分类： society

Australia’s prestigious Adelaide Festival is confronting significant backlash and mounting boycott calls following its controversial decision to cancel Palestinian-Australian author Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah’s scheduled appearance. The festival board justified its action by citing concerns about “cultural sensitivity” in the aftermath of the Bondi Beach attack that occurred during a Hanukkah celebration in December.

In an official statement released Thursday, the festival board clarified they “do not suggest in any way that Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah or her writings have any connection with the tragedy at Bondi,” but referenced “her past statements” as the determining factor. This rationale has sparked widespread condemnation across Australia’s literary and academic communities.

Dr. Abdel-Fattah, a prominent scholar and award-winning novelist, denounced the decision as “a blatant and shameless act of anti-Palestinian racism” in her response on social media platform X. She rejected any association with the Bondi massacre, stating the board’s reasoning suggests “my mere presence is ‘culturally insensitive’; that I, a Palestinian who had nothing to do with the Bondi atrocity, am somehow a trigger for those in mourning.”

The cancellation has triggered a domino effect of withdrawals from the festival’s Writers’ Week program. At least eleven authors have officially withdrawn their participation, with prominent writer Jane Caro declaring “authoritarianism is rising” and refusing to participate in what she characterized as the festival’s “censoring [of] ideas it does not like.”

Poet Evelyn Araluen announced her boycott, asserting that “removing Palestinians from writers’ festivals won’t prevent antisemitism,” while expressing disappointment at “yet another absurd and irrational capitulation to the demands of a genocidal foreign state from the Australian arts sector.”

The Australia Institute, an independent think tank that was sponsoring festival events, has withdrawn its support, stating that “censoring and cancelling authors is not in the spirit of an open and free exchange of ideas.”

Social media platforms have erupted with calls for a comprehensive festival boycott, with users praising the withdrawing authors and condemning what many characterize as racist censorship. One user emphasized that “Palestinians had absolutely nothing to do with the Bondi shooting,” while another noted it’s “very disturbing that so many institutions can reproduce vicious assertions without evidence about the link between Palestinian rights campaigns and the Bondi killings.”

This incident marks the second time Dr. Abdel-Fattah has been at the center of censorship controversies in Australian literary festivals, following a similar incident at the Bendigo Writers’ Festival in 2025 where she was among 50 authors who boycotted over censorship concerns.

The Adelaide Festival has not responded to media requests for comment regarding the growing backlash and boycott movement.

The 24th Chagan Lake Ice and Snow Fishing and Hunting Cultural Tourism Festival commenced in Songyuan, Jilin province, drawing massive crowds to witness the spectacular winter fishing traditions. The event’s opening ceremony witnessed an extraordinary auction where the season’s inaugural catch—a massive 19-kilogram fish—commanded a record-breaking price of 1,699,999 yuan (approximately $243,453). All proceeds from this historic auction were dedicated to the Chagan Lake Ecological Environment Protection Charity Fund, supporting vital conservation efforts for the lake’s water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

The festival showcased rich cultural performances, including traditional Buddhist dances by local lamas and ceremonial chants by head fishermen paying homage to heaven, earth, and the lake. These rituals, deeply rooted in regional heritage, symbolize prayers for bountiful harvests and safe fishing operations throughout the season.

Local resident Hao Yingjia expressed profound appreciation for the ceremonies, noting: ‘This ancient tradition powerfully demonstrates humanity’s reverence for nature. It’s both a visual spectacle and cultural treasure that deserves global recognition.’

The festival will continue through early March, featuring 57 national and provincial events including snow football leagues and ice hockey tournaments. To enhance accessibility, Songyuan city has implemented complimentary direct bus services connecting urban centers to Chagan Lake for both tourists and residents.

Emergency response teams in Shenzhen are engaged in intensive firefighting operations against a significant wildfire that ignited in the Shijing area of Pingshan District on Thursday afternoon. According to an initial report from China Central Television, the blaze remained uncontained as of 7:30 pm local time on the day it started.

The municipal emergency management system has been fully activated, with multiple departments coordinating efforts to combat the spreading flames. The specific cause of the wildfire outbreak and the exact scale of the affected area have not been immediately disclosed by authorities. The response highlights the city’s rapid mobilization capabilities in addressing public safety emergencies.

