Morning, everyone. One of the most senior advisers in the Albanese government claims she has been effectively sacked without warning from her job as chief of staff to Richard Marles.
Hurricane Milton is closing in on Florida, with Tampa residents evacuating in unprecedented numbers before the expected storm surge.
The Queensland LNP leader is under pressure on gender issues, the NSW premier is getting pushback from within his party against his stance on protests, and Kyle and Jackie O are losing advertisers after a campaign against their radio program.
Australia
Minns accused | The NSW Labor MP Anthony D’Adam has accused the premier of taking an “incredibly dangerous position” on protests and said members of the government were afraid to speak out in support of Palestine.
Cap bill caveat | A Senate committee scrutinising Labor’s international student cap has recommended the bill be passed with significant amendments, including removing the ability to set course-level enrolment limits.
Exclusive | A Queensland LNP official sent an election-eve email to branch members – on the party’s letterhead – claiming the state had been “captured by transgender ideology”. The email also promoted plans to ban puberty blockers for minors.
Public service | The head of the Department of Parliamentary Services has announced a sudden “period of leave”, leaving a former anti-corruption commissioner in charge of the department.
Radio waves | KIIS FM’s Kyle & Jackie O Show is facing an advertiser boycott after a campaign that claims the content on the breakfast program is normalising “violent misogyny”.
World
‘Storm of the century’ | Hurricane Milton is expected to double its wind field by the time it makes landfall on Florida’s west coast today with up a storm surge up to 4.5m high threatening low-lying cities including Tampa, St Petersburg and Sarasota. There are also warnings of tornadoes as the storm bears down. Follow developments live.
‘Lethal and precise’ | Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken overnight amid expectations of an Israeli attack on Iran which the Israeli defence minister would be “lethal, precise and surprising”. Follow developments live.
Tory two | Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch will run off against each other to lead the UK Tory party after James Cleverly was eliminated in the last round of voting among Tory MPs in a stunning turnaround of fortune.
Leyen down the law | The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has accused Viktor Orbán of a historic failure to support Ukraine in her sharpest public rebuke yet to Hungary’s strongman leader. In a boisterous session of the European parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs sang anti-fascist songs at Orbán. A European summit to discuss Ukraine has been postponed.
End of an era | The last true mob-era casino in Las Vegas, the Tropicana, has been razed to make way for a baseball stadium as the city took another step away from its dubious past.
Full Story
Universities and AI: can they coexist?
Guardian Australia’s higher education reporter, Caitlin Cassidy, explains to Matilda Boseley how universities are embracing artificial intelligence and integrating this rapidly evolving technology into modern university life.
In-depth
Richard Marles’ chief of staff, Jo Tarnawsky, alleges her boss effectively sacked her without warning in a phone call on 30 April, the day after they returned from a challenging but successful visit to Ukraine. One of the most senior advisers in the Albanese government says she has been barred from her office and has had no direct engagement with her boss since she complained about colleagues’ undermining behaviour. Marles said last night that he “disputes her characterisation of events”. Tarnawsky tells our political editor, Karen Middleton: “If I am the most senior female chief of staff on the hill and I am not safe, that’s a problem.”
Not the news
Virginia Trioli claims to have made the the most expensive steak au poivre ever prepared. It’s not because the cuts were particularly fancy but because when she tried to flame the meat she sent fire roaring into the extractor hood, shorting the power supply, destroying the wifi and requiring a new kitchen. She tells her hilarious story.
The world of sport
Football | The new Socceroos coach, Tony Popovic, has called for “a lot of belief” as the side try to rescue their World Cup 2026 campaign against China in Adelaide tonight.
Cricket | Alastair Cook has tipped that Joe Root will break Sachin Tendulkar’s world record after he became England’s all-time leading Test run scorer – and fifth in the world list – on his way to 176 not out as the tourists fought back strongly against Pakistan in the first Test in Multan.
Tennis | Players will be left to rage against a machine after any tight line calls at Wimbledon next year – the All England Club has decided to remove line judges from all courts during the championships, for the first time in its 147-year history.
Media roundup
Indigenous leaders have accused Fatima Payman of a “lack of respect” after calling her new party Australia’s Voice, the Australian reports. Voters are open to reforming negative gearing for property investors but don’t want to scrap the concessions altogether, a poll in the Sydney Morning Herald shows. The Hobart Mercury unpicks the many missteps in the Spirt of Tasmania ferry revamp saga which it claims has cost taxpayers $500m.
What’s happening today
Social media | The NSW and South Australian governments will jointly host a social media summit in Sydney and Adelaide.
Human rights | The UN special rapporteur Tom Andrews will give a media conference on the situation in Myanmar.
Canberra | The Lowy Institute’s 2024 Asia power index will be launched at 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.
