Latest news with #AJA
Sky News AU
11-06-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Coalition, Jewish leaders and international allies question Labor's decision to sanction two Israeli cabinet ministers
The Albanese government has faced mounting criticism over its decision to impose sanctions on two Israeli cabinet ministers over the Gaza War. Domestic Jewish leaders, the federal opposition and key international allies have all questioned Foreign Minister Penny Wong's decision to impose the sanctions. Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were sanctioned over claims they had incited extremist violence. These sanctions mean all their assets in Australia must be frozen, they must not enter Australia and making assets available to them would be an offence. The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) has condemned the sanctions, accusing Labor of targeting Israeli leaders while ignoring Palestinian violence. 'The AJA is appalled by reports that the Albanese Government is imposing sanctions on ministers of the Israeli government,' CEO Robert Gregory said. 'This action represents a hostile and unjustified attack on a democratic ally and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. 'Under the Albanese government, Australia's longstanding bipartisan relationship with Israel has been severely damaged.' Mr Gregory warned the government's actions have 'emboldened Islamic extremists' and had 'contributed to a rise in antisemitism at home'. Teal MP Allegra Spender told Sky News there will be 'a lot of concern' in her community, given that she represents an electorate with many Jewish residents. 'I've sought a briefing from the foreign minister in relation to (the sanctions) in terms of … what is the justification for this,' she said. Coalition frontbencher Dan Tehan also questioned the government's decision, warning of diplomatic consequences and demanding a briefing. 'This is a very serious move to sanction two ministers from a democratically elected government,' Mr Tehan told ABC Radio National on Wednesday. 'And what we want is a briefing… We also would like to know how it's going to help the peace process.' Mr Tehan said that the government needed to explain why this was a good decision when the US 'has said it's likely to be unhelpful'. US Senator Marco Rubio called on the Albanese government to reverse the sanctions on Wednesday. '"The United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia,' he said. 'These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.' In Israel, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the sanctions as 'outrageous' and said they would undermine peace efforts. Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended the move at a press conference on Tuesday, saying the ministers had committed 'serious human rights violations'. She said the decision was made in coordination with like-minded partners and was aimed at 'advancing peace and the cause of a two-state solution'. Asked by Sky News whether Australia would consider sanctioning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ms Wong did not rule it out. 'We don't speculate about the approach,' she said, adding that the two ministers were 'not the only members of the Israeli government whose actions have been problematic'.
Sky News AU
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
US ambassador to Israel intervenes after Hillel Fuld's banning from Australia
Sky News host Peta Credlin says the US ambassador to Israel has stepped in after the Albanese government quietly cancelled the travel visa of Israeli-American tech advocate Hillel Fuld who was due to visit in the coming weeks. In a decision statement, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke cited 'islamophobia rhetoric' which risked inciting discord against Australia's Muslim population. The appeal to have the decision overturned came hours after the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) called on the Trump administration to intervene in what it called an 'attack' on Jewish Australians.
Sky News AU
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
US ambassador to Israel steps in after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke banned Jewish-American speaker Hillel Fuld from Australia
The US ambassador to Israel has stepped in after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke barred Israeli-American speaker Hillel Fuld from Australia, sparking an international diplomacy test for the Albanese government. The US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has confronted Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revoked the visa of Israeli-American speaker Hillel Fuld from Australia, sparking an international diplomacy test for the Albanese government. In a decision statement, Mr Burke cited 'islamophobia rhetoric' which risked inciting discord against Australia's Muslim population. The appeal to have the decision overturned came hours after the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) called on the Trump administration to intervene in what it called an 'attack' on Jewish Australians. Mr Fuld, who was set to speak at fundraising events in Sydney and Melbourne hosted by Magen David Adom, an Israeli national emergency service, confirmed he had been barred from Australia 'because of my tweets'. The Jewish American entrepreneur has more than 176,000 followers on X where he has posted extensively on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In an email sent directly to the Home Affairs Minister, and obtained by The Australian, Mr Huckabee called Mr Fuld a 'highly respected' US-Israeli who was not a 'threat of any kind' to the nation that barred him. 'Mr Fuld is highly respected member in his community and well known in Israel. While he holds strong views against terrorism and the kind of massacre that occurred on October 7, he would pose no threat to the people of Australia by his actions or words,' Mr Huckabee wrote. 'I fully respect the decision to grant the visa is solely in your hands and you have a sovereign right to make the decision to deny entry to someone you consider a threat to national security (but) I do not feel Mr Fuld poses any threat of any kind. 