Good morning. With Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continuing to escalate, there are mounting signs that children living under the bombardment are developing symptoms of severe trauma. While some aid has crossed from Egypt into Gaza, the World Food Programme is warning that the humanitarian situation for the 2.3 million people trapped there is catastrophic.
Meanwhile, early childhood centres across Australia are sounding the alarm over severe staff shortages that they say are putting children and babies at risk. They are struggling to fill thousands of roles while battling headwinds including post-pandemic burnout and the sector’s low pay.
Plus: we dig into notorious online forum Kiwi Farms and attempts to shut it down, there’s good news on renewable energy in Australia, and India are now the only team undefeated in the Cricket World Cup after beating New Zealand.
Australia
Childcare in crisis | Australia’s childcare centres are struggling with severe staffing shortages putting the safety of children and babies at risk, early childhood educators say.
Suffering in silence | Fewer than half of children who experience violence in sport talk to an adult about it, a groundbreaking study has shown.
Record supply | At one point in September, enough renewable energy was available to meet all but 1.4% of eastern Australia’s electricity demand – the closest to 100% clean power in the grid’s history.
Pain at the pump | New figures are expected to reveal that fuel prices rose by more than 7% in the September quarter, and Australians are being warned that further jumps are all but inevitable.
Kiwi Farms | An Australian company found to have helped keep a notorious forum accessible online has been ordered to pay more than $400,000 in damages after a defamation action.
World
Israel-Hamas war | Children in Gaza are displaying symptoms of severe trauma as Israeli airstrikes are ramped up; desperate families beg Israeli officials to negotiate for the return of more than 200 people held hostage in Gaza; the US is reportedly urging Israel to delay its planned ground offensive, and Israel has apologised for firing at an Egyptian security post.
Russia-Ukraine war | Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, is urging allies to continue their support after at least six people were killed by Russian missiles at a postal distribution centre in Kharkiv.
‘In the same place’ | In a significant sign of support, the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, has offered a strong endorsement of US President Joe Biden’s massive aid proposal for Israel and Ukraine.
‘Remarkable’ | Use of existing drugs before standard chemoradiation treatments for cervical cancer could lead to a 35% reduction in the risk of the disease recurring or causing death, research suggests.
Swiss elections | The rightwing populist Swiss People’s party looks set to strengthen its position as voters appeared to back its hardline stance against mass migration and what it called “woke madness”.
Full Story
Can we win the fight against superbugs?
About 1,000 people die every year in Australia of superbug infections, diseases that can’t be cured with antibiotics or other antimicrobial medications. The World Health Organisation has warned that antimicrobial resistance could be responsible for 10 million deaths a year by 2050. In this special live recording of a panel discussion at SXSW Sydney, Jane Lee speaks to Natasha May, Prof Jonathan Iredell and Prof Garry Myers about this looming global health crisis.
In-depth
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by employers to help decide who to hire, with résumé screening and preliminary interviews outsourced to AI. There are now more than 250 commercial AI recruitment tools being used across the country, with about a third of Australian organisations reporting that they are using them. What does this recruitment by robots mean for candidates – and their future bosses?
Not the news
Zonked, frazzled, drained, pooped, knackered, running on fumes, or just totally exhausted. Is there anything about 21st-century life – our screen addictions, side-hustle culture or always-on mindsets – that means we are more tired, or are we just noticing it more? And when should you start to worry?
The world of sport
Rugby World Cup | All Blacks blitz Argentina and Springboks pip England in semifinals.
Football | World mourns Sir Bobby Charlton, England’s greatest male player.
Cricket | India beat New Zealand thanks to Kohli’s crafty 95, defending champions England on verge of World Cup elimination; Brisbane’s Grace Harris smashes six with broken bat in Big Bash.
Women’s football | Christine Sinclair, the world’s all-time goalscorer, says farewell.
Media roundup
Optometrists are warning of a myopia epidemic as the proportion of children presenting with short-sightedness almost doubles at some clinics – with their worsening eyesight partly due to excessive screen time, the Age reports. An audit of Department of Health staff in Tasmania identified a “significant number” of hospital employees had accessed patient records “not in connection with performance of their duties”, the Mercury reveals. The head of the NSW public education system has called on schools to double down on the use of explicit instruction in a bid to boost results, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
What’s happening today
Anthony Albanese | The prime minister is in the United States to meet Joe Biden.
Northern Territory | Oral submissions are set to be heard in the coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker.
Victoria | A hearing is scheduled in the parliamentary inquiry into the bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
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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.
