Morning everyone. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the man who led the dramatic mutiny against Vladimir Putin in June, was a passenger on a private jet that crashed overnight in Russia with no survivors, according to Russian authorities. The cause remains unclear. Was it an accident or something more sinister? We have a full report and analysis. At home, we reveal how the government has spent almost $200m on a piece of welfare payment software only for it to be declared “not fit for purpose”. India has achieved a world first by landing a spacecraft on the moon’s south pole, and the Kiwis are joking that their former coach “lost a bet” to end up with the Wallabies.
Australia
SUV cost | Road safety campaigners in Victoria have suggested charging a levy on people who drive large SUVs in cities in order to curb the state’s “skyrocketing” road deaths, which have increased 23.2% since the pandemic. Other states have also recorded increases.
‘Not fit for purpose’ | The federal government paid the contractor Infosys $191m for an automated welfare payment calculator that only delivered one type of payment before it was abandoned as “not fit for purpose”. The calculation engine had processed only 784 claims in more than three years.
Covid drop | Australia’s Covid-19 deaths are at the lowest levels observed since December 2021, with fewer hospitalisations and intensive care admissions – despite fewer people receiving a booster vaccine this year.
Joyce summons | In an unusual move, federal senators have summonsed Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce to appear before an inquiry into the cost-of-living crisis after claims he repeatedly refused to attend voluntarily.
Gender equity | Victoria plans to halve the gender pay gap in the public service and name 70% of new roads and landmarks after women in its new gender equality action plan.
World
Prigozhin plane crash | Yevgeny Prigozhin was one of 10 passengers on board a private plane that crashed in the Tver region of Russia early this morning (pictured) according to Russian officials. There were reportedly no survivors. It comes just weeks after the Wagner mercenary chief led a rebellion against Vladimir Putin, and ends a remarkable rise from hotdog seller to oligarch. Follow developments at our live blog. Also today, Gen Sergei Surovikin was relieved of his command of the Russian aerospace forces in the highest-level sacking yet after Prigozhin’s abortive mutiny in June.
Moon mission | India has become the first country to successfully land a spacecraft near the south pole of the moon, in a historic moment that drew cheers at watching parties around the country.
US heat warnings | A record-breaking heatwave has continued to spread across the central United States, placing about 130 million people under heat alerts in 22 states.
Georgia bound | Donald Trump’s former lawyer Rudy Giuliani has surrendered to face charges in the sprawling Georgia elections racketeering case, hours after prosecutors released mugshots of the first two defendants to be booked.
‘Act like a slave’ | The actor Shaniqua Okwok has criticised the UK’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, claiming she was told to embrace her “inherited trauma” and act like a slave in chains during an acting exercise.
Full Story
Where did all the Antarctic sea ice go?
Guardian Australia environment reporter Graham Readfearn and oceanographer Dr Will Hobbs tell Laura Murphy-Oates about why Antarctic ice is melting, and the knock-on effects for the rest of the planet.
In-depth
One of the many challenges in meeting the government’s renewable energy target is that the national electricity grid needs more than 10,000km of new transmission lines and a ninefold increase in large-scale wind and solar energy. But that’s easier said than done as we reveal today the depth of a bush revolt against more lines going across farms and properties.
Not the news
Cheesy roasted garlic bread and garlic confit potato mash bake are among the recipes suggestions for the pungent bulb from food writer Daen Lia. She also has a recipe for roasted garlic herb butter which uses a mighty four bulbs. Yes, that’s bulbs, not cloves.
The world of sport
AFL | The goal review debacle that robbed the Crows at the weekend has taken the shine off what the league hoped would be a dream final weekend of the season.
Rugby World Cup | All Blacks coach Ian Foster has appeared relaxed when discussing Steve Hansen’s shock role with the Wallabies, although one of his players has joked that the former coach must have “lost a bet” to have joined Australia’s ranks.
Basketball | Australia start their bid for the Fiba World Cup tomorrow but the offense will be led by Oklahoma’s Josh Giddey and not Ben Simmons, the player once feted as the future of the national team.
Media roundup
School principals will be given more power to suspend disruptive pupils under reforms being planned in New South Wales, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The Hobart statue of the disgraced former colonial era premier William Crowther will be taken down after a city council vote, the Mercury says. South Sydney’s chief executive has called criticism of the team’s leadership group “complete crap” as he attempts to douse the bin fire taking hold at the club, the Daily Telegraph says.
What’s happening today
Canberra | Treasurer Jim Chalmers will release the latest intergenerational report at the National Press Club.
Housing | Public hearing in Sydney for inquiry into rental crisis.
Arts | Launch of Creative Australia in Sydney with an address by Tony Burke, minister for the arts.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
