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Cuba asserts right to grant refuge to US dissidents like Assata Shakur

Cuba defended its sovereign right to grant protection and asylum to US dissidents, civil rights fighters and persecuted persons, rebuffing the demand of US President Donald Trump that the Caribbean nation return so-called US "criminals" to the country as a precondition for the resumption of neighbourly relations between the long-time foes.

鈥淚n tune with the national legislation and international law, and Latin America's tradition, Cuba has granted political asylum or refuge to civil rights fighters from the United States,鈥 Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated at a Havana press conference on June 19.

Trump鈥檚 Cuba policy 鈥榙oomed to fail鈥

The Cuban government issued a statement on June 16 in response to US President Donald Trump鈥檚 announced change of policy toward the socialist-run island, reasserting the country鈥檚 sovereignty.聽

In a speech that day in Miami, Trump said he will cancel former President Barack Obama鈥檚 "completely one-sided deal with Cuba."

Cairns activists rally to stop Adani

Stop Adani groups are rapidly springing up in cities and towns across northern Queensland, intent on helping the movement against the company鈥檚 Carmichael coalmine.

Campaign roadshows have been springboards, including in Townsville and Port Douglas, with others proposed for Gordonvale and the Atherton Tablelands.

WA Labor: No uranium mining 鈥 well, just these four

The WA state Labor government announced on June 20 that it will not obstruct the construction of the four uranium mines in the state that have already received environmental approval. But it says it will block future proposals.

Toro Energy's Wiluna project, Vimy Resources' Mulga Rock project, and Cameco's Kintyre and Yeelirrie projects were all approved before Labor won the March election. Environmental approval for Yeelirrie was initially denied amid fears several species of subterranean fauna would be made extinct, but it eventually got the nod anyway.

Thousands of workers protest the ABCC

Around Australia, thousands of unionists, led by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), took to the streets on June 20 as part of a national day of action against the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), attacks on penalty rates, wage theft by employers and exploitation of migrant workers.

The CFMEU was joined by hundreds of other workers in contingents including nurses, teachers, firefighters, financial sector workers, public sector workers, university staff, manufacturing workers, electrical trades and maritime workers.

Geelong Trades Hall raises rainbow flag

On June 27, Geelong Trades Hall Secretary Colin Vernon along with other union and community activists raised the rainbow flag at Trades 聽Hall聽in support of marriage equality.

The council is supporting the LGBTI聽community and Surf Coast Shire residents who聽have been campaigning to keep the flag flying at their local council building since聽council backtracked on a position it took in April.