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AFL 2026: Collingwood coach Craig McRae speaks on his comment to Brodie Grundy last week

A recent Australian Football League (AFL) encounter has sparked unexpected media attention for Collingwood Magpies head coach Craig McRae, after a brief off-hand exchange with former club star Brodie Grundy — now a leading player with the Sydney Swans — during last week’s match between the two sides became a talking point among football pundits.

During the game, which ended in a loss for Collingwood, McRae was positioned along the team’s interchange boundary when he handed the match ball back to Grundy and shared a short personal comment with the ruckman. The exact content of that exchange has not been released to the public, and Grundy did not respond publicly or visibly to McRae in the moments after the comment was made.

Despite the low-key nature of the interaction, it has reignited long-running discussion around McRae’s choice to coach from the active boundary line, a coaching style that first drew public scrutiny after a similar on-field exchange with Greater Western Sydney tagger Toby Bedford during the opening round of the 2024 season.

Speaking to reporters this week, McRae said he was taken aback by the intense line of questioning from media about the Grundy interaction. While he refused to disclose the specific wording of his comment, he repeatedly emphasized that the exchange was completely harmless. “No, I can’t articulate what I said because it was a personal thing. Seriously, it was just a moment in time, we keep moving on,” McRae told reporters.

The coach noted that he built a close professional relationship with Grundy during his time at Collingwood, and said he holds the current Sydney star in high regard, adding that there was nothing inappropriate about the quick comment on game day. “If you have a strong relationship with someone, I don’t see an issue with it – I coached him… I have a really strong relationship (and) great respect for Brodie,” he said. “It was nothing untoward, at an appropriate time I will be able to tell you what I said.”

McRae also doubled down on his preference for coaching from the boundary line, arguing that the position lets him build a closer connection with his on-field players and generates greater energy for the entire team. Addressing concerns that the comment may have offended Grundy, McRae said he was open to reaching out directly to the Swans star to clear up any misunderstanding, adding that he prioritizes maintaining positive relationships with former players who have moved on to other clubs.

“I constantly try and connect with that part of our footy community, when you’re in the game as long as Pendles and other parts, there’s a lot of people,” McRae said. “Again, I’ve got great respect for Brodie and Brody Mihocek over here (at Melbourne) and Jack Ginnivan at other clubs. You build relationships that you hope, you go your different ways, but at some stage you’re going to come back and connect somewhere. I just want to respect the position I am in and I don’t think I take things for granted on that.”

In addition to addressing the exchange with Grundy, McRae provided an injury and availability update for Collingwood’s upcoming round of matches. The club will receive a significant boost this week, with key starters Darcy Moore, Darcy Cameron, Pat Lipinski and Tim Membrey all cleared to return to selection. However, exciting winger Bobby Hill remains unavailable, as he waits for the birth of his first child.

McRae confirmed that Hill is highly unlikely to feature in this weekend’s match, and said a return later in the season remains the expected outcome. “It’s probably unlikely, we’ve got some news brewing but we can’t say at the moment,” he said. “I will leave that for the appropriate time, it’s probably unlikely Bobby plays this week. That’s a bigger question (if he plays this season), I think at the moment I would hope to think so. We’re just in a position where his partner is expecting a baby really soon.”

Grundy, who left Collingwood to join Sydney, claimed the best-on-ground medal for his performance during last Friday’s win over his former side.

20 5 月, 2026
‘Horrid situation:’ Western Australia mouse plague reaches epic proportions

A small regional town in Western Australia’s Mid West region is currently in the grips of an unprecedented mouse plague that has upended daily life for every resident and business owner, leaving them locked in a relentless daily battle against the invasive rodents.

Morawa Shire President Karen Chappel described the ongoing crisis as nothing short of horrifying, noting that communities have grown exhausted from the constant cycle of containment and cleanup. “Every single day, we are picking up carcasses, setting traps, laying bait, and cleaning up the mess the mice leave behind,” Chappel explained in an interview. “You finish clearing the bodies from your home or shop, dispose of them, and get ready to do the exact same thing the next morning. On top of that, there is the constant, cloying stench of mice—both living rodents and decaying carcasses—that never goes away.”

The infestation poses severe public health risks, prompting local leaders to urge residents to maintain strict hygiene protocols that echo the precautions many adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re telling people to wash their hands constantly, carry hand sanitiser, and stay vigilant, because these rodents carry a host of dangerous diseases,” Chappel said. She went on to detail just how pervasive the infestation has become: mice have been found nesting in beds, over a dozen rodents poured out of a resident’s oven when opened, they chew through books, gnaw at vehicle wiring, and build nests inside household appliances from washing machines to air conditioners. Beyond the filth, residents face costly damage, forced to repair or replace destroyed appliances and personal property that the mice have ruined. “The psychological weight of this crisis on our community is enormous,” Chappel added.

