u/SnoopThylacine

Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has condemned the actions of a far-right Israeli minister who posted a video of himself abusing bound activists captured while trying to sail an aid flotilla to Gaza.

In the video, dozens of men and women are seen kneeling in rows, with their foreheads to the ground and their hands zip-tied behind their back.

Among the flotilla detainees are 11 Australian activists who were taken into custody by Israeli forces off the coast of Cyprus earlier this week, but it is not known if they were present in Ben-Gvir’s video.

Donald Rothwell, a professor of international law at the Australian National University, raised concerns about Israel’s actions. He said while a naval blockade is a legitimate naval warfare act during an armed conflict, there was “no legal basis under international law” for Israel to enforce its blockade off the coast of Cyprus. He said this was because there was no international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, despite Israel’s position that a blockade was legitimate due to the threat posed by Hamas.

Sardines fit the bill – they’re packed with healthy oils and calcium and have less mercury than bigger fish – and they’re increasingly appearing on menus at bars and restaurants (often served still in the can).

But while Australian sardines (Sardinops sagax) make up more than 25% of Australia’s total fisheries production, most of the sardines served in Australia are imported. Almost all Australian sardines are fed to tuna sold for export, used as fishing bait or in processed aquaculture feed and pet food.

This is a problem because it is depriving Australians of a nutritious, cheap and local food source.

Pianist Jayson Gillham is suing the MSO over a cancelled Melbourne concert he was contracted to perform on 15 August 2024, a cancellation which he claims was an attempt to silence him over his stance on the Gaza conflict.

Gillham’s barrister, Sheryn Omeri KC, said in her opening submission that there was nothing in the MSO contract that prevented Gillham from making the statement.

The statement was his genuinely held political belief, and nothing about it would have had such an effect on the audience that the MSO was warranted in cancelling the future performance.

She said Gillham was applauded after performing Witness – despite claims from MSO that it was not well-received – and no audience member raised concerns with him about his introduction when he spoke with them and signed CDs after the performance.

“There is a difference between feeling uncomfortable and feeling unsafe,” Omeri said.

“Nothing in Mr Gillham’s introduction to Witness could or would have made anybody feel unsafe in the true sense of that term.”

Four aspiring political parties seeking to contest the Victorian state election – including a new website called “Refugees Are Welcome Here” – could be a part of a “connected campaign” to funnel preferences to One Nation and other conservative parties.

The website for “Refugees Are Welcome Here”, created on 5 May, said it’s seeking 750 Victorian members to sign up so it can register as a political party in the state.

The domain is being hosted on the same IP address as the so-called “Muslim Votes Matter” party, the “Free Palestine party” and the “Save the Environment party” – three other entities seeking registration ahead of the November’s election. Their websites similarly ask for 750 members to sign up, although the Victorian Electoral Commission requires only 500.

I'm sometimes too tired to make dinner and just want something not too unhealthy. I've tried GYG but I'm looking to expand my options.

NSW Police Commissioner can declare any evidence provided police as “police business”, banning the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) from disclosing it:

> Under the process, the Police Commissioner can issue the LECC with secrecy notices, stating information must remain secret, and can cite a range of reasons, including if it is in the “public interest”, which is not defined.

> It can now be revealed the LECC is refusing to disclose “the number of notices” Commissioner Lanyon has issued it regarding the Sydney anti-Herzog protest on February 9, citing “secrecy obligations”.