A steel and wood axe from the early- to mid-1900s that was seized under Australian legislation has been returned to the Philippines Government
The Australian Federal Police’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau (INTERPOL Canberra) returned the item after working with national and international law enforcement agencies to detect sources of illicit trafficking of cultural material.
It has made ongoing international enquiries into a US-based online vendor selling cultural heritage objects found to be illegally removed.
INTERPOL Canberra joined the Office for the Arts (OFTA), Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the Australian Border Force (ABF) to return the axe to the Philippines in a restitution ceremony in Canberra.
It follows two other restitution ceremonies in Australia in the past year in which illegally trafficked cultural items were returned to the governments of Mexico and Peru
The axe is associated with the Igorot communities in Northern Luzon, Philippines. This style of axe is still used for woodcarving and hunting by the Igorot communities. Axes like this were also used for headhunting, a custom that the Igorots maintained until the early 1900s.
According to a police statement, the ABF intercepted the item at the border in June 2020 after an Australian customer purchased it from the US-based vendor of interest.
The ABF referred the matter to the OFTA for advice for possible contravention of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986.
The Federal Police say that OFTA consulted with Australian experts who assessed the axe to be authentic. The Government of the Philippines requested restitution of the object in January 2021, asserting that the object was protected under its cultural property laws.
The OFTA seized the axe on 17 May 2021, and it was forfeited to the Commonwealth on 28 June 2021.
The axe was returned to the Ambassador of the Philippines to Australia, Her Excellency, Ms Hellen Barber de la Vega, at a formal restitution ceremony last week.
The Office for the Arts returned the axe at the ceremony and was joined by representatives from INTERPOL Canberra, ABF and DFAT.
The US-based vendor who sold the axe was first detected during Operation Athena II, a global customs-police operation spanning 103 countries, which included INTERPOL Canberra, focussed on disrupting the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage.
Globally, more than 19,000 archaeological artefacts and other artworks have been recovered during Operation Athena II and more than 100 people have been arrested.
Enquiries into the US-based vendor who sold the axe continue with US law enforcement partners
AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner International Command Melinda Phelan said law enforcement agencies around the world were increasingly receiving reports about cultural items and art being illegally trafficked.
“INTERPOL Canberra has been working closely with our partners in Australia and around the world to retrieve and return property illegally removed from their country of origin before they reach private collections and disappear from view,”
Assistant Commissioner Phelan said.
ABF Group Manager for Customs, Vanessa Holben, said that officers are attuned to attempts to illegally import cultural items into Australia.
“Thanks to the efforts of ABF officers at the border, this item was detected and referred to the Office for the Arts. We will continue to work closely with stakeholders to combat this type of cultural theft,”
Group Manager Holben said.
The axe was the sixth item sold by the US-based vendor to an Australian customer that has been intercepted and returned to a foreign government in the past 12 months.
Trump and Netanyahu unveil a Middle East peace plan; explore implications for hostages, ceasefire, and regional dynamics.
President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have unveiled a new plan to end the war in the Middle East. The announcement sets out an ambitious path that could reshape negotiations and redefine the region’s future.
In today’s episode, we explore what this plan means for hostages, the prospects for a ceasefire, and the risks of legitimising groups like Hamas. Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center joins us to break down the key messages and the global response.
Could this be a turning point, or just another failed attempt at peace? We look at the stakes for Jewish communities worldwide, the message it sends to other leaders in the region, and whether this moment rewards terrorism or sets a path for justice. Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker
In Short:
– Sean Combs sentenced to 50 months in prison for prostitution-related charges involving male escorts.
– Combs expressed remorse and plans to appeal the sentence, citing parental plea for leniency.
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to over four years in prison following his conviction for prostitution-related charges.
The sentence of 50 months was handed down by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan federal court. Combs, aged 55, was found guilty after a jury determined he arranged for male escorts to travel across state lines for drug-fueled sexual performances with his girlfriends.
Combs faced a maximum of 20 years but was acquitted of more severe charges, including racketeering, that could have led to a life sentence.
The allegations included claims that he coerced his girlfriends into participating in these encounters through threats and violence. Combs, who has been incarcerated since his 2024 arrest, is expected to appeal.
Emotional Statements
During the sentencing, Combs expressed remorse and stated he had learned his lesson. He acknowledged past abuses but maintained that the performances were consensual. His legal team argued for a reduced sentence of 14 months, citing his prior time served, while prosecutors advocated for a more extended sentence, highlighting the seriousness of the abuse.
Combs’ children also spoke during the proceedings, requesting leniency from the judge, stating that he had improved since his arrest. They pleaded for their father’s presence in their lives, with his daughter emotionally addressing the court.
The case has drawn significant media attention, marking Combs as a prominent figure facing serious charges in the entertainment industry.
In Short:
– Hamas is willing to release hostages but needs clarity on Trump’s peace plan.
– Negotiations continue, with Hamas requesting changes to disarmament and Israeli withdrawal terms.
Hamas has indicated a willingness to release the remaining hostages in Gaza, contingent on conditions linked to a broader peace agreement. The group’s response to mediators did not provide clarity on many aspects of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan.Hamas expressed gratitude for Trump’s peace efforts but sought specifics on issues like the timeline for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and assurances regarding the cessation of hostilities.
Trump welcomed the dialogue, urging Israel to pause its military actions while negotiations progress, which may exceed the Sunday deadline he set for a deal.
The group has agreed to release all prisoners associated with the occupation as part of Trump’s exchange proposal. However, Hamas maintains that discussions on Gaza’s future and the rights of the Palestinian populations require an inclusive Palestinian framework.
Reports suggest that 20 of the 48 hostages are still alive. Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk stated that the group needs further negotiations before committing fully to Trump’s plan and indicated that releasing the hostages in 72 hours is unrealistic.
Ongoing Negotiations
Trump’s peace initiative aims for the release of all hostages and proposes a transitional governance board for Gaza. While Hamas has shown some willingness to support the plan, it insists on modifications, particularly around disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Complexities within Hamas’s leadership further complicate consensus on the deal, as previous U.S. attempts to persuade the group have faltered.