This outbreak is not an isolated event. Last month, agricultural scientists issued an urgent warning that the growing mouse plague could destroy up to $1 billion worth of grain crops across Western Australia if swift action was not taken. Surveys of cropping regions across the Mid West, Wheatbelt, and Goldfields-Esperance have found up to 4,000 mouse burrows per hectare, with some paddocks hosting as many as 8,000 individual mice per hectare. As rodents have exhausted food sources in agricultural areas, they have migrated into nearby regional towns, turning a rural agricultural crisis into an urban public health emergency. In response, the Western Australian Department of Health has issued an official public health alert for Morawa and surrounding communities, advising residents on how to safely handle dead mice and secure their homes to protect their families.

Steve Henry, a research officer with Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, visited the affected region in March and confirmed the outbreak has worsened dramatically in the months since. “The footage farmers are sending me now is identical to what we saw during the 2021 mouse plague in New South Wales—this is a severe, devastating outbreak by any measure,” Henry said. The 2021 NSW outbreak caused an estimated $660 million in direct economic damage, a figure that does not account for the profound psychological harm inflicted on affected communities. Unlike natural disasters such as drought or heatwaves, where people can find shelter inside their homes, a mouse plague invades every corner of daily life. “These mice get into your food cupboards, your clothing, your linen, they run across your bed while you are sleeping,” Henry explained. “There is no escape from them inside your own home.”

In a major policy shift to address the crisis, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority this week approved an application from Grain Producers Australia to allow the use of a stronger, more concentrated mouse bait. The new formulation uses the same active toxin as existing bait, but delivers a lethal dose in every individual grain, which researchers expect will improve kill rates. Still, Henry cautioned that the stronger bait is not a permanent solution to the crisis. “It’s extremely difficult to wipe out an outbreak of this size with bait alone, just because there are so many mice spread across such a huge area,” he said. “The 50-gram formulation is more effective than the 25-gram version we had before, but when there is so much alternative food available for mice across the landscape, it won’t solve the problem entirely. It will, however, reduce localised damage to crops and residential areas.”

Jamie Appleton, who operates the Morawa Roadhouse, explained that the current mouse population explosion was fueled by ideal breeding conditions: this year has produced one of the best grain harvests on record, giving the mice an abundant food supply and mild weather that has allowed their numbers to grow unchecked. Like many local business owners, Appleton now spends an extra hour every day deep cleaning his store to remove mouse waste and carcasses. Though he has spent hundreds of dollars on bait and has kept most of his stock protected, he says the entire community is at breaking point. “People are just over this,” he said. “I’m lucky enough that I can afford to replace damaged items, but a lot of people in this town can’t. This constant stress is unbearable. Imagine coming home to find your pantry food is all ruined, your bedding is destroyed, and you have young kids to care for. This is an intrusion no one should have to deal with.” Local residents are now pinning their hopes on a cold snap, which they hope will kill off much of the mouse population and bring a much-needed end to the crisis.

20 5 月, 2026
White Australia political party ruled invalid by AEC amid High Court challenge

A far-right neo-Nazi organization in Australia has hit a major regulatory barrier in its attempt to gain official political party status, with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) confirming the group’s application is invalid, as the organization prepares for a high-stakes constitutional challenge to its designation as a banned hate group.

The group, operating under the name The White Australia Party and also known as the National Socialist Network, was formally labeled a hate group just one week ago by Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. This designation came under new anti-hate legislation introduced in the wake of the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack, and the classification would criminalize group membership and any public or private support for the organization once fully enforced.

Group leader Thomas Sewell has confirmed that the organization has already lodged an appeal with the High Court of Australia, seeking to have the new hate designation legislation overturned on constitutional grounds. In a public video address earlier this year, Sewell claimed that the group had successfully submitted its registration for political party status to the AEC on April 25, a national public holiday in Australia marking Anzac Day.

But in a formal update issued Thursday, the AEC confirmed that the application cannot move forward in its current form. The core issue that derailed the bid is the group’s decision to redact the full names of its registered members. Under Australian electoral rules, all party members must be disclosed to the AEC, which reserves the right to contact individual members to verify the validity of the application.

The White Australia Party has refused to release its membership roll, stating it will not disclose members’ identities until the High Court issues a ruling on its constitutional challenge to the hate group designation.

