Good morning. Documents seen by Guardian Australia reveal that controversial comments made by a detective after the murders of Hannah Clarke and her children were part of a media strategy that “went wrong”.
Plus: we look into claims that notorious serial killer Ivan Milat may have killed many more people, and we launch a new series looking at First Nations communities reclaiming their languages.
Plus: Oscar Piastri had to settle for second in Qatar after an unfortunate decision by McLaren – so the battle for the F1 title is still up for grabs.
Australia
Ivan Milat | As a NSW inquiry into unsolved murders calls for submissions, a NSW MP believes a man convicted of killing seven backpackers may have killed many more people.
‘Victim blaming’ | Documents reveal that comments made by a detective in the days after the murders of Hannah Clarke and her children were part of a botched “media strategy” aiming to flush out supporters of their killer.
Exclusive | More than 670 poker machine venues across NSW will lose their “outdated” exemptions to operate after 4am as officials respond to pressure to address “a public health catastrophe”.
‘Alarming’ | Young Australians aged 16 to 25 are attempting to kill themselves and experiencing suicidal thoughts in greater numbers – and at earlier ages – than previous generations, a study has found.
Cracking the code | Many of the best titles at this year’s Pax Australia gaming conference in Melbourne came from New Zealand indie game developers punching above their weight. What was their secret?
World
Russia-Ukraine war | Ukrainian negotiators are meeting with US officials in Florida to thrash out details of Washington’s proposed framework to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, as Kyiv faces pressure on military and political fronts.
Floods toll rises | Indonesian, Thai and Sri Lankan authorities are racing to clear debris and find hundreds of missing people as they said more than 900 people had died in devastating floods.
Israeli politics | Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Israel’s president for a pardon for bribery and fraud charges and an end to a five-year corruption trial, arguing that it would be in the “national interest”.
‘A wake-up call’ | As a makeshift memorial grows at the scene of Hong Kong’s apartment complex fire, the death toll has risen to 146 after investigators found more bodies in the burnt-out buildings.
‘Mafia or democracy?’ | A mass rally on the streets of Madrid has demanded a snap general election as Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, tries to weather corruption allegations.
Full Story
Bringing Indigenous languages back from the brink
More than 250 languages were spoken across Australia before British colonisation. Now, only half are still in use as a result of policies that suppressed and prevented First Nations people from speaking their mother tongues. Indigenous affairs reporter Ella Archibald-Binge hears from elders, teachers and students about efforts to revive native languages and close the education gap.
In-depth
For the past few months, Indigenous affairs reporter and Kamilaroi woman Ella Archibald-Binge has been travelling around Australia to communities who are leading the charge to revitalise dormant Indigenous languages. But first she visited her own country and that of her late grandfather, dipping her toes in the waters of Boobera Lagoon, the place where many Kamilaroi stories began, to explore the intersection between language, place and culture.
This story is the first in a new series called Speaking to country by Guardian Australia’s Walkley award-winning Indigenous affairs team.
Not the news
The social media ban is looming large, and will create a hole in many young lives. For parents of children who are facing having their social media access restricted, the road ahead may be complicated. But, as Natalie Parletta finds out, experts have advice on how to navigate the shift emotionally and practically: listen, be on their side and don’t try to justify the new rules.
Sport
Motorsport | Max Verstappen beat Oscar Piastri to win the Qatar Grand Prix and take the F1 title race to Abu Dhabi, thanks to a controversial decision by the McLaren team.
Football | Arsenal were held by a 10-man Chelsea in a feisty draw after Moisés Caicedo got a VAR red; Alexander Isak ended his drought as Liverpool stopped the rot with a win at West Ham; Mason Mount’s sweet strike completed Manchester United’s comeback win at Crystal Palace.
Cricket | Joe Root is not a fan of the day-night Ashes Test as he feels the pressure to shine under lights; Travis Head says he’s ready to open again in the second Ashes Test and says flexible batters will be the key.
Rugby league | Eli Katoa is hopeful of an NRL return as he pays tribute to his partner and the Storm after brain surgery.
Media roundup
There’s increasing evidence that the soaring sales of next-gen weight loss drugs in Australia are changing consumer behaviour and reshaping supermarkets, ABC News reports. The University of Wollongong’s decision to become the first foreign university in Saudi Arabia has raised eyebrows across the sector, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Supporters of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium say it’s now or never to secure an AFL team for Tasmania, the Mercury reports.
What’s happening today
QLD | The Small Island Developing States forum is being hosted in Brisbane this week.
VIC | Sentencing is scheduled for a truck driver who crashed into a Ballarat school bus.
QLD | The coronial inquest into the 2023 Sea World helicopter collision deaths continues.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
