Good morning. Today, Guardian Australia speaks to the family of Terry Strong, who didn’t talk openly about the startling and profound decline of their beloved husband and father until two weeks ago, when they gave evidence at a Senate inquiry on concussion and head trauma in contact sports. Now they’re sharing his moving story in detail – and urging change, saying the government needs to ensure sporting organisations are “responsible and accountable for the welfare of players”.
Meanwhile, the death toll of 33,000 in the Turkey-Syria quake could double, and parts of New Zealand hunker down as a second major storm in as many weeks lashes the North Island.
Australia
Concussion inquiry | “My dear, wonderful husband of 44 years became a shell of a man,” one woman told the commonwealth Senate inquiry into concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports. Here is Terry Strong’s story.
Asylum seekers | Nearly 20,000 refugees will soon be able to apply for permanency, giving them the same rights as permanent residents after being kept “in limbo”.
Australian Greens | Dorinda Cox has been appointed as the Greens’ new First Nations spokesperson after Lidia Thorpe’s departure from the party, which will campaign for a yes vote in the upcoming voice to parliament referendum.
E-cigarettes | Environment groups have called for urgent clarity and regulation to respond to an increase in hazardous waste from e-cigarettes, as the number of people using them doubled over a period of three years.
Financial scams | The federal government should take action to force banks to reimburse scam victims and check that account details match up on transactions to stop scams before the money is lost, consumer rights advocates say.
World
Turkey-Syria earthquake | Turkish authorities have issued more than 100 arrest warrants over collapsed buildings amid warnings that the death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria could double from the current tally of 33,000. Children are among those found alive against the odds.
UFO sightings | The initially unidentified object shot down over North America at the weekend was another Chinese balloon, says the US senate majority leader Chuck Schumer.
New Zealand | Evacuations are under way and thousands of people are without power this morning after Storm Gabrielle made landfall on New Zealand’s North Island, where Auckland is still recovering from record rain last month.
Ukraine war | Iran has used boats and a state-owned airline to smuggle new types of advanced long-range armed drones to Russia for use in its war on Ukraine, the Guardian reports exclusively. Meanwhile, the past fortnight has seen Russia’s heaviest casualties in Ukraine.
Exclusive | Donald Trump’s lawyers turned over an empty manilla folder marked “Classified Evening Briefing” found at his Mar-a-Lago resort after the US justice department issued a subpoena for its surrender.
Full Story
These five things will determine your interest rates
Homeowners and buyers are struggling with the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates a ninth consecutive time in a bid to cut inflation. Guardian Australia’s economics correspondent Peter Hannam explains to Jane Lee what will decide how quickly the central bank can stop raising rates and steer the economy to recovery.
In-depth
Some 15 million people a year visit Lake Tahoe, which last year earned a spot on an exclusive travel guide. But the US mountain destination, famed for its cobalt blue waters and Olympic-quality ski resorts, wasn’t included for the reason you’d think. Citing a pandemic influx of remote workers, second home buyers, traffic gridlock and packed beaches, Fodor’s “No list” concluded: “Lake Tahoe has a people problem.” Find out how the idyllic spot became, according to some, unliveable for locals.
Not the news
And now to somewhere attempting to style itself as eminently liveable: Venice. As the Italian city’s population declined, a project by a cultural heritage group set out to entice those who can work from anywhere to move to the city. The application process is hardly onerous: you simply need to prove you can work remotely and be willing to live in Venice for at least three months. Meet some of the digital nomads the scheme has attracted.
The world of sport
NFL | Jordan Mailata and Arryn Siposs will make Australian sporting history when they play for Philadelphia against Kansas City in the Super Bowl – the first time two Australians have played in one.
Premier League | Leeds and Manchester United have both condemned “unacceptable” tragedy chants, in which fans taunted each other over past player deaths. Manchester City beat Aston Villa 3-1. Manchester United beat Leads 2-0.
Australian cricket | The bowling of India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja proved unplayable for the visiting Baggy Greens in the first Test, Geoff Lemon reflects from Nagpur.
Media roundup
The Age reveals that millions of plastic bags will go to landfill as a recycling scheme restart is hit by delays. The ABC has details of a $425m Closing the Gap plan aimed at improving the lives of Indigenous Australians. And the West Australian reports that US rapper Post Malone was turned away from a Perth bar over its dress code.
What’s happening today
Malka Leifer | A trial continues of the former Melbourne school principal, accused by three sisters of abusing them when she was the head of the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel school. Leifer denies the charges
Charlie Teo | The neurosurgeon is due to face a five-day disciplinary hearing before the Health Care Complaints Commission.
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Brain teaser
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