Sneaker company Converse has removed a social media ad that sparked outrage among critics who viewed it as evoking the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and lynching.

The Instagram ad photo showed K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers. But critics said a white triangular image created by lighting on the skirt resembled a KKK hood and the way she held the sneakers made them look like the dangling feet of a lynching victim. Converse, owned by Nike, therefore issued a statement apologising and said it had removed the ad.

The Converse photo sparked swift criticism, including calls to fire staff involved in the ad and boycott the company. Retailers and top fashion brands have issued a string of apologies over the years for products and advertising criticised for being racially insensitive; Last month, US retailer Target Corporation pulled a children’s Halloween costume from its shelves after widespread social media backlash, apologising for selling a garment that critics said evoked racist minstrel caricatures.

Other commenters defended Converse, saying they did not believe it was intentional.

Prime Minister Albanese has launched a formal bid for Australia to serve a two-year term on the UN security council in 2029 and 2030, insisting that it will be able to help with the cost of living.

A vote for the UN council spot won’t be held until mid 2028, but lobbying efforts will intensify during the prime minister’s visit to New York for the UN general assembly. Albanese also unveiled former News Corp head of broadcasting Siobhan McKenna as Australia’s next consul general to New York.

Australia has served on the security council five times since the UN was established after the second world war. The most recent stint was in 2013 and 2014, where Australia was able to lead a response to the Russian downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

So far, only Australia and Finland have put their hands up for a spot on the council, but other countries from the bloc could still launch bids. The prime minister said he was optimistic of getting support from Pacific nations, as well as south-east Asian countries in the Asean pact.

The boss of Snapchat Evan Spiegel says the firm would be “willing to implement” time limits for teens, following a call from Meta for it to take action.

He told the BBC in an interview that he believed setting a maximum amount of time that young users could spend on the app could be “an important step forward for the industry.” The firm also revealed a slew of new features for its upcoming Specs glasses, which it said could connect to Apple iPhone and Mac devices.

Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat have all faced a barrage of litigation alleging their apps have helped spawn a youth mental health crisis. Snapchat has also been accused of facilitating illegal drug sales.

As part of Meta’s August settlement, the company said it would implement even more stringent time limits and pay an additional $5.3bn if YouTube and TikTok follow suit. It has denied any wrongdoing as part of the deal, which will be paid over a 10-year period. But Spiegel also did not commit to a timeline on when Snap might take action.