Good morning. Guardian Australia can reveal that a significant number of alleged victims linked to a police investigation into the alleged grooming and exploitation of children are also among the targets of a punitive Queensland government crackdown on youth crime. Half of the alleged victims known to one community organisation have been involved in the youth justice system; the number rises to three-quarters when those in the custody of the state child safety department are also included.
Meanwhile, Australia has crashed out of the Rugby World Cup in the first round – for the first time – after losing to Wales, a sample taken from an asteroid has returned to Earth and it’s time to vote for your bird of the year.
Australia
Youth justice | Cairns has been an epicentre of the juvenile crime “crisis” in Queensland; media have described the region as “crime-plagued” and experiencing a “youth crime scourge”. The reality is not so simple.
Vaping | The New South Wales chief health officer has warned there is “no such thing as a safe vape” after government-funded research identified toxic chemicals in scores of vapes seized from schools and retailers.
Jobs plan | The Albanese government will spend an extra $41m in an attempt to double higher apprenticeships in the care economy, digitisation and net zero, three priorities identified by the employment white paper. Meanwhile, Paul Karp writes that job services must shift from clipping tickets to changing lives.
Mining lawsuit | The mining firm Bravus, formerly Adani, will narrow its lawsuit against an anti-mining activist, dropping its claim that Ben Pennings illegally accessed secret information as part of a long-running lawsuit.
Tiny houses | Changing rules are making tiny home lifestyles more permanent as some shires amend planning laws to allow residents to live in the dwellings indefinitely.
World
Nagorno-Karabakh | The first several hundred refugees from war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh crossed into Armenian territory (pictured) as a historic evacuation began, which could lead to a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians, while Azerbaijan appears on the brink of taking control of the breakaway region.
Asteroid sample | The return to Earth of the largest asteroid sample ever to be recovered marks the culmination of a seven-year journey for the 4.6bn-year-old chunks of space rock. Today, scientists raced to preserve the artefact before it could become contaminated by planet Earth.
Vladimir Putin | Video footage emerged showing an awkward-looking Putin wearing a shell suit and sporting a longer haircut on a visit to Finland during the early 1990s.
Russell Brand | Publishing such stories as those from the past week about the comedian’s alleged wrongdoing is fraught with risk in England and Wales. Here’s why the accusations took so long to emerge.
Artificial intelligence | The use of AI in art is facing a setback after a ruling that an award-winning image could not be copyrighted because it was not made sufficiently by humans.
Full Story
The Murdoch succession
Last week, Rupert Murdoch announced he was stepping down as the chairman of Fox and News Corp, with his son Lachlan taking the reins. Anne Davies joins Jane Lee to discuss what can be learned from Lachlan Murdoch’s past business dealings and how his political ideologies might shape one of the most powerful media companies in the world.
In-depth
“Three weeks before my 29th birthday, and four days before my honeymoon, I got my driver’s licence,” writes Brittney Rigby. “It feels bigger and more celebratory than anything else I’ve achieved.”
Rigby – who was deterred from getting her licence because of fear prompted by a traffic accident – was not alone in coming late to driving due to anxiety about what might happen. Noor Sheerazi, a driving instructor at the NRMA, estimates 40% of her students are over 25. “They do think about consequences more,” Sheerazi says. “They’re tougher on themselves.”
Not the news
It’s time to get behind your favourite in the always hotly contested and vitally important Australian bird of the year poll. From little penguins to (very big) cassowaries, every bird has its fans. Vote early and vote often (within the rules).
The fourth edition of the Guardian/BirdLife Australia poll takes flight today with a lineup of 50 Australian native birds. The bottom five birds are eliminated at the end of each weekday, with everyone able to vote again in the next round each day. You have one vote each day.
The world of sport
Rugby World Cup | Wales has defeated Australia, and the Wallabies will exit the competition in the first round, for the first time. Here’s our live coverage of the match as it happened. Meanwhile, Scotland’s quarter-final hopes remain alive after they beat Tonga 45-17. Plus: the Guardian team has analysis of England’s, South Africa’s and Ireland’s chances at the trophy.
Cricket | India beat Australia by 99 runs in the second one day international test.
Marathon | The Ethiopian runner Tigist Assefa shattered the women’s marathon world record in Berlin, completing the race in 2hr 11min 53sec.
AFL | Despite his tarnished past, Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey looms large for the AFL grand final, writes Jonathan Horn for Sportblog.
NRL | The clinical Panthers and the fearless Broncos set up an NRL grand final clash of styles.
Media roundup
The Australian says a Newspoll survey shows support for the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum has hit a new low. The Age has published a report into how it says the home affairs secretary, Michael Pezzullo, wielded his influence. People with disabilities are being “trafficked” for their NDIS funding, according to an ABC Four Corners investigation.
What’s happening today
Bird of the year | Voting opens in the Guardian/Birdlife Australia bird of the year poll.
Voice referendum | Voting in the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum opens in remote and regional locations across 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.
