Morning everyone. Scientists have denounced a claim by Adani that its exports of coal from Australia are helping advance sustainable development.
In other news, Anthony Albanese is fighting off pressure from his backbenchers to take a tougher line on Israel, religious schools in New South Wales are growing fast, tsunami warnings have been downgraded in large parts of the Pacific, and the 10 Australian poetry collections you can’t miss.
Australia
Class divide | Enrolments in religious schools have increased by a record 30% in NSW in the past decade, new data shows – and not necessarily correlating with student beliefs. Independent schools in general have enrolled almost two-thirds of the state’s additional students since 2000.
Rates hope | Yesterday’s low inflation figures have raised hope for an interest rates cut – indeed they show a cut is overdue, our regular columnist Greg Jericho points out. But slow growth is not all good news, our economics editor writes.
‘Wilful disinformation’ | An Adani claim that its Australian export program, whereby coal is sent through the Great Barrier Reef’s shipping channels, is advancing the United Nations’ sustainable development goals has been denounced by leading scientists.
Car claims | Car companies continue to sell vehicles that use much more petrol and emit more toxic fumes than advertised, despite repeated investigations identifying discrepancies in marketing, an AAA report claims.
Mushroom order | A court order has been placed on Erin Patterson’s house preventing it from being sold in case compensation claims are made against her for killing three members of her family with a deadly mushroom lunch.
World
Tsunami downgrade | A major tsunami is not expected to strike Hawaii after the first waves hit the islands after a powerful magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s eastern coast, one of the strongest ever recorded. However, authorities ordered evacuations on Ecuador and Chile’s Pacific islands. Follow developments live.
Exclusive | A former CIA officer who helped lead the intelligence assessments over alleged Russia interference in the 2016 presidential election has said Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, is ignorant of the practices of espionage after she accused Barack Obama and his national security team of “treasonous conspiracy” against Donald Trump.
Migration boom | The population of England and Wales has grown by 700,000 – the second-largest annual increase in more than 75 years – largely due to international migration.
‘Moral failure’ | A British-Israeli woman who was held hostage by Hamas for more than 15 months has accused Keir Starmer of “moral failure” after he set the UK on course to recognise a Palestinian state. It comes as aid workers in Gaza said Israel’s new measures to improve the humanitarian situation fall short of what is needed.
Climber dies | Laura Dahlmeier, a German double Olympic biathlon champion, has died days after she was seriously injured by a rockfall while climbing in the Karakoram in Pakistan.
Full Story
Why do we age in dramatic bursts, and what can we do about it?
Ian Sample hears from Prof Michael Snyder about his study of ageing and how it might be a series of episodes rather than a linear process.
In-depth
Two decades ago, a historian warned Brisbane would become the first 200km city as it sprawled from Noosa to the NSW border. As the state government eschews putting more townhouses and apartments in existing city areas, Andrew Messenger reports on how the dire warning looks like coming true.
Not the news
Australian poetry is having a moment and to mark Australian Poetry Month the artistic directors of Red Room Poetry share a list of unmissable titles. From Ali Cobby Eckermann to Luke Davies, and from Nam Le to Judith Wright, there’s something for seasoned readers and newcomers alike.
Sport
Swimming | Mollie O’Callaghan carried on where she left off in the Olympics by winning the 200m freestyle at the world championships in Singapore on a night of mixed fortunes for Australia’s team.
Cricket | Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the final Test match of England’s series against India starting at the Oval later today with a grade-three muscle tear in his shoulder.
Media roundup
The Age reports that Victoria has kept its AA credit rating despite the budget blowout from the suburban rail loop project. Weather experts think they might have found a new weapon to tackle the threat of another algal bloom in South Australia, the Advertiser reports. A prominent Gold Coast developer has died suddenly aged 39 while exercising at a gym, the Bulletin reports.
What’s happening today
Courts | Judgment expected at the federal court in X’s case against the eSafety commissioner.
Economy | RBA deputy governor Andrew House speaks at the Barrenjoey Economic Forum in Sydney at 9.20am.
Art | Archibald Prize people’s choice winner announced at 11am.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
