New Zealand PM’s plea during Christchurch Call meeting comes two years after deadly mosque attack killed 51Tech companies need to make more progress on algorithms that can drive social media users to become radicalised, New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has said.Along with France, New Zealand is leading a push to rid the world of extremist and terrorist content online – known as the Christchurch Call. Continue reading...
Five years since the Indigenous man died in an Adelaide hospital, prison guards with him in his final hours avoid key questions“I do not recall”, “I don’t remember”, “I cannot recollect” – these were the phrases heard at least 45 times during Friday’s hearings in courtroom nine of the South Australian supreme court.In just two hours of stilted evidence given by two prison guards involved in the restraint and transport of 29-year-old Indigenous man, Wayne Fella Morrison, prior to his death, the coroner gleaned little about the events of 23 September 2016. Continue reading...
by Graham Readfearn with Australian Associated Press on (#5HV86)
About half of the Australians due to return were barred from flying after 40 tested positive to Covid and others were deemed close contactsAbout 80 Australians who were stranded in coronavirus-ravaged India after the Morrison government banned them from returning home have touched down in Darwin on the first post-ban repatriation flight.More than 70 people due to fly were blocked in the final hours on Friday after 40 tested positive for Covid-19 with a further 30 also unable to fly because they were close contacts. Continue reading...
Australia’s first nonalcoholic bar has opened in Melbourne. So what is a bar for, if not for drinking?It must take steely nerve to open a new hospitality venture in the current climate. Let alone a bar without alcohol.Yet I’ve lost count of the number of friends who sent me excited texts about the opening of Brunswick Aces cocktail lounge, such was the buzz around the opening of Australia’s first nonalcoholic bar. Continue reading...
How do Australia’s two major parties compare on key policies after the federal budget was delivered? Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivered his budget address on Tuesday, pledging his budget spend would allow Australia to bounce back from a Covid recession by extending tax cuts for business and workers as well as providing a multibillion-dollar boost to aged care, childcare and espousing his government’s plans for housing. In response, opposition leader Anthony Albanese says Labor will establish a new $10bn social housing fund to build 30,000 affordable homes for vulnerable Australians in addition to reforming childcare and aged care Continue reading...
Farmers and residents in NSW and Queensland are still battling surging rodent numbers but they fear the ordeal will stretch on for monthsWarning: graphic images may disturb some readersWhen the mouse plague began in regional New South Wales and Queensland, residents spoke like generals in a war. It was all about strategy, setting the cleverest traps, fortifying houses to keep the enemy out and outsmarting the tiny creatures as they attacked wave after wave.But, six months on, with rodent numbers surging again despite thousands of tonnes of poisons being deployed and devastating floods, conversations about mice have changed. They aren’t foes to be bested any more, they’re more like a giant dark cloud hovering over each town. Continue reading...
Tourists threaten the island’s economic recovery by ignoring Covid protocols, including refusing to wear masks and even making a porn filmA Russian Instagrammer who launched his motorbike off a dock, crashing into the sea. Two YouTube pranksters who fooled a supermarket guard with drawn-on face masks, violating the island’s health rules. A couple allegedly filming porn on a sacred mountain.Bali has hosted a range of badly behaved influencers during the pandemic. And now it’s had enough. Continue reading...
The progressive representative says the Republican extremist’s behavior has ‘raised concerns’ among DemocratsAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said the Republican extremist Marjorie Taylor Greene has a “fixation” on progressive members of Congress, and warned that Greene’s behavior has “raised concerns” among Democrats.Greene, a Trump loyalist and a promoter of the QAnon conspiracy theory, was elected to the House in 2020, and has spent her first months in office harassing Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive Democrats. Continue reading...
by Hazem Balousha in Gaza City and Peter Beaumont on (#5HTT6)
Many civilians in the dangerous border area in the north of Gaza had no chance to find shelter before the shelling beganTo the north of Gaza’s Beit Lahia, before the border wall with Israel is reached, lies an area of agricultural land and villages that curls around the tip of the coastal strip. In times of conflict, its fields and scattered houses are a very dangerous place.Close to one of the main entry points used for invading by Israeli forces, and vulnerable to bombs and artillery, it is also used as a line of defence by Gaza’s militant fighters. Continue reading...