Formal notification of the rejection will be delivered to the group after the writ for the upcoming Farrer by-election is returned, a deadline that falls no later than July 10. Australian electoral law prohibits the AEC from issuing formal approvals or rejections of party registration applications between the time a by-election or general election writ is issued and when it is formally returned, so the official decision has been delayed temporarily.

“The AEC’s preliminary view, which has been communicated to the applicant, is that the application does not contain the necessary elements to be valid,” an AEC spokesperson told NewsWire in a prepared statement. “The operation of s127 of the Electoral Act means a formal determination cannot be made until the return of the writ for the Farrer by-election. Once the writ is returned, the outcome of a formal assessment will be communicated to the applicant.”

The White Australia Party, which promotes white nationalist and neo-Nazi ideology, has been a source of ongoing public controversy in Australia for years. The group has organized multiple high-profile, disruptive public rallies across the country, including one staged outside the New South Wales state parliament building.

Sewell, the group’s leader, currently faces serious criminal charges including violent disorder and affray connected to an alleged physical attack on the Camp Sovereignty gathering in late 2023. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court of Victoria in November last year, and his criminal case remains ongoing.

20 5 月, 2026
Commander-in-beef: Bangladesh’s ‘Donald Trump’ buffalo wins fans

An unusual new internet sensation has captured the attention of millions in Bangladesh: a 700-kilogram albino buffalo, nicknamed “Donald Trump” for his striking golden-blond mane that echoes the former U.S. president’s iconic hairstyle, has become an overnight social media star — even as he is scheduled to be sacrificed for the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday.

The rare buffalo lives on a family farm owned by 38-year-old Zia Uddin Mridha in Narayanganj, a small district just outside Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka. Mridha told reporters it was his younger brother who gave the buffalo its distinctive name, pointing to the animal’s thick, flowing blond coat that sits neatly between his large curved horns, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Trump’s signature hairstyle.

Since going viral on social media at the start of May, the four-year-old buffalo has drawn a nonstop stream of curious visitors, from local onlookers and social media fans to groups of excited children, all eager to catch a glimpse and snap a photo with the rare animal. Mridha said the constant attention has been overwhelming: the stress of large daily crowds has caused the buffalo to lose weight, forcing the farm to impose limited visiting hours. Still, the starstruck public continues to gather outside the farm gates, many traveling hours by boat or road to see the viral celebrity. One visitor, 30-year-old businessman Faisal Ahmed, traveled with five relatives to see the buffalo, noting his 10-year-old nephew took an hour-long boat trip just to get a look. “Truly, the features are similar between the buffalo and President Donald Trump,” Ahmed told Agence France-Presse.

To keep the buffalo comfortable amid the warm South Asian spring weather, farm workers bathe him up to four times a day, brushing his blond mane with a pink brush to keep his signature combover neat. Mridha emphasizes that any similarities between the buffalo and the former American president end at the hair.

Livestock department officials confirm pure albino buffalo are extremely rare: their distinctive pale white-pink coat and light hair come from a genetic condition that prevents the production of melanin, the pigment that gives animals their typical dark skin and fur coloring.

Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority South Asian nation of 170 million people, is gearing up for Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Feast of the Sacrifice, which is celebrated later this month. The holiday commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son to obey God, and tradition calls for religious Muslim families to sacrifice a livestock animal, sharing a portion of the meat with poor communities. This year, an estimated 12 million livestock including goats, sheep, cows and buffalo are expected to be slaughtered across the country, providing one of the few annual opportunities for low-income Bangladeshi families to eat meat.

“Donald Trump” is not the only named buffalo on Mridha’s farm: other bulls have playful nicknames matching their personalities or looks, from Tufan (meaning “storm” in Bengali) for an aggressive bull, to Fat Boy for the largest animal and Sweet Boy for the gentle member of the herd. Another golden-haired bull was named after Brazilian football star Neymar, thanks to his dyed-style bleached blond cut.

Mridha, who has cared for the viral albino buffalo for more than a year, says he has grown attached to the animal, who currently munches fodder calmly in his pen. Despite the animal’s newfound national fame, Mridha says he will honor the tradition of Eid al-Adha. “I am going to miss Donald Trump, but that is the core spirit of Eid al-Adha — making a sacrifice,” he said.

20 5 月, 2026
Former stars differ on whether African team can win 2026 World Cup

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition expanded to feature 48 participating nations co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, draws near, a heated debate has emerged among African football greats over a historic question: can an African national team finally lift the sport’s most coveted trophy this summer?

