Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 4 February 2019

Australia says last child refugees to leave Nauru camp

By ROD McGUIRK children, including some as
Associated Press young as six months old,”
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) lawyer Jennifer Kanis said
— Australia announced in a statement. “In many of
on Sunday that the last those cases, the delay in ac-
child refugees held on the cess to medical treatment
Pacific atoll of Nauru will has risked serious and life-
soon be sent to the United threatening consequences
States, ending the banish- for the children and adults
ment of children under the concerned,” she added.
government’s harsh asy- In 2017, the Australian gov-
lum-seeker policy. The psy- ernment reached a settle-
chiatric and physical suf- ment of around 90 million
fering of children has been Australian dollars ($68 mil-
the major criticism of the lion) with more than 1,900
government’s policy since asylum seekers who sued
2013 to send asylum seek- over their treatment at an
ers who attempt to reach immigration camp in Pap-
Australia by boat to an im- ua New Guinea.
migration camp on Nauru The all-men asylum seekers
or men-only facilities on were seeking damages in
Papua New Guinea. Prime the Victoria state Supreme
Minister Scott Morrison said Court for alleged physical
the last four asylum-seeker This Sept. 4, 2018, file photo shows Nibok refugee settlement on Nauru. Associated Press and psychological injuries
children on Nauru would removed from Nauru or has others remain on the islands too long and at times has they say they suffered as a
soon be resettled with their had their claim processed and face uncertain futures. been very hard fought - in result of the conditions on
families in the United States and has a clear path off Law firm Maurice Black- the last year alone we have the Manus Island camp,
under a deal struck in the the island,” Morrison said in burn said it would continue had to take court action as well as for false impris-
final months of President a statement. its legal fight until all asy- repeatedly to help secure onment following a Papua
Barack Obama’s admin- The United States agreed in lum seekers were removed the medical evacuation New Guinea court ruling
istration. “Every asylum 2016 to accept up to 1,250 from the island camps. of 26 critically ill people on that their detention was
seeker child has now been refugees. More than 1,000 “This action has taken far Nauru with many of these unconstitutional.q

Israel’s Netanyahu takes aim at media in webcast

Associated Press to be modeling the idea on ing showing the two men
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli President Donald Trump’s standing together. It said:
Prime Minister Benjamin “Real News Update,” a “Netanyahu. A different
Netanyahu on Sunday weekly webcast on Face- league.” In Sunday’s quar-
launched a new weekly book hosted by the presi- ter-hour broadcast, Netan-
webcast to “get rid of the dent’s daughter-in-law to yahu touted his accom-
fake from the news” ahead counterbalance what the plishments as prime minister
of national elections in administration deems an in the past ten years. He
April. oppositional media. claimed credit for stopping
In a video shared on social The clip makes dismissive Iran from obtaining nuclear
media Saturday, Netan- references to the police weapons, called Israel an
yahu said the webcast will investigations into alleged energy superpower, ar-
“only cover the reality, and corruption by the prime gued that the last decade
I will continue to ensure that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly minister. Netanyahu has was “the most successful”
it will be positive.” cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. enjoyed a warm relation- for national security in Is-
The inaugural webcast on Associated Press ship with Trump. On Sun- rael’s history and said his
Sunday, which aired on pages, featured the prime television personality, and day, his Likud party posted ruling Likud party was “the
Netanyahu and his Likud minister fielding questions drew around 6,000 viewers. a massive billboard on the only democratic party” in
party’s official Facebook from Eliraz Sade, a reality The prime minister appears side of a Jerusalem build- the country. q