Morning everyone. The Australian economy could grow much less than expected because of war in the Middle East, the IMF has warned, as evidence shows households are cutting back on pricey food items to curb spending in the cost-of-living crisis. Donald Trump, meanwhile, has hinted that peace talks could resume this week.
Angus Taylor has been accused of “debasing” himself with his new immigration policies, Gina Rinehart could lose her status as the country’s richest person if a court ruling today goes against her, and we delve into the forgotten history of Milo.
Australia
Footy ban | St Kilda forward Lance Collard has been banned for seven weeks by the AFL tribunal for directing a homophobic slur towards an opponent.
Coalition’s immigration plan | Former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone has warned Taylor against turning immigration into heavy-handed law enforcement – saying most migrants from countries run by dictators and extremists move here to escape authoritarianism – as another current Liberal MP says the opposition leader has “decided to debase himself with petty attacks on the most vulnerable”. But what is in his plan and is it inspired by Trump’s approach in the US?
Recession threat | The International Monetary Fund has warned the US-Israel war on Iran risks creating an “energy crisis of an unprecedented scale” that could tip the global economy towards recession. Australia could see its growth pared by half a point under an IMF scenario which Jim Chalmers, the treasurer, will discuss with fellow G20 finance ministers in Washington.
Rinehart ruling | Gina Rinehart faces the possibility of losing billions of dollars and her mantle as Australia’s wealthiest person when a court rules whether she should share some of her riches with the family of her late father’s business partner.
Exclusive | The commonwealth ombudsman is investigating the government’s algorithm-based aged care assessment tool, which has been described by assessors as “cruel” and “inhumane” in its determination of home support funding for elderly Australians.
World
Peace hope | Trump has said that US-Iranian peace talks could resume in Islamabad over the next two days but lashed out at one of his closest allies, saying Italy’s Giorgia Meloni lacked courage in light of her failure to join the US in attacking Iran. JD Vance has weighed in on Trump’s feud with Pope Leo, effectively telling the pontiff to stay in his lane, while visitors to the Vatican backed the pope for using his brain. Follow developments live.
Viktor who? | The Kremlin appears to be playing down its close links to the defeated Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, saying that “we were never friends” and praising the apparent openness of the incoming government, led by Péter Magyar, to dialogue.
‘Unacceptable’ | Foundering efforts to end Sudan’s catastrophic war have been criticised as “bloody unacceptable” by the country’s top UN official as a series of new reports confirm that the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis is worsening.
Andaman alert | About 250 people are missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea.
‘A nightmare’ | An 86-year-old French woman who moved to the US last year to marry her 1950s sweetheart is being held in a detention centre in Louisiana after she was arrested by immigration agents and cuffed by her hands and feet.
Full Story
What will it take for the PM to speak up against Trump?
The prime minister frustrated many when he reiterated his support for the US- Australian alliance earlier this month. And he did so again days later when he responded to Trump’s threat to wipe out the entire Iranian civilisation by calling it inappropriate.
Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to Nour Haydar about how Australia’s response and language stacks up and why Anthony Albanese is being so cautious.
In-depth
Our environment editor takes us back to 2020, when the Morrison government abandoned plans for an EV strategy, and argues we’re now paying the price with a relatively low take-up of clean cars (13% last year) compared with the global average of 25%. That may be changing because of the fuel crisis: Australians are showing how price-driven they can be with new data showing they are choosing chicken schnitzel over more expensive rib-eye steak, avoiding entrees and sticking with tap water rather than a glass of wine to make cutbacks at dinnertime.
Not the news
While Vegemite is indubitably Australian, another celebrated food item, Milo, doesn’t have the same status – despite being invented in New South Wales in 1934. Lee Tran Lam traces its history as a supplement for underweight kids and staple of south-east Asian markets.
Sport
Football | Liverpool must overturn a 2-0 deficit against PSG at Anfield this morning to progress to the Champions League semi-finals, while Atlético defend the same margin at home to Barcelona.
Cricket | Ben Stokes has moved to play down suggestions of a disagreement between himself and Brendon McCullum, insisting he and the England head coach remain aligned despite disarray during the Ashes defeat.
Chess | Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov will challenge for Gukesh Dommaraju’s world chess championship this year after clinching the Candidates tournament in Cyprus.
Media roundup
The Australian claims the government has issued a warning about the problem of how to dispose of solar panels that have reached the end of their life. The Melbourne Star wheel will reopen by the end of the year, the city mayor tells the Herald Sun. The Sydney Morning Herald claims that decisions on whether states should sell their Big Bash cricket franchises are going “down to the wire”. Queensland destinations such as the Gold Coast and Hamilton Island could suffer under the Qantas decision to reduce flights, the Courier Mail reports.
What’s happening today
Melbourne | High court judgment at 10am on Victoria’s political donation laws.
Canberra | AMA president Danielle McMullen will address the National Press Club at 11.30am.
Art | The NGV’s triennial preview is announced at 11am and at 12pm the Gallipoli art prize winner is unveiled.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
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