Afternoon Update: Australians on Gaza flotilla ‘degraded’; Sydney shooting arrest; and old ladies to the rescue

Welcome to the Afternoon Update. Australian activists detained in Israel have told their country’s officials of “degrading and humiliating treatment” they claim to have received in a high-security prison.

Israeli security forces have detained seven Australians in the Negev desert after they were arrested as part of the pro-Palestinian flotilla carrying aid to Gaza

Juliet Lamont said she was “gravely” concerned she was at risk of stroke after her daily medication was confiscated, while another activist said he had been slapped and had his arm dislocated and head slammed into the ground.

Top news

• Man arrested after about 50 shots fired from Sydney flat injure bystanders and hit buildings and cars

• Indonesia school collapse death toll reaches 54 as search for missing students continues

• US struck another boat illegally carrying drugs off Venezuela coast, Trump says

• Macron appoints new French government in attempt to end political deadlock

• NRL grand final sets TV ratings record and eclipses AFL for first time in decade

In pictures

The Guardian’s picture editors have put together a selection of photographs taken around the world over the weekend, including Bashar Taleb’s picture of a displaced Palestinian child at a temporary shelter in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday. See the gallery here.

What they said …

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“When I heard it’s opening, I thought, that’s awfully interesting. That just feels like a good opportunity.”

Louis CK has defended his decision to perform at the Riyadh comedy festival in Saudi Arabia after fellow comedians criticised the big names taking part in what Human Rights Watch described as an effort by the Saudi regime to whitewash its notorious abuses.

Full Story

The Taliban’s war on the internet

Last week for 48 hours, and without any warning, Afghanistan was in a total internet blackout. It was a telecommunications shutdown imposed by the Taliban – and one that had an immediate and profound impact on the population. Shadi Khan Saif speaks with Reged Ahmad about the regime’s calculated effort to silence dissent.

Before bed read

“White hair, head scarves and one with a walking stick – they looked like they had stepped out of the same babushka doll.”

Vera tells Katie Cunningham how a group of old ladies came to the rescue after a melon mishap at a Saturday market.

Daily word game

Today’s starter word is: BEE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.

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