TRANSCRIPT:
- Hearings to begin at the International Court of Justice in a landmark climate change case
- Negotiators fail to reach an agreement on a plastic pollution treaty
- The Matildas lose to Brazil in their second international friendly on the Gold Coast
Australia's legal team is preparing to make its case during a landmark hearing on climate change at the International Court of Justice in Hague.
The hearings, which are being held between December 2-13, are set to provide nations the chance to state their positions on what obligations they have towards smaller countries.
The ICJ will examine how the actions of larger nations affect the climate of smaller nations, and in particular those in the Pacific that are in a more vulnerable position.
More than 100 countries and climate organisations have expressed interest to take part in the hearings.
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Negotiators have failed to reach agreement on a landmark treaty to reduce plastic pollution.
A draft text released on Sunday after multiple delays included a wide range of options, revealing the ongoing level of disagreement.
The most divisive issues included capping plastic production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern as well as financing to help developing countries implement the treaty.
Chair of the talks, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, says he remains committed to a treaty.
"We have made significant progress in Busan in our collective effort to address plastic pollution, including its impact on the marine environment. However, our work is far from complete, and we must remain pragmatic as we continue collaborating toward our shared goal."
The meeting was meant to be the final one after two years of discussions but negotiators will reconvene next year to try again.
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At least 19 people have been killed in India and Sri Lanka as a cyclone caused mass rainfall across the regions.
Cyclone Fengal caused flooding in Tamil Nadu state and the Puducherry region after crossing India's southern coast from the Bay of Bengal on Saturday.
According to India's weather office, Puducherry had been hit by the heaviest 24-hour rainfall in 30 years.
Flights from the city were temporarily suspended on Saturday, but have now resumed.
Fengal has now weakened and is expected to move across north Tamil Nadu in the next 12 hours.
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In Georgia, there has been a fourth night of mass protests over the decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.
Forty-four people have been hospitalised during the protests.
Formerly a part of the Soviet Union, the country has been plunged into crisis since the governing Georgian Dream party said on Thursday it was halting European Union accession talks for the next four years.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has rejected calls for new elections, and accused protesters of falling for what he called lies from opposition politicians.
"The response is very clear - we have not suspended anything related to the European integration. It's just a lie and there are opposition leaders, there are the media outlets linked to the opposition, who are just lying to these people. But nobody has suspended European integration for Georgia, we are very much committed to the European integration."
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A senior foreign affairs official from Finland says her nation needs allies like Australia to build security and prosperity, as Russia's war in Ukraine approaches its third year.
Outi Holopainen told SBS News in an exclusive interview that Finland is watching Russia closely.
In 2023, Finland officially joined NATO along with Sweden.
Last week, it issued citizens advice on how to prepare for invasion or war.
Ms Holopainen says Australia can play a key role in global security, amid escalation of geopolitical conflicts.
"Of course we are geographically quite far apart, but mentally, culturally, in many ways we have very close to each other, and maybe even more than ever we now need partners like Australia to help us in building security in building prosperity in maintaining that international rule-based order in promoting multilateral investment."
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Almost two years of national home price growth could soon end, downturns gathering momentum in Sydney and Melbourne.
Property data firm CoreLogic recorded a 0.1 per cent rise nationally in the last month of spring - the weakest Australia-wide result since January 2023.
Nationally, prices grew 5.5 per cent over the year and the median value of housing now stands at $812,933.
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And in football...
The Matildas have lost to Brazil 2-1 in an international friendly on the Gold Coast.
Minutes before kick off, Captain Steph Catley withdrew due to lower leg tightness. She was replaced with Courtney Nevin in defence.
Despite the loss, Matildas' coach Tom Sermanni says he feels positive about the result.
"The changes we made, adding the new energy and new quality to the team. I think we just a little bit better decision making, and maybe a little bit more for less, in the final thought, I think we would have got something over the game tonight."
