Morning Mail: asylum concessions, Japan's special relationship, Ricky Muir
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Version 0 of 1. Good morning folks, and welcome to the Morning Mail – sign up here to get it straight to your inbox before 8am every weekday. Concessions Our top story this morning is the news that Australia has been forced into concessions over its treatment of 153 Tamil asylum seekers, whose existence was only officially confirmed as part of high court proceedings for the first time yesterday. The government has committed to not handing over those people to Sri Lanka without 72 hours notice to the court. The hearings have now been adjourned till Friday, giving legal teams time to consult with their clients. In his first column for Guardian Australia, legal expert Richard Ackland writes about refoulement - and why it's illegal. Emily Howie writes about Sri Lanka's present situation, and why 90% of asylum seekers from the country have historically been found to be genuine refugees. The Australian claims that the government does not intend to send the asylum seekers to Sri Lanka, and Ben Eltham at New Matilda asks how Australia reached this point in its asylum policy. Meanwhile, nine mothers in detention on Christmas Island have been placed on suicide watch, reportedly because they believe that they could sacrifice themselves to give their children the best chance to live in Australia. Special relationship Shinzo Abe has apologised for the second world war during his historic address as the first Japanese prime minister to address Australia's parliament. Tony Abbott has affirmed Australia's backing for loosening restrictions on Japan's military, saying Japan was an 'exemplary international citizen'. Trade minister Andrew Robb has played down the idea that closer security ties with Japan could risk destabilising the region. And Japan has declared that "research" whaling will resume, despite Abbott's opposition. Home and away • Motoring Enthusiast Party senator Ricky Muir has emerged as an unlikely potential saviour for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. • MP Andrew Laming has riled members of a conservation group by responding to an email calling for action on climate change by asking whether the writer uses the power grid or drives a car. • Israel has pounded Gaza with air and naval strikes, killing 13 and injuring 90 in what it is calling Operation Protective Edge. • The US military spent millions studying how to influence Twitter users, analysing memes, celebrities and disinformation, and focussing on the Occupy and Middle East protests. • Oscar Pistorius's defence team has closed its case, and final arguments are scheduled for next month. • A juvenile humpback whale has been rescued at Byron Bay. World Cup It's really not looking good for Brazil. More from around the internet • Most read on the Guardian this morning, after the World Cup live blog: why exactly was this painting deemed too "pornographic" for a gallery? • One of the UK's leading Conservative politicians has attacked Tony Abbott over the carbon tax, saying he is "recklessly endangering" the future of the world, reports the ABC. • The Age leads today with economics editor Ross Gittins warning that Australia could become a "fuel fossil", given the effects of climate change on the economy. • The Daily Telegraph reports on a betting scandal erupting on the eve of the third State of Origin game today. • The Adelaide Advertiser leads on the father charged with murdering his three-year-old son who died after being stabbed yesterday. • 80 people have been injured in a train crash in South Africa, reports SBS. One last thing JK Rowling, writing as gossip columnist Rita Skeeter on the Pottermore site,has revealed a glimpse of Harry Potter as he turns 34. Have an excellent day - and if you spot something I've missed, let me know in the comments here or on Twitter @newsmary. Sign up Get the Morning Mail direct to your inbox before 8am every day by signing up here. |