Good morning. A 46-year-old woman has been charged with murder after investigations into the death of a 10-year-old girl on the Gold Coast.
Meanwhile, one in three children are not proficient in numeracy or literacy, according to this year’s Naplan results, leaving Australia “well behind” students in England and Canada.
Overseas, the Kremlin is battling to regain the upper hand on its own territory as it rushes reinforcements to the Kursk region amid intense fighting after the surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces into Russia a week ago. And local B-girls say the global mockery of Raygun’s Olympic performance is having a detrimental impact on them.
Australia
On the road again | Australians are buying cars that consume more petrol than the fuel efficiencies marketed to them, repeated AAA investigations have found – including a popular Toyota hybrid.
Gold Coast murder charge | A woman is due to appear in the Southport magistrates court today charged with murder after a 10-year-old girl was found dead in a Carrara home last night.
Amber Haigh murder trial | In closing statements, the crown alleged that the accused – Robert and Anne Geeves – acted like the teen was already dead when she was still considered missing.
Freedom of information | The Albanese government is urging the federal court to find that ministerial reshuffles wipe out its obligation to release certain documents.
What can we trust? | After a scathing report into baby foods in Australian supermarkets, 70 products were found to meet the WHO’s nutritional criteria and did not exceed limits for sugars, salt and fat.
Education analysis | One in three children are not proficient in numeracy or literacy, according to this year’s Naplan results, leaving Australia “well behind” students in England and Canada.
World
Russia-Ukraine war | Russian authorities are scrambling to bring the situation in Kursk under control a week after Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack in the region; nerves are tense at the Sudzha crossing where Ukrainian troops pushed into Russia.
US politics | Union files labour charge over Donald Trump’s strikes comment in Elon Musk interview; how the Musk-Trump interview on X played out on social media; Trump used Jeffrey Epstein’s former jet for campaign appearances.
Middle East crisis | Iran has rejected a western plea not to launch a retaliatory attack against Israel; war has halted IVF treatment in Gaza as parents mourn their “miracle” children.
Venezuela contested | Human rights investigators have urged Nicolás Maduro to halt the “fierce repression” being perpetrated by his security forces after last month’s presidential election.
Elon Musk | Ex-Twitter worker who was told he had resigned voluntarily by not replying to the billionaire’s email about Twitter 2.0 has won more than A$900,000 for unfair dismissal.
Full Story
The forces threatening Labor’s re-election agenda
Federal parliament is back after the long winter break and already the debate is running hot on key issues including housing, gambling and the cost of living. And with less than a year to go before the election, pressure is mounting on the government to gain ground and appeal to voters. Paul Karp and Amy Remeikis discuss what Labor wants to finish before we head to the polls.
In-depth
Kirby Bentley and Courtney Ugle’s lives have a strange symmetry. Both are Noongar women from Perth. Both have played AFL at a professional level. Both now live in Melbourne and are ambassadors for the Aboriginal-controlled organisation Djirra. And both have had their lives marked by devastating violence: Bentley’s aunt and Ugle’s mother were both killed by their partners. As the inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women reports, they demand to be heard.
Not the news
In the latest in our Taste Test series, Nicholas Jordan and five friends boldly venture forth to blind-taste 13 supermarket peanut butter brands – all of them crunchy – with the aim of finding the tastiest peanut butter to spread on toast. From a surprisingly “fluffy” product to another with “no dignity”, together they sampled the range of spreads and received a lesson in value.
The world of sport
‘It doesn’t reflect us’ | Global mockery of Raygun’s Paris Olympics performance is affecting the Australian scene, local B-girls say.
Football | The golden generation faces rejuvenation amid the next Matildas coach’s balancing act, writes Joey Lynch.
Cycling | A puncture dashed Grace Brown’s chances on stage three of the Tour de France Femme as Demi Vollering moves into yellow.
Cricket | England’s Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the Sri Lanka series after tearing his hamstring.
Media roundup
Soaring house prices and high interest rates are driving would-be property owners and larger investors to “fractional” investment, where they buy smaller shares in properties rather than buying them outright, reports the Age. The University of Sydney’s staff have been warned of hiring freezes and other cuts as “financial shortfalls” loom, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
What’s happening today
NSW | Lawyers for Robert and Anne Geeves are set to give their closing submissions in the Amber Haigh murder trial.
Olympics | Members of Team Australia are due to arrive back on home soil on a chartered Qantas flight.
SA | The murder trial for alleged serial killer Steven Leslie Hainsworth is set to begin in Adelaide.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
