The Source’s round up of the top news stories this week.
- Sydney anti-terror raids
- Scottish independence vote
- Japanese Antarctic whaling operations to resume
- Heavy truck bypass suggested to save cyclist lives
- Allegations regarding Baby Gammy continue
Sydney anti-terror raids, one arrested and 15 detained
Warrants have been carried out in various homes across Sydney and Brisbane with one man being charged with “serious terrorism related offences”.
AFP Acting Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the police believe the group of 15 detained had been “planning to commit violent acts here in Australia.”
The man arrested will appear in court today.
Scottish independence, no vote has slight lead
A historic vote to declare Scotland’s independence from the United Kingdom is hours away.
Current polls show a 49% support for independence and 51% against.
British political leaders promised greater autonomy for Scotland if people decide to stay in the union.
Japanese Antarctic whaling operations to resume for commercial purposes
Japan’s Antarctic whaling program will continue as announced at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting.
The program had been stopped for 6 months after the International Court of Justice ruled Japan’s whaling program was a commercial operation, not scientific as proposed.
Japan told the IWC its program will be amended, most likely reducing the quotas by hundreds, but specifics will be finalised at next month’s meeting.
(More at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-18/japan-to-resume-whaling-in-antarctic-waters/5752476)
Heavy truck bypass suggested to save cyclist lives
The death of a cyclist Rebekka Meyer has sparked talk about a change to truck laws, saying trucks should be banned from using Stanley Street and turning right at Annerley Road.
The death of Ms Meyer’s is the fourth truck related cycling death in the past 12 years and the 36th cycling accident on Annerley Road since 2007.
A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Scott Emerson said a new cycling strategy for Queensland will be finished by the end of 2014.
Allegations regarding Baby Gammy continue
Allegations against baby Gammy’s biological Australian father David Farnell have been made with a former employee of Thailand Surrogacy speaking out.
Claims were made Farnell asked for the baby to be aborted and then suggested Gammy be left at a temple.
“He said ‘there is a normal one, can I take the normal one? Can you leave the abnormal one at the temple?” former employee said.
Thailand Surrogacy chief executive Antonio Frattaroli confirmed Mr Farnell did ask for an abortion.