No ‘gross failings’ by teachers found in Bristol Grammar School pupil’s death during school trip to New YorkA coroner is to write to all schools to raise awareness of sepsis after a teenager died with the condition during a school history trip to New York.Ana Uglow, 17, a pupil at Bristol Grammar School, collapsed in a hotel room and was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai West hospital just before Christmas in 2019. Continue reading...
Those who communicate online alongside traditional methods show less of a decline in episodic memoryDefiant in the face of Covid isolation, older people across the country ventured online, often for the first time, and mastered technology: reading bedtime stories to grandchildren over Zoom and holding book clubs on Microsoft Teams.Now a UK study has shown that their determination to access and enjoy the internet’s social possibilities could have had another advantage: protecting them against dementia. Continue reading...
Mike Hill is questioned at tribunal over text messages he sent to parliamentary staff memberA married former Labour MP has admitted having wanted a sexual relationship with a parliamentary staff member and getting into her bed after she had rejected his sexual advances.Mike Hill, who represented Hartlepool until March, texted the woman, known only as Ms A, saying he was in love with her, “craved” her body, and describing himself as “emotionally fucked”. Continue reading...
by Lisa O'Carroll Brexit correspondent on (#5HTMG)
Passengers refused entry to UK but who cannot get flight home will be allowed to enter on bail conditionsUK ministers have told border officials to stop locking up EU citizens in detention centres, it has emerged.After 48 hours of criticism over “disproportionate” and “heavy-handed” decisions to place EU nationals without the correct paperwork for entry into the UK in immigration removal centres for days, the Home Office has issued new guidance to its border force. Continue reading...
Malcolm Bidali, a Kenyan who blogged about migrant workers’ plight, detained by Qatari security servicesA Kenyan security guard in Qatar who has written about the plight of migrant workers has been “forcibly disappeared”, human rights group say.Malcolm Bidali was detained by the Qatari security services over a week ago and is being held in an undisclosed location, according to a coalition of rights groups, which include Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Continue reading...
Analysis: a series of combustible events coincided dangerously to trigger worst violence in yearsThe current crisis between Israelis and Palestinians, like so many before, has complex roots in the foundation of Israel in 1948 and after the six-day war in 1967 when Israel captured then Arab-controlled parts of Jerusalem, including the Old City and its holy sites. Continue reading...
by Peter Walker Political correspondent on (#5HTD0)
Howard Beckett, who is also a member of Labour’s national executive committee, has been suspended from the partyHoward Beckett has reiterated his apology for saying Priti Patel should be deported after he was suspended from the Labour party, with the nominee to lead the Unite union saying some people had read a tweet he sent too literally.Beckett, who is also a member of Labour’s national executive committee, was suspended on Thursday after sending a tweet in response to an attempt to deport two asylum seekers in Glasgow, which was thwarted by protesters. Continue reading...
Police say the arrests of Sewell and another man in Melbourne followed an investigation into an alleged armed robberyAustralian neo-Nazi Tom Sewell has been charged by police in Victoria over an alleged armed robbery earlier this month.On Friday, counter-terrorism police arrested two men – 28-year-old Sewell and another 22-year-old – and executed search warrants in Eildon Parade in the Melbourne suburb of Rowville. Continue reading...
