Oceania
The many trials of Australian whistleblower David McBride

Whistleblower David McBride, who revealed details of possible war crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, faces a trial in September. He talks about the legal campaign against him

China-Solomon Islands deal US and Pacific allies panic over Solomon Islands-China security deal

The security cooperation deal signed between the two governments came in the backdrop of anti-Chinese violence and riots precipitating in a political crisis on the island nation in November last year

Aboriginal teen killing Australia Evidence in aboriginal teen’s murder in Australia shows cop had history of violence

The publication of previously suppressed additional evidence showed that police officer Zachary Rolfe had a history of conducting violent arrests and falsifying reports. Rolfe, accused of killing an Indigenous teenager, was found not guilty of murder

Covid antibodies in children Children show low levels of antibodies against COVID-19, new study suggests

The results of the study were astounding—while 76% of the adult group had antibodies against the coronavirus, only 37% of the children had the antibodies. Interestingly, participants from both groups had similar viral loads

New Zealand Employment Court passes injunction to scuttle health workers’ strike

Even though the allied health workers’ unions in the capital Auckland postponed the strike owing to Omicron surge, the employment court forced a nationwide postponement

New Zealand health workers strike New Zealand government under pressure as health workers prepare for massive strikes

Over 10,000 allied health workers from over 70 different vocation groups are preparing to strike after more than a year of “fruitless” contract negotiations

Aboriginal teenager death Australia Death of Indigenous teenager in Australia raises questions

16-year-old Jai Wright died on Saturday following a crash with an unmarked police car. His family members have raised questions over “inconsistent information” regarding his death given by the police

Hamas banned by Australia Australia to list Hamas as a terrorist organization

The right-wing, pro-Israel government in Australia had last year issued a similar ban on Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah 

Australia health workers strike Nurses in Australia’s New South Wales strike over wages, staff shortage

Thousands of nurses and midwives went on a day-long strike in Australia’s most populous New South Wales State to protest stagnating wages and unsafe staffing conditions

Australia religious discrimination bill Morrison’s religious discrimination bill exposes political fault lines close to elections

With just a handful of months to go for the Australian general elections, prime minister Scott Morrison’s aborted attempt to push through his religious discrimination bill exposes major weaknesses in his government

Australia aged care crisis Australia’s aged-care crisis spirals out of control, healthcare unions blame government

Close to 650 deaths have been reported from Australia’s aged-care centers since the beginning of this year. Staffing shortage is believed to be the primary cause of the current crisis

Over 70 Jewish groups and individuals endorse calls to boycott Sydney festival over Israeli funding

Several artists and performers have pulled out of their scheduled events at the acclaimed Sydney festival citing Israeli sponsorship