'I would respectfully request … you would be willing to review his visa application and grant the opportunity to make his brief visit for the sake of the very important charity event for the humanitarian emergency medical service organisation.' — Hillel Fuld (@HilzFuld) June 8, 2025 In the report on the decision, the Home Affairs Minister said Mr Fuld had used social media to deny 'documented atrocities' and had the potential to use the speaking events to make more 'inflammatory statements'. Mr Burke seemed to stand by his decision and said he did not want to import 'hatred'. In a statement to the outlet, the Home Affairs Minister said Australians 'have a strong view that we don't want hatred from overseas brought here'. 'This power has been used repeatedly over many years by ministers. It is currently being tested in the High Court in the Candace Owens matter. Last term, there was bipartisan support for the use of this power. If that is no longer the case, Mr Hastie should say so,' he said. It came after shadow home affairs minister Andrew Hastie put out a statement on Sunday morning calling for Mr Burke to explain the cancellation of Mr Fuld's visa. "If there is a new political precedent in the standard for issuing entry visas to Australia, the Australian people should be informed as soon as possible," Mr Hastie said. Mr Fuld wrote on X on Monday morning and said there was a 'very low chance' the Albanese government would reverse the decision. 'Despite my appeal and diplomatic efforts at the highest possible levels, I have not heard anything back from the Australian government about them banning me from their country for three years,' Mr Fuld wrote. In a separate post, Mr Fuld said with the coverage continuing to ramp up, it was less likely Mr Burke and the Australian government would reconsider the decision. 'They don't want to seem like they're giving in to the pressure,' Mr Fuld wrote. On Sunday, Mr Fuld joked about whether he should add 'persona non grata' to his list of labels. On Monday, he added "Banned from Australia" to his X bio.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Booking deputy earns national Valor award for removing handgun from new inmate
Booking Deputy John Elliott recently received the Valor Award from the American Jail Association for removing a loaded handgun from an inmate being booked at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center in 2023. American Jail Association President Shawn Klucznik presented the award to Elliott Tuesday during the annual AJA Conference and Jail Expo in Fort Worth, Texas. AJA gives this coveted award to an individual who demonstrated unusual judgment, zeal, bravery, and/or ingenuity that averted or minimized a potential disaster. While initiating the booking process on the inmate, Elliot noticed a handgun in the inmate's clothing. Without regard for his personal safety, he gained control of the firearm without any injuries. The handgun was loaded with 11 rounds. 'He had a gun and could have shot anybody,' Elliott said. 'I didn't want that to happen. Anybody else in booking would have done the same thing.' Tennessee Corrections Institute Board Chairman Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh commended Elliott. 'We are extremely proud of Deputy Elliott for his quick action to avoid a potential disaster in our facility,' Fitzhugh said. 'He is very deserving of this recognition.' Jail Administrator Kevin Henderson said the detention staff appreciates having a deputy on the team like Elliott. 'To see something wrong, respond and put your own safety at risk showed tremendous courage and the will to do a great job,' Henderson said. 'Who knows how many lives he saved due to his actions with total disregard for his own life? His actions were heroic.' Besides locating the handgun, Elliott also recovered a knife from an inmate in October 2023. The arrestee was belligerent and noncompliant with officers. AJA reported Elliott's persistence and dedication to safety and security while serving as a Booking Officer has been a point of inspiration for other staff members and exemplifies the innate bravery required of corrections officers every day across the nation. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Booking deputy earns Valor award for removing handgun from inmate
Japan Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan can ride the anime wave to become the new soft superpower
In today's rapidly evolving entertainment landscape, Japan is in a unique and privileged position. As global streaming giants battle for market share, Japan has something that can't be manufactured overnight: Decades worth of cultural content that has proven its global appeal. Anime has become Japan's most powerful soft power tool and provides a springboard for further expansion. This is a pivotal moment for "Peak Japan" — a term used by some to signal that the country has passed its prime and by others to indicate its stellar global popularity. Japan possesses the creative foundations to become a dominant player in global streaming content, but this requires coordinated action between government and industry. For a nation that has often struggled to project soft power proportional to its economic might, the streaming revolution offers a rare second chance. It is estimated that a small fraction of Japan's vast manga catalog has been made into animation, allowing room for immediate growth that could establish Japan as an entertainment powerhouse for decades to come. Japanese anime captured $19.8 billion in global revenue in 2023, according to data from the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), which brings together dozens of production companies, and New Zealand firm Parrot Analytics. And this industry that has finally been recognized by the government as one of strategic importance and as an economic multiplier in the recently revised "New Cool Japan Strategy." This success is the fruit of decades of creative development and artistic innovation that has resonated across the world, laying the groundwork for peak cultural awareness of Japan internationally. As Japan considers its position in the global media ecosystem, it needs to acknowledge a fundamental shift: Content is no longer constrained by national borders or language barriers. Streaming platforms have democratized access to