Good morning. More than 260 people have been killed after an Air India flight crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad. A British man in seat 11A is the only survivor from the aircraft – and has “no idea” how he escaped.
Closer to home, there’s a push for improved safety measures on Sydney’s light rail after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a tram in Surry Hills earlier this month.
We look at this year’s Dark Mofo festival in Tasmania and ask whether it has veered into a “trauma theme park”. And: the World Test Championship is finely poised, with Australia leading by 218 runs at stumps on day two.
Australia
‘The danger gap is so big’ | A woman who saw a pedestrian fatally struck by a Sydney tram in Surry Hills earlier this month is calling for safety upgrades and design changes to the city’s light rail network.
‘Significant’ super costs | Labor’s plan to tax unrealised super gains has come under fire – but Treasury analysis shows taxing actual gains would have meant millions of fund members were hit with compliance costs.
‘Stealing from students’ | Macquarie University has been accused of “hollowing out” the humanities after it announced a restructure that would halve some arts faculties and drastically reduce courses.
‘Be vigilant’ | Some New South Wales residents returning home after last month’s record-breaking floods are finding mud isn’t the only thing awaiting them: the snakes and spiders have moved in.
Dark Mofo review | The Tasmanian festival always melds the political with the playful – but presenting art about racist violence in a fun-park atmosphere feels like a misfire, Dee Jefferson says.
World
Air India crash | More than 260 passengers and bystanders killed in Ahmedabad crash; a British man is the only survivor of the accident – and has “no idea” how he escaped death; “it all happened so quickly”: see how the Air India plane crash unfolded.
Gaza crisis | The chaos that has overtaken aid distribution in Gaza has worsened, with more people killed near food points, while a US-Israel logistics group claims its workers were attacked by Hamas; and: how Europe supplies Israel with its brutal canine weapons.
LA protests | California governor Gavin Newsom calls Donald Trump a “stone-cold liar” as protests against immigration raids continue; troops and marines are deeply troubled by their LA deployment; drones capable of surveillance are being flown over the LA protests; and Democrats are condemning the forcible removal of Senator Alex Padilla from Kristi Noem’s LA press conference.
Harvey Weinstein | The judge in Weinstein’s sex crimes case declared a mistrial on the remaining rape charge after the jury foreperson said he would not continue deliberating.
‘Public taste’ | Syria’s government has asked women to wear “burkinis” or more modest swimwear while visiting public beaches this summer, although bikinis have not been banned.
Full Story
Will the Aukus submarine deal go belly up?
The US defence department has announced a review of the Aukus submarine deal, just days before prime minister Anthony Albanese is due to meet with Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Canada. Josh Butler talks with Nour Haydar about what this means for relations between the two countries – and why it throws Australia’s defence strategy into doubt.
In-depth
Coffee is a non-negotiable for some Australians. So when news broke that flat whites might cost $10 by the end of the year, it sent a chill down spines around the nation. Increased coffee bean prices and the overall cost of doing business are driving up the price of coffee everywhere. Curious if it would cause Australians to forgo their daily brew, we put a callout to readers.
Not the news
OneFour are arguably the biggest act in Australian hip-hop today, despite coming up through street violence, jail time and a lot of police attention. The western Sydney rappers’ haphazard trajectory has seen them become the ultimate underdog tale. They talk with Katie Cunningham about their long-awaited debut album and how they’re ready to change the message.
Sport
Cricket | Australia and South Africa wickets tumble to leave World Test Championship final on a knife-edge; Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada lead from the front on a breathless second day at Lord’s, Geoff Lemon writes.
Football | David Squires on … the Socceroos reaching a sixth successive World Cup; Tottenham confirm appointment of Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement.
Golf | Rory McIlroy slumps late during the first round of the US Open at Oakmont in Pennsylvania.
Rugby league | Jarome Luai called up by NSW Blues to replace injured Mitch Moses for State of Origin game 2.
Media roundup
Imported plastic packaging is set to be intensely scrutinised as Australia joins a global “wake-up call” to end plastic pollution, ABC News reports. Disability advocates are calling for more to be done by businesses and government to make workplaces more accessible, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Thousands of properties in the Dandenong Ranges are at growing risk of damage and destruction from landslides, according to the Age.
What’s happening today
Diplomacy | Anthony Albanese is heading to Fiji for talks, before moving on to the US and the G7 summit in Canada.
ABS | The Australian Bureau of Statistics is scheduled to release its latest international arrivals and departures figures.
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.
