Morning everyone. It appears another two members of the Iranian women’s football team have sought asylum in Australia as the rest of their colleagues began the journey home. We also have details on how the drama unfolded.
Labor MPs are said to be alarmed at Anthony Albanese’s apparent support for Donald Trump’s Middle East war. Our environment editor argues that the current oil price shock reinforces the urgent need to switch to renewables, we pay tribute to Alyssa Healy’s brilliant career – plus: how to master the art of chopping chives.
Australia
It’s a rap | The pioneering female rapper Lil’ Kim, the vomit-inducing performance artist Florentina Holzinger, and the first ever Australian Dance Biennale are among the lineup for the 2026 Rising festival, which is staged around Melbourne each winter.
Airport drama | Two more members of the Iranian women’s football team have reportedly sought asylum in Australia after competing in the Women’s Asian Cup tournament. It follows a controversial two weeks in which the team arrived to play football just as the Middle East erupted into war. As Ben Doherty reports, the team’s subsequent refusal to sing the national anthem led to increasing speculation that some would attempt to seek asylum, culminating in drama at Sydney airport on Tuesday evening.
Nationals election | Nationals senator Matt Canavan and the party’s deputy leader, Kevin Hogan, have put their hand up for the top job after David Littleproud’s surprise announcement that he would be stepping down from the role, with an election likely before the end of the week.
Labor tensions | Labor MPs were privately alarmed by the Albanese government’s immediate response to the US and Israel’s bombing of Iran, including a statement that offered unreserved support for the legally questionable attack that sparked the war. So while Trump may have helped Labor to win last year’s election, the US president could now derail the party’s second term.
Sydney’s sinking feeling | Two years after large sinkholes opened above the construction of a $3.1bn Sydney motorway tunnel, the consortium charged with the project’s completion has been issued a notice forcing it to continue the job or face possible legal consequences.
World
Hegseth warning | Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned that Iran was about to face the “most intense” day of US strikes yet, even as he blamed Iran for civilian casualties by claiming its forces were firing missiles from schools and hospitals. Brent crude slipped just below US$90 a barrel overnight but Saudi Arabia’s state oil company has warned of “catastrophic consequences” for the world’s oil markets if the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to block shipping in the strait of Hormuz. Follow developments live.
Georgia vote | A special election for the successor to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s congressional district in Georgia is under way today in a test of Trump’s sway, and may provide a rare opportunity for Democrats in a deep-red pocket of the southern state. Follow developments live.
Crashing to Earth | Parts of a giant Nasa satellite will crash to Earth later today, the US space agency is warning – but the chance of being struck is extremely low.
Climate countdown | Climate breakdown is shrinking the amount of time that people can safely go about their lives, according to a study that shows a third of the world’s population now resides in areas where heat severely limits activity.
Bug bear | Alexander Butterfield, the White House aide who inadvertently hastened Richard Nixon’s resignation over the Watergate scandal when he revealed that the president had bugged the Oval Office, has died aged 99.
Full Story
Australia is sending weapons to the Gulf. Does that mean we are at war?
Reged Ahmad speaks to Josh Butler about whether Australia is being entangled in Trump’s “war of choice”.
In-depth
The Middle East war has shown again how vulnerable Australia is to oil price shocks, argues our environment editor, Adam Morton, so now is the time to push even harder for a switch to renewables. We also report on the risk to supplies from people panic-buying petrol, and we have a video explainer on how the war is affecting prices of all commodities and goods across the world.
Not the news
Perfecting the chopping of chives is a big deal in the world of chefs, inspiring Yvonne C Lam to try to master the “green confetti”.
Sport
Cricket | When Alyssa Healy played her final match for Australia she scored just 13, an underwhelming end to a great career but one which underlines a recurring truth of women’s Test cricket, according to Geoff Lemon.
Basketball | Do NBA teams throw games as the season nears its end in order to get a better draft pick? Sean Ingle unpicks the theories around “tanking”.
Football | The last 16 of the Champions League kicks off this morning. Expect warm welcomes for Liverpool at Galatasaray and for Barcelona at Newcastle. Follow them live.
Media roundup
According to the ABC, demands on the NSW public health system have surpassed those during the height of Covid. Robbie Katter has criticised the overhaul of Queensland’s electoral map which means Labor and KAP seats will be abolished, the Courier Mail reports. Darwin residents have been told to boil water and face restrictions on use after a dam was overwhelmed by flood water, NT News reports.
What’s happening today
Canberra | Federal parliament is sitting.
Politics | Allegra Spender talks about tax at the National Press Club of Australia.
Protests | Student anti-war protests at 2pm at the State Library in Melbourne, Town Hall in Sydney, BAE Systems in Canberra, Parliament House in Adelaide, and King George Square in Brisbane.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
