the AFL grand final
An Australian woman convicted of smuggling drugs into Japan has lost her appeal against her conviction.
Tokyo's High Court has ruled that Donna Nelson was negligent in her case and that she would have had time to consider what was inside her bag.
Donna Nelson had been sentenced to six years in prison after being found at Tokyo's Narita Airport with two kilograms of methamphetamine in the lining of her suitcase - despite the court accepting she was tricked as part of an online romance scam.
Her daughter, Kristal Hilaire, says she is now considering the next step.
"She was disappointed in the outcome. And I think she wants to get information on what options she has."
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The President of the State of Palestine - as it is now formally recognised by Australia - has told the United Nations General Assembly that Israel will not break the will of his people.
Mahmoud Abbas was denied a visa to attend the talks in New York but appeared by video link, appealing for international support to achieve democratic reforms.
Mr Abbas rejected Hamas and its October 7 attack on Israel, and says the Palestinian Authority has clearly recognised Israel's 'right to exist'.
Voiced by a U-N translator here, he has called for an end to war and the return of captives on both sides, vowing to hold fast to the dream of a two state solution.
"No matter how much our wounds bleed, and no matter how long this suffering lasts, it will not break our will to live and survive. The dawn of freedom will emerge and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies, as a symbol of dignity, steadfastness and being free from the yoke of occupation. Palestine is ours."
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Former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of criminal conspiracy.
The Paris court cleared Mr Sarkozy of some charges including passive corruption, illegal campaign financing and concealment of the embezzlement of public funds.
But the court has convicted him over his role in an alleged scheme to finance his 2007 campaign with funds from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favours.
Speaking after the verdict, he has maintained his innocence.
"I ask the French people, whether they voted for me or not, whether they support me or not, to appreciate what has just happened. Hatred truly knows no bounds. I will take my responsibilities. I will comply with the summonses of justice. And if they absolutely want me to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison, but with my head held high. I am innocent."
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Anthony Albanese is heading to the United Kingdom for formal talks, following his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
Nuclear submarines, Gaza and Ukraine are likely to top the Prime Minister's agenda as he arrives in London for the next leg of his three-country visit.
The UK has already commissioned the sixth of its seven SSN-AUKUS submarines for the UK Royal Navy under the multi-billion-dollar security pact with the United States and Australia.
But the Trump administration has been reviewing the deal, which was agreed under Joe Biden's presidency.
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A social media post by Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie criticising immigration has been rebuked by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
The WA Liberal MP wrote on social media on Wednesday that he believes Australians are "starting to feel like strangers in our own home" due to immigration levels.
Mr Burke has responded that modern Australia must feel strange to a Liberal party that he says refuses to enter the 21st century.
Meanwhile, Liberals have privately expressed frustrations at being forced to talk about themselves rather than attack Labor or build voter support, with L-N-P immigration spokesperson Paul Scarr telling SBS Hindi that MPs should choose their words carefully.
"I think we must focus on our base values, our core values, and people need to be very careful when engaging in loose language and loose rhetoric, because it can be very damaging in terms of our relationship with community, and it can cause distress in the community."
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To sport and in AFL news, Brisbane Lions co-captain Lachie Neale has made an extraordinary recovery to be selected for the AFL grand final against a Geelong side featuring Rhys Stanley.
Neale, whose season was feared over three weeks ago when suffering a calf injury, replaces Jarrod Berry, who will miss Saturday's premiership decider after dislocating a shoulder last weekend.
The Cats summoned Stanley to replace five-time All Australian defender Tom Stewart, who was concussed in last Friday night's preliminary final against Hawthorn.
