Morning, everyone. Not much lays bare the inequality in Australia’s education system more than our main story this morning which focuses on the disparity in funding between mainly Indigenous public schools and mainly white private equivalents, in Alice Springs. It’s shocking stuff, as is the very real prospect of a scorching summer in Australia as El Niño gathers strength. In the US, Donald Trump says he has been told he faces federal investigation over the Capitol riot. And Australia’s women cricketers have lost the one-day leg of their England tour 2-1, despite retaining the Ashes – their first series loss in the format in ten years.
Australia
Games fail | Commonwealth Games organisers say they would welcome the UK picking up the 2026 event after Victoria cancelled it, but Downing Street so far doesn’t sound keen. The Australian Games body says they knew nothing about external consultants’ involvement in estimating the costs of the 2026 event until the Victorian government made the shock announcement yesterday.
Summer warning | Scientists are studying the heatwaves scorching the northern hemisphere for signs of what it might mean for Australia, with one remarking that “we could be in for a very bad summer”. And residents in New South Wales are being warned about the return of bushfires after “prolific” vegetation growth.
Gonski gap | The Gonski promise to deliver more cash for each Indigenous child appears to be failing with figures showing that funding to public schools falling 7.75% in real terms in the Northern Territory. The public middle school in Alice Springs receives $31,834 for every student, compared with $26,848 at the nearby private school, which also gets $9,382 for every student from fees. In addition, extra funding helps attract the best teachers away from the public sector.
Liberal challenges | Two of Scott Morrison’s allies are facing preselection challenges in their seats, as are two other senior federal Liberals – the deputy leader, Sussan Ley, and the manager of opposition business, Paul Fletcher.
Degree of change | Australian universities need to make far more places available for students from lower socioeconomic in coming decades to meet the demands of the future labour market, a major new report says.
World
Rome burns | Hospitals in Italy are reporting a sharp rise in emergency cases amid extreme temperatures, with Rome recording its hottest ever day at 41.8C. Planes are being sent to tackle wildfires raging near the Greek capital Athens and fires have caused Swiss police to evacuate mountain villages. Follow the latest news at our blog here.
Trump targeted | Donald Trump says he has been told he is a target of the federal investigation into the January 6 US Capitol attack that his supporters staged after his electoral defeat to Joe Biden saying a letter he’s received “almost always means an arrest and indictment”. His mounting legal woes worsened when a court in Georgia rejected his request to block a district attorney from prosecuting him for trying to alter the outcome of the 2020 election in the state.
‘Case for compassion’ | A British woman who was jailed for terminating her pregnancy after the legal time limit will be released from prison and reunited with her children, after winning a court of appeal bid to reduce her sentence.
Twitter write-down | An investor in Elon Musk’s Twitter has written down their stake in the business by 47% as advertisers rein in their spending on the social media platform. But she said she remained “bullish” as interest in its rival Threads falters.
Fitter faster | So-called “weekend warriors” who fit a week’s exercise into a couple of days have a similarly low risk of heart disease and stroke as those who spread out their physical activity, researchers say.
Full Story
Why schools fail those most in need
The Gonski review of education laid out a roadmap to reduce the impact of social and economic disadvantage on a child’s education. But more than decade later, government policy has had the opposite effect. Jordyn Beazley outlines how an unfair funding model is entrenching inequality in Australia.
In-depth
Alexander Csergo, the Australian businessman facing a foreign interference charge, brought home a “shopping list” given to him by two Chinese intelligence officials as evidence of China’s unsuccessful efforts to cultivate him as a source, his lawyers say. And as they build a case to defend him, Csergo’s elderly mother, Cathy, tells our reporter Ben Doherty from her Sydney home that “my son is innocent”, saying he has “worked hard, he has been honest, he has never been involved with the police”.
Not the news
Christopher Nolan, director of the much-anticipated new film Oppenheimer, is a champion of Imax 1570, an ultra-rare format that’s the biggest and highest resolution in existence. He has used it for a print of his biopic of the atomic bomb pioneer. Cinemas equipped to show Imax are even rarer but there is one in Melbourne where film buffs will be able to enjoy the 18km-long print from tomorrow (pictured). Kelly Burke finds out more.
The world of sport
Women’s Ashes | Australia have lost the final match of the Ashes series at Taunton. It means they retain the Ashes but have lost both short-form series on this tour.
Men’s Ashes | Australia have dropped spinner Todd Murphy and recalled all-rounder Cameron Green as the men’s series fires up again at Old Trafford later today with the contest nicely poised for another tense Test.
Cycling | Jonas Vingegaard deflated the hopes of Tadej Pogacar with a devastating performance in the 22.4km race of truth from Passy to Combloux to extend his overall lead in the Tour de France from 10sec to nearly two minutes.
Media roundup
Victoria’s decision to pull the plug on the Commonwealth Games is the lead for the Age and many other outlets. It reports Olympic powerbroker John Coates as saying the regional games were doomed without federal help, and the Australian says Daniel Andrews has “humiliated” the state. The Sydney Morning Herald reckons its home city should “reluctantly” step up and host the Games. Tourists in K’gari will be armed with “dingo sticks” to ward off the threat of wild dogs, the Courier-Mail reports.
What’s happening today
Environment | Australian clean energy summit in Sydney.
Business | Woodside second quarter report and Rio Tinto second quarter operations review released.
New South Wales | All-day hearing at supreme court in Sydney in class action against police for illegal strip-searches at music festivals.
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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.
