Happy hump day! A cyclone powerful enough to “pick up a caravan” is due to hit Western Australia tomorrow.
Tropical Cyclone Ilsa is gathering strength as it hovers off the north-west coast, gradually moving south before it is expected to make landfall between Broome and Port Hedland. In other news, the AFL has announced it is investigating online racist abuse directed at four Indigenous players this week.
Top news
AFL racism probe | Four Indigenous players – Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron, Fremantle’s Michael Walters and Nathan Wilson, and Adelaide’s Izak Rankine – have reported receiving online racist abuse in the past two days, prompting action from the AFL integrity unit. “This has to stop,” the AFL chief executive, Gillon McLachlan, said. “There is no place in our game for anyone who vilifies our players.”
IMF expects Australia’s economy to slow | Australia’s gross domestic product grew last year by 3.7% but is expected to expand just 1.6% this year and 1.7% in 2024, according to the IMF’s forecast, citing “perilous” international pressures.
WA cyclone gathers strength | Evacuations are under way in Western Australia’s north-west as tourists, miners and pastoralists flee the projected path of Cyclone Ilsa. The Bureau of Meteorology expects it will strengthen to a category 3 system later today, and category 4 tomorrow.
Twitter abuse of Brittany Higgins | Australia’s eSafety commissioner deployed tough new cyber abuse powers for the first time to force Twitter to remove harmful content targeting Brittany Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, last year, according to correspondence seen by Guardian Australia.
Dinosaur skull in Queensland | A 95m-year-old dinosaur skull discovered in Winton, Queensland in 2018 has been identified by palaeontologists as the first nearly complete sauropod skull ever found in Australia.
Local governments call for EV action | More than 100 mayors and local councillors from multiple Australian states and territories have published a letter urging the Albanese government to overhaul the country’s electric vehicle policies. One idea is introducing fuel efficiency standards to bring more low- and zero-emissions vehicles into the country.
Global outcry after Myanmar airstrikes | The US, EU and UN have condemned Myanmar for airstrikes on a civilian crowd that has left scores dead. “These violent attacks further underscore the regime’s disregard for human life and its responsibility for the dire political and humanitarian crisis in Burma following the February 2021 coup,” the US state department said.
China’s first H3N8 bird flu death | A woman has died from H3N8 bird flu in China, but the World Health Organization says the strain does not appear to spread easily between humans.
New Zealand politics on a knife-edge | The most recent polls show the ruling Labour party deadlocked with the National party at 37% each, six months out from the general election. Based on the poll results, neither major party would be able to win government outright, potentially positioning the Māori party as kingmaker.
Full Story
Why are western countries banning TikTok?
Australia is following a number of western countries in banning popular Chinese social media app TikTok on government devices, citing security and privacy risks. Some say the ban should be extended nationally, while others say it should also apply to US apps like Facebook and Twitter. Listen to this 20-minute episode.
What they said …
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“We aim to re-establish trust between the two countries and bring bilateral relations to the right track.” – Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson
Positive words from Beijing as Chinese and Australian diplomats work to turn the page after years of tension. The Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, today said removing China’s tariffs on Australian wine could be the next item on the agenda.
In numbers
The NBA star wore the trainers during Game 2 of 1998 NBA Finals. The online sale cements Jordan’s position as the most valuable athlete at auctions for sportswear memorabilia.
Before bed read
Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch, the Dalai Lama: the three are living proof that no one is too big for retirement.
“The idea of giving way to someone a few years younger, to say nothing of a few decades, does not appear to loom large in their minds, degenerated or otherwise. On they all go, really putting the ancient into ancient wisdom,” writes columnist Marina Hyde.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: ACC. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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