Good afternoon. From comparisons to?Richard the Lionheart?to signs calling on him to “burn in hell”, these sharply conflicting views on Cardinal George Pell were on full display at his funeral in Sydney today.
The former prime minister, and staunch Catholic, Tony Abbott led the praise inside St Mary’s Cathedral,?calling Pell?“one of our country’s greatest sons”.
Outside the cathedral, protesters faced off with funeral attenders in sometimes?heated exchanges, with police standing in between.
“We stamped our mark today. We need to be heard. It is how we are going to heal,”?said Vivienne Moore, a child sexual abuse survivor who took part in the protest today.
- AFP smash crime ring, seize $150m in assets |?Land “essentially the size of a suburb”, including Sydney mansions worth a combined $19m, was?confiscated during a raid?on an organised crime syndicate. The gang allegedly operated as an “underground bank” moving proceeds of crime between overseas accounts from 2018-2022, bypassing international financial systems. Nine people were arrested and the alleged leader faces up to 25 years in jail if convicted.
- NT alcohol ban recommended |?A highly anticipated snap report into the rising unrest in central Australia has?recommended immediate alcohol bans?in parts of the Northern Territory until communities develop their own plans. The NT chief minister, Natasha Fyles, was?in Canberra today?to discuss the report with the prime minister.
- No Charles on $5 note |?The new king?will not replace?Queen Elizabeth II on Australia’s $5 note – instead, the space will be dedicated to a design “that honours the culture and history of the First Australians”, according to the Reserve Bank. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, was quick to criticise the decision, calling it “another attack on our systems, on our society and our institutions”.
- ACT’s new EV incentive |?Motorists in Canberra will soon pay their registration fees based on their vehicle’s emissions output rather than its weight,?in the latest policy tweak?to further incentivise electric cars. The ACT government expects about 96% of passenger vehicle owners to pay the same or lower costs under the new pricing model, with the 4% facing higher costs to be owners of more-polluting vehicles.
- Israel strikes Gaza |?Israeli warplanes?struck the blockaded?Gaza Strip early Thursday local time, prompting a fresh round of rockets from Palestinian fighters. It’s the latest escalation?after unrest?in the occupied West Bank.
- Myanmar junta delays elections |?The military regime announced an extension to its state of emergency,?effectively delaying elections?the junta had pledged to hold by August, as it battles anti-coup fighters across the country.
- Saudi executions almost double |?The rate of executions carried out by Saudi Arabia has shot up 82% under de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman, making it?one of the bloodiest periods?in the kingdom’s modern history.
- Killing of Costa Rican Indigenous activist |?A Costa Rican court has?sentenced farmer Juan Varela?to 22 years behind bars for the 2020 murder of Yehry Rivera, an Indigenous land rights defender. The case has stoked decades-old tensions between native communities and farmers over disputed territory.
*This is an excerpt from today's Afternoon Update newsletter. To read the full version, click?here.
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2 年Hi good idea about the ban of alcohol in NT in say that you have to have somewhere people can shower eat a meal for the night and clean clothes and don't put men and women together have a hall and police as well thank you
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2 年Hi so sorry about your abuse I can appreciate your hurt very much as a survivor you grow into a different part of your life I pass my respect to George Pell It takes a long time a life time to come through your abuse of you are able to see the difference you were there you said if you want to spend the rest of your life upset you only hurt yourself ok I hope today will be the first day the rest of your life That's good that Charlie won't be on the 5dollar note thank you