Good morning. Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown has lit up the pool at the Paris Games, powering to gold – and setting a new Olympic record – in a searing 100m backstroke final that was the latest encounter in her fierce rivalry with American Regan Smith.
But there was heartbreak for the women’s sevens squad, tumbling out of the medals after two costly defeats overnight.
Back home, academics say the rise of AI and the pressure on universities’ revenue streams have driven levels of plagiarism and other forms of cheating to levels that threaten the fundamental integrity of their institutions. And Israel has targeted a senior Hezbollah commander with an airstrike in southern Beirut.
Australia
Cheating ‘beyond belief’ | The wholesale use of generative AI is going largely unchecked at many universities, students and staff say.
NDIS changes | Bill Shorten says suggestions changes to the NDIS will amount to a robodebt 2.0 are “complete rubbish”, amid concerns at how debt-raising measures might affect the disabled community.
Strike ending | After a week in Paris, Nine Entertainment’s chief executive will be back at work on Wednesday – as 500 of his journalists return to the newsroom after a five-day strike.
Scams | Labor is promising to change the law to force banks to compensate customers who are tricked into transferring money to scammers, with Australians duped out of more than $2bn every year.
Airline woes | All Rex flights between capital cities have been grounded and the airline has entered voluntary administration, but the government says it may intervene to help.
World
UK stabbings | Three young children killed in a “ferocious” knife attack at a dance class in Southport have been named as police search for a motive and hundreds gather to pay tribute to the victims.
Middle East crisis | A Beirut flat were hit in an airstrike targeting Hezbollah commander, Israel says; rockets fired from Lebanon have killed one Israeli civilian in a kibbutz; the IDF has charged a reservist with aggravated abuse of Palestinian prisoners.
US politics | JD Vance admitted to Republican donors that Kamala Harris is “a threat”, reports say; Donald Trump has repeated remarks made to Christian summit attendees that they would “never need to vote again” if he returns to the presidency.
Novel achievement | Charlotte Wood is the first Australian in eight years to make the Booker prize longlist, a list our reviewer calls the most enjoyable in years.
Venezuela election | After claiming victory, Nicolás Maduro has vowed to squash a “violent counter-revolution” in a crackdown against protests; opposition leaders say his exit from power is “inevitable”.
Full Story
‘Like a glass of wine’: the growing popularity of cannabis gummies
When it comes to marijuana, Australia is trailing behind the US where recreational use has been legalised in a number of states. And yet the boom in legal cannabis gummies there seems to have resulted in an increase of illicit edible use back home. Natasha May speaks with Matilda Boseley about why more people are turning to edibles instead of alcohol – despite experts warning they cannot be sure what they are consuming.
In-depth
The new minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, says she wants to lead a more “honourable discourse” about matters affecting the lives of First Nations people. The Yanyuwa Garrwa woman speaks with us about how to elevate Indigenous affairs away from being a “political football” – and her ambition to work collegially with all sides of politics in order to find solutions.
Not the news
Many of us reach for them without thinking for a quick and easy midweek dinner. But some ravioli are far better than others. In a blind test of 11 supermarket sold ravioli, tortellini and agnolotti, Nicholas Jordan and six Sydney pasta makers chart a course from the “sexy” to the “aggressively al dente”, finding that some pastas are silky and generously filled – while others have been stuffed up.
The world of sport
Olympics | The Australian women’s sevens team will leave the Paris Games empty-handed after defeats to Canada and the US; Kaylee McKeown reigns supreme with a stunning 100m backstroke gold; Taco Tuesday satisfies Australian hunger after murmurs around lack of food.
Gymnastics | A dazzling Simone Biles led the US to gymnastics team gold after a dominant performance.
Hot under the collar | Paris 2024 organisers have denied claims of “two-tier Games” amid searing heat in some Olympic Village rooms.
Triathlon | The climate crisis is to blame for delays to triathlon over the Seine’s water quality, say Paris Olympic organisers.
Media roundup
Teenage dropouts are a key target in a major funding agreement for Australian schools aiming to improve the quality of Australia’s schooling system across public and private institutions, reports ABC News. The new vice-chancellor of Western Sydney University is warning that students are being “priced out of their dreams” due to soaring costs, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. A Tasmanian Aboriginal group has vowed to remain camped on Parliament lawns in Hobart until the premier commits to legislating for a treaty process, reports the Mercury.
What’s happening today
Canberra | Assistant treasurer Stephen Jones is scheduled to address the National Press Club.
ABS | The Australian Bureau of Statistics is set to release the latest consumer price index and retail trade figures.
Media | The Nine newspapers strike is due to end at 11am.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
