live: Live updates: Littleproud calls Morrison censure a ‘stunt’, woman found 51 years after abduction, and a rainbow pitch invader in Qatar

That’s it for The Loop this morning Musk says Apple ‘threatened’ to withold Twitter from App store 41m agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 11:17pm

By Peta Fuller

Elon Musk has accused Apple of the move in a series of tweets that also said the iPhone maker had stopped advertising on the social media platform.

He said Apple was pressuring Twitter over content moderation demands (and Apple hasn’t responded yet to requests for comment).

The action, unconfirmed by Apple, would not be unusual as the company has routinely enforced its rules and previously removed apps such as Gab and Parler.

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– Reuters

Littleproud on News Breakfast: ‘We believe there’s better ways to do it’ 53m agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 11:04pm

By Peta Fuller

David Littleproud was on the ABC’s News Breakfast this morning and insisted his party doesn’t believe the Voice would benefit the Indigenous community.

Here’s a bit of the interview with Lisa Millar:

LM: Do you think you have harmed the movement?

DL: No, I don’t. We’ve got a right to make a determination about the people we represent.

No one should be shamed into any decision on this. What every Australian should do, in the sanctity of their own home, to make a decision about what’s the best way to close the gap quicker. That’s all we’re saying.

We believe there’s better ways to do it. Let’s not bring vitriol into this.

You can watch the interview here:

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And some thoughts supporting the ‘stunt’ call 1h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 10:43pm

By Peta Fuller

If Labor don’t want to respect Morrison obviously because he’s opposition, they should at least respect the Governor General who approved what Scomo wanted to do. Labor is wasting their time trying to censure him instead of focusing on so many important issues. Why? Because they are so inept in handling the real issues, so they want to put a distraction on their incompetence.

– Shastah

David Littleproud has called the censure for former PM Scott Morrison a ‘political stunt’, and some agree that it’s a distraction:

If you don’t know what a ‘bachelor’s handbag’ is, you will now… 1h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 10:36pm

By Peta Fuller

So we’ve had the US “word of the year” today — it’s “gaslighting” according to their top-selling dictionary, Merriam-Webster.

But the Macquarie Dictionary has weighed in with its people’s choice word of the year… and it’s “bachelor’s handbag”.

It’s slang for a roast chicken sold in a plastic bag in supermarkets.

One of these guys…

Would it get your vote?

Words that received special mentions included “spicy cough” which stands for COVID 19, and the commitee’s choice for word of the year is “teal”, thanks to the federal election.

High-profile Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei says China will do ‘everything’ to stop revolution 1h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 10:26pm

By Peta Fuller

Ai Weiwei, whose art has often criticized Beijing’s policies, says police will crush protesters into silence.

Nationwide protests against COVID restrictions have been going on for days now.

He lives in exile in Portugal and says the ruling party will do “everything to prevent [revolutions] from happening”, but there was no alternative political leadership:

“I don’t think anybody can lead these kind of protests because China has no political environment. 

For the past 70 years they cleaned out any people, intellectual or media who can raise any question so there’s no ecosystem in the political situation.”

Ai Weiwei lives in exile.(Reuters) NT TV star Matt Wright heading to Darwin after arrest warrant 2h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 9:51pm

By Peta Fuller

Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has arrived at Sydney airport with his wife and newborn baby this morning.

He’s on his way to Darwin after being issued an arrest warrant by NT police, where he must present himself by 9am tomorrow.

He’s expected to face several charges including perverting the course of justice and destruction of evidence — the charges relate to a helicopter crash where his fellow TV star and close friend Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson died.

Mr Wright has strenuously denied any wrongdoing — he’ll arrive in the Territory later this morning.

Matt Wright has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the crash(Supplied: Matt Wright) A ‘super cartel’ controlling one-third of cocaine trade has been dismantled 2h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 9:45pm

By Peta Fuller

Authorities in six different countries have joined forces to take down a “super cartel” of drug traffickers — and the group controlled about one-third of Europe’s cocaine trade.

Europol says 49 suspects have been arrested and more than 30 tonnes of drugs seized.

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London museum begins returning 70 items to Nigeria 2h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 9:39pm

By Jessica Riga

(Reuters: Maja Smiejkowska)

A museum in London has returned objects to Nigeria that were looted from the Kingdom of Benin.

