Max Walden

Pauline Hanson claims Lakemba is unwelcoming. Tell that to a million people about to visit If Hanson feels unwelcome in Lakemba, perhaps that’s her problem, not ours.

“We thought we might have been past this rhetoric after the Christchurch massacre, in which an Australian killed 51 Muslims praying at two mosques. But no, here we are again, backed into defending our way of life – our religion, our suburbs…” www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

Menacing letters sent to politicians bear hallmarks of Sydney mosque threats The ABC can reveal two of the threatening, hate-filled letters sent to Lakemba Mosque this month bear close resemblance to similar racist letters sent to multiple politicians since 2022.

Exclusive: Several Australian politicians have been targeted with racist, threatening letters as far back as 2022, with clear similarities to threats received by a Sydney mosque in recent weeks.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

A nasty spate of shark attacks in the Sydney area Is global warming to blame?

Since the federal election in May I’ve been moonlighting for The @economist.com, writing about Australia. My latest is about the spate of shark attacks last month and how it’s forcing a re-evaluation of our relationship to surf beaches. Thanks for reading. www.economist.com/asia/2026/02...

I wish journalists would be more precise with language about Islam and Muslims. The Age/SMH style guide has a great note on this to effect of: words relating to *people* (worshipper, community, leaders) are Muslim; *things* relating to the religion (architecture, scripture, schools) are Islamic.

UK Police Arrest Former Prince Andrew Over Epstein Ties: Live Updates The British police on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of criminal activity linked to the Epstein files.

Breaking News: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested in Britain on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, the BBC said.

Could One Nation soon become Australia’s most popular party? The anti-immigrant party is dragging the Liberals rightward as well

Australia once seemed immune to the rise, seen in much of the rest of the democratic world, of right-wing populism. No longer

Dozens of Palestinian journalists beaten, starved or raped, report alleges Israeli prison service and IDF reject allegations after research by Committee to Protect Journalists

Almost 60 Palestinian journalists detained in Israeli prisons since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack have been beaten, starved and subjected to sexual violence, including rape, a @pressfreedom.bsky.social report alleges.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

Journalists Arrested in Cameroon While Reporting on Trump’s Secretive Deportation Program

"An Associated Press reporter was beaten by the police and detained along with three other journalists on Tuesday in Cameroon while reporting on a secretive Trump administration program to deport migrants to the Central African country, according to two of the people detained." (gift link)

Sydney mosque demands security boost over threatening letters Another threatening letter has been sent to Lakemba Mosque in Sydney's west, the third in recent weeks just hours before the start of Ramadan on Wednesday.

"Since the awful incident in Bondi … the Muslim community has been collectively held to account for the actions of two individuals."

Australia's largest mosque is calling for more security, after it was mailed a third threatening letter ahead of Ramadan
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Fowler named in Matildas Asian Cup squad to complete remarkable injury return Considered the Matildas' X-factor, Mary Fowler has been named in the Women's Asian Cup squad, just 10 months after sustaining an ACL injury.

Mary Fowler named in Matildas Women's Asian Cup squad, Sam Kerr to captain
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

India’s pollution is becoming an economic roadblock The government’s inaction runs counter to its goals

"Pollution is having a direct effect on consumption, growth and thus on Narendra Modi’s often-stated ambition to make India a rich country by 2047. If that doesn’t convince India’s leaders to take action, nothing will." www.economist.com/asia/2026/02...

Obama conspiracy theorist to address Australian conservative summit American filmmaker and Infowars regular Joel Gilbert is speaking this week at Advance’s new conference in Sydney along with former prime minister Tony Abbott and Victorian MP Moira Deeming.

An American filmmaker and conservative activist who claims Barack Obama’s real father was a communist poet and that Michelle Obama “is not who she pretends to be” will address a conference in Australia hosted by rising right-wing lobby group Advance. www.smh.com.au/world/north-...

Chinese police calls to HungryPanda riders raise foreign interference concerns Riders embroiled in a dispute over pay and conditions with food delivery company HungryPanda in Sydney say Chinese police have asserted pressure back home to stop them protesting.

Riders embroiled in a dispute over pay and conditions with food delivery company HungryPanda in Sydney say Chinese police have summoned family members back home and even threatened to have them arrested upon return as part of a pressure campaign to stop them protesting
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Man who allegedly threw homemade bomb in Invasion Day rally crowd named The man accused of throwing a bomb at Invasion Day protesters in an alleged terrorism act attack in Perth can be named as Liam Alexander Hall.

