Liberal candidate co-authored inquiry submission suggesting Hazaras not persecuted for ethnicity in Afghanistan

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Exclusive: Zahid Safi, who is running in Melbourne seat of Bruce, listed as last author on 2021 Senate submission which says victims of Afghanistan war ‘not based on ethnicity’

The Liberal candidate for Bruce co-authored a parliamentary submission suggesting the Hazara community in Afghanistan was not persecuted on the basis of its ethnicity, contradicting the Australian government and drawing rebuke from international human rights groups.

Zahid Safi co-authored a submission to a 2021 parliamentary inquiry into Australia’s involvement in the Afghanistan war, which incorrectly cited a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report to allege Hazara “warlords” had “cut the breasts of women” and watched “live delivery of pregnant women” during the early 1990s. The 2005 HRW report does not mention these acts.

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It’s week two of Peter Dutton’s campaign and (almost) everything is tightly scripted

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The Coalition leader muzzles the press pack in a way Albanese often struggles to achieve – after a train wreck opening week, he’s taking back control

“Who won the election?” 12-year-old Sammy asks Peter Dutton, leaning through the window of the passenger seat where the opposition leader sits.

The Coalition leader has just finished his last pit stop in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs for the day: a petrol station. By this point, he’s been to six of them in the last seven days – mostly cleared of regular punters – selling his party’s promise to bring down petrol costs by about $14 per car a week. Economic analysts put that estimate a lot lower – about $7.56.

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Tell us about the people in your community working to protect our endangered species

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While the election is ignoring the issue of Australia’s extinction crisis, volunteers and community groups all around the country are doing their best to save our endangered species. We want to hear about them

Australia is in the midst of what experts say is an extinction crisis, but the decline of the country’s unique wildlife and the state of the environment has not been mentioned by the major parties this election campaign.

This week, Guardian Australia launched a new series, Last Chance, to put a spotlight on everyday people standing up for endangered species in their local environment.

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Allies pledge €21B in weapons for Ukraine while denouncing Russian attacks – politico.eu

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  1. Allies pledge €21B in weapons for Ukraine while denouncing Russian attacks  politico.eu
  2. Ukraine allies pledge €21bn in fresh military aid  BBC
  3. Western ‘coalition of the willing’ stumbles on reassurance force troop numbers, timeline  Breaking Defense
  4. Ukraine allies promise €21bn in military support for Kyiv  The Guardian
  5. European countries vow billions in military support for Ukraine as US envoy meets Putin  AP News
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Ukraine allies promise €21bn in military support for Kyiv

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Ukraine defence contact group accuses Putin of dragging his feet over deal and Trump urges Russia to ‘get moving’

Ukraine’s allies have announced a record €21bn (£18.2bn) in additional military support for Kyiv and accused Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet and delaying US-led negotiations over a ceasefire deal.

Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine defence contact group in Brussels, the British defence secretary, John Healey, said the Russian president had rejected a 30-day pause in fighting proposed a month ago by Donald Trump.

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Earthquake reveals ancient royal structure in Myanmar – Archaeology News Online Magazine

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  1. Earthquake reveals ancient royal structure in Myanmar  Archaeology News Online Magazine
  2. UN slams Myanmar’s ruling military for breaching truce amid quake recovery  Al Jazeera
  3. Magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes Myanmar: report  Bangkok Post
  4. Earthquake News Updates: Magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes Myanmar region  The Economic Times
  5. The UN decries ongoing combat in Myanmar as earthquake relief faces big challenges  AP News
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Vatican offers health update after Pope Francis’ surprise visit to basilica without papal attire – Catholic News Agency

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  1. Vatican offers health update after Pope Francis’ surprise visit to basilica without papal attire  Catholic News Agency
  2. Pope Francis, in Street Clothes, Makes Surprise Visit in St. Peter’s Basilica  The New York Times
  3. Pope Francis wears black pants, not papal attire, in surprise visit to St. Peter's  Reuters
  4. Pope shows ongoing improvement as convalescence continues  Vatican News
  5. Vatican heads into a Holy Week of surprises with Pope Francis  National Catholic Reporter
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Reported Details Of Trump’s Official Greenland Takeover Plan Are A Head-Scratcher – HuffPost

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  1. Reported Details Of Trump's Official Greenland Takeover Plan Are A Head-Scratcher  HuffPost
  2. Inside Trump’s Plan to ‘Get’ Greenland: Persuasion, Not Invasion  The New York Times
  3. Trump Administration May Offer Annual $10K Checks for Every Greenlander if U.S. Can Annex Island: Report  People.com
  4. Vance brings ‘bullying, obfuscation, and confusion’ to Greenland  The Hill
  5. Trump admin planning PR blitz to convince Greenlanders to ask to be part of U.S.  The Independent
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Tesla stops taking orders in China for two models imported from US

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Carmaker removes ‘order now’ buttons for Model S saloon and Model X SUV on its Chinese website amid tariffs war

Tesla has stopped taking orders in China for two models it previously imported from the US, as companies scramble to adapt to prohibitive tariffs imposed in Donald Trump’s trade war.

The manufacturer, run by Trump’s close ally Elon Musk, removed “order now” buttons on its Chinese website for its Model S saloon and Model X sports utility vehicle.

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