‘New low': Hamas praises Anthony Albanese directly for Palestine recognition
Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef has praised Australia's recognition of Palestinian statehood, celebrating Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's "political courage".
This comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed Australia's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood as "meaningless".
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Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has been granted asylum in Australia, the former MP says, more than four years after he left Hong Kong where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday approving his claim and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas. "When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his home town?" he said in a Facebook post on Saturday. "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; exiles have no home." The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours. The Hong Kong government and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the decision. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing in July as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China. A former Democratic Party MP, Hui left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In 2023 Hong Kong accused him and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put $HK1 million ($A196,000) bounties on their heads. Australia said it was disappointed by the decision at the time and concerned about the law. Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai is on trial in Hong Kong on charges related to a national security law imposed by Beijing and alleged sedition. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has been granted asylum in Australia, the former MP says, more than four years after he left Hong Kong where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday approving his claim and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas. "When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his home town?" he said in a Facebook post on Saturday. "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; exiles have no home." The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours. The Hong Kong government and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the decision. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing in July as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China. A former Democratic Party MP, Hui left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In 2023 Hong Kong accused him and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put $HK1 million ($A196,000) bounties on their heads. Australia said it was disappointed by the decision at the time and concerned about the law. Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai is on trial in Hong Kong on charges related to a national security law imposed by Beijing and alleged sedition. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has been granted asylum in Australia, the former MP says, more than four years after he left Hong Kong where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Hui said he received written notice from the Australian Department of Home Affairs on Friday approving his claim and that his wife, children and parents were also granted visas. "When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his home town?" he said in a Facebook post on Saturday. "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; exiles have no home." The Home Affairs Department did not immediately respond to emailed questions sent after business hours. The Hong Kong government and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the decision. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing in July as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China. A former Democratic Party MP, Hui left Hong Kong in late 2020 after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In 2023 Hong Kong accused him and seven others of national security offences, including incitement to secession, and put $HK1 million ($A196,000) bounties on their heads. Australia said it was disappointed by the decision at the time and concerned about the law. Pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai is on trial in Hong Kong on charges related to a national security law imposed by Beijing and alleged sedition.
