Morning everyone. NSW police has been accused of a “totally over-the-top” reaction to protests in Sydney last night against the Israeli president’s visit as the city saw violent clashes between scores of officers and demonstrators.
We’re also reporting on how federal Labor ministers had repeated meetings with executives from Japanese gas companies hoping to ramp up fossil fuel investment in Australia.
Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, is struggling to contain the fallout from the Mandelson affair, the King has made a statement on claims about his brother’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and Bad Bunny wins the Super Bowl culture war.
Australia
Roblox ‘alarm’ | Reports of child grooming and vile content on popular game service Roblox has “alarmed” the communications minister, Anika Wells, who has demanded the platform explain how it is addressing sexual and self-harm material, and that its PG rating be examined by the Australian Classification Board.
Sydney chaos | A state Labor MP says he saw police officers assaulting protesters in Sydney last night as attempts to disperse about 6,000 people gathered to protest against the visit of the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, descended into chaos. Anthony D’Adam’s claims were backed up other witnesses as police pepper-sprayed the crowd, and video showed scores of officers charging the crowd and also dispersing Muslims while they were praying. Police accused speakers at the rally of inciting the crowd when they were prevented from marching through the city.
Gas pressure | Australian government ministers met Japanese gas company executives more than 20 times in the last term of parliament as Japan pushed for Labor to encourage investment in the fossil fuel industry.
Gun blow | Queensland will be left with “the weakest guns laws in Australia”, according to gun control advocates, after the premier rejected putting new limits on the number or type of firearms that people can own.
Two Scott Farquhars | Our data editor explains how administrative changes have made timely reporting on political donations much more difficult – and can lead to some inadvertent misinterpretation.
World
‘Made me proud’ | Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance has been described by Donald Trump as an “affront” to America, but many celebrities have praised the Puerto Rican for “making them proud”. And is it possible that his show represents progressive culture hitting back in the culture wars?
Labour wrangle | Keir Starmer’s former deputy Angela Rayner briefly launched a “Rayner for leader” website last month and the Labour leader in Scotland says the prime minister should quit as specualtion continues about his future after the Peter Mandelson/Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Windsor twist | The King says he is “ready to support” police who are assessing allegations that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor passed on confidential information he gleaned on overseas trips as a UK government trade envoy to the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Migrant tragedy | Dozens of migrants are feared dead after a boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the Libyan coast, a UN agency said. Only two survivors were rescued.
Iran arrest | The head of Iran’s Reformists Front, the organisation instrumental in securing the election of the country’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has been arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in a move likely to exacerbate tensions over the handling of recent street protests.
Full Story
A new low in Australia’s history of colonial terrorism
Lorena Allam speaks to Nour Haydar on Australia’s long history of racial violence and denial after the alleged terror attack at a Invasion Day rally in Perth.
In-depth
Heather Ellis contracted HIV while on holiday in Africa and says women in her situation are much less likely to be diagnosed early than men. Now a campaigner on the issue in Victoria, she tells Natasha May how GPs don’t always offer their female patients an HIV test – or balk when women ask for one.
Not the news
In our latest rookie era piece, Cait Kelly describes how things started very well on her first ski holiday but soon went downhill.
Sport
Rugby union | Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch explains to Angus Fontaine how connecting to his Wiradjuri-Burray culture through painting lets him “get the balance right” between rugby and life.
Winter Olympics | Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych trained on Monday in a helmet with images of compatriots killed during the war in Ukraine, delivering on a promise to use the event to keep attention on the conflict. Follow the action live.
Super Bowl | The Patriots’ failure in Sunday’s big game shows very few teams get a sequel on the biggest stage.
Media roundup
The families of the two young Melbourne women who died from alcohol poisoning in Laos tell the Age that the “secret” court judgment for the suppliers is an “insult”. Voters in the federal Liberal leader’s Farrer electorate have turned on her, according to the Telegraph, and have dubbed her “Lazy Sussan”. The Courier Mail promises to reveal how the Rabbitohs persuaded Payne Haas to leave the Broncos for Redfern.
What’s happening today
Northern Territory | Traditional owners give evidence in high court hearing on Indigenous opposition to territory’s award of Singleton station’s 30-year groundwater licence.
Sydney | Israeli president Isaac Herzog attends a community event this morning.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
