Morning everyone. In a sport-obsessed nation, Indigenous stars Johnathan Thurston, Eddie Betts and Evonne Goolagong Cawley have thrown their support behind the yes campaign for the indigenous voice referendum. We’re also looking at the heatwaves gripping large parts of the northern hemisphere – and a potentially gamechanging breakthrough in the treatment of dementia. Plus, Full Story asks why orcas are apparently trying to sink yachts.
Australia
Disease breakthrough | A preventable condition – rheumatic heart disease – that leaves Indigenous children with severe and irreversible heart damage may be spread due to a reservoir of bacteria in the throat that causes no symptoms in the host, researchers have found. The Australian discovery will likely open new avenues for prevention and vaccine development.
Voicing anger | Julian Leeser, the former shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, has accused the voice no campaign of trying to stir anger in the electorate with personal attacks on high-profile Indigenous Australians such as Thomas Mayo. It comes as Indigenous sporting legends asked Australians to back the voice, with the former Wimbledon champion Goolagong Cawley saying in the newly released official essays arguing the referendum case that it was a chance to help young Indigenous Australians “chase their dreams”.
Compensation drag | One family’s long wait for compensation from Victoria’s tribunal system for having no water and leaking sewage has highlighted huge backlogs where 13,000 cases wait to be settled.
‘Unneighbourly Australia’ | China will “fill the gap” in Solomon Islands’ troubled budget, the country’s prime minister has claimed, saying “unneighbourly” Australia and other development partners withdrew millions of dollars in promised funding.
Green promise | A partnership between three traditional owner groups and a major clean energy investor is promising to establish a $3bn green hydrogen project in the far north of Western Australia with more than a million solar panels.
World
China heat record | China has recorded its highest-ever temperature with the mercury hitting 52.2C in a remote village in the western Xinjiang region, while 53.3C was recorded in Death Valley in California as heatwaves and extreme weather continued to grip the northern hemisphere. Follow all the latest news, including wild fires in Athens and Typhoon Talim in China, at our live blog here.
Dementia hope | Health regulators around the world are being urged to rapidly approve two gamechanging dementia drugs in order to ensure millions of people who could benefit are not “left in limbo”, after data showed the treatments could slow the onset by up to 35%.
Grain drain | Russia has said its decision not to extend the Black Sea grain deal to alleviate food shortages is final and no more talks are planned. It comes after the Kremlin blamed Ukraine for an attack on the Kerch Bridge linking Crimea to the mainland that left two dead.
Israel on edge | Israelis are bracing for a turbulent week of protests and potential strike action as the country’s governing coalition races to pass a key component of its wide-ranging judicial overhaul before the parliamentary summer recess.
Elton’s evidence | Elton John has told a UK court that Kevin Spacey attended a charity ball at his home after arriving by private jet as he gave evidence in support of the actor fighting sexual abuse charges.
Full Story
Payback or play? The orcas sinking yachts
Since May 2020 there have been hundreds of reports of orcas breaking rudders and even sinking yachts. Michael Safi speaks to journalist and author Phillip Hoare about the theories scientists have for why this might be happening.
In-depth
After data showed that private school funding has doubled that for public schools in the decade since the Gonski report, we have been talking to parents who have chosen to flee the state system and those who have opted to stay. For the former – Michael Dukes in Coffs Habour (pictured) – it’s about the fear of seeing their children “fall through the cracks”, while the latter – Elliat Rich in the Northern Territory – thinks the public system aligns with her values about creating “well-rounded humans”.
Not the news
This is not quite “not the news”, perhaps, because it’s the country’s biggest sporting event since the Sydney Olympics: the Women’s World Cup. To celebrate it being a little more than 48 hours to kick off, Caitlin Cassidy imagines what it might be like to watch Sam Kerr (“our Lionel Messi”) and company on the biggest stage of their lives, and what these role models “passionate about social change, diversity, inclusion and acceptance” can do for generations of young women. There’s also an interactive guide to all the players at the tournament.
The world of sport
Men’s Ashes | England have recalled Jimmy Anderson for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, and confirmed that Moeen Ali will bat at number three.
Golf | The Open Championship at Royal Hoylake near Liverpool is ready for potential disruption by environmental protesters ahead of first tee time on Thursday.
Football | West Ham have had a loan offer for Harry Maguire dismissed by Manchester United and a £45m bid for João Palhinha turned away by Fulham.
Media roundup
The man who killed himself after a siege with police at Lithgow was linked to the sovereign citizen conspiracy movement, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The plight of tenants booted from a “disgusting” Melbourne house for requesting repairs highlights Australia’s renting crisis, the Herald Sun says. The Northern Territory government is spending $10m to subsidise air travel in a scheme it hopes will bring more flights and carriers to the region, NT News claims. A woman attacked by dingoes on the beach at K’gari suffered dozens of significant bites, the Courier Mail reports, in what it says is an “unprecedented” crisis.
What’s happening today
Canberra | The parliamentary inquiry into consulting firms continues.
Adelaide | The federal court will hand down its decision on a nuclear waste dump on Barngarla lands.
Sydney | The warship USS Canberra arrives in Sydney for commissioning.
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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.
