Good morning. The ACT supreme court will today begin hearing disturbing allegations about the treatment of a Ngunnawal woman, Julianne Francis Williams, while on remand in the territory’s only adult prison in early 2021. Williams is expected to tell the court she was forcibly strip-searched despite repeatedly informing guards that she couldn’t breathe and was experiencing pains in her chest. The territory government has kept handheld camera footage of the incident secret.
Meanwhile, there has been a groundbreaking new agreement to protect international waters, Liverpool have inflicted an historic defeat on Manchester United, and Toblerone has been forced to change its packaging as the chocolate becomes less Swiss.
Australia
Prisons | An Indigenous woman will this week allege in court that she was tortured and treated in a “cruel” and “inhuman” way by prison officers who pinned her down, forcibly strip-searched her while holding a knife, and ignored her screamed warnings that she couldn’t breathe and was experiencing chest pains.
NSW election | The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has launched a scathing attack on the New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet’s government, saying it is “plagued by scandal” and slamming its “deficit of character”.
Housing inequality | Hundreds of participants in a “life-changing” Victorian housing program designed to permanently end rough sleeping face the prospect of returning to homelessness after being served with eviction notices.
Weather | Sydney is set to sizzle through its hottest day in more than two years, with temperatures forecast to reach 38C on Monday and authorities warning of increased health and fire risks in parts of NSW.
Australia Post | Australia Post considered scrapping controversial bonus payments to its executives last year, internal documents reveal, but the organisation’s board eventually decided they were needed to “incentivise” senior staff.
World
Donald Trump | The former president has turned back the clock to the darkest elements of his presidency with a fiery address that framed the 2024 election as “the final battle” for the nation.
High seas | After almost 20 years of talks, United Nations member states agreed on a legal framework for parts of the ocean outside national boundaries. It will establish vast marine protected areas to protect against the loss of wildlife and share out valuable genetic material.
Asylum seekers | The British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, will announce new laws stopping people who enter the UK on small boats from claiming asylum, and place a duty on the home secretary to send those arriving to Rwanda or another country.
Chris Rock | Chris Rock has spoken at length for the first time in his live Netflix special Selective Outrage about being slapped by Will Smith during the Oscars. Here’s the Guardian’s review.
Toblerone | The image of the Matterhorn mountain will be removed from Toblerone packaging after some of the chocolate bar’s production has been moved outside Switzerland, meaning it falls foul of marketing restrictions relating to the use of Swiss iconography.
Full Story
What’s in the air in East Palestine, Ohio?
On the evening of 3 February, a train more than a mile long made up of 149 carriages came off the rails in the small Ohio town of East Palestine. No one was injured, but the train shed its cargo, which included toxic chemicals. The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani has been reporting from East Palestine and tells Michael Safi local people are furious about the way the accident happened – and how the cleanup has been handled.
In-depth
For most of the past 200 years, were you to ask an astronomer where the most likely place in the solar system was to find life, the answer would have been Mars – but in the past few decades, astronomers have been increasingly drawn to the deeper, darker realms of the solar system. Next month, the European Space Agency’s Juice probe will launch on a mission to fly closer to Jupiter’s icy moons – including Ganymede, the solar system’s largest – than ever before. Could these moons support life?
Not the news
Food prices keep rising, but not everyone has the ability to cook and buy in bulk – commonly suggested as a money-saving measure. For those with no time, no money, no space and no company, Guardian Australia has tips – including forming a purchasing posse, ditching the garnishes, and personalising your pantry staples.
The world of sport
NRL | The NRL CEO, Andrew Abdo, has defended the league’s management of on-field concussions after veteran coaches called for the game’s independent doctor to be scrapped.
Formula One | Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first of the 2023 Formula One season, with Sergio Pérez second and Fernando Alonso third.
Premier League | Liverpool scored an incredible 7-0 against a Manchester United side in absolute meltdown. Nottingham Forest and Everton were 2-2.
Media roundup
Labor’s reconciliation envoy is demanding the federal government take immediate steps to address Indigenous deaths in custody, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Brisbane’s showcase 2032 Olympics arenas will rank among the world’s most expensive sports venues, according to the Australian. And the Mercury reports on the new horror film about rabid Tasmanian devils that’s about to start filming in its namesake state.
What’s happening today
Robodebt inquiry | Guardian Australia brings you ongoing coverage of the royal commission into the controversial program.
Australian policing | An inquest into the police shooting of Aboriginal man Kumanjayi Walker continues.
Nuclear waste | A case resumes in federal court as the Barngarla people try to stop the proposed nuclear waste dump proceeding in SA.
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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.
