Morning everyone. As the drugs regulator looks into online vaping services for potentially encouraging patients to request a particular prescription medicine, our lead story looks at the GP running one of the websites. The UN security council has voted for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after the US made a significant break with Israel by abstaining rather than using a veto. And a New York court has thrown Donald Trump a near-$300m lifeline.
Australia
Mayoral frontrunner | Troy Thompson, a controversial former One Nation candidate who has won the backing of conspiracy theorists and is banned from stepping foot in Queensland parliament, is likely to become the next mayor of Townsville.
Tobacco links | Carolyn Beaumont, a GP opposed to the government’s vaping reforms, runs a nicotine prescription website which is being assessed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. She also has given school vaping education sessions and spoken at a student conference without declaring she has received financial support from a tobacco company.
Essential poll | Less than a third of voters back increased public funding for political candidates to reduce reliance on donations, according to our latest survey.
Shrinkflation | Our data wranglers at The Crunch look at how cereal brands are downsizing their products without downsizing prices.
Casino call | The media watchdog has repeatedly urged authorities in the tiny Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao to stop letting online casinos target Australian consumers as it blacklists more operators.
World
Ceasefire vote | The UN security council voted to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the first time since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, after the US dropped a threat to veto, in a significant break with the Israeli government.
Blame game | The Kremlin has declined to comment on growing evidence that Islamic State masterminded the terrorist attack on a concert hall in Moscow on Friday amid attempts to infer Ukraine was linked to the atrocity that left 137 people dead. Our commentator thinks the episode shows Putin is weaker than ever.
Trump lifeline | A New York court has handed Donald Trump a lifeline by reducing from $454m to $175m the bond the former president needs to stump up to pause the proceedings in his business fraud case.
Cover up? | South African prosecutors plan to charge the parliamentary speaker with corruption, alleging she took US$135,000 and a wig in bribes over a three-year period while she was defence minister.
Rebel cause | Australian star Rebel Wilson has alleged Sacha Baron Cohen is the “massive asshole” she names in her new memoir and that he is attempting to block publication of Rebel Rising. He says the claims are “demonstrably false”.
Full Story
Who screwed millennials out of affordable education? Part 3
In part three of our series, we hear from economist Prof Bruce Chapman, Guardian Australia editor Lenore Taylor, university historian Julia Horne, VicWise founder Manorani Guy and education report Caitlin Cassidy to trace the dozens of ideological changes over decades that transformed the nature of our university system.
In-depth
Writing for Guardian Australia, Malcolm Turnbull criticises the Aukus submarine deal, arguing that it depends on “US industrial development, military needs, politics – and possibly Trump. Australia has no agency or leverage over any of these”. The former prime minister says no one in Canberra appears to have a plan B for any delay which would leave Australia short of a submarine fleet.
Not the news
The hit SBS reality series Alone Australia return for another series with 10 contestants dropped into the wilderness with a reward of $250,000 to outlast the others. This time they’re in New Zealand rather than Tasmania and are allowed to hunt with a bow and arrow. What could possibly go wrong? Well, quite a bit according to producer Riima Daher: “Earthquakes, deadfall, avalanches – I’m worried about what could potentially go wrong from a safety point of view.”
The world of sport
NRL | The Penrith Panthers are confident they will be the first team selected by NRL administrators to travel to Las Vegas and take part in next season’s launch.
Premier League | Chelsea’s former chief executive is facing questions about what she knew of secret payments made in the Roman Abramovich era, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged breaches of football spending rules.
Football | Brazil and Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior broke down in tears while talking about the racist insults he has been subjected to in Spain, saying he is losing his desire to keep playing because of what he has been going through.
Media roundup
Outgoing NAB boss Ross Mcewan tells the Australian economic growth will be hit if cutting immigration is the answer to the nation’s housing crisis.A family in regional Victoria was forced to sell two properties to pay for the disposal of 100,000 tyres illegally dumped on their land, the Age says. The Mercury hails the Jacqui Lambie Network candidates who could be the “kingmakers” of Tasmania’s next government.
What’s happening today
Canberra | Mary Wooldridge addresses the National Press Club on gender equality.
World Cup | Socceroos qualifier against Lebanon in Canberra at 7.45pm.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
