South Africa’s highest court has ordered the release of a far-right gunman who killed anti-apartheid hero Chris Hani in 1993. Janusz Walus had committed a “very serious crime”, but he was entitled to parole, the court ruled. Hani’s widow Limpho condemned the ruling as “truly diabolical”. She and the government had vigorously resisted attempts by Walus, 69, to gain his freedom after almost three decades in prison. Walus killed Hani in a failed attempt to derail South Africa’s transition from white-minority rule to democratic rule. In his ruling on behalf of the Constitutional Court, Chief Justice Ray Zondo said Walus … Continue reading South African court orders release of Chris Hani’s killer Janusz Walus

The white supremacist who murdered 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand is appealing against his conviction. Brenton Tarrant, 32, has filed an appeal against his case and sentence, court officials said. No hearing for the appeal has been set at this stage. Tarrant was jailed to life without parole in 2020 for the murder and attempted murder of Muslim worshippers. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said he was attempting to “revictimise people”. Asked about his appeal, Ms Ardern told reporters: “His is a name that shouldn’t be repeated and I’m going to apply that same rule in commenting on … Continue reading Christchurch mass killer appeals against conviction and sentence

US basketball star Kyrie Irving has apologised after he was suspended by his club, the Brooklyn Nets, amid allegations of anti-Semitism. The star received a five-game ban after he defended his decision to post a link to a documentary that has been criticised as anti-Semitic on Twitter. In a statement posted to Instagram, Irving said he was “deeply sorry” for the “hurt and pain” he had caused. “I am learning from this unfortunate event,” he added. The seven-time NBA All-Star was roundly condemned last week – including by Nets owner Joe Tsai and the National Basketball Association (NBA) – after … Continue reading Kyrie Irving suspended over anti-Semitic comments

The French parliament was brought to a halt after a far-right MP shouted “They should go back to Africa” as a black colleague talked about immigration. Grégoire de Fournas, a member of National Rally (RN), said later his remark had not been aimed at Carlos Martens Bilongo himself but at migrants trying to reach Europe by sea. Mr Bilongo said he had been born in France and the remark was “shameful”. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said there was “no room for racism”. The National Assembly’s bureau would meet on Friday and decide on the “necessary sanction”, the liberal politician told … Continue reading French parliament stopped over ‘racist’ remark

Kanye West turned up at the Skechers shoe company in Manhattan Beach, California, on Wednesday in the wake of his split from Adidas, according to the organization. The rapper and his party had to be “escorted” out of the building by two of the company’s executives “after showing up “unannounced,” the shoe company said in a statement. Sketchers said West also “engaged in unauthorized filming.” “Skechers is not considering and has no intention of working with West,” the company added. “We condemn his recent divisive remarks and do not tolerate antisemitism or any other form of hate speech.” The collapse of … Continue reading LOL: Kanye West ‘escorted’ out of Skechers’ building after showing up ‘unannounced’

The head of Africa’s Center for Disease Control has accused border control at Frankfurt Airport of mistreating him. The German health minister said the matter was being looked into. German health minister Karl Lauterbach on Sunday said officials were seeking to clarify events after a complaint from acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Ahmed Ogwell, who accused border control at Frankfurt Airport of racism. Ogwell, who arrived in Germany on Saturday for a World Health Summit in Berlin, initially said he was turning back home due to the treatment he received. However, Lauterbach said on … Continue reading Africa health chief racially profiled at German airport

Kanye West has sparked fresh controversy by claiming that George Floyd died from fentanyl and that a police officer’s knee “wasn’t even on his neck like that.” Floyd, a Black man, was killed in an altercation with police in Minneapolis in May 2020, with a video showing Officer Derek Chauvin with his knee on his neck for almost nine minutes. West made the claims in an appearance on the Drink Champs podcast on Saturday and made his comments while discussing Candace Owens’s documentary The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM. “They hit him with the fentanyl, if you look the guys … Continue reading Kanye West sparks fresh controversy as he claims George Floyd’s killer didn’t really have knee on his neck

A top Los Angeles city councilwoman has resigned after she was secretly recorded making racist remarks in a meeting with two other city lawmakers. Nury Martinez stepped aside as city council president on Monday, but had still clung on to her council seat. President Joe Biden has led calls for her and two other Democrats to go. The audio obtained by the Los Angeles Times and posted online is from an October 2021 meeting to discuss redrawing of voting maps. It is unclear who recorded the discussion. In a statement to voters from her Council District 6 on Wednesday, Mrs … Continue reading Los Angeles council president resigns over racist remarks

An armed attacker posing as a dental patient has killed a man and injured two other people at a clinic in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi. All three were Chinese-Pakistani dual nationals and had operated the dental clinic in the area for 40 years. Detectives say the attacker, who was in his early 30s, “didn’t hurt Pakistanis” in Wednesday’s incident. The suspect managed to escape with the help of an accomplice on a motorbike. Police have identified the victims as Ronald Chow, who worked as an assistant to dentist Richard Hu, 74, and his wife Margaret, 72. According to … Continue reading Tragic: Chinese national shot dead at Karachi dental clinic

Prominent Australians have called for an inquiry into racism in the Australian Football League (AFL) amid a furore over allegations at one club. Indigenous players at the Hawthorn Football Club were isolated from family, told to leave their partners, and one alleges he was asked to end a pregnancy, the ABC reported. The league has vowed an investigation into the allegations at Hawthorn. Former coaches at the centre of the accusations have denied wrongdoing. The allegations have reportedly emerged from a review of Hawthorn’s treatment of Indigenous people which is yet to be released. Australia’s government called the claims “nothing … Continue reading Update: Australian Football League racism allegations prompt calls for inquiry

The Australian Football League is investigating claims Aboriginal players at one of its most successful clubs were bullied by senior coaching staff. Players were isolated from family, told to break up with their partners, and in one case, ordered to end a pregnancy, according to an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) report. Hawthorn Football Club has promised to investigate the “disturbing” claims. They were uncovered by a review of the team’s treatment of Indigenous people. The ABC, which appears to be familiar with the contents of the report, interviewed three unnamed players who were at the Melbourne club also known as the … Continue reading Australian football club rocked by racism and bullying claims

The Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver has been suspended for a year and fined $10m after an NBA investigation into claims of racism and misogyny. The NBA found Sarver “engaged in conduct that clearly violated common workplace standards”. It found evidence of “racially insensitive language, unequal treatment of female employees and sex-related statements and conduct”. Sarver’s treatment of employees also “on occasion constituted bullying”. The investigation, which interviewed 320 people and scrutinised 80,000 documents and videos, was prompted by an ESPN article in November 2021. However, while the NBA fined Sarver the maximum amount possible under its rules, the report stated … Continue reading Phoenix Suns owner suspended and fined $10m for misconduct