The conversation was sparked by Morocco’s historic run at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where the underdog Atlas Lions pulled off shocking upsets over European heavyweights Spain and Portugal to become the first African men’s team ever to reach the tournament semi-finals. That breakthrough has shifted expectations for the continent’s contenders, but opinions on whether 2026 will bring an historic title remain deeply divided.

Former Senegal international striker El Hadji Diouf, a veteran of multiple World Cup campaigns, is among the most outspoken optimists. Asked by Agence France-Presse if an African captain would lift the trophy at the July 19 final outside New York City, Diouf simply responded: “Why not?”

Pointing to the depth of talent across the continent, he highlighted his own nation’s roster: “We have amazing players like Sadio (Mane), Idrissa (Gueye) and Edouard (Mendy). They can match stars from any country. The 2026 World Cup — Africa is going there to win the tournament.”

Diouf’s bullish outlook is fully shared by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe, a South African billionaire who rose from leading top South African club Mamelodi Sundowns to the top of African football’s governing body. The 64-year-old administrator has made ending Africa’s World Cup title drought a core priority of his tenure.

“We are confident that the 10 African national teams at the 2026 World Cup will make us proud and that an African nation will be champions,” Motsepe told AFP. “What we lacked in the past was self belief. Morocco changed that in Qatar four years ago. We can match the best in the world. I will work relentlessly until I see the captain of an African nation lifting the greatest football prize.”

But not all African football icons share that confidence. Nigerian midfield legend Jay-Jay Okocha, who featured at the 1994 World Cup held in the United States, offered a more measured perspective, noting that expansion has raised the level of competition across all confederations.

“Regarding the 2026 tournament, I am concerned about the chances of an African team going all the way,” Okocha said. “We talk a lot about the title contenders from Europe and South America, but what about the North Americans and Asians? They are improving rapidly. I will be very happy to be proven wrong. African footballers have shocked the world before. Let us hope it happens again.”

Across the continent’s 10 qualified teams — Algeria, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia — expectations vary widely based on recent form and historical performance. Most analysts and insiders rank Morocco and Senegal as the continent’s strongest contenders for a deep run, though both sides face tough group stage tests.

Morocco, captained by Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi, has been drawn into Group C alongside five-time world champions Brazil, Scotland and Haiti, a draw that most observers expect will see the Atlas Lions advance to the knockout round at minimum. Senegal, meanwhile, will face defending World Cup champions France, Norway and Iraq in Group I, widely labeled one of the toughest groups in the expanded 12-group format.

The two sides recently faced off in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, where Senegal initially claimed a 1-0 win before CAF overturned the result on appeal after Senegal temporarily walked off the pitch over a controversial penalty decision. Senegal has since challenged the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with a final verdict still pending.

For Senegal’s head coach Pape Thiaw, the 2026 World Cup carries extra personal significance: he was an unused substitute in the Teranga Lions’ famous opening-game upset of defending champions France at the 2002 World Cup in Seoul. “That (2002) is history. We know the current French team well. It is going to be a special match and let us hope we win again,” Thiaw said from Dakar.

Not all African coaches are publicly targeting the title, however. For smaller or historically less successful sides, just securing a first knockout round berth or tournament win represents a historic milestone.

Egypt, which has won a record seven AFCON titles but has only qualified for three World Cups total since its first appearance 92 years ago, is still chasing its first ever win at the global tournament. Egyptian head coach Hossam Hassan, himself a former Egyptian star striker, said his side is focused on defying low expectations rather than planning a title run. “Reaching the World Cup is complicated and playing there is even harder. However, I see great ambition in my players. They want to achieve more than what Egypt did in the past,” Hassan said from Cairo.

Tunisia, which has qualified for six World Cups but has never advanced past the group stage, is also keeping expectations grounded. Recently appointed head coach Sabri Lamouchi declined to make bold title promises. “I am not going to tell stories by pretending we will repeat what Morocco did in 2022. But who knows, maybe one day,” Lamouchi told Tunisian media.

As the countdown to kickoff continues, the debate over Africa’s first World Cup title will only intensify, uniting fans across the continent in the shared hope that 2026 will finally be the year Africa writes football history.

20 5 月, 2026
‘Fired and festive’: ‘Late Show’ host Stephen Colbert bows out

After 10 years at the helm and 32 years as a staple of American late-night television, *The Late Show* with host Stephen Colbert will air its final episode Thursday night, capping a bitter cancellation that has sparked debate over network influence, political pressure and the future of free expression in entertainment. CBS, the network that originated the long-running show, has repeatedly maintained that the decision to pull the program — which currently leads all competitors in its time slot in ratings — was driven exclusively by financial considerations, and that any political overlap was pure coincidence.

