Good morning. Today we reveal that 25 of the 153 people affected by the high court’s ruling on indefinite detention had already been released into the community under ministerial discretion – including one murderer and one person convicted of “attempt or solicit murder”.
Plus, we detail how payday lenders are targeting Australia’s most vulnerable – and the ongoing “whack-a-mole” fight to crack down on them.
And the African National Congress says it will not entertain demands for the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, to step down, as the final results in the country’s seismic election confirm the ANC has lost its majority.
Australia
Payday lenders | Consumer groups say companies are targeting vulnerable people with promises of “quick”, “easy” and “hassle-free” cash.
Exclusive | Court documents have revealed that of the 153 people affected by the high court’s ruling on indefinite detention, 25 of them – including a murderer – had already been released under ministerial discretion.
Whalan explosion | Rescue teams who were searching for a woman in her 30s unaccounted for after an explosion at a townhouse in Sydney’s west on Saturday have found a body in the rubble.
Conservation | Queensland has declared the red-finned blue-eye’s habitat a special wildlife reserve after the Australian native fish was brought back from the brink, with numbers growing from 1,000 to 5,000 in eight years.
Gina Rinehart | The mining magnate has denied initially approaching the National Portrait Gallery to offer an artwork of herself – and says they asked her to sit for a portrait at least six years ago.
World
Coalition talks loom | Final results have been announced in South Africa’s seismic elections, confirming that the African National Congress party has lost its majority for the first time in 30 years of full democracy.
Russia-Ukraine war | Donald Trump risks being a “loser president” if he wins November’s US election and imposes a bad peace deal on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said.
Gaza crisis | Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to balance the demands of centrist and far-right members of his government amid threats to collapse the coalition over the proposed ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Rupert Murdoch | The Australian-born billionaire rightwing media mogul has married for the fifth time, tying the knot with retired molecular biologist Elena Zhukova in California.
Cancer treatment | An immunotherapy drug that “melts away” tumours dramatically increases the chances of curing bowel cancer – and may even replace the need for surgery, doctors have said.
Full Story
Will another immigration scandal topple a minister?
The Albanese government is once again under pressure over immigration detention, this time because an independent tribunal gave visas back to non-citizens with serious criminal convictions. Paul Karp tells Jane Lee why the Coalition has demanded the immigration minister’s resignation.
In-depth
As Labor’s first term in power has progressed, many people have been left wondering if the political deadlock on our nation’s climate policy has really been broken. Climate scientist Joëlle Gergis writes that while Rome wasn’t built in a day, the Albanese government’s lack of action on climate change does not reflect the urgency of the crisis. Are the climate wars really over, she asks, or has a new era of greenwashing just begun?
Not the news
As we edge into the cooler months, people may be seeking something new to watch as they head for the cozy comfort of their sofas. In his Stream lover column, Luke Buckmaster shares his highlights of what’s coming to Australia’s streaming services this month, including The Bear, House of the Dragon, Glen Powell as a fake hitman – and a very entertaining new ABC comedy.
The world of sport
AFL | “Neutered dog” Ross Lyon teaches Harley Reid old tricks to win battle for St Kilda, writes Jonathan Horn.
Tennis | World No 1 Iga Świątek delivers 6-0, 6-0 demolition job in just 40 minutes at French Open; Alex de Minaur hails superfan after breaking 17-year Australian hoodoo.
Cricket | England are talking up their chances of retaining the T20 World Cup title; a cricket pitch grown in Adelaide has been shipped 11,000 miles to a newly built New York stadium.
Football | Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has condemned a survey asking if his team has enough white players.
Media roundup
Victoria’s Treasury has quietly sought advice from investment banks this year to find out how much money could be raised from privatisation of public assets, reports the Age. A groundbreaking worldwide study involving dozens of Australians is paving the way for pre-surgery immunotherapy to become the global standard for combating melanoma, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Thousands of Australian households are being charged electricity prices based on their single biggest point of usage across an entire month, fuelling claims power firms are using sneak tactics to gouge consumers, reports ABC News.
What’s happening today
Fair Work Commission | The Annual Wage Review 2023–24 decision is due to be handed down this morning.
Football | The Matildas are set to face China tonight in Sydney, in their second international friendly.
Victoria | The trial of Greg Lynn, accused of murdering Russell Hill and Carol Clay, continues at the supreme court 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.
