Good morning. Documents have revealed how health officials warned of “catastrophic” outcomes just days after the launch of an algorithmic aged-care funding tool that left clients and assessors distraught.
Overseas, the UK has announced sweeping new sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements – after accusing Israeli “terrorists” of carrying out ethnic cleansing in the West Bank with government backing.
In science, research has exposed how toilet flushing can release breathable particles that could carry pathogens and transmit diseases. And we consider what’s in store for our screens if Australians get to opt out of online algorithms.
Australia
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‘Opportunistic pathogens’ | Research shows turbulent toilet flushes create a “plume” of aerosols that can transmit diseases including influenza and norovirus – and closing the lid won’t stop their escape.
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Exclusive | State health officials were so alarmed by a controversial aged-care funding tool that they kept a log of hundreds of cases where vulnerable older Australians were severely under-assessed.
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Explainer | Modelling has revealed how electric car owners could save hundreds of dollars a year through incentives offered under the government’s solar sharer plans – here’s how it all works.
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Russell Island blaze | A landlord was repeatedly warned about improperly installed smoke alarms before a house fire that killed a father and five children in Queensland in 2023, a coroner has heard.
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Class divide | Public school students are more than two years behind their independent counterparts and Australia’s classroom disruption remains among the worst in the world, a global report has found.
World
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Middle East crisis | The UK government has accused Israeli “terrorists” of ethnic cleansing in West Bank with government backing; Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was warned of 7 October Hamas attacks, a new book claims; Houthis have struck Saudi Arabian cities in an significant expansion of Middle East war.
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Far-right gains | Thousands of Germans have staged protests against the far-right Alternative für Deutschland after its watershed victory in a state election, with two more polls looming this month.
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Name calling | Democrats have hit back at Donald Trump’s claim that New Mexico should be renamed “New America”, accusing him of trying to distract voters from his war on Iran and rising prices; South Park changes name to South America in response to Trump changes.
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Ukraine turmoil | Ukraine’s prosecutor general has resigned after investigators used ladders to raid his office amid a corruption scandal that threatens to embarrass Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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Out in the cold | The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were “surprised” at being given little notice of a formal letter sent on behalf of King Charles reiterating their status as non-working royals.
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Ashley St Clair | Elon Musk is sowing “deliberate division” via his social media platform X that will be catastrophic unless regulated, the mother of one of his children has warned. Plus: six things we learned from the Elon Musk film at the Venice film festival.
Full Story
Why the tobacco tax is lighting up Australian politics
Rates of smoking in Australia are the lowest they’ve ever been, but at the same time, the illicit trade has never been bigger. One Nation and the Coalition both believe cutting the tobacco excise is the only way to stop crime. But with the potential for reform on the table, Matilda Boseley speaks with Henry Belot about why the tobacco lobby are keen to influence debate.
In-depth
Under proposed changes, Australia will force digital platforms to let their users opt out of algorithms and offer a “safe online environment”. Anthony Albanese has predicted blowback to the scheme, which would capture social media, search engines and AI chatbots – and the opposition is claiming it could let the government censor your feed. There’s a lot to sort out first, but how could it change your feed?
Not the news
Vegetables in the cruciferous family, like brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower, have naturally bitter compounds. However, with concentrated heat, this bitterness is transformed into sweetly caramelised corners and burnished bits. With her recipe for satay-butter charred cabbage wedges with fragrant chicken mince, the cookbook author Alice Zaslavsky shares a shortcut method that saves on time, equipment and water.
Sport
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Tennis | Aryna Sabalenka beat Linda Noskova in a dramatic tie-break in the deciding set of their US Open quarter-final match-up. Follow the latest action here.
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AFL | As the AFL finals continue, we take a look at where the Fremantle v Geelong semi-final will be won and lost.
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Football | First-half treble helps Aston Villa to power to victory at Club Brugge in the Champions League. Manchester City are facing Porto; follow the rest of the Champions League action. And Socceroos manager Tony Popovic says he has no major World Cup regrets.
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Cycling | Brilliant Matthew Brennan follows Wout van Aert’s lead to complete a four-timer at the Vuelta a España.
Media roundup
Anthony Albanese held an undeclared honorary membership to a golf club in his electorate which was awarded $6m through an invite-only grants program, ABC News reports. Australia’s leading authority on domestic abuse is warning that Labor is failing in its plan to end violence against women and children in a generation, the Age reports. Fiji Airways will begin serving Western Sydney International airport from next year as demand for travel to the island nation soars, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
What’s happening today
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Diplomacy | The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is heading to New York for the UN general assembly meeting.
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NSW | The White Australia party is continuing to challenge hate group laws in the high court in Sydney.
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ACT | A public hearing is scheduled in Canberra in the parliamentary inquiry into the Australia Post retail network.
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NSW | The trial of former broadcaster Alan Jones continues in Sydney.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
