TRANSCRIPT
- Third round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks begins in Istanbul as pressure builds for ceasefire
- The ICJ rules nations can sue one another over climate change
- Venus Williams becomes oldest WTA match winner in over 20 years
Turkiye is once again hosting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with a third round of negotiations now underway in Istanbul.
It’s the first time the two sides have met in over seven weeks, as pressure mounts, especially on Russia, with US President Donald Trump warning of new sanctions if no deal is reached.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is urging both delegations to focus on practical steps and make progress on the memoranda already exchanged.
"We have gathered for the third round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, hosted by Turkey. Our goal is to end this bloody war that has a high cost as quickly as possible. We extend our gratitude to Mr. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and Mr. (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy for demonstrating their will to make these talks possible, to Mr. (US President Donald) Trump for supporting the process that led to an end to the war, and to all other leaders who have directly or indirectly supported the talks."
He adds that Turkiye stands ready to support any agreement, including through a monitoring mechanism if a ceasefire is reached.
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The Australian government has paid the United States another $800 million for the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, despite a review of the agreement being undertaken by the Trump administration.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported the payment was quietly made in the second quarter of 2025, taking the total payout to the US to $1.6 billion.
A government spokesperson tells the Sydney Morning Herald that over $3 billion will be paid to the US by the end of the year, with the money going toward funding US submarine production.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the payment on ABC's Afternoon Briefing.
"There's a schedule of payments to be made. We have an agreement with the United States, as well as the United Kingdom. It's about increasing their industrial capacity but part of that is that we have Australians on the ground learning those skills so when it comes to SSN AUKUS, the submarines being built here in Australia, we have those skills."
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The Senate has voted to reprimand Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi for holding up a sign in protest of Israel's war in Gaza.
During the Governor-General's address to Parliament on Tuesday, Ms Faruqi held up a sign reading "Gaza is starving. Words won't feed them. Sanction Israel."
The motion to express so-called "profound disapproval" of Senator Faruqi was brought by Labor Senate leader Penny Wong, who called the act attention-seeking and disrespectful.
"What we saw this week is what we've seen before from Senator Faruqi. Senator Faruqi demands respect but she does not offer it. She denigrates anyone that doesn't agree with her on everything regularly. What Senator Faruqi wants most is attention."
Senator Wong's motion was passed with the support of the Coalition, however the Opposition's attempt to further the motion to suspend Senator Faruqi was voted down.
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Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi has accused Labor and the Coalition of being on the wrong side of the history for reprimanding her for a silent protest in the Senate.
Her Greens colleagues and Independent senator Fatima Payman opposed the reprimand motion.
Senator Faruqi says the chamber's anger should not be directed at her but at the Israeli government.
"You know what, one day you will all have to explain to your children and grandchildren where you stood when tens of thousands of men, women and children were being slaughtered. I wouldn't like to be in your shoes then because you are all on the wrong side of history. Instead of sanctioning me, maybe you should think about sanctioning Israel."
The motion will not affect her ability to serve in the Senate but includes a statement saying it would not be “appropriate for Senator Faruqi to represent the Senate as a member of any delegation during the life of this parliament.
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Victoria's Deputy Premier says - so far - no child has tested positive for sexually transmitted infections after being in the care of childcare worker and accused paedophile Joshua Dale Brown.
Around 2,000 children have been required to be tested for STIs as a precaution after Mr Brown was charged with more than 70 offences related to eight alleged victims.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll says advice from the Royal Children's Hospital has been that none of these children have tested positive.
"There is no child that has been tested positively for an STD. I've even spoken to people involved at the Royal Children's Hospital and I think they've tested just about everyone, but I can get that clarified, and all the tests have been negative."
**
In tennis, Veteran player Venus Williams has made tennis history by becoming the oldest player to win a WTA tour-level singles match since 2004.
The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion defeated world number 35 Peyton Stearns 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, her first singles tour win in two years.
The former world number one becomes the second-oldest player to win a tour-level singles match, after then-47-year-old Martina Navratilova defeated Catalina Castano 6-0, 6-1 in the first round of Wimbledon in 2004.
Williams says it's an amazing feeling.
"Amazing. You know, it's the first step and the first match is always extraordinary, extremely difficult. It's hard to describe how difficult it is to play a first match after so much time off. So going into the match, I know I have the ability to win, but it's all about actually winning. So this is the best result to play a good match and win and I'm here with my friends, family, people I love. And the fans too, who I love and they love me. So this has been just a beautiful night."
Williams next faces Poland's Magdalena Frech, the world number 24.
