Good afternoon. The Australian blockchain entrepreneur Sam Lee has been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud in the US for his alleged role in operating the HyperVerse crypto investment schemes, described in court documents as a “pyramid and Ponzi scheme” alleged to have defrauded investors of close to A$3bn.
The charges come after a Guardian Australia investigation revealed details of the scheme’s operation, including widespread investor losses, the use of a fake chief executive officer for the launch of the HyperVerse scheme and HyperVerse’s links to the collapsed Australian crypto company Blockchain Global, of which Lee was a director.
Top news
Hamas regroups in northern Gaza to prepare new offensive | | Hamas militants have returned to northern Gaza, where they are mobilising against Israeli forces and rebuilding a system of governance, aid officials, Gaza residents, analysts and Israeli officials say. Meanwhile, the framework for a deal that could lead to a ceasefire is being put to Hamas, according to Qatar’s PM. It includes a 45-day pause in fighting and the release of 35 Israeli hostages and up to 4,000 Palestinian prisoners. Read this Guardian editorial on a region inching towards the abyss, and this from foreign affairs columnist Simon Tisdall arguing that a US attack on Iran “would be a disaster”.
Pro-Israel ‘surveillance group’ active in Australia | Shirion Collective – which has offered bounties for information on pro-Palestinian protesters – is establishing a foothold in Australia, leaked messages shared with Guardian Australia show. The screenshots show Shirion participants identifying potential targets and boasting of attempts to meet the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, and the shadow home affairs minister, James Paterson.
Man drowns after allegedly being pushed into Hobart wharf | A 27-year-old man has died after he and a woman were allegedly pushed into the water at Princes Wharf. Police believe the pair were deliberately pushed from behind by a person unknown to them, in an attempt to steal the woman’s handbag. The woman managed to climb out and raise the alarm, however the man, who police say could not swim, was unable to be revived.
More than 20 schools closed amid Queensland floods | More than a dozen people were rescued from areas north and west of Brisbane, with one region receiving more than 300mm of rain in three hours overnight. A severe weather warning was in place from the north of Brisbane to Bundaberg for storms to dump up to 250mm of rain in six hours today. The 25 schools closed due to flooding are due to reopen when the severe weather has subsided.
Sydney Harbour shark attack | A vet and her neighbours are being praised for saving the life of a shark attack victim who dragged herself out of the water at a Sydney Harbour beach. The woman, who is in her late 20s, was bitten on the right leg by a suspected bull shark in Elizabeth Bay around sunset on Monday. She was in a stable condition this morning.
Inquest into death of Aboriginal teen killed in police collision suspended | The NSW state coroner has referred the death of the 16-year-old Jai Kalani Wright to the director of public prosecutions, who have been asked to consider whether criminal charges should be laid. The Dunghutti boy was killed when the trail bike he was riding collided with an unmarked police car in Sydney in February 2022.
Nine News called out for ‘sexist’ image editing | Victorian upper house MP Georgie Purcell has lashed Nine News for using an image in its bulletin that had been edited to make her breasts look bigger and expose her midriff, which the network blamed on “automation by Photoshop”. Hugh Nailon, Nine News Melbourne’s news director, apologised to the Animal Justice party MP today.
Godfreys enters administration, with 54 stores to close | Nearly 200 jobs are to be lost after the leading vacuum retailer entered voluntary administration.
Myanmar’s junta struggles to assert control | Three years after seizing power, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is facing criticism with an estimated two-thirds of the country gripped by conflict. The junta has suffered humiliating losses in recent months.
Elon Musk says first brain chip implanted in a human | Neuralink, the billionaire’s startup, will study functionality of interface, which it says lets those with paralysis control devices with their thoughts. The US Food and Drug Administration had given the company clearance last year to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans.
In pictures
The battle against illegal goldmining in the Amazon
As Brazil’s military rolls back its support for a crackdown on illegal mining in the Amazon, environmental enforcers say the miners are making fresh incursions into Indigenous land. Click here to see the photo gallery.
What they said …
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“Once a city becomes a prostitute, it is difficult for it to become a virgin again. Florence is very beautiful and I would like it to return to its citizens and not be crushed by tourism.” - Cecilie Hollberg, director of the Galleria dell’Accademia
The museum director sparked outrage for what Italy’s culture minister described as “serious and offensive” remarks. The gallery, which houses Michelangelo’s statue of David, later issued a statement in which Hollberg apologised “for having used the wrong words” about “a city that I love”.
In numbers
That is the result of the Guardian Essential poll of 1,201 voters, which provides a boost for the Albanese government’s plan to reform the tax package. The tax cut changes could be a pivotal moment for the PM – if he frames them right, writes Peter Lewis.
Before bed read
Keep your eyes out for the local screening of Flathead, a beautiful meditation on life in rural Queensland.
“Australian film-maker Jaydon Martin makes an outstanding feature debut with this absorbing, moving and visually beautiful documentary – a kind of guided reportage about two men’s lives in the regional town of Bundaberg in Queensland,” writes Peter Bradshaw.
Bradshaw gave the film four stars – read the review and watch the trailer.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: ALLY. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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