Good morning. Our top story this morning looks at the link between problem gambling and the use of pokies into the early hours of the morning. It suggests that earlier closing times for pubs, clubs and casinos would help protect at-risk punters. Meanwhile, insurance premiums in parts of regional Australia have almost tripled in three years – even for properties never directly affected by natural disaster. Plus: Sydney’s mothballed tram tunnels play host to a spectacular light display.
Australia
Exclusive | Almost two-thirds of people playing NSW poker machines between 2am and 8am are problem gamblers or at moderate risk of developing a problem, new research shows.
Counting the cost | Property owners slapped with sharp increases to their premiums say they’ve been punished for having the wrong postcode, as insurers adjust to more frequent extreme weather.
Dark Spectrum | Lighting crews have transformed some of Sydney’s abandoned tram tunnels into an immersive art spectacle.
‘Once it is sold, it’s gone’ | The lord mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, has warned the NSW government against selling off state-owned land for housing.
Privacy laws | Real estate agents are pushing back against law changes designed to protect personal data.
World
Rising death toll | Floods in the Emilia-Romagna region are the most catastrophic to affect Italy in 100 years, with at least 13 people dead and more than 20,000 left homeless.
Russia-Ukraine war | Satellite imaging of Bakhmut has laid bare the extent of its destruction after months of bombardment; US risks rift with its European allies over supply of F-16s.
Queen Elizabeth II | As many in the UK struggle with a cost-of-living crisis, figures reveal that events to mark the monarch’s death last year cost the public more than $300m.
Christiane Amanpour | An influential anchor has rebuked CNN for hosting a town-hall event with Donald Trump, and says she had a “robust exchange of views” with network bosses.
An ancient embrace | Researchers say humanity’s earliest record of kissing dates back about 4,500 years in the ancient Middle East – 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.
Full Story
Why gas is not the answer to our net zero ambitions
It seems everyone is talking up gas expansion as a solution to ending the climate crisis. Madeleine King says Australia needs to remain an essential supplier of gas, while opposition leader Peter Dutton has told the gas industry to fight off Labor’s “renewable zealotry”. Gabrielle Jackson chats with Lenore Taylor and Patrick Keneally about the reality of gas.
In-depth
As part of our Ten years of Guardian Australia series, Sarah Martin reflects on the sports rorts scandal that snowballed after a scathing report in 2020 detailing distributional bias in the Coalition’s community sport infrastructure program. The revelations helped bring down a federal minister – and led to “hyper-vigilance” at the last election.
Not the news
There have been few silver linings to the heavy rainfall and flooding that has pummelled parts of Australia this year. But nature’s bounty may be one of them: the price of prawns has plunged by half since Christmas. Large king prawns are widely available for less than $25 a kilogram, and Rafqa Touma shares 10 recipes to help you make the most of low prices.
The world of sport
Tennis | Rafael Nadal has pulled out of French Open injured, and says 2024 will “probably” be his last year playing.
Super Rugby | South African teams are happy post-divorce, but has the competition lost its bite?
Football | Newcastle have just beaten Brighton in the Premier League; Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp gets two-match ban for referee tirade.
Media roundup
The yes campaign for the Indigenous voice to parliament has amassed a formidable war chest of more than $10m to help win over unsure voters, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. CSIRO researchers are sounding the alarm on how many tiny bits of plastic we consume with our food, says NT News. Global security, climate change, and clean energy will be among Anthony Albanese’s talking points as he jets off to the G7 leaders’ summit in Japan, reports the Canberra Times.
What’s happening today
NSW | The commission of inquiry into LGBTQ+ hate crimes continues to hear evidence.
Queensland | Sentencing due for woman who used dead Sea World resort pilot’s identity to get out of traffic fine.
Western Australia | Expelled Labor party MP expected to be sentenced over domestic violence.
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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.
