WATCH: Backpacker pleads guilty to e-scooter death
In today's episode, Ben O'Shea looks at the guilty plea of British backpacker Alicia Kemp, who killed a Perth dad when she was riding an e-scooter drunk. Plus, Palestine statehood & looming EV road charges.
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Perth Now
a few seconds ago
- Perth Now
HK democrat Jimmy Lai's final stretch of marathon trial
Hong Kong pro-democracy businessman Jimmy Lai was provided with medication and a heart monitor for the start of his final submissions in a landmark national security trial, following health concerns over heart palpitations. Lai, 77, who founded the Apple Daily newspaper that was forced to close after a police raid and asset freeze in June 2021, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material. Lai's lawyer Robert Pang told the court last Friday that Lai had some episodes where he felt that he was collapsing and had heart "palpitations", prompting the court to adjourn proceedings and order that he be provided with a heart monitor and medication. Prosecutor Anthony Chau confirmed that Lai had been provided with these items on Friday and that he was fit for court on Monday. Lai, noticeably thinner than when the trial began in late 2023, was dressed in a white jacket in the glass dock and pressed his palms together in a prayer gesture several times to his family and supporters. One of the judges, Esther Toh, said additional breaks could be provided for Lai if need be, while also acknowledging the opinion of a medical expert who examined Lai that he was "physically and mentally fit for court". "I'm worried for him. He's already in his 70s and has diabetes, and now palpitations," said Lucille, a supporter who queued for hours to get into the packed courtroom. Lai, a British citizen, has been held in solitary confinement for around 1700 days. His son Sebastien Lai and some rights groups have expressed fear over his deteriorating health on X. Some Western governments have called for Lai's immediate release and raised concerns about the erosion of fundamental rights in the financial hub under China-imposed national security laws. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities have said Lai is being given a fair trial and have warned against such interference in the city's internal affairs. US President Donald Trump said last week that he would "do everything I can to save him". An Australian foreign affairs spokesperson told Reuters on Monday that Canberra was "deeply concerned by Hong Kong's widespread application of national security laws to repress civil society and prosecute pro-democracy advocates ... such as Jimmy Lai". The trial's final days come just days after Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui was granted asylum in Australia, more than four years after he left Hong Kong where he faces criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests. with AP
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
PM restates Australian support for Ukraine in call with European allies
Anthony Albanese has reaffirmed Australia's backing for Ukraine in a call with European leaders. The call came after Donald Trump hosted Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss the Russian leader's years-long invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not invited to the meeting, fuelling fears his country could be sidelined. Though, the Trump administration has said a US security guarantee for Ukraine was raised, offering some reassurance for Kyiv. 'Overnight, I joined a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing convened by (British Prime Minister) Sir Keir Starmer and (French President) Emmanuel Macron, alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other democratic leaders,' the Prime Minister posted on social media. 'Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine and it was an opportunity to discuss next steps in achieving a just and enduring peace.' Overnight, I joined a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing convened by @Keir_Starmer and @EmmanuelMacron, alongside President @ZelenskyyUa and other democratic leaders. Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine and it was an opportunity to discuss next steps in… — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 18, 2025 The Coalition of the Willing is a group of Western democracies open to deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine after a peace deal has been struck. Mr Albanese earlier this year said Australia would consider requests to take part in the Anglo-Franco-led initiative. While both Mr Trump and Mr Putin hailed their talks at the weekend as 'productive' and 'constructive', they emerged from their 'Pursuing Peace' summit in Alaska with little but pledges to keep talking. But it was a big win for Mr Putin, who got a red-carpet welcome and photographed handshakes with the US President while the war in Ukraine raged on. Mr Zelensky will learn more about the talks when he meets Mr Trump in Washington on Monday (local time). Mr Trump was uncharacteristically hesitant to reveal too much after speaking with Mr Putin, but administration officials have since broken their silence. Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump's chief negotiator, told CNN Mr Putin conceded to let the US 'offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO'. NATO's Article 5 considers an attack on one member of the alliance an attack on all. Though, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio somewhat tempered expectations, telling NBC 'there'll have to be some security guarantees for Ukraine' but that ending the war was some way off. 'I mean, it's one of their fundamental demands is that if this war were to end, they have to make sure this never happens again,' Mr Rubio said. 'They don't want to get reinvaded. They don't want to wait three or four years from now and find another war on their hands.' On Sunday, Mr Albanese said it was a 'good thing' that parties were talking but warned against rewarding Mr Putin. 'It is a good thing that President Trump is an advocate for peace,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Perth. 'What we want to see is that the sovereignty of Ukraine be protected and that the illegal and immoral invasion conducted by Mr Putin and Russia are not rewarded.' He added that standing up for international rule of law was important, too. 'It's also important because of the precedent that Russia's invasion sets of a powerful nation invading a much smaller nation and engaging in the brutality, which we have seen at great cost to the Ukrainian people, but also at a great cost to Russian soldiers who've lost their lives as well,' Mr Albanese said. Ukraine has lost nearly 400,000 troops since Russia invaded in February, 2022, according to research from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The think tank put the death toll at just under 1 million for Russia.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Albo's big call after Trump-Putin meet
Anthony Albanese has reaffirmed Australia's backing for Ukraine in a call with European leaders. The call came after Donald Trump hosted Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss the Russian leader's years-long invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not invited to the meeting, fuelling fears his country could be sidelined. Though, the Trump administration has said a US security guarantee for Ukraine was raised, offering some reassurance for Kyiv. 'Overnight, I joined a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing convened by (British Prime Minister) Sir Keir Starmer and (French President) Emmanuel Macron, alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other democratic leaders,' the Prime Minister posted on social media. 'Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine and it was an opportunity to discuss next steps in achieving a just and enduring peace.' The Coalition of the Willing is a group of Western democracies open to deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine after a peace deal has been struck. Mr Albanese earlier this year said Australia would consider requests to take part in the Anglo-Franco-led initiative. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has Credit: NewsWire While both Mr Trump and Mr Putin hailed their talks at the weekend as 'productive' and 'constructive', they emerged from their 'Pursuing Peace' summit in Alaska with little but pledges to keep talking. But it was a big win for Mr Putin, who got a red-carpet welcome and photographed handshakes with the US President while the war in Ukraine raged on. Mr Zelensky will learn more about the talks when he meets Mr Trump in Washington on Monday (local time). Mr Trump was uncharacteristically hesitant to reveal too much after speaking with Mr Putin, but administration officials have since broken their silence. Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump's chief negotiator, told CNN Mr Putin conceded to let the US 'offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO'. NATO's Article 5 considers an attack on one member of the alliance an attack on all. Though, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio somewhat tempered expectations, telling NBC 'there'll have to be some security guarantees for Ukraine' but that ending the war was some way off. 'I mean, it's one of their fundamental demands is that if this war were to end, they have to make sure this never happens again,' Mr Rubio said. 'They don't want to get reinvaded. They don't want to wait three or four years from now and find another war on their hands.' On Sunday, Mr Albanese said it was a 'good thing' that parties were talking but warned against rewarding Mr Putin. 'It is a good thing that President Trump is an advocate for peace,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Perth. 'What we want to see is that the sovereignty of Ukraine be protected and that the illegal and immoral invasion conducted by Mr Putin and Russia are not rewarded.' He added that standing up for international rule of law was important, too. 'It's also important because of the precedent that Russia's invasion sets of a powerful nation invading a much smaller nation and engaging in the brutality, which we have seen at great cost to the Ukrainian people, but also at a great cost to Russian soldiers who've lost their lives as well,' Mr Albanese said. Ukraine has lost nearly 400,000 troops since Russia invaded in February, 2022, according to research from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The think tank put the death toll at just under 1 million for Russia.
