Good morning. The Matildas have kept their Olympic medal hopes alive – just – after clawing their way back to beat Zambia in a chaotic 11-goal thriller. There’s plenty more Paris action to catch up with, including flag bearer Jess Fox bringing home the women’s single kayak gold with a stunning final run.
Back home, as winter bites, the housing crisis is leading to more and more Australians sleeping rough this winter in tents, cars, and doorways. The message from frontline organisations and emergency housing providers is: there are not enough beds, there is not enough funding.
And in the wake of a rocket attack that killed 12 children in Golan Heights, diplomats are scrambling to prevent further escalation between Hezbollah and Israel they fear could lead to all-out regional war.
Foreign policy | Australia is stepping up attempts to limit China’s influence in the Pacific, with Penny Wong announcing $18m for a new digital cable centre to help boost connectivity in the region.
Queensland | A young man with severe intellectual disability and psychological disorders linked to an abusive childhood will spend more than two years in prison without trial due to delays in the state’s mental health court.
‘I’m scared I’m going to die’ | A rising number of Australians are sleeping rough as the housing crisis bites amid warnings that there are not enough beds, funding or staff to care for them.
Analysis | Anthony Albanese’s ministry reshuffle signposts Labor’s areas of greatest weakness and effectively – if not actually – concedes that he made mistakes, writes Guardian Australia’s political editor, Karen Middleton.
‘Exponential increase’ | Australians are gambling at a “new normal” of elevated post-pandemic levels, a new study suggests – and there are concerns as online gambling surges in popularity.
World
Middle East crisis | Israeli jets have struck targets in southern Lebanon as diplomats work frantically to prevent a regional war. The Biden administration has blamed Hezbollah for a “horrific” rocket attack that killed 12 children in Golan Heights.
US politics | As Kamala Harris surges, Republicans are trying to paint the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee as a “dangerous liberal”; Democrats say Donald Trump is “just plain weird”.
Masoud Pezeshkian | Iran’s new president has been formally inaugurated – and has rekindled faint hopes of improved relations with the west, saying that Iranians “voted for change”.
‘We are really sorry’ | The organising committee of the Paris Games apologised to Christian groups left outraged by a scene during the opening ceremony that evoked Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
Trump shooting | A special tactical team assigned to protect Donald Trump on the day of the assassination attempt against him say they had no briefing with the Secret Service before the event.
Full Story
Who cared? The disappearance of Amber Haigh – part 5
The trial of Robert and Anne Geeves for the murder of Amber Haigh has now heard 22 days of public hearings. Reporter Ben Doherty has previously heard evidence from those in Amber’s community: neighbours, friends, family and people who met her briefly. But this week, he tells Bridie Jabour, the court heard from those who were in charge of the investigation into her disappearance.
In-depth
The Northern Territory police force is facing low morale, reeling from the aftermath of the police shooting of Warlpiri teenager Kumanjayi Walker, is under investigation for multiple allegations of racism and “military-style” conduct and has escalating demands and shrinking staff. The leadership is under pressure to deliver reform in an election year. Arrernte lawyer Leanne Liddle says she’s ready to lead a “complete transformation”.
Not the news
Pro surfer Matt Formston started bodyboarding at age five, graduating to surfing when he was 11. Tackling the waves is no mean feat for any kid, but for Formston it came with an extra challenge: he is legally blind. In our weekly interview about objects, he tells us about life-changing voiceover technology, which musical instrument he’d save in a fire – and why his wife calls him a prima donna.
The world of sport
Olympics | Jess Fox delivered a stunning final run to claim kayak gold; the Matildas fought back to beat Zambia 6-5 in much-needed win; skateboarder Chloe Covell fell short in her bid to become Australia’s youngest champion; and Emma McKeon missed out on a 100m butterfly medal in final Olympics.
AFL | Winter blew an ill wind for Brad Scott and ground the Bombers’ season to dust, writes Jonathan Horn.
Motorsport | George Russell’s Belgian F1 grand prix disqualification hands Lewis Hamilton victory.
Cricket | Mark Wood and Ben Stokes blew the West Indies away to power England to a 3-0 Test series clean sweep.
Media roundup
Claims of fee gouging, excessive rent and misleading contracts are rocking the $12bn land lease industry meant to cater to retirees looking for affordable low-maintenance living, reports ABC News. NSW police are failing in their aim to reduce Indigenous overrepresentation in the criminal justice system, the Sydney Morning Herald claims.
What’s happening today
ACT | Anthony Albanese’s new ministry is to be sworn in at a ceremony in Canberra.
Queensland | The inquest into what appeared to be an ambush of police by three extremist Christian conspiracy theorists at Wieambilla in 2022 is set to begin.
NSW | A public hearing is scheduled in the parliamentary inquiry seeking to prohibit residential no-grounds evictions.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
