标签： Oceania

Australia’s national holiday was marked by intense polarization as competing rallies—Invasion Day protests and March for Australia demonstrations—unfolded simultaneously in major capital cities, resulting in controversial scenes and arrests.

In Brisbane, an Australian flag was set ablaze during an Invasion Day gathering at Queens Gardens, while in Melbourne, a statue of poet Adam Lindsay Gordon was defaced with the phrase ‘Abolish Australia.’ Meanwhile, Sydney witnessed crowds chanting ‘send them back’ and displaying placards demanding the release of Joel Davis, a prominent figure in the disbanded National Socialist Network (NSN), who is currently in remand for allegedly inciting violence against MP Allegra Spender.

A 31-year-old man was arrested in NSW during the March for Australia rally for alleged hate speech. Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden stated that the language used ‘incited hatred towards groups in the community’ and crossed the line from free speech into unlawful conduct. The suspect remains in custody pending further investigation.

Political figures were highly visible at the events. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson addressed supporters in Brisbane, criticizing hate speech laws and mass immigration policies. ‘We can never give up our freedom of speech,’ she declared, blaming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for current migration levels. In response, Greens Senator Larissa Waters accused Hanson of divisiveness and racism.

Cultural tensions also surfaced around musical representation. March for Australia organizers defiantly played Men at Work’s ‘Down Under’ despite explicit objections from co-writer Colin Hay, who denounced the use of his song for promoting xenophobia. Rally organizer Bec Walker responded with expletives directed at the musician.

Amid the tensions, Invasion Day rallies also featured solemn moments. In Sydney, a minute of silence was observed for Sophie Quinn, John Harris, and Nerida Quinn, who were recently killed in a shooting in Lake Cargelligo. Uncle Robbie Thorpe in Melbourne criticized the recently signed Victorian treaty as ‘disingenuous,’ while Celeste Little called for Australia Day to become a national day of mourning.

Heavy police presence was reported across all cities to manage the opposing demonstrations and prevent clashes.

The Minnesota Timberwolves returned to NBA competition under a cloud of community grief following the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis within three weeks. The emotional toll was palpable as coaches and players struggled to balance professional obligations with civic trauma.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch delivered an emotionally charged statement before Monday’s rescheduled game against the Golden State Warriors, describing the organization as ‘heartbroken’ by the recent violence. ‘For the second time in less than three weeks we’ve lost another beloved member of our community in the most unimaginable way,’ Finch told reporters, referencing the deaths of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti and 37-year-old Renee Good, both killed in separate incidents involving federal immigration enforcement.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr, whose own father was assassinated in 1984, expressed profound sympathy for Minneapolis residents. ‘There’s a pall that has been cast over the city. You can feel it,’ Kerr stated. ‘When all the unrest settles down, those family members won’t be returning home and that’s devastating.’

The NBA Players Association issued a formal statement condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with Minneapolis protesters. ‘Following the news of yet another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, a city that has been on the forefront of the fight against injustices, NBA players can no longer remain silent,’ the union declared, emphasizing their commitment to protecting civil liberties for all community members.

WNBA champion Breanna Stewart made a powerful symbolic gesture during her Unrivaled league game in Florida, holding a sign reading ‘Abolish ICE’ during player introductions. ‘When human lives are at stake it’s bigger than anything else,’ Stewart explained, noting that her wife, retired Spanish basketball player Marta, is currently navigating the U.S. citizenship process. ‘We’re so fueled by hate right now instead of love.’

The sporting community’s response extended to social media platforms, where Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton directly labeled Pretti’s death as ‘murder’ while former WNBA player Brianna Turner declared that defenders of immigration enforcement ‘will forever be on the wrong side of history.’

A devastating winter storm, originating from a distorted polar vortex, has unleashed a multi-day assault across the United States, creating treacherous conditions from the Southern states to the Northeast corridor. The system, which began its onslaught on Saturday, has resulted in a cascading crisis of widespread power failures, mass transportation cancellations, and urgent safety warnings from authorities.

As of Sunday morning, over 700,000 utility customers found themselves without electricity, with the most severe impacts felt in regions unaccustomed to such severe winter weather. Tennessee reported nearly 250,000 outages, while Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana each contended with more than 100,000 customers plunged into darkness. The National Weather Service issued grave warnings, indicating that the combination of snow, sleet, and subsequent re-freezing would render surfaces perilously icy for both drivers and pedestrians well into the coming week.

The storm’s disruptive path forced the preemptive closure of federal offices in Washington D.C. for Monday, while major aviation hubs in Philadelphia, New York, and the capital saw near-total flight groundings. Flight tracking data revealed a staggering operational meltdown with over 10,000 U.S. flights canceled on Sunday alone, compounding more than 4,000 cancellations from the previous day.

With at least 20 states and the District of Columbia declaring states of emergency, officials from Texas to North Carolina and New York issued blanket advisories for residents to remain indoors. The Texas Emergency Management Division emphasized the severity via social media, urging: ‘Stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.’

Adding to the immediate hazards, forecasters warn of an impending Arctic air mass set to drive temperatures to life-threatening lows across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, where wind chills could plummet to a dangerous -50°F (-45°C)—conditions capable of causing frostbite within minutes.

The meteorological phenomenon behind the extreme weather involves an elongated polar vortex, which typically remains confined to the Arctic but has destabilized into an oval shape, spilling frigid air across North America. While the scientific community continues to debate connections between such polar vortex disruptions and climate change, the event has already sparked political commentary, including former President Donald Trump’s skepticism about global warming on his Truth Social platform.

In response to the escalating crisis, the NWS highlighted particular concerns about heavy ice accumulation potentially triggering prolonged power outages and significant tree damage, especially in states ill-equipped for such intense winter conditions.