Good morning. Division over Labor’s hate speech laws is threatening the future of the Coalition, after the entire Nationals frontbench resigned their positions in a bombshell mass walkout on Wednesday night.
New analysis has identified Australia’s richest landholders by generation, revealing that gen Xers – those once known as the “slacker generation” – have overtaken baby boomers in property riches.
Donald Trump has called off tariffs on Europe and says he has formed the “framework” of a Greenland deal after meeting with Nato’s chief. And we assess what benefit there might – or might not – be for Australia taking a place on Trump’s “board of peace”.
Australia
‘Passing the baton’ | Gen X households now hold the most property wealth of any generation, as baby boomers downsize their homes and move more of their money into cash and retirement accounts.
Hate speech fallout | The Coalition has been plunged into crisis after the Nationals quit Sussan Ley’s shadow cabinet en masse following a split over Labor’s hate speech laws – the ego-driven mass walkout is only the latest chapter in the Nationals’ decline, Tom McIlroy suggests.
Day of mourning | Thousands of Australians are expected to perform acts of kindness today in the Jewish tradition of mitzvah to commemorate victims of the Bondi beach terror attack.
‘Fly under the radar’ | Up to 12,000 Sydney food businesses could be illegally discharging fats, oils and grease into the sewage catchment that flows to Malabar – home to a huge and problematic fatberg.
Opinion | The IMF is sane-washing an economic crisis created by Trump – their latest report makes no mention of Greenland, Venezuela, or even Trump himself, Greg Jericho writes.
World
Greenland | After a “very productive meeting” with Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, Trump said that the pair had “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region” – and markets have rebounded after he called off tariffs on Europe. In an extraordinary speech to world leaders, Trump earlier said that while the US will not use force to seize Greenland he wanted “immediate negotiations”. The disorder is prompting talk of new liberal alliances, Patrick Wintour writes.
Gaza crisis | Children and journalists are among 11 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, in the latest violence to undermine a three-month-old ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has agreed to join Trump’s “board of peace”.
Islamic State prisoners | Syrian government forces have taken control of al-Hawl detention camp, which houses tens of thousands of suspected Islamic State members, after Kurdish forces withdrew.
Making a mark | The faded outline of a hand on a cave wall in Indonesia may be the world’s oldest known rock art, according to archaeologists who say it was created at least 67,800 years ago.
Train accidents | Spain’s rail network is under scrutiny after a commuter train crashed near Barcelona just days after at least 43 people died in a collision between two high-speed trains.
Daily Mail case | In the UK, Prince Harry has accused the Daily Mail’s publisher of wanting to drive him “to drugs and drink” through constant surveillance, and of using unlawful means to secure stories.
Full Story
What’s behind the Sydney shark attack cluster?
In just 48 hours, four people were attacked by sharks in New South Wales. In response, nearly 30 beaches have been closed and authorities are warning swimmers to avoid waterways after heavy storms. Nour Haydar speaks with associate professor Christopher Pepin-Neff about the “perfect storm” of environmental factors that has attracted sharks – and what we all need to know before entering the water.
In-depth
Australia could not, in any conscience, acquiesce to joining a group that could include autocrats and despots convinced that might is right, that violence is legitimate, and that they exist beyond the reach of the law, Ben Doherty writes in his analysis of this week’s major foreign policy question. There’s no benefit for Australia in joining Donald Trump’s “board of peace” – to tie ourselves to the worst excesses of the Trump regime would be an act of national sabotage.
Not the news
Inside the offices of the Australian youth broadcaster Triple J, the results of the Hottest 100 – which will be counted down on Saturday – are a closely guarded secret. A select few staffers ensure the votes and statistics are tallied correctly inside a private “Triple J bunker” that is occupied from the day voting closes. More than 2m votes have been cast, but who will take the win?
Sport
Tennis | Carlos Alcaraz has marched on at the Australian Open after golfing with Roger Federer; Alex de Minaur weathered the storm to outlast big-hitting Hamad Medjedovic; and Emma Raducanu refused to be critical after an early exit.
Football | Liverpool are facing Marseille in the Champions League – follow all today’s Champions League updates; Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter and Caitlin Foord are in the action as Manchester City face Chelsea and Arsenal take on Manchester United in the Women’s League Cup semi-finals.
Motorsport | Mercedes and Red Bull are facing tough questions as storm brews over new F1 rules loopholes, Giles Richards writes.
Olympics | The International Olympic Committee chief admits she has not spoken to US president Trump about the LA 2028 Games.
Media roundup
Teenagers are using loopholes to reclaim their Snapchat accounts despite the social media ban, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. There are warnings for the long weekend as Victoria’s beaches are inundated by an unusually large number of bright red lion’s mane jellyfish, the Age reports. And according to the Australian, the OECD has called on the Australian government to reform its taxes and spending rules.
What’s happening today
Bondi beach terror attack | A national day of mourning is being held to remember victims, including a memorial at the Sydney Opera House and a minute’s silence at 7.01pm.
ABS | The Australian Bureau of Statistics is set to release its latest unemployment figures this morning.
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.
