Netherlands feared ‘great suffering’ in Gaza after UNRWA snub, memo reveals
Dutch officials also expressed concern about regional destabilisation, newly released documents show.
South Africa elections: voting under way amid grim national mood
Ruling African National Congress party could lose majority for first time since apartheid ended 30 years ago
Explainer: what are the issues and will the ANC lose its majority?
South Africans are voting in what are expected to be the most competitive elections since the end of apartheid, which could result in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party losing its majority for the first time since Nelson Mandela led it to power 30 years ago.
The national mood is grim owing to some of the world’s highest rates of unemployment and inequality, power cuts, water shortages and violent crime. Younger generations do not feel the same gratitude and loyalty to the ANC as many of their parents and grandparents do, for leading the successful fight for multi-racial democracy.
Continue reading...Two murderers and 26 sex offenders released under NZYQ ruling not electronically monitored
ABF commissioner tells Senate there is a ‘big difference between some murders and other murders’
- Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
- Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast
At least two murderers or attempted murderers and 26 sex offenders released from immigration detention are not required to wear an electronic ankle monitor or observe a curfew.
Australian Border Force officials revealed at Senate estimates on Wednesday that half of the 153 non-citizens released as a result of the high court’s ruling on indefinite detention are not subject to electronic monitoring, including some convicted of serious offences.
Continue reading...Clashes erupt at Mexico City protest against Israel’s war on Gaza
Police fire tear gas at protesters rallying outside the Israeli embassy in Mexico's capital.
Kumanjayi Walker inquest: NT police commissioner knew about racist awards last year, court told
Michael Murphy denies deliberately misleading public about knowledge of awards but regrets not investigating earlier, inquest hears
WARNING: This article contains offensive images and content
- Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
- Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast
The Northern Territory’s top police officer has agreed he was “gaslighting” Aboriginal people when he said he had not seen racism in the force, and admitted he knew about racist award certificates months before their existence was made public.
The police commissioner, Michael Murphy, told the inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker on Wednesday that he regretted not investigating the “coon of the year” certificates awarded within the force’s Territory Response Group or reporting them to the NT police professional standards command when he learned about them in August 2023.
Continue reading...NBA Finals: Minnesota Timberwolves beat Dallas Mavericks in Game 4
If Minnesota win the playoff series, they will become the first team in NBA history to advance after trailing 3-0.
Wednesday briefing: How Israeli intelligence spent nine years interfering with an international court
In today’s newsletter: a Guardian investigation details a ‘war’ on the international criminal court by the country – here’s what we know so far
• Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First Edition
Good morning. “You should help us and let us take care of you. You don’t want to be getting into things that could compromise your security or that of your family.”
That is a terrifying message for anyone to hear from the head of the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency. Even more astonishing is that this was a message to the chief prosecutor of the international criminal court (ICC).
Israel-Gaza war | The Biden administration has said recent Israeli operations in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah do not constitute a major ground operation that crosses any US red lines, and that it is closely monitoring a probe into Sunday’s deadly strike on a tent camp it called “tragic”. The comments came as Israeli tanks were seen in central Rafah.
General election 2024 | Angela Rayner has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the Greater Manchester police, with the deputy Labour leader attacking the “desperate tactics” of Tory MPs that led to the investigation. Elsewhere, it has been reported that Diane Abbott has had the party whip restored – but will not be allowed to stand again for Labour at the next election.
Trump trial | Donald Trump’s secret plot to bury negative press ahead of the 2016 election deprived Americans of their right to choose a candidate at the ballot box, the prosecution said in closing arguments at the former president’s New York hush-money trial. Read the key takeaways as the jury begins its deliberations on Wednesday.
Georgia | Georgia’s parliament has voted to override a presidential veto on the controversial “foreign influence” law, a move that is poised to derail the EU aspirations of many Georgians in favour of closer ties with Moscow. The bill is now likely to become law in the coming days.
Ticket prices | Some of the most powerful ticket touts in the UK have discussed a secret plan to try to scupper a Labour crackdown on the industry via a lobbying campaign, footage filmed by the Guardian reveals. At a private event this month, one of the UK’s biggest ticket touts warned that “we are fucked” if Labour’s clampdown went ahead.
Continue reading...Who is Dhruv Rathee? From Modi fan to Indian PM’s most formidable critic
When the 29-year-old YouTuber attacks Modi, he gets a bigger audience than any opposition leader. What's his secret?
Papua New Guinea PM blames extraordinary rainfall for deadly landslide
James Marape says the estimated death toll is more than 2,000 people, as rescue efforts in Enga province continue
Papua New Guinea’s prime minister James Marape has blamed “extraordinary rainfall” and changes to weather patterns for multiple disasters in the Pacific Island nation this year, including a landslide last week which may have killed thousands.
Parts of a mountain in the Maip-Mulitaka area in Enga province in PNG’s north collapsed in the early hours of last Friday and Marape said more than 2,000 people are estimated to have died, with up to 70,000 people living in the area affected by the disaster.
Continue reading...Former Thailand PM Thaksin Shinawatra to go on trial for royal insult
The case relates to an interview the politician gave to South Korean media while in self-imposed exile in 2015.
‘We will win’ South Africa election: ANC confident despite ‘missteps’
Is the ‘freedom’ the governing party brought to South Africa still enough for voters 30 years later?
Growing up under fire: Ukraine’s children adapt to survive Russia’s invasion
Two years of war takes its toll on Ukraine's younger generations, both physically and emotionally.
Samsung Electronics union calls first-ever strike
A full-scale strike at the firm could have an impact on the global supply chains of electronics.
South Africans vote with ANC majority in the balance
The governing party is battling to retain its parliamentary majority, 30 years after Nelson Mandela led it to victory.
Greens ‘will not back von der Leyen’ for re-election if she does deal with far right
German Green MEP chair warns that EU plan to tackle climate crisis will be put at risk by agreement with hard right parties
Green members of the European parliament will not support Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as the commission president if she makes a deal with hard-right nationalists, the party’s joint lead candidate has said.
Terry Reintke, the German Green MEP chair, said her group would “absolutely” not support von der Leyen – the incumbent centre-right commission president who is seeking a second term – if she made a deal with the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s group in the European parliament, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).
Continue reading...North Korea drops trash balloons on the South
The balloons carried toilet paper, batteries and suspected poo into two border provinces.
Israel’s operation in Rafah doesn’t cross US red lines – White House
US policy is not changing in response to Israel's ground offensive in Rafah and deadly air strike, the White House says.
North Korea accused of sending balloons carrying excrement into the South
South Korea has warned residents to be alert after the military released photos showing inflated balloons with plastic bags tethered to them
South Korea has warned residents living near the border with North Korea to be on alert, after accusing the regime of sending balloons containing what appeared to be rubbish and faeces into its neighbour’s territory.
Photographs released by the South Korean military on Wednesday showed inflated balloons with plastic bags tethered to them. Other images appeared to show trash strewn around collapsed balloons, with the word “excrement” written on a bag in one photograph.
Continue reading...Russia plans higher taxes for rich, companies as cost of Ukraine war mounts
New tax thresholds and hike in corporation tax are expected to raise about 2.6 trillion rubles ($29bn) a year.
Much-vilified MLB umpire Angel Hernández calls it quits
He was widely panned as the worst umpire in the game. But was the criticism fair?