A man accused of stalking a woman he barely knew has been granted bail. Suyash Sinha, 31, of Franklin, was suspended without pay from his ACT Government contracting job after his employer learned of the charge through media reporting. The court heard he contacted the woman after she refused a relationship, sent messages describing what she was wearing, and sent friend requests from multiple accounts. Police are still investigating his alleged use of government work systems. Magistrate Ian Temby imposed conditions including no contact with the woman or her family and no social media use.
A survey of 1,662 Queensland adults found most would not find a mother guilty of assault for physically punishing an 11-year-old. The level of force mattered, with 57 per cent saying a slap across the face should be treated as assault. Overall, about 65 per cent said the mother should be found not guilty across all examples. Attitudes towards smacking have softened, with a 2023 study finding three in four Australians do not believe physical punishment is necessary. Physical punishment remains legal in all states and territories through a defence of reasonable discipline.
Canberra chef Lawrence Shi has opened Mookata n Ramen Bar in Bruce, a restaurant that combines Thai and Japanese flavours. Shi left a finance course at the Australian National University to pursue cooking, a skill she learnt from her mother and grandmother. The restaurant's signature mookata is a communal meal that pairs a charcoal barbecue with a simmering broth. A charcoal barbecue set costs $89 for six dishes and includes a free serving of vegetables. The menu also includes noodles, curries, ramen and desserts, with most dishes priced around $20.
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Students at the Australian National University are campaigning for votes in the student elections, with a record number of nominations this year. Candidates have used stunts and social media videos, including one who dressed as a beer. Students say they want a stronger voice in decisions after a tumultuous year that included a cost-cutting plan the university later abandoned. Critics note that only about 10 per cent of students vote and that student politics can be a stepping stone to a political career. The students association president says student input is essential to fixing failures in university systems.
