Good morning. The threat posed by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is far from over. The rain is still bucketing down and parts of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales are on flood watch, including parts of the Brisbane River. For many others, the massive clean-up after the storm has begun.
In other news, our exclusive report reveals the federal government was warned by officials in late 2023 that its “one-sided” support of Israel was putting Australia’s social cohesion at risk.
Overseas, millions of Palestinians could soon be left in the dark as Israel looks to sever electricity to Gaza as leverage against Hamas. And Moscow claims it is close to surrounding thousands of Ukrainian troops in its Kursk region with Russian forces on the advance.
Australia
Exclusive | The home affairs department warned the government in November 2023 that its perceived one-sidedness in support of Israel during the Gaza conflict left Palestinian and Muslim Australians feeling angry and betrayed.
Ex-Cyclone Alfred | More than 290,000 properties were still without power overnight as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred brought dangerous rain and winds to swathes of south-east Queensland and northern NSW; the flood threat remains for many areas as the heavy deluge continues.
Lismore crash | Defence minister Richard Marles has defended the use of the military in disaster relief after more than a dozen soldiers were injured when two army trucks rolled in northern NSW as Alfred lashed the area.
Deal or no deal? | One of Donald Trump’s top picks for the Pentagon says selling submarines to Australia under the Aukus agreement poses a “very difficult problem” for the US and could endanger its own sailors.
NT policing | Northern Territory police commissioner Michael Murphy has been given his marching orders after a jobs-for-mates scandal was uncovered by a corruption watchdog.
World
Russia-Ukraine war | Russia has taken control of several villages in the Kursk region and Moscow claims its forces are close to surrounding thousands of Ukrainian troops fighting on Russian territory.
Middle East crisis | Israel will cut off electricity in Gaza in an apparent effort to force the hand of Hamas in the ceasefire negotiations. And the UN is condemning “extremely disturbing” reports of entire families being killed in north-west Syria in clashes between security forces and Assad regime loyalists.
Europe re-arms | “Nothing is off the table” in EU defence spending, says Ursula von der Leyen, as Germany’s chancellor-to-be Friedrich Merz says he will reach out to France and the UK over the sharing of nuclear weapons for deterrence.
US politics | US taxpayers have shelled out tens of millions of dollars for Donald Trump’s golf trips; more and more Americans are now seeking UK citizenship; Ed Pilkington surveys the crisis of Trump’s assault on the rule of law.
Death mystery | Authorities believe Gene Hackman was likely alone in his New Mexico house for days, disoriented and too frail to seek help, after the death of his wife and caregiver, Betsy Arakawa.
Full Story
Inside the Islamic State prisons the west is trying to forget
Michael Safi travelled to north-east Syria to speak to foreign Islamic State fighters imprisoned there. He discovered that a change in the US administration, and USAid funding cuts, mean there is a growing fear of prison breaks. The Kurdish forces running the prisons want foreign governments to take their fighters back. Many have refused – they prefer to forget about these IS legacies, even as global political events leave the prisons exposed.
In-depth
Labor has secured another thumping victory over the Liberals in Western Australia, securing its third term in government. However, the results have also shown a statewide swing against Labor – and its sitting MPs face a tougher fight in the upcoming national election. Sarah Basford Canales looks at how the results in WA could hint at Labor’s fortunes (and challenges) in the looming federal vote.
Not the news
One of Australia’s most successful artists, Vincent Fantauzzo, has opened up on his traumatic childhood in his new memoir, Unveiled. It tells stories not even his wife knew, including the “few forks in the road” that could have led him to life as a criminal instead of an artist. He speaks with Katie Cunningham about childhood abuse, Heath Ledger and what’s wrong with the art world.
Sport
Cricket | Rohit Sharma smashed 76 as India saw off New Zealand to complete a clinical Champions Trophy triumph in Dubai.
AFL | Finn Callaghan brings the heat as the GWS Giants put Collingwood into meltdown, Jonathan Horn writes.
Football | Son Heung-Min earned a point for the Spurs in a thriller against Bournemouth in the Premier League; Arsenal’s slim title hopes took another hit with a 1-1 draw against Manchester United; Kylian Mbappé was on target as Real Madrid join Barça at top of La Liga.
Media roundup
Donald Trump’s top economic adviser has downplayed the prospect of Australia – or anyone – getting exemptions to the US president’s steel and aluminium tariffs, reports the Age. The NSW Rural Fire Service is spending millions retrofitting two Black Hawk helicopters, but it won’t be able to use them for floods, bushfires and other disasters, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. A series of alleged violent inmate attacks in South Australia has prompted union calls for greater resourcing in prisons, ABC News reports.
What’s happening today
NSW | A two-day hearing into a dispute between the Animal Welfare League and the RSPCA is due to begin in the NSW supreme court.
NSW | A hearing begins at the supreme court, where a woman is suing police after her son died after being tasered.
VIC | Today is the Labour Day public holiday in Victoria.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
