Bhinneka News Online: Monday Briefing: Half of Republicans believe false accounts of deadly U.S. Capitol riot

Monday, 5 April 2021

Monday Briefing: Half of Republicans believe false accounts of deadly U.S. Capitol riot

Today's top stories

A poll shows Republicans have embraced the Trump myth about the Capitol riot, a deadly cyclone hits Indonesia, and it's farewell to LG smartphones

Since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies have pushed false and misleading accounts to downplay the event that left five dead and scores of others wounded.

His supporters appear to have listened. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published today shows half of Republicans believe false accounts of the riot.

Across the United States, law enforcement agencies are scrambling to better protect Asian communities amid a wave of violence targeting them since lockdowns to cope with the coronavirus pandemic began about a year ago. We look at the fight back against anti-Asian hate crimes.

Courtroom drama 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' and jazz period film 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' were the big winners at the Screen Actors Guild awards, one of the last major ceremonies before the Oscars.

'The Trial of the Chicago 7' took the prize for best ensemble and Chadwick Boseman, who died last year, picked up another award for his final role as an ambitious 1930s trumpet player in 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'.

↑ Cast members accept the Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for 'The Trial of the Chicago 7', April 4, 2021

WORLD

↑ Damaged houses are seen at an area affected by flash floods after heavy rains in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, April 4, 2021

Floods and landslides triggered by tropical cyclone Seroja in a cluster of islands in southeast Indonesia and East Timor have killed 97 people, with many still unaccounted for and thousands displaced.

Peter N’Guila used to have no trouble supporting his family of three on his consultant’s salary. But since Islamic State-linked insurgents attacked a northern Mozambique gas hub town last month, he has seven more mouths to feed. We visit the Mozambique city overwhelmed by people fleeing Islamist violence.

Israeli prosecutors accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of treating favours as “currency” at the opening of a corruption trial which, along with an inconclusive election, has clouded his prospects of remaining in office.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says everyone in England will be able to take a COVID-19 test twice a week in a new drive to track the pandemic as society reopens and the vaccine rollout continues at a rapid rate. As much of Europe enters new lockdowns, Johnson has set out a staggered plan to ease restrictions.

Business

U.S. stock index futures gained, as investors returning from a long weekend cheered data showing the strongest jobs growth in seven months that could mark the beginning of the best annual economic growth in nearly four decades.

Shares of Tesla surged nearly 8% in pre-market trading, after the world's most valuable carmaker posted record deliveries as a solid demand for its electric cars offset the impact of a global shortage of chips.

GameStop shares fell 12% after the video game retailer said it may sell up to 3.5 million shares as it tries to take advantage of the stock price surge following the Reddit-driven trading frenzy earlier this year.

South Korea’s LG Electronics will wind down its loss-making mobile division after failing to find a buyer, a move that is set to make it the first major smartphone brand to completely withdraw from the market.