Good morning. The New South Wales environmental regulator has known for more than a decade that asbestos and lead-contaminated soil fill might have been used in childcare centres, schools and parks, according to documents obtained by Guardian Australia. Investigations by the regulator in 2013 and 2019 found widespread rule breaches by waste facilities but in 2022, the regulator walked away from a proposal to tighten the standards.
On Labor’s changes to the stage-three tax cuts, read our data dive into which electorates stand to benefit (and the few that don’t) from the overhaul. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner has sunk Daniil Medvedev in an extraordinary comeback to win his first slam title at the Australian Open, and three US soldiers have been killed in Jordan.
Australia
Exclusive | The NSW environmental regulator dropped plans for tougher rules on reuse of soil fines in 2022 after industry opposition, despite warnings that potentially contaminated product might have been applied to land across the state.
Climate crisis | The independent senator David Pocock says the Australian government is failing to listen to its “Pacific family” and must stop approving new fossil fuel projects that fuel “an existential threat for those nations”.
Road crashes | The second half of 2023 was the deadliest six months on Australian roads since 2010, but there is “no credible plan” to make roads safer, the industry says.
Disability | Deaf and hard-of-hearing filmgoers say technology issues and lack of film screenings with subtitles are making cinema sessions inaccessible.
Megabats | With wingspans over a metre and an insatiable love for fruit and nectar, grey-headed flying foxes have settled in massive numbers across South Australia.
World
Middle East | The UN secretary general has appealed to the 10 donor countries that withdrew funding from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees to reconsider, saying those in desperate need should not be penalised due to the alleged acts of a dozen staff. Meanwhile, the US recorded its first military deaths in the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, with three American service members killed in a drone strike in Jordan.
Ukraine-Russia war | Ukraine’s SBU security service has arrested five people who allegedly tried to steal nearly $60m that was supposed to be used to buy shells for the country’s military in its war against Russia.
Germany | The far-right populist Alternative für Deutschland party is facing its first electoral test since revelations came to light of its involvement in a plan for the mass deportation of foreigners, which sparked huge protests across Germany.
US congress | Republicans have published two articles of impeachment against US homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and plan to formally advance them towards a full House vote this week, despite two hearings failing to produce any evidence of his wrongdoing.
Art soup | Two environmental protesters have hurled soup at the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, calling for “healthy and sustainable food”.
Full Story
Anthony Albanese’s tax cut gamble
Last week, the prime minister confirmed what many had been speculating: that his government had made the decision to abandon the controversial stage-three tax cuts. Now the opposition is calling for an early election, saying the decision breaks a promise to the Australian people. Political correspondent Paul Karp tells Jane Lee why Labor’s decision to give more money back to most Australians is a political risk.
Read more: Analysis suggests working-class communities in Coalition-held remote and regional electorates stand to gain the most from Labor’s proposed changes to income tax cuts, with nearly 90% of Australians better off under the plan.
In-depth
Emi Tōda was in her late 50s, recently divorced, and getting by on wages from part-time jobs at supermarkets and an undertaker’s when she decided it was time for a change. Now 65, she has appeared in dozens of adult movies catering to the “silver porn” market – a genre of films whose enduring popularity reflects Japan’s status as a super-ageing society.
“Everyone enjoys sex, but older people are embarrassed to talk about it,” she says. “There’s a belief that when women reach a certain age they lose interest in sex, but that’s not the case. I think I have helped challenge that misconception.”
Not the news
Early risers know only too well the smug satisfaction of getting up and getting going. But what if (much like myself) you’re more of an owl than a lark – and does starting early really make a difference to productivity? Here are some tips for changing your body clock and seizing the day, including protein, looking at the sun, and getting straight out of bed when the alarm goes off (yuck!).
The world of sport
Australian Open | Jannik Sinner, 22, has won his maiden grand slam 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, becoming the third Italian man ever to do so – turning the match around from the grim prospect of likely defeat as fatigue set in for Russian Daniil Medvedev. Here are the tournament’s best photos.
Asian Cup | The Socceroos beat Indonesia 4-0 to march into the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup.
FA Cup | Manchester United beat Newport 4-2; Liverpool beat Norwich 5-2; Wolves beat West Brom 2-0, but players had to leave the pitch for 35 minutes after fighting broke out.
Media roundup
The ABC has seen scathing unreleased submissions to the NSW workplace safety regulator that tell shocking stories of nurses and tradespeople dying at work. Queensland families are spending $200 more than they earn each week on the bare essentials, according to the Courier-Mail. Tennis Australia will lobby to have “lets” removed from the Australian Open and other tournaments to speed up games, the Herald Sun says.
What’s happening today
Adani lawsuit | A hearing is scheduled in Adani mining company’s lawsuit against activist Ben Pennings.
Back to school | Term begins for the students of South Australia.
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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.
