Latest news with #AustralianJewry
SBS Australia
12-08-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Easy English 12 August 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . There have been mixed reactions to the news that the federal government will recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations in September. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the move is part of a coordinated global effort for a two-state solution. "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza." The Executive Council of Australian Jewry says they are disappointed but not surprised by the announcement. Co-Chief executive Alex Ryvchin says the move will be viewed in the Jewish community as a punitive measure towards Israel and a reward for Palestinian violence. "The government has departed from decades of bipartisan consensus which has envisioned Palestinian recognition and statehood as part of a comprehensive agreement between, Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab States. Australia is now committed to recognising a state with no agreed borders, no single government in effective control of its territory, and no capacity to live in peace with its neighbours". The Australia Palestine Action Network says the federal government's decision is not enough. The organisation's President, Nasser Mashni, says Australia must also be much tougher on Israel for what he says is its mistreatment of Palestinians. "Recognition is completely meaningless while Australia continues to trade, to supply arms, to have diplomatic relations, and to diplomatically protect, and encourage other states to normalise, with this very state that is committing these atrocities." A man is being interviewed by police after a man and a woman were found dead in a Melbourne home. The pair were found inside the home in Mount Waverley, in Melbourne's southeast. Homicide Squad detective Dean Thomas says the discovery was made after police received a call from a concerned neighbour who heard yelling coming from the property. He has told Channel 7 the relationship between the man they are speaking with and the alleged victims is yet to be determined. "At this stage we don't know the connection between the suspect we have in custody and of course, the occupant of the address. We have not yet formally identified the male and or female. That will occur throughout the course of the day." Colombian conservative senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe has died in hospital, more than a month after he was shot during a campaign rally in Bogota. The 39-year-old senator had been shot in the head during the rally by a suspected 15 year old teenager. Authorities have arrested six suspects linked to the attack, including the alleged shooter. A 12 month trial is underway in New South Wales on the use of body worn cameras by hospital staff. Health Minister Ryan Park says security staff at selected sites will be able to activate the cameras in response to aggression and violence in the hospital. He says the trial will determine how effective the cameras are at deterring and de-escalating violent incidents. A total of 15 hospitals in Sydney are part of the trial, while hospitals in Lismore and Port Macquarie are also included. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas says it's unclear how long the destructive algal bloom will persist along the state's coastline. The federal environment minister, Murray Watt, has apologised for the government's slow response to the bloom, which has killed tens of thousands of marine animals since March. But Mr Malinauskas has told Sky News he's hopeful the event passes soon. "There's a significant cohort of scientists who are still of the view of the algal bloom will pass us by in the cooler months, you know, which we've probably got around about six or seven weeks of left. But there is also a very real possibility that this is still around in Spring and Summer, and that will present a different suite of challenges and that's what we're preparing for as a government. We're preparing for the worst and hoping for the best." Three of Australia's leaders are in the Pacific this week to strengthen ties in the region. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is in Port Moresby today. He's meeting with the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and the country's defence minister. He will later join Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy in Vanuatu, where they will meet with leader Jotham Napat to discuss the Nakapal agreement.
Irish Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Australia synagogue fire: Police charge man over alleged arson
Australian police have charged a man in connection with an alleged arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue with worshippers in the building, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the nation's Jewish community. There were no injuries to the 20 people inside the East Melbourne Synagogue, who fled from the fire on Friday night. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in the capital of Victoria state. Australia has experienced several anti-Semitic incidents since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023. Counterterrorism detectives late on Saturday arrested the 34-year-old resident of Sydney, capital of neighbouring New South Wales, charging him with offences including criminal damage by fire, police said. READ MORE East Melbourne Synagogue in Melbourne. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images 'The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene,' police said in a statement. The suspect, whom the authorities declined to identify, was remanded in custody after his case was heard at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday and no application was made for bail, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported. Authorities are investigating whether the synagogue fire was linked to a disturbance on Friday night at an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne, in which one person was arrested for hindering police. The restaurant was extensively damaged, said the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, an umbrella group for Australia's Jews. It said the fire at the synagogue, one of Melbourne's oldest, was set as those inside sat down to Sabbath dinner. Israeli president Yitzhak Herzog went on X to 'condemn outright the vile arson attack targeting Jews in Melbourne's historic and oldest synagogue on the Sabbath, and on an Israeli restaurant where people had come to enjoy a meal together'. 'This is not the first such attack in Australia in recent months. But it must be the last,' Mr Herzog said. Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu described the incidents as 'severe hate crimes' that he viewed 'with utmost gravity'. 'The State of Israel will continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community,' Mr Netanyahu said on X. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese late on Saturday described the alleged arson, which comes seven months after another synagogue in Melbourne was targeted by arsonists, as shocking and said those responsible should face the law's full force. 'My government will provide all necessary support toward this effort,' Mr Albanese posted on X. Homes, schools, synagogues and vehicles in Australia have been targeted by anti-Semitic vandalism and arson. The incidents included a fake plan by organised crime to attack a Sydney synagogue using a caravan of explosives to divert police resources, police said in March. – Reuters
RNZ News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Australia police charge man over alleged arson on Melbourne synagogue
There were no injuries to the 20 people inside the East Melbourne Synagogue, who fled from the fire on Friday night. Photo: ABC / Rachel Clayton Australian police have charged a man in connection with an alleged arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue with worshippers in the building, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the nation's Jewish community. There were no injuries to the 20 people inside the East Melbourne Synagogue, who fled from the fire on Friday night. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in the capital of Victoria state. Australia has experienced several antisemitic incidents since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023. Counterterrorism detectives late on Saturday arrested the 34-year-old resident of Sydney, capital of neighbouring New South Wales, charging him with offences including criminal damage by fire, police said. The man, whom authorities have not identified, was due to face court on Sunday. "The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene," police said in a statement. Authorities are investigating whether the synagogue fire was linked to a disturbance on Friday night at an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne, in which one person was arrested for hindering police. The restaurant was extensively damaged, according to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, an umbrella group for Australia's Jews. It said the fire at the synagogue, one of Melbourne's oldest, was set as those inside sat down to Sabbath dinner. Israeli President Isaac Herzog went on X to "condemn outright the vile arson attack targeting Jews in Melbourne's historic and oldest synagogue on the Sabbath, and on an Israeli restaurant where people had come to enjoy a meal together". "This is not the first such attack in Australia in recent months. But it must be the last," Herzog said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese late on Saturday described the alleged arson, which comes seven months after another synagogue in Melbourne was targeted by arsonists, as shocking and said those responsible should face the law's full force. "My Government will provide all necessary support toward this effort," Albanese posted on X. Homes, schools, synagogues and vehicles in Australia have been targeted by antisemitic vandalism and arson. The incidents included a fake plan by organised crime to attack a Sydney synagogue using a caravan of explosives in order to divert police resources, police said in March. - Reuters
