Morning everyone. There is terrible news today from Gaza where hundreds of people are feared dead after a strike on a hospital, according to the territory’s health ministry. We’re also reporting on the ongoing agony of relatives of people killed in the initial Hamas attack on Israel and why the west gave up on trying to fix the Middle East’s central problem. At home we’re looking at the glut of gambling ads on free-to-air media, the people who built Sydney Opera House, and what’s holding up the rollout of electric vehicles in Australia. And in the sporting world, the Netherlands have stunned South Africa at the Cricket World Cup.
Australia
EVs stalled | The Albanese government’s showpiece electric vehicle strategy has achieved little and remains “hamstrung” six months after its release, experts say, as the industry continues to wait for details of a fuel efficiency standard.
Ad land | A study by the audience analytics company Nielsen shows today that out of the 1m gambling ads aired on free television and radio platforms in 12 months to May this year, the clear majority were from online wagering companies.
Premium advice | Global insurers say Australia has five years to reduce its vulnerability to the climate crisis, and faces higher premiums for households and businesses without measures such as improving land-use planning and building codes.
Nazi ban | Victoria will ban the public display of the Nazi salute by the end of the week after the state’s parliament passed landmark legislation last night.
‘Like being buried alive’ | Australian journalist Cheng Lei has revealed how she was jailed in China for breaking an embargo by a few minutes and how she survived months in solitary confinement, in her first interview after being released.
World
‘Dear friend’ | Xi Jinping has welcomed his “dear friend”, Vladimir Putin, to Beijing as the Chinese capital begins a week-long summit with representatives of 130 countries for a forum on Xi’s vast belt and road project.
Gaza ‘catastrophe’ | There are “hundreds of victims” under the rubble of the Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist hospital in Gaza after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday local time, the Gaza health ministry said. It is feared at least 500 people are dead in what an Al Jazeera reporter at the scene has called a “catastrophic” situation. The bombing comes as the US president, Joe Biden, prepares to travel to Israel later today and as fears grow that people in Gaza are beginning to dehydrate to death as clean water runs out. The family of a British teenager missing in Israel say she has been murdered, while Hamas has released a video of Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman taken hostage. In analysis, we’re looking at how the world failed to find a solution to the Middle East issue.
Thunberg arrested | Greta Thunberg was arrested after joining hundreds of protesters who gathered at a five-star hotel in London to denounce a meeting branded “the Oscars of oil”.
Britney reveals | The first extracts from Britney Spears’ highly anticipated memoir reveal the cruelty she allegedly experienced during her unusual conservatorship arrangement, and that she had an abortion while dating Justin Timberlake.
‘Indiana Jones of art’ | A Dutch art detective known as the “Indiana Jones of the art world” has recovered a further six paintings, including a portrait of William of Orange and the first depiction of a seventh-century king.
Full Story
New Zealand’s shift to the right
New Zealand has voted to replace its Labour government with the rightwing Nationals. Eva Corlett explains what it all means.
In-depth
It’s 50 years since the Sydney Opera House opened to world acclaim and to instant installation as one of the world’s most celebrated buildings. However, such an end result was not always guaranteed on a project dogged by technical and financial problems. Rafqa Touma talks to some of the surveyors, engineers and tradies who worked on it, about the years of improvisation, innovation and inspiration it required.
Not the news
Courtney Barnett sang about it, and comedy musician the Bedroom Philosopher released an entire album about it. Now Melbourne’s 86 tram route has its own music festival – fittingly called the Eighty-Six festival – which takes place next week in venues and bars along the stretch of High Street that runs through Northcote, Thornbury, Preston and Reservoir in homage to what co-founder Woody McDonald (pictured) says are the suburbs that hosted the city’s first “really big working-class rock’n’roll scene”.
The world of sport
Cricket | The Netherlands have pulled off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history by beating high-flying South Africa by 38 runs in Dharamsala.
Rugby union | Eddie Jones may have committed his future to the Wallabies but an uncertain future lies ahead after a disastrous World Cup campaign.
Football | The Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli has been handed a seven-month ban as part of a settlement with the Italian football federation after breaching rules on betting on matches.
Media roundup
The parents of prominent no campaigner senator Jacinta Nampijinpa-Price tell the Australian of their pride at their daughter’s achievements in leading the voice no campaign. A paddock on the eastern fringes of Melbourne could become home to 2m shipping containers, the Age reports, but there’s a catch. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games – rejected by Victoria – could solve the Gold Coast’s housing crisis, according to a report cited in the Bulletin.
What’s happening today
Melbourne | High court judgment on the challenge to Victoria’s EV tax.
Economy | Deloitte to release its latest economic outlook and RBA governor Michele Bullock appears at ASFA superannuation summit.
Sydney | Certification for businessman Alexander Csergo over foreign interference charge.
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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.
