| Source: SBS News – Julian Assange’s lawyers speak outside US court in Saipan |
Julian Assange landed in Canberra on a private jet as a free man at 7.30pm on Wednesday 26th June 2024.
As part of a plea agreement negotiated between Assange’s legal team and the US Department of Justice, Assange was earlier flown to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Continue reading Julian Assange lands in Canberra a free man after U.S. plea deal
Photo: A father carries his children while trying to flee from air strikes in the city of Rafah. UNICEF/Eyad El Baba, Nov 2023.
In a recent interview on RN Breakfast, James Elder, UNICEF’s global spokesperson, described the devastating impact that Israel’s war on Gaza is having on children.
He reported how a UNICEF convoy carrying nutritional and medical supplies for 10,000 children in northern Gaza was prevented from delivering this humanitarian aid by Israeli authorities. Continue reading UNICEF: Israel’s war on Gaza and its devastating impacts on children
Photo: The Guardian
Britain’s Judicial Office announced on Tuesday 11th June that Julian Assange’s appeal against extradition to the US would be heard on 9th and 10th July 2024. Continue reading Julian Assange’s extradition appeal to be heard on 9th & 10th July 2024
Photo: A Palestinian flag was raised outside the Irish Parliament to mark its recognition of Palestinian statehood. BBC News
On Tuesday 28th May, Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised Palestinian statehood. This move adds to the Israel’s increasing isolation since its genocidal war on Gaza started almost eight months ago.
Statements by each of these European countries explained that they wanted to accelerate efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and that they aimed to encourage other European Union countries to follow suit. Continue reading Spain, Ireland and Norway have recognised a Palestinian state – what’s stopping Australia?
Speech by Mary Kostakidis prior to Daniel Duggan’s extradition hearing in Sydney, 24 May 2024. Video: J Atkins/MPG
Daniel Duggan, a former US marine pilot who obtained Australian citizenship on 26th January 2012, was adjudged eligible for extradition to the US in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Friday 24th May 2024. Continue reading Ex-US marine pilot Daniel Duggan loses legal bid to block extradition to US
| Video source: Politico |
On Friday 10th May 2024, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution which upgrades Palestine’s rights and privileges as an Observer State and calls on the UN Security Council to favourably reconsider Palestine’s request for full membership.
The 193-member General Assembly approved the Arab and Palestinian-sponsored resolution by 143 votes for, 9 against (including the United States and Israel) and 25 abstentions. Australia decided to join the vast majority of member states by voting in favour of this resolution.1 Continue reading UN General Assembly supports symbolic move to allow Palestine full membership
This year’s Anzac Day Reflection was held at the traditional site of Richardson’s Lookout – Marrickville Peace Park on Thursday 25th April. Organised by the Marrickville Peace Group (MPG), it attracted over 100 people. In addition, a combined choir, assembled from three local choirs and comprising around 40 singers, sang a number of peace songs during the event. Continue reading Anzac Day Reflection – 25th April 2024
At the conclusion of Julian Assange’s extradition appeal hearing in London’s High Court in February 2024, the two judges presiding reserved their decision pending the submission of certain assurances by the U.S. administration. Continue reading Julian Assange extradition: U.S. fails to guarantee First Amendment protection
President Joe Biden has said that he is considering a request from the Australian government to drop the decade-long U.S. drive to prosecute Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Assange has been indicted on 17 charges under the U.S. Espionage Act of 1917, plus one charge of computer misuse, as a result of publishing classified U.S. military records and diplomatic cables on the WikiLeaks website almost 15 years ago. These documents exposed war crimes committed by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, among other matters of public interest. If convicted, Assange faces a sentence of up to 175 years in a U.S. maximum security or supermax prison. Continue reading Biden “considering” request to drop Julian Assange’s indictment
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Daniel Duggan, a former US marine pilot who obtained Australian citizenship in 2012, is currently fighting extradition to the U.S.
At the request of U.S. authorities, Duggan was arrested by the Australian Federal Police on an extradition warrant on 21st October 2022. He is currently being held in solitary confinement in Lithgow’s maximum security prison. Continue reading Daniel Duggan loses bid to delay U.S. extradition trial
News services have reported that during the night of Monday 1st April 2024, an Israeli airstrike killed six international aid workers and a Palestinian driver in central Gaza.
Those killed included Melbourne-born Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, aged 43. Of the other victims, one was from Poland, three were from United Kingdom, and another was a US-Canada citizen. Continue reading World Central Kitchen wants independent probe into Israeli attack on aid convoy
Melissa Parke, executive director of International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), will be visiting Parliament House in Canberra this week to urge the Albanese Labor government to sign and ratify the United Nation’s Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), also known as the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty. Continue reading When will Australia join the TPNW?
As Julian Assange fights extradition to the U.S. while imprisoned in London’s Belmarsh high security prison, so too is Daniel Duggan fighting extradition to the US while imprisoned in Lithgow’s high security prison. Continue reading Daniel Duggan’s fight against extradition to the US
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A makeshift sit-in outside PM Anthony Albanese’s electoral office in Marrickville, has become a 24/7 protest action.
A visit to the sit-in on 6th March, found participants sitting on chairs with leaflets in hand, surrounded by placards and banners demanding an end to Israel’s genocide and 17-year-long illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip. Continue reading Sit-in continues outside PM Albanese’s electoral office in Marrickville
On Saturday 2nd March, over 100 people gathered in Katoomba to rally against Israel’s war on Gaza. Organised by the community action group, Mountains for Palestine, participants heard from a number of speakers covering various aspects of the conflict, as well as recent local actions aimed at protecting Palestinian life and rights in Gaza.
Proceedings began with the rally co-ordinator, Aaisha, providing an acknowledgment of country.
Minute’s silence
A minute’s silence was then held. As a preamble, Jenna from Mountains for Palestine explained that a minute’s silence was being observed “for all martyrs lost due to Israel’s occupation and genocide in Palestine.” Continue reading Katoomba rally calls for an end to Israel’s war crimes in Gaza