Afternoon Update: Australia supports US and UK strikes on Houthi sites; Aldi drops Australia Day merch; and ultimate summer reads
Australia Day #AustraliaDay
Good afternoon. Australia has supported the US and UK militaries as they launched strikes today against Yemen’s Houthis in response to the group’s attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea.
The US president, Joe Biden, announced Australia was among five nations to support the US-led efforts, but, as my colleagues reported, Australia’s support appears to be non-operational. Australia doesn’t have any ships in the area and has 16 personnel deployed as part of a multinational combined maritime force based in Bahrain.
How did this all come about? Read this explainer on the Houthis. The other big Middle East development today is the ongoing genocide hearing, brought by South Africa against Israel, at the international court of justice. Israel will be making its arguments in several hours – read the Guardian’s editorial on why the case needs to be heard.
Top newsAldi says that like Woolworths it will not be selling Australia Day-themed products this year. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters
Aldi joins Woolies in decision to not sell Australia Day merch | The supermarket giant will not sell themed products such as thongs in the lead-up to 26 January. It comes as the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, calls on shoppers to boycott Woolworths over its decision not to sell Australia Day wares. The federal government has accused Dutton of trying to start a culture war.
Sydney sweats as monsoon moves to Queensland | A BoM meteorologist says “there is a lot going on” in Australia’s summer, with eastern sea temperatures 3C higher than average. The weekend will see an oppressive humidity hang in Sydney, a monsoon move to Queensland, a severe heatwave in Western Australia and a cool and cloudy Melbourne.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s Annette Kimmitt says she supports an ad ban. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
Victoria’s gambling regulator calls for ad ban | The regulator is calling for the Albanese government to ban wagering ads after being “bombarded” with complaints, including by parents who have discovered that their children are secretly gambling.
Bullying allegations hit Queensland fire service | The general manager of the Queensland Rural Fire Brigades Association, Justin Choveaux, says he has been “inundated” with complaints alleging bullying, harassment and sexism within the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service. The complaints include claims of discrimination and bias against women and others. In a statement, QFES said it “wants to work with anyone with a complaint and the staff and volunteer representative bodies to address any concerns”.
Screengrab from a music video of Willie McCoy. Photograph: YouTube Proxclusiv
Family of Willie McCoy, shot 55 times by US police, to be compensated | A California city has agreed to pay $5m (A$7.45m) to the family of a 20-year-old who was sleeping in his car when police approached and shot him 55 times in 2019.
Valley of lost cities found in the Amazon | Archaeologists have uncovered a cluster of lost cities in the Amazon rainforest that was home to at least 10,000 farmers about 2,000 years ago. The settlements were occupied by the Upano people between about 500BC and AD300 to 600 – a period roughly contemporaneous with the Roman empire in Europe, the researchers found.
In picturesTop: Omari mosque, Gaza City’s oldest mosque, damaged after Israeli bombardment. Bottom: A man praying at the mosque in 2013. Photograph: Getty Images
Destruction of the Palestinian cultural heritage of Gaza
South Africa is asking the ICJ to act urgently “to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights including the heritage of the Palestinian people under the genocide convention”. The court will hear Israel’s arguments later today Australian time. Click here to see the gallery of the destruction of cultural heritage in Gaza.
What they said …
MPs, including the independent member for Warringah, Zali Steggall, have criticised Dutton’s call to boycott Woolworths.
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In numbers
EV sales are booming and longtime favourite makes and models are being ignored in favour of Tesla and BYD.
Before bed read Illustration: Victoria Hart/Guardian Design
Steamy, dishy, heart-thumping – here are some ultimate summer reads if you’re looking to dive into some books.
And if you have been reading something riveting this summer, please let us (and your fellow readers) know by leaving a comment on this article – we’re compiling responses into a readers’ suggestions piece to come out next week.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: DINE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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