Morning everyone. Peter Dutton has made cost-cutting a central part of his re-election pitch, with a focus on reversing Labor’s expansion of the public service. But what do the new hires do – and are they actually in Canberra?
Plus: today’s inflation numbers could be a make-or-break moment for a February interest rates cut (and pretty significant for the election). We also have more on what dentistry tells us about the state of the nation, the latest on the AI stock market wobble, and how a very famous lady might get her own room in Paris.
Australia
Dentist drought | In the latest part of our Broken Smiles series about dental care, Natasha May reports on how people living in rural Australia such as Dave Morthorpe, pictured, are being worst hit by higher charges and fewer dentists to do the work. We also look at how poor oral health is an indicator of inequality and ask why we don’t do much to fix the problem.
Rate crunch | Inflation figures due out today could “make or break” the case for a pre-election rate cut next month, according to economists, in one of the most politically consequential set of numbers of recent times.
Exclusive | People who believe global heating is a conspiracy get most of their information about news and current events from commercial and social media, according to a study that points to a lower sense of “civic values” among the same cohort.
Jobs question | Peter Dutton wants to slash thousands of newly created public service jobs, the Labor government claims, but where would the axe fall?
Nuclear option | Australia’s new chief scientist has said he is open to the prospect of nuclear power playing a role in the country’s energy mix but remained focused on forms of energy that were “available to help us right now”.
World
Chipped away | DeepSeek’s cut-price challenge to US AI dominance, which caused a sharp correction on tech stock markets, also saw the boss of chipmaker Nvidia, Jensen Huang, pictured, lose $20bn and his place in the top 10 of the world’s richest people. However, stocks rose again overnight while experts have urged caution over rapidly embracing the Chinese artificial intelligence platform, citing concerns about it spreading misinformation.
Watchdog sacking | The Trump administration faces a lawsuit over its pausing of federal grants and loans. Trump has fired a senior official at the government’s main employment watchdog, triggering a chorus of criticism from unions about a possibly illegal move. One of Trump’s most strident media interrogators, Jim Acosta, has quit CNN saying “don’t give in to the fear”.
PM quits | Miloš Vučević, the prime minister of Serbia, has resigned amid a wave of anti-corruption protests across the country. Our explainer looks at what drove the unrest, what happens now, and what it means for Europe.
Ticking clock | A panel of scientists has moved their symbolic “Doomsday Clock” closer to midnight than ever before, citing Russian nuclear threats, Middle East tension and the climate crisis as factors underlying the risks of global catastrophe.
A room of her own | Emmanuel Macron says the Louvre will be “redesigned, restored, enlarged” with a new space for the Mona Lisa after a litany of complaints about the overcrowded and leaky museum in Paris.
Full Story
The tech titans: who’s really in charge of Donald Trump’s America?
Technology editor Blake Montgomery tells Reged Ahmad why US tech billionaires – dubbed the “broligarchs” – have become just as important to President Donald Trump as he is to them.
In-depth
One of the people attending the commemoration at Auschwitz was Australia’s attorney general, Mark Dreyfus (pictured with Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal). Three of his grandparents died at the hands of the Nazis and today he writes a moving piece about the “shocking rise in antisemitism in Australia” and how attempts to politicise the issue must be rejected. He simply says: “Today I say never again.”
Not the news
A proud Victorian, Caitlin Cassidy is happy to admit that she loves living in Sydney. But there’s one thing she doesn’t like about life in the harbour city – Sydneysiders’ apparent hatred for people who ride bikes, leading to “encounters that have filled me with a deep-seated rage, that have forced me to repeat profanities I would never have imagined possible”.
Sport
Cricket | The first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka begins in Galle later today with the tourists facing key decisions on their bowling attack in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
Women’s Ashes | Cricket Australia is expecting a record-breaking turnout for the Women’s Ashes Test that starts at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tomorrow with local fans excited by the possibility of the hosts sealing a 16-0 whitewash.
Cricket | A superb spell by leg-spinner Adil Rashid helped England’s men beat India by 26 runs in the third T20 in Rajkot. India lead the five-match series 2-1.
Media roundup
The big news in Melbourne is the shooting dead of gangland figure Sam Abdulrahim whom the Herald Sun says had survived several attempts on his life. The Financial Review says Australians have 28bn reasons to worry about the future of stocks in Nvidia after yesterday’s market moves. The parents of BBL final hero Mitch Owen tell the Hobart Mercury the media attention is “like being in a movie”. A phone found underwater after being missing for a year has turned on and charged up, showing that “miracles can happen”, Bega News reports.
What’s happening today
Politics | Social services minister Amanda Rishworth announces disability strategy at Deakin University in Geelong at 9am.
Economy | Latest inflation data released at 11.30am.
Brisbane | Verdicts are expected in the trial of Jason Struhs and 13 other members of religious group over the death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
