Good morning, I’m Mattha Busby with today’s essential stories.
Oscars 2019: surprise wins for Green Book and Olivia Colman
The Oscars ceremony was notably diverse, and will be remembered for some historic wins – and the absence of a host – but Academy voters were accused of grossly overrating Green Book, which was named best picture in a surprise victory over Roma, and Bohemian Rhapsody, whose lead, Rami Malek, was named best actor.
A highlight of the night was Olivia Colman’s memorably hilarious acceptance speech after picking up the best actress award for The Favourite.
Democrats launch major push to counter wave of voter suppression
Terri Sewell, an Alabama congresswoman from the civil rights crucible of Selma, will introduce a bill to the House of Representatives tomorrow that could help repair American’s electoral system after it emerged that hundreds of thousands of people have been disenfranchised. She told the Guardian it was time to restore and advance American democracy, adding: “We don’t want just to shatter the glass ceiling, we want to break down the door.”
Disenfranchised. Last year’s midterm election cycle effectively disqualified voters from exercising their democratic right at rates “more widespread and brazen than in any other since the modern-day assault on voting began”.
Guaidó to meet Pence after day of violence at Venezuelan border with Brazil
The Venezuelan opposition leader is set to meet the US vice-president, Mike Pence, today after he called on the international community to consider “all options” to remove Nicolás Maduro from power. The meeting comes after at least four people were killed and around 300 injured in clashes when Venezuelan troops on the country’s borders prevented the delivery of aid over the weekend.
Sanctions or intervention. US hawks including Marco Rubio, who on Sunday posted a chilling tweet with a photo of a bloodied Muammar Gaddafi, appear open to military action, but the Trump administration has remained cautious. Spain, the former colonial power, has warned that it will not back any sort of military intervention.
May insists she will remain PM after Brexit as she delays vote on deal
The British prime minister Theresa May has said her job is not just to take the UK out of the European Union but to pursue her domestic agenda beyond Brexit, although she refused to reply when asked whether she would resign by Christmas. May struck a note of defiance and dismissed pressure to step down after sparking a fierce backlash by delaying a “meaningful vote” on the Brexit deal.
May day. Businesses have lost faith in the political process, the Institute of Directors has warned, with confidence in the service sector plunging amid uncertainty and fears that the UK could leave the EU without a deal.
Crib sheet
An Australian cartoon of Serena Williams widely condemned as discriminatory was not racist, the Australian media watchdog has ruled. It had showed her jumping in the air and “spitting the dummy” after losing a match.
Japan is grappling with its worst measles outbreak in a decade with 170 new cases recorded in 2019. The WHO has warned that global efforts to stop the disease spreading are failing, in part due to vaccine-scepticism.
The on-screen father of Jussie Smollett has backed the Empire actor after allegations that he staged a racist attack upon himself in concert with his supposed attackers. Terrence Howard said: “We love the hell outta you.”
Lime e-scooters have been temporarily banned from two cities in New Zealand after a technical glitch caused some of their front wheels to malfunction and lock, throwing riders on to the pavement and breaking jaws and collarbones.
Must-reads
The family of a missing Native American woman refuse to give up search
Ashley Heavyrunner Loring, then aged 20, disappeared from the Blackfeet reservation in Montana – a 1.5m-acre expanse of land – in June 2017 after a party on the reservation. Months have passed, but her family and friends are doing absolutely everything they can to find her in a tireless search. Kate Hodal reports.
Why does slavery still exist – and will it ever end?
One in 200 people are enslaved, with slavery affecting more than 40 million people worldwide, more than ever before throughout in human history. Women and girls make up more than seven out of every 10 modern slavery victims. But why are there so many slaves today?
Concrete, the most destructive material on Earth
Concrete’s benefits disguise its enormous dangers to our health and to culture itself as its slabs staunchly protect us from the elements. More than 8bn tonnes of the stuff is produced every two years. Guardian Cities investigates how we can make the world less grey throughout this week.
A delve into the world of literary plagiarism
Three years ago, academics analysed almost 2,000 stories, concluding that there were six “core trajectories” for all stories. But what constitutes plagiarism? According to Twain: “substantially all ideas are second-hand”, while TS Eliot claimed “immature poets imitate; mature poets steal”. You decide.
Opinion
Say what you will about Trump, his tactics on North Korea are working
The US president has been mocked for his cringeworthy photo opportunities with Kim Jong-un, but if he achieves denuclearisation then he will silence the jeers, William M Arkin writes.
Say what you will about Trump, but after some very bad years of active nuclear testing and missile shooting, disarmament on the Korean peninsula has already occurred. Things are quieter and two leaders who previously weren’t talking – ever – now are.
Sport
Manchester City defeated Chelsea on penalties in the Carabao Cup final, but the Chelsea goalkeeper stole the headlines by refusing to be substituted just before the end of extra time. In the Premier League, Manchester United were lucky to get away with a bore draw against Liverpool after losing three players to injury in the first half. Here are our 10 talking points from the weekend’s action.
Will college star Kyler Murray bury the NFL myth of the short quarterback? At a mere 5ft 10in he will be the shortest quarterback in the NFL if he is snapped up by anyone. Players of similar stature have been converted to other positions, but can Murray break the mould?
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