The man accused of throwing a bomb into a crowd at a Perth Invasion Day rally in an alleged act of terrorism can be named as Liam Alexander Hall. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has dropped a criminal defamation case against Australian writer Murray Hunter in Thailand.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

How these 'old-school' Chinese restaurants have survived for decades Since the early 90s, these Chinese restaurateurs have served the community they call "family". This is how they've stayed open amid Melbourne's ever-changing food culture.

How these 'old-school' Chinese restaurants in Melbourne have survived for decades
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Bondi Beach gunman Naveed Akram fronts court for the first time Bondi Beach gunman Naveed Akram, who is charged with 15 counts of murder, has appeared via video link for the first time in a Sydney court as a senior magistrate extended existing suppression orders i...

Bondi Beach gunman Naveed Akram has appeared via video link for the first time in a Sydney court as a senior magistrate extended existing suppression orders in the case.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Myanmar expels East Timor's representative over war crimes case YANGON: Myanmar's junta said on Sunday (Feb 15) it had ordered the ejection of East Timor's top representative there after a rights group said Dili had opened a legal case against the militar

Myanmar expels East Timor's representative over war crimes case
www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar...

Australian craft brewers hop on 'clean and easy' Japanese lagers As record numbers of Australians continue to visit Japan, Japanese brewers have come to dominate our domestic beer market.

While only 101,000 Australians travelled to Japan during 1997, more than 121,000 Australians visited in the month of December 2025 alone.

And as drinking habits change in Japan, beverage giants Kirin and Asahi have looked elsewhere for growth. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Epstein survivor slams 'deeply upsetting' handling of files Lisa Phillips says the publication of the "Epstein" files was meant to deliver long-promised transparency but has instead exposed victims, deepened trauma and continued to shield powerful men.

A survivor says the publication of the Epstein files was meant to deliver long-promised transparency but has instead exposed victims, deepened trauma and continued to shield powerful men www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Officer gave men permission to pray before they were removed from rally, police say A group of Muslim men had already received police permission to worship during a Sydney protest before they were disrupted mid-prayer by officers, NSW Police Force confirms.

A group of Muslim men had already received police permission to worship during a Sydney protest before they were disrupted mid-prayer by officers, NSW Police Force confirms.

Deaths in Iran's crackdown on protests reach at least 7,000, activists say Activists say the death toll from a crackdown over Iran’s nationwide protests has reached at least 7,002 with many more people still feared dead. The U.S.

Activists say the death toll from a crackdown over Iran's nationwide protests has reached at least 7,002 with many more people still feared dead.

🇯🇵 Japanese shares rose to record highs after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's conservatives won a historic election landslide with a projected two-thirds majority.
➡️ u.afp.com/S2ab

Zelensky says US pressing for Ukraine and Russia to end the nearly four-year war by June, with possible talks between the two sides in Florida next week
u.afp.com/S26V

The Economist is hiring Audience fellows for 2026 We are offering paid internships in our London newsroom lasting up to 12 months, to work on our social-media platforms and newsletters

We are offering paid internships in our London newsroom lasting up to 12 months, to work on our social-media platforms and newsletters

Before a single vote is cast, dark clouds gather over Thailand's progressives As Thailand prepares to head to the polls, voters remain wary that in their version of democracy, the party they vote for is not always the one that takes power.

Thailand election stakes are high as progressives mount new challenge against establishment
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

Catastrophe brings a reckoning for Sumatra's oil palm plantations Indonesian island considers future of farms that magnified damage from floods and landslides

Excellent feature by Nikkei Asia - Catastrophe brings a reckoning for Sumatra's oil palm plantations
asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/bi...

It Turns Out Waymos Are Being Controlled by Workers in the Philippines During a Congressional hearing, Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, was grilled over the company's reliance on overseas workers.

Once again, it turns out “fully autonomous” means “a guy in the Philippines.”

Prabowo looks way happier than usual! Albo cracked him lol

YouTube video by ABC News (Australia) India's Modi and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim named in Epstein files | Asia News Week | ABC NEWS

I appeared on Asia News Week last night to discuss the appearance of Anwar Ibrahim and Narendra Modi in Epstein's private emails.
youtu.be/wqA2Lep97bQ?...