A group of wild boar surrounded a woman who had just come out of a supermarket near Rome and stole her shopping, rekindling a debate about the animal's presence in Italian towns and cities. A video posted on social media shows the boar pursuing the woman in a supermarket car park in the village of Le Rughe before raiding the shopping bag she is forced to drop. Italian farmers have protested in recent years about wild boar wreaking havoc on their land and causing fatal road accidents
Chileans to elect 155-strong assembly made up of equivalent men and women to set out new framework and enshrine equal rightsWomen’s rights activists in Chile say that the country’s new constitution will catalyze progress for women in the country – and could set a new global standard for gender equality in politics.In a two-day vote this weekend, Chileans will elect a 155-strong citizens’ assembly to write a new constitution for the country – the first anywhere in the world to be written by an equal number of men and women. Continue reading...
by Mostafa Rachwani and (earlier) Josh Taylor, Matild on (#5HSS6)
Around 70 people due to be evacuated from New Dehli have either tested positive for Covid or are close contacts of cases; PM talks about ‘deeply sensitive’ Middle East situation. This blog is now closed
Crafted from footage locked for years in an archive, Sergei Loznitsa’s State Funeral focuses on the motivations of the mourners who lived under the brutal regime“At 21.50, due to cardiovascular and respiratory failure, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin died,” intones an announcer. A woman takes off her hat, on the verge of tears. A handsome youth in a military uniform stares stoically at his feet. One middle-aged man glances self-consciously at the camera, as if to check it is still watching him, before looking down again. Again and again, our focus is drawn to faces in the crowds all across the Soviet Union. Not all are reverent. Some people shuffle, chat, chew, smoke, even half-smile.The broadcasters’ praise for Stalin becomes ever more ludicrous: “We knew he was the best on our planet … It’s impossible to take your eyes off this infinitely dear face. Your eyes are full of tears, you hold your breath, you are overwhelmed with sorrow shared by millions, hundreds of millions of people.” Continue reading...
More than 70 of the 150 vulnerable Australians booked on the flight have either tested positive or have been deemed close contactsAlmost half the Australians due to fly home on the first post-pause repatriation flight out of India have been thrown off the passenger list after they either tested positive to Covid-19 or were deemed close contacts of cases.Guardian Australia has confirmed that of the 150 vulnerable Australians booked to take the first repatriation flight home from India when the travel ban expires, more than 40 have tested positive to Covid-19. The number who will be unable to fly rises to more than 70 when you factor in the close contacts of those who have tested positive. Continue reading...
by Nadeem Badshah (now); Yohannes Lowe, Martin Belam on (#5HRPD)
Figures show 1,313 cases in the past week, up from 520; United Arab Emirates approves emergency use of Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 year olds; daily infections down from a peak six weeks ago in Philippines
In her first interview since announcing the end of her talk show, the daytime star has called reports of behind-the-scenes bullying ‘orchestrated’In her first on-air appearances since announcing the end of her eponymous daytime talk show, Ellen DeGeneres called the press cycle around allegations of toxicity at her workplace “orchestrated” and “misogynistic”, and elaborated on her reasons for stepping down after 19 years.Related: The end of Ellen’s show signifies how celebrity culture has shifted | Adrian Horton Continue reading...
Canadians have used service as critical lifeline but bus line has struggled with declining revenuesGreyhound Canada will permanently cease its intercity bus operations, the company has announced, as losses mounted and ridership plunged from the effects of coronavirus pandemic. News of the company’s exit comes as a heavy blow to rural communities across the country, which have relied on the company’s services for nearly a century.“It’s been a very tough decision and one we’ve taken with a heavy heart,” Stuart Kendrick, senior vice-president of Greyhound Canada, told the Canadian Press on Thursday. “It’s been a lifeline for many Canadians for more than 90 years. This will have a massive impact.” Continue reading...
‘We all have a job to do’ to stamp out poor behaviour towards women, the prime minister says, as he brushes aside the Queensland MP’s behaviourIt was a little over a month ago that Scott Morrison furrowed the prime-ministerial brow and assured reporters he was taking action against Queensland MP Andrew Laming.In his best ‘I’m-not-angry-I’m-disappointed’ voice, Morrison announced he had ordered the scandal-plagued MP into empathy training after it emerged he had been accused of online harassment and abuse that had left one woman suicidal. Continue reading...
