AI giant Anthropic makes its first Australian data centre move in regional Queensland; Sweeping new knife laws for Victoria; And two NRLW greats call time on their careers.
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TRANSCRIPT
- AI giant Anthropic makes its first Australian data centre move in regional Queensland.
- Sweeping new knife laws for Victoria.
- Two NRLW greats call time on their career.
One of the world's biggest artificial intelligence companies has chosen regional Queensland for its first Australian data centre lease.
SBS understands US-based Anthropic has reached an agreement with the Western Downs Digital Park to use the first of four planned data centre buildings.
The maker of the Claude AI chatbot is also preparing for a potential stock market listing.
The Queensland facility will be used to process and respond to AI prompts, rather than to train Anthropic's models.
The company is expected to seek long-term power agreements reliant on new wind and solar generation.
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Victoria is introducing sweeping new knife laws, giving police greater powers to search people for weapons in public places.
Based on Queensland's Jack's Law, police will be given 1,200 additional handheld metal-detecting wands, with the new powers to begin early next year.
The move marks a shift from the former Victorian government's position, which had resisted expanding knife-search powers.
Premier Ben Carroll says he's taking a different approach.
"As the new premier I'm giving this direction and showing this leadership on having a zero tolerance approach to community safety to make sure every young person comes home safe."
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The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council says the passage of legislation on managing crown land is expected to have a devastating impact on Aboriginal land rights.
The Crown Land Management Amendment Bill passed parliament yesterday, after it was initially introduced in March.
The chair of the land council, Dr Raymond Kelly says a number of provisions in the bill limit the ability for Aboriginal land rights to be used as a pathway to address the ongoing impacts of dispossession.
"Well with retrospective powers, the minister can by a stroke of a pen make a decision that certain land claims are now not on the table. That is a real regression. The Minister had these powers already to have made decisions around this. What this actually does, this limits our ability to litigate. And if don't agree with the Minister's take. It makes it more difficult for us to then put a position for the community forward."
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The US House is preparing to vote on a major sanctions bill aimed at pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
The legislation would give president Donald Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries that continue buying Russian oil and gas.
Democrats say the powers are too broad and could be used against US allies, while Republicans argue tougher economic pressure is needed to force Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
Republican congressman Michael McCaul says the bill would give the President crucial leverage.
"The bottom line is Putin is not going to come to the negotiating table unless we pass this bill. And, we have an opportunity to do something significant in this Congress. Otherwise, we waste this time. And as they go into winter, you know, Ukraine could fall. But if we want to end this war, bring down the cost of energy, bring peace to the region and stop our adversaries like Russia, China and Iran, you need to support this bill."
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The United Nations (UN) says more than 100,000 people have been displaced by escalating fighting along Yemen's western coast.
Thousands more have fled across the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to Djibouti, as Houthi forces advance and Yemeni government forces launch counter-offensives.
The UN has announced nine-million US dollars in emergency funding to help displaced families and the communities receiving them.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric is calling on all sides to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid through.
"We call yet again on the parties to protect civilians, to respect international humanitarian law, to respect international law and to facilitate the safe and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid, so it can reach all those who need it, wherever they may be."
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In sport now, the Warriors' NRL semi-final against the Newcastle Knights at Eden Park has sold out less than 48 hours after tickets went on sale.
More than 40,000 fans are expected for Sunday's sudden-death clash in Auckland, which will be the Warriors' first NRL final at the venue.
Meanwhile, the NRLW is preparing to farewell two of its most influential figures.
Sydney Roosters stars Corban Baxter and Millie Elliott have announced they will retire at the end of the season.
Baxter is a foundation NRLW player, while Elliott is a four-time premiership winner who has represented New South Wales and Australia.
Elliott says she's grateful for the career she's had.
"I've been incredibly honoured to have the career that I've had alongside my team mates here at the Roosters, the coaching staff but also at the Brisbane Bronco and the Newcastle Knights I've made some incredible memories that I'll cherish forever and I'm very lucky that I've been able to live out my childhood dream of playing alongside some of my best friends and team mates, yeah."