entertainment and Japan sits in an enviable position with a vast array of compelling content ready for global consumption. Another consideration is that Generation Z viewers differ fundamentally from previous cohorts. These young consumers don't see foreign-language content as "foreign" but, instead, as compelling stories worth experiencing. As digital natives, they have grown up watching YouTube, Netflix and the like and don't mind subtitles or dubbing. Japanese storytelling, with its distinctive narrative approaches and aesthetics, has found remarkable resonance with international Gen Z audiences. This demographic, which is just now growing into its significant purchasing power, isn't merely consuming Japanese content but embracing it as part of its identity. From anime-inspired fashion to Japanese vocabulary seeping into everyday English, we are witnessing cultural influence that extends far beyond mere entertainment. Famously, American sprinter Noah Lyles celebrated his gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the Paris Olympics last summer by making the "Kamehameha" gesture — an energy-blast attack from "Dragon Ball Z." The world's fastest man on the world's biggest sporting stage used this Japanese cultural symbol to mark his win. Yet while anime leads in Japanese soft-power exports, it should be viewed not as a destination but as a gateway to expand other areas. For example, according to the AJA and Parrot Analytics survey, merchandise sales typically generate three times the revenue of streaming anime itself, representing a significant economic opportunity. Last year, FX's 'Shogun' was one of the world's most popular TV shows, making history as the production with the most Emmy wins in a single year. However, the historical drama set in Momoyama Period (1573-1603) Japan is an American production written by a Brit and filmed mostly in Canada. To fully realize its potential, Japan should be taking the big swings with its own stories and content. It would be wise to study South Korea's Hallyu wave carefully. This involves promoting not just K-dramas but K-pop and South Korean fashion, beauty products and cuisine as well; an approach that offers a blueprint for comprehensive cultural influence. It is no accident that South Korean content has risen to the top of the global entertainment business. This is the result of a thoughtful, well-funded strategy that allows for failures while generating huge successes, such as the film 'Parasite,' the TV series 'Squid Game,' the boy band BTS and girl group Blackpink, to name a few. Japan must position its film, television, music and merchandise for coordinated global distribution, with creative industries aligning around this shared objective instead of operating in separate domains. Partnerships with global streaming platforms represent a key opportunity as these services actively seek international content to differentiate themselves. Japan's production ecosystem, with its established studios and talent pools, offers advantages compared to Western markets struggling with rising production costs. Washington's recent threat that it will slap tariffs on movies coming to the United States from abroad only increases the urgency of a deeper involvement with streamers around the world, including in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Asia-Pacific, with its rapidly expanding middle class and high level of digital adoption, should serve as Japan's primary expansion target. Starting with a regional focus allows for strategies to be refined before broadening horizons to the global stage. Despite all these opportunities, significant challenges remain. Japan must adapt its traditional, domestic market-focused business practices to international standards, particularly when it comes to licensing, release windows and distribution rights. In addition, digital transformation in the Japanese entertainment industry — including embracing big data and using advanced analytics — isn't optional; it is essential. Japanese creators — traditionally underpaid compared to their global counterparts — need to receive fair compensation as their work reaches increasingly international audiences. The traditional production committee model also requires reconsideration: While streamers like to negotiate for global rights, production committees have many stakeholders and may want to divide rights by region. This makes negotiations slower, difficult and less efficient, ultimately pushing streamers to opt for making their own products instead. Investments in technical infrastructure such as subtitling, dubbing and, critically, data analytic capabilities will determine whether Japan controls its destiny or merely supplies content to foreign platforms that capture most of the value. These investments should come from the Japan side, either from government or industry, to ensure a modicum of control. Meanwhile, competition is intensifying. China, South Korea and, increasingly, Southeast Asian players are investing heavily in content production, threatening Japan's current advantage. The No. 1 animated box office success of all time is China's 'Ne Zha 2,' which grossed over $2 billion worldwide. Monetary gains of this scale allow the Chinese entertainment industry to reinvest and adapt its products to achieve even broader appeal. The soft-power game is a big money investment and Japan must be willing to pay to play. The global streaming revolution offers unprecedented opportunities to share stories with the world while building economic strength through cultural exports. The question is whether Japan will seize this moment or watch as others, such as the streaming and digital platforms, capitalize on the foundations it has built by becoming the gatekeepers of our attention. Increased efforts to bring together studios, streaming platforms and government agencies to develop coherent strategies for global expansion will be needed. For a nation at the height of its cultural influence, the time to act is now. Japan shouldn't play a supporting role in its own story. Douglas Montgomery is an entertainment and retail researcher and analyst who splits his time between Los Angeles and Tokyo. He is the founder and CEO of Global Connects Media, a global entertainment and retail consultancy.