The cancellation followed a high-profile public rebuke from Colbert, who slammed CBS for a $16 million settlement with former President and current U.S. leader Donald Trump. The settlement stemmed from claims that the network had “maliciously” edited an interview with Trump’s 2024 Democratic election rival Kamala Harris, with Colbert labeling the payout a “big fat bribe.” Critics have also linked the network’s move to ongoing efforts by CBS parent company Paramount to secure federal regulatory approval for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, a deal that requires sign-off from the Trump administration. In the months leading up to the cancellation, Paramount appointed right-wing journalist Bari Weiss — who has no significant prior leadership experience in television news — to head the network’s news division, a move widely interpreted as an outreach to the conservative White House.

The 62-year-old host, who took over *The Late Show* from predecessor David Letterman in 2015, has admitted the impending end of the show has weighed on him in recent weeks, with observers noting a more subdued tone compared to his usual sharp, cheerful wit. Last year, Colbert presciently noted in an Emmy acceptance speech, “Sometimes you only truly know how much you love something when you get a sense you might be losing it.” A touching moment came during the penultimate episode, when Colbert was joined by nearly all of his fellow late-night hosts — including Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver — for a collective tribute that underscored the solidarity of the comedy community in the face of mounting political pressure on critical media.

That pressure is not theoretical: Kimmel, the ABC late-night host, was pulled off the air for a brief suspension in September 2025 after complaints from conservative groups over a comment he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Since returning to the presidency, Trump has waged a sustained campaign against independent media and press freedom, using regulatory threats and costly lawsuits to retaliate against outlets and personalities that publish unflattering coverage or satirical jokes about him. Trump has been a particularly vocal critic of left-leaning late-night hosts, who regularly target him with on-air jabs, and has previously called Colbert a “pathetic trainwreck” who should be “put to sleep.”

Not all conservative-aligned late-night personalities have expressed sympathy for Colbert. Greg Gutfeld, host of the Fox News late-night show *Gutfeld!*, which draws a large conservative audience, responded to news of both Colbert’s cancellation and Kimmel’s suspension in November by asking, “Why did it take so long?”

Colbert first rose to national fame as a correspondent on Jon Stewart’s *The Daily Show*, where he created his iconic satirical persona: a deadpan, over-the-top conservative blowhard modeled after the loud talking heads popular on right-wing cable news. The persona spawned his own hit spin-off, *The Colbert Report*, before he was tapped to take over CBS’s flagship late-night franchise, where he dropped the character to lean into his own authentic voice as a host and comedian.

In the lead-up to Thursday’s finale, Colbert has auctioned off dozens of iconic props, costumes, and set pieces from the show’s 10-year run — including the show’s giant illuminated logo — with 100% of proceeds going to disaster relief and food security non-profit World Central Kitchen. While Colbert has remained tight-lipped about his long-term career plans, he has confirmed he will serve as a writer on an upcoming *Lord of the Rings* feature film, and says he plans to take an extended break after the finale ends.

Details of the final episode have been kept tightly under wraps by production staff, who declined to comment to AFP. One long-held dream for Colbert, a devout Catholic, remains unfulfilled: he has never secured an interview with the pope, whom he has long called his “white whale.” While Pope Leo XIV has an open public schedule on the date of the finale, an unplanned surprise appearance in New York is seen as extremely unlikely.

In a show of solidarity, all of Colbert’s fellow late-night hosts are scheduled to air reruns on Thursday, clearing the airwaves for his swansong. The after-party, fittingly for Colbert’s characteristic mix of sharp wit and good humor, is themed “Fired and festive!” Earlier this week, Colbert welcomed his predecessor David Letterman, who hosted *The Late Show* from its launch in 1993 until Colbert took over in 2015. The pair climbed to the roof of the show’s iconic Ed Sullivan Theater home to throw old furniture at a giant CBS logo, calling the stunt “wanton destruction of CBS property.” As Letterman put it, summing up the moment: “You can take a man’s show. You can’t take a man’s voice.”

