The Pentagon has denied that, but locally the claims won\u2019t have come as a surprise to Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson<\/strong>, who has been pursuing the matter of little green men from Mars in parliament for several years.<\/p>\n Whish-Wilson has repeatedly used Senate estimates to quiz the military about UFOs, producing this exchange late last year.<\/p>\n Senator Penny Wong<\/strong>: Is this a UFO question?<\/p>\n Whish-Wilson: You could call them UFOs, if you like, Senator Wong. They are now technically known as unidentified aerial phenomena.<\/p>\n Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Eamon Gallagher<\/cite><\/p>\n Wong: Just so I am clear.<\/p>\n Whish-Wilson: Do you think it is funny?<\/p>\n Undeterred by Wong\u2019s obvious amusement, Whish-Wilson pressed ahead, eventually getting the military to concede that, \u201cif there are issues raised that we thought were relevant to the safety and security of operations in our air space then we would be seriously concerned about it\u201d.<\/p>\n Illustration: Jozsef Benke<\/span>Credit: <\/span> <\/cite><\/p>\n Whish-Wilson did not wish to comment further on Sunday, but CBD understands he\u2019s encouraged by the growing seriousness with which this is all being taken. We can all wear our tinfoil hats proudly now!<\/p>\n In an effort to get a sense of the public mood, CBD tried to contact Australia\u2019s UFO watchers.<\/p>\n The Australian UFO Research Network advertises a \u201chotline\u201d to call in UFO sightings, but it seems to be disconnected. Unfortunate. But it is still holding regular meetings.<\/p>\n \u201cNew members always warmly welcomed. If anyone has seen a UFO or has other interesting information we would all love to hear about it,\u201d it says<\/p>\n While the Matildas lick their wounds \u2013 salved by Nikki Webster<\/strong> making a surprise appearance at a celebration event to sing Strawberry Kisses<\/em> on Sunday \u2013 the sold-out final of the Women\u2019s World Cup in Sydney on Sunday night was a royal affair.<\/p>\n Queen Letizia<\/strong> of Spain flew in to watch her national team, the Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed. Her Majesty is a former journalist, proving that some newshounds really can make it good!<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s head of state, King Charles<\/strong>, couldn\u2019t make it, as he is on holiday in Scotland, while Prince William<\/strong>, head of the English Football Association, declined to fly out for the final because the colonies are simply too far.<\/p>\n The prince was forced to issue a video apology, but that\u2019s not good enough for former Socceroo captain and co-chair of the Australian Republic Movement Craig Foster<\/strong>. \u201cThe Queen of Spain is here for our final,\u201d he wrote on the app formerly known as Twitter. \u201cAnd yet not Australia\u2019s own Head of State, nor future king.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe future king of Australia has no regard for Australia\u2019s hopes, achievements, dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai<\/strong> made it to the game, having watched Australia\u2019s 3-1 loss to England. Yousafzai is here to meet exiled members of the Afghan women\u2019s soccer team, who were forced to flee when the Taliban returned to power.<\/p>\n She was also on hand to give the keynote speech at Coca-Cola\u2019s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion summit in Sydney on Friday, joined by former Australian of the year Dylan Alcott<\/strong> and former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Former Liberal staff member Brittany Higgins<\/strong>\u2032 upcoming nuptials to David Sharaz<\/strong> promise to be a very Canberra bubble sort of wedding. Albeit a Canberra bubble wedding inviting plenty of tabloid interest \u2013 the Daily Mail<\/em>, which just happened to get exclusive snaps of Sharaz\u2019s Byron Bay proposal, will no doubt be all over it. And we\u2019re sure uninvited News Corp scribes will find a way to squeeze a hit piece out of it.<\/p>\n Brittany Higgins and her fiance, David Sharaz.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Instagram<\/cite><\/p>\n Meanwhile, planning for the big day appears to be in full swing. This weekend, Higgins revealed Hawker Britton lobbyist and former Daniel Andrews<\/strong> staffer Emma Webster<\/strong> would be her maid of honour. Webster and Higgins are close friends and, more recently, business partners after they registered a company called Power Blazers this year.<\/p>\n All very Canberra bubble, but not nearly as Canberra bubble as Sharaz\u2019s previous wedding in 2018 to ex-wife Alexandra Craig<\/strong>, where the tables were all named after former leaders of the Labor Party.<\/p>\n Former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack<\/strong>\u2019s Greek heritage \u2013 his maternal grandfather was born in Greece \u2013 was all but forgotten after he was cleared of any dual-citizenship issues during the section 44 snafus of 2017.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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ROYALLY ANNOYED<\/h3>\n
WEDDING BUBBLES<\/h3>\n
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MICMAC\u2019s NEW TACK<\/h3>\n
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