TRANSCRIPT
- The United States seeks a humanitarian truce in Sudan
- Liberal Senator Jane Hume says the party's policy on Net Zero must be decided soon
- Tributes for French cyclist Charles Coste who has died aged 101.
The United States government says they are working with both the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to secure a humanitarian truce in the war-torn country.
The statement follows a sharp escalation in bloodshed in the conflict after RSF fighters captured the western city of Al-Fasher after besieging the area for 18 months.
Sudanese authorities accuse the R-S-F of massacring over 2,000 civilians and medical workers since the take-over, and those who have escaped have shared numerous accounts of executions and sexual violence.
US Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, says the US is determined to see an end to the bloodshed after two and a half years of civil war.
"What happened in Al-Fasher in the last ten days is extremely sad. But the atrocities that we've seen, of course, are totally unacceptable. And we're working on this for the last almost ten days, to finalise the details of this humanitarian truce, with both sides, hoping to finalise the details and hopefully have something positive to announce soon. But we can't say more than that because it's in the process of being negotiated."
Liberal Senator Jane Hume says it is important that the Coalition remains united, after some party MPs said a split between the Liberals and Nationals might follow over differences on net zero policy.
Over the weekend, the Nationals partyroom voted to abandon net zero as a policy.
The Liberal Party is expected to conclude its own energy policy review later this month.
Coalition leader Sussan Ley says she's had a "very convivial conversation" with Nationals leader David Littleproud on energy policy, and discussions will continue.
Ms Hume says a decision needs to be made soon.
"We are two separate parties. But I do believe that a strong Coalition is profoundly important. It is also profoundly important for Liberals to represent all Australians - not just a sectional interest. Not just regional and rural Australia. And that is exactly what the Liberal Party intends to do. The most important thing now though is that the leader takes a position on energy policy - and does so with a matter of urgency. Because we cannot allow this conversation to continue. There is so much more agreement in our partyroom than there is division."
Multiple people have been arrested at a protest outside a weapons expo in Sydney sponsored by the New South Wales Government.
The Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition at the Sydney International Convention Centre featured representatives from industry, government and technology organisations.
Riot squad and mounted unit police officers briefly clashed with protesters outside the venue.
The Palestine Action Group says it was protesting against exhibitors at the event: Israeli defence contractors Rafael Advance Systems and the Australian subsidiary of Elbit Systems.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has told ABC Radio Sydney expo attendees are not selling nuclear weapons and the state govenment wants to increase its defence exports.
Analysts have largely written off the possibility of more mortgage relief from the Reserve Bank today.
With inflation rising again, the majority of market economists and bond traders are predicting the Reserve Bank will leave the cash rate on hold at 3.6 per cent when its decision is announced this afternoon.
Chartered Accountants chief economist Richard Holden says a surprise surge in inflation last week means the R-B-A would "definitely" leave rates on hold.
Environmentalist Jenny Duggan has been named the Northern Territory's Senior Australian of the Year.
Over decades, the 67-year-old has collected hundreds of kilograms of trash near the Katherine River that would have remained in the environment, presenting a hazard to local wildlife.
She supports community members experiencing hardship through her volunteer work with the St Vincent de Paul Society; and serves on the management committee of Ormonde House, which provides shelter to those experiencing homelessness.
"I was just lost for words when I got up to the podium. And I thought: no, they won't pick me, I am only the rubbish lady down the river. (It's) just amazing, I am starting to... my nerves are calming down now. Over time, I get little rewards that keeps you going. A mother on her bike with a little child going to preschool stopped one day and gave me a little box of chocolates - and a little note to say thank you for what you do. And I thought: that means a lot, I will keep going."
The Northern Territory's title of Australian of the Year went to Felix Ho, a full-time doctor, youth mentor, and volunteer paramedic.
And 18-year-old Warumungu man Jaiden Dickenson was named the Territory's Young Australian of the Year.
His work has led to a significant drop in rates of youth reoffending.
In sports, members of the global sporting community have paid tribute to French cyclist Charles Coste.
The world’s oldest living Olympic gold medallist has died at the age of 101.
Coste was one of the torchbearers during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
His record also includes the 1949 Grand Prix des Nations a 140-kilometre time trial in which he beat Italian Fausto Coppi.
France’s Sports Minister, Marina Ferrari, says Coste has left behind "an immense sporting legacy".
