Journo falls for ‘drop bear’ prank

A UK journo covering the Kangaroo Island fires has fallen victim to the Aussie sense of humour – donning full protective gear to hold a ‘drop bear’.

The Scottish journalist was told “vicious” drop bears are “a close cousin of koalas”.

Edward then donned a fullbody protection gear, gloves and goggles before Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park’s coowner Sam Mitchell handed a furry marsupial over.

THE actress who announced the Oscar nominations was clearly less than impressed that women have once again been overlooked in the Best Director category.

After reading out the nominees that include Martin Scorsese, Todd Phillips and Quentin Tarantino, Issa Rae said with a deadpan expression, “Congratulations to those men”.

Despite a year in which women made historic gains behind the camera, female directors were again shut out of the Best Director category.

The most likely candidate was Greta Gerwig (Little Women), who was the last woman nominated two years ago for Lady Bird. In response

CONTROVERSY: Issa Rae announced this year’s Oscar nominations. to the all-male nominees, an Academy voter who asked not to be named told AFP, “Unfortunately there are just five nominees … I don’t think it’s a vote against female directors.”

In the history of the Oscars, only five women have ever been nominated for Best Director.

In an industry criticised for its lack of diversity, the Oscars picked only one non-white acting nominee, British star Cynthia Erivo, who plays US antislavery icon Harriet Tubman in Harriet.

Notable snubs included Eddie Murphy for blaxploitation biopic Dolemite Is My Name, Jennifer Lopez for Hustlers, Awkwafina for The Farewell and Lupita Nyong’o for Us. But the Academy pointed to a record number of female nominees overall, at 62. The figure includes movie producers and technical categories such as best musical score.

1. Tones and I

Dance Monkey

2. Roxanne

Arizona Zervas

3. Yummy

Justin Bieber

4. Blinding Lights

The Weeknd

5. Don’t Start Now

Dua Lipa

6. The Box

Roddy Ricch

7. Circles

Post Malone

8. Falling

Trevor Daniel

9. Memories

Maroon 5

10. Adore You

Harry Styles

Source: Spotify Top 200 chart