Morning everyone. The political fallout from the eruption of violence in the Middle East has continued in Australia with Anthony Albanese issuing empathic support for the Jewish community. We’ve got full reports and analysis of the situation in Israel and Gaza, plus back home a look at the links between pandemic-era conspiracies and the no campaign.
Australia
Pratt fall | Former prime ministers have rejected claims in a US news report that Donald Trump discussed America’s nuclear submarine secrets with Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt (pictured middle), who then told the politicians about the conversation.
‘We hold you in our hearts’ | Anthony Albanese has told Australian Jews that his government is committed to keeping them safe in an address to the Jewish community in Melbourne. He recognised concerns about a possible rise in antisemitism but said such “hateful prejudice” had no place in Australia.
Menopause ‘catastrophised’ | Commercial organisations and health advocates have “powerful commercial incentives” to “catastrophise” menopause in the minds of Australian women to drive them to purchase products to treat it, a major study has found.
Exclusive | New South Wales is poised to have its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of 50% by 2030 and net zero by 2050 enshrined in law and an independent advisory panel will be created to monitor the state’s progress.
‘Tight hugs, teary screams’ | The Australian journalist Cheng Lei has spoken of her joy at being back home and reunited with her family after being released after serving three years in a Chinese jail on vague spying charges. “Tight hugs, teary screams, holding my kids in the spring sunshine,” Cheng said last night.
World
‘I fear the worst’ | Gazans are living in fear of a siege by Israel’s military as people huddle in the enclave’s largest hospital to shelter from bombing raids and as the sole power station shuts down. In Israel, a senior army officer has described the killing of civilians at Be’eri kibbutz (pictured) as a “pogrom”, and families of the people taken hostage by Hamas fighters during their attack into Israel have told of their agonising wait for news on their fate. Russia and Saudi Arabia have had talks about the oil price amid fears in the rest of the world that it could spike over $100 a barrel. The Hamas attack could be a setback for Palestinian support in the US just as it was beginning to finally strengthen.
Afghanistan quake | Another powerful earthquake has struck western Afghanistan on Wednesday morning, days after a series of quakes in the same region killed thousands of people.
Speaker saga | House Republicans have nominated Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise as the candidate for speaker but he still faces hurdles to win a floor in a saga that shows the power of election deniers in the party’s ranks.
Crypto crunch | Sam Bankman-Fried’s former girlfriend Caroline Ellison told his fraud trial and testified that, during last year’s cryptocurrency crash, he directed her to illegally appropriate FTX customers’ money.
‘Bible John’ | A podcast that investigated the unsolved murders of three Glasgow women in the 1960s has prompted police to re-examine the case of Scotland’s most notorious serial killer, known as Bible John.
Full Story
Amy Remeikis factchecks the misinformation about the voice
Misinformation and fear about the Indigenous voice to parliament are spreading like wildfire. Amy Remeikis factchecks the most pervasive misinformation of the campaign. There’s also a story on her findings here.
In-depth
The nexus between pandemic-era alliances – sometimes dubbed the “freedom movement” – and the conspiratorial reaches of the no campaign has never seemed far away. Our reporters look at how this includes urging voters to use pens and not pencils to vote so the AEC can’t rub out votes, that a yes vote would allow a UN takeover of Australia, and playing on opposition to the Victorian government’s pandemic lockdowns.
Not the news
What would you do if you saw a brown snake slithering towards you across the kitchen floor? This was the terrifying scenario faced by Annabelle Hickson as she was preparing dinner in her home in regional New South Wales, at which point, she writes, she tried to kill it with a knife, Villanelle-style. When that failed she jumped on the bench and screamed for help…
The world of sport
A-League Women | Matildas’ striker Kyah Simon (pictured) will kick off the new season after returning to her first club, Central Coast Mariners, with the first full-time 12-month contract in the league’s history.
Cricket World Cup | Rohit Sharma blasted India to an eight-wicket win over Afghanistan as the hosts continued their unbeaten start.
Socceroos | Australia play England tomorrow night at Wembley in the first meeting between the two countries since the famous friendly win in 2003.
Media roundup
As war in the Middle East divides communities in Australia, the Age hears from a Melburnian who says “I’m Jewish but I’m scared to show it”. In New South Wales the premier is under pressure for his government’s handling of the pro-Palestinian rally on Monday night, the Sydney Morning Herald says. Indigenous leaders point to youth justice programs in Alice Springs as an example of something they could improve with a voice to parliament, the Daily Telegraph reports. And polling by the Courier Mail suggests the vote might be tighter in Queensland than many assume.
What’s happening today
Canberra | PWC executives will front Senate inquiry into consultants
Sydney | Mention for Daryl Maguire over allegedly giving false evidence to the New South Wales corruption inquiry
Townsville | Inquest into death of woman who died in jail with a spithood over her head
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
