TRANSCRIPT:
- Homicide detectives probe the discovery of three bodies in northwest Sydney;
- A two day hearing underway in London to decide the fate of Julian Assange;
- Olympic Equestrian Shane Rose free to compete again after a mankini controversy.
Three people have been found dead in two locations across Sydney.
The bodies of what's believed to be a woman and child have been found in North Parramatta, while a man has been found dead in Baulkham Hills.
Multiple crime scenes have been established, and are being examined by forensic officers.
New South Wales Police say homicide detectives are investigating if the two incidents are linked.
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The United Nations' highest court has been asked to declare that Israel's occupation of lands sought for a Palestinian state is illegal.
More than 50 states are expected to present arguments at the historic hearings, which are being held at the International Court of Justice over the next six days.
Israel is not attending, but has sent a statement that says the court's opinion would be harmful to attempts to resolve the conflict.
The Palestinians argue that Israel has violated the prohibition on territorial conquest by annexing large swathes of land and the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, alleging they have imposed a system of racial discrimination and apartheid.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki says he hopes this process will contribute to a two-state solution.
"This ruling could help both Palestinians and Israelis to finally live side by side in peace, mutual security and dignity. Justice must rule. We will remain fearless and determined in its pursuit. Palestine and the Palestinian people are not alone in this march for justice.”
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A parliamentary inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children has heard Queensland prosecutors are developing their own program for cultural awareness.
The committee says it's heard consistent evidence from a number of Indigenous families about what's been described as "troubling" conduct from police, coroners, and public prosecutors when a loved one has died or disappeared.
Director of Public Prosecutions Todd Fuller KC has told the inquiry there are now steps underway to improve.
"As part of the Women's Safety Justice taskforce recommendations (released on 1 July 2022) - one of those is greater cultural awareness within the staff of the ODPP. And we're partnering with the Queensland Police Service to leverage off their cultural experience and engagement. But also developing our own program. And part of that will come out of the First Nations office (within the Department of Justice and Attorney-General). As the state government position with the path to Treaty, we're also engaged in that space - looking back on the conduct of our office and prosecutions in the past."
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The government's plan to boost the size of its naval fleet has been criticised by the federal opposition.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has announced that Australia will buy more smaller warships and boost the missile-strike ability of larger ones, with the eventual plan to increase the number of warships from 11 to 26 by the late 2040s.
But Opposition Defence Spokesperson Andrew Hastie says the plan is superficial.
"There is no larger strategy, there is no urgency in this government's timeline, and the money is mostly outside the forward estimates and into the next decade. In fact, we won't see a ship in the water until 2031, assuming this plan stays to timeline."
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A two day court hearing has begun in London to decide the fate of Julian Assange.
The Wikileaks founder is fighting to stop his extradition from Britain to the United States, an extradition that was originally approved in 2022.
US prosecutors have charged him over WikiLeaks' high-profile release of vast troves of confidential military records and diplomatic cables, arguing the leaks imperilled the lives of their agents and there is no excuse for his actions.
Assange's supporters say he is a journalist who is being persecuted for exposing US wrongdoing and committing alleged war crimes.
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Queensland’s police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, has announced she is stepping down from the role.
She says she will not be seeking an extension on her five-year contract - and her last day will be March 1st.
The commissioner says it has been an honour to serve since 2019 as the first woman in the top job.
"As commissioner of police, there have certainly been many challenges thrown at the QPS. But the real achievement is how we have risen above."
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Olympic rider Shane Rose can now continue his preparations for the Paris Games after a complaint about his mankini at a recent New South Wales event was dismissed.
The governing body (Equestrian Australia) says the review panel has met, and decided Mr Rose did not breach the code of conduct.
But it's still going to review minimum dress standards for future events.