As their self-titled, third album and biggest hit turns 50, we pick their best workThe Carpenters’ greatest album remains the compilation Singles 1969-1973, on which the duo remixed, re-recorded and segued their hits into one glorious gush of sound, but 1972’s A Song for You runs it close, because the album tracks are as good as the singles, as on this gorgeous portrait of a tour-weary musician. Continue reading...
by Peter Beaumont, Quique Kierszenbaum in Lod and Suf on (#5HS4N)
Old and new tensions between Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens have exploded into riots and attacksThe mob that rampaged along the seafront promenade in Bat Yam, a southern suburb of Tel Aviv, started by attacking businesses owned by Palestinian citizens of Israel.The young far-right Jews, some dressed in black and chanting “death to Arabs”, had gathered after a callout on social media that explicitly threatened violence. Continue reading...
by Jedidajah Otte and Guardian readers on (#5HR93)
Guardian readers in Colombia comment on scenes of violence while some say they can finally speak their minds as others believe the unrest has gone too farNearly two weeks after mass anti-government protests kicked off in Colombia at the end of April, President Iván Duque has promised a national dialogue over issues raised by young demonstrators, including free university tuition.“We know we must take urgent steps to generate hope and a future for our youth,” Duque said during a brief visit to Cali, a city of over 2 million that has beeen the setting for violent clashes. Continue reading...
by Oliver Holmes in Jerusalem and Harriet Sherwood on (#5HRKZ)
Drafts being prepared for senior Israeli military figures and politicians to considerIsrael’s military is drafting a plan for a possible ground operation in Gaza, as it presses ahead with a fierce air offensive on the enclave and as Hamas, the militant group that runs Gaza, fires volleys of rockets deep into Israel.Meanwhile, racist mob attacks have continued to spread through Israel in the worst Arab-Jewish chaos for years. Overnight on Wednesday, far-right Jewish mobs took to the streets across the country searching for Arabs, while there were reports of attempted shootings as Palestinian citizens of Israel clashed with police. Continue reading...
Analysis: The Israeli PM seemed to be on the way out, until the eruption of conflict with the PalestiniansThe escalating conflict between Israel and Gaza has put efforts to form a coalition government that excludes Israel’s longest-serving prime minister on the back burner.Until violence erupted this week, Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to be on the verge of losing his position at the helm of Israeli politics after 12 years as prime minister. Continue reading...
A decade after Istanbul convention was drawn up to end gender-based violence, activists report decline in women’s rights and safetyA decade after the launch of the Istanbul convention, the landmark human rights treaty to stop gender-based violence, women are facing a global assault on their rights and safety, according to campaigners.This week marked 10 years since the first 13 countries signed up to the convention, seen as a turning point in efforts to address violence against women. Continue reading...
Northern Ireland secretary makes Commons apology, but families continue to insist PM should do soBoris Johnson is to write letters of apology to the families of 10 people killed during a British army operation in Ballymurphy in 1971 after his initial attempt to apologise backfired and angered them.The Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, made a public apology on behalf of the UK government in the House of Commons on Thursday, two days after the conclusion of an inquest into the shootings, and said the prime minister would write to the families. Continue reading...
by Amy Remeikis (now) and Nino Bucci (earlier) on (#5HRF6)
Labor leader set to continue attack over sluggish wages growth; NSW Liberal minister Gareth Ward steps down over allegations which he denies. Follow latest updates
by Emmanuel Akinwotu West Africa correspondent on (#5HRQA)
Social media celebrity Shakiro and friend given five-year sentences as rights groups fear crackdown on LGBT+ communityTwo transgender women in Cameroon have been convicted of “attempting homosexuality” and sentenced to five years in prison, in a case feared to be part of a growing campaign against sexual minorities, according to rights groups.Shakiro, a popular social media figure, and Patricia were convicted on Tuesday. The charges included public indecency and non-possession of a national ID card, an offence rarely prosecuted in Cameroon. Continue reading...
