Good morning. It’s been revealed that a debt collecting company hired to chase unpaid taxes for the Australian Taxation Office pays zero corporate tax itself – despite being awarded government contracts worth more than $40m.
Also: a compromise has been reached on hate speech laws crafted in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, after the Liberals and Labor cut a deal late on Monday that should see the revised bill pass.
And as US officials claim Donald Trump’s threats about seizing Greenland should be taken seriously, the US president has linked the worsening crisis to the fact he was not awarded the Nobel peace prize.
Australia
Bill breakthrough | Hate speech laws designed to help combat antisemitism in the wake of the Bondi beach terror attack are set to pass after Sussan Ley agreed to cut a deal with Anthony Albanese.
Recoveriescorp | A private debt collector has paid zero corporate tax since securing contracts worth more than $40m from the ATO to pursue arrears payments, including from welfare recipients.
Exclusive | The NT’s incoming administrator levelled a series of insults at the PM and claimed First Nations people were “the main group responsible” for crime in the Top End in a 2024 speech.
Explainer | Sydney produces 1.5bn litres of sewage each day and after treatment sends most of it out to sea. So, why does Sydney still pump sewage into the ocean – putting its beaches at risk of poo balls?
Shark attacks | A man believed to be in his 20s is in a critical condition after being bitten by a shark at Manly beach on Monday evening in the third attack at Sydney beaches in two days.
World
Greenland threats | Donald Trump has linked his threats to seize Greenland to the fact that he was not awarded the Nobel peace prize, saying “no comment” when asked if he would seize Greenland by force. As European industry hits out at his “ludicrous” demands, could the EU retaliate against US tariff threats?
Spain train crash | Crash investigators are piecing together the cause of a train collision in southern Spain that left at least 39 people dead and 12 others in intensive care. The impact of the accident has shocked the Spanish town of Adamuz, Sam Jones writes.
Daily Mail legal battle | Lawyers representing Prince Harry and six other prominent figures have accused the Daily Mail’s publisher in the UK of “systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering”.
Gaza crisis | The Kremlin has announced that Vladimir Putin has been invited to join Donald Trump’s “board of peace”, set up last week with the intention that it would oversee a ceasefire in Gaza.
‘Extremely dangerous’ | The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces has said it is fighting Syrian government forces near a prison holding Islamic State detainees on the outskirts of Raqqa.
Fashion giant dies | Valentino Garavani, the designer central to pioneering Italian glamour with his eponymous fashion house beloved by stars around the world, has died aged 93 in Rome.
Full Story
Dr Bot: Can ChatGPT be trusted with your health?
According to OpenAI, the American company that runs ChatGPT, 40 million people ask the AI chatbot healthcare-related questions every day. Now a new health feature in Australia allows the platform to “securely connect medical records and wellness apps” to generate responses “more relevant and useful to you”. Melissa Davey speaks with Nour Haydar about whether AI is changing healthcare as we know it.
In-depth
Payam left his home – and many of his family members – in Iran at age 17, seeking a life of freedom in Australia. From far away in Brisbane, the Iranian Australian has been watching the brutality of Iran’s authoritarian regime with growing unease. Then, his cousin delivered the devastating news that a family member had been killed in one of the many anti-government protests that swept Iran in recent weeks.
Not the news
Australia, alongside the US and UK, has one of the world’s highest consumption rates of ultra-processed foods which have been linked to “multiple diet-related chronic diseases” including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, depression and obesity. Experts say it is “urgent” that consumers reduce their intake of UPFs. But, how should we replace them? Emma Joyce finds out what they suggest as achievable alternatives.
Sport
Tennis | Novak Djokovic continues to make Australian Open history as tour’s elder endearing statesman, Tumaini Carayol writes, on a dramatic day at the Australian Open that was marred by retirements; Alex de Minaur eased into the second round with a routine win.
Cycling | Australia’s Ben O’Connor is out of the shadows and primed to scale cycling’s heights, Martin Pegan writes.
Football | See how Sadio Mané’s calm saved the African Cup of Nations final from absolute chaos – and six things we learned from Afcon 2025; Marc Guéhi has completed the move to Manchester City from Crystal Palace; Brighton are taking on Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Media roundup
A Queensland space technology company has secured $217m in new funding – including $75m from taxpayers – despite its last rocket crashing after just 14 seconds, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. There are fears sun-smart complacency is on the rise as figures show thousands more Victorians are having skin cancers cut, burnt and frozen off compared with just a few years ago, the Age reports. And a source has told the Daily Telegraph that One Nation has set its sights on David Littleproud’s electorate at the next election.
What’s happening today
ACT | Federal parliament is sitting in Canberra.
Sport | The Australian Open tennis action continues in Melbourne.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