20 5 月, 2026
Photographer charged with stealing camera of Bondi shooting victim after attack

In the aftermath of the devastating December 14 mass shooting at Bondi Beach that left 15 people dead, two shocking new criminal cases have unfolded in Australia, drawing widespread public attention. The first case centers on a 35-year-old working photographer who was present at the fatal Hanukkah event targeted by two gunmen. New South Wales Police allege that the man stole professional camera equipment belonging to Peter Meagher, one of the attack’s victims who was a retired police officer and working photojournalist at the time of the shooting. Meagher was killed in the gunfire, and the accused is said to have pawned the stolen gear just days after the attack. Authorities carried out a raid on the suspect’s western Sydney home on Wednesday, where they recovered the stolen camera along with additional items including handcuffs and multiple personal electronic devices. The 35-year-old was taken into custody and formally charged, before being granted strict conditional bail. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance next month. The case is a disturbing development in the wake of the tragedy, which has already shaken Australian communities. In a separate, equally startling case connected to the Bondi Beach attack, two brothers of Ahmed Al Ahmed — the Syrian-Australian shop owner widely hailed as a hero for his actions during the shooting — have been hit with criminal charges over alleged threats and extortion. During the attack, Ahmed rushed to stop one of the gunmen, identified as Sajid Akram, tackling him to the ground and successfully wresting a firearm away from the attacker. For his brave actions, Ahmed was shot multiple times, and he has since undergone multiple reconstructive surgeries on his wounded arm. His courageous intervention earned national acclaim, and a public fundraiser was launched to support his recovery that ultimately raised more than AU$2.5 million, equal to roughly $1.8 million USD or £1.2 million GBP. Following the attack, Ahmed’s two brothers, Hozifa al Ahmed and Sameh al Ahmed, relocated to Australia from overseas and moved into his home, according to court documents filed by prosecutors. Tensions between the siblings eventually deteriorated, prompting Ahmed to move out and relocate to a separate property. Earlier this month, Ahmed lodged an official police report, claiming his brothers had threatened him to force him to hand over a share of the public donation funds. Court documents outline detailed threatening phone calls the brothers are alleged to have made on May 7. During his call, Hozifa reportedly told Ahmed: “I will put your head under my boot, break your other arm, and smash your face. We will only leave if you give us $100,000 each.” Shortly after the first call, Sameh contacted Ahmed with an identical demand, stating: “If you want peace of mind and to be safe, you will give us $100,000 each.” The two brothers appeared in court this Wednesday to face charges of using a carriage service to harass and offend. Both have entered not guilty pleas, and their next court date is scheduled for July. Interim apprehended domestic violence orders have been issued against the pair, requiring them to stay away from Ahmed at all times. In the days after the attack, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally visited Ahmed in hospital to recognize his bravery and offer the government’s support. Both cases are now working their way through the New South Wales court system, as the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in recent years.

20 5 月, 2026
Israeli minister sparks outcry over video of bound flotilla activists

A controversial move by Israel’s far-right national security minister has ignited a firestorm of global condemnation after he publicly shared footage of bound Gaza-bound flotilla activists held in humiliating conditions by Israeli authorities. Itamar Ben Gvir, a hardline politician known for inflammatory rhetoric, posted the video to the social platform X this Wednesday, just hours after Israeli naval forces intercepted a convoy of activist vessels headed for the blockaded Gaza Strip and detained hundreds of international participants at Israel’s southern port of Ashdod.

The shocking footage, captioned with the provocative line “Welcome to Israel”, shows dozens of detained activists forced to kneel on the ground with their hands bound behind their backs and their foreheads pressed to the pavement. The Israeli national anthem plays over the footage in the background at multiple points, and Ben Gvir can be seen personally confronting the detained activists, heckling them while waving an Israeli flag.

The video drew immediate international backlash, and even drew criticism from top figures within Israel’s own government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly distanced himself from the minister, stating that Ben Gvir’s treatment of the detained activists ran “not in line with Israel’s values and norms”. Netanyahu added that Israeli authorities would move to deport all the detained activists “as soon as possible”. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar went even further in his rebuke, calling the incident a “disgraceful display” and accusing Ben Gvir of “knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display — and not for the first time”.

Criticism also poured in from diplomatic circles around the world. Even the United States ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, denounced Ben Gvir’s actions as “despicable”, writing on X that “Universal outrage & condemnation from every high-ranking Israeli official… for despicable actions by Ben Gvir. Flotilla was stupid stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed dignity of his nation”. European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib also publicly condemned the minister, noting that “no one should be punished for defending humanity”. Both Belgium and France formally summoned their respective Israeli ambassadors to respond to what Paris called Ben Gvir’s “unacceptable actions”.

The flotilla in question, organized under the banner of the Global Sumud Flotilla, launched from Turkey last week with around 50 vessels participating. It marks the second major attempt by international activists to breach Israel’s 17-year blockade of Gaza in as many months; a similar convoy was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Greece last month, with most activists expelled to European countries.

