1. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has submitted a bill to parliament for the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership.
2. Erdoğan’s move follows a commitment he made at a NATO summit in July to send the bill for ratification in October.
3. Historically, Erdoğan has delayed Sweden’s application to gain concessions from the US, notably the sale of F-16s to Turkey, which faced delays in the US Senate.
4. Turkey has also demanded Sweden enforce stricter rules on extraditing Kurdish asylum seekers, believing Sweden’s actions against the Kurdistan Workers party militia to be insufficient.
5. The Turkish parliament moved forward with the accession bill on October 23, 2023.
6. Only Turkey and Hungary remain among NATO members that have not ratified Sweden’s membership.
7. Hungary, which has ties to both Ankara and Moscow, has given inconsistent reasons for its delay. It has faced criticism for its perceived erosion of democratic norms by other European nations.
8. Some speculate Hungary might not want to be the sole NATO member opposing Sweden’s accession.
9. Sweden’s Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, welcomed Turkey’s move and anticipates Sweden joining NATO soon.
10. No fixed timeframe exists for the ratification process; the bill will first be reviewed by the parliament’s foreign affairs commission.
11. Sweden and Finland sought NATO membership after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland became a member in April.
12. Recent damage to telecommunications cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea, connecting Nordic and Baltic countries, has raised security concerns attributed to Russia’s antagonism.

The forthcoming V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program in Melbourne welcomed His Excellency Governor General, the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), along with Her Excellency, Mrs. Linda Hurley, when they visited the centre.

Set to open in the coming weeks, the V Centre aims to be more than just shelter for veterans. It’s designed to provide comprehensive care, assisting veterans who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or in suboptimal living conditions.

The creation of the V Centre is a response to the increasing needs within the younger veterans’ community. As noted by Vasey RSL Care Board Chair Mike O’Meara OAM:

He emphasized that Vasey RSL Care is well-equipped to address the issues veterans often face transitioning from military to civilian life. Concerns within the veteran community include:

• A notably higher suicide rate than the broader population.

• A homelessness rate nearly three times that of the general public.

• An estimated 300 veterans becoming homeless every year.

Drawing inspiration from successful international programs and leveraging insights from Australian experts in veterans’ affairs and homelessness, the V Centre offers a holistic Model of Care. However, O’Meara revealed that, even as the V Centre’s opening draws near, there are still challenges. An additional $12.7 million is needed to complete refurbishments and fund its operations for the first three years.

Nevertheless, optimism prevails. “We are fully dedicated to this cause and believe in its potential to bring about transformative and life-saving change,” O’Meara stated.

During the visit, the Governor General and Mrs. Hurley interacted with staff, special attendees, and listened to speeches by Mike O’Meara and CEO Janna Voloshin. A walkthrough of the soon-to-be-opened facility was led by Vasey RSL Care Executive General Manager, veteran Chris Gray, culminating in a cordial afternoon tea.

The V Centre is set to be fully operational by mid-November.

A former commando, Heston Russell, who was falsely portrayed by ABC will be granted over $400,000. However, ABC has no intentions of apologizing.

During a court session on Tuesday, it was revealed that ABC could have paid a lesser amount had they let the judge decide on Heston Russell’s legal fees. This issue arose due to ABC Investigations’ defensive approach, which eventually resulted in Russell’s defamation.

Russell, a former military commando, was wrongly depicted in articles suggesting that his team in Afghanistan had executed a prisoner because there was no space for him on a helicopter. The source of this claim was a US marine who, in mid-2012, claimed to have heard a sound over the radio indicating a reduction in prisoner count.

This story first surfaced in October 2020 and was brought up again in November 2021 when ABC stated that the Department of Defence had verified a criminal inquiry into the matter. However, this claim was later refuted by the department.

During a senate hearing on Tuesday, ABC’s managing director, David Anderson, expressed that he had no intentions of apologising for the defamation or the substantial costs incurred by the public-funded entity. He emphasized that while he is aware of the challenges faced by military returnees, it doesn’t deter ABC from holding them or the defence force accountable.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee previously highlighted that ABC Investigations’ defensive stance led them to publish the false reports. These reports have since been taken down. He stated that ABC Investigations could have been more thorough before publishing such grave allegations in the November article.

