Morning everyone. Donald Trump has flown from Israel to Egypt for a summit with more than 20 world leaders where they signed a peace agreement for a “new era” in the Middle East, following the release of all remaining hostages that Hamas had held in Gaza. We have reports and analysis coming up.
At home the CSIRO is planning more cuts to cope with a decline in funding, sports professionals are meeting about how to protect international events from predatory gambling, and we assess Tony Abbott’s new book, a history of Australia.
Australia
Gambling threat | The threat of organised crime and the emergence of new offshore wagering havens will be main concerns at Australia’s largest gathering of sports integrity professionals this week as the nation prepares to host a string of major international sporting events including next year’s football Women’s Asian Cup.
Science cuts | CSIRO will embark on further cost-cutting to research units in a bid to repair a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall as Australia’s national science and research agency reckons with an ongoing, decades-long decline in funding.
Woodside warning | Greenhouse emissions linked to a gas field being developed by Australian fossil fuel company Woodside could lead to the death of at least 480 people and expose more than half a million to unprecedented heat, new research suggests.
‘Friendless’ FoI proposal | The Labor government’s changes to limit access to freedom of information requests appear to be dead in the water, with the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, saying the Coalition will vote against the “friendless” proposal.
Care shortfall | As many as 300,000 elderly Australians will be on the waitlist for assistance at home by 2030, according to modelling of the redesigned aged care system.
World
‘Age of terror over’ | All 20 remaining living Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas after more than two years in captivity in Gaza, with Donald Trump enjoying a standing ovation in the Israeli parliament for an address in which he said the “age of terror” was over. However, the tough part of keeping the peace was highlighted when a last-minute plan by Donald Trump to invite Benjamin Netanyahu to a multinational Gaza summit in Egypt had to be aborted after the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said he would not land his plane in Sharm el-Sheikh if the invitation stood. The summit nevertheless saw the leaders sign a peace agreement. In Gaza, Hamas has started deploying armed fighters and police in an apparent attempt to reassert its authority, and we also have footage of huge crowds in Ramallah welcoming home Palestinian hostages.
J’accuse | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has accused rival political parties of fuelling instability in the country, as he brushed aside calls by the opposition for him to resign amid France’s worst political crisis in decades.
Market rebound | Global stock markets have edged higher and cryptocurrencies rebounded amid signs that a new front in the US-China trade war may not be as severe as first feared. Read our explainer about what’s going on.
Robinson trial | The British far-right figure Tommy Robinson claimed Elon Musk was paying his legal costs as he went on trial for refusing to comply with a request made by counter-terrorism police as he tried to leave Britain last year.
Keaton tribute | Woody Allen has paid lengthy tribute to Diane Keaton after her death, saying she was “unlike anyone the planet has experienced”, and that “her face and laugh illuminated any space she entered”.
Full Story
What Pocock’s ban from parliament’s sport club says about lobbying
Last week, independent senator and former elite athlete David Pocock was banned from the parliament’s social sports club after raising concerns about its association with gambling lobbyists.
Senior reporter Henry Belot speaks to Reged Ahmad about how he broke the story and what the saga says about the way lobbyists access politicians.
In-depth
Former prime minister Paul Keating welcomed Jim Chalmers’ announcement of watered-down plans to tax super balances above $3m, and praised tweaks to the system as a “huge policy achievement”. But the government faces tougher battles if it wants to create a fairer Australia, writes Tom McIlroy. We have a detailed explainer on the changes.
Not the news
Tony Abbott’s new book, Australia: A History is reviewed by Frank Bongiorno, who warns that the former prime minister’s upbeat assessment of the convict era might give the impression that it was like a “holiday camp”. The book is a mostly celebratory account of a land “built by heroes”, and it is “very good in places”. But Abbott also savages old enemies and concludes that we have to take more pride in our British heritage and drop climate and identity politics.
Sport
Football | The Italian top flight team Como have said that future overseas games, such as their plan to play a Serie A match against Milan in Perth, is about “ensuring survival” for the league.
Cricket | Ben Stokes and Mark Wood are expected to be “raring to go” for the start of the Ashes next month, offering England a timely boost that sits in contrast to Australia’s ongoing concerns over the fitness of Pat Cummins.
World Cup | There are more crunch qualifiers taking place in Europe this morning, among them Wales’s must-win home tie against Belgium; Cape Verde will become the second smallest nation to play at a World Cup after a remarkable run to top its qualifying group.
Media roundup
Victoria’s new police chief has promised a shake-up of the force and plans to get more officers on the street, the Age reports. A young boy has drowned in a neighbour’s pool after going missing in Adelaide’s western suburbs, the Advertiser reports. David Warner tells the Courier Mail that Marnus Labuschagne must be recalled for the Ashes.
What’s happening today
Melbourne | Anti-corruption commissions conference at Deakin University.
Business | Telstra AGM in Melbourne.
Economy | The minutes of the last RBA monetary policy meeting are released.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