Israeli officials confirmed that roughly 430 international activists were aboard the intercepted flotilla, with all transferred to Ashdod port for processing and detention. The Israeli legal rights group Adalah, which sent attorneys to the detention facility to represent the detainees, issued a statement condemning both the treatment of activists and Israel’s broader policy towards Gaza. “Israel is employing a criminal policy of abuse and humiliation against activists seeking to confront Israel’s ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people,” the group said.

By Thursday, multiple other countries had joined the chorus of condemnation, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Poland, and Turkey. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the treatment of detained civilian activists “abominable” and announced that Canada would summon the Israeli ambassador to the country to respond. Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said she was “appalled and shocked” by the video, and called for the immediate release of all detained activists, which include the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly.

Ben Gvir has refused to back down from his actions, doubling down in a speech to Israeli parliament. “I am proud to be the minister in charge of the organisations that operated today against those supporters of terror,” he said. “Yes, there will be all sorts of pictures that Gideon Saar does not like, but I think they are a great source of pride.”

Netanyahu had earlier framed the entire flotilla effort as “a malicious scheme designed to break the blockade we have imposed on Hamas terrorists in Gaza”. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governed Gaza before the October 2023 war and currently controls less than half of the enclave, released a statement calling the video proof of Israeli leaders’ “moral depravity and sadism”.

Israel has maintained a full land, air, and sea blockade of Gaza since 2007, when Hamas took control of the territory. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, sparked by Hamas’ October 7 2023 attack that killed roughly 1,200 people in Israel, has led to catastrophic shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies in Gaza, with Israel repeatedly halting all aid deliveries into the enclave over the course of the conflict.

20 5 月, 2026
‘Disgraceful’: Treasurer Jim Chalmers lashes Israel minister after prisoners taunted

A viral social media video shared by Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked international outrage, including condemnation from top Australian officials and even members of Israel’s own cabinet, over his humiliating mistreatment of detained activists from an international Gaza-bound aid flotilla that includes multiple Australian citizens. The confrontation took place this week when Israeli security forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a 430-person international campaign organized to break Israel’s years-long naval blockade of Gaza and deliver critical humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave. Among the detained activists are up to 11 Australian nationals, alongside participants from dozens of other countries including New Zealand and Canada.

In the video posted to Ben-Gvir’s social media channels Wednesday, titled mockingly “Welcome to Israel”, the hardline politician – who has long advocated for expanding illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and has previously been sanctioned by Australia for inciting anti-Palestinian violence – can be seen taunting the handcuffed activists. Footage shows masked Israeli officers forcing one female activist to the ground after she chanted pro-Palestinian slogans, before Ben-Gvir waves an Israeli flag in front of a group of detainees forced to kneel face-down inside a detention tent.

Australia’s top political leaders were quick to issue a scathing rebuke of the incident. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong called the published footage “shocking and unacceptable”, confirming that Australia’s ambassador to Israel had already formally raised the issue with Israeli authorities. “We condemn his actions and the degrading actions of Israeli authorities towards those detained,” Wong stated. The minister added that she had directed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to summon Israel’s ambassador to Australia to reinforce Canberra’s demands: for the immediate release of all detained Australian citizens, guarantee that no detainees face mistreatment, and that Israel upholds its obligations under international law.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers echoed Wong’s condemnation during a press appearance in Perth, describing the video as “disgraceful” and “deeply disappointing”. While Chalmers noted that Australian government departments had previously discouraged Australian citizens from joining the flotilla voyage, he emphasized that even after they chose to proceed, humane treatment remained a non-negotiable requirement. “There’s absolutely no need or no place for it,” Chalmers said. “I can only imagine what it’s like to be a parent or a loved one of one of the people involved in that trip, and to see them treated that way.”

The condemnation extended beyond Australian political circles, even reaching within Israel’s own governing coalition. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar publicly distanced his government from Ben-Gvir’s actions, stating that the national security minister “knowingly caused harm to our State in this disgraceful display – and not for the first time. You have undone tremendous, professional, and successful efforts made by so many people, from IDF soldiers to Foreign Ministry staff and many others. No, you are not the face of Israel.” Even the Executive Council of Australian Jewry joined in criticizing Ben-Gvir’s conduct. Council President Daniel Aghion said “Nothing can excuse the appalling behaviour displayed by Minister Ben Gvir against a group of people who were being held in custody in Israel.” While the council acknowledged the activists had undertaken an unlawful and provocative action that it argued would benefit Hamas, Aghion stressed that “it does not in any way justify their mistreatment while they were being held. There is simply no excuse.”

