Fundraising giant identifies more seats where campaigns meet criteria
Climate 200 wades into 2025 election fight, labia surgery on rise, stumble at Ukraine peace summit | The Guardian

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Teal supporters in Melbourne before the 2022 electionseats.
17/06/2024

Climate 200 wades into 2025 election fight, labia surgery on rise, stumble at Ukraine peace summit

Paul Gallagher
 

Good morning. We lead today with revelations that the fundraising giant Climate 200 will back independent candidates in nine more Coalition-held seats in Queensland, NSW and Victoria for the 2025 elections. It comes amid a surge of donations after Peter Dutton’s climate announcements.

Labia surgery is one of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures among young people in Australia – and a new survey suggests that shame, stigma and anxiety driven by social media and pornography is behind the rise.

Meanwhile, key global powers have failed to sign up to a communique at the Ukraine peace summit – and the rules for a “civilised discussion” have been revealed before the first US presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Australia

Diverse bodies in lingerie

‘A lot of misconceptions’ | A report has found that pornography and social media are driving a rise in people having or considering labia surgery, amid distorted perceptions of what genitalia look like.

Exclusive | Climate 200, the fundraising giant that bankrolled the teal independent wave at the last election, has thrown its support behind independent campaigns in nine more Coalition-held seats.

Housing crisis | The NSW housing minister, Rose Jackson, has hit out at the “dud deal” sale of Sydney’s Sirius building – and says losing public housing in expensive central suburbs leaves society worse off.

Foreign policy | Anthony Albanese has been urged to place China’s human rights record before economic and trade discussions in his meeting with China’s second most powerful leader today.

Victoria | Advocates and council members have responded with cautious optimism to a new 27-year housing strategy in Melbourne and Geelong that assigns development targets to local councils.

World

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy walks past several flags

Russia-Ukraine war | Nations including Saudi Arabia and India have failed to sign up to a Ukraine peace summit communique; a Russian soldier has painted a bleak picture of heavy losses in the Kharkiv offensive – describing his unit being “chopped up like meat” under Ukrainian fire.

Gaza crisis | The Israeli army has said it will observe a limited daily “tactical pause” along one of the main roads in the Gaza Strip to allow the delivery of increased quantities of humanitarian aid.

Rules of engagement | The first US presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump on CNN will have no props and muted microphones – except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak.

Euro 2024 | A man allegedly wielding a pickaxe and carrying an “incendiary device” has been shot and wounded by police near a Euro 2024 fan park in the area of St Pauli in central Hamburg.

Heating up | Millions of Americans are facing “dangerously hot conditions”, the US National Weather Service has said, with a heatwave set to hit the midwest and north-east US.

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Greg Lynn, centre, pleaded not guilty to the murders of Russell Hill and Carol Clay at a campsite, which a trial heard was later found burned out, in Victoria’s Wonnangatta Valley.

An affair, a hunting trip and two people dead at a high country camp: the former pilot Gregory Stuart Lynn, 57, has faced a four-week trial after pleading not guilty to murdering campers Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, in Victoria’s high country in 2020. As the jury considers a verdict, here’s everything you need to know about how the missing person investigation and trial unfolded.

 
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Not the news

RZA, U-God, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Masta Killa, GZA and Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan pose for a portrait circa April 1997 in New York

When Once Upon a Time in Shaolin by the rap legends Wu-Tang Clan was announced in 2015, it came with a unique stipulation: whoever bought it would not be able to release it for 88 years, or 2103. But now 500 people are getting to hear a 30-minute mix from world’s rarest album played at Mona in Tasmania. Sian Cain, who was among those to listen in, writes that as Wu-Tang Clan music goes, it’s enough to leave listeners buzzing – but as a work of art, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is truly great.

The world of sport

Dustin Martin of the Tigers leaves the field after his 300th match

AFL | The prince of Punt Road: AFL fans have risen as one for Dustin Martin’s 300th match.

Euro 2024 | The Netherlands have survived an early scare for a 2-1 win against Poland; Serbia take on England after violent clashes among fans.

Cricket | Australia fumble their way to victory over Scotland at the T20 World Cup; Pakistan have beaten Ireland by three wickets.

Boxing | Queenslander Liam Paro has shocked the world to seize the super lightweight title.

Golf | The final round of the US Open is under way at Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Media roundup

As top intelligence officials raise fears about a state-sponsored hacking group, the Coalition home affairs spokesperson claims that Chinese cyber-attacks and meddling in Australian institutions has “never been more prolific”, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Employees at a major ground handling service have made at least one error a day on Qantas flights this month, including damaging planes and mishandling firearms, reports the Age. As schools increasingly step in to help those going hungry, some experts believe Australia should consider a “universal” approach to school lunches, reports ABC News.

What’s happening today

NSW | A judge-alone trial for those accused of murdering Amber Haigh is due to begin in Wagga Wagga.

Queensland | Bruce Lehrmann is expected to attend a Toowoomba court today for a committal hearing into allegations he raped a woman in 2021.

Victoria | The Senate legal and constitutional affairs references committee is holding a public hearing on rightwing extremist movements in Australia.

ACT | The official visit to Australia by Li Qiang, China’s second most powerful leader, continues with the annual leaders dialogue in Canberra.

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