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- The remaining Bali Nine prisoners could soon return home to Australia…
- A sea of kayaks by climate activists keep police on alert in Newcastle Harbour…
- Renegades beat Thunder to take the top spot on the Women’s Big Bash League…
The five remaining Bali Nine prisoners serving life sentences in Indonesia for drug trafficking in 2005, could return to Australia as soon as next month.
Various media outlets are reporting the move follows a direct request from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Indonesia’s new president Prabowo Subianto.
Stephen Jones is the Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister.
Speaking on Saturday Mr Jones says the Albanese government have always advocated for the return of the Australian men.
“I can confirm that the Albanese government has been constantly advocating for the cases of the Bali Nine and this included conversations with former President Widodo and President Prabowo on the sidelines of G20 summit in Peru recently.”
Two of the alleged Bali Nine ringleaders, were executed in 2015 for their 2005 involvement in a heroin smuggling plot.
One woman in the group was later released, and one of the inmates died of cancer.
Hundreds of climate activists have paddled out in kayaks at the world’s biggest coal port near the Port of Newcastle, in the New South Wales Hunter region.
It comes as part of a climate blockade entering its second day, after failed attempts to prevent it from happening.
Police have set up buoys in an attempt to contain the protesters.
Court challenges that eventually allowed the event to proceed previously, have said that some protesters might seek to be arrested for publicity.
Speaking at the event today Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi criticised the New South Wales Labor’s attempt to stop the protests.
“Disgraceful attempt by the Labor Minns government to try to shut down protests against coal corporations and complicit governments will not stop people. We are the rising tide. We are the people’s movement and we are unstoppable when it comes to tackling the climate crisis.”
A similar event in 2023 resulted in over one-hundred arrests when the climate activists at the time refused to budge out of the water.
Police have confirmed that a man killed in a targeted inner Sydney shooting had links to organised crime.
This comes after the man, believed to be in his 30s was found in Surry Hills with gunshot wounds by emergency services.
New South Wales Police Superintendent Andrew Garner said that the man got out of the vehicle and went on foot down Cleveland Street, where he eventually died near Baptist Street.
A short time after police also responded to reports of a car on fire in neigbouring suburb of Kensington, only to find a Porsche well alight.
The US has announced an agreement with Fiji, which includes military financing of $7.5 million dollars – pending the approval of U-S Congress.
It comes as part of US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s tour of the Indo-Pacific region.
Discussions of security challenges in the region were also highlighted in the joint press conference in Suva, the capital of Fiji.
Mr Austin says the region is a priority for Washington.
“Maritime security is essential. So I’m pleased that our first delivery of rigid inflatable boats will arrive in the next several months. Soon after, we’ll deliver a new boat ramp to support maritime patrols of your waters.”
Mr Austin’s visit to the region comes as China and Solomon Islands have signed a security pact, which sparked concerns among some Western-aligned nations.
Time is running out for the Albanese government to clear a growing backlog of stalled bills before parliament breaks for the year.
Down in the polls and eyeing an election due in the first half of 2025, Labor is eager to push as much of its agenda through an uncooperative Senate as it can.
But with just one sitting week left in the year, progress is slow-going.
This week, the government failed to make significant headway on most of its sweeping agenda with 30 or so bills still before the parliament.
A shake-up to aged care funding is set to pass the lower house on Monday after winning the approval of the Senate with amendments, while a ban on under-16s accessing social media should sail through with the support of the opposition.
The Melbourne Renegades have beaten the Sydney Thunder by nine-wickets in their final group match of the season.
The Renegades have now climbed up the ladder, taking the top spot on the Women’s Big Bash League .
They are expected to host the W-B-B-L Final, unless the Heat beat the Sixers by a wide margin on Sunday .
