Good morning. Imogen Dewey here this morning to kick off your news week – and we’re back to parliament today so keep an eye out for our politics blog. On that note, Anthony Albanese’s government is facing some policy pressure, while overseas, fallout from the Chinese “spy balloon” incident continues. Plus we get into the continuing rise of sophisticated scams – and how to avoid them.
Here are the major headlines from across the country and around the world.
Australia
Asia Power Index | The Lowy Institute’s annual ranking is out today, with Australia coming in sixth behind US, China, Japan, India and Russia. We’ve seen a big increase in regional diplomatic influence over the past year.
Fuel tax credits | The Albanese government has been urged to halve the $8bn a year it gives mining trucks, semi-trailers and other heavy vehicles, with a new report finding changes are crucial for budget repair and meeting emissions targets.
More of the same | Meanwhile experts say the government’s environment plan to encourage companies to invest in nature merely expands a Morrison-era Coalition proposal and risks failing due to lack of business interest.
Defining antisemitism | Australian universities are split on whether to adopt a controversial definition after a push from MPs that has been criticised as an “outright attack on academic freedom”.
‘Cruel’ delays | Survivors and advocates have condemned hold ups in the case to potentially defrock Peter Hollingworth, the former Australian governor general and former archbishop of Brisbane, for failures to act on child abuse allegations in the Anglican church. A secretive hearing is due to begin today.
World
Presidential pal | US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg has rejected Republican criticism of Joe Biden over the eight-day wait to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon which flew over military sites.
Presidential plans | Buttigieg is also backing Biden on a 2024 run, but most Americans don’t. Nearly 60% of Democrats and nearly 50% of Republicans want someone other than Biden or Donald Trump to be their party’s nominee, a new poll shows.
Presidential promises | Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett has said Vladimir Putin told him – shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine last year – that he would not try to kill Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Presidential farewell | Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s former army general and president – who ruled for almost a decade after seizing power in a coup in 1999 – has died in Dubai aged 79, after a long illness.
President one day? | David Balogun, a nine-year-old boy from Pennsylvania who loves science and computer programming, has become one of the youngest ever high school graduates.
Full Story
Scammers are getting smarter. Are we ready?
More than $1m is lost every day in Australia to scams. With little chance of getting money back, victims say that too much of the onus is on ordinary people to protect themselves. In today’s episode, one woman describes how she lost $25,000, and reporter Cait Kelly explores whether Australia is prepared to combat the rise in sophisticated scams.
Read more: The latest scams to watch out for – from ‘hi mum’ to crypto fraud.
Plus: Sarah Ayoub explains why it’s never too early to chat to your kids about online safety.
In-depth
Tamara and Brodie Mae say they had to pay $750 just to look at a sperm donor list. So it makes sense some women are seeking donors outside the expensive, complicated clinical process. But experts say there are major risks to informal donations. Tory Shepherd finds out more about the unregulated world of online sperm donors, and speaks to Adam Hooper, a donor and podcaster who is about to father his 30th child.
Not the news
There’s been a summer surge of (very) viral gastroenteritis in New South Wales. While the infectious illness can pass for many in a few days, it can be more serious for babies, elderly people and those who are immunocompromised. Lydia Hales has sought out experts tips for treating it at home – and when it’s important to see a doctor.
The world of sport
Australia in a spin | A left achilles tendon injury has Josh Hazlewood joining fellow quick Mitchell Starc on the sidelines for the first India test
Record-breaking goal | Harry Kane has scored his 200th Premier League goal, and 267th for Tottenham, taking them to a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Shock defeat avoided | As France launched their Six Nations title defence, Shaun Edwards admitted Les Bleus were hanging on at the end before edging to a 29-24 victory over Italy.
Media roundup
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that all NSW poker machines will be cashless within five years, after premier Dominic Perrottet’s long-promised gambling reforms passed a snap meeting of cabinet. According to the Australian, the government is believed to have made a formal Unesco bid to have Western Australia’s Burrup Peninsula listed as a world heritage site. And overnight, per the ABC, more than 80 firefighters have battled a blaze at a Buddhist temple in the Melbourne’s south-east.
What’s happening today
Western Australia | Premier Mark McGowan will host a cabinet meeting in Geraldton.
Public hearing | On the International Labour Organisation’s convention on the minimum age of employment.
Sydney summit | NSW premier Dominic Perrottet is among speakers from politics, business, industry and academia at a leadership conference.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords and free Wordiply game to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. And Martin Farrer will be back with you tomorrow.
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