Kameel Majdali's Road Ahead

Novak Djokovic, the world’s number one tennis player according to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), winner of twenty grand slams of which nine were in Australia alone, and on track to be the world’s greatest male tennis champion of all time, returned to his native Serbia. He will not be playing in the 2022 Australian Open in Melbourne, as planned. His visa was cancelled and his appeal to the Australian High Court failed. He was immediately deported afterwards and barred from returning to Australia for three years. The reason? Various violations of Australia’s coronavirus restrictions, including his vaccination status. His short-term future and ability to play in other upcoming tournaments in France and America are uncertain, and for the same reasons. The champion’s visa drama commanded world attention. Netflix has announced that a documentary will be forthcoming on this story. Covid-19 is a real public health threat and has already done much harm to global health and the e...

As we assess what’s happening in 2022, we need some understanding of today and good news for tomorrow. Let’s face it: the years 2020 and 2021 were unprecedented, intense, and for many people, miserable. Lives and nations were turned upside down. The ‘old normal’ of 2019 seems like a distant memory. Yet before we examine the good news - in our final instalment, let’s see what we need to watch for in 2022 so that we might fulfil the Biblical injunction to ‘watch and pray’ (Matthew 26:41; Ephesians 6:18). ELECTIONS IN 2022 The following countries have scheduled elections: The United States: The eagerly anticipated mid-terms (meaning the president is not running for office but the Congress is seeking election or re-election) is scheduled for 8 November. The Republicans, known as the GOP (the red party), are predicted to win big in Congress. The House of Representatives will probably turn ‘red’ and the Senate, which is held by the Democrats (the blue party) by the slimmest majority, may fli...

  Under normal circumstances, Australia’s international reputation is very positive, though often not in the news. While the world knows little about the ‘land down under,’ what they do know includes iconic kangaroos, koalas, the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House, a coveted migrant destination with enviable lifestyle, prosperity, peace … and freedom.   That was, until Covid -19 hit in 2020. Australia Reacts to Covid;   The World Reacts to Australia Look at these international headlines: ‘Australia Has Locked Their People Up, Built Detention Camps, and Now They’re Taking Booze’ — townhall.com ‘ Australia Traded Away Too Much Liberty: How long can a democracy maintain emergency restrictions and still call itself a free country? — The Atlantic ‘How long can Australia go on like this?’ — The Guardian   ‘Prison Island: Australia’s Covid fortress has become a jail’ — The Spectator ‘Australians Are Suffering from Excessive Covid Lockdowns’ — National Review ‘Joe Roga...

Have you heard of Ash Wednesday? And Black Saturday? These are the names of two infamous and deadly bush fires, in 1983 and 2009 respectively, that have left an indelible impression on the ‘land down under.’ Bush fires are not unusual in this bone-dry continent. However, the yet unnamed ‘Bush Fire Season 2019-2020 ’ is shaping up to be the worst on record. To give some perspective: Ash Wednesday Fires of February 1983: Affected the Australian states of South Australia and Victoria, burning 418,000 hectares or 1 million acres, destroyed 2,400 houses and killed 75 people. Black Saturday February-March 2009: Affected State of Victoria, burned 450,000 hectares or 1.1 million acres, destroyed 2029 houses and 2000 other structures, and killed 173 people (including respected Melbourne newsreader Brian Naylor). 2019-2020 Bush Fires - Burning since September 2019. New South Wales and eastern Victoria are worse affected, with 12 million acres or 50,000 square kilometre...

It happened in America. It happened in Sri Lanka. It happened in Israel and the United Kingdom … twice. Now it has happened in Australia. What is the ‘it?’ The ‘it’ is called ‘an upset’ or ‘shock’ election result. All this … and more … within the last four years. Even if you are not Australian or understand Australian politics, there is a lesson for everyone, including in the British, Americans, and the rest of the world. Election 2019 in Australia may be a foretaste of greater shock elections to come. Let’s learn why? Australians went to the polls for the May 18, 2019 federal election. The governing party, the Liberal-National Coalition (from henceforth called ‘Coalition’), which, despite the name, is meant to be the conservative party, was trailing in every poll for the last two years, often by double-digits. The left-of-centre opposition Labor Party was tipped to win the election and form   government. Not only did the regular opinion polls support them but also th...

‘A week is a long time in politics,’ the saying goes. Within less than a week, two internal Federal Liberal Party (equivalent to the American Republican Party and the British Tories) meetings saw the toppling of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. On the same day, 24 August 2018, Australia received a brand-new PM: Scott John Morrison, known by the nickname ScoMo. Since 2010, there have been 6 prime ministers in 8 years. While the internal blood-letting of changing PM’s in the middle of a government term began with the Australian Labor Party (ALP), Malcolm Turnbull challenged Tony Abbott in September 2015 for the Liberal Party Leadership. Now, Malcolm Turnbull has been replaced by Mr. Morrison. Mr. Morrison did not directly challenge Turnbull nor demand a change of leadership. Indeed, he pledged his support to the Prime Minister.Once the second vote came about and Turnbull declined to run again, Morrison put up his hand, and prevailed. Photo courtesy of Creati...