US offers to rescue Australian Islamic State families in Syria

17/11/2019

(Translation appears in Arabic Section)

Sydney - M E Times Int'l: The United States is offering to rescue the Australian families of Islamic State (IS) group fighters trapped in Syria, as it ramps up pressure on countries to repatriate their citizens from the war zone.

Eight Australian IS fighters are believed to be imprisoned, and more than 60 women and children are currently in the al-Hawl camp in northern Syria, a dangerous region that has become even more volatile since Turkey's offensive last month.

Before that invasion, the Australian Government repatriated a group of orphans from the camp but, so far, it has refused to extract any more.

If a catastrophe can't pause the culture war, we really are in a lot of trouble

Sydney: It has been a week of catastrophe in Australia.

For so many people, and so many communities, there have been days and nights of sleeplessness, exhausting anxiety, and fear of monstrous firestorms; and for some, the destruction they have caused.

And now the oppressive knowledge that it is likely that this could go on for months.

It has also been a week of catastrophic failure of our political dialogue. It's easy to just express exasperation at the sniping of some of the statements made by politicians this week as they have tried to fight a culture war about climate change in the midst of such disastrous scenes.

But there is actually something much more alarming going on here. If our political conversation really is at a point when these cultural weapons can't be downed in the face of a crisis, we really are in a lot of trouble.

The widespread acknowledgement that this current fire season is something out of the ordinary, that it has no end in sight, and that in some cases there may not even be enough water to fight fires, is an opportunity of a lifetime for our leaders, for all its catastrophic costs, if only they weren't too thick, or too incapable, to seize it.

Arsonists should 'have the book thrown at them, twice'

Sydney: Macedone Legal Senior Partner Sam Macedone says arsonists should "have the book thrown at them, twice." Mr Macedone said "hopefully" arsonists "are caught" and if they are "the law will deal with them harshly". "Unfortunately, a lot of these arsonists are young kids. Very rarely will you see them go to jail but something's got to be done," he said. "You just can't imagine how anyone would make that decision to start a fire - knowing full well - the damage it can do, the lives that can be lost." The bushfire crisis affecting NSW and Queensland is taking a major emotional toll on those directly impacted. But as the extent of the damage becomes clear, homeowners will also have legal questions.

Australia 'can move towards' a 100% renewable future

Sydney: Australia is well placed to move towards a 100 per cent renewable energy future, according to prominent economist Professor Ross Garnaut. Professor Garnaut said Australia can achieve this aim by the end of the 2030s due to its strong renewable energy base. He told reporters Australia must move "to a zero-emission economy before 2050" if the government plans to meet its Paris Agreement targets. "The recommendations I make are fully consistent with government policy," he said. "We can make a good start (to achieving zero emissions) within the current policy framework".

New bypass machine saves Melbourne father after serious pneumonia diagnosis

Melbourne: A Melbourne father diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs has been given a second chance thanks to a cutting-edge bypass machine. Doctors told Jean-Pierre Domain and his family to prepare for the worst.

Cardinal George Pell wins final bid for freedom

Melbourne: Disgraced Cardinal George Pell has been granted leave to appeal his conviction for historical child sexual abuse. Pell was found guilty last year of sexually abusing two teenage choir boys at St Patrick's Cathedral, while he was serving as Archbishop. The High Court granted the appeal on Wednesday, giving Pell hope his conviction may be quashed or a re-trial ordered.

Tony Abbott 'should head' an Australian 'bushfire task force'

Sydney: The former prime minister Tony Abbott was called by Rowan Dean to head an Australian 'bushfire task force', as fires continue to devastate the nation. "I would love to see Scott Morrison setting up a bushfire task force, putting Tony Abbott in charge of it," Mr Dean told host Paul Murray. "Someone with Tony Abbott's knowledge and expertise should be able to get in there and say 'here's where we're going wrong'". "Because we're clearly doing something wrong," he said. Mr Dean said "we must be able to learn from" the catastrophic bushfires currently gripping Australia.