Good afternoon. Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, has been killed in Iran. Hamas blamed Israel for Haniyeh’s death, which one official described as a “grave escalation”. The Israeli military wouldn’t comment on Haniyeh’s death.
A senior Hamas official reportedly said the killing was a “cowardly act that will not go unpunished” while an Israeli minister wrote that Haniyeh’s death was the “right way to clean the world from this filth”.
Haniyeh was the exiled political chief of the militant group, having acted as a negotiator in the ceasefire talks and liaised with Hamas’s main ally, Iran, during the Israel-Gaza war.
Haniyeh’s death came just hours after Israel claimed it killed Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fuad Shukur, in an airstrike on a south Beirut suburb, sparking fears of a full-blown regional conflict.
Top news
Inflation rises to 3.8% | Australia’s consumer price index rose in the June quarter in line with economists’ forecasts while another core measure eased, giving hope the Reserve Bank will hold off on hiking the interest rate – for now.
Rex sacks hundreds of workers | As many as 360 staff at Rex Airlines have been sacked already and hundreds more are on the chopping block after administrators were called in to run the embattled carrier, with remaining staff told they may not get paid until a new buyer is found.
Amber Haigh’s alleged murderer cuddled her crying baby | The New South Wales supreme court was played recorded police interviews showing Anne Geeves holding Haigh’s six-month-old son throughout her interrogation. Anne and Robert Geeves have pleaded not guilty to Haigh’s alleged murder.
UK PM says rioters will feel ‘full force of the law’ | Keir Starmer has said rioters in Southport had “hijacked the vigil for the victims with violence and thuggery”. Far-right protesters pelted police with glass bottles and bricks and attacked a mosque after a knife attack that killed three children.
US presidential campaign | Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance has praised a leader of Project 2025, despite the Trump campaign’s efforts to distance Donald Trump from the conservative policy roadmap.
Anti-whaling activist could face prison | If found guilty, Paul Watson, the founder of Sea Shepherd and co-founder of Greenpeace, could face up to 15 years in prison in Japan, after being arrested on an international warrant and charged with accomplice to assault and ship trespass.
Australia’s southern lights and meteor showers | The skies above Australia and New Zealand will light up with meteor showers tonight after the aurora australis brought a technicolour glow on Tuesday night. Here’s how to get the best views of the night sky show.
Doctor who ‘almost died’ writes on going off antidepressants | Dr Mark Horowitz suffered severe withdrawal effects when he stopped taking antidepressants after 15 years. Now the Australian doctor has written landmark guidelines for clinicians on doing so.
Australia at the Olympics | Jack Snape spoke to boxer Teremoana Junior after he became the first Australian to win an Olympic super heavyweight bout. Check out the full schedule of Australia’s hopes for Wednesday evening.
In pictures
Australia’s best photos of the month
Feral goats at Lightning Ridge, anti-logging campaigners in Bulga State Forest and a facelift for AFL footy food: Guardian Australia’s pictures editors have picked out the most striking photos from July.
What they said …
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“If you got something to say, say it to my face” – Kamala Harris
Harris has again challenged Donald Trump to a debate while addressing a crowd of 10,000 for a rally in Atlanta, Georgia.
Separately, a group of pet lovers and self-described “cat ladies” held a virtual rally for Harris as a riposte to JD Vance’s comments about “childless cat ladies”.
In numbers
Australians are being urged to get regular tests for sexually transmitted infections as the peak body for pathologists warns that cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV are rising across the country.
Before bed read
Stop trashing my urban idyll: an ode to Parramatta Road
It’s the road Sydneysiders and politicians love to hate, but beneath the traffic and the grime lies rich layers of history, Anthony Morgan writes.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: FULL. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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