The artworks were forcibly removed in 1897, in a large-scale British military expedition.

The Horniman Museum is now returning more than 70 items, and it’s the first in the UK to officially do this in such numbers.

London’s British Museum has 900 items from Benin, and Nigeria has been asking for them to be returned since the 1930s.

Woman kidnapped as a toddler reunited with family after *51 years* 2h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 9:22pm

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

Melissa (centre) with her parents.(Facebook)

An incredible story out of the US — Melissa Highsmith went missing as a toddler in 1971 when she was abducted by a babysitter.

Now reports say she’s been reunited with her family.

The Highsmiths have said the discovery wasn’t down to police or private investigators, but a family DNA test that found the link.

Her sister Sharon Highsmith posted on Facebook that “the joy is palpable amongst all family members” and while they “knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was our girl” they were doing further, legal DNA testing.

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Some of your thoughts about David Littleproud’s comments this morning 2h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 9:13pm

By Peta Fuller

Regarding David Littleproud…he clearly has no belief that Morrison’s actions affront and confront democracy at high political level…he himself is now a political stunt!

– Alan Gribbin

If you missed it, federal cabinet yesterday agreed to move a censure motion in parliament over Scott Morrison’s secret ministries (which is a symbolic measure used to criticise a MP’s actions).

This morning, the Nationals leader said he wouldn’t support the move.

Portugal defeats Uruguay, books place in World Cup knockout phase 2h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 9:09pm

By Jessica Riga

 Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes celebrate.(Reuters: Dylan Martinez)

Portugal has defeated Uruguay 2-0 in the World Cup in Qatar to book its place in the knockout phase.

A Bruno Fernandes cross from the left looped inside the back post midway through the second half to deliver the breakthrough, before he scored a second with a late penalty.

Crypto lender files for bankruptcy as ripple effect spreads 3h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 8:55pm

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

Cryptocurrency lender BlockFi has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US — it’s the latest crypto casualty following the spectacular collapse of the FTX exchange earlier this month.

FTX filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month. At the time, BlockFi announced on Twitter that it wasn’t able to do business as usual and was pausing client withdrawals as a result of FTX’s implosion. 

Cryptocurrencies were in retreat in what has already been a disastrous year. 

Bitcoin, among the most widely traded cryptocurrencies, has plunged almost 70% in 2022 to below $16,000 apiece.

Littleproud says Morrison censure a ‘political stunt’ 3h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 8:44pm

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

Nationals Leader David Littleproud says the plan to formally condemn former prime minister Scott Morison for secretly swearing himself into additional portfolios is a “political stunt.”

The symbolic censure motion follows the release of an independent report that was scathing of Mr Morrison taking on extra roles without telling his colleagues or parliament.

Mr Littleproud says the decisions were wrong, but he won’t support the censure motion:

“I don’t think that’s necessary. I think this is nothing more than a political stunt. 

What the Parliament should be focused on is the reform that report said we should take up as a Parliament and we should do that in a bipartisan way. What we should do is focus on Australians and on the cost of living pressures.”

‘Unacceptable’: UK PM to raise concerns with China over protest response 3h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 8:32pm

By Jessica Riga

Warning to expect worse in Hawaii with ‘dynamic’ lava from largest active volcano 3h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 8:16pm

By Peta Fuller

Key Event

Officials in Hawaii are warning residents to be ready for worsening conditions as the world’s largest active volcano began erupting on Big Island.

Mauna Loa last erupted 38 years ago — and the US Geological Survey warned the roughly 200,000 people on the island that an eruption “can be very dynamic, and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly.”

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Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency said it had opened two shelters on the island as a precaution.

Putin accused of using ‘horrific’ winter as weapon of war 4h agoMon 28 Nov 2022 at 7:57pm

By Peta Fuller

The head of NATO says Russian president Vladimir Putin is trying to use winter as “a weapon of war”.

Ukraine’s national grid operator says it’s been forced to impose regular emergency blackouts in areas across the country, after a setback in its race to repair energy infrastructure hit by Russian missile strikes.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says Putin intends to use upcoming frost, snow and ice to his advantage:

“President Putin is now trying to use the winter as a weapon of war against Ukraine, and this is horrific and we need to be prepared for more attacks.

That’s the reason why NATO allies have stepped up their support to Ukraine.”