UPDATE:
News Ltd has reported that earlier today Greens senator Lee Rhiannon had her passport confiscated, and was detained by Sri Lankan immigration officials in Colombo.
The Sri Lankan immigration officials went to the hotel where Rhiannon was staying at 9.30am this morning, during a meeting she was holding with local activists. The senator from NSW then had her passport confiscated.
An hour later, the senator was scheduled to hold a press conference with New Zealand MP Jan Logie about alleged rights abuses by the Sri Lankan military. The conference was to be held at the Tamil National Alliance.
News Ltd reported that Sri Lankan immigration officials were in possession of Rhiannon and Logie’s travel documents for some time today.
The most recent reports suggest that Rhiannon has had her travel documents returned to her, and is now on her way to the airport to travel back to Australia.
1. An Australian Customs boat with 63 asylum seekers on board is reportedly due to arrive on Christmas Island. The boat was rejected by Indonesian authorities after it began to sink off the coast of Java.
Fairfax Media is reporting that asylum seekers on the boat have made contact with Australian media outlets, informing them that the boat has entered Australian territory.
2. Millions of people have been displaced in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan. The death toll has been revised to over a 130 people as communication systems in the region are gradually restored.
There are concerns that the number of dead may rise substantially as the storm heads towards Vietnam, possibly reaching the thousands.
3. Three people are in hospital and a teenage boy is in custody following a brawl at the Sydney FC vs Melbourne Victory football match in Sydney last night. Reports are suggesting that it was a group of Melbourne Victory fans who were attacked, but that it is unclear as to whether the attackers were aligned with Sydney FC.
4. Diplomatic talks surrounding Iran’s nuclear weapons have ended inconclusively. Representatives from Russia, Germany, the UK, France, China and the US met with Iranian officials to try and determine a solution. The next round of talks are scheduled for November 21.
5. Newly elected MP, Clive Palmer, is hosting a world leadership forum at his golf resort and dinosaur park. The event, due to take place in December, will see former Dutch and New Zealand prime ministers in attendance, as well as a video message from former US president, Bill Clinton.
6. A jockey has died following a race fall on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. 45-year-old Desiree Gill was taken to Nambour Hospital last night in a critical condition and died this morning. She had over 30 years of racing experience.
7. Acclaimed Australian children’s author, Mem Fox, has spoken out against the increasing number of children using tablets and smartphones as their primary form of entertainment.
Speaking to Fairfax Media at a promotional event for her new book, Baby Bedtime, Fox said: “One of the things that bothers me most is that people seem to think that kids can be left alone with technology, [but] they would be less likely to leave the child alone with a pile of books at the age of two or three.”
Top Comments
My friend is going to buy her two year old an iPad because she's scared of him being 'left behind'. I don't understand it because she's quite organic with every other way she's raising him.
I agree completely with Mem. I hate seeing people giving young babies/toddlers iphones/ipads every time they move. You see it at restaurants, coffee shops, car trips, etc. Let them explore on their own and learn to self-entertain - my son's fave toys are stacking cups, puzzles, etc and I will not fall into the convenience trap which is all that it is. I am horrified by family and friends who use these devices as babysitters.
I think iPads have their place. I am a mum of a three year old little girl and an 18 month old little boy and, while we read books at bed time ('The Day The Crayons Quit' and 'Steam Train, Dream Train' are the favourites at the moment), we always take our iPad with us when we visit a restaurant or cafe. Restaurants and cafes weren't designed for kids and our kids weren't designed to sit still for long stretches of time or maintain highbrow conversation around the table. I'm pretty sure other diners would also prefer to eat their meal without listening to my children losing their minds out of sheer boredom. My husband and I both work full time and I study of an evening once the little ones are all tucked in. It's rare that we take our children out but sometimes it's unavoidable - when we do the iPad is as essential as nappies and a spare set of clothes.