News
Australia, New Zealand joins US in boycotting Beijing Olympics
Australia and New Zealand have joined the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in China
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the decision was in response to “human rights abuses” in China’s Xinjiang province and “many other issues that Australia has consistently raised”.
Athletes would still attend, he added.
Australia’s announcement comes as New Zealand declares it will not be sending diplomatic representatives either.
NZ’s Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said no representatives at a ministerial level will be sent to the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, citing COVID-19 as the reason.
China has condemned the US announcement and threatened to retaliate against the move but didn’t provide further details
On Monday, the US said it would not send diplomats to the Games in Beijing over concerns about China’s human rights record.
Australia’s PM said it was “no surprise” that Australia had joined the boycott, given relations with China had deteriorated in recent years, at a rapid pace.
“I’m doing it because it’s in Australia’s national interest,” he said on Wednesday.
“It’s the right thing to do.”
He accused China of rejecting opportunities to improve relations, insisting Australia remained open to bilateral talks.
At a media briefing on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian accused the US of violating “political neutrality in sport” and said the proposed boycott was “based on lies and rumours”.
The United States has accused China of genocide in its repression of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority in the western region of Xinjiang – an allegation China has strongly denied.
Relations are also strained over China’s suppression of political freedoms in Hong Kong, and because of concerns for the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who was not seen for weeks after she accused a top government official of assault.
Canberra has increasingly come to view China as a security threat amid allegations that Beijing has interfered in Australian politics and society
It has also raised concerns over two Australian citizens who remain imprisoned in China.
According to the BBC, Pro-democracy writer Yang Hengjun has denied charges of espionage and allegedly faced torture since his arrest in January 2019. Journalist Cheng Lei has been held without charge since August last year.
Other countries, including Canada and Japan are also said to be considering diplomatic boycotts of the Games.
News
Are women being silenced on LinkedIn? Algorithm claims spark debate
LinkedIn’s algorithm may favor men’s content, prompting concerns about gender bias and visibility for women professionals.
LinkedIn’s algorithm may favor men’s content, prompting concerns about gender bias and visibility for women professionals.
A Melbourne-based LinkedIn coach has raised concerns that the platform’s algorithm may be limiting the reach of women’s content. The discussion has intensified after an experiment showed major differences in engagement between male and female profiles posting identical content. Is the algorithm unintentionally amplifying gender bias?
We speak with Darren Woolley from TrinityP3 to unpack the evidence behind these claims, explore the implications of LinkedIn’s denials, and break down what these changes mean for professional women trying to build visibility online. What does the shift from cumulative to daily performance graphs signal? And how worried should users be about hidden bias?
Darren also explains why women must continue posting, how to create content that cuts through algorithm changes, and what strategies can help users—particularly women—boost their reach. Plus, we look at the broader call for more diverse voices to be heard on the world’s biggest professional platform.
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#LinkedInNews #SocialMediaBias #WomenInBusiness #AlgorithmIssues #DigitalVisibility #ProfessionalNetworking #GenderEquality #TechDebate
News
Hong Kong high-rise inferno leaves dozens dead and hundreds missing
Deadly fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court kills 36, 279 missing; authorities face scrutiny over construction safety.
Deadly fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court kills 36, 279 missing; authorities face scrutiny over construction safety.
A horrific fire has torn through Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court housing complex, killing at least 36 people and leaving 279 missing. The blaze erupted in the Tai Po district and quickly intensified as bamboo scaffolding helped the flames spread with alarming speed.
The complex, home to nearly 4,800 residents, was undergoing major renovations at the time of the disaster. Authorities are now facing renewed scrutiny over construction safety and the ongoing reliance on bamboo scaffolding, which has been at the centre of multiple accidents in recent years.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed deep condolences and called for urgent rescue and recovery operations as emergency teams continue searching for survivors.
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News
National Guard troops shot near White House as lockdown declared
Two National Guard members shot near the White House; critical condition prompts major law enforcement response and lockdown.
Two National Guard members shot near the White House; critical condition prompts major law enforcement response and lockdown.
Two National Guard members have been shot in Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House, prompting a major response from law enforcement. A suspect was also shot during the confrontation, and officials report the guards are in critical condition. President Trump, currently in Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, confirmed the severity of the incident.
Authorities quickly locked down the White House and the Treasury Department’s headquarters as police surrounded Farragut Square with heavy security and yellow tape. The area remains closed off as investigators work to understand what led to the violent encounter.
This shooting comes as tensions rise around the National Guard’s legal role in the capital. A federal judge recently ruled their presence violates several laws but delayed action until December 11, leaving a controversial deployment in limbo.
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#WashingtonDC #NationalGuard #WhiteHouse #BreakingNews #USPolitics #SecurityAlert #Trump #TickerNews
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