Good morning. Passengers on a London-to-Singapore flight have told of the terrifying moment the plane suddenly plunged 2,000m after hitting heavy turbulence, leaving one man dead and several critically injured. We have a full report, as the airline reveals there were 56 Australians on board.
In other news today, the government plans to close a loophole that has allowed Australians to get hold of replica weight loss drugs, and Australians have arrived home after being airlifted out of New Caledonia.
Australia
Back home | More than 100 Australians and other tourists have landed in Brisbane from New Caledonia after the federal government arranged two repatriation flights due to the worsening security situation in the French territory. France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, is on his way to help calm tensions.
Drug crackdown | The government will crack down on replicas of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs, closing a loophole that allowed compounding pharmacies to make and sell them to about 20,000 Australians.
Fuel finding | Cars driven by Australians are consistently consuming more fuel than advertised, investigations have found, with the latest tranche of “real-world” testing finding one car used 31% more petrol than its advertised rate.
Debt’s dark secrets | A former debt collector has lifted the lid on some of the practices used in the industry such as threats to debtors about their credit rating, and says regulatory enforcement is “pitiful” and “nonexistent”.
Mind over matter | The number of people making claims for psychological injury at work is increasing at a higher rate than that of physical injury claims in NSW, with businesses warned to improve how they care for employees.
World
Flight terror | A British man on his way to Australia for a holiday has died and several have been critically injured after a Singapore Airlines plane was hit by severe turbulence at 11,000m before making an emergency landing at Bangkok. Geoff Kitchen, 73, probably suffered a heart attack, authorities said, after the plane suddenly plunged over the Irrawaddy Basin. One passenger said: “There was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling. Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabins overhead and dented it.” The airline said 56 Australians were onboard.
Israel urges boycott | Israel has urged what it called “nations of the civilised world” to refuse to implement any international criminal court arrest warrants issued against its leaders.
Nazi-era language | Donald Trump shared a video on his Truth Social account, since removed, referencing a “unified reich” if he wins the November election. A Biden spokesperson accused him of “parroting Mein Kampf”. Meanwhile the defence rested in Trump’s criminal trial overnight without the former president himself testifying. His former lawyer Rudy Giuliani pleaded not guilty to meddling in the 2020 election in Arizona, and Trump’s jailed former adviser Peter Navarro said a second Trump presidency would order “mass deportations” of illegal migrants.
Latin feud | Spain is permanently withdrawing its ambassador from Argentina as a result of an growing diplomatic feud with the South American country’s radical rightwing president, Javier Milei.
Alleged spy found dead | A former British Royal Marine who was awaiting trial after being charged with spying on Hong Kong activists for the Chinese government has been found dead in a park in Reading.
Full Story
Peter Dutton’s populist migration policy
Guardian Australia’s chief political correspondent, Paul Karp, tells Nour Haydar why the opposition leader has zeroed in on migration and what it could mean in a pre-election year.
In-depth
Gina Rinehart is believed to have poured up to $60m into the coffers of Swimming Australia – possibly the largest individual contribution to an Olympic sport anywhere in the world. And a succession of Olympians were prepared to defend her campaign against a portrait of herself that she doesn’t like. Kieran Pender examines what it means for the sport and its reputation.
Not the news
What’s the best sliced supermarket cheese that you can buy? Our cheese-loving writer Nicholas Jordan assembled a team of expert judges for a taste test. From the “professional athlete” of cheese to “a reconstituted swamp of plastic and milk”, find out their sometimes surprising conclusions.
The world of sport
Football | As Ange Postecoglu prepares his Tottenham team to face Newcastle United at the MCG tonight, he said the game in Australia was still dogged by the same problems that forced him to leave.
Premier League | Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino have parted company by mutual consent, with the Argentinian coach leaving after one season in the job.
Cycling | Tadej Pogacar emerged from a chaotic day to underline his dominance of this Giro d’Italia with victory on a weather-shortened stage 16 on the Monte Pana as Geraint Thomas dropped to third overall.
Media roundup
Former foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer tells the Australian he would withdraw from the ICC if he were still in power after a prosecutor’s move to pursue Israel for war crimes. Nova Peris has quit the republican movement over a falling-out with Craig Foster about Israel, the Sydney Morning Herald has learned. The number of Indigenous players in the AFL has plunged and is going to continue doing so, the Age reckons.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Alexander Greenwich’s defamation case against Mark Latham will begin.
Canberra | Angus Taylor will give his post-budget reply address to the National Press Club.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
