Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed support for new state laws that restrict the wearing of masks or head coverings during protests, in response to the rising number of extremist gatherings. This move follows a recent neo-Nazi rally in New South Wales, which sparked public debate over both safety and freedom of speech.

The incident took place outside the New South Wales Parliament, where around 60 men dressed in black held banners and shouted extremist slogans. Police stated that the gathering had been notified seven days in advance under the Summary Offences Act and was not prohibited by any court, making it a “legal assembly.” New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon explained that, after assessment, police initially saw no reason to intervene, but due to public backlash and insufficient internal communication, he will reassess the decision.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Albanese stated that hate speech and Nazi slogans should have no place in society, and he supports state regulations on covering one’s face during protests. He noted that wearing masks makes it difficult to identify participants, which could facilitate illegal or hate-driven activities, whereas people engaging in legitimate political action should not be threatened simply because their identity is concealed. On whether the move impacts freedom of speech, the Prime Minister emphasized that free speech does not include inciting hatred, anti-Semitism, or violence.

Responses from legal and community organizations have been mixed. Jewish community groups in New South Wales strongly condemned the rally and called for a review of its legality, while the New South Wales Civil Liberties Council warned that excessive restrictions on protests could infringe on the right to peaceful assembly, particularly affecting those with medical, religious, or privacy needs. Critics argue that a blanket ban on masks could hinder peaceful demonstrations, increase enforcement risks, and make vulnerable groups more susceptible to surveillance and retaliation.

After more than 40 days of a federal government shutdown, the U.S. Senate on Monday (Nov. 11) passed a temporary funding bill by a vote of 60 to 40, marking a key step toward reopening government operations. The bill extends federal funding through January 30 next year and guarantees back pay for affected federal employees. It must still pass the House of Representatives before being signed into law by President Donald Trump.

The bill’s success in the Senate hinged on seven Democratic senators and one Democratic-aligned independent crossing party lines to support the measure, allowing Republicans to reach the 60-vote threshold needed for passage. The House, currently in recess, is scheduled to reconvene on Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson has urged lawmakers to return to Washington promptly to vote on the bill, though with Republicans holding only a slim majority, its passage remains uncertain.

The shutdown has left 1.4 million federal workers either furloughed or working without pay, and disrupted numerous government services nationwide.

Under the bipartisan agreement, the bill not only provides short-term funding but also allocates full-year budgets for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and Congressional operations. It further extends funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September next year, a program supporting roughly one in eight Americans.

However, some Democrats voiced frustration over their party leadership’s decision to decouple healthcare subsidy negotiations from the funding talks, arguing that the shutdown should have been used as leverage to secure an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies. Lawmakers warned that if Congress fails to renew the subsidies expiring in January, future funding negotiations could again stall — potentially triggering another shutdown.

Chinese national Qian Zhimin, dubbed the “Bitcoin Queen,” has been sentenced to 11 years and 8 months in prison by a UK court for orchestrating a massive international Ponzi scheme and laundering billions through cryptocurrency. The case is regarded as one of the largest money-laundering and crypto seizure operations in British history.

Prosecutors said that between 2014 and 2017, Qian masterminded an investment fraud in China involving around 128,000 investors and a total of 40 billion yuan (≈£4.3 billion), embezzling over 6 billion yuan. After the scheme collapsed, she fled China in 2017, traveling through several Southeast Asian countries before entering the UK under a false passport and assuming the alias “Zhang Yadi.”

Once in London, Qian allegedly laundered her illicit gains through Bitcoin, converting stolen funds into cryptocurrency before purchasing luxury goods, jewelry, and properties. A 2018 police raid uncovered over 61,000 bitcoins, then valued at about £300 million, which have since risen in value to nearly £5 billion. Authorities also seized gold, cash, and crypto hardware devices.

Judge Sally-Ann Hales described Qian as “the architect and driving force of the entire criminal enterprise,” adding that her actions were “motivated purely by greed.”

Qian initially claimed political persecution by the Chinese government but later pleaded guilty in September to charges of possessing and transferring criminal proceeds. The UK Crown Prosecution Service has launched civil proceedings to use the seized bitcoins for victim compensation, though the final valuation and distribution will depend on future court rulings due to cryptocurrency price volatility.