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‘Something is wrong': Australian govt blasted for ‘absurd' ban of Israeli tech speaker

‘Something is wrong': Australian govt blasted for ‘absurd' ban of Israeli tech speaker

Sky News AU4 days ago

UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer says 'something is wrong' in Australia after tech entrepreneur Hillel Fuld was controversially banned from the country.
Israeli influencer Hillel Fuld has broken his silence after having his visa cancelled by the Albanese government, hitting out at the "ridiculous excuse" Labor used to deny him entry to Australia.
Mr Fuld's visa was quietly cancelled by the Department of Home Affairs last week, shortly before he was due to arrive in the country to take part in fundraising events hosted by Magen David Adom Australia - an offshoot of Israel's national emergency medical and blood service.

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Anthony Albanese suggests NSW and Victoria should be considered to host major 2032 Olympic events, sparking stern rebuke from Qld officials
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Anthony Albanese suggests NSW and Victoria should be considered to host major 2032 Olympic events, sparking stern rebuke from Qld officials

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has suggested consideration should be made for two 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games sports to be held outside of Queensland. The 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games plot has continued to thicken after the Labor leader said the tennis and rowing could potentially be held in New South Wales and Victoria and that the Sunshine State lacked the appropriate facilities to host the two sports. Appearing on the most recent episode of the Two Good Sports podcast uploaded on Friday, Mr Albanese said there was a 'bit of a debate going on' over the venue plan. 'I've been meeting with (2032 Organising Committee President) Andrew Liveris as well as with the Queensland Premier (David) Crisafulli about where it goes,' he told the podcast. 'For example, are we really going to do rowing in Rockhampton on the Fitzroy River when there are some pretty good facilities at Penrith (in Sydney's west)?' The PM, who has flown to Canada for the G7 summit, cast doubt on Queensland's ability to accommodate the two sports and questioned why taxpayer funds would be used to develop new facilities when there were existing amenities in Sydney and Melbourne. 'There's a debate over tennis and what's needed there in Brisbane as well," Mr Albanese told the Melbourne-based podcast. 'You have pretty good tennis facilities." However, the Crisafulli state government was quick to pounce on the unexpected comments, vowing that Brisbane would host all Olympic events. A Queensland government spokesperson told the Courier Mail on Friday that 'we are working with all levels of government to implement the 2032 Games Delivery Plan, which will see Rowing in Rockhampton and Tennis played at the upgraded Queensland Tennis Centre.' Mr Crisafulli previously stated that his government would guarantee 'Melbourne will not be taking the tennis from Brisbane'. Tennis Queensland CEO Cameron Pearson also weighed in on the stoush, and resoundingly backed his home state, saying 'the Premier confirmed in March that Olympic and Paralympic tennis will be played in Brisbane, and we've had productive discussions since'. Yet, despite vocal protest from high-ranking Queensland officials, the Prime Minister added 'it might be that you just can't do everything in one spot in the future' and that it was 'legitimate for there to be proper discussion'. Hosting the rowing in the notoriously crocodile "infested" waters of the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton has attracted ridicule and furore, with a recent hydrological study also concluding the river drops to almost zero flow in the winter months when the games are due to be held. A Brisbane 2032 spokesperson reiterated the venue master plan process was still ongoing and that many details were still yet to be determined. 'Delivering world-class fields of play that provide an optimal performance environment for athletes remains key for Brisbane 2032 and ensuring International Federations are involved in planning and delivery will help achieve this outcome,' a Brisbane 2032 statement read. In response to the row, an Albanese government spokesperson said there needed to be a 'common sense approach' in the planning of the games and that any changes to the scheduling would be decided in tandem with the Queensland government.

