news

Saturday's news in less than two minutes.

Amnesty International does not support Australia’s refugee decision in Cambodia.


1. Amnesty International condemns the Australian government’s plan to settle refugees in Cambodia.

Immigration minister Scott Morrison yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding which would allow refugees in detention on Nauru to settle in Cambodia. However, a spokesman for Amnesty International has called the move “deplorable.”

“In January the Australian Government condemned Cambodia’s human rights record at a UN human rights hearing, but will now relocate vulnerable refugees, possibly including children, to the country,” Rupert Abott said.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has also expressed its frustration, saying it was “deeply concerned” by the precedent the deal sets.

Officials are worried that very little of the aid money the Federal Government will be supplying Cambodia will actually be given to the refugees. Instead, it may be pocketed by “corrupt governments,” says Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

2. The British government approves air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) insurgents in Iraq.

Britain has sent Six Cyprus-based Tornado GR4 fighter-bombers to Iraq alongside the United States forces following a decisive 524-43 vote to provide military assistance.

British Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs before the vote not to expect a “shock and awe” air campaign; his office would send a small number of service people within hours of the vote to guide air strikes and, possibly, to train Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces battling IS militant forces.

ADVERTISEMENT
The Islamic school ‘intruder’ has been charged.


3. Islamic school intruder arrested and charged.

A 22-year-old man has been charged for entering Al-Faisal College in Minto just after 2pm on Thursday armed with a knife. The man asked if it was a “Muslim school” and spoke to a female teacher before leaving the premises.

The following day only 50 of the 400 students at Al-Faisal College attended their regular classes. Sadia Haser, who lives opposite the school, said: “I am Muslim. All over the world Muslims are being threatened. But these are kids. They have nothing to do with it. They need to be safe.”

4.  A Black Saturday firefighter is launching a civil claim for damages.

Former firefighter Glenn Barlow says he has been suffering from post-traumatic stress, which has left him “totally incapacitated”, after his team was sent into a bushfire deathtrap in Kinglake West. Barlow claims the team wasn’t given adequate warning from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) about the fast-approaching firestorm.

Mr Barlow and other Kinglake West firefighters were trapped at the end of Coombs Road, lost their water supply and were forced to bunker down in a house when the fire tore through the road. Six people died in this area alone.

Two of Barlow’s team members suffered smoke inhalation, facial and head burns, and flash burns to their eyes during the firefight, while Mr Barlow reportedly sustained a critical shoulder injury.

ADVERTISEMENT

A CFA spokeswoman said it could not comment on Mr. Barlow’s lawsuit while the matter was in litigation.

5. Delays expected at the AFL Grand Final after terrorism scares.

As authorities step up security in the wake of terrorism threats, AFL fans should expect to be stopped for questioning and extra bag checks upon entering the MCG.

The number of police patrolling the Victorian area has doubled and rubbish bins around train stations close to the footy ground will be removed.

The grand final will be held tonight between the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn.

Matt Kuleza with Baly Knox. Just having a coffee.


6. A student has set out to meet everyone of his 1,088 Facebook friends. (Including his ex-girlfriends.)

Melbourne’s Matt Kuleza has launched a blog called “1000+ coffees” which will document his attempt to meet up and have coffee with all of his Facebook friends.

“I was just going to do a cull to get rid of people, but then I thought that I should see if I could get to know them instead. It seemed like a cool social experiment, and amazingly has changed my life for the better,” said Matt.

So far, Matt has met with one ex-girlfriend, saying that the experience “went really well. We both have partners now, but we just slipped into old habits of chatting.”

The project in its entirety will take Matt three years to fully complete.

Tags: