Morning everyone. The Israel-Gaza war is at a crucial turning point this morning. Hamas appeared to avert the prospect of an Israeli assault on Rafah when it announced it would accept a ceasefire deal. Israel, however, greeted the announcement with scepticism, and launched targeted strikes in eastern Rafah. We have the latest reports and analysis, and how the crisis is being felt in Australia.
In Queensland, police have sacked a First Nations advisory group; our poll shows voter support for tough action to prevent online harm; and meet Jill, Australia’s heaviest oyster.
Australia
‘You wouldn’t eat her’ | Bernie Connell, an oyster farmer from Batemans Bay in southern New South Wales, has spent ten years nurturing Jill, Australia’s heaviest oyster, who weighs in at 3kg. But he says she’s not for consumption.
Gag doubt | The Queensland police service has sacked a formal advisory group of First Nations community leaders and elders, six weeks after the group refused to sign a gag clause.
Poll backing | Voters have indicated strong backing for government intervention to counter online harm, including enforcing age verification for pornography, gambling and social media, according to our latest Essential poll.
Jewish fears | Jewish students are afraid to go to class amid pro-Palestinian campus protests, their peers allege, as the education minister comes under growing pressure to condemn the encampments. With a resolution up before the general assembly this week, Australia’s government may soon have to decide where it officially stands on Palestinian statehood.
Knife crackdown | Police will be able to scan people for knives without a warrant in crowded places under new laws being developed by the New South Wales government after stabbings at Bondi Junction, Wakeley and Coffs Harbour.
World
Gaza ‘bloodbath’ warning | Hamas says it has accepted a ceasefire proposal in three phases, with the first stage featuring an Israeli-Palestinian prisoner swap. Israel is under huge pressure to accept a ceasefire from western governments led by the US, amid widespread fears that an attack on Rafah could be a “bloodbath”. As thousands of desperate Palestinians earlier streamed out of the city to seek shelter elsewhere, France said Israel would be committing a war crime under international law if it sought to forcibly displace Palestinian civilians. Follow the developments live.
Ukraine loss | The weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko, who finished fourth in the 85kg light-heavyweight category at the Rio Games in 2016, has become the first Olympian to die in the war in Ukraine. Russia has ordered nuclear drills in response to what it called “provocative remarks” by the UK and French governments.
Trump warned – again | The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal hush-money trial held him in criminal contempt for the 10th time and warned he could face jail for continued violations of a gag order. The trial itself heard evidence on how Trump signed the cheques to his alleged “fixer”.
Sunak hope | The UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has said the general election result is not a “foregone conclusion” despite disastrous local election results and the Tories struggling to close the gap with Labour in the polls.
A new angle | Two American students who found a new way to prove Pythagoras’s theorem by using trigonometry – which mathematicians for generations thought was impossible – have now uncovered more such proofs.
Full Story
Alleged mushroom murders: Erin Patterson faces court
The alleged mushroom poisoner Erin Patterson faces court today charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. Nino Bucci discusses the latest developments in the case and why it has drawn intense media interest.
In-depth
A new, extensive study into the economics of the professional performing and visual artists and writers reveals today that women working in the sector outnumber men two to one. The ratio in the literary world is even more pronounced in favour of women with 83% of authors being women, according to the work by Creative Australia. However, the sting in the tail is that despite the numerical difference, women earn 19% less than their male colleagues. Kelly Burke digs into the report.
Not the news
We asked you all to share your thoughts about the best live music venues in the country. So from seeing the Rolling Stones play their “secret” 2003 gig at the Enmore in Sydney, to Iron Maiden at the Thebbie in Adelaide, and from the glories of the Forum in Melbourne to a marriage proposal at the Tivoli in Brisbane, here are some of the joyous outpourings.
The world of sport
Premier League | Ange Postecoglou has reinvented Tottenham Hotspur, but four straight defeats leaves the Australian coach under pressure, while David Moyes will leave West Ham at the end of the season. On the pitch, Crystal Palace are hoping to continue their good run at home to Manchester United this morning.
Cycling | Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier raced to victory in the third stage of the Giro d’Italia after race leader Tadej Pogacar had threatened to steal a march on the sprinters.
Boxing | Japan’s Naoya Inoue bolstered his claim as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter when he came off the floor to retain his undisputed junior featherweight championship with a technical knockout of Luis Nery.
Media roundup
Josh Frydenberg tells the Australian that universities must break up the pro-Palestinian encampments on the country’s campuses. The Sydney Morning Herald asks whether NSW can catch up with Victoria in the way that it handles domestic violence. The owner of the wellness centre near Ballarat where a woman died from mushroom poisoning tells the Age she is devastated and that she is being threatened and stalked as a result. A beach camping area near Noosa has become so popular that authorities are considering a cap on visitor numbers and a possible ban on vehicles, the Courier Mail reports.
What’s happening today
Economy | The Reserve Bank makes its announcement about interest rates at 2.30pm.
Sydney | Sentencing for a man who placed a fake bomb on a car flying a Palestinian flag.
Victoria | The state budget is handed down in Melbourne.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