On the recent court date, the final compensation amount was settled at $412,315, which includes interest on the initial $390,000 awarded to Mr. Russell. While his legal expenses will be covered, Justice Lee mentioned that he might have decided differently had ABC not agreed, especially after discovering that Russell had intentionally misled the court.

Justice Lee emphasized the importance of truthfulness in court resolutions. Although Russell’s false testimony could have reduced his compensation, reducing the amount due to ABC’s prior agreement would have been inappropriate.

Earlier, in September 2022, Russell’s attorney had proposed a settlement of $99,000 to ABC, which also included legal fees and the retraction of the controversial articles. Now, ABC will cover his costs till that settlement offer and post that, all costs on an indemnity basis.

In response to speculations about the cost figures reaching up to $2 million, Justice Lee has requested a detailed breakdown of expenses for his evaluation.

Liberal senator Sarah Henderson criticized the lawsuit’s expenses, suggesting it cost taxpayers millions. She argued that ABC not only tarnished Mr. Russell’s image but also compromised their credibility as a reliable news outlet. On the defence side, Mr. Anderson mentioned that $700,000 to $800,000 was used in defending the lawsuit.

Photo: Cpl Michael Currie

Australia has agreed to sell 14 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to Fiji under the new Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership. These vehicles can transport up to 10 troops, are blast resistant, and come equipped with armoured V-shaped hulls and machine guns.

During a visit to Gallipoli Barracks in Queensland, Australian Defence Minister Pat Conroy and Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka viewed the Bushmasters. Conroy highlighted Australia’s commitment to supporting Fiji’s peacekeeping missions and emphasized the symbolic nature of the Vuvale partnership, which means “family” in Fijian.

The strengthened Vuvale Partnership, signed by Prime Ministers Rabuka and Anthony Albanese, aims to enhance collaboration in areas like climate change, trade, and cultural exchange. In a press conference, Albanese praised Fiji’s contributions, especially in peacekeeping roles in the Middle East, and emphasized the tight-knit relationship between the two nations. He also acknowledged Fiji’s support for Australia’s regional initiatives, including climate change actions and the AUKUS pact.

From 1 November, older Australians will have free access to the best protection against shingles through one of the most comprehensive and widely available vaccination programs in the world.
 
The Australian Government is committing $826.8 million to provide almost five million people who are at risk of severe disease from shingles with a free Shingrix® vaccine under the National Immunisation Program.
 
This includes people aged 65 years and over, First Nations people 50 years and over, and people 18 years and over with severely weakened immune systems at high risk of herpes zoster infection.

People who could not have the previously funded vaccine against shingles because of a weakened immune system are able to have Shingrix.

Shingles is caused by reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox and presents as a painful blistering rash on one side of the face or body that lasts 10-15 days.
 
One in five people with shingles will develop severe nerve pain, known as post-herpetic neuralgia, that can last months or even years. In a few people, it may be permanent.
 
The likelihood of developing shingles increases with age. People aged 65 years and over have the highest chance of complications like post-herpetic neuralgia.
 
Shingrix® will replace Zostavax® on the National Immunisation Program from 1 November 2023, following advice from the independent medicines experts at the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). Shingrix® provides around 10 years of protection and usually costs up to $560.

Getting vaccinated is the safest and most effective way to protect yourself from shingles and its complications.

For more information, visit the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website or talk to your doctor.

Following Chinese ships blocking and colliding with two Filipino vessels in the South China Sea, the U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to defend the Philippines under the 1951 treaty.

The collisions near the contested Second Thomas Shoal caused damage to a Philippine coast guard ship and a navy-operated supply boat. No injuries reported.

Philippine diplomats protested the incident, summoning a Chinese Embassy official in Manila.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. convened an emergency defence meeting in response to the maritime clash. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro criticized China for its use of “brute force” and for violating international law.

China is hosting negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on a proposed nonaggression pact for the South China Sea. The Philippines will raise concerns over the recent naval incident during these talks.

The territorial disputes in the South China Sea, involving countries like China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, are a known flashpoint in U.S.-China tensions.

The Chinese coast guard claimed the Philippine vessels instigated the collisions by intruding into Chinese territory. The U.S. State Department accused China of violating international law by interfering with the Filipino vessels’ navigation.

The U.S. referenced a 2016 ruling that refuted China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, including areas near the Second Thomas Shoal.