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Ben Roberts-Smith has been granted bail by Local Court Judge Greg Grogin in Sydney after being charged with five counts of war crime murder. The 47-year-old former SAS corporal was released from Silverwater Correctional Complex on Friday, April 17, 2026, following a hearing where the court acknowledged the exceptional circumstances of the case, noting that the trial could take years to resolve. Bail conditions imposed on Roberts-Smith include: Forfeiting his passport and reporting to police three times a week. Granting authorities access to his electronic devices. A strict travel restriction preventing him from leaving Queensland except for legal or medical reasons. A $250,000 bond (surety) provided by his father, former judge Len Roberts-Smith, which would be forfeited if conditions are breached. The judge ruled that these stringent conditions would mitigate risks regarding flight or witness interference, despite opposition from Crown prosecutors who argued the charges were gravely serious and that there was evidence suggesting Roberts-Smith had attempted to move overseas. While Roberts-Smith denies the allegations, the criminal case follows a 2023 defamation trial where a judge found the accusations of murder were substantially true.

My son has been on holiday in Thailand with mates for 10 days. He was due to fly home tonight, arriving sometime in the morning. He texted to say his flight had been cancelled. I'm assuming it was a fuel situation. Another text a few minutes ago to say he had been moved to another flight arriving 12 am Sunday. Fingers crossed.

The refinery is 70 years old. They say it was an equipment failure that caused it.

Here is Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, sending up Trump, first on his attack on the Pope, then he spots the likeness to himself in the 'patient' being healed by Trump appearing as Jesus in an AI picture, and Trump's weak explanation of the picture. You can disregard the rest of the video, or watch it if you you like.

I went out this evening to get some extra petrol before the effect of the Geelong refinery fire is felt. 91 octane at the local BP and the 7-Eleven was at 211.9/l.

One of PHON's seats has been thrown into doubt. https://au.yahoo.com/news/absent-votes-cast-doubt-over-015650889.html

The decision to build lots of multi storey residential units will put a strain on things - not a lot of rooftop space to handle 10 to 15 levels of home units.

Midsomer.

Gina Rinehart has suffered a legal blow, with a court ruling the family of her father's former business partner has the rights to royalties from her Hope Downs mine in WA's Pilbara. Justice Jennifer Smith found both Mrs Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting and Rio Tinto were jointly liable for the royalties payments to Peter Wright's family's company, Wright Prospecting. But Justice Smith dismissed claims from Wright Prospecting and two of Mrs Rinehart's children that they owned part of Hancock Prospecting's share of the Hope Downs mine. Justice Jennifer Smith dismissed all claims, including by Mrs Rinehart's children and Mr Wright's descendants, to an ownership share in the Hope Downs iron ore mines and tenements, currently operated as a joint venture between Mrs Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting and Rio Tinto. Justice Smith found both Hancock Prospecting and Rio Tinto were jointly liable for the royalties payments to Mr Wright's family's company, Wright Prospecting. ABC News.

This one has been seen before, but worth a rerun.

I was going through some old images on a hard drive, and on today of all days, I came across this.

Vance should be known as Kiss of Death Vance. This week, JD Vance had two jobs: get an Iran deal and keep Hungary's Viktor Orban in power. Neither happened for the US vice president. Then there was his visit with Pope Francis, who died a few days later. And he's the default President if Chump carks it?

It's all Litespeed's fault. He mentioned Abbott on page one, and that was enough to send Nev into his usual rants. DO NOT mention anything other than Ukraine reports in this thread. If you must, start a new topic.