Morning everyone. Powerful American lobby groups are trying to persuade the Trump administration to retaliate against what they believe are the Australian government’s “unfair” tactics in controlling the pharmaceutical market. We are also unpicking the stories behind the verdict in the Erin Patterson mushroom murder case and how the Northern Territory coroner invoked two centuries of colonisation in her Kumanjayi Walker verdict. Elsewhere, Alex de Minaur is out of Wimbledon and left wondering what might have been.
Australia
Demon downed | Australia lost its last singles representative at Wimbledon when Alex de Minaur (pictured) lost to Novak Djokovic in four thrilling sets – although the Sydneysider’s 6-1 winning margin in the first set initially raised hopes that he could overcome the Serbian great.
‘Ghoulish fascination’ | After 10 weeks watching the Erin Patterson trial, our reporter Nino Bucci writes today about the combination of laborious detail and ghoulish fascination and how the case hinged on the absence of motive versus her self-confessed lies. Meanwhile, the key exhibits from the case such as the beef wellingtons themselves and the infamous dehydrator can be shown for the first time.
Australian ‘freeloading’ | Some of the most influential lobby groups in Washington are pushing the US to retaliate against Australia’s treatment of American exporters, pointing to drug approvals and domestic manufacturing incentives as proof of unfair “freeloading”.
Cyber contact | A potential cybercriminal has made contact with Qantas, the airline has confirmed, after a major attack on its network exposed the personal records of up to 6 million customers.
Zoo reopens | A zoo in Queensland where a woman lost her arm after being attacked on Sunday by a lioness will reopen today after insisting the animal “was not hungry” or maltreated.
World
Moscow mystery | Russia’s former transport minister (above right) has been found dead in his car from a gunshot just hours after he was sacked by Vladimir Putin. Officials said it appeared that Roman Starovoit had killed himself. But Russian media, including the local edition of Forbes, have reported that Starovoit may have died as early as Friday evening.
Thought bubble | Tony Blair’s thinktank worked with a project developing a postwar Gaza plan that included the creation of a “Trump Riviera” and a manufacturing zone named after Elon Musk. In the West Bank, Palestinians fear a new Israeli directive will give a green light for settlers to demolish villages in Masafer Yatta where residents keep watch at night for attacks. And elsewhere in the Middle East, the Iranian president has said that Israel attempted to assassinate him by bombarding an area in which he was holding a meeting.
‘Lifetime of pain’ | A paramedic who tricked a woman into having an abortion by secretly inserting drugs inside her during sex has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by a court in Scotland.
Tariff trouble | Donald Trump has risked stoking a trade war with Japan and South Korea after revealing plans to impose tariffs of 25% on both countries from 1 August.
India landslides | India’s mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh has been left reeling after it was hit by rainstorms, flash floods and landslides, with dozens of people reported missing.
Full Story
Mushroom trial: Erin Patterson found guilty
Justice and courts reporter Nino Bucci speaks to Reged Ahmad about how the Erin Patterson verdict was reached and what comes next.
In-depth
The death of Kumanjayi Walker in the Northern Territory town of Yuendumu in 2019 centred on 3.1 seconds between the first and second shots fired by then police officer Zachary Rolfe. But the state’s coroner, Elisabeth Armitage, evoked centuries of pain in the Indigenous communities to make her 638-page report about how future deaths could be avoided. The case provides an obvious lesson in truth-telling, writes Lorena Allam.
Not the news
From Meera Sodha’s vegan microwave chocolate, miso and banana mug cakes to Benjamina Ebuehi’s grilled bananas with bourbon butter (above), and from Felicity Cloake’s rhubarb crumble to Ravneet Gill’s tinned cherry bakewell pudding, we pick eight winter warmer puddings to help you look forward to the winter nights.
Sport
Rugby league | The decision to bring Josh Papalii out of Origin retirement to bolster Queensland’s forward line is the key talking point as both sides prepare for the series finale in Sydney tomorrow night.
Formula One | Lando Norris has called his battle for world championship with Oscar Piastri as “exhausting” in the wake of his controversial win at the British Grand Prix.
Rugby union | Lion coach Andy Farrell has picked his strongest combination to date for his squad’s match against the Brumbies tomorrow night as the countdown shortens ahead of the Test series against the Wallabies.
Media roundup
The verdict in the Erin Patterson case is the lead in all the major outlets with the Age backgrounder claiming that “one word on a tax form” sparked the murders, while the Herald Sun claims to be “inside her mind”. A woman mauled by a lion at Darling Downs zoo is a relative of the zoo’s owner, the Courier Mail reports. An elder has responded to the Kumanjayi Walker inquest findings by releasing a single demanding change, the NT News reports.
What’s happening today
Economy | The RBA’s interest rate decision will announced at 2.30pm.
Tasmania | A sentence is due for a racehorse trainer found guilty of hitting a horse with a whip 46 times in four minutes.
Foreign affairs | Gareth Evans will speak at a webinar about Pacific region security.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
