Morning everyone. As war in the Middle East continues, Israel claims to have killed Iran’s powerful security chief. We have reports and analysis, including on how Donald Trump’s counter-terrorism chief has quit over the Iran war “lie”, and the president lashing out at allies including Australia for not wanting to get involved in the attacks.
At home there are fears about the unintended consequences of South Australia’s ban on political donations, households face a double hit of rate hikes and higher petrol prices, and the Matildas old guard leads the way to the final of the Asian Cup on Saturday’s.
Australia
Matildas win | Goals from Caitlin Foord and Sam Kerr were enough to secure a tense 2-1 win over China in Perth last night and send the Matildas into Saturday’s Asian Cup final against either Japan or South Korea. The goal scorers – Kerr’s brilliant winner was also set up by Foord – showed that Australia’s golden generation can carry the team to glory.
Election test | South Australia has banned donations to political parties, but there are fears that special interest groups such as GetUp and Turning Point Australia may be able to outspend opponents.
‘Double whammy’ | Borrowers face the “double whammy” of losing hundreds of dollars a month to higher mortgage repayments and rising pump prices as economists warn that Australia is heading for recession.
‘Cynical’ Hanson | Pauline Hanson and rightwing populists are cynically exploiting the frustrations of Australians who feel forgotten by government or left behind by poor education and job opportunities, Labor frontbencher Andrew Giles says.
Marine protection | The federal environment minister, Murray Watt, has pledged to put an extra half a million square kilometres of Australia’s ocean out of reach of fishers and drillers in a step conservationists hope will “right the wrongs” of an Abbott-era downgrade of marine protection.
World
Trump ‘deceived’ | Israel claims it has killed Iran’s powerful national security chief, Ali Larijani, a pragmatist who has straddled the country’s intelligence and government apparatus for decades. It could prove an even greater loss than that of supreme leader Ali Khamenei and removes one of the few regime figures who had the authority to negotiate terms with the US. Joe Kent, Donald Trump’s handpicked counter-terrorism chief, has resigned in protest at the war in Iran, telling the president he has been “deceived” by Israeli “misinformation”. Trump, meanwhile, has renewed his criticism of allies (including Australia) for not helping in his war effort. Follow developments live.
Border deaths | Colombian president Gustavo Petro has accused Ecuador of bombing targets inside Colombian territory, saying later that the burned remains of nearly 30 people had been found near the border.
Lumumba trial | A former Belgian diplomat, 93, has been sent for trial over alleged complicity in the infamous 1961 murder of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of what was then the newly independent Congolese state.
Suicide attack | At least 23 people have been killed and more than 100 others injured in multiple suspected suicide bombings in the north-eastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri as a long-running insurgency spreads to the rural hinterlands.
Gin slung | Margot Robbie’s entrepreneurial ambitions have received a blow after bars in London refused to stock her oyster-infused gin called Papa Salt because of health concerns for drinkers who might be allergic to shellfish.
Full Story
Will One Nation go mainstream in South Australia’s election?
Our chief political correspondent, Dan Jervis-Bardy, went to South Australia to find out if One Nation can translate good poll numbers into seats at this weekend’s state election. He tells Reged Ahmad what he discovered.
In-depth
The postponement of a women’s football match in Brisbane’s New Farm Park turns out to be a harbinger of something quite sinister – a nest of fire ants on the pitch marking the continued advance of “one of the worst invasive species to reach Australia”. Joe Hinchliffe and Ben Smee report.
Not the news
The Finnish artist Kari Kola has created the world’s biggest light installation in the Western Australian coastal town of Albany. He tells Rosamund Brennan how he was inspired by the local bloodroot to use aurora-like reds and greens “to connect the land and the cosmos”.
Sport
Cricket | England batsman Ollie Pope has hit back at what he calls the “misconception” that the team were not properly prepared for the Ashes tour and insisted they “just wanted to win”.
Football | Fifa is unwilling to switch Iran’s World Cup matches to Mexico despite the country’s football federation claiming it is in discussions about moving their games outside the United States.
Champions League | Manchester City will try to overcome a 3-0 deficit against Real Madrid in their last 16 second leg tie this morning while Chelsea are also trailing PSG by three. There’s also Arsenal v Leverkusen and Sporting v Bodø.
Media roundup
The narrow 5-4 Reserve Bank vote for a rate hike does nothing to dissuade traders from betting on more rises, the Australian Financial Review finds. University of Technology Sydney has decided to scrap early offers for year 12 students, the Daily Telegraph reports, amid concern that the practice has devalued Atar scores. Brisbane’s skyline is set for a change to its height limit, according to the Courier Mail.
What’s happening today
Industry | Anthony Albanese will address the Australian Automotive Industry State of the Industry event.
Crime | ABS releases annual crime figures.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