‘Fantastic': Australia's big gender gap win
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US helps Israel shoot down barrage of Iranian missiles
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American air defence systems and navy assets in the Middle East helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles that Tehran launched in response to Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and top military leaders, US officials say. The US has both ground-based Patriot missile defence systems and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems in the region capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, which Iran fired in multiple barrages in retaliation for Israel's initial attack. Naval assets also were involved in assisting Israel on Friday as Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv, one official said. The United States also is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to the strikes. 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American air defence systems and navy assets in the Middle East helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles that Tehran launched in response to Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and top military leaders, US officials say. The US has both ground-based Patriot missile defence systems and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems in the region capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, which Iran fired in multiple barrages in retaliation for Israel's initial attack. Naval assets also were involved in assisting Israel on Friday as Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv, one official said. The United States also is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to the strikes. 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Typically, about 30,000 troops are based in the Middle East, and about 40,000 troops are in the region now, according to a US official. That number surged as high as 43,000 last October amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran as well as continuous attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. The navy has additional assets that it could send to the Middle East if needed, particularly its aircraft carriers and the warships that sail with them. USS Carl Vinson is in the Arabian Sea - the only aircraft carrier in the region. The carrier USS Nimitz is in the Indo-Pacific and could be directed towards the Middle East if needed, and USS George Washington just left its port in Japan and could also be directed to the region, one official said. American air defence systems and navy assets in the Middle East helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles that Tehran launched in response to Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and top military leaders, US officials say. The US has both ground-based Patriot missile defence systems and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems in the region capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, which Iran fired in multiple barrages in retaliation for Israel's initial attack. Naval assets also were involved in assisting Israel on Friday as Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv, one official said. The United States also is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to the strikes. The navy had directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, which is capable of defending against ballistic missiles, to begin sailing from the western Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern Mediterranean and had directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward so it could be available if requested by the White House, US officials said. American fighter jets also are patrolling the sky in the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, and air bases in the region are taking additional security precautions, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. President Donald Trump met his National Security Council principals on Friday to discuss options. The forces in the region have been taking precautionary measures for days, including having military dependents voluntarily depart regional bases, in anticipation of the strikes and to protect personnel in case of a large-scale response from Tehran. Typically, about 30,000 troops are based in the Middle East, and about 40,000 troops are in the region now, according to a US official. That number surged as high as 43,000 last October amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran as well as continuous attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. The navy has additional assets that it could send to the Middle East if needed, particularly its aircraft carriers and the warships that sail with them. USS Carl Vinson is in the Arabian Sea - the only aircraft carrier in the region. The carrier USS Nimitz is in the Indo-Pacific and could be directed towards the Middle East if needed, and USS George Washington just left its port in Japan and could also be directed to the region, one official said. American air defence systems and navy assets in the Middle East helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles that Tehran launched in response to Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and top military leaders, US officials say. The US has both ground-based Patriot missile defence systems and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems in the region capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, which Iran fired in multiple barrages in retaliation for Israel's initial attack. Naval assets also were involved in assisting Israel on Friday as Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv, one official said. The United States also is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to the strikes. The navy had directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, which is capable of defending against ballistic missiles, to begin sailing from the western Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern Mediterranean and had directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward so it could be available if requested by the White House, US officials said. American fighter jets also are patrolling the sky in the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, and air bases in the region are taking additional security precautions, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. President Donald Trump met his National Security Council principals on Friday to discuss options. The forces in the region have been taking precautionary measures for days, including having military dependents voluntarily depart regional bases, in anticipation of the strikes and to protect personnel in case of a large-scale response from Tehran. Typically, about 30,000 troops are based in the Middle East, and about 40,000 troops are in the region now, according to a US official. That number surged as high as 43,000 last October amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran as well as continuous attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. The navy has additional assets that it could send to the Middle East if needed, particularly its aircraft carriers and the warships that sail with them. USS Carl Vinson is in the Arabian Sea - the only aircraft carrier in the region. The carrier USS Nimitz is in the Indo-Pacific and could be directed towards the Middle East if needed, and USS George Washington just left its port in Japan and could also be directed to the region, one official said.

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