This incident occurs amid global concerns regarding climate patterns and wildfire frequency. The emergency operation continues as firefighters work to establish containment lines and prevent the fire from threatening residential zones or critical infrastructure within the district.

Medical specialists are issuing grave warnings regarding Palestine Action activists whose prolonged hunger strikes have surpassed 60 days, entering a critical phase where physiological damage may become permanent and mortality risks escalate dramatically.

Heba Muraisi, now on day 66 without solid nutrition, and Kamran Ahmed, at day 60, demonstrate severe physical deterioration according to family accounts. Muraisi recently described herself as ‘dying in her cell,’ while Ahmed’s relatives report his body is experiencing catastrophic decline with muscle atrophy and organ failure.

Emergency medicine physician Dr. James Smith of University College London, who advises the families, explains the terrifying biological processes underway: ‘After exhausting fat reserves, the body begins consuming its own muscle tissue – including cardiac and respiratory muscles. This systemic breakdown affects every vital function.’

The physiological consequences extend beyond visible wasting. Dr. Smith emphasizes the critical depletion of electrolytes and micronutrients: ‘Deficiencies in potassium, magnesium and essential vitamins create substantial risks of irreversible neurological damage and potentially fatal heart arrhythmias.’

Legal representatives have made repeated appeals to UK Justice Secretary David Lammy, highlighting concerning symptoms including intermittent hearing loss, dangerously low pulse rates, and breathing difficulties that prevent proper attorney consultation.

Historical data from hunger strikes indicates mortality typically occurs between 45-75 days, with survival variables including hydration levels, medical monitoring, and baseline health. Dr. Smith notes that even if nutrition resumes, long-term complications may include chronic organ disease, permanent weakness, and cognitive impairment.

The protest, initiated against detention conditions and remand imprisonment, has reached its most precarious stage. Medical experts conclude that these activists now exist in a fragile state where catastrophic organ failure could develop with minimal warning, potentially resulting in permanent disability or death.

During a frigid evening in Guiyang, capital of China’s Guizhou province, a food delivery operative demonstrated extraordinary civic responsibility by abandoning his scheduled route to assist a disoriented young girl found in perilous circumstances. The individual, identified only by his surname Chen, encountered the distressed child weeping alone beside a thoroughfare, immediately recognizing the severity of the situation.

Chen observed that the girl was positioned within the slow traffic lane with vehicles continuing to pass at considerable speed, creating an imminent threat to her safety. Disregarding his delivery commitments and potential income loss, the courier prioritized the child’s welfare by immediately contacting local law enforcement and providing comforting presence until official assistance arrived.

Within approximately ten minutes of the emergency call, the juvenile’s parents arrived at the location following notification by authorities. Police personnel conducted standard identity verification procedures before safely releasing the girl to her familial guardians. The incident highlights how ordinary citizens can profoundly impact community safety through vigilance and compassionate intervention during critical situations.

This occurrence represents one of numerous instances across China where gig economy workers have transitioned from their commercial roles to become unexpected community guardians, often serving as additional eyes and ears within urban environments beyond their formal employment responsibilities.

Just one year after a devastating magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck Dingri county in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, the resilient community of Tsakhor village has completed its remarkable recovery. As the Shigatse Losar New Year approaches, villagers are joyfully preparing traditional celebrations in their newly constructed Tibetan-style homes.

The January 7, 2025 seismic event had left all 53 households in the village facing severe challenges with collapsed structures and damaged infrastructure. Through determined reconstruction efforts, the community has been completely transformed with architecturally authentic residences, paved cement roads, and modern solar-powered street lighting now defining the revitalized village landscape.

Amidst the festive preparations, resident Pema Chungdak embodies the community’s renewed spirit while making golden fried dough sticks—a traditional holiday food symbolizing abundance and prosperity. “The golden color represents our harvest and embodies our aspirations for happiness in the coming year,” she explained, contrasting the current celebratory atmosphere with last year’s tragedy.

Reflecting on the transformation, Chungdak noted: “Twelve months ago, the earthquake devastation left us without any desire to celebrate. This year, we’re fortunate to occupy these bright, spacious, and warm new dwellings. Our families have made extensive preparations for proper New Year festivities.”

The comprehensive rebuilding initiative has not only restored physical infrastructure but has also rejuvenated cultural traditions and community morale, demonstrating impressive resilience and recovery capabilities in the Himalayan region.