Other Western nations have also added their voices to the widespread international outcry. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced that New Zealand – which already imposed a travel ban on Ben-Gvir last year for undermining prospects for a two-state solution – condemned the minister’s actions, and had instructed its foreign ministry to summon the Israeli ambassador to relay New Zealand’s grave concerns. “His latest conduct with respect to the Gaza flotilla, which has been seriously criticised by his own Prime Minister, is further vindication of that position,” Peters said. “We expect Israel to adhere to its international legal obligations, including in its treatment of New Zealanders participating in the flotilla.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also joined the condemnation, calling the documented abuse “abominable” and “unacceptable”. Carney confirmed that Canada’s foreign ministry had already summoned the Israeli ambassador to demand formal assurances for the safety of Canadian detainees, noting that Canada had previously imposed strict sanctions on Ben-Gvir, including an asset freeze and travel ban, over repeated incitement to violence. “The protection of civilians and respect for human dignity must be upheld everywhere, at all times,” Carney said.

20 5 月, 2026
Luke Beveridge calls on AFL to overhaul list rules amid injury crisis

With the AFL mid-season draft just around the corner, Western Bulldogs head coach Luke Beveridge has put forward a bold proposal aimed at easing the growing pressure of mounting injury lists across the league while opening up more opportunities for fringe players to earn their spot at the top level.

The long-serving coach has publicly called on league officials to revise current list rules, pushing for expanded squad sizes and more flexible promotion pathways that would allow clubs to address sudden and severe injury outbreaks that have derailed multiple teams’ 2024 campaigns. At the core of Beveridge’s idea is the creation of a formal extended supplementary list, a reserve pool of players that clubs hit hard by injury – such as this season’s crisis-hit Richmond Tigers – can draw from at any point when their senior list is depleted.

Beveridge argues that the current standard list size of 42 players, excluding category B development spots, is no longer sufficient to withstand the demands of a lengthening AFL season. With the introduction of the new Tasmania Devils expansion side, the league is set to add an additional round to the already packed 23-round regular season, plus retaining the existing pre-season fixture, putting even more physical strain on playing groups across the competition.

Beyond solving the immediate problem of crippling injury tolls, Beveridge says the expanded supplementary list system would also create greater incentive for undrafted players to continue developing their careers in state leagues, rather than walking away from the sport after being overlooked in the annual national draft.

“I understand we need key dates for drafts to allow clubs to prepare, plan and strategise in a sophisticated way to build their lists, but I also believe we need far more fluidity when it comes to bringing players onto an AFL list to get them on the field when injuries hit,” Beveridge said in comments this week. “Richmond is the perfect example right now of a club that would benefit from having a supplementary list to draw from as their injury crisis worsens. With 23 regular rounds, pre-season games still on the calendar, and an extra round coming when Tasmania joins the league, 42 players just isn’t enough, in my view.”

Beveridge expanded on his proposal, suggesting that the supplementary list should be structured to match the 48-player squad size approved for the new Tasmanian Devils franchise, with a dedicated 4 to 6 additional supplementary spots available for all clubs. He added that clubs facing extreme injury strain, like Richmond this year, should even be allowed to expand that supplementary pool further if needed. While he acknowledges that key details – including rules around player retention at the end of the season and which players qualify to move off the primary list – still need to be thrashed out with league bosses, Beveridge stressed the change is a necessary adaptation for the modern game.

“This is something we need to implement for the future, looking at the list structure that’s already been approved for Tasmania. Every AFL club should have the same flexibility to access a similar system when they’re dealing with a devastating injury toll,” he added.

The Western Bulldogs themselves have been forced to navigate their own significant injury crisis earlier this season, losing a string of key senior players in quick succession, with young star Sam Darcy headlining the club’s injury list. The good news for Beveridge and Bulldogs fans, however, is that the club is finally starting to get key players back fit and available for selection.

James O’Donnell is set to be available for selection this weekend, while key trio Tim English, Cody Weightman are on track to return to the line-up in the coming weeks. “We’re expecting James O’Donnell to be available this week. Tim is still probably another week away – we’re just being conservative with him, so he’s unlikely to play this round,” Beveridge confirmed. “Cody is a good chance to return next week. We’re expecting a handful of changes, but James is the main inclusion this week. We’ve always been a very cautious group when it comes to head injuries, so we’re just making absolutely sure Tim is fully fit and ready to go before we bring him back.”

20 5 月, 2026