After referring to policy that actually governs Hong Kong, PM appears to again incorrectly describe Australia’s one-China policyThe Australian prime minister has denied he spoke in error when he answered a question about support for Taiwan by referencing “one country two systems” – a policy that actually governs Hong Kong.In an interview with SBS News on Wednesday, Scott Morrison also appeared to again incorrectly describe the formulation of Australia’s one-China policy. Continue reading...
Callum Wheeler appears via video link for short hearing and is given trial date in NovemberA 21-year-old man charged with the murder of the police community support officer Julia James has appeared before Maidstone crown court and was remanded in custody.Callum Wheeler, from Aylesham, Kent, is accused of inflicting significant head injuries on James, 53, while she was out walking her dog. Continue reading...
by Lisa O'Carroll Brexit correspondent on (#5HRVW)
Research shows lack of trust in government as deadline to apply for settled status approachesOne in 10 EU nationals in the UK are considering leaving after 30 June, the deadline for applications to remain lawfully in the country post-Brexit, according to a survey.Common reasons cited in the research included a lack of trust in the government and a feeling that the UK is a less welcoming place as a result of Brexit, with 30% of respondents saying they had concerns that their rights would not be upheld by public bodies. Continue reading...
From running to the shops in Jamaica to wrapping himself in the Union Jack, the Olympian has had phenomenal highs and bruising lows. He looks back on an extraordinary life in athletics
Housewarmings banned and limits imposed on weddings and funerals in anti-corruption driveAuthorities in a Chinese county have banned public servants and Communist party members from having birthday parties, housewarmings and other banquet celebrations.Authorities in Funing county, in Yunnan province, also put caps on weddings and funerals, limiting guest numbers and food budgets. The measures, seemingly targeted at potential corruption, include bans on using official vehicles for business or collecting gifts and cash that are “obviously higher [value] than normal reciprocity”. Continue reading...
by Flávia Milhorance in Rio de Janeiro on (#5HRTS)
Investigations into leaders closed after judges find no grounds for the cases and describe the situation as an ‘illegal embarrassment’Human rights activists in Brazil have warned that the country’s authorities are targeting indigenous leaders after police launched investigations into two prominent critics of the government of Jair Bolsonaro.Sônia Guajajara, the head of Brazil’s largest indigenous organization, the Association of Indigenous Peoples (Apib), and Almir Suruí had been put under investigation last month over social media campaigns raising awareness of the threat that Covid-19 poses to Brazil’s indigenous population. Continue reading...
Mélanie Laurent is excellent as a woman who wakes up in a cryogenic pod with enough oxygen to last the length of the filmHere is a single-location mystery thriller from first-time feature screenwriter Christie LeBlanc which is more than a bit on the preposterous side. It requires some hefty levels of disbelief suspension and plausibility buy-in. But the excellent Mélanie Laurent (from Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds) sells it hard, and it’s a rather elegant contrivance, more restrained than usual from this director, the shlock-horror specialist Alexandre Aja.Laurent plays a woman who wakes up enclosed in a cryogenic hi-tech pod, slightly bigger than a coffin, surrounded by screens and readouts, hooked up to various life-support wires. She can’t remember who she is or why she is there, although she is almost immediately plagued with traumatised flashbacks of being rushed into hospital. Or is she rushing someone else into hospital? She can’t move. She can’t get out. And, increasingly, she can’t breathe. She realises that her oxygen levels will last only around a 100 minutes, the length of the film, in fact, which plays out in real time. And her only friend, the only one who can help her in this claustrophobic nightmare, is the velvety Hal-type voice of the controlling computer, drolly provided by Mathieu Amalric, which in time-honoured style is inscrutable, but with a hint that it knows more and could do more than it is letting on. Continue reading...
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