Afternoon Update: backlash after Australia abstains on UN vote; a giant cocaine bust; and a $60,000 bear statue stolen
Welcome, readers, to the Afternoon Update.
Australia’s decision to abstain from a UN vote urging Israel to end its “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months has fallen afoul of all sides of the debate back home.
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network’s president, Nasser Mashni, said the network was “extremely disappointed” Australia “missed a significant opportunity to take a leadership role”.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, was equally displeased, through for different reasons, believing Australia should have “voted with the United States”, and accusing Penny Wong and the prime minister of “damaging our relationship very significantly with Israel”.
After the vote, the Australian ambassador to the UN, James Larsen, said Australia “supports many of the principles of this resolution” and was “already doing much of what it calls for”. The Australian government had been pressing for amendments to the Palestinian-drafted resolution, which were not accepted.
The resolution was adopted with 124 votes in favour and 14 against. Australia was one of 43 countries to abstain, including the UK, Canada and Germany. Several countries seen as close partners of Australia – New Zealand, Japan, France and Ireland – voted yes.
Top news
Teenagers arrested amid dating apps investigation | A 15-year-old male and a 16-year-old male were charged after WA police alleged two men were assaulted after arranging to meet via an online dating app. Police urged people to report any information on the incidents or those of a similar nature to Crime Stoppers.
NSW police bust $1.8bn cocaine operation | Sydney’s “massive appetite” for cocaine has been laid bare after police disrupted an “extremely disciplined and coordinated” syndicate which allegedly distributed 1.2 tonnes of the illicit substance between February and July this year.
Australia’s unemployment rate unchanged at 4.2% | The economy added more jobs in August as the unemployment rate remained steady, making a Reserve Bank interest rate cut less likely in the short term. Signs of strength in the job market included a 0.4% increase in the number of hours worked.
Iran sent hacked Trump documents to Biden campaign | The FBI said Iranian hackers sought to interfere in the 2024 election by sending information stolen from Donald Trump’s campaign in unsolicited emails to people associated with the then Democratic candidate.
Storm Boris batters northern Italy | Homes are being evacuated in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna as Storm Boris, which has killed at least 24 people since last week, swept into the country, causing severe flooding and landslides.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs denied bail | The hip-hop mogul will have to await trial on sex-trafficking and racketeering charges in a jail cell instead of his luxurious mansion after a second judge refused to grant bail.
$60,000 bike-riding bear statue stolen | The artists behind a beloved lifesize bear statue stolen from Melbourne’s inner north say they are “absolutely heartbroken” that it has been “taken … in such a violent way” – involving an angle grinder, a crane and a truck.
All Blacks bring back big guns for Bledisloe Cup | While the All Blacks have recalled three big names for the Bledisloe Cup opener, Saturday’s match will see a new record set for the Wallabies.
Teachers in England offered lie-ins | Teachers in England are being offered a range of incentives to make the job more appealing, including a nine-day fortnight and more planning time at home to help with work-life balance.
In pictures
Glowing September supermoon lights up the sky
Stargazers around the world enjoyed the supermoon – sometimes called the harvest moon in the northern hemisphere – that coincided with a partial lunar eclipse.
What they said …
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“Can’t the prime minister just be better and not so crap?”
The Greens’ communication spokesperson, Sarah Hanson-Young, said Anthony Albanese was “dead wrong” to say advertising wasn’t contributing to Australia’s gambling problem, and reiterated the Greens’ push for a total gambling ad ban, in line with calls from public health experts.
In numbers
Australia has gained 615,300 people in the previous 12 months – of which net overseas migration accounted for 83% and the balance of births and deaths made up the other 17%.
Before bed read
The brutal truth behind Italy’s migrant reduction: beatings and rape by EU-funded forces in Tunisia
The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, says he wants to learn from Italy’s “dramatic” statistics. But a Guardian investigation reveals that EU money goes to officers who are involved in shocking abuse, leaving people to die in the desert and colluding with smugglers.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: LOSS. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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