Sydney Protest Chaos as Police Deploy Pepper Spray on Crowd
New South Wales police have been accused of a "totally over-the-top" reaction to protests in Sydney last night, where violent clashes erupted between scores of officers and demonstrators. The protests were against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, with about 6,000 people gathering in the city.
Witnesses Report Police Assaults and Dispersal of Praying Muslims
State Labor MP Anthony D'Adam claimed he saw police officers assaulting protesters, and his account was backed by other witnesses. Video footage showed officers charging the crowd and dispersing Muslims while they were praying. Police accused rally speakers of inciting the crowd when they were prevented from marching through Sydney. A protester was seen receiving assistance after being pepper-sprayed, highlighting the intensity of the confrontations.
Federal Labor Ministers Meet Japanese Gas Executives Repeatedly
In a separate development, federal Labor ministers had more than 20 meetings with executives from Japanese gas companies during the last term of parliament. Japan has been pushing for Australia to encourage investment in the fossil fuel industry, raising concerns about environmental impacts and energy policies.
Other Key News Stories from Australia and Beyond
Roblox Content Alarm: Communications Minister Anika Wells has expressed alarm over reports of child grooming and vile content on the popular game service Roblox. She has demanded the platform explain how it is addressing sexual and self-harm material and called for its PG rating to be examined by the Australian Classification Board.
Queensland Gun Laws: Gun control advocates warn that Queensland will be left with "the weakest guns laws in Australia" after the premier rejected new limits on the number or type of firearms people can own.
Political Donations Data: Administrative changes have made timely reporting on political donations more difficult, leading to potential misinterpretation, as explained by data editors.
International Updates: From Bad Bunny to UK Politics
Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Moment: Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance has sparked a culture war debate, with Donald Trump calling it an "affront" to America, while many celebrities praised the Puerto Rican artist for "making them proud." Some see it as progressive culture hitting back.
UK Political Fallout: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is struggling to contain fallout from the Mandelson affair, with speculation about his future. Meanwhile, the King has stated he is "ready to support" police assessing allegations that his brother passed confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein.
Global Tragedies: Dozens of migrants are feared dead after a boat capsized off the Libyan coast, with only two survivors rescued. In Iran, the head of the Reformists Front has been arrested, likely exacerbating tensions over recent street protests.
In-Depth Features and Sports Highlights
Colonial Terrorism in Australia: A new low in Australia's history of colonial terrorism is discussed, focusing on racial violence and denial after an alleged terror attack at an Invasion Day rally in Perth.
HIV Diagnosis Disparities: Campaigner Heather Ellis, who contracted HIV while on holiday in Africa, highlights how women are less likely to be diagnosed early than men, with GPs often not offering HIV tests to female patients.
Sports Updates: Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch connects to his Wiradjuri-Burray culture through painting to balance rugby and life. Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych trained in a helmet with images of war victims to keep attention on the conflict.
Today's events include traditional owners giving evidence in a high court hearing in the Northern Territory and Israeli President Isaac Herzog attending a community event in Sydney. For more updates, sign up for the Afternoon Update newsletter.
