Good morning. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the meeting between Trump and Putin officials about ending the war in Ukraine, saying it was merely a forum for Russian “ultimatums” that his country has already rejected.
Back home, the Reserve Bank’s interest rate cut has been broadly welcomed by Australians, amid hope for it to go further. And business leaders are forking out up to $110,000 to attend networking and fundraising functions designed to rub shoulders with politicians.
Australia
Rate cut | Tuesday’s interest rate cut has offered relief for mortgage holders, but some hope the official cash rate will fall further. In politics, the RBA’s decision was welcomed by both the government and the opposition as the anticipated election looms.
Double standards | As Australia’s major parties stitched together a deal on donation laws in parliament, a small group of well-heeled business leaders gathered last week for dinner, with tickets costing up to $110,000.
Off the rails | Negotiations between the NSW government and rail unions have gone on for nine months, with no end in sight. Here’s what you need to know about the long-running saga.
Visas | The Nauruan president has defended his government’s offer to resettle three members of the NZYQ cohort of non-citizens from Australia – described by Australia as violent offenders – saying they have “served their time”.
Compensation claims | The first time many people ever heard of “claim farming” was last week, when NSW police announced seven arrests over an allegedly fraudulent syndicate. But what is claim farming – and is it legal?
World
Ukraine war | Kyiv reacted with gloom and dismay on Tuesday to the meeting between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying he would never accept Russia’s ultimatums.
Middle East | Hamas has said it will release six hostages from Gaza this week and hand over the bodies of four others, including the remains of two young children from the same family whose deaths had not previously been confirmed.
Plane crash | Footage has emerged of the fiery jet crash at Toronto’s Pearson airport on Monday, showing the Delta Air Lines plane skidding along the runway and then flipping over, as a wing rips off and the tail is engulfed in flames.
Bureaucracy cull | The head of the food division at the US Food and Drug Administration has quit in protest over sweeping staff cuts that he warns will hamper the agency’s ability to protect public health.
Hollywood | Guy Pearce, the actor Oscar-nominated for his role in Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist, has opened up about his experiences when working with Kevin Spacey on 1997 film LA Confidential.
Full Story
Who pays for our politics and what do they want?
Laws on political donations, often seen as the murky underbelly of politics, are getting a rewrite. Labor – with the help of the Coalition – has brought in new legislation but some of the changes have infuriated the crossbench. Reged Ahmad speaks to Anthony Whealy, a former judge and now chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, on what we know about those who donate to political campaigns and whether the new laws could lock out independents.
In-depth
The RBA’s announcement on Tuesday of an interest rate cut was clearly the one the government was after, with Labor’s responses hitting journalists’ inboxes mere minutes after it was announced. Josh Butler delves into how both sides of politics will use the news to prove that they are the ones to handle the cost-of-living crisis.
Not the news
The humble meat pie is considered quintessential Australian cuisine, but how do the supermarket frozen version of the pastries stack up? Nicholas Jordan put together a team of Sydney bakers and chefs to judge which is the best (and worst) pie found in the frozen aisle.
Sport
AFL | The head of Foxtel says AFL fans will “run towards the light” this season and subscribe to its pay TV service or sports streaming platform Kayo when they realise much of the season’s live Saturday coverage has gone behind a paywall.
Soccer | Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter has thrown her support behind Sam Kerr as the star forward turns her focus to recovering from a serious knee injury after a high-profile trial in the UK ended last week.
Tennis | Andy Murray will continue to coach Novak Djokovic through to the French Open – and possibly at Wimbledon.
Media roundup
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has a bill in parliament to cap university vice -chancellor pay at $430,000, reports the Australian. Victims of paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale, who died on Tuesday in jail, express relief at his passing in the Sydney Morning Herald.
What’s happening today
Politics | Victoria, NSW and Queensland parliaments are all sitting.
Melbourne | Ebony Bell, charged with assaulting senator Lidia Thorpe in May last year, will appear in a magistrates court.
Terrorism | Asio’s director general of security will release the annual threat assessment.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
