Good morning. Today, the latest in our Broken Justice series explores the way community attitudes and laws have changed when it comes to sexual assault and how victim-survivors behave, but rape myths still have power, both in and out of the courtroom.
Meanwhile, as the government looks to crack down on antisemitic incidents, Labor has moved to impose counter-terrorism sanctions on the online neo-Nazi network Terrorgram.
And: across the globe, markets and consumers alike are bracing for impact as Donald Trump’s tariffs take effect – dubbed by some observers the “dumbest trade war in history”.
Australia
Terrorgram | An online network for neo-Nazis that openly advocates acts of violence has been hit with counter-terrorism sanctions in an escalation of the federal response to the spate of antisemitic attacks in Australia.
Broken Justice | Why are rape myths, those unkillable zombie tropes we have been talking about for years, still being weaponised in courtrooms? Lucy Clark asks in a comment piece that explains the scope of our series about the retraumatisation of victim-survivors in the court system. Meanwhile, Jordyn Beazley and Josh Nicholas look at the culture of courtrooms and the numbers behind societal attitudes to sexual violence, and how they are reflected in the courts.
Analysis | Along with dumped commitments, a lack of transparency and an absence of accountability, Ben Smee looks at what else is haunting the Crisafulli government 100 days on from the Queensland election.
Explainer | The federal government is back to Canberra this week for one of the last sittings before the election campaign, with a full slate of legislation still to deal with. Here’s what’s at the top of Labor’s agenda before going to the polls.
Environment | Plans for a federal environment protection agency have been shelved indefinitely after a “spooked” Anthony Albanese intervened to quell a pre-election backlash in Western Australia.
World
Tit-for-tat tariffs | Donald Trump has told Americans that tariffs may cause them “pain” as Democrats warn the tariffs will “hit Americans in their wallets”; markets are bracing for falls as Canada and Mexico hit back; there’s fury in Mexico over Trump’s “slanderous” claim of cartel links; and a Wall Street Journal editorial has called the tariffs the “dumbest trade war in history”.
Russia-Ukraine war | Ukraine and Russia have traded blame for a deadly missile strike that killed at least four people in the dormitory of a boarding school in a part of Russia’s Kursk region held by Ukrainian forces.
Middle East crisis | Benjamin Netanyahu has flown to Washington for Donald Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since his return to office, amid uncertainty over the Gaza truce.
Salman Rushdie | A man accused of stabbing the author 10 times as he was being introduced at a literary lecture in New York state in 2022 is going on trial this week.
Contested minerals | The European Union is under mounting pressure to suspend a controversial minerals deal with Rwanda that has been blamed for fuelling the conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Luis Rubiales | Spain’s former football chief is set to go on trial in Madrid over the unsolicited kiss he planted on the footballer Jenni Hermoso as she celebrated her team’s victory in the 2023 World Cup in Australia.
Full Story
Australia’s public pool class divide
As the heat hits harder, Australians head to public swimming pools to cool off. They’re also an important place to learn to swim. But as it turns out, going for a dip is harder for some, depending on your postcode. Reged Ahmad speaks with Petra Stock and Benita Kolovos about the public pool class divide.
In-depth
At first glance, the two Melbourne seats seem worlds apart – one a fast-expanding electorate in the outer west, the other a progressive hub in the inner city. But despite their differences, the results of the byelections being held for Werribee and Prahran on Saturday will be pivotal for Victoria’s political future. Benita Kolovos takes the measure of how the two byelections could shape Labor and the Greens in Victoria.
Not the news
The daughter of an Australian mother and a Japanese father, Kumi Taguchi is no stranger to travel. In the latest in our weekly Away with interviews with prominent Australians about travel, the SBS television presenter reveals the most “magical place” she has ever visited, explains why she sees stress as being all part of the experience – and recounts a meal in the Japanese mountains that took a dark turn.
Sport
Football | Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have claimed their first Premier League win in seven weeks; Arsenal has kept its title race alive with a stunning win over Manchester City; Manchester United fell to defeat against Crystal Palace; and: the Marshall Islands’ vanishing kit for a team under threat from climate crisis.
Cricket | ECB will carry out a “thorough and honest” review after suffering a Women’s Ashes whitewash against Australia; India thrashed England by a record 150-run margin in the T20.
Basketball | The Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade is shocking, NBA franchise-altering – and very, very odd, Claire de Lune writes.
Motorsport | A Mercedes grand prix car raced by Formula One great Stirling Moss has fetched more than $85m at auction.
Media roundup
Mohammad al-Halabi, the former head of a World Vision Australian aid program in Gaza, has been released from an Israeli prison, ABC News reports. Liberal leader Peter Dutton says his nuclear plan will slice power bills by 44% – but new research argues it will make power more expensive, according to the Age. Internal documents have revealed the risks the NSW transport agency faces from a high-stakes upgrade of the Opal ticketing system, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Almost 10,000 new homes could be built in the outlying suburbs of Greater Hobart under new plans, the Mercury reports.
What’s happening today
ABS | The Australian Bureau of Statistics will release its latest building approval and retail trade figures.
Los Angeles | The Grammys are on later today – you’ll find live blog coverage, photos and a list of winners on the Guardian.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
