18/03/2026

WEDNESDAY | MAR 18, 2026

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Family of Bondi shooting accused seeks gag order

Taiwan-US arms deal on schedule

TAIPEI: Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo yesterday said he believed the US internal review process for the sale of a second package of arms to the island is proceeding on schedule. A major US arms package for Taiwan worth about US$14 billion (RM55 billion) that includes advanced interceptor missiles is ready for President Donald Trump’s approval and could be signed after his upcoming trip to China, Reuters reported last week, citing sources briefed on the discussion. But on Monday, Trump said he was seeking to delay his visit to China in early April by about a month because of the Iran war. Asked if the trip’s postponement could impact the new arms sales to Taiwan, Koo said the government had been coordinating closely with the US. “As we understand it, their internal review procedures are proceeding on schedule,‘ he said. “I don’t think we have received any information indicating delays.” China has repeatedly demanded an end to such sales. President Xi Jinping told Trump last month that arms sales to Taiwan must be handled with “prudence”. The US, which in December unveiled an US$11 billion sale of weapons to Taiwan, has not formally unveiled a second package. Trump’s moves to secure a favourable trade deal with China have raised concerns among some China watchers that he could curb US military support for Taiwan. The US has no formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, but is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. – Reuters North Korea relooks constitution SEOUL: North Korea’s legislature will convene on Sunday to consider revisions to the nation’s constitution and the election of state leadership. The gathering of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) follows a five-yearly gathering of the ruling party last month which elevated leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful younger sister Kim Yo Jong to a top position. On Sunday 687 deputies were “elected” to the SPA, with all North Koreans over 17 given the choice of approving or rejecting the sole candidate put forward by the ruling party. The candidates were duly approved with 99.93% of votes in favour and 0.07% against, the Korean Central News agency (KCNA) reported, with turnout at 99.99%. The result reflected citizens’“ardent desire and self-confidence to reliably defend their state political system”, the agency said. It followed the ninth Workers’ Party congress last month, which directs efforts on everything from diplomacy to war planning and which closed with a military parade. The SPA is expected to formalise decisions made in that congress, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. “The regime appears intent on swiftly codifying the decisions of the party congress,” Hong said. The gathering elevated Kim Yo Jong, long considered one of her brother’s closest lieutenants, to department director within the party’s apex central committee, according to KCNA. The SPA will also deliberate on the re election of Kim as president of the State Affairs Commission, the country’s top state post, and possible revisions to the constitution, KCNA said. – AFP

o Media groups oppose move, cite public interest

“He’s doing good, he’s doing OK,” Akram’s solicitor Leonie Gittani told reporters outside the court. The proposed gag order is being challenged by several media groups on public-interest grounds. Appearing on their behalf, barrister Matthew Lewis said yesterday protecting the principle of open justice in the case would have a “therapeutic effect” for the country. The identities of Akram’s family and their home address were already widely known, while his mother gave an interview to a newspaper shortly after the attack, he said. Magistrate Hugh Donnelly reserved judgment until April 2. Akram faces 59 charges over the attack, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder and a terror offence. His father, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene. – Reuters

the most notorious terrorist attack this country has ever seen”, Wilson said, putting his family at risk from attacks from “misguided and angry” members of the public. The family has received death threats on several occasions in person and via phone and text message, while their home in the western Sydney suburb of Bonnyrigg had been targeted by “vigilantes, Wilson said. “They have had the intended effect of causing fear,” he said, telling the court the family thought they were at risk of physical harm. Appearing via video link from the maximum-security jail where he is being held, Akram spoke only to confirm he could hear proceedings. Dressed in a prison uniform with his hair closely cropped, he remained impassive throughout the hearing, keeping his head down for much of the time. He is yet to enter a plea.

SYDNEY: The family of a man accused of killing 15 people at a Jewish festival on Sydney’s Bondi Beach last year fear for their safety after a spate of alleged vigilante attacks, a court heard yesterday. Naveed Akram, 24, is accused of opening fire on a Hanukkah celebration on Dec 14 in Australia’s worst mass shooting in decades. Akram is seeking a gag order preventing the publication of the names or photos of his mother, brother and sister, as well as their home address and places of work and schooling, due to fears for their safety, his barrister Richard Wilson told a Sydney court. Akram is charged with “the most serious and Iran footballers train with Brisbane club BRISBANE: Two Iranian footballers have trained with the Australian club Brisbane Roar after seeking asylum in the country, with one of them uploading a picture alongside a senior FIFA official saying: “Everything will be fine.” Seven members of Iran’s football delegation competing in the Women’s Asian Cup sought sanctuary in Australia last week after they were branded “traitors” at home for refusing to sing the national anthem at their opening game. Only two, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, remain in Australia after the others changed their minds and decided to return. Rights groups have accused Tehran of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the republic. Iranian authorities have in turn accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay. “Welcome, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh,”said Kaz Patafta, chief executive of Brisbane Roar, in releasing photos of the two training and smiling with the A-League team on Monday. “Today, Brisbane Roar officially welcomed both players to the club’s training facilities to take part in training with our A-League women’s squad,” he said. “We remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them while they navigate the next stages.” Pasandideh posted a picture of herself on Instagram alongside FIFA’s chief football officer Jill Ellis, a former coach of the American national team, with the caption: “Everything will be fine.” The two players are being housed at an undisclosed location and receiving support from the government and the Iranian community. After the news last week that players had been granted asylum, Brisbane Roar released a statement saying they wanted to welcome the Iranian footballers. “Brisbane is home to one of the country’s most passionate football communities and the Roar family has a big heart,” it said. “We’d be honoured to open our doors and offer you a place to train, play and belong and will begin to explore how to make this happen.” – AFP

Pasandideh training with Brisbane Roar. – AFPPIC/AUSTRALIA’S BRISBANE ROAR FC