Good morning. Relations between the US and Ukraine have worsened after Donald Trump took to social media to call Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “a dictator without elections” who had “better move fast” or his country wouldn’t exist.
In Australia, as face-to-face learning declines in universities, academics have spoken out about the “death of campus life”. The Asio chief has warned of foreign spies actively plotting to harm activists in Australia. And in other news, we investigate why Americans are toasting fairy bread.
Australia
ACCC | The head of the competition and consumer regulator still has “high concerns” about the pricing practices of Australia’s dominant supermarkets even after they were subjected to litigation and intense public scrutiny.
Education | Academics have voiced concerns about the decline of face-to-face learning in Australian universities, with campus attendance numbers on the decline.
Foreign intelligence | At least three countries have plotted to harm Australians abroad and on home soil, including a planned assassination to silence a human rights activist, Australia’s spy boss has revealed.
Culture chaos | The artist and curator who won the Golden Lion for Australia at the Venice Biennale last year have called for the reinstatement of Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino, saying they were “appalled” to learn of the duo’s treatment by Creative Australia.
12 Last Songs | The Perth festival’s most powerful show was 12 hours long and asked big questions to everyday workers. Our arts writer was dreading it but found herself deeply moved and elated.
World
Deepening crisis | Donald Trump has called Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator and warned that he “better move fast” or he “won’t have a country left”, after the Ukrainian president accused the US leader of being “trapped” in a Russian “disinformation bubble”. The US president has made multiple misleading and false statements about the war.
Middle East | Hamas has said it is ready to release all its remaining hostages in a single exchange if the ceasefire agreement with Israel moves forward to a second phase next month.
Predictive policing | British policing’s use of algorithms and data to predict where crime will happen is racist and picks on the poor, a report from Amnesty International says.
Efficient chips | Microsoft has unveiled a breakthrough quantum computing chip which utilises a new form of matter that is not solid, liquid or gas.
Crime clampdown | About 7,000 people have been rescued from illegal call centre operations in Myanmar and were waiting to be transferred to Thailand, the prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said on Wednesday, as the country launched a large-scale crackdown on scam centres operating on the border.
Full Story
Dancing with the teals: are we heading to a minority government?
Predictions of an election announcement by Anthony Albanese are reaching fever pitch after the RBA announced a cut in interest rates. Many had forecast this would prompt him to name a date but it would not be a guaranteed win for Labor, with recent polls pointing to a minority government for both parties. Political reporter Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks to Nour Haydar about how the prime minister and Peter Dutton are both eyeing the crossbench.
In-depth
A pilot program allowing community groups to sponsor refugees to resettle in Australia will be made a permanent part of our humanitarian migration program, the Guardian can exclusively reveal. Venezuelan criminal lawyer Juan Santamaria speaks to Ben Doherty about how the program welcomed him to Australia, including the comfort of arriving to a fully stocked pantry.
Not the news
A staple of Australian children’s birthday parties, fairy bread has entered the international sphere with a recipe published in the New York Times. Rafqa Touma explains to Caitlin Cassidy how social media across the Pacific is reacting, including one content creator’s controversial decision to toast the bread.
Sport
Tennis | An emotional Emma Raducanu was knocked out of the Dubai Tennis Championships by Karolina Muchova after a man in the crowd who had displayed “fixated behaviour” was ejected from the venue.
Boxing | As Riyadh becomes the de facto home of big-time boxing, concerns grow over the dwindling presence of major women’s bouts.
Soccer | Manchester United have revealed that hiring Dan Ashworth and parting ways five months later cost them £4.1m.
Media roundup
A Chinese naval task group was spotted 150 nautical miles off the coast of Sydney, according to the Australian. Major IVF provider Genea is “urgently investigating” a cyber incident involving an unauthorised third party, per ABC news. Thousands are expected to be without power in Perth for at least 24 hours after a severe storm, reports the West Australian.
What’s happening today
Politics | Victorian, NSW and Queensland parliaments are sitting.
Results | Whitehaven Coal and Pilbara Minerals will report half-year results, Rio Tinto reports its annual results.
Antisemitism | Sky News will broadcast its Antisemitism Summit.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
