Good afternoon. The Biden administration has rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, insisting all hostages held by Hamas must be freed before negotiations.
More than 5,000 Palestinians have now been killed in the Gaza Strip, including 2,055 children, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Washington is remaining steadfast in its support for Israel with reports it is sending military advisers and sophisticated air defence systems ahead of an anticipated Israeli ground assault into Gaza.
Meanwhile, documents obtained by Guardian Australia reveal that, in February, Dfat urged foreign minister Penny Wong to take a stronger stance against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and warned of rising tensions.
Top news
AFP tested controversial facial recognition search engine | Documents obtained by Guardian Australia under freedom of information laws show hundreds of connections between AFP devices and the website PimEyes between 1 January and 4 August this year. The AFP faced questioning over the testing in Senate estimates last night, with Greens senator David Shoebridge warning that “Pimeyes.com is a particularly dangerous facial recognition tool … and has been repeatedly criticised for enabling unlawful surveillance and stalking”.
Victorian premier accuses News Corp of ‘sexualised imagery’ | Jacinta Allan has slammed a News Corp cartoon that depicts her naked at a fashion show. In a cartoon published in the Herald Sun today, cartoonist Mark Knight depicts Allan as a new nude catwalk model – using some pixelation – with the caption: “From the Commonwealth Games cancellation … the premier’s new clothes.”
Australian hydrogen company boss joins PM on US visit | Paul Barrett (above left), the chief executive of Hysata, will join a business delegation accompanying the prime minister’s four-day official visit to the US to explore clean energy opportunities created by the Biden administration’s US$369bn Inflation Reduction Act. Hysata builds commercial-scale electrolysers to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
Referendum defeat ‘embarrassing’ for Australia, Thomas Mayo says | The prominent yes campaigner Thomas Mayo has conceded the defeat of the Indigenous voice was “embarrassing”, but has backed suggestions for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory committee which could exist outside legislation. He also urged politicians to not abandon plans for state-based treaties and further reconciliation projects.
Western Sydney airport noise insulation | Only 91 properties will be eligible for free insulation to dull the noise of 480 weekly flights out of western Sydney airport under a preliminary plan. A draft environmental impact released by the federal government says between 7,000 and 12,000 residents will experience five or more aircraft noises a day as loud as a washing machine once the airport reaches capacity.
New Zealand city terrorised by Céline Dion ‘speaker battles’ | A New Zealand subculture where music enthusiasts cover their cars in industrial speakers, loudhailers and sirens, then compete to have the loudest and clearest sounds may have reached its limits. Residents of the small city of Porirua are fed up with cars endlessly blaring Céline Dion ballads. “Although I enjoy listening to Céline Dion in the comfort of my lounge and at my volume, I do not enjoy listening to fragments of it stopping and starting anytime between 7pm and 2am,” said one resident.
World’s oldest known dog dies aged 31 | Bobi was registered in 1992 with the veterinary service of the central Portuguese municipality of Leiria, which confirmed his birthdate. Bobi’s death was announced by Dr Karen Becker, a vet who met Bobi several times. “Last night, this sweet boy earned his wings,” she posted on Facebook.
Paramilitary gangs in Brazil torch more than 35 buses | Criminals reportedly set fire to at least 36 buses, four lorries and a train in Rio de Janeiro, apparently in retaliation for the killing of a senior paramilitary leader by police. Rio de Janeiro’s state governor, Cláudio Castro, has vowed to strike back.
Full Story
Peter Dutton’s polarising plan to win elections – with Katharine Murphy
After spearheading a divisive campaign during the referendum, opposition leader Peter Dutton has moved on to new battlegrounds. Political editor Katharine Murphy discusses what it means for the temperature of Australian political debate. Listen to this 21-minute episode.
What they said …
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“The world is watching closely as events in the region unfold, and any Israeli military strategy that ignores the human costs could ultimately backfire.” – Barack Obama
The former US president warned that Israel’s response to Hamas risks eroding global support.
In numbers
Polling commissioned by the Australia Institute suggests the vast majority of Australians view corruption as common within all forms of government.
Before bed read
With spring comes salads, of course, as well as steamed fish, lighter roasts and berry-filled tarts.
Check out Yotam Ottolenghi’s 10 dishes to cook this season.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: OTTO. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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