Overseas News

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/21470065

Australia's sanctions against two far-right Israeli government ministers have been condemned by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday morning announced Australia would join New Zealand, Canada, Norway and the United Kingdom in sanctioning Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

YouTube video of news report that starts with the footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t42UBBolOvo

Archived

Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway said Tuesday they have imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli government ministers for allegedly “inciting extremist violence” against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich face asset freezes and travel bans from the five countries. The ministers are champions of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The decision by Western governments friendly to Israel was a sharp rebuke of Israel’s settlement policies in the West Bank and of settler violence, which has spiked since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack ignited the war in the Gaza Strip.

The five countries’ foreign ministers said in a joint statement that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich “have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous.”

[...]

The Biden administration took the rare step of sanctioning radical Israeli settlers implicated in violence in the occupied West Bank — sanctions that were then lifted by [U.S.]President Donald Trump.

Eitay Mack, an Israeli human rights lawyer who spent years campaigning for the sanctions on Smotrich and Ben-Gvir — along with violent West Bank settlers — described the move as “historic.”

[...]

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/36438967

His visit to meet counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Jakarta came weeks after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made Indonesia his first foreign trip following his landslide election win.

[Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles] Marles said the alliance with Indonesia stood on its own terms, but concerns about China's military build-up in the region influenced Australia's foreign policy thinking.

"We've made no secret of the fact that we have a security anxiety in relation to China. We've made that clear to China itself," Marles, who also serves as deputy prime minister, told journalists in the Indonesian capital.

[...]

"You just need to look at the map to understand how strategically important Indonesia is to Australia. Its geography is profoundly important," he said.

"That's actually what's driving the increase in the activity between Australia and Indonesia."

Marles and Sjafrie discussed greater cooperation "in relation to maritime domain awareness", which would see their militaries share more information about the waters they share, the Australian minister said.

"The relationship between Australia and Indonesia has never been in better shape," he said.

[...]

In short:

The 12 people aboard the Madleen, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, have been detained by Israeli authorities.

They said the aid they were trying to deliver — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — was also confiscated.

What's next?

Israel's Defence Minister said the ship was making its way safely to the shore, and those who had been detained would be returned to their home countries.

In short:

The three bosses of Papua New Guinea's ICAC have accused each other of criminal activity, including suspected corruption and abuse of power.

A warrant has been issued for the Australian commissioner's arrest, while he has accused his two deputies of misconduct and referred them to police.

Staff say the feud between the three commissioners has left the organisation "completely dysfunctional" and on the edge of collapse.

Several sources have told the ABC almost all the agency's expatriate staff, including multiple Australians, are likely to resign, stripping the organisation of expertise needed to fight corruption.

They have described an environment of "chaos".

One staff member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the situation was "disgraceful" and the organisation had become "completely dysfunctional".

SBS coverage: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/us-says-hamas-response-to-gaza-ceasefire-proposal-unacceptable-after-it-seeks-changes/euhx9mex8

More killed today: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/three-killed-dozens-injured-after-israeli-forces-open-fire-near-gaza-aid-site-medics-say/41vksvc2a

After a crucial undersea power cable was cut unexpectedly on Christmas Day, NATO forces sprang into action. Their mission? Stopping Russia's "ghost ships".

De-paywalled archive link: https://archive.is/W3bV2 (thanks @BeliefPropagator)

In short:

Five-year-old Ward Sheikh Khalil miraculously escaped an Israeli strike on a school where she was sheltering with her family in Gaza City.

Her mother and five siblings were killed, but her father and brother survived and are in hospital.

What's next?

Global leaders are growing increasingly concerned about Israel's conduct in Gaza.

Wayback archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20250527110228/https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/new-zealand-teenager-dies-playing-run-it-straight-challenge-linked-to-viral-trend-20250527-p5m2pm.html

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/30678096

Josh Butler
Sun 25 May 2025 21.56 EDT

"In a press conference on Monday morning, Albanese said: “#Israel’s actions are completely unacceptable.”

“It is outrageous that there be a blockade of food and supplies to people who are in need in #Gaza … People are starving. The idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage.”"

In short:

Nine of two doctors' 10 children were killed in Israeli air strikes that hit Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the Gazan health ministry.

Israel has stepped up its campaign of strikes on Gaza in recent days, drawing international criticism and calls to allow in more supplies after it partially eased a total blockade on aid.

Warnings of famine by food security experts have led Israel's allies to press Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to allow more aid to return into Gaza.

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/look-at-australia-trump-ambushes-south-african-president-over-white-genocide-20250522-p5m170.html

In short:

The IDF has issued a major evacuation warning for southern Gaza, telling thousands of residents in the area to leave.

Palestinians around Khan Younis are being told to head west towards the coast and the Al Mawasi region.

What's next?

The IDF says it is launching an "unprecedented attack" against Hamas in southern Gaza.

In short:

A fatal bomb near a fertility clinic in California has been labelled as a targeted attack by the FBI.

One person was killed and at least four people were injured in the explosion.

What's next?

The FBI is investigating the explosion, with bomb technicians deployed to the scene.