Good morning. Australia’s drugs regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, is investigating four telehealth websites which prescribe nicotine vaping products. Since 1 March, nicotine vapes are available only with a prescription – but one of these sites provides a script in just a few minutes.
Labor’s longest serving foreign minister, Gareth Evans, has told the government to “get off the fence” and restart funding for the aid agency UNRWA as starvation looms in Gaza. And the Princess of Wales has apologised for editing a royal family photograph issued to the media but later withdrawn by picture agencies.
Australia
‘Get off the fence’ | Gareth Evans, Labor’s longest serving foreign minister, has urged the government to immediately reinstate funding to a key UN agency to help avert mass starvation in Gaza.
Vaping | Australia’s drugs regulator is investigating several telehealth platforms that offer prescriptions only for nicotine vaping products, which experts warn could compromise patient care.
‘Strong case’ | Older Australians with more wealth should have to pay more for the cost of their aged care, a government-appointed expert panel has recommended – potentially from their super balances.
Guardian Essential poll | Figures suggest almost twice as many Australians believe the government should position the country as a middle power in Asia than say it should be “an ally of the US”.
‘Deeply unnerving’ | A theatremaker will be drugged unconscious on stage in Melbourne this year in a controversial and highly lauded theatre work about sexual violence that will have its Australian premiere at the Rising festival.
World
Royal photo | Catherine, Princess of Wales has apologised for editing errors after a Mother’s Day image was issued to media and later recalled by picture agencies, saying she “occasionally experiments with editing”. The furore underlines current concerns over manipulated and faked media.
Gaza crisis | Twelve of Israel’s most prominent human rights organisations have accused the country of failing to comply with the ICJ ruling that it should facilitate access of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Plus, read the story of Gaza’s destruction in 100 lives – a visual guide.
Russia-Ukraine war | Donald Trump “will not give a penny” to Ukraine if he is re-elected US president, the far-right Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, said after their controversial meeting in Florida.
Saudi defence deal | Documents have revealed that one of the largest military contractors in the US paid commissions to a Saudi company later alleged to have been a conduit for bribes for the kingdom’s royal family.
‘Larger than Everest’ | A Halley-type comet could become visible to the naked eye in the coming weeks as it continues its first visit to the inner solar system in more than 70 years, say astronomers.
Full Story
The hunt for ClothOff: the deepfake porn app
Deepfakes are causing havoc around the world, with police and lawmakers baffled about how to deal with them. For the past six months, Guardian journalist Michael Safi has been trying to find out who is behind an AI company that creates deepfakes. But in trying to answer one question, he has been left with a bigger one: is AI going to make it impossible to sort fact from fiction?
In-depth
For those outside the UN negotiating rooms, Cops – the various UN climate change conferences – have become the de facto global trade show for climate solutions. Anthony Albanese promised to put his hand up for the world’s largest climate tradeshow – but the bid’s not locked in yet and the clock is ticking. Richie Merzian from the Smart Energy Council argues that hosting Cop26 could be exactly what Australia needs to help turbocharge climate action.
Not the news
Ghostwriting is an intense, intimate, emotionally charged process that recalls both the awkwardness of a blind date and the oversharing of the therapy room. At the end of that relationship, your task as a ghost is to disappear without a trace and never mention it again. But there’s nothing quite like finding six new releases on display in a bookstore – all of which you’ve written, and none of which have your name on it.
The world of sport
Cricket | Australia’s captain was an unlikely batting hero once more but New Zealand’s defeat should never really have happened, writes Geoff Lemon.
NRL | Sydney Roosters prop, Spencer Leniu, has been suspended for eight matches for a racist slur against Ezra Mam of the Brisbane Broncos.
Football | Premier League fans should strap in for an all-time title race rather than worrying about marginal refereeing decisions, argues Jonathan Wilson; Manchester City’s Ederson is facing four weeks on sidelines.
Media roundup
Billionaires will have their influence on politics dramatically curtailed as Labor moves to remove big money donations in the biggest shake-up to Australian election rules in a generation, reports the Age. Analysis has found that the Coalition’s plan to let first-time buyers use their superannuation for a home deposit would drive property prices up by $75,000 across the nation’s capital cities, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. The Trans-Australian Railway line and the Eyre Highway – the main rail and road links into Western Australia – are expected to remain closed for several days due to flood waters, reports ABC News.
What’s happening today
NSW | A public hearing for the Senate committee investigating supermarket pricing is due to be held in Orange.
ABS | The latest building approval figures are set to be released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
ACT | A public hearing for the Senate committee investigating choice and outcomes in Australia’s retirement system is due to be held in Canberra.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
