Sydney

February 10, 2019, 2:37 pm

20 swastikas spray-painted near Bondi Beach in Australia

Head of local Jewish group calls graffiti near popular Sydney beach an ‘expression of blatant racism,’ while mayor vows to ‘stand united against anti-Semitism’

By Michael Bachner

New Year's Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House, during the fireworks show on January 1, 2019. (PETER PARKS / AFP)

December 31, 2018, 9:56 pm

Revelers the world over begin to welcome in 2019

Sydney hosts city’s largest-ever fireworks show, Dubai to attempt longest-ever pyrotechnic display, as cities around the world ready for a night of New Year’s celebrations

By Glenda Kwek

Illustrative: A man plays a song on a guitar on the Sydney Harbor in front of the iconic Opera House on May 11, 2016. (AFP/SAEED KHAN)

December 4, 2018, 1:34 pm

Australian arrested for fake terror plot in love spat

Arsalan Khawaja apparently convinced police his colleague was embroiled in plan to attack Malcolm Turnbull, Sydney Opera House; false accusation motivated by dispute over woman

By Daniel DE CARTERET

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to media after the official opening of the refurbished ANZAC Memorial in Sydney on October 20, 2018 (Saeed KHAN / AFP)

October 20, 2018, 2:02 pm

Australia government loses crucial vote, leaving Israel embassy move in doubt

Result in by-election snuffs out coalition’s one-seat majority, sends country into period of political instability, diminishes prospects of mission relocating to Jerusalem

By AFP and TOI staff

Newly elected leader of the Liberal Party, Scott Morrison addresses media at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Aug. 24, 2018 (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)

October 20, 2018, 4:56 am

Australia gov’t braces for defeat in vital by-election marked by Jerusalem offer

Loss will leave PM without parliamentary majority; he floated idea of moving embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in apparent attempt to woo Jewish voters

By AFP

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media in Canberra, October 17, 2018. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image via AP)

October 19, 2018, 11:50 am

‘Desperate’ times for Australian government as crunch election looms

Loss of by-election in heavily Jewish Sydney suburb of Wentworth, where former envoy to Israel Dave Sharma is running, could cost Liberal party its parliamentary majority

By AFP and TOI staff

October 17, 2018, 2:41 pm

Australian parliament debates fallout from possible embassy move to Jerusalem

PM Scott Morrison tells lawmakers that support for two-state solution is ‘very clear,’ while support for Israel is ‘very, very clear’

By Stuart Winer and TOI staff

Undated picture of Lisa Jackson Pulver, a Jewish member of the Aboriginal tribe called the Wiradjuri. (From 'Hand in Hand: Jewish and Indigenous people working together' by Anne Sarzin and Lisa Miranda Sarzin.)

September 3, 2018, 7:25 pm

Aboriginal Jewish woman appointed deputy vice-chancellor at University of Sydney

Former synagogue president Lisa Jackson Pulver, who converted to Judaism in 2004, was first in her family to enter tertiary education

By henry Benjamin

Ilan Buchman and Oscar Shub at their wedding at Sydney's Emanuel Synagogue on May 2, 2018. (Screen capture: YouTube)

May 16, 2018, 6:34 pm

Couple holds Australia’s first same-sex Jewish wedding

Ilan Buchman and Oscar Shub tie the knot at Sydney’s Emanuel Synagogue 5 months after country legalized gay marriage

By JTA

Screen capture from video of recovery efforts after six people died when a sea plane crashed into the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, Australia, December 31, 2017. (YouTube)

December 31, 2017, 1:58 pm

Six dead after Sydney seaplane crash

Tour aircraft plunges into river, killing all on board; unconfirmed reports say four passengers were British nationals

By AFP and TOI staff

Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Gaughan speaks to the media about a North Korean agent in Sydney on December 17, 2017. (AFP Photo/Peter Parks)

December 17, 2017, 7:43 am

N. Korea ‘agent’ charged over missile tech sale plot in Australia

Police say Australian national was in touch with senior officials in Pyongyang, worked to boost regime’s ballistic missile program

By AFP

Lebanese Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk at the police headquarter in Beirut, Lebanon, November 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

August 22, 2017, 6:56 am

Lebanon says four nationals behind failed plot to down plane in Australia

Suspects hid bombs inside a large Barbie doll and a meat grinder but failed to get them onboard aircraft after bag deemed overweight

By Bassem Mroue

An architect’s rendering shows the synagogue building that a Chabad affiliate, Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe, hoped to build near a popular beach in Sydney, Australia. (Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe)

August 10, 2017, 6:59 pm

Australian group to resubmit plans for Sydney synagogue

Waverley council affirms security arrangements can be found for house of worship to be built near Bondi Beach

By henry Benjamin

Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan (L) and New South Wales Police Commissioner Catherine Burn address the media after two 16-year-old boys were charged with terror-related offences in Sydney on October 13, 2016. (AFP PHOTO / WILLIAM WEST)

August 6, 2017, 2:37 pm

Australia police release man in foiled plane terrorism plot

Charged with possession of prohibited weapon, Khaled Merhi is to appear in court later this month

By AFP

August 4, 2017, 10:50 pm

Australian city: Don’t blame us for banning synagogue on terror grounds

Jewish leaders decry disturbing decision in Sydney suburb, predict legal means will be taken to pursue project

By JTA and TOI staff