Morning everyone. Israel faces more international condemnation this morning after an apparent double bombing raid on a Gaza hospital killed at least 20 people, including some who were reportedly helping rescue people from the first attack.
The Albanese government will face questions about the ballooning use of consultants despite promises to curb spending, the environment minister promises a major overhaul of the laws is coming this year, and a Victorian couple claim a TikTok ban has robbed them of their income.
Australia
‘Blindsided’ | A man who lost his wife and two daughters in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre has warned that the Shooters party bill brought to the NSW parliament to allow more hunting in the state – and backed by the Labor government – will weaken national gun controls.
Consultant boom | The federal government signed contracts worth almost $1bn with consultants last financial year – a 48% increase on the previous one – despite committing to slash their use.
Degree cost | Students will pay $50,000 for arts degrees until at least 2027, says one university vice-chancellor, despite the Albanese government labelling the controversial Morrison-era fees hike as a “failure”.
TikTok battle | A Victorian couple is suing TikTok after their account was banned from the social media platform for allegedly competing in TikTok “live battles” against banned users.
Environment pledge | A major overhaul of the federal environmental protection regime will be put to parliament this year, the minister, Murray Watt, has promised, as he warns further delays risk causing more environmental destruction and stalled investment.
World
Kim game | Donald Trump said after talks with South Korea’s leader that he wanted to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and that he was open to further trade talks with Seoul even as he lobbed new criticisms at his ally. Democratic leaders across Illinois and Congress are condemning Trump’s reported plans to repeat his Washington DC move and send national guard troops to Chicago, denouncing what they call an unprecedented abuse of presidential power.
Gaza attack | Israel bombed the main hospital in southern Gaza on Monday and then struck the same spot again as rescuers and journalists rushed to help the wounded, killing at least 20 people including five journalists, health officials said. The attack appears to fulfil many criteria of a war crime, our correspondent writes.
Paedophile alarm | Millions of child predators are forming sprawling online communities on the dark web using the Tor network, where criminal behaviour escalates through the sharing of child sexual abuse material, grooming strategies and normalisation of exploitation, experts say.
Mayo admission | The Mexican drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel and whose life was among those fictionalised in Narcos, has admitted US federal racketeering charges as well as running a criminal enterprise more than a year after his arrest in Texas.
Director’s cut | Woody Allen has denied claims that his participation in a Moscow film festival was “whitewashing” Russian atrocities, after condemnation of his appearance by Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs.
Full Story
Kmart faces legal action in Australia over potential forced labour links
Nour Haydar speaks to senior reporter Ben Doherty about the legal action against Kmart and the warnings that Australia could become a dumping ground for products linked to forced labour.
In-depth
Senators David Pocock and Penny Allman-Payne will launch a Senate inquiry this week into the Aged Care Act amid concerns the changes to home care packages makes people more likely to enter residential care or end up in hospital. Kate Lyons hears from elderly people with experience of the changes and how some could be forced to choose between dinner or a shower.
Not the news
A show about a disabled rescue bull in regional Victoria sounds quite niche viewing. But Patrick Lenton writes today that Cooking For Seamus, in which celebrity chefs compete to feed the eponymous creature, is irresistible.
Sport
AFL | The Gold Coast Suns are one win away from clinching a first-ever finals appearance. But will they step up or will they bottle it like they did against Port at the weekend?
Football | It’s the Alexander Isak derby this morning (sort of) as Newcastle host Liverpool in the Premier League. Follow it live.
Tennis | It’s day two of the US Open in New York. Follow the action live.
Media roundup
Residents might be upset, but an opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald says the Woollahra housing plan “ticks every box”. The Adelaide Oval is stepping up security ahead of the blockbuster Crows verses Collingwood finals clash on Thursday, the Herald Sun reports. Qantas faces a backlash over its push to ban pilots from having beards, the Courier Mail claims, with US experts challenging the airline’s safety claims. A devastating potato virus has spread to a second part of Tasmania, the Mercury reports.
What’s happening today
Business | Coles releases full-year results.
Courts | Case management hearing for lawsuit against the University of Sydney and professors accused of antisemitism.
Canberra | The skills minister, Andrew Giles, speaks at the National Press Club from 11.30am.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
