NSW boosts police patrols ahead of Grand Finals amid domestic violence fears; Japan hit by Typhoon Dujuan; And in motor sports, shorter Formula One races to take effect from next year.
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TRANSCRIPT
- NSW boosts police patrols ahead of Grand Finals amid domestic violence fears
- Japan hit by Typhoon Dujuan
- Shorter Formula One races to take effect from next year
A warning this story contains references to domestic violence.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says extra police patrols will be deployed in communities during the NRL and AFL Grand Final weekends, to respond to domestic violence incidents.
He says in previous years, the number of domestic violence incidents during the grand final weekend have increased by over 25 per cent.
Politicians and New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna have condemned the spate of deadly domestic violence incidents reported in the state over the weekend.
The Premier has told Channel Seven, while police resources will be increased, it is important that people must speak up, if they see warning signs of abuse.
"This needs to be an urgent national conversation that says that if you see something in a relationship, it's not a private family matter. This is abuse. We've criminalised coercive control. We've toughened the bail laws. But at the end of the day, it's on all of us to call that horrible behaviour because in many cases, it's not the first warning sign."
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
The Men’s Referral Service, operated by No to Violence, can be contacted on 1300 766 491.
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Typhoon Dujuan has swept across Japan, bringing record rainfall to the Kanto and Tokyo's island regions that has triggered mudslides and river flooding.
The typhoon is moving away from Japan, but residents are being warned to stay alert to the risk of landslides.
The country's public broadcaster, NHK, says the death toll stands at two, with four people missing.
Evacuation orders were earlier issued for almost two million people.
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Environmental campaigners have welcomed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's speech at the Climate Week NYC event, saying it acknowledges the scale of the problem - but further action is needed to phase out fossil fuels.
Mr Albanese used the speech to highlight the climate impacts in the Pacific.
He says the pre-COP events in Fiji and Tuvalu next month, ahead of the U-N climate summit, provide an ideal opportunity for policymakers and world leaders to see the climate impacts firsthand.
"Pacific nations have long been the strongest advocates for climate action. It is literally a threat to their very existence. And the value of listening to their perspectives have never been clearer. Which is why we are working with Türkiye and with the Pacific through our innovative COP31 partnership."
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Australia has joined with a diverse group of international partners to push for tougher artificial intelligence controls, ahead of the start of the United Nations General Assembly.
Chief political correspondent Anna Henderson filed this report from New York.
"Australia is among 20 nations that have signed up to this joint statement in Manhatten, which calls for more control of the artificial intelligence frontier models. Of course, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has been really a supporter of Australia's push for social media bans on under-16s. And she referred to the prime minister in a meeting today as a trailblazer.
She is also signed up to this statement, which puts pressure on the US President Donald Trump to consider whether he needs to advocate for stronger controls and protections when he meets with the Chinese president Xi Jinping later this week.
The statement says that leading scientists and executives are warning the pace of development could outpace the ability the world to manage the risks. It has called on industry, governments and societies to act now.
And there is a widening gap, according to this statement, between the access to the benefits of AI. The main message of this statement is that AI must remain under human direction, oversight and control."
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Britain will provide defensive military support to Saudi Arabia, following an escalation in Houthi attacks.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham says an RAF Voyager tanker will refuel Saudi jets on defensive missions against drone and missile attacks, but the support will not extend to Saudi strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
Britain has already deployed Sky Sabre air-defence systems in Saudi Arabia.
It follows a Houthi attack targeting Riyadh at the weekend, the first reported strike on the capital since the current escalation began.
This comes as Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi calls for an end to what he calls Saudi aggression against Yemen.
"Stop the aggression against our people and end this unjust, oppressive blockade; it amounts to an occupation of our country. These are demands that are fair by every standard, representing firm, just rights and legitimate claims for our cherished people."
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And in motor sports, from next year, Formula One races will be two to three laps shorter.
That means the total race distance is reduced by 15 kilometres to 290 kilometres.
The decision was made by members of the Formula One Commission, who met in London this week.
In a statement, the commission says the change is line with planned refinements to power unit regulations on fuel flow.
The commission also decided that races interrupted by rain or other factors would now be subject to a hard stop time.
The 2027 season will include 24 Grand Prix races, with Portugal and Türkiye returning to the calendar.
