Good morning. Letters sent by the Australian Taxation Office are causing alarm, with recipients told they have an “on hold” tax debts that may be decades old and will be taken from future refunds. But recipients say some of the debts are from periods so long ago that they are now near impossible to contest.
As the temporary ceasefire in Gaza continues to hold, Israel has released more Palestinians from its prisons after another group of hostages – including Israelis and foreign nationals – were freed by Hamas. But some former hostages face a fresh horror: finding out their loved ones were killed in the 7 October attack. Found out more in our latest live blog.
Meanwhile, the Labor government has committed more than a quarter of a billion dollars to a joint federal police and border force operation to monitor people released from indefinite detention. And an affidavit obtained by Guardian Australia reveals the real reasons why David McBride, the “war crimes whistleblower” who last week pleaded guilty to three charges, went to the media.
Australia
David McBride | In an affidavit obtained by Guardian Australia, the “war crimes whistleblower” and former military lawyer says he released information to the media because the Australian defence force “wasn’t going to fix itself”.
‘It’s a threat’ | Thousands of Australians have been told they have “on hold” tax debts that may be decades old and will be taken from future refunds.
Operation Aegis | The Albanese government has committed $255m for security agencies to monitor people previously held in indefinite detention.
Public health | A new report says Australia urgently needs a policy reset to drive an adult vaccination plan for illnesses including Covid-19, influenza and shingles, amid lagging rates for jabs and rising misinformation.
Education examined | Researchers claim an overhaul of Australia’s curriculum is needed to reverse a long-term decline, with the current curriculum lacking in depth of learning and not based on leading research.
World
Israel-Hamas war | Fourteen Israeli hostages and three foreign nationals have been transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross in latest round of releases; Teenagers freed by Hamas “were not aware their mum was murdered”; Palestinians describe the difficulties of fleeing Israeli forces in northern Gaza.
China health concerns | A surge in respiratory illnesses that has drawn the attention of the WHO is caused by the flu and other known pathogens and not by a novel virus, Chinese officials say.
‘Like cutting the Mona Lisa in half’ | Talks about a possible return of the Parthenon marbles from the British Museum to Greece are not advancing quickly enough, the Greek prime minister has said.
Vermont | Anti-discrimination groups are sounding the alarm about Islamophobia and antisemitism in the US after three Palestinian students were shot and wounded on the way to a family dinner.
Derek Chauvin | Officials say the former Minneapolis police officer who was convicted of murdering George Floyd and was stabbed in prison by a fellow inmate on Friday is expected to survive the attack.
Full Story
He’s back: Sam Altman and the chaos at the heart of the AI industry
The chief executive of OpenAI was summarily sacked, seemingly without warning. Amid uproar, more than 95% of staff signed an open letter demanding Sam Altman’s return. He was promptly hired by Microsoft, OpenAI’s biggest backer. But then, just as swiftly as he was sacked, Altman was suddenly back at OpenAI. Blake Montgomery explains what is known (and not known) about this extraordinary corporate drama – and what it tells us about the future of artificial intelligence.
In-depth
The Albanese government is being attacked from left and right about its handling of the high court’s ruling that indefinite immigration detention is unlawful. Paul Karp explains that while their motivations are different, opposition parties have the numbers to force an inquiry – and prolong the fallout.
Not the news
Robotic dogs are designed to perform tasks that are dangerous for humans: they tend to be bought by mining and construction corporations, as well as police and the military. They have unnerved and at times angered the public. So why is an artist teaching robot dogs to paint?
The world of sport
AFLW | Captain Kearney’s Kangaroos finally earn their shot at AFLW glory after a five-year journey for the North Melbourne club.
Cricket | Australia’s post-World Cup hangover has continued after plunging to a 44-run loss against India in their Twenty20 series.
Football | Aston Villa edge Tottenham 1-2 in the Premier League; Sam Kerr scores as Chelsea demolish Leicester 5-2 in the WSL; Everton fall 0-3 to Manchester United (partly thanks to a stunning overhead kick from Alejandro Garnacho); Former England, Spurs and Barcelona manager Terry Venables has died.
Formula One | Max Verstappen has ended the season in style with victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – his 19th win in 22 races this season.
Media roundup
A state government report into Sydney’s nightlife says behaviour from the NSW police force can be perceived as excessive, antagonistic and uneven in its enforcement, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Australian companies are shrinking or stagnating when they try to join the ranks of the nation’s biggest employers, spurring the federal government to spend almost $400m to give them a boost, the Age reports. A Senate inquiry report has revealed that Tasmanians living with ADHD are facing significant and costly barriers when it comes to seeking access to healthcare for the condition, the Mercury reports.
What’s happening today
ACT | AEU members are to rally at Parliament House to call on the prime minister to fully fund public schools.
NSW | Public hearings in the special commission of inquiry into the state’s healthcare funding are due to begin.
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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.
