Australia signs joint statement on Palestinian statehood
Minister for Communications defends government decision to include YouTube in social media ban...
Australian teen Maya Joint defeats Leylah Fernandez in Canadian Open. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has challenged calls for immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, as Australia signed a joint statement overnight which supported a series of commitments by the Palestinian Authority which could pave the way to recognition. The joint statement was signed by 14 countries, including several who already recognise the Palestinian state, and includes commitments to the Palestinian Authority's calls for the disarmament of Hamas, release of all remaining hostages, and the undertaking of elections within a year. This comes as the UK became the latest country to announce its support for a Palestinian state in a UN meeting in September if Israel fails to agree to a ceasefire. But Mr Albanese insists the statement is the correct approach, as it outlines conditions to move towards advancing a Palestinian state. "What we will continue to do is to put forward a principal position consistent with our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two state solution. In immediate sense, we continue to call for a ceasefire. We continue to call for hostages to be released. We continue to say that Hamas can have no role in a future Palestinian state, and we continue to call for aid to be allowed to the people of Gaza." He also dismissed the idea of imposing sanctions against Israel, saying the Australian government has already placed sanctions on a number of Israeli ministers. Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland has defended the Albanese government's decision to include YouTube in the under-16s social media ban. The government backflipped on their original plan to exempt YouTube from the ban, citing its educational resources, but has since decided to include it, while ensuring educators can still use school-approved content through their accounts. Speaking to Channel Nine, Ms Rowland says she had received fresh evidence from the eSafety Commissioner in June that found 70 per cent of children had their most impactful harm from exposure to content on YouTube. "YouTube does have educational features. I know my daughter's learned number blocks there. Teachers will still be able to send links home that you can use if you need to. They'll be able to use their own account in the classroom. YouTube kids still exists for when we do need our kids. There is a place for social media, obviously, but social media platforms have a social responsibility and with a stat like four out of 10 kids experiencing online harm. As the minister of communications, I had to act. " The Opposition are criticising the Albanese government for failing to negotiate an exemption from the United States' tarrifs. This comes as no countries so far have managed to avoid US President Donald Trump's 10 per cent baseline tariff. Mr Trump also warned on Tuesday that the base rate of goods could increase to 15 or 20 per cent. Deputy leader of the Opposition Ted O'Brien says the Prime Minister should be doing everything in his power to arrange a meeting with US President Donald Trump. "Number one, the Prime Minister should be getting on a plane and meeting with the US President. This is beyond a joke. This has been going on for too long. The Prime Minister is not providing leadership. You would think of all things the leader of our country should provide, is leadership. That means personal face-to-face engagement with the President of the United States to prosecute the case on behalf of the Australian people." A world-first study aims to identify a person's genetic risk of developing multiple sclerosis, or MS, by using their DNA. The research will investigate why some people develop MS and others don't, even if they are exposed to the same common virus. University of South Australia's David Stacey says the pilot study would involve an innovative approach, called "recall by genotype", which has never been used in MS research. As the most common acquired chronic neurological disease affecting young adults, MS impacts more than 33,000 Australians. Symptoms can include loss of motor function, loss of sensation, pain, vision changes and changes to thinking and memory. Australian teenager Maya Joint has given Canadian Leylah Fernandez little time to revel in her DC Open win in Washington, defeating Fernandez in the Canadian Open. Fernandez, a former US Open finalist, collected the biggest title of her career on Sunday when she won the DC Open in Washington, thrashing Anna Kalinskaya 6-1 6-2 in the final. But her return home in triumph did not last long, Joint beating the Quebec native 6-4 6-1 in Montreal on Tuesday.
The Australian, ranked 45th in the world and already a two-time WTA title winner this year, now meets American 28th seed McCartney Kessler.
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