Australia

  • World News

    Hong Kong clashes heat up ahead of 70th anniversary party for China

    by Yan Zhao & Jasmine Leung “Democracy activists in the financial hub had vowed to ramp up their nearly four-month-long campaign ahead of tomorrow’s National Day celebrations.” Fierce clashes have again broken out between protesters and riot police in Hong Kong as thousands march through the sections of the strife-torn city. It was a day of global protests aimed at…

  • Bangkok News

    Hakeem al-Araibi leaves Thailand to be re-united with his wife in Melbourne – VIDEO

    Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, who was facing an extradition trial in Bangkok since his detention in November last year, was heading back to Australia last night after the Bahraini authorities decided to withdraw their extradition request. Bahrain’s decision yesterday ended all judicial proceedings underway in Thailand. It also ended a tense diplomatic spat between Australia and Bahrain which had Thailand…

  • Thailand News

    Hakeem al-Araibi: Free to return to Australia

    Hakeem al-Araibi is free to leave Thailand tonight. A Thai court has ruled that the extradition case against Melbourne-based footballer and refugee, Hakeem al-Araibi, has been dropped. • Hakeem al-Araibi was detained after flying to Bangkok in November • Jjailed over allegations he vandalised a police station in Bahrain during the Arab Spring protests in 2011 The Government has confirmed…

  • Thailand News

    Hakeem al-Araibi UPDATE: “Australia never issued a red notice”

    The Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi is going to file another bail request next week. His lawyer said yesterday that they will continue to seek bail while he awaits his extradition trial in April. Meanwhile, the Australian government, which is pressing for his release and return, yesterday dismissed reports that it had put out the red notice that resulted in the…

  • Bangkok News

    Thai authorities decide on Bahrain detainee’s future next week

    The Thai Attorney General is set to decide by next week whether to extradite a detained Bahraini footballer or allow him to travel to Australia as a refugee. Prosecutors have now received an official request from the Bahraini government to extradite the footballer, Hakeem Ali Mohamed Ali al-Araibi, and the request is being reviewed to see if it falls within…

  • Bangkok News

    Australian and Thai transnational drug smugglers drop the ball

    PHOTO: The Nation How much heroin can you smuggle in eight (car) shock absorbers? Apparently close to 4 kilograms. A joint Thai-Australian drug suppression operation called Taskforce Storm has yielded results and arrested two transnational heroin smugglers. Police identified the two as 38 year old Canadian Stephens Blair and 27 year old Thai Pahon Sivasirikaroon. The pair were apprehended when they…

  • Thailand News

    Saudi refugee: Friday milestones and developments

    Confusion reigned today over where the 18 year old Saudi woman, who fled from Kuwait to Thailand to escape her allegedly abusive family, would be resettled. Here are some of the key developments in the story today… • Surachate Hakparn, Thailand’s Immigration Police Chief, initially spoke to CNN saying that Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun had been offered asylum by Australia as…

  • Bangkok News

    Saudi teen seeks asylum as Australian foreign minister visits Thailand – Thaiger Bites

    Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne is in Bangkok today after the Australian Government says it would consider giving asylum to the 18 year old Saudi woman who fled to Thailand from Kuwait, saying she feared her family, which she accused of abuse. Reuters reports that Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun refused to meet her father and brother, who arrived in Bangkok yesterday…

  • World News

    Australian officials urge Thai authorities to release Hakeem AlAraibi

    “FIFA, world soccer’s ruling body, is also calling on the Thai authorities to allow for the return of AlAraibi to Australia at “the earliest possible moment”. Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne is urging Thai authorities to release a footballer who holds a refugee status in Australia and who has been detained in Bangkok for nearly two weeks. Hakeem AlAraibi, a…

  • Business News

    Phuket has Golden future for its sister city

    by Chongchit Buchanan Australia’s Gold Coast city and Phuket will sign a letter of intent to establish themselves as sister cities tomorrow (September 10). The intent of the agreement is to explore a stronger relationship between the two municipalities and create international business opportunities. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate will travel to Phuket to sign the agreement with his Phuket…