Vladimir Putin suggests a nuclear arms control deal between Russia and the US, Australia’s record drug use fuels $11.5b windfall for organised crime The Melbourne Storm beat Penrith in a thriller game
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TRANSCRIPT
- Vladimir Putin suggests a nuclear arms control deal between Russia and the US.
- Australia’s record drug use fuels $11.5b windfall for organised crime.
- The Melbourne Storm beat Penrith in a thriller game
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested his country and the United States could reach a new agreement on nuclear arms control.
Mr Putin will meet his U-S counterpart, Donald Trump, in Alaska this weekend with the war in Ukraine the main item on the agenda.
Russia says they expect the meeting to be businesslike.
Meeting with senior members of his own government in Moscow ahead of the meeting with Mr Trump, Mr Putin says he thinks the US is being sincere in its efforts to stop the war in Ukraine.
He says an agreement on arms control would benefit the whole world.
"The current American administration, which, as everyone knows, is making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict, in order to create long-term conditions for peace both between our countries and in Europe, and in the world as a whole, if at the next stage we reach agreements in the area of control over strategic offensive weapons."
Russia and the U-S possess by far the biggest arsenals of nuclear weapons on earth.
The last remaining pillar of arms control between the two countries is the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which expires next February.
Australia’s growing appetite for illicit drugs is boosting profits for international crime syndicates, according to new wastewater analysis by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission in partnership with universities.
The study found record consumption of methylamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the year to August 2024, alongside significant MDMA use.
In total, more than 22 tonnes of these drugs were consumed nationwide, with the trade valued at an estimated $11.5 billion.
Methylamphetamine use alone accounted for 12.8 tonnes, highlighting the scale of demand and the lucrative returns for organised criminal networks.
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel has rejected United Nations data on starvation in Gaza, calling the figures false and incomplete.
Speaking at the Kerem Shalom crossing, she argues they exclude aid from non-UN organisations, the Gaza Humanitarian Fund and other agencies.
Ms Haskel insists Israel is meeting needs.
“If you go by the numbers of calories per person, which is how the United Nations is meant to check the facts, it’s usually 2,100 or 2,300. We have made sure there’s well over 3,000 calories per person, so no, I dispute that by the fact.”
Her comments came as more than 100 non-profits warned* that Israel’s aid rules in Gaza and the West Bank will block essential relief and favour groups aligned with its political and military aims, accusations Israel denies.
Authorities are warning that rock fishing in an inherently dangerous activity that leads to many avoidable deaths across Australia each year.
Marine Rescue New South Wales is driving home a safety message after a recent string of search and rescues.
Rock fishing accounts for around four-per cent of drowning deaths in Australia each year…
And Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex barrell says people born overseas make up 60-per cent of all rock fishing related drownings.
"Unfortunately we see people from non english speaking backgrounds over represented in our statistics and that doesn't matter if it's rock fishing or boating. Again, it's about putting safety front of mind, make sure they check the conditions before they go boating or rock fishing, and making sure they have the safety equipment ready and available and importantly know how to use it."
Fires are burning in parts of Europe as millions of people across the continent struggle to adapt to the new reality: record summer heat
Fire crews in Spain are racing to contain wildfires with authorities reporting the deaths of at least three people from the blazes.
Thousands of residents have also been evacuated from their homes across the country.
The European Union says it is providing assistance to Spain and other EU countries in tackling wildfires with a number of planes being deployed to Spain and Greece.
Authorities are also battling wildfires in parts of those countries as well as Portugal and Turkey.
In the National Rugby League, the Melbourne Storm have beaten the Penrith Panthers, 22 points to 18, extra-time in the opening match of Round 24.
The Storm fought back from being down 12 points to 4 at half-time at Western Sydney Stadium.
With the game tied at 18 in sudden-death extra-time, Melbourne captain Harry Grant scored the winning try with a run from dummy-half.
The Storm are second on the ladder... four-time defending champions Penrith are in fourth spot.
Penrith beat Melbourne in last year's Grand Final, but Melbourne have now beaten the Panthers both